We had such fun on Saturday!! A totally random selection of pictures from the day appears at the end of this blog.
I arose a bit early to do my walk/run and thought it would be a bear but instead it was refreshing. Then I wrote the earlier post, and then we went to Bar Harbor for the July 4th Festivities there.
As I was late getting cleaned up, we were late leaving, so I thought we would be unable to find parking, but Papa Bear is amazing. He had us park at the school which is but a short walk to a shady spot on the parade route. There was one officer trying to keep traffic off the parade route before the roads were closed. He was managing a huge y-intersection and having some trouble getting the attention of some drivers. Even after he erected a saw-horse "road closed" barrier, cars tried to drive around it if he did not stand with it and indicate to the drivers that they needed to turn around ...
The parade was amazing!! We stood next to a family from Vermont who spend July here each year. They have a home not far from our post office! Papa Vermont made certain I was aware of the Flamingo Festival in Southwest next Saturday - their family will be in the Samba unit of that parade!!
There were all kinds of units in the Bar Harbor parade, including several of units Shriners in fun cars/trucks/boats! There was a single elderly gentleman carrying a placard encouraging more humanity in Maine's prison system, a sobering unit from the local peace brigade who carried banners listing the names of all who have died in the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, politicians, businesses, non-profits, bands, bagpipes, a "theater in a truck" (one side of the truck is a truck, the other has doors that open to unfold a stage complete with curtain!), a flotilla of Corvettes, antique vehicles (including a steam-powered vehicle) and clowns. Candy and beads were thrown from the parade participants to the watching crowd. It was amazing and seemed to go on and on and on without being tiring. The local animal shelter threw a bag of catnip that I brought home to Mindy. She really seems to like it.
Papa Bear's favorite was the clown (appeared near the end of the parade) carrying a two-sided placard. Side one: Busta for Govnah! Side Two: Put a Real Clown in Augustah! (Augusta is the capitol of Maine, the state in which the House on the Cove is located.)
After the parade we went to the soccer field. Non-profits were located in the field; artisans were located across the street in a large parking lot. There was a section for children (with various games for them to play), booths for politicians, food from the Rotary Club (we had lobster rolls and later blueberry ice cream) and the lobster races. Picture if you will a set of steps, painted white. On four steps are long glass aquariums filled with sea water. Into each step-aquarium is placed a single lobster, who is representing a local business. Spectators are encouraged to wager a dollar on the lobster they feel will win. If their lobster wins, they win a dollar. If their lobster loses, they lose their dollar. The four lobsters are each placed in a tank, and the timer starts and everyone waits for a lobster to move. We actually saw one race where two lobsters moved, but usually only one lobster was interested in moving. Times were kept, with the fastest being 40 seconds during the time we were there.
After seven lobster heats, there is a break in the racing for a blueberry pie eating contest. Four human contestants sit in front of a blueberry pie and eat it without touching it. The winner was amazingly fast. All contestants had blueberry pie filling from over their eyebrows to under their chins. The winner received a t-shirt.
The Booby Brigade, a group of Maine women who are raising money to participate in the Boston Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk For the Cure later this summer, were selling raffle tickets for a beautiful quilt, and I bought one. I hope I win! They also sold pink rubber duckies - $5 for an only, $8 for a pair. Noble cause, but I passed on these.
We listened to some music, walked around and savored the sights, and then came back to the House on the Cove. It was an amazing experience and we had a great time!!
Upon arriving home, we watched a movie, and then went to the Little Notch Baking Company for pizza. It was exquisite and Mama Bear put a pin in their map to show where the House on the Creek is located. The bank display still shows 18.8 degrees. Today was MUCH warmer than yesterday - yesterday was in the low 60's, today was in the upper 70's, lower 80's. Display is still showing 18.8.
Hope you enjoy the pictures and am sorry you missed all the fun here.
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Firetruck | Horses |
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Bagpipes | Old car |
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The Philharmonic | Uncle Sam |
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Smokey (the) Bear | Unicycle |
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Old Fire Truck | Quilt Raffle |
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Music | One Food Area |
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Lobster Race | Blueberry Pie Eating Contest |
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Pie Contestant | |
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Papa Bear's Favorite | PB's Favorite Two |
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