Lovin'

• Sleeping in and an afternoon nap
• Cool breezes through open windows
• Fish fries
• The Great Fish Challenge 2008
• Daylight until 10 pm
• Chocolate milk
• Pink cheeks
• Watching Charlie smile at that silly new boat
• Daily walks to Cormorant Store
• New fishing lures and reels
• Grilled cheeses for lunch
• Reading with toes in the cool grass and sun on my face
• Midwestern "You betcha"s and bottles of "pop"
  

At the lake

We're at Pelican Lake this week. We've been here since Thursday night but I am just now pulling out the camera.


More posts and pictures soon, but it's the usual: boating, fishing, napping, reading, eating, eating, eating.

Still consistent with pregnancy

Today's hCG levels were better: 13, 275.

What I know about hCG beta tests:

• Everyone says the value should double in 48 hours
• The acceptable doubling time is 48-72 hours
• CCRM said they want at least a 60% increase after 2 days
• hCG levels are higher in pregnancies not using Assisted Reproductive Technology
• Singleton and multiples values overlap so much, hCG and progesterone levels cannot be used to predict number of fetuses
  
• After week six, levels take nearly 3.5 days to double

For me this means...pretty much nothing. So far so good they tell me.

CCRM nurse said just wait and see, and keep them informed. They have been rather kind considering they had nothing to do with my current state. I wonder if getting my money refunded for the IVF cycle will jinx this whole thing. $5000 worth of meds are sitting in the refrigerator so maybe that will keep it all good.

My appointment for ultrasound is in two weeks with my regular obgyn....the afternoon of July 9th. I figure by then I will be nearly 8 weeks and we can figure out exactly what is going on.

For now we are cautiously optimistic. And tonight I might even try calling from upstairs... Oh, Charlieeeeeeeee bring me some water....what? What do you mean "no?" Don't you realize I am carrying your baby in my womb?

The News

The bad news is our cycle at CCRM for the month of July is off.


Canceled.


No go.


The good news is I am pregnant my hCG levels are consistent with pregnancy.


We are not feeling too excited at this point though because the hCG levels indicate pregnancy, but are not rising at an appropriate rate.

In Maine, I failed to mention here that a woman asked me how many months pregnant I was, and even after I told her I wasn't pregnant, she insisted that I just tell her..."My daughter's a midwife, I know these things." No you loon, I'm just fat.

But then Saturday , after two weeks on Weight Watchers (thank you loony oracle woman in LL Bean) I still looked fat, but also looked different. Just plain different. So I decided to pee on a test. After all, I've got 40 of them, why not? And then another, and another. All positive.

Disbelief and irritation...What the hell?!? Something else to figure out before we get going with this IVF cycle. I don't have time for this!

Charlie's birthday afternoon was spent in the emergency room to confirm pregnancy by blood test so I'd know for sure whether or not to discontinue the birth control pills I have been taking in preparation for the July cycle. And after two hours of people watching we were finally seen, and after some convincing of the doctor that my request was not unreasonable, blood was drawn.

Blood test hCG = 4820. Spot on for 5 weeks of pregnancy, indicating that my cycle a week before really wasn't my cycle as I suspected.

My favorite Ob-gyn is on vacation, so I put a call in to the on call doctor (his dad!). More labs, 48 hours later.

HCG is now at 7259 and progesterone is 39. The progesterone level is good, very high, and the hCG is lagging a bit behind.

The nurse at CCRM said to be hopeful as did my doctor's daddy; it isn't too far below what they like to see. But we've got a hard time focusing on the positive around here.

More labs tomorrow.

Last tests

Karyotypes were all normal.

Thought for sure there'd be a little monkey mixed in with the man, but nope, his chromosomes are all normal for a human male.

Finally 30

Today Charlie turned 30! Finally our ages sound more similar.


We celebrated with dinner at Cochon: arugula salad, boudin, hogshead cheese, crawfish pie, cochon and cabbage, softshell crab and summer squash, lemon pie, and chocolate parfait! What a birthday feast.



He really makes this face before eating. And the food fever is contagious.




Birthday cake didn't end up getting baked today, but just as well being we've eaten enough for two days. I'll be putting together a creature cake at the lake next week to continue the birthday celebration.


Happy birthday, C-Bear. I love you.

Science guy (and his wife) strikes again

I think I was the only wife at the conference making her husband pose next to his research. He liked it though!

Hitting the road

I am not even home yet from Vermont, but have been scibbling my usual "to do lists" which I can typically read about 50% of when I actually set out to do the things. That's ok. Making the list is therapy.

On Thursday I leave home for 1 month.

I'm feeling anxious and overwhelmed and scared. I don't even know how to describe it beyond that right now.

Obsess onward

The blood draw fiasco on Saturday ended with us at a s-k-e-t-c-h-y lab for our blood draw. We were told we could take the blood and ship it frozen, packed in dry ice, ourselves. The orders read that after two vials were collected, the serum should be separated out and put into a vial. Well, we got to hear a discussion among lab employees prior to my being called back...a discussion where they were trying to figure out which vial belonged to which patient.

Are you following me here?

There was no way I wanted that blood out of my sight. I could have been walking out with Joe Blow's blood who had been in there for a drug screen and I'd have Dr. S calling me to tell me my FSH levels were that of a man among other things I suppose. After much back and forth between Charlie and I, we decided to take the blood as is, and freeze the entire sample...not realizing the red blood cells break down when frozen thus rendering the sample useless for FSH testing.

Our nurse doesn't work on Tuesday, and our back up was swamped so we got the back up to the back up phoning us, and she was a heart. I imagine they've each dealt with their share of screaming mimis and hormonal, depressed infertile basket cases, but I've got to tell you, and I think Charlie and my Daddy would agree, my bouts of hysteria, both in and outside of the trials of infertility, take the cake. I wouldn't be surprised if they're chanting "no whammie, no whammie" when picking up the phone to call me on those days I am most likely teetering on the edge of reason. Anyway, she was very understanding, considerate, gentle, and most likely very thankful her name is NOT written on my chart.

She took my chart to the doctor and plead my case and promised to call back before she left for the night.

On her return call, as she was very firmly explaining the importance of knowing the day 3 FSH levels, my phone lost its signal. For a long time. Of course.

Nearly an hour passed and a voicemail just came through: you may proceed, but please know that had Dr. S known your FSH levels, he may not have recommended IVF (assuming they may have been high).

My last conversation with him entailed his general feeling, based on all other contributing factors, was the FSH was within reasonable limits. Past two REs never expressed FSH concerns, although I know that number can change in what seems like overnight.

We are pressing on, with the hope (yes, hope) that this is the only bump we'll encounter...you know....we'll have a lovely vacation, stimulate the follicles perfectly, retrieve oodles of mature eggs, have excellent fertilization, transfer two perfect 5 day embryos, become pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl, exercise and work throughout the entire pregnancy with the only sign of pregnancy being the cute bump I carry, and then deliver two perfect babies in April without drugs in a full face of make up smiling for the entire 30 minutes of labor.

Hopefully none of this changes by the time I talk to my nurse tomorrow.... Woo! Woo! All aboard! Crazy train is leaving the station.

Obsession Update

Obsession doesn't do any good. Blood sample was not good so not able to test FSH. Doubt this cycle will be going anywhere now. Will talk to nurse later today.

Today's cycle obsession

Charlie told me I could only have one a day. He knows I couldn't give all of them up, so he said I can obsess about just one thing at a time.

I'm very, very worried that my cycle day 3 bloodwork wasn't really at the start of the cycle (erratic cycles) and the results are going to be off, thereby delaying the cycle and how everything is falling into place as far as timing. I think if the cycle should really start now it'd nix the entire thing because I began birth control pills on Sunday which would yeild an inaccurate day 3 FSH level. I'll find out tomorrow.

And the worry on the back burner: to do or not to do genetic testing. But we won't talk about that now. I am sticking to the one worry rule today.

The plan, as of 11 a.m. Monday

• June 15-27 -- Birth Control Pills
• June 26 -- Travel to Minnesota for Vacation
  
• June 30 -- Baseline ultrasound and bloodwork in Fargo, North Dakota
• July 1 -- Begin Lupron (prevents ovulation), 20 units every 12 hours, and desxamethasone (steroid) at bedtime. Continue for entire cycle
• July 3 -- Begin stimulation medication -- 2 amps. Menopur in the morning and 300 units Gonal F in the evening. Continue until next ultrasound
• July 6 -- Travel to Denver
  
• July 7 -- 200 amps. menopur dose in the morning, ultrasound and bloodwork appointment, Gonal F dose determined after ultrasound and bloodwork.
• July 7-12 -- Continued stimulation. Ultrasound and bloodwork dates to be determined.
• July 13 -- Charlie fly to Denver
  
• July 14 -- Tentative retrieval date, Charlie fly home
  
• July 17 -- Tentative transfer date, if three day transfer ....OR...
  
• July 19 -- Tentative transfer date, if five day transfer
• July 19-21 -- Bed rest (unsure how long Dr. S will recommend)
  
• July 22 -- Erin returns home

I've spoken with the doctor's office in Fargo and they're up for doing the appointment I need on the 30th. So if this works for Dr. S, then this plan is a go...best part being that vacation plans stay as is and procreating doesn't interfere with our trip to Pelican Lake.

The latter half of the schedule is a little fuzzy because it depends on how quickly the follicles stimulate (typically 7-8 days at last RE), the response of my lining, recommended bed rest, quality of embryos, and final decisions about genetic screening of the embryos

I am waiting to talk to the nurse to confirm monitoring in Fargo and then I will go ahead and purchase a plane ticket from Fargo to Denver and most likely make a car reservation.

Things I still need to figure out:

• When Charlie will be in Denver and how he will get there
• Dog sitter and what dates we'll need her
  
• Where my medication will come from and where it will be delivered
• When I should schedule my return flight
  

On the road with Science Guy

We're in a teeny, tiny town in Vermont. Charlie's got a meeting of the minds to attend and I am tagging along. He's pretty involved talking shop, so I am out and about on my own for the most part.

What am I doing?

• Being thankful Charlie allows me to dress him. People watching around the conference is pretty darn good, but that's largely due to the fact that scientists are prime candidates for the TLC's What Not to Wear.
  
• Taking walks through the neighborhood, looking at flowers, finding four leafed clovers
  
• Avoiding conversations at the B&B and sitting on the porch reading The Kite Runner
• Meeting Charlie for meals
• Napping
• Wondering how on Earth I am ever going to be able to stick to this Weight Watchers thing
• Practicing map reading and planning excursions beyond the village
  

Long distance treatment stress begins

Neither of my doctors are in the office to call in "orders" so Ochsner may draw day 3 labs tomorrow and ship them to CCRM. Their partners won't do it.

Nurse recommended clinics and CCRM recommended national clinics with Saturday hours will not take blood and ship, nor will they turn over the sample so I may ship it myself.

Rolling eyes, cursing doctors, raising voice, sobbing.

Scrambling as we approach closing time to find someone to draw blood tomorrow (technically day 2, but day 3, Sunday, is impossible), and possibly someone locally to hold vials of blood in their freezer and then ship for us on Monday. (We are travelling on Sunday and I don't know if I can keep blood frozen with us until Monday to ship from Vermont.)

I feel mighty sorry for whomever encounters me tomorrow, eyes swollen and red, frizzy humid New Orleans hair, an emotional train wreck, in the emergency room, my last resort, demanding they bleed my veins and hand over the vials.

Oh, yea....I also feel terribly sorry for that dear, dear man who has been fielding my phone calls and helping me search and must come home to me tonight whether or not we get this figured out.

Sale delayed

We were all set to close tomorrow afternoon the Jena St. house and officially end our stint as landlords.

But, wouldn't you know, the lender seemed to have gotten a case of cold feet yesterday. Thankfully the buyer wants this house and is working tirelessly to make it his. Hopefully he can find a lender who will go for it...lending money for a home purchase in the flood/recovery zone. Lenders have swung so far in the opposite direction, and we really picked the wrong time to try to sell two houses.

Realtor thinks the sale will happen. That's just how bad the guy wants the house (does he know something about this house that we don't?). She's hoping it happens before the end of the month. So are we.

Testing follow up

Charlie came home from work early today to be here for the phone conference with Dr. S and even commented he wouldn't miss it for the world. Such support despite he didn't get to hear a word of what the doctor said because of my futzing up speaker phone. So he smiled and looked at me from across our desks during the phone conference.

The karyotype results are not yet in, so he asked that I call him on Wednesday next week so he can potentially get phone results from the lab if written reports are not yet in before he leaves on a week long vacation. If he is unable to get the results before he leaves, he will have the nurse call with results if all is normal. If there are abnormal results, he will make sure it is the genetic counselor who calls to review and discuss implications.

Remaining testing synopsis:

• AMH is 1.85, and I think he said he likes it above 1.3
• Ultrasound showed 9-10 resting follicles, normal for a woman of my age
• Semen analysis reveal above average sample (Good job, Charles)
• Antibody testing was all normal...we're compatible chemically
• Chromatin assay was normal

I have yet to do the day 3 FSH testing, but will be sending in a blood sample in the next week, whenever day 3 comes around. Dr. S assumes this will be normal, considering all else looks normal.

So as of today, the only testing we have that is out of range is the bloodflow to the uterus.

His recommendation:

• IVF -- We can go ahead with a cycle in July, with his promises that we can get it in during the time I have off that month.
  

OR

• IVF with genetic testing of embryos -- Again, this would be in July, but there's a little something to consider. There are two types of testing.
  
• Florescence inn-situ hybridization (FISH) tests some chromosomes of the embryo and can be done relatively quickly, that is, it can be done in time for a transfer during the same cycle.
  
• The other preimplantation genetic screening, (not sure of the name of this specific test) is more extensive, testing all chromosomes, and therefor takes more time. So, all embryos would be frozen (he repeatedly reminded me of their spectacular thaw rates...95+%) and transfer would occur after results were in, during a future cycle.

Please note: Testing provides information about abnormalities and the sex of the baby. We would in no way consider this as a way of choosing a boy or a girl or a baby without a disability. We are just looking to isolate the most viable embryo that would stick around for 9 months. I know PGD is a touchy subject for many, and we are in no way considering using it to create the prefect, genetically engineered family.

He of course could not guarantee that testing would result in a higher pregnancy rate but it would provide some information and potential answers if the cycle failed, and possibly help us select an embryo that would potentially lead to a live birth.

My feelings? Perhaps if on day 5, assuming we get that far, I have several embryos to choose from, then testing and freezing might be a good option. Or better yet, transfer a few and test and freeze a few. If we are looking at just having two or three embryos , then I'd think we should just put them back in the uterus and forgo testing this cycle. He didn't contradict or advise against this. Charlie thinks if we're able to get embryos to a day 5, then we should test and freeze.

We have a few days to think it over before talking to Dr. S again, but Dr. S said we could make arrangements for testing and if we then decided against it, we wouldn't be held to that decision. But, we couldn't on day 5 decide we had changed our minds and wanted to go ahead and test the embryos without prior arrangement. So I suppose for now we'll have it written on our chart that we opt for testing, give them a check, and wait and see how we feel as decision time gets closer.

Nurse C is to call me tomorrow to go over next steps for setting up IVF #3 (can hardly believe this is our 3rd go at this) in July. I have my fingers crossed the timing works out as I hope and it is able to fit into the time I have free on the calender. More details tomorrow.

Lovin'

Typical breakfast the last few days.

• Tomatoes with every meal
• Iced coffee, hard to keep it just to the weekends
• Learning Photoshop
• Testing my patience with iPhoto, iDVD, and iMovie
• Consuming less than 20 Weight Watcher points
• Afternoon thunderstorms
• New shoes
• Beating the heat at 5 am
• Text messaged support
• Letters

Card Carrying Member

I joined Weight Watchers this morning.

I have been talking about losing 10 lbs for 2 years now, so hopefully shelling out $65, tracking my eating and activity in their nifty little charts, and comparing notes with my card carrying friend (yes, Jessica, you'll be hearing from me!) will motivate me.

I'm tracking my progress here, so if none of the above works I can possibly shame myself into sticking with this.

She's back

She's come each year since we've lived here in March. And then she returns a short while later for round 2.


She's here now for round 2 of the season with her usual 2 eggs.


Charlie and I like having her. We check on her each time we go out to the porch.

Life with Charlie

He takes me to all the best places, and we have a hoot with each and every stop. And the dump is no exception. It is one place I always love, really, really love, going and probably would have never managed to lay eyes on without Charlie. Really, truly love going. I had no idea that it was even a place people drive in to before meeting Charlie!

I love going to the "transfer station" and going to the full fledged dump is even better.

Backing up to the dumpsters

There seemed to be a time when we were hitting the dump several times a month...dumping, not retrieving items. Although I do see some people leaving with more than they bring! I'm all about reduce, reuse, recylce but when you actually see the amount of stuff in the dumpsters at the transfer station, the endless line of people there to dump, or you pull up next to the bulldozer covered in gulls as you unload at the landfill it really opens your eyes to the problem we face with waste.

The dumpsters seem to stay full. A truck leaving the landfill drives by.

I am always amazed by how much we throw away. I like to look for a while at the people (good people watching) to see what they're getting rid of. Still lots of remodel rubbish from flooding no doubt, but people also toss bicycles, furniture, books, and many other things that could have found another home.

I am supposed to be getting my gloves on to help as he begins to unload the trailer of branches.

I tried to get some photos this time, but had to be quick, because I know it's hard to believe, but Charlie is often not amused by my attempts to photo document everything. I could probably do an entire post filled with pictures of him rolling his eyes. Smile.

For the butterflies

I've got tiny grasshoppers chomping on the basil and mint. I squish them when I see them, but for the most part don't mind using the leaves with holes in them. I have two large parsley bushes I am letting go to seed as they phase out due to the heat.

This morning while turning leaves over looking for grasshoppers I noticed someone had been dining on the parsley. Upon closer inspection I found swallowtail caterpillars going to town.


I didn't know they were so fond of parsley. They are making short work of the parsley I have left, and between 37 caterpillars on two bushes, I am not sure if I am going to get any parsley seeds this season.

But, I love having the butterflies...

I heart hibiscus

I fed them today. I am hoping this will help them to bloom more. The blooming is so sparse with the heat, as the buds fall off. The same fertilizer, for plants enjoying acidic soil, was applied to the hydrangea, gardenia, and althea.

Salvia this morning

This is in the front garden...the one a few of my neighbors poo-pooed. "Nothing is going to grow there." "You'll have people parking on in."

The only problem I've had is a mystery dog pooper which was resolved with a sign in the garden asking to respect my hard work. I'd think that everyone would like flowers in their neighborhood, and evidently they do because I get lots of positive feedback when I am out watering.

The coleus is for him

He likes foliage. I like flowers.

Sunflower this morning

Courtesy of messy birds at the feeders and my lack of weeding.

Sugar Cookies and Frosting

Lobster or crawfish? You decide...


Smashed pink scorpion maybe? So, I'm not the queen of cookie decorating.... that's a title reserved for Janet (Charlie's mom).

Pretty good sugar cookie recipe, and I like that the frosting is shiny.

Cookies
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.
   
2. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
   
3. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt.
   
4. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
   
6. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
   
7. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter.
   
8. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
9. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven.
   
10. Cool completely.

Icing
Ingredients:

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• assorted food coloring

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth.
   
2. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
3. Add food coloring to desired intensity.
   

Nurse's call

Erin is not a carrier of Fragile X Syndrome.

You decide

Lobster belt or crawfish belt?

First harvest

That would be one grape tomato. The grape tomatoes are being eaten and I am yet to conceded to pesticides. The creoles, however, are loaded. I have three bushes and each has 4 or so good size 'maters and lots of small fruits and blooms.

It's all about the gear

A few old Nalgenes and a few new Siggs

We finally found some Sigg bottles in Maine, so we each got one (look at that cute pink and gold one!) and a small one for Charlie's bike.

With the news of PBAs in plastics lots of people are ditching the Nalgenes. We aren't necessarily going to do that (but wouldn't it be great if Nalgene did a trade in program so you can at least get a new PBA free Nalgene at a discount when you turn in/recycle your old bottle), but won't buy any new ones. The same is true for other plastic products around the kitchen and house.

This is also cause for Charlie to investigate and purchase more gear. He's already commented that the Sigg isn't going to work with our water purifying system (Steripen) when camping. I'm waiting to see what he comes up with.

That's us

A friend took this photo with us in mind and even framed it for us... we are blessed all right.

Nurse's call

• Cystic fibrosis screening negative for us both
• got latest pap results
• received thyroid test and CBC
• still need: annual exam report, blood type, rubella and chicken pox vaccinations
  

Lovin'

• "It's just boo hideous"
• Hot breath and tickly necks
• Planning lunch dates
• Travelling near and far
• Icees, and the drive to search for the right flavor
• Lucky kisses that may or may not work
• Pages of the Sky Mall flipping next to me, discovering all that junk we can't believe we ever lived without
• cool sheets

More Maine

We had planned to visit two more coastal towns, Castine and Camden to do some kayaking and shopping but the weather didn't cooperate. After several perfect, sunny, crisp days, the rain came. We figured it best to drive on to the big city of Portland considering the grey day ahead.

We enjoyed the drive through quaint towns and Charlie got to enjoy a big breakfast, complete with lobster omelet and blueberry muffins and pancakes, in Camden.


We took our time driving along the coast, slowing to take in the little harbors along the way. It really poured all day, so we didn't stop, but listened to more of Narnia as we drove.

Before reaching Portland we made a stop at LL Bean! If we couldn't be outside, we might as well be in the flagship store. I knocked out some Christmas shopping and we continued on to Portland.

We were lucky to get one of the few remaining rooms in the city, albeit one of the most expensive rooms in the city, because it was Maine's 35th Annual Old Port Festival in Portland on Sunday.


The day started with a parade. I am not sure I have ever been to a parade outside of New Orleans, but I've watched enough television to know that a good ole Americana parade is nothing like what we have in Nawlins.


Lots of kids with balloons lined up to see jugglers, drummers, and costumed marchers wind through the streets.


After the parade the festivities began. There were a few stages with live music of all sorts. Lots of cover bands like Retro Rockerz, the quintessential old rockers.... wearing black jeans, faded black t-shirts, and black tennis shoes.



Areas were set up for local merchants with booths as well as artists. And there was lots of "festival" food, or what Charlie tells me is festival food....french fries, root beer, ice cream, hot dogs and sausage, and fried dough. I had never seen "fried dough" on a fair menu. I'm thinking they need a catchy name for the stuff.


And although I know New Orleans is different than the rest of the country I am always surprised that there is no beer on the street, even at a festival. Charlie tells me he thinks New Orleans really isn't part of the U.S. because if this.

So we had to head into some bars to "refresh."


People watching was good...lots of "crunchy," hippie, young folks with oodles of kids. We were really surprised by the number of 3+ child families we saw. Must be in the water...or those long winters. Also funny to listen to that local accent..."chowdah."


Maine was a great summertime get away. We loved always being along the coast. We also loved how dog friendly of a state it is! Every hotel allowed pets and people brought their dogs with them everywhere.


I think we have another summer in Maine, complete with "chowdah and lobstah" in our future.

My favorite souvenir, ever

Any time we go anywhere there are a few things to get. Postcards are a must. I love getting them so I always send them. Postcards sent.

Charlie also gets a magnetic clip. He's a chip fiend and we never seem to have enough clips for all those chip bags, so he's constantly on a hunt for them in each place we visit. Chip clip found.

As if the chip clip isn't enough, the newest must have for my dearest is a smashed penny. Put in two quarters and your penny, select the image, and crank the penny through the gears to press some kitschy image into the penny. We're gaining quite the collection of these. And what does one do with a smashed penny collection? Evidently it is pretty serious business for some but for us most of the fun is just stumbling across the dang penny smashers and we finally decided to put magnets on the back and add them to that chip clip magnet collection on the side of the fridge. 5 smashed pennies with lighthouses, lobsters, and moose at my last count.

And the final must is an ornament for the Christmas tree. We got a moose in Montana, a loon in Minnesota, an apple in NYC. We got some real doozies when we were exiles from the floods after Katrina from interstate gas stations between New Orleans and Denver.

Maine's got that lobster and lighthouse thing going on here, so we got a cute wooden lobster and a clam shell with a lighthouse painted on it. That clamshell was pretty close to being my favorite until we found this...


That would be Santa Claws...a lobster claw made into Santa! Better than a shot glass any day. This one is going in my carry on to make sure it's not lost or broken. Can't wait for the tree to go up.

Whale watching

We decided to spend an afternoon on a boat tour. I was torn between going to see the seals and lobster fisherman OR the whales and puffins. The whales won out and I figured we could do the seal tour on our next visit down east.

We bundled up after warnings of cold temperatures off shore, and thank goodness we did. I was cold!


We saw two whales coming up for a few moments and then diving to feed. We have lots of shots of the fin on the finback whales...


The boat hung out for about an hour waiting and watching as they came up for air and down to feed.


Charlie was the photographer for the day because my hands were not coming out of my pockets!


The whales leave a sort of void on the surface after they dive. The footprint lasts for several minutes.


We also rode out to see some sea birds near the light houses.

No bird photos but we did get to see lots of puffins, loons, black-backed gulls and Leach's storm-petrels.

Nice afternoon, complete with lobster and clam chowder dinner after we docked, of course. Can't get enough!