So here is the house, it is an 1850's style farm house with a two story barn and half an acre of land . Putting the pictures up will most likely jinx this all somehow but what the hell, everything happens for a reason, so if It falls through at the last minute, ill walk away knowing that.

Didn't see it coming....

After looking at a number of places and exploring the Camden/Rockland/Rockport area I was really into the area but not very enthusiastic about what we were finding for property. In this terrible market it IS a good time to buy, especially for a first time home buyer. We were leaving after a couple days of looking with no luck. We went to one last place before heading out and what we found was pretty sweet. So now The house is under contract and I close on the 28th of this month. I know, what the hell am I doing?? To answer the common questions: Yes, I am still heading to Alaska to jump, Yes I am going to rent it out, Yes, I will be returning in the fall to live in Rockland, (or base out of there anyway), no I won't be driving to Alaska, ill fly, Yes I have all of my belongings in Bend (they will be retrieved in the fall), yes Ill be living in Rockland until April, and yes I am doing it myself. I am impulsive for sure, but I have found that when I want to do something I go try to made it happen, it has worked out so far so hopefully this will be the same. It is a good investment, a good place for me to put my money instead of paying someone Else's mortgage.   Well see, it is all part of the "ride" I feel real good about moving to Rockland, I love the coast, I love the edgy seaside fishing town. It is one of the few areas of the coast where the mountains meet the sea. It truly beautiful, and not being there in the summer will allow me to enjoy it in the spring, fall and winter without the tourist crowd. Oh and Camden Snow bowl is in town so I can hit the slopes, calm the craving and and work on those tele-turns, looking out at the island's and the sea. Not bad. 

Changes......

So as most of you know, I was slated to head back out to Bend, Oregon come the first of the year......  I thought for sure that was happening, I bought a truck and gathered my gear and at the last minute decided to wait until after new years to leave. I went to visit my Mom and Grandparents in Western Mass for Christmas. I had a very nice low key time for the holiday, just what was needed before crossing the country again.  I have been looking into property and houses for sale in Mid-coast Maine for a while now, not sure how serious I was, but frequently looking for the last couple of years. My mom thought it to be a great idea that we head up to the mid-coast and just "look" at some property. The "discovery phase" I think it was called.  We headed to Maine for a few days and stayed at the Lord Camden Inn, in downtown Camden.  After we were done, I would head back to my Dad's and hit the road for Oregon, via Florida and the southern route. 

Cross country ski-jouring

Fortunately I was able to follow Dad's lead and go score a nice new pair of cross country ski's, boots, and poles from a lodge that is not doing so well. Shaemus and I now have the complete setup and can hit the lake for some ski-jouring. If you are not sure what the heck that means, it is Shaemus, a one dog sled team pulling me as I ski behind him. He doesn't do all the work though, I need to constantly remind him that it is OK to be pulling hard, as I herd him along the trail.  After we ran so much together with the setup he could only run me so fast, so he is hesitant to break out. That in combination with being out of shape makes for an interesting, but really fun time. We have had a lot going on lately, as a result both our fitness has been struggling. It is time to turn it around, the arduous work season is now on the horizon and getting tough is essential.  

The largest moon of 2009

Last night was the largest moon of 2009, as the sun went down the moon came up and created an awesome scene out on the ice. Here is to the biggest moon of 2009.

8 pounds of Cusk

Dad ran back home for something and wouldn't you know it, I got a flag and caught an eight pound Cusk. It gave a decent fight, almost 20 minutes of sheer "excitement"................ I caught a Cusk, it was the biggest cusk I have ever caught, hey, it's better than nothing, only by a little though.

Ice Fishing

Now that 11 days has expired in the 2009 fishing season I finally was able to get out on the ice to set some traps. It is real hard to get out and ice fish when you live so far from any lake or pond................ Anyway, Dad and I took Saturday and went out to the shack and set some traps down deep and a few on top for Salmon. It was an alright day of fishing, well, better than the last few days of open water in 2008 anyway! The dogs had a great time, Shaemus ate a couple of smelt, and some snow covered with grease. 

One more load!

Under the lights

The time change has made it hard to keep working past 4:30 each day, so I busted out the flood lights and put in a few extra hours to get what I moved stacked. It has been a long few days of playing around with firewood. I am fairly certain that after this is all done I will no longer enjoy working with firewood. It was pretty sweet tonight when I finished picking it all up under the lights of the tractor. I couldn't help but smile as I left the guys driveway where I have spent way to many hours.  

More wood

Back on the lake there is still more to get done before winter puts the hammer down. The dumptruck has been in the shop but luckily was ready yesterday. We have an enormous amount of firewood to move and then stack. With the ice covered ground, the entire road and driveway leading to the house where the wood was needed to be sanded. because the truck was in use I had to shovel it by hand and make trips with the tractor. Coming off a relaxing birthday it was refreshing to get out and accomplish something. I worked till well after dark last night under the lights of the tractor and got a good start. Today is 5 degrees and about a thirty mile an hour wind howling off the lake. It should be pretty raw working but hopefully ill get it all moved today and be able to continue stacking tonight into tomorrow and Wednesday. This is the pile that needs to be moved, and then one of the areas that it will be re-stacked.

What a guy

I came out of the house and Sheamus motioned for me to come out on the dock. Once I was there he sat down and cleared his throat and in his kermit the frog/Frank Sinatra voice, sung me happy birthday. Thanks a lot pal, your quite a guy.

A snowy birthday

With no truck and snow falling hard I spent the day reading by the wood stove. I read the Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald. It was a great piece of writing, what a masterful use of words. It is actually overwhelming how someone could put there thoughts on paper in such a way. I guess I need to play more scrabble, because my vocabulary can't compete without a dictionary. Anyway it was a great read and It made me want to have a hundred people over and have a party Jay Gatsby style. Instead I ate a big lunch and drank a Guinness with Shaemus and we had our own party.

Back in the northcountry

With Dad and Donna in the Key's, I am in charge of the three dogs. It has been crazy so far but very manageable. Turns out the little dogs like the snow and stay outside in there pen for hours at a time. I thought they were Cuban and hated cold? Anyway, they are not allowed outside the pen until the ice freezes because they don't really understand the meaning of thin ice. I almost went swimming a few days ago when Eddie walked about 50 feet out onto the ice and nearly broke through. Thankfully Shaemus came out of the woods and got there attention back on shore. It was real cold and man that would have been a cold venture crashing through the thin ice to rescue the little ones.

Shaemes from the sea to the farm

Shaemus, as most know, is not to hard to please. He romped around the many different beaches chasing birds, greeting other dogs, and backing people up against the bushes on the cliff paths. Most people think he is a killer, and female. I guess I just don't see it. I see a gentle little guy, even an old man that wouldn't even know how to hurt something if he wanted to. He is unfortunately type casted, this is the face of the female killer that people must see as he comes trotting down the path toward them.

A rookie bro comes to town

Jason Schroeder, My room mate during rookie training came out to New York for Thanksgiving and drove up to Maine for a couple nights. It was great to see him and show him around the town I grew up in and around. We had a great time indulging in the great food and drink Portsmouth, NH has to offer. Jason was fortunate enough to eat some Maine lobster for the first time, and was educated on the current lobster crisis in Maine by the knowledgeable women who sold them to us. Over two days, we drove around the area and even visited the farm. Thanks for coming Schroeder!

Working on the roof

With Bill in charge, and Tim and I hard at work we managed to get the roof on the porch. The weather was brutal the whole time, but getting the roof on was a huge accomplishment. Thanks again to Tim for helping out, it really was a three man job most the time and he knew what he was doing so it went smooth. 

Big Dog Little Dogs

Poor Shaemus was feeling pretty down when Eddie and Tico were being cradled. We felt bad but what can you do?  Then it came to me, now he is back to his old happy self

Putting the roof on, Tim comes for a visit!

With the window closing quick on outside work, and snow already coating the ground, we put a drive on to get the roof put on cabin five. By pure coincidence My cousin Tim came for a visit, cutting my workload in half. Tim already had a good idea of what was going on so I was able to sort of hide behind him when Bill (Dad' friend the carpenter) asked us to do something.  Thanks Tim

Travel Travel Travel

I have been driving all over the state of Maine and most recently down to Mass for my Mom's Birthday. I did not take many pictures except for one morning after running on Long Sands Beach in York. Shaemus was on suicide watch due to lack of exercise and poor ownership. He was stoked and we were friends again by the time I took this.

Winter is here.......sigh

Winter is here, it is cold, I saw some snow flakes. That's it, goodbye fall, sigh...... Everything seems to be harder when it gets cold. We have a few key projects like a water line to finish and now that it is cold ass hell everything is freezing. We should have the water line done in the net few days if we can get the insulation tomorrow and the stars align. This is a look at a small portion of the ditch Dad dug with the tractor, those piles of backfill are covered with hay tonight so they hopefully don't freeze.