Winter is almost over!

We've had a bunch of big storms and more snow days off from school than we have ever had in recent years. It was one heck of a winter. No sign of it inside though (unless you look at the boots and gloves) because we were never without the pellot stove. The pellets Dick bought this year were called Okanagan - burned better with less ash than others he has tried.

Outside it was a different story.

My deck is under here somewhere -- really it is.

Fall Visits

Amber is my cousin's daughter. She has visited Maine twice this fall with her children, Alexander and Sophia. They are adorable kids and my mother loves to have them visit. The funny part of this last visit was how much the kids liked Dick. He was a kid magnet!

Uncle Donald came with Amber on the last visit also. Mom was very happy to see her brother.

Amber has a big event coming up in December - in fact it's a big event for the whole family!

Birds and Other Critters

Last March, Rocky (or Rocketta) visited. Repeatedly. Night after night. We knew birds could not eat as much as was disappearing - at night. A friend loaned us his wildlife camera. This is what we found out - said racoon visited often. Three times a night. Breakfast, lunch and dinner racoon style. We removed the seed at night. A couple months later a huge racoon became road kill.

In June, this lady was hit around 3 am and for the rest of the night, the police and the local critter remover were busy. This was the same night the local teen graduation-party-in-the-pit occurred. The truck on the back of the flatbead going by in the background has one of the trucks that was hauled off when the police raided the teen's "campsight." They hauled the vehicles off at $200.00 per - if the kid handed over the keys. $200.00 more if they didn't.

We saw all kinds of color this summer. Bluebirds, finches of all kinds.

Another UMO Graduation

University of Maine has to hold graduation ceremonies twice on graduation day because there are so many earning degrees. This was the afternoon ceremony.
The governor was the guest speaker.

It was a Big event last May - Keely graduated from UMO. We're very proud of her! Lots of the family and her friends attended graduation and after that we gathered for pizza. It was a fun day.

More from the Village

This is where OSB used to be produced, over a hundred jobs lost in the area when it closed. A similar plant in Canada near her is doing well. So much for NAFTA.

This is called the scale house, where wood on the trucks is weighed.

Wood from the trucks is stacked outside the pulp facility.

This is part of the pulp-making facility.

Woodland Public Library, which needs a new roof.

This is the old shopping center and bank. A local doctor now has his offce in the former bank, which is on the right end.

This is the center of a small park on Main Street, not far from the old shopping center. It has a few small flower beds and a play area for children.

The "Courts", located next to the elementary school, is a recreation area for teens. The surfaces aren't in great shape to play basketball or tennis, but people try anyway. You just never know which way the ball will go once it comes back off the surfacce.

Like any New England town, there are several churches. This is a church on Broadway, which also houses the local food pantry.

On the left is the entrance to the Catholic Church.

On a more personal note, this is the new metal roof on my parents' house.

The Little Village of Woodland

This is where I live. Let's go north into "town."

Here it is - Woodland, Washington County, now called Baileyville.

Some familiar scenes for those of us who live here- or used to live here. This is the headquarters for whichever company operates the pulp facility.

This is where many get or keep their money- the local credit union.

Many a baseball/softball game has occurred at the Spednic Club Field.

And many an occasion has been held here- like my parent's 45th anniversary celebration. It's the only game in town for big events if you want to include alcohol. It's a private club, but not too elite!

The top street of the Woodland Heights. When I was a kid these home were built. All are of a similar pattern like my parents' home - ranch. Must have made an impression on me. I have a ranch too.

The Woodland Baptist Church is across the street.

My own class moved into this building when I was in fifth grade. Thousands of kids have passed through this elementary school. Too bad this area has no jobs and they have all moved away.

Soccer season has just ended and the only players on the Spednic Club field are the Canadian Geese.

Round the curve on Washington Street - familiar territory to Woodlandites.

Split level in Woodland used to be a gathering place for family visits.

Just down a street and around the corner, across the street. A family with little kids lives in this home on the left. There are not too many kids in the heighborhood.

The end of Summit Street.

The Episcopal Church in town, which hasn't been used in years. My daughter was baptised here.

A gate to the pulp facility near what was Jason's Pizza, which closed last May.

The town office and the health facility on Broadway.

Main Street looking north.

Main Street looking south. My grandmother used to own "the Block", which was an apartment/boarding house.

The Dragon Dome, home of endless basketball games.

Maine entrance of Woodland Jr/Sr High School. Last year the girls' basketball team won the state title . Last year the boys' basketball team won the state title. Last year the girls won the state softball title. They made us proud and we do have an academic program, by the way!

Across the street .......

are the soccer and baseball fields.

Just pass the Y on the right, here's Main Street.

Make a choice- right, Main Street or left, toward Princeton.

Here we have all former: restaurant, child care business, laundromat, etc...... For Sale

Our shopping mall - with two spaces available for business.