Northern Maine today...

Snow! 

New, simplified blog format

Hi all,

I changed the design of the blog to make it simpler to see all the pictures at once. Remember: Click on the first picture to enlarge them all. I may play with it more over the year, but I like how easy this one is to view. Comments welcomed. Thanks.

Rich

"Blogs are boring. Pass the treats," love Bailey Tuckerman.  

Stackin' Wood Upta Camp (Translation from "the Maine": Stacking wood up at camp)

Before...

We hit the road today and drove the 20 miles to our camps in Weld. There, a bulging pile of wood waited for the three of us to stack. I'm wondering whether the city boy. Guido, has ever stacked wood before. I forgot to ask. But within 30 minutes we were done. Then, we headed up to the local variety store called Skoolhouse Variety Store for a couple of burgers and fries.

After.... 

Best Cheese Burgers in Weld, Maine 

Webb Lake, Byron Notch...

 

Guido's American Haircut

A few houses from ours on Prospect Avenue is Tim's, a barber. He's been cutting hair in Rumford for over 50 years. It costs $10 for a haircut and we usually give him a $2 tip. Today, Guido jumped in with his 2-month old hair.... look'in good, Guido!

Before....

After!

More partying!

Tayane (Brasil) celebrated her birthday with her fellow exchange students on Friday just before the football game. They also celebrated Guido! Later that night, the football team won their game and all was right with the world. 

Sebino chatting with Tayane. 

More presents for Guido

Tayane & Victor

Party on, Guido! (Click on pictures to enlarge.)

Guido! Your cake is on fire! 

We celebrated Guido's 15th with a smorgasbord from the Rumford House of Pizza. Carbonara, Pizza, salad, chicken quesadillas, chicken wings... and we sang. 

Don't miss the video at the bottom of the page. 

Happy Birthday, Dear Boy! 

Connie, Ben, and Guido

The brothers from different mothers. 

Football Helmet Hair. :-) 

Gifts from Connie & Ben. 

Happy Birthday, Guido!

Our sleepy 15-year-old! 

Guido turns 15!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, G-MAN! 

Our G-Man turned 15 years old today ands we celebrated early this morning with Bailey barking, presents, and balloons. Tonight, we have dinner with Connie and Ben, and then cake and ice cream and song. 

Here's to our favorite Spanish boy 

and the very good person he is. 

A present from home. 

The Goods!

Nothing like Dollar Store Balloons. 

Bailey waiting to charge up stairs for a birthday wake up call! 

Team picture. 

Sebino working on Bailey's balloon. 

A Bailey Tuckerman Kent wake-up call! 

The goods!

From home! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Picture of Bailey and Guido climbing Whitecap from Bailey, with love. 

Card from home

Trucker hat from Bailey

Farewell, Espen!

ESPEN LAMBERG AND HIS BROTHER, BAILEY TUCKERMAN

We've had fun with Espen over the past 10 days. Now, he's heading back to Denmark with two new exchange brother-friends and good memories. Naturally, Bailey won't be pleased to see him leave! But... Espen and his family plan to visit next summer!

Goodbye belly rubs 

Farewell hugs for Bailey... 

Last meal with Espen and a fall picture

Guido and Espen

We had a Mexican dinner of chicken burritos, rice, and nachos on Thursday night for Espen. Espen will be out with friends this evening. Naturally, schedules being schedules, Sebino had football practice. Connie came over after the dinner for a chat with all of us while Ben, recovering from  surgery, stayed home and iced his foot.

This afternoon, the soccer team plays a traditional fun game among the players in what we call World Cup. The entire team, in pairs  of 2 boys each, play against one another in corner kicks. The winners may select shirts or gift certificate or a book from the original coach with money inside. It's a fun, if not hard-hitting battle. Espen reminded me that he and Moritz (2017-18) won World Cup when they were here.

The Memorial Bridge in Rumford that takes drivers onto the island. 

The downtown area of Rumford is on an island in the Androscoggin River. 

 

Speaking to the School Board

Our 12 international students, including Sebino and Guido, spoke to the School District's Board of Directors. The kids were charming and fun as they introduced themselves, their countries, and a little about their experience at Mountain Valley High School. The school board members smiled broadly and enjoyed hearing from the kids. In this picture below they were listening intently to their wonderful exchange student coordinator, Abbey Rice.

2019 Mountain valley High School Exchange Students

Big Win!

Guido's soccer team won a big game against Dixfield, our arch rivals in the neighboring town. Don't they look happy? Congratulations, Falcons!

Falcons '19
Victory 2-1 over Dixfield

Autumn in Maine: "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."

The village of Rumford Center 3 miles from our home. 

Here are traditional photos taken in Maine at the time of year. One is the covered bridge about 15 minutes from our home. The other is the grand old mountain of Maine, Mount Katahdin in northern Maine.  Others around our town. In a favorite children's book, Anne of Green Gables, the child narrator writes, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." Me, too.

Mount Katahdin

Andover Covered Bridge

From our ski area

Maine's State Capitol in Augusta 

And again from our ski area

A Few Pictures from the Weekend Adventures

Sebino and Espen after capsizing. 

Guido and Ivan posing for an oceanside photo. 

I know the boys have had fun. They'll be home today with their photos and stories. Hopefully, I can pry the stories and photos from them for the blog before they fall asleep. Here are a few pictures of the boys and of a hike I took up near Grafton Notch on North Road which is just south of the Magalloway River and Umbagog Lake where Sebino and Espen have been canoeing. If you haven't heard, the canoeists tipped over yesterday when coming to shore.... wet, laughing, and ready for more... As always, remember to click on photos to enlarge. 

Who got the last piece of Apple Torte? :-) 

Someone's happy to be hiking in the Mahoosuc mountains

Farmer's field

List for canoe trip 

Happy brothers in Bar Harbor, Maine 

After capsizing.

Magalloway River 

Magalloway River 

North Road in the Mahoosuc Range

Old Speck Mountain on the Appalachian Trail

Old Speck Mountain on the Appalachian Trail

A lake way down river from the boys' trip 

Rumford from the air... 

Signage in the Mahoosucs

More signage. 

The Rig... Rich's travel van.