Buck looking for a new home

"Bucky", the 1 1/2 year old nubian x alpine buck is looking for a new home.

Thanks for visiting.

Fall is near - time for firewood and home projects

The kids are back in school and the morning air hints of Fall coming soon. It's time to tackle the projects that our busy summer schedule didn't allow. Sawing some lumber on the Hud-son Band Sawmill, working up some more firewood and finishing a few building projects are now the focus of my weekend time. My Land Surveying business is very busy right now so I'll be focusing on that during the week.

Let's hope that the great weather stays around a few more days. See you soon.

Western Maine Tour 2015

With summer vacation coming to an end we decided to get off the farm for two days and take in a bit of western Maine beauty. Getting off the beaten path is more and more important to me as the kids get older and the speed of our daily lives seem to be almost unreal. Heading west (or northwest) in this case is something Mainers have been doing for hundreds of years. Some Wheeler's headed west in the early 1800's, but my line stayed on the home place to make it their own.

With a stop at the wire bridge in New Portland the kids and I marveled that the bridge sways so much but has stood since 1866.

A night at Uncle Ralph's camp seemed appropriate on this 2015 memory tour. My first visit was with my folks when I was only a month old. It seemed fitting that I do the driving this time, and Angela, the kids and I were glad that Mom & Dad could make the trip with us. Our "new" 2003 GMC Yukon XL seats 9 so we can fit us all and still have room for a cooler and our bags.

Celebrating 19 years of marriage, and now well into our 40's, Angela & I are showing some wear, but overall are in good condition. If this is what a mid-life crisis looks like, I LIKE IT.

Mom & Dad enjoyed the views on the trip as we visited the Height of Land overlooking MooseLookMeGunTic Lake, south of Rangley Lake. My childhood summer trips were spent mostly enjoying western Maine and northern New England. The hustle and bustle of coastal Maine and Route 1 never had much appeal for Dad and doesn't for me either. Leaving the WIFI behind and enjoying the simple things is such a treat. Next time you see your teenagers humped over their Iphones, texting, sexting, Instagraming or Facebooking you should wonder what memories they are creating.

Uncle Paul

"Well done, good and faithful servant" ... A harder worker I have never known, always willing lend a hand and do what was right. I'll miss Uncle Paul. I'd like to stop by for a visit and talk, but I'll bet heaven has Unc busy laying a new culvert or grading the driveway.

Goats keep coming - Just kidding

Kidding season in the goat barn is over for the year. We had 4 does give birth to 8 total kids this year, 3 bucks and 5 does. I'm milking two does now and the family is enjoying the fresh goats milk again and we are looking forward to some goat cheese flavored with sea salt and chives cut from the kitchen garden. The beef steer is happily enjoying the green grass in the pasture and the hens are still free ranging for a few more days. When all the gardens are in, the hens will be locked up as well.

As we say goodbye to the busy month of May we look forward to the lazy days of summer filled with lots of hard work ending with trips to the brook or lake for refreshment. This picture, included in one of my June 2010 blog posts show the older 3 kids cooling off in our brook. We are so fortunate to have this special place to raise our kids.

Ange & I often marvel about what a 20 Acre woodlot can become with a mere 20 years of clearing, building and dreaming. No matter when you start, dream big. Hope to see you again soon.

Sweet Saturday

Hello Friends:

Maple season is slow in coming, so we have decided to host our 5th annual open house at the sugarhouse on Saturday March 28, 2015, 10-4. We are calling it "Sweet Saturday" and we also hope the weather is warm and the sap is running. So far we have only had a small run and now the sap is frozen solid. Angela & I and the kids hope to see you there. Reuben