Ferry Beach State Park - a trip to the beach

Maine's 2011 summer was a hot and humid one - almost unbearable. At least by a Mainah's standards. I spent alot of time at the beach - with or without his majesty. I learned how to haul all my stuff and set it up with my head held high and no child in tow and let me tell you, I enjoyed every minute of it.

One beach that I was aware of but had never visited was Ferry Beach in Saco. Just south of Old Orchard beach - it's big brother - this quiet span of sand provides great views from a short expanse of beach in a well maintained and monitored State park. In comparison to Crescent Beach in Cape Elizabeth, the people here were kind and considerate and not pushy and rude. I had found a diamond in the rough.

The walk to the beach is a bit of a hike down a walking path of composite board that traverses under the main road and through a scrub pine span until you hit the tall dune grass and the beach. Here you can go right or left to find your space. There is a lifeguard station that has been manned every time I went and the park limits are well marked.

The funky part of this beach is that at high tide, there isn't much room for squatting, but at low tide the space is amazing. Also at low tide, the bay becomes so shallow that you can walk out for a long ways before it gets deep enough to become too cold. I stand at 5'6" and for the most part, it's at my knees and then thighs. Therefore, it's a great place to bring the kids! When high tide comes, the waves become good rollers by the time they get to shore and make for perfect boogie-boarding. Kinda makes up for the lack of beach space.

I was thrilled the first time I went to see the park rangers patrol the beach as well as the life guards, looking for naughty potty-mouths, drinkers and smokers or any other unfit behavior and they are not afraid to march them right off the park grounds. Love it. LOVE IT.

Of course there is a fee to get in, but it's worth it. There are walking trails, a picnic area, a shower and restrooms. And life guards. And beach patrol. And I love my park pass. And I will go back.

Overlooking the Old Orchard Beach area. You can see the two-toned water, the lighter green is shallow - yes, it goes out that far!

No - this isn't for the bikini clad girl, see grampa way out in the distance? He was just about my height, look how far out he is!

Saco's Ram Island Lighthouse (Portland has one too!)

The beach at low tide - again, look at that water color!

Overlooking Camp Ellis

Oh yes, and you get bothered by an occasional advertisign plane, but it's not so bad

Park Ranger! Hide your beer and cigarettes!

Right now, I wish I was there on the beach. :)

Comfort food - Refridgerator Muffins

There are certain things from your childhood that immediately brings you back to a specific place and time. One of those things for me is Refridgerator Muffins. My mom never told us how good they were for us, she just made up a batch, kept it in the 'fridge and popped those puppies in the oven for a warm yummy breakfast. The truth is that this recipe contains All Bran and Shredded Wheat so you get a double bang for your buck. I love the fact that I can just turn on the oven, scoop out 6 muffins and toss them in the over for Monkey to have a quick and easy breakfast, just like I used to. ♥

I promise to post a picture of the completed muffins as soon as I whip up a batch. :)

Refridgerator Muffins

4 Shredded Wheat biscuits
2 Cups All Bran
1/2 Cup boiling water

Crumble biscuits into a large bowl, add Bran and boiling water and toss well.

2 Cups sugar
1 Cup shortening (I prefer butter flavored)
4 Eggs

Cream together in a seperate bowl, then add to the cereal mixture.

5 Cups flour
5 Teaspoons Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Teaspoons Salt

Sift together and then add to creamed mix alternately with 1 Quart of Buttermilk.

Place mixed batter into the refridgerator and let set overnight. To bake, add to muffin liners or a greased muffin pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes. Discard mixture if not used within seven days.

We like to add stuff to the muffins, such as chocolate or cinnamon chips, blueberries, sliced banana - you get the drift, try some of your own varieties!

Ahh, the original 'Fridge muffin!

I keep the batter in large Ziploc containers

I usually make six at a time, his majesty eats 4, I get the remainder.

I sprinkle the chips on the top of the batter, then push them in with a fork. Then I sprinkle a few on top. :)

Downy's vs. Hairy's

I have many visitors that come to the feeders on the back porch, but the woodpeckers are my favorites. I typically have three regulars - two to the suet and one to my poor trees. The Pileated I've already spoken about, it's time for the smaller hardheaded friends and a monochrome blog.

Mr. & Mrs. Downy make daily visits. The smallest of my friends, they are the least timid. I can always tell when it's them even from a distance as they are barely as tall as the wire suet cage they hang from. He has a red cap, she has none.

Mr & Mrs. Hairy come when they feel the need. When hanging on the suet basket they are easily identifyable as they usually stand a full head and tail larger. My pair nested out back this past summer, I had three very uncoordinated Hairy babies flitting through the backyard on numerous occasions. It was a thrill! Again - the male has a red cap and the female.... none.

I hope this helps you identify which species of woodpecker is visiting your back yard!

Mrs. Downy - missing the red cap

Whatcha looking at there broad?

Mr. Downy, sporting his red dome

Mrs. Hairy - you can see - is much larger than the wire cage. Mr. Hairy is identical except with a red crown.

Fun at our local Indoor Soccer hangout

We seem to spend as much time at our local indoor arena as we do at home sometimes, but at least it's cheap entertainment. My son has soccer there three, sometimes four days a week. We tend to stick around and watch the other leagues play as well - Men's, High School, Co-Ed and just about anyone else while we're there. We love it. Monkey gets to pick up on things that he might not just get from a coach and I get some time away from the house watching a live sport for nothing. Well, my dues are taken from housework and sleep. :)

On this specific occasion, we had the place to ourselves. It was very fun.

Not a soul around, a dirty camera lens and a boy with a ball

Our favorite indoor soccer haunt

Let Monkey show you how to bend it like Beckham

It makes him sleep at night!

During a game - same turf. I ♥ this boy

Visitors in the backyard

Last week's storm brought our first snowfall with staying power, thanks to the help of some freezing rain / rain that lashed out across the area and left a thin crust of ice on top of the snow. The day after it snowed, Monkey noticed that something had walked across the lawn and driveway - we found 5 distinct sets of deer tracks - over varying sizes - where they had wandered in search of food.

That food is an abundant apple tree bordering the lawn of the house on the corner and the field that borders my lawn.

The next morning, after the crust had formed, they came back through in the similiar drove. These pictures are from the day after that, so it looks like an army marched across my lawn.

Right across the driveway

Superhighway across the front lawn!

Digging for supper

Munching down those tender morsels while they can still get them!

Getting in a little sliding time

Looking to see if the deer are still around......

On thin ice

"Humans aren't very smart you know"

"I mean, they are smart enough to feed us and all....."

"But what would make someone go on ice when it's been so warm and skate near a waterfall?!"

"Nuts I'm tellin' ya"

"Ha!"