A Great Day!

Wow, it was a wonderful day. It really felt like spring and the feeling in the air just seemed to shift today. The ewes traveled all over the pasture and seemed to find grass to nibble! Then this afternoon I shut them inside and let the Donkey's out into the big pasture, they had to much fun running around, kicking at each other, and smelling things. It's almost hard to explain why it was such a good day, I think maybe the sunshine and promise of spring was just intoxicating. I got more done today then I think I did all winter. Yeah, it feels so good to get over the winter depression.

I keep trying to post something here and I get too caught up in everyone else's blog's. Plus I think I'm addicted to facebook now and that's taking up way too much time. Anyway, things are good, EMT class is stressful but rewarding, we sheared the sheep on Sunday, then it turned windy and cold. Poor pregnant sheep! I'm looking forward to lambing and to warmer weather! Todays my birthday and it was snowing, I thought it was spring!!?? Well I'll post pictures later, I have to go to NIMS 300 (National Incident Management System) training.

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Snow Stinks

This is my boat barn that came with my house. Top picture is before, bottom is after the snow storm. It's been a bad couple of weeks and this just topped it off on Monday. If you look close you can see the bow of two boats in the snowy pic, plus there was a classic truck in there, none of them are mine. Luckily nothing got more then just superficial damage. Anyone want to come and have a bonfire party this spring?

Appreciating Island Life

So, I drove my truck of the road the other day. Started to fish tail on the ice, hit dry pavement then flew off a significant embankment, felt like it was going to roll, the whole bit. As I'm flying through the air (at least it felt like I was in the air) all I could think about was; I'm going to roll this, but at least I know that Islesboro EMT's will be dragging my but out of it. I was actually pretty calm about the whole thing (diesel was not). As soon as I stopped someone was right there checking on me, by the time I self extricated five people had pulled off the side of the road to help, and they got my truck out, no questions asked. That is why I love living in a small community, you never feel completely alone.

On My Way!

I just started the EMT class last Friday. I love the instructor, she's a fellow morgan lover, and show's with Judy Nason. It's going to be a really intense class , but I like that. Be careful if you come anywhere near me I might just take your blood pressure!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year one and all. I can't believe it's January already, but I'm glad to see 2008 go. What a crazy year, it was both exciting and heartbreaking. Gas prices and the state of the economy made it challenging, the election of Barack Obama made it seem worth going on into 2009. I'm really excited about what the next year might bring, and also a little apprehensive. This winter will be difficult, we must all watch out for one another and also not be afraid to ask for help. Anyway here's to a bright new begining!!! Take care, and take care of each other, with love, Marie

Finally a picture of me in fire mode. I know, I'm totally sexy +)

First ambulance run!

So before I can be an EMT I had to learn to be an ambulance driver. I first took an AVOC (ambulatory vehicle operations course) class which included eight hours of class time plus a lab where we had to drive an obstacle course. Then I had to drive around the island for ten hours with a Field Training Officer (FTO) and back down lots of driveways. Then I was supposed to do at least two probationary runs on the mainland, actually driving to the hospital with lights and sirens. Fred, my chief, said after my tens hours that I could skip the probationary runs because both of my FTO's rated me as excellent! So yesterday we got and call and I was the only driver to show up. Woohoo, it was fun. You gotta love going down route one in Camden and watching all the traffic move over for you, such power! Plus playing with buttons and making lots of noise is like so much fun! I just glad I go the first run over with, so maybe I'll get a little less nervous every time the pager goes off.

This is Diesel and his sister Strudel.

Say hello to the up-island spider. They are only found on the north end of the island and no where else in the world. They are big and fast!

I still don't know how Diesel got on the tractor with me!

Diesel is a nut!

In my old truck there was a narrow space between the two front seats and he would sleep like this all the time!

Brrrrr!

You know its cold on the island when the air is colder then the ocean! I always worry about the ducks this time of year but they seem to be loving it. I was watching them this morning and they lay on the snow and tuck their feet up under their feathers, I think that is really convienent! Anyway I hope every is staying warm or cool depending on where you are!

So, I'm having a little trouble posting pictures. I really wanted to post some pictures from the last year, but I've only been successful with one. So please be patience, I'll try later tonight maybe when less people are clogging up the lines.

Eric and Diesel at the helm.
(Sarah I thought you especially would like this one!)

To the rescue

Wow, so busy. I joined the fire department here on the island about a year ago then joined the water rescue team and then I'm taking the EMT-B course this winter. Did I mention I'm also the treasurer for the Islesboro Ambulance Association. Oh yeah, and I also take care of close to fifty animals seven days a week. So if any kind of accident happens on this island I'm sure to be there, including someone in the water. We went swimming last week during the big storm to see what it would be like in the waves, the water actually felt warm. The week before that the water temp was 46 degrees! We of course wear wet or dry suits to keep warm, and it's not being in the water that's a challenge it getting out into the cold air! I've always loved to swim and by joining the wet team I can swim year round. I've even had Diesel out there with us during a drill. But he's not much help, while my team mate were trying to "rescue" me, Diesel was trying to get them to throw the tennis ball and splashing them in the face. It was all good fun.

We had one of the biggest fires on the island that we've ever had the other day and I missed it! They were burning brush at the transfer station and one of the embers lit a mattress on fire in one of the big dumpsters. Under the mattress were wooden pallets them asphalt shingles, I guess it really got going. I was on the mainland when it happened so I didn't get to go, I didn't realize until joining the fire department how much of an adrenaline junkie I really am!

Anyway I hope all is well and please leave me posts and let me know what you are up to!

Lambs

I have so many lambs it's getting to the point that butchers time seems like it can't come fast enough. I've got thirty of the little freaks and after they are all weaned they start to get obnoxious. My friends think I'm evil for looking forward to butcher time. But I know when they are born that that is where they are headed, and that they'll have a good life in between. A lot of people just don't get it. Although they have no problem scarffing down meat from the supermarket, where who knows what those poor animals went through. Anyway that's something I could go on and on about. I'm encouraged that I was able to sell all my lambs to people on the island without even having to advertise. I've actually sold out and could sell a bunch more if I had them. We're going to put in a garden next year and I expect that selling veggies will be easy as well. I can't wait to sit down at my dinner table and know that everything I'm about to eat is safe, healthy, and was raised with respect.

Hello there,
I'm writing this blog mostly to catch my friends and family up with the happenings in my life. Some might not know that I bought a house on Islesboro. I manage Doolittle Farm, we raise mostly sheep for wool and meat. We also have two miniature donkeys, so cute! I've got many chickens and a dwindling number of ducks, there are two bald eagles picking them off. I also have the best dog in the world, he's a yellow lab and his name is Diesel. I'll expand on all of this later with pictures!