Norm Tip #13

Norm says, "It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission."

Norm's World #11

Well Norm loves to grill. Who doesn't? Everything tastes better when it's cooked on the open flame. And kababs are the best. Why? Because they're so easy to make and are so good for you! Norm likes to use a meat/veggie approach with kababs. Nothing fancy like seafood, which can be expensive. (Unless it's just seafood, like shrimp and scallops.) Norm recently purchased a bag of bamboo skewers made in China. At first glance, this would seem like an unprincipled purchase, akin to using bamboo chopsticks, (Norm loves ya, Ffleur!!) but in this case it was a wise purchase. Norm doesn't throw them out. Instead, they are washed and re-used.

Norm is thinking the key to the kabab is picking foods that cook equally.

Norm Tip #12

Norm says, "When the opportunity arises, morning is just the perfect time to stay in bed."

Norm's World #10

This little fellow got into Norm's greenhouse somehow. For how long? Norm hasn't a clue, but it's like over 100 degrees in there. Norm caught him and let him go. (Remember bird, everybody?)

Norm Tip #11

Norm says, "Two's company, three's a party."

Norm's World #9

So good old Norm has been hacking. He's been chainsawin'. He's be haulin'. Norm has been bug bait for weeks now. And it comes down to a friend on the move. Was Norm interested in a used, soft-sided pool? It is 18 ft. across and holds a whopping 5600 gallons of water. Well Norm was sorta interested. He was planning to go Down East for his summer lobster feast and hang on the beach. But gas is outta control. And motel rooms are pricey, too!! So Norm thought a summer in the backyard might work. Especially with a pool.

But phone calls soon yielded bad news. A water delivery would be around $300!! Norm called his friend. And friend said he had an agricultural water pump with a zillion feet of hose. "Drag it down thru the wood and pump the water outta the river!" the friend offered. Norm was hesitant. He agreed, although the ride back with the pump and pool felt strange. Well, super-long story short, it took Norm's "week off" to prep the area, set-up the pool, fill-it, get the pump working and figure-out the chemicals. Tomorrow is the big test swim.

On a side note, they're saying we're going to get mid-90s this weekend with nasty humidity. Better than sitting in traffic in southern Maine.

The Basin

This area is another short hike for Norm. A hyper wetlands, where a couple small rivers merge and become one. Many critters call this place home. Norm walks thru the woods, and often sits and reflects on profound topics, while staring at the infinite beauty that surrounds him. Among the animal citizens that populate this metropolis are beaver, otter, duck, geese, snapping turtles, river trout, blue herons, quail, fisher cats, fox, coyotes, black bear and as Norm would imagine, moose. Fortunately for us critter-lovin, beer-drinking, flag-flying, penny-pinchin' Yankees, surburbia hasn't vomited all over us . . . yet.

Happy Independence Day, Bloggers!!!