Zach and Skye ride the lift

I wasn’t going to go, as I didn’t want to be one of “those dads.” However, she insisted she didn’t mind and would like to see me up there. I wanted to share the experience with her, so I told my boss I wouldn’t be in the office and headed to Shawnee Peak for a mid-morning start. I took several runs before meeting Skye at the lodge, where she and her friend Zach were having a bite to eat. I purchased Skye a hot dog, which she inhaled so we could get back on the trails.

Zach was a good ski instructor

Skye missed her ski lesson that I’d paid for, saying that the chaperone never told her where to go. In fact, it didn’t seem like there was anybody in charge. Students were all over the mountain with no supervision, which is fine with me, but it would have been nice if someone would have at least made sure the students knew where to go and when. Luckily, Skye’s friend Zach is a strong skier and offered to help. Unfortunately, Zach is not a strong ski instructor.

Skye enjoyed skiing

I took the two of them to the top of a long blue that I thought Skye would surely be able to handle. I was wrong. Those five or so runs she told me she’d done already and with little problems must have been far less steep than the trail on which we then found ourselves. She was in completely over her head and scared. I tried to help her master the wedge, without success. She removed her skis and began walking down the mountain while I rode down to find out about ski school.

Skye and me

Her lesson, I was told, was at 10:30. It was now around noon. They agreed to put her in the next class, which would be at 13:30. Perfect, as long as the bus was not leaving until at least 14:30. When she finally got to the base of the mountain she informed me that she had to be on the bus by 13:30. The ski lesson I had paid for was not going to happen. Fortunately, her instruction from Zach was sufficient to allow her to navigate the shallow bunny slope and have a great time.

Skye had a great time skiing. She says she would like to go again, and take a lesson. I hope she does.

This morning we all went to our favorite local breakfast joint, Palace Diner in Biddeford. The food is wonderful, service exceptional, and prices reasonable. It’s really a jewel of Biddeford. Our family took up about a third of the barstools at the counter.

Hayley waits for French toast

Danlers at Palace Diner

While at breakfast we heard conversation about apple picking and decided it would be a great way to spend the next portion of our day. We drove the sixteen miles to Gile’s Family Farm in Alfred where we hiked through the orchard eating and picking and eating apples. It was great fun watching the girls play together. They wouldn’t eat the apples because they hadn’t been properly washed, until they saw me pluck one out of the tree and take a large bite. When I didn’t die they followed until their little bellies were filled.

Apple picking is a fun autumn tradition for us here in Maine. Now time to make some Apple Dessert…

Danler girls

I love Macs

Tooth extraction

Pulling the apple wagon

Ripe and ready for picking

Danler 'rents

Apple picking shoes

Hotness

GRANDMA EDYTH’S APPLE DESSERT

Stir one tablespoon cinnamon into 1/2 cup hot water. Pour over six sliced apples in 9×13 inch baking pan. Top with mixture of 3/4 cup flour, 1 cup suger, 1 cup grated cheese and 1/2 cup grated butter.

Bake at 350 °F for one hour.

When they got back on the boat in the afternoon we drove up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain where we took pictures and ran around the rocky slope.

Jenna Loves Whales

Patsy and Richard

Patsy Is A Gamer Geek

Richard and Patsy

After lunch we stopped for ice cream. Mmmmm. Wicked delish.

Hayley enjoys her ice cream while I tweet

Bah Hahbah and Crown Princess

Yeah, it was Sofa King cold at the summit of Cadillac Mountain

Skye

Ain't we cute?

Richard and Patsy's ship, Crown Princess

Jenna, Hayley and Skye...and a boat

The loves of my life.

A bit past peak, but still gorgeous

Jenna is part mountain goat. She loves to prance on the rocks.

Kirsten

These girls are used to being posed

Skye. And a boat.

Jenna LOVES to dress up and be photographed.

Kirsten and Jenna atop Cadillac Mountain

Yes, I am the man.

Hayley

Skye tried hard to look like a gangstah. I don't think it worked.

Us

Yeah, I did good. Kirsten's, like, super hot.

Saturday morning we drove to the summit of Cadillac Mountain but it was completely enshrined in a cloud and fierce winds. Jenna and I walked around a bit before we retreated to the car.

The summit of Cadillac Mountain was IN a cloud. Wicked windy!

It was a wonderful weekend. I’m glad we were able to visit with Richard and Patsy again.

First we went to nearby Saco Heath Preserve, which is a short 3.6 miles from our house. The hike through the woods and out into the heath were ideal. Skye and Hayley took copious notes on every sensation they experienced, including smell, touch, see and hear. They frequently stopped to sit on the boardwalk to search for frogs or to snack on the trail mix they had each prepared prior to our departure.

Jenna explores the Saco Heath Preserve

Hayley takes notes, like a good explorer

Sisters. Buddies.

Hayley in the Heath

These two enjoyed sharing their discoveries in the Heath

Hayley loves to hike

Maine and Dunkin Donuts. Bliss.

Jenna, Skye and Hayley love to hike

Taking a break in the Saco Heath Preserve

After we were done at the Heath we drove to Cascade Falls in Saco. The trail has changed much since we were there last due to development. We hiked around a bit, frustrated by “No Tresspassing” signs, before we finally found the new trailhead. The hike is very short now, but the falls are the same.

Cascade Falls, Saco, Maine

Hayley is so cute. She loves to explore.

Me at Cascade Falls, Saco. Photo: Skye

When we eventually got to the Falls, the girls snacked

Skye enjoyed exploring, and taking notes

Next we drove north to South Windham to spend some time at Babbs Covered Bridge, which spans the Presumpscott River. The foliage colors weren’t quite peak, but pretty, nonetheless. Again I was faced with a “No Tresspassing” sign at the trailhead leading to the prime photo spot for the bridge. Grrrrr. The girls enjoyed throwing acorns into the river and hiking through the woods.

Presumpscott River

Babbs Covered Bridge

Jenna hung out with me for a bit. I love that kid!

We ended the day at my favorite place, Fort Williams State Park in Cape Elizabeth. The sunset was glorious. The girls enjoyed running around in the grass and jagged granite cliffs while I snapped a few pictures and advised the tourists.

Portland Head Light

Skye was very safe. She listened intently as I briefed her on safety procedures, range rules and firearm operations. She primarily shot with my Ruger Mark III Hunter .22 pistol. When that got heavy she switched to my Glock G26 9mm, but she didn’t like the harder recoil.

Her shots early were high and to the right. After discussing techniques to improve her accuracy she was able to shoot a loose grouping around the center of the target. I was quite proud.

We had a great time. She says she wants to go again, which I think is terrific. She’s an excellent shooter.

Skye was very excited to shoot guns for the first time

Skye enjoyed loading magazines

Skye did a great job with both accuracy and safety

Skye had a great time with me at the range

Skye was thrilled one of her shots was in the bullseye

The 9mm Glock G26 was a bit much for Skye

I enjoyed shooting at my new club with Skye

Safe and ready to go

Supra-Orbital Craniotomy
Kirsten Uhler, Cogitations, August 23, 2009

We climbed on the rocks before playing wiffleball

I didn't read long before I had to join in the fun.

Keep your eye on the ball, Jenna

Keep those eyes open

Jenna got the hang of it and did very well

We had a great time at Fort Williams

We ate at Joe’s New York Pizza on Fore Street for lunch. It was wicked delish! I’ll definitely have to take Kirsten. Every night is ladies night. :)

We’ve had so many rainy days this summer it is almost a requirement that we spend non-rainy days engaged in outdoor activities. :)

The Moxie Festival Parade in Lisbon Falls, Maine

Jenna enjoyed the Moxie Festival Parade

Moxie: the official soft drink of Maine

Portland Head Light

Kirsten is cute in hats

I wonder what the reception is like with a rock phone

Hayley asked me to take her picture