Reflecting has always been a fall thing for me. I'm not sure why, but leaf changes, cooler temperatures and shorter days make me think back over the year. Something about how summer ends. The autumn is my favorite time.

Some weekend, when you are looking for something to do, try a short adventure drive to the fascinating “Wizard of Odds and Ends” antiques extravaganza in Head Tide. It is the first right after the world famous Alna Store, a quick peep off Route 218 at 45 Head Tide Road, immediately downstream from the now made-over Head Tide Dam. Richard Plunkett, proprietor, has two great buildings loaded with all sorts of interesting collectibles. And, there is 20-30% off all purchases until the end of November. But, it is a weekends-only place or by appointment.

It’s not often that I roll out to the back field at home very early. Not that 9 a.m. is very early. I always have thought about people like Chip Haggett and Rock Radasch starting their day at Hodgdon’s at 3, 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning. They had half a day in while sugar plum fairies danced in my head!

Forty plus years ago I met Gerry Gamage on a cold winter night when he was a plowing for the town of Southport. At the time I was house sitting for the Pink Ladies, Mary Harward and Liz Kiehn, and their long-haired white cat who was prone to large knots of fur and hair balls. Their place was over on the Nickerson Road near the Sprouls, across the cove from Robinson's Wharf. It was a nice spot but a wicked nasty place in winter.

Attempting to catch up with Rachel Roberts in person is like hitchhiking on the Autobahn. I had way more luck working the Berkshires back in the ’60s. Traffic was a whole lot slower then. But, not one to be discouraged by obstacles, I persisted. Lo and behold, Rachel was in town in August, however, for about five minutes, and I missed the window.

I asked my wife the other day where the pills were put that are meant to improve my memory. I'm awaiting her response.

Over the years of doing this “photo with words” thing in the paper (Joe Gelarden, responsible party), I have shared many subjects. Whether anything appeals to Register readers is another matter. However, I must say, on several occasions in my office at the Hannaford, people who shall remain nameless, pull me aside in the frozen food section with comments.. My response: “Well, I never quite know what will bubble to the top any given week.”

Back in the late ’70s, Russ Brackett was the Nissen bread man who delivered supplies to the Tugboat Inn at 2:30 a.m. while I was cleaning the kitchen and dining room there. I provided a piece of apple pie with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and a fresh brewed cup of coffee. Probably should not have been so generous with Tugboat grub. But at least Russ was sober. Such was not the case with many who dropped in “after hours.”

In my 40 plus years of photographing hundreds of weddings, I’ve met thousands of people from all over the world. It’s been an amazing ride. Walking into an enormous gathering of people with little more than my camera gear, in many cases knowing no one, can be pretty exhilarating. You can’t begin to imagine the things I've seen! Perhaps you’d prefer not to.

Every time we visit Monhegan Island there is something new to discover.

Our family members save nickels, dimes, quarters, returnable “CLYNK” money and tooth fairy deposits for a wonderful week rental at the Wik Wak cottage on the western shore overlooking Manana Island. It’s our bliss refill.

I was quite shocked recently to read some considerable information regarding the number of children and families in our county without enough to eat. It's very disturbing.

A few years back I was asked to provide visuals for a local group who put together bags of groceries for area families. The group “Food for Thought” met in the basement of what used to be St. Andrews Hospital to package foods for distribution throughout the region. I was shocked then, too. We have always been so fortunate. I had never given much thought to the lack of food for anyone here. That gang did a great job and really educated me about the local need for support.

Over the 45+ years we've lived in the region I've had the distinct honor of photographing at many area shipyards and boat-building facilities. The places I have photographed vary in complexity and size, from back yard outdoor set-ups to some of the largest companies in the area. Places like, Goudy & Stevens, Hodgdon's, Washburn & Doughty, Jones, Nutt, and Sample’s. Other smaller but no less impressive shops were at Mr. Blaney's, Roscoe Rand, and Chetley Rittall, to name a few. What I did learn through my boat building observation and recording is that boats can crop up almost anywhere, with the right amount of ingenuity and skill. It has been an amazing run.

Many thanks to Barbara Hill Freeman and the Boothbay Register for the thorough and positive review of my new Around Boothbay Harbor 2021 Calendar. You can read the full review here, and you can order a calendar of your very own, or gift one to someone, by clicking here.

Thank you!

I sent this week’s adventure photo to a friend in Germany. We met on a flight from Paris to Cameroon. Anette was hoping to adopt a child from an orphanage near Douala. I was doing some photography with Dr. Patricia Toro and the Mailman School at Columbia University reestablished medical clinics in sub Saharan Africa. Anette and I had a lot of time to talk on the flight.

I met my B-flat metal clarinet in junior high school. We had a very active love/hate relationship. I loved the sounds, hated to practice. My music career didn’t last long.

This is a photo of a familiar face around the Tri Village community!

Everyone knows Rusty Court. Even people who don't know Rusty, know of him. He is a high profile individual. Let me count the ways.

It’s been quite some time since a visit to Cape Newagen was much more than an exercise in zen renewal. Standing on the end of the town pier, looking out across the harbor toward Seguin is a truly spiritual experience any day of the week, any time of the year. So when I got an invitation to visit with Gary Snowman at his under renovation cottage at water's edge, I was feeling pretty pleased.

Anna Christina has been interested in the natural healing properties of alternative medicinals since she was a very young child. This was due, in large part, to a variety of childhood ailments. Anna was not a happy camper due to an abundance of physical challenges, and, through a keen eye for observation, the problems of others. In addition to needing help for herself, she always wanted to help other people.

Before trailing off into the tall grass in search of new adventures, I wanted to share a tiny bit of post-Father's Day best wishes for dads here and gone. It’s just a small item, please bare with me.

OK ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, its time for this year's obligatory lupine photo.

I know that everyone with an image making device is out there crawling through the pucker brush, transiting the shorelines and hopefully, not trampling over this year's crop of Lupine Lady contributions to the already exceptional beauty of our Maine. For me, this is an annual visual adventure. Where will they come up, what colors will they be, and how many attend the big dance.

Does anyone (other than me) wonder how birds know when the feeders are full? The red squirrels certainly seem to have figured it out! Last year there were very few red squirrels munching at the trough of life. This year, it’s a bumper crop! It’s like, “Your order is ready” at FAT BOYS! They are aggressive and numerous. Fortunately we have one of those spring loaded feeders that the squirrels can’t climb. But they sure can chew their way to stardom trying. Traffic control at our feeders is overwhelming!