Recently I was asked to take my clothes off four times. This is not a common occurrence although it wasn't the first time! The awkward part was being asked to to do this for different people in different rooms, then to drape myself in what medical folks refer to as a “johnny.” For anyone who has not tried this, please do not feel left out. Looping a cloth string behind your neck and down behind your back is exasperating. Tying my shoes can still frustrate me, especially with laces made from some foreign material that constantly slips loose. I guess that is why, back in the day, I used rawhide laces on my Redwing work boots, knotted, then looped into hooks, bypassing the lacing process.

“Birds of a feather flock together,” or so it seems.

These are not snowy owls, nor were they intended to be. They are, as is abundantly clear, in-flight Canada geese. If you have a sizable stretch of open lawn, you will recognize their profile.However, in this moment of caught-in-flight, there is no sign of the slime noodles we all seek to avoid. I suspect, at one time or another, we zigzagged our way through the Canadian digestive extracts.

Aunt Bea and Uncle Bud MacLeod purchased land in Rangeley in the early 1970s. At the time they were living on a 50-acre farm in Glen Moore, Pennsylvania. As it turned out they were a bit ahead of the organic farming curve and the newly evolving “regenerative agriculture” techniques promoted by Mr. Rodale. Uncle Buddy and Mr. Rodale were contemporaries and friends. Many will recall the Rodale publications of the time, such as, “Prevention” and “Organic Farming.” Bea and Bud's farm was not far, as the crow flies, from Rodales’ property.

Welcome aboard everyone. For this week's adventure we will do a little travel back to a time of Goudy and Stevens Shipyard, eventually a Hodgdon Yachts facility, now owned by Washburn and Doughty. I think before Goudy and Stevens it may have been a Hodgdon Brothers yard--- not sure about that. At any rate, even though the property has seen many changes, it remains sacred ground in the history of boatbuilding on the banks of the Damariscotta River.

I seem to recall from my WBLM “daze” (my misspelling) that Mercury retrograde, as advised by the “Cosmic Muffin,” was probably not the best time to hang the laundry out to dry. Don't ask me why, because I haven't a clue when it comes to astrology, or, for that matter, hanging clothes out to dry. The last time I tried to save a few nickels by not using the electric dryer, the clothesline broke under the weight of frozen personal items.

One of the coolest things about my weekly adventure in our local weekly is the feedback I receive from those who dare to follow along. Take, for example, last week’s photo story.

Admittedly, I went a bit off the rails, as I am prone to do! Between tooth brushing with something I mistook for Crest and the amount of daylight, the road to Terabithia may have been Uber challenged. Sorry. But, today, I will try to redeem myself.

I brushed my teeth with Solanpas. I thought it was a tube of Crest toothpaste. It had a numbing affect. Not a great addition to my seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Which leads me to the topic of today's discussion – our lengthening daylight.

The negative from which this image was made has not seen the light of day in over 30 years. That would make it one of my younger offspring in my collection of processed films of over 50 years. Where does the time go? Perhaps one day I will get around to organizing all my files. Perhaps not.

My wife and I and Gardiner Savings bought the old fire station on Route 27 in Boothbay in 1995. It’s still there across the street from the old town garage/office which has been lovingly cared for by George McEvoy and crew.

The old fire station was being sold to help finance the new fire station, which is farther up the road on 27. It was a big step for us but a good neighborhood. The neighbors to the south were quiet. It was our hope to establish a photo gallery for me and a place from which we could conduct higher visibility interaction with the buying public. It didn't really work out. I got way too antsy sitting around hoping people might walk through the door to buy some of my work or schedule time. I had set up a formal studio there as well. Sometimes you’re the windshield and sometimes you’re the bug. Bug time!

This is the sunrise we were hoping for on Dec. 31, but it wasn't. There was a sunrise on the 31st, but it was not visible behind a thick bank of clouds as viewed looking toward Monhegan from Ocean Point.

Why is this significant, you might ask. Well, Dec. 31 was our daughter Morgan's 30th birthday, and one of the things she has always liked to do on her birthday is to see the sunrise.

I was sitting on an overturned bucket aboard Red Hook with Mark Stover at the helm, Alva Achorn at the ready, and perfect summer sunshine all around. Don Viens was nearby on the dock with his boat blasting some “Dead” and we were all gesturing back and forth as young children are want to do! OSHA had taken the day off and the Coast Guard was preoccupied with larger issues. Eddie Tibbetts was hanging a new sign for the “Atlantic Edge” from a jury-rigged platform balanced precariously, teetering atop a pristine pallet at the end of a fully extended forklift. It was a scene from “The Hardy Boys’ Next Adventure.” “God save the Queen.” Please Don, turn up the music!

“Will you keep the cash ... Or, take a chance on what's behind curtain #3?”

“It's a holiday vacation in beautiful Boothbay Harbor, Maine!” When you visit this charming New England village, you can expect to see lots of the most refreshing and jubilant people alive during the shortest days of the year. On any given day, in the downtown walking area, there are many wonderful shops and shopkeepers who can help you prepare for the holiday season and brighten the four o'clock sunsets. An unforgettable experience awaits you.

I've been stalking Wayne Closson for years. Ever since I photographed for the wedding of his daughter, Megan. We had a grand time and Wayne had no choice! Father of the bride had to behave, especially with some local “foto geek” in the house. He reluctantly tolerated me with the help of wife Mary who was almost as happy as Wayne about being photographed. What is it about having someone point a camera lens at you? I resemble that comment. Just ask my family. “Dad, could you please smile?” “Don't make one of your silly faces please.” It's why I prefer my side of the camera. Also, helps me appreciate some folks' reluctance to be photographed.

Horace Lee and Ethelyn Giles helped us buy our first house in 1978. It was a complicated purchase due to some unusual circumstances. We had no knowledge of real estate but we were excited for the opportunity to settle in to a neighborhood and become more a part of this wonderful community.

So, guess who will not be coming to dinner?

For several years, about this time, we have moved to our horse barn/bunk house for the winter. Easier to heat, fewer pipes to freeze, smaller space to manage. It has worked out pretty well over the years. And, it seems that the local wildlife community expects us to start banging around their “hood,” for better or worse, as we attempt to prepare for the long winter.

For any Opera House August event, a window seat with a cooling breeze would be nice. In fact, once the lights go down in the House, a mix with fresh air helps everyone breathe a bit more gracefully, especially when some of the heavy rockers hit high gear.

First of all, let me say that when I first heard the name Ella Beauregard, I was reminded of someone like a Formula One race car driver. Someone like, say, Ayrton Senna, the great Brazilian. Her name just made me think of speed and racing and unusual gift. Don't ask me why, but in my crazy mind the names connected.

The Harbor Framers space in the Small Mall always made me recall a watering hole I used to vist during my teaching years, on Bleecker Street in New York City. There was something about the character of the place. Like when you go to a bar never quite sure who you will find or what might be on display!

Over the many years of our time here in wonderful Maine, I have had opportunities to photograph an extraordinary variety of boats. From turnabouts at the various summer sailing programs, to great ocean going power yachts, racing sailboats, lobster boats, and custom extravaganzas like Antonisa and Scheherezade. Unsophisticated as I am regarding the whole boating scene, there are many to thank for helping me, chief among them, the late great Sonny Hodgdon. He was never really convinced that I would be the next Stanley Rosenfeld, but he was always supportive.