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The Last Retreat of the Year

 

 

Beautiful Mt. Katahdin

Mt. Katahdin from the top of South Turner Mountain

A long weekend in the Maine woods is a certain way to “take a load off”, as we say here in Maine.  It has the stress release equivalent of a total body massage, incorporating all of the senses and leaves you feeling refreshed in mind and body.

 Years ago, before fibromyalgia claimed my body, I used to fly-fish on wild rivers and hike up mountains but now I leave the high adventure to my husband and I have learned to slow down and experience each blessing as it comes. It’s hard not to spot them in the untamed forests in Baxter State Park in the central part of Maine. 

The water in the numerous streams is crystal clear and ice cold.  It lacks the metallic mineral smell that most brooks seem to have, maybe because the water rushes so fast down numerous waterfalls to reach the river.  Warning signs to boil the water before drinking dissuade hikers from drinking the water that looks so harmless in its clarity.

Over a number of years, former Governor of Maine, Percival Baxter purchased and then gave thousands of acres to the residents of Maine in the form of a State Park. His desire was that the forests remain in a natural and wild state for all of the people who visit, and they have.  There are very few roads in the park (less than five roads in 200,000 acres), but over 75 miles of hiking trails leading to the most remote areas in Maine. The Appalachian Trail, which begin in Georgia, ends at the peak of Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Parks most recognized wild jewel.   At just shy of one mile high, Mt. Katahdin is a feather in any mountain climber’s hat.

A section of the West Branch of the Penobscot River runs just south of Baxter State Park and offers some of the finest rapids in the country for white water rafters.  There are several adventure companies that offer white water rafting trips down the river, something I have always wanted to do but have never had the courage to try.  The river is also renowned for the natural salmon that lurk in the dark pools behind huge granite boulders and sunken logs. This river used to be used to transport logs down the river to Bangor where they would be cut or shipped to other parts of the country and reminders of this are present today with boom chains obvious here and there on the river.

While my husband fished on the river for salmon I napped, read and wrote in the comfort of the truck cab.  The next day I did the same while he hiked up South Turner Mountain, which took him about three and a half hours, including the hour he spent at the peak taking pictures.  Even this late in the season, blueberries were bountiful near the peak; at lower elevations blueberries peaked a month ago.  We spent one night in a rented camp on Millinocket Lake, enjoying hand feeding Black Ducks, a toasty campfire and each other’s company, knowing this was our last long weekend away for the year

 

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Ambien!

Along with Fibromyalgia, I have insomnia. Ambien has been my drug of choice for a very long time–until this week. Maybe that’s why I’m writing this at midnight, when 9:00 used to be my bedtime.

My doctor prescribed Ambien a couple of years ago when I complained to him that I couldn’t get to sleep at night because I couldn’t shut my mind off.  I’d already tried my husband’s Ambien so I knew it worked well for me. After the doctor got done giving me a lecture on how dangerous it is to take other people’s meds, he gave me a prescription of my very own.  Blessed sleep came within twenty minutes–deep, dreamless sleep.

I noticed about a year ago that I was waking up in the morning with my heart pounding and when I mentioned it to my doctor, he increased my Atenelol that I take for rapid heartbeat (after taking Seldane D for too many years).  It didn’t seem to help and it took me almost a year to realize that I was waking up with panic attacks.  I figured it was because of stress, as I am my mother’s caretaker and she is going downhill in her battle with Alzheimers.  Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and made a doctor’s appointment.

I told the doctor what was going on with me and told him that I felt the Ambien was somehow to blame, and he agreed.  I told him I wanted to get off the Ambien train but I knew that I was really dependant (just the thought of trying to sleep without it after the years of being on it was giving me anxiety) on it, both physically and mentally.  After much thought, he put me on Zyprexa for transitioning off the Ambien.

I took a half an Ambien before bed along with the Zyprexa for the first three nights, then stopped the Ambien.  I was so surprised that I was actually able to fall asleep without the Ambien and I have slept like I used to, except for the dreams.  The dreams are awful.  I wake up scared, but it’s not a panic attack; it’s just a nightmare.  I narrowed that down this morning–I was also taking melatonin. Tonight it’s cold turkey, baby. I took only Atenelol and Zyprexa tonight, but after trying to fall asleep and failing after an hour, I got up for awhile. 

It’s so easy to become dependant on sleep medications, and most of them are only meant to be taken for ten days.  Psychologically speaking, I think my mind was telling me that I couldn’t sleep without the Ambien.

I am pleased overall with how the transition is going.  I wake up quickly, instead of being all groggy and foggy for the first hour or so after awakening, which added an hour of free time to my schedule, but the bigger changes are that my mind is so much clearer and that I no longer need a nap to get through the day. I think the Ambien had built up in my system and was making me tired all the time.  Without my nap, I’ve added another two hours to my day!  I have much more energy, although with fibromyalgia I can still only do so much. 

I hope the need for Zyprexa goes away quickly because I am so fed up with taking pills for this and pills for that.  I’m taking a more natural approach and choosing to eat better and exercise and I want to add daily yoga, all of which help fibromyalgia, as well as overall better health.

I hope I never have to go this route again.

I Hate Slugs!

We have had a wet early summer, receiving few bright, DRY, sunny days, which has resulted in an astromonical number of slugs devouring my plants.  I usually don’t spend a lot of money on annuals, chosing instead to divide perennials and maybe add a few new ones, but this year I spent quite of bit on impatients, marigolds, snapdragons and zinnias.  The zinnias were the first to be stripped of their leaves, then the marigolds and zinnias disappeared almost overnight. As soon as I realized the culprit was slugs, I armed myself and declared war.

My weapon of choice is salt.  Because slugs are mostly water, an ample sprinkle of salt turns them to gel in a matter of seconds.  I go out several times a day to wage my attacks, often arming my 3-year old granddaughter with a salt shaker as well.  In one trip around my yard I can easily find and destroy fifty or more slugs, and I do this at least three times a day.

Yet I still have not gained the upper hand in this all out war. I found one this morning in the middle of my deck, which is wooden and five feet in the air. I hate to admit that they have the power to bring out this rage in me, yet I am unable to get past the idea of all the money and work I spent putting in annuals only for them to eat them.  I am not waving the white flag; I will continue my attacks, lest they take over my house! So far, they haven’t found the plethora of house plants I have (sh-h!)

I can say with certainty that I will not invest a lot of money in annuals next year, unless it is to make colorful planters that hang. I will spend the money on more salt.

The travals of Hannah and Nana

My granddaughter and I are on a short trip to visit family; I’m “working” and she’s on a great adventure. Oh, to see the world through the eyes of a child again. The two hour car ride was as exciting for her as a trip down river rapids.  She is an aspiring writer and worked on the first chapter of her book in the car; I jotted a few notes and kept track of mileage and toll receipts.

Once we arrived at my daughter’s home, I just had to get out the camera and take some shots of the the blooming lilacs and apple blossoms in her yard, whose scent was heavy in the air. The neighbor drove in her yard, which was extremely impressive, and invited me to take some shots of her yard. She had stunning displays and rare flowers and it was an honor to take it all in. Her husband came out and showed me around. Unfortunately I forgot to bring the gadget that I need to transfer pictures to my computer, so I’ll have to post them later.

We went to dinner at a great pub, the Frog & Turtle on Bridge Street in Westbrook, Maine, and it was a real treat. The food was a treat, we were treated well by the staff, and my son-in-law insisted on paying.  A triple treat!  Seriously, the food was fantastic; the meatloaf with gravy (reduction of mushrooms, sherry and red wine) was a great choice for me. My son-in-law had the Filet, which was perfectly prepared and served. Hannah had Pork Chops with garlic-smashed potatoes, of which she is a connoisseur. Two huge pork chops in a delectible sauce came with the potatoes; she gave both a huge thumbs-up.

To complete our evening, we went to see the new Indiana Jones flick. I haven’t been to a movie theater since “The Passion of Jesus Christ.”  Theater seats have changed a lot; I don’t have that degree on comfort in my home!  I consider myself a sharp kind of girl, but I had a little trouble following the movie in spots; that also may have been my fault, since I had to take a bathroom break and get some popcorn.  The whole experience was really fun for all of us.

Today we are off to Portland to check out the Old Port and maybe scoot down to Old Orchard Beach before heading to my brother’s house in Bridgton for an overnight stay.

Another beautiful Spring day in Maine!