October 11, 2025 – Acadia National Park – Maine

Yesterday Wilma, Gus, and I Adventured to Acadia National Park in Maine. Acadia National Park is a Park in Northeastern Maine that encompasses half of Mount Desert Island, and also is situated on the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut. It is 47,000 acres and popular for fall foliage seekers, winter skiing, spring fishing and hiking.

We had a stunning Adventure to Acadia National Park. After being stuck in traffic Friday night, overnight in Camden, and an extra morning departure we made it for sunrise! Acadia never disappoints, it’s absolutely gorgeous, and although I generally make a yearly trip, I am always awed with the beauty.

Yesterday started off near the Otter Cliffs where we traversed a small portion of the Ocean Path. The sunrise was a perfect. Our other stops throughout the day included: Hunter Beach, Jordan Pond, and Seawall Point. We also made stops throughout Southwest and Northeast Harbor, which I believe not every part is technically part of Acadia, but is Mount Desert Island. Wilma and Gus’ favorite definitely was Hunter Beach. Wilma led the way through the seaweed, enjoying the smells, sun, and even wading in the water. Gus enjoyed some digging and something he found on the beach that appeared to be a ball, but likely a piece of fruit. Throughout the day we appreciated the scenery, smells of Fall, and exploring. We stopped to enjoy the little moments, whether it be sitting in the grass, or standing on the rocks high above the sea. It was a lovely day in an amazing place (Rating: 5).

October 2, 2025 – White Mountains – New Hampshire

Today, Wilma, Gus, and I Adventured to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The White Mountains are a mountain range that cover a large part of New Hampshire, and also a portion of western Maine. The White Mountains include 48 peaks at over 4,000 feet. The White Mountains are popular for skiing, hiking, and ATVing.

We had a refreshing Adventure up to the White Mountains. After an extra early alarm – we headed off. It was the coolest day of the season, but perfect weather to be outdoors. The sun was shining, and some of the locations were close to peak foliage, just lovely! Due to Wilma’s knee and arthritis, we have had less adventures and have started more simple outings, that have become more exploring, and relaxing, with some short walks. I am lucky to have a fenced backyard that gives us other options for outside fun and am thankful that I can custom our adventures to work for all of our needs.

On this Adventure both Wilma and Gus enjoyed rolling, finding sticks, people watching, and walking through the Autum scenery. We spent most of our time at our favorite locations. Due to my day off from work we were able to appreciate less people (being a week- day), which was great. I loved searching for foliage and appreciated perfect sweatshirt weather. It is always fun to watch the pups enjoying the simple things in life – they really can teach us so many lessons! A lovely Adventure today in the White Mountains (this blog will not be rated).

September 13, 2025 – A day in Maine

Today, Wilma, Gus, and I spent the day in Maine. Our main adventures included the towns of: Cape Elizabeth, Augusta, Norway, Woodstock, and York. We began our day at one of my favorite parks, Fort Williams. This is a gorgeous coastal park, that includes: a lighthouse, gardens, ruins, a beach, and little trails throughout. We spent the majority of our day at this fabulous location. We arrived bright and early so had some peaceful moments before the crowd rolled in. Wilma and Gus loved lounging in the grass, digging in the sand and taking in the coastal Fall smells. Although there is an off-leash area, people actually follow the leash rule in the rest of the park, making it perfect for all. This park never disappoints!

We then headed over to Augusta to photograph and relax at the State House. This was our second visit to the State House. It is pristine, and surrounded by the brightest green, soft grass. I found a couple trees which were taking on the colors of Fall, just perfect! Wilma especially loved lounging in the grass, in the Fall sun. We walked around a bit and relaxed. As I am trying to balance what is best for Wilma I decided not to head to the park across the street, but just to let her lounge as she pleased. Gus did not mind joining in, such a lovely day to soak in the sun!

Our next stop brought us to the Norway/Paris Soft Serve, of which I also did a separate blog. I was pleased to find ice cream in September. Upon arrival we were the only ones there. I adored the window boxes as I ordered myself some pumpkin/pecan ice cream, and the pups a gourmet “pup cup”. Although Gus did not end up eating his ice cream, Wilma and I appreciated this treat, Wilma lucky to have seconds. Gus did eventually devour the treat that had been soaking on the “pup cup”. This was the perfect Fall snacks before heading on our journey.

From there we headed to check-out the largest phone in the world – an Atlas Obscura special (haha!) I have been curious about this phone for a bit, and today was the right day to add this to our Adventure. The phone commemorates the last “crank” call occurring in 1983. The sculpture was unveiled in 2008. I am not sure if Wilma and Gus were thrilled by this part of the adventure, but I was glad to add a random sculpture to the day.

Our last adventure was to York, Maine. We wandered around Old York, mostly to stretch our legs, but searched for flowers, signs of falls, and appreciated some of the historic buildings. I was disappointed not to find some of the pumpkins, and pumpkin sales I often locate in the area, but really it is early in the season. I think the spectacular weather made me forget it is just mid-September.

These were our main locations today, although there were also a couple other quick stops, but figured I would describe the highlights above. So glad to get out on a day trip on this gorgeous Fall weather. Hope the weather continues to be just right (This blog will not be rated.)

Walking on the Beach:

Beautiful Coastal Maine scenery:

Some digging from Wilma:

September 13, 2025 Norway Soft Serve -Maine

Yesterday we adventured to Norway Soft Serve in Paris, Maine, sometimes referred to as Paris Soft Serve. Norway Soft Serve has soft and hard ice cream options as well as other cold treats. They also have their own version of a “pup” cup for your furry besties.

We had a tasty adventure to Norway Soft Serve. I was thrilled to find an ice cream location to add to our day trip. We arrived at Norway Soft Serve to find ourselves the only guests. The business was in a brick building, one you might never guess served ice cream. I ordered a pumpkin pecan for myself and two pup cups. Although I did not see seating there may have been some around the side, however we decided to enjoy our goodies from the car. I did not love mine at first, but soon became a fan. My guess is that in more of a pumpkin girl then a pecan lady (haha)! Wilma inhaled hers, while for some reason skipped out. I tried several times but eventually Wilma got doubles, although I saved him the treat! Definitely one of our fancier “pup cup” experiences. So glad we could find a tasty bite on our daytrip! (This blog will not be rated).

August 2, 2025 – Kayaking at Ashland State Park

Today Gus and I went kayaking at Ashland State Park, located in Ashland, Massachusetts. Ashland State Park is a 470 Acre Park with a 157 Acre Reservoir. The Park has a dam, a spillway, and several beaches for guests. The Park was initially created when the Reservoir was built in 1895. Ashland State Park has several fun facts, with a movie partly partially being filmed there in August 2014 (“Sea of Trees”), and even a helicopter crash in August 2016. Besides the formal entrance (only open to cars during official hours), there is a boat launch on Spring Street which we utilized today.

We had a peaceful kayaking adventure to Ashland State Park. We arrived at 5:30 to observe the sunrise and avoid the crowds. Upon arrival we were thrilled to find just one car and no one in sight. The reservoir was still, sprinkled with morning fog, and the birds greeted us as we paddled. It was mystical and magical, although hard to capture on camera. We were able to watch the sunrise and enjoy the serenity of an early morning paddle. I paddled around the reservoir, slowly as always appreciating the peace and beauty of the day. Along the route we found endless birds, saw some fish, and eventually spotted people and dogs from afar. There were several very small areas of lilies, some rocks, the bridge near the dam, and at least one island. We saw no other boaters during our time on the water. Thankfully we missed the crowd, although they were rolling in as we departed, creating a challenging exit. So thankful for a Fall-like day and an early morning paddle today (This blog will not be rated).

PS – Unfortunately my new waterproof camera case was quite loud as I took videos so feel free to mute the below videos!

August 1, 2025 – New Food – Red Peppers!!

So tonight, I thought it would be fun for Wilma and Gus to try a new food. For some reason Wilma is drawn to the kitchen when I am using the cutting board, so this is what created the idea. Likely because I had previously been cutting up some meat. Watching her hopeful eyes gave me the idea to look up red peppers (which I was chopping) and to my surprise they are dog friendly! I then cut off two pieces and the experiment began; it really does not take much for me to be entertained on a Friday night (haha)! If you have a guess let me know who you thought in the comments. You will see the answer at the very bottom.

The results are in…. It is…BOTH of them ate the pepper, although neither of them was it love at first sight (haha!) Gus was a little more adventurous than Wilma, which I did not expect. Were you able to guess it right?? 🙂

July 26, 2025 – A Day In Vermont!

Today, Wilma, Gus, and I Adventured to Vermont for the Day. Our destinations included some of our favorite places like Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Historic Park, and scenic views in Plymouth. The other areas we explored included: Florence, Pittsford, Quechee and various other stops along the way. Wilma and Gus loved rolling in the grass, eating some tasty ice cream, and a day out of exploring. I was happy to have a cooler day, and loved Marsh-Billings as always, some tasty maple ice cream, and endless flowers. It was a simple day, but yet just what we needed. So glad to enjoy a day trip today with my furry best buds! (This blog will not be rated)

July 26, 2025

Today, Wilma, Gus, and I Adventured to the Depot Covered Bridge in Pittsford, Vermont. The bridge is a lattice bridge which was built in 1840 and later went renovations. It traverses the Otter Creek.

We had a simple Adventure to the Depot Covered Bridge. I was pleased to find a bridge away from homes, and in a quieter location, however the traffic that came through did drive at a high speed. The bridge was a bit dull and had limited views of the Creek from the road. I loved finding wildflowers around the bridge, and of course Wilma and Gus enjoyed a bit of exploring the small area before a quick couple of poses. So glad to cross off yet another covered bridge form our list (Rating: 2.5).

July 13, 2025 – First Kayak ride of the Summer

Today Gus and I Adventured to Hopkington State Park for our first kayak ride of the summer. Hopkington State Park is located on the Hopkington Reservoir, no longer a water source. The Park encompasses 1500 acres of forest and is a popular area for boating, swimming, and hiking. There is a fee to enter the Park in-season but Massachusetts State Park passes are also accepted. Additionally, you can find a free boat launch just past the park entrance.

We had a peaceful adventure of kayaking today, long overdue. I had this great plan to get up for a sunrise kayak, but somehow the weather changed from my last check, and it was a cloud filled sky. However, on a good note it was far from hot, which of course made for a pleasant cruise along the Reservoir. We launched from the “canoe” access just past the park, finding just one other guest on the water. Gus hopped right on the kayak, and off we went. I decided to explore one of the islands, which although was small, was still fun. Gus loved checking out the island in his adorable lifebelt. After some time on the cute little island, we continued paddling through the reservoir. I was confused at one point I noticed things floating (appearing white and fluffy) under the water and had checked the water quality report, which indicated no concerns. Due to this observation, we did not go on a long excursion. I was quite frustrated to find out later, when entering the main park that the beach was closed, I am sure due to water quality. I will have to call them later to see why it was listed as clear online. However, Gus is not a swimmer, and although I did plan to swim, I changed my mind as it was cooler out then a “normal” swimming day. Still not a settling thought on our first kayak ride of the season.

After our kayak we took a walk at the main park before heading home. I will just blog about our kayak ride today, however, decided to link my last blog of Hopkington Park below. On this previous blog I did two days and a row at Hopkington State Park – one of kayaking with Gus, and then back for a hike with both Wilma and Gus. Hopkington State Park is one of my favorite places to kayak, just have to watch the water quality, as with all lakes in New England. Still glad to be out on a long overdue kayak ride (This blog will not be rated).

June 11 & 12, 2022 – Hopkington State Park – Massachusetts

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to our friends, family and followers! We were lucky to have a gorgeous summer day in Massachusetts! We spent the majority of the time outside, and I was able to get a lot of projects and outdoor gardening and yard work completed . Wilma and Gus loved playing ball, eating sticks, and sunning and napping throughout the day! I took some photos as usual but Gus had no interest in the hats so I focused more on capturing them in their adorable bandanas. We really couldn’t have asked for better weather! Hope everyone had a fun, relaxing and/or productive day with whatever you did on this 4th. Happy 4th to all!