The Reillys, Dotty, Shuba, and Doug, arrived in Sprucewold Monday June 25 after our 5-day, 2,600-mile drive. We met many old friends at last Saturday's get-together. We’re still at 53 Sunset Road; feel free to stop by for a glass of wine and/or conversation.

Our first night we had two lobster rolls from the former Co-op, but we miss the Lobster Dock. We also miss Oak Street Provisions that was a friendly store with an excellent selection of wines.

My parents came here every summer from 1964 until they died. Dotty and I have come almost every year since 1964; we’ve seen many changes in Boothbay Harbor and Maine. Shuba, our Samoyed, is here for her 12th summer.

We've filled and hung our various bird feeders. A female hummingbird started visiting the hummer feeder almost immediately. Several species visit the feeders, and the squirrels are trying to reach them. The other night I saw a young deer wander through the back. Believe it or not, in New Mexico, we have mule deer, elk, coyotes, and an occasional coati-mundi in our backyard.

We live where the color green is not anywhere as common as it is in Maine. While we both grew up in the east; it's always surprising to enter the greenness of the east. When we entered Maine, the sign said, “Welcome to Maine, The way life is meant to be.” When we return to New Mexico, the sign will say, “Welcome to New Mexico, Land of Enchantment.” Both are correct.