The Honey Exchange in Portland, Maine. Sweet!

The Honey Exchange is on Stevens Avenue in Portland, Maine. We made our first trip to the Honey Exchange last week. What a cool place! Especially if you like honey. We're all honey fans so we were in the right place. They have honey from different regions around the country and they are kind enough to offer free samples so you can decide which one you want. We picked Orange Blossom, Drapers, Florida. It's a nice mild light honey you can pour too much of on your toast in the morning and feel good about it. You can select the Orange Blossom Honey on  thehoneyexchange.com under Honey Exchange Varietal Honeys.

But The Honey Exchange is more than just honey. It's a bee keepers haven. They offer many tools and accessories for the bee keeper. Including  the essentials: Bee Keeper Jacket, Hat & Veil with Ring and Bee Garden Seed Assortment and much more. If you are interested in learning more about bee keeping they offer classes and host events and they come to you or your school/organization with their educational research program  and if you are interested in making foods with honey they provide some free recipies.

The Gaven family opened The Honey Exchnage in the summer of 2011.  The Gavins say: The purpose of The Exchange is to give everyone an opportunity to learn about honeybees, safely see the workings of the bees in our observation hive, and support local beekeepers who sell their honey, beeswax products, and other products of the hive. 

Above all, we strive to give everyone a warm welcome and unparalleled customer service.  The motto we have comes from E.M. Statler:

"Life is service.  The one who progresses is the one who gives his fellow human beings a little more, a little better service."

Visit The Honey Exchange for a sweet treat, a little education and I think you may find a "little better service" too...

--Gray

 

Seven Dogs And A Rooster Over Memorial Day Weekend

Some Fun Photos from Memorial Day Weekend of  7 Dogs, a Rooster and a new take on a Cairn Terrier Hood Ornament.

Before leaving Portland we met these adorable French Bulldogs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Lab, "Jet" relaxing on deck after a picnic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silkey Terrier, "Maggie" relaxes after the same picnic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smooth Collie "Finney" and Border Collie "Roosevelt" at the Old Orchard Beach Memorial Day Parade (thanks for the photo Nancy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An unexpected Rooster on an early morning walk...and yes he was Cock a Doodleing (is that a word?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new take on a Cairn Terrier Hood Ornament...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Schnauzer on the streets of Camden, Maine...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, I am the guy with a camera taking photos of dogs...and roosters...

--Gray

Dog Scared of Thunder Storms. What Do You Do?

Is your dog scared of thunderstorms? Our dog is.

About 4:00am this morning in Portland, Maine there was a very loud thunder and lightning rain storm and it lasted over an hour. I was informed of the storm by our 12 year old Cairn Terrier , Gilkey. (photo of her sleeping it off to the right). She was panting (actually almost hyperventilating), stretching up on the side of the bed clawing and scratching to come up. She could hear the rumble of thunder starting and she wanted no part of it. It's the same routine every time there is thunder. Her anxiety level raises and she starts breathing really heavy. If we come home while there is a thunderstorm going on it can be difficult to find her in the house because she is hiding under a bed or the couch or in the corner of the closet.

So. What to do? Our approach has been to hug, comfort and pet Gilkey in an effort to relax her and for her to know someone is here to keep her safe.

Here is an article and video from USAToday that shares the experience of a couple who has 3 Greyhounds- and one of the Greyhounds has thunder-phobia.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-06-10-thunder-dogs_N.htm

Interestingly in that piece they mention that coddling your dog while it is filled with thunder causing anxiety is not the best thing to do. Maybe not. But how can you resist? When you have a little scared Cairn Terrier staring at you for help- you try not to hug her.

Picnic On A Maine Island with the Dogs to Kick Off The Summer Season Over Memorial Day Weekend

Scholar Georg Brandes is quoted as saying: "Among the delights of summer were picnics to the woods". If Mr. Brandes ever visited Maine in the summer he probably would have found "delight" in a picnic on a Maine island too...

The weather over Memorial Day weekend was delightful. Blue Skies and 80 degress. In May in Maine we couldn't ask for anything better. We met up with some old friends and loaded the 17ft center console with picnic supplies, kids and two sweet dogs (a Black Lab named Jet and a Silky Terrier named Maggie Thatcher).

Here is Maggie Leading the Way:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jet Navigating:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Made it to the Island:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our View:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oops Tide Came in...A Shoe is Afloat...

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the Other Shoe is Floating...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time for a Shoe Rescue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maggie Leading Us Home:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maine is filled with beautiful places to go for picnics. Picnic season in Maine is here once again.  A chance to explore some of the most beautiful places in the world, catch up with old friends and appreciate our surroundings.

This past weekend reminded me of why picnics are indeed one of the delights of summer...

--Gray

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nick B Reunited with Afghan Herding Dog Bodhi

Army Staff Sgt. Nick B while in Afghanistan came upon a malnourished and abused Afghan Herding Dog who was tied up and being used for "entertainment" aka: Fighting. He offered his cigarettes to the dog's owners in trade for the dog and fortunately the offer was accepted. He named the dog "Bodhi".

With the assistance of some Beef Jerky (smart dog )Bodhi quickly bonded with Sgt. Nick B and his fellow soldiers and became very popular in his unit. When Nick B was returning home to the USA he wanted Bodhi to come home too so he contacted The Puppy Rescue Mission for assistance. Last Saturday they were reunited in Pensacola Florida.

 

On this Memorial Day Weekend the memories have just begun for Staff Sgt Nick B and Bodhi.

To Watch the Video of the news story from Fox10TV Click on news story below:

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/pensacola/Bodhi-gets-a-second-chance

Have a safe weekend everyone.And thank you to Staff Sgt. Nick B for your courage and character!

Gray

 

Memorial Day Weekend Promo Code SAVE15

It's Memorial Day Weekend and we are kicking things off right!

Enter Promo Code: SAVE15 at Check Out to save 15% off your entire order! 

Have a wonderful long weekend all!!!

Persephone and Gray

Memorial Day Weekend 2012 in Maine

Memorial Day Weekend is the traditional kick off to the summer season in Maine. People come to Maine each year this weekend to see family and friends celebrate the long weekend with camping and a cookout and also open up their Summer camps and cottages.

Memorial Day is also a time to remember those brave soldiers and their families who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. To honor our veterans there are many parades around the state this weekend.

Here is a partial list of Memorial Day Parades in towns around Maine:

Memorial Day Parade, Portland, Maine

Where: Longfellow Square
Congress Street
When: Monday, May 28 2012
Time: 10:30 am

The following Memorial Day Parade information in Brunswick, Topsham, Harpswell and Bath was provided by The Forecaster

Towns in the Mid-Coast will be celebrating Memorial Day with parades, memorial observances, and festivities on Monday, May 28.

Brunswick and Topsham will join forces to participate in a joint Memorial Day parade and observances. The parade, which includes several unique cars, will begin lining up at 7 a.m on Monument Place.

At 8:30 a.m., there will be an observance at the Topsham Town Hall. The Memorial Day Parade will proceed down Main Street to Brunswick beginning at 9 a.m., with a slight pause for a wreath-laying ceremony on the Frank J. Woods Bridge. The Brunswick observance will begin immediately following the Parade on the Mall. The guest speaker will be Maine Secretary of State Charles Summers Jr.

In Harpswell, observances will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a wreath tossing from the Ewing Narrows Bridge to honor those who died at sea. The annual parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Lookout Point Road and Harpswell Neck Road.

In Bath, at 7 a.m., donuts and coffee will be offered at the American Legion Hall. At 8 a.m., the Sons of the Union Vets will gather at the Civil War Monument in Oak Grove Cemetery, and a 9:30 a.m., there will be a wreath ceremony at Waterfront Park. The parade will line up at the American Legion Hall at 10 a.m., and begin marching at 10:30 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a ceremony at City Park Monument.

Following Atticus. A Wonderful Story....

About seven months ago in October I read a wonderful book called: Following Atticus by author Tom Ryan. I loved it. OK I love most "dog books" I've read but this memoir/adventure book inspired me and reminded me of why I love dogs so much and further helped me underdstand what "friendship" truly means. I wrote a blog post about Following Atticus on October 27, 2011 (my novice attempt at a book review- no The New York Times has not called).

Atticus is a Miniature Schnauzer who instantly works his way in to Mr. Ryan's heart and together they hiked the White Mountains raising money for various charities including the Jimmy Fund and Angell Animal Medical Center. They were later inducted into the Massachsetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Hall of Fame for their efforts.

Since my post about Atticus I have been following their life adventure on their facebook page. Over the past few months Mr. Ryan and Atticus have shown up at many public events to share their story. They have hosted multiple book signings and their inspiring story has been recognized by many organizations around the country.

They recently welcomed Will into their life- An elder Schnauzer statesman with health issues. Will was in need of a new home and Tom and Atticus opened their door...

An excerpt on Will from The Adventures of Tom & Atticus Blog: Will has added so much to our home.  We've had to adjust to his arrival but our lives are richer because of him.  He teaches us lessons we need to know, he offers love, he has added to the quality of our lives.  Sure he's come with some physical challenges, and that was even before last weekend's 'episode' that had tears flowing and hearts aching, but what it has cost us is minimal compared to what he's added.  We're so fortunate to have Will in our lives.

And yesterday Mr. Ryan shared this good news announcement: Nicole Martella, Special Sales Representative at HarperCollinsPublishers, sent out this very exciting announcement regarding Following Atticus.  I've included it below...

I’m very pleased to share that Scholastic Book Fairs will include FOLLOWING ATTICUS (paperback - 9780061997112) in their fall book fairs. Their order of 12,996 copies will be shipped in July. We are excited they chose this inspirational story and feel that it will sell well to their adult customers.

Following Atticus is a great read and will bring a smile to your face and at times a tear to your eye. Follow their blog and like them on facebook and at times you'll be smiling and other times overcome with emotion...but always inspired.

Feeling good about seeing good things happen to a good guy + 2 dogs...

--Gray