You gotta have friends

Betsy and Cindy came to Mendon for our every-few-months get together. Since I spend so much time alone during the week (working and playing at home), it's always a spirit boost to see good friends.

We had lunch, then took a spin to Northbridge to show Cindy the view from Lookout Rock(Betsy had been marched there on a previous visit). We took in the Blackstone River from on high, then as usual, I made a wrong turn in the woods as we attempted to get back to the car. We eventually made it out and over to Wild Bird Gardens in Whitinsville ... great bird merchandise in an old mill building.                Betsy & Cindy on Lookout Rock                       [More July Pics Here]

Florida caladiums bloom in Mendon

Woonsocket needs you

It was a cool, cloudy Saturday. What to do? Ah, the Museum of Work & Culture, of course! We'd been wondering (and kidding) about it for a few years. The time had come to investigate ... and with no other great ideas, we went south to quirky, fascinating Woonsocket, RI.

The museum recounts the story of French Canadian immigrants who left farm life in Quebec to come to work in Woonsocket mills at the turn of the century. It does a pretty good job of showing the home, religious, work and social aspects of the mill workers lives. The museum itself is in an old mill building and sits near the Blackstone River. We saw one other visitor, then had the museum to ourselves. Stop by if you're in the area, they need business!

Mill work was tough .. this guy keeps at it even in the museum	Baseball greats Nap Lajoie & Gabby Hartnett played on mill teams in Woonsocket — who knew?
	These nice kids gave me some bread for the ducks

After a walk around the museum area and river, we drove to the Precious Blood Cemetery — right on the Woonsocket/Blackstone, MA border. It's an interesting place ... unique monuments and statues mark the mostly French Canadian graves.

A poignant gravestone

No, not Greek ruins, but a large hilltop monument — the focal point of the cemetery

Riding the Blackstone

Since a frustrating effort a couple years ago, I'd wanted to get back on the Blackstone River. A head of steam had built up ... Peter sighed, knowing it was useless to resist .. and started the long, arduous process of attaching the hull-a-ports to the rack of the car, getting the kayaks hoisted up and strapped down. This time we went to Uxbridge, starting the trip at the Rice City Pond.

There was a swan family — yes, with cygnets! living on the pond and we went their way first, through the very dense growth — reeds; invasive, but beautiful purple loosestrife, lily pads and some thick spinachy stuff. It was a beautiful setting, full of color, in between the high ground of Goat Hill and Lookout Rock.

Cygnets!	Struggling in the thick stuff

After fighting our way out of the marsh to the river itself, we had another battle: against the current. It was surprisingly strong on the narrow Blackstone. I would stop paddling for a moment to take a picture and get turned sideways instantly. We made it to the Goat Hill Lock, one of the old canal locks still remaining, then turned back.

Rice City Pond, Goat Hill in distance	Heading up river against the current
In the Goat Hill Lock	Smooth sailing down river

Woo, what a difference going down river! Riding the current, we felt like we were racing along, only paddling to stay on course... we saw a couple other kayakers go by at an intersection and they were a blur. Fun, fun. We were back at our starting point in no time. I hope the river is clean someday ... they are trying to make it fishable/swimable by 2010. It would be great for tubing!

Red-winged blackbird about to take flight

Purple loosestrife is taking over

Gothcha!

After trying forever to get a good picture of a hummingbird ... persistence and luck have come together. I keep my feeder filled with delicious red sugar water and lie in wait. A cute ruby-throated hummingbird (female, so no ruby) is a regular. And success has bred obsession — I'm always on the lookout.

Little muskrat .. look at those claws	My new friend
Sara & Peter enjoying the nice weather ...

That's it for July — John and Mom are arriving soon ... see you next month. [More Pictures Here]

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