Photography by Susannah Warner, 300 Waldoboro Rd, Bremen, ME, Portland, ME (2026)

07/16/2026

**I forgot to ask Scout what this text means yesterday. I’ll have to ask when he gets up….

While Isaac and I were in Boston yesterday battling heat, smoky skies, and awkward but compelling bus brouhahas, Scout and Bean went for a nice, refreshing 4-wheeler ride. Unfortunately for the pair of ADHD’ers, they did not have Noni to remind them to bring the necessary accoutrements.

They decided to load up the 4-wheeler and trailer so that they could ride farther than they usually do and were 10
miles down the road when they realized they forgot Bean’s helmet. They turned around, ran inside, grabbed Scout’s forgotten coffee and drove 5 miles to get gas when they realized they forgot the helmet AGAIN.

Fearing he left the helmet on the bumper of the truck as this is a very, very common, convenient shelf for this guy— he left his phone on the bumper of my car last week—they raced back and found the helmet on the table. I think at this point I might have said it’s not meant to be and stayed home. But, like many people with ADHD, these two are determined and they said, “now we HAVE to go!” They went, and had a nice time.

I forgot to ask about the warden situation. It’s probably a routine stop to check for registration which at this time has to be on your phone because the state ran out of stickers, I guess? Seems weird but it’s true and thankfully for Scout I told him to screenshot the confirmation and put it in his notes because the places we ride, we often don’t have cellphone service so he wouldn’t be able to pull it up otherwise.

But, Scout gets himself in all kinds of situations so the warden thing could mean anything. It wouldn’t have surprised me if they’d joined a search party or matched the description of a grandfather/granddaughter outlaw pair and were briefly detained. These kinds of things happen to Scout a lot so nothing surprises me.

Meanwhile, as an addendum to our little show in South station yesterday, Isaac added more mystery to the story by telling me later that the pair tried to sneak on the bus twice, aided by the boisterous Boston lady who gestured frantically for them to go because the cop was gone and the bus driver wasn’t looking. She even held the door for them. They were caught both times. I missed that part I guess. **confused? See yesterday’s post.

Today is a new day, though and I was offered the day off by a nurse who wants more hours. I want less hours with Bean around so that works out great! We’re going to pick up Nana (my mother) and do some more shopping and go out to lunch. Bean has requested Texas Roadhouse and because of that idea, Scout has agreed to drive all the Miss Daisies around. This means no loading of the cart as he’s very picky about the placement of grocery items whereas I just throw everything in. It also means he loads up the trunk because he insists and puts the cart away AND that maybe I’ll have me a Texas sized margarita when we go out to eat. We will see.

Have a great day, all!

Like my posts? https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/15/2026

Weird yellow sky from the Canadian wildfires we spotted on our walk back to South Station today…

Eye appointment went great! Corneal laceration from initial surgery healing, infection consolidated and just about gone and next appointment is in 3 weeks! He will continue with Levaquin and steroid drops until then but that’s ok. There is a white spot in the eye which the doctor said will be a scar but she doesn’t think it is deep enough to impede his vision. It’ll just be a conversation starter I suppose. We all have plenty of scars inside and out as there’s no way to get through this life unscathed—Usually they’re not on the eyeball though!

Some interesting drama awaited us as we approached the Concord bus line in South Station involving Boston PD, an extremely sassy older lady, an obviously very high individual with dreads and a big M tattooed on his forehead, and a very well dressed businessman looking person who didn’t really look like he belonged there.

It didn’t go down like you might think, although at first it did.

When we came upon the scene the older lady was yelling at the cop—“this is America! He can do what he wants!” She was shouting in a very unladylike and unbecoming fashion. Apparently she was mad on behalf of the guy with dreads and his gf who were being asked not to sleep in the corner. They did in fact have a tent amongst their bags but it was not set up. The girlfriend got up and listlessly wandered away somewhere while the man got their things together.

At this point the well-dressed man entered the bizarre scene and wandered over and out of the blue started swearing at the lady and saying so many weird and mean things that at first I thought it was a strange joke. Like maybe they knew each other and this is how they spoke to each other? I changed my mind when the lady bellowed with a strong Boston accent, “that’s really classy di$&hesd! You’d say that to a lady?!”

“Where?!” He demanded. “Where is the lady?! I don’t see one?!!!” It’s true she was no lady but he certainly was no gentleman and why insert himself in this mess anyway? To me it was the physical embodiment of a rage baiter online—someone or something that shows up uninvited and loves to stir the pot and fire people up.

The man with the dreads was actually the more gentlemanly of the two and said “what’s your problem, man?! Why you talkin’ to an old lady like that?!” He was bending at the waist and making erratic movements. He was dirty and disheveled but he made the most sense. He advanced unsteadily toward the suit man and the suit man sidled away never to be seen again as bully’s often do when confronted.

At this point the cop reappeared just like a character in a play— actually they were all like characters in a play. Even the wide-eyed young, Amish couple in the front of the line. The tattoo man tried telling the cop what had happened in case the suit had summoned him and honestly I was prepared to back him up if he was not believed but the policeman didn’t care about any of that. He was busy telling him that he could not ride on the bus impaired. “I’m sorry sir,” he said and instantly stopped the rocking/ twitching movements for a minute “but my girlfriend and I missed the last bus last night and we were up all night.”

“I know the difference between how being tired looks and how being high looks and you’re not getting on this bus in this condition.” The cop said. And it’s true. This man was heavily under the influence of something and we all knew it and although he was polite now, you just never know what mood 2 hours on a bus and a rapidly declining mood-altering drug level could conjure up and I did not care to be on a bus with him even though Isaac was with me. I’ve seen him take down and subdue a crazed drug-fueled enraged man before in a most dramatic way but I don’t care to see it again. And anyway, that’s a different story.

“I understand,” he said politely. He gathered their things and walked away. We did not see him or the girlfriend again until we were loaded on the bus and through the window we could see they’d both resurfaced holding ice coffees and were gesturing wildly to the surly older lady who was still inexplicably on the bench instead of on the bus. Why was she even there in the first place waiting for the bus? It was weird. Very weird. But a good diversion and a decent story to tell Scout later who really loves drama.

Plus, I’ve been typing away and recounting those 10 minutes for so long I can see the Maine bridge coming up just ahead. I missed Massachusetts and New Hampshire entirely. So there’s that.

Boston, Massachusetts

Like my stories? https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/15/2026

We came home a bit early for the storm that wasn’t. I don’t think it even rained one drop at my house… the road looks dry this morning so I don’t think it did. I mean, I’m glad we didn’t have any tornadoes roll through as was feared in my area but I do love myself a good summer thunderstorm and that was a bust.

The color of the sky yesterday afternoon was weird though and added to the whole exciting build up even though it was due to Canadian wildfires and not an approaching tornado. Milky gray to yellow is a weird color for the sky though and I could actually smell the smoke from time to time.

We shopped plenty anyway. We had a great time and made the most of our short time away as we always do. And anyway, here I go again to Boston. Leaving in a few minutes with Isaac for another appointment at Tufts. His eye is quite a bit better but there is still a white spot there. Hopefully it will go away and not cause a scar to form on his cornea.

Stay tuned!

North Conway, New Hampshire

https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/14/2026

I was so busy looking up at these Asperitas clouds that I tried to get it in the wrong car. I was only brought out of my reverie when both Scout and Bean said “wrong car!” at the same time.

At least it was red.

https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/14/2026

Bean and I shopped until we dropped yesterday. Scouty hiked a mountain. North Conway has something for everyone.

North Conway, New Hampshire

https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/14/2026

I snuck away this morning and left those two lie-abeds in the hotel room. To be fair, I asked the night before if anyone wanted to go with me in the morning and they didn’t, so I went by myself.

I’m glad I did.

North Conway, New Hampshire

https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/13/2026

I’ve had to reach back recently for previously unpublished photos to share to supplement my meager recent supply. I just haven’t had as much time to go to places that I normally would before the sun rises with Bean here or even during the day. I’m not complaining about it, just letting you know that although I try not to repeat any pictures that I may have posted in the last 7 years, I definitely am going back and grabbing shots that I never edited throughout that time. This one was from July of last year and it was a memorable sunrise because those clouds were just so weird.

Anyway, I have a few minutes before the house wakes up and we shove off for a quick, overnight in New Hampshire with the main goal of doing some back to school shopping for Bean. Her mother left us shopping money and we’re eager to spend it… tax free! Bean also has a little spending money of her own burning a hole in her wallet including an unexpected gift from a generous reader. Thank you again! So thoughtful and kind!

Scout is looking forward to new jeans at the Levi’s outlet because he claims the 31/30s he’s been wearing since he was in his 20s are suddenly “made different” and he needs to try them on this time to make sure they fit right. They seem to be a bit snug around the waist now and he will not concede that perhaps he is the one that is suddenly different in the belly area. 🙄

Coincidentally, although Scout will not see the connection, he is also looking forward to a box of 50 Munchkins as he only gets them for road trips. Unfortunately, his advancing years have not brought with them a shred of restraint when it comes to pastries and he generally eats at least 27 of them before we’ve even cleared Maine. It is at about the 1/2 way point that he starts to display classic signs of operating under the influence of a massive inhalation of sugar— heavy eyelids, yawning…whereupon I offer to drive and he declines but digs deeper into the box in an attempt to stave off the sugar crash. It usually works until we get there at which point the box is busted and a few rapidly hardening plain donut holes roll around at the bottom. These are the least desirables but will be consumed later after I turn out the light in the hotel and roll over and he decides he needs a late-night snack. I’ve told him before that each munchkin has about 80 calories and therefore he’s eaten about 3 days worth of food but he points out that his extreme amount of activity on a daily basis has allowed him to continue to wear the same size jeans for 40 years… even if they do make them tighter around the waist now. 😂

Have a good day, everyone!

Moxie Pond, Maine

If you want to “buy me a coffee” while Scout has his donuts. Just kidding! This is just a euphemism as I can’t bring myself to waste money on coffee! https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/12/2026

One more 12 hour day at work and then I’ll be off for a couple. We will be busy this week though. I think we will go on a little road trip tomorrow. Hint: Scout needs new jeans. IYKYK

We have another appointment at Tufts on Wednesday—another all day affair, then work again Thursday. But then, I’m off for the weekend and until Bean leaves the following Tuesday. It’ll fly by as her whole time with us has.

She’s been keeping up with her friends and I often hear them chatting and laughing in Croatian and English (btw, you wouldn’t believe how popular the name Doris is there! She has two friends named Doris, a Dora, several Iva’s—pronounced Eva and the rest have names ending in a, like Mara, Lara, Tara, and Zara. They don’t have names that end with e there and her teachers do not say her actual name. They call her Chlo instead of Chloe. Most of the kids say her name correctly but some of her teachers don’t speak English.). I’m sure she will be happy to get back to them and several of her friends have put in requests for American candy like Nerd Clusters.

Meanwhile, we’re having fun and looking forward to some lazy camp days before we go. Wait. Who am I kidding? We are anything but lazy at camp because it’s all about hiking (yes, Bean! You have to hike with us!), biking, swimming, and four-wheeling. Can’t wait!

Moxie Pond, Maine

Like my stuff? https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

07/11/2026

They arrived home safely, 26 hours after they left. A few meltdowns from Angel-face but really not that bad. The parents skipped a night of sleep entirely while the baby took naps here and there.

They were all happy to be home though, and after a few stops and starts at bedtime because of the time change and weird nap schedule, everyone slept from 11:30-8 their time, which would be 5:30pm- 2am our time. I’m sure he will get straightened out in a few days.

Bean had herself a relaxing day yesterday for a change as she’s been on the go day after day. She binged on a tv series she can’t get in Croatia and she and Papa ordered pizza while I worked. A day of rest for her but not for Papa who had lots of work to do.

Today she’s coming to eat with me in the hospital cafeteria as my mother does every Saturday. Bean always likes to come upstairs first though to my floor and chat with the nurses because she’s like that. I’d rather take a beating than just mingle with people I barely know. In fact “mingle” is about the worst word I’ve ever heard, but it’s one of Bean’s favorites. She’s always been the kid who says hi to every shopper at the grocery store and would ask them what they’re buying and why. When she was 4 she would barge into church and say to her mother “who can we meet today?!?” Her reticent mother would always say “no one!”

She’s good for us— the shy and introverted ones. Almost 40 years of working with the public has me easily making conversation with anyone about anything, but for me it was a learned skill not a natural talent. Bean is a natural extrovert. We love her that way.

Which one are you?!?

Moxie Pond, Maine

https://buymeacoffee.com/SusannahWarner

Photography by Susannah Warner

07/16/2026

07/15/2026

07/15/2026

07/14/2026

07/14/2026

07/14/2026

07/13/2026

07/12/2026

07/11/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share