Fallen Warden Run

 

For six years, members of the Maine Warden Service and others have come together to remember their fallen brothers. Fifteen miles are run from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy to the Maine Fallen Officers Memorial in Augusta to honor the 15 Wardens who died in the line of duty. Members of the Maine Marine Patrol, Maine Forest Service, Maine State Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife were represented in this year's run. The matching red shirts read, "We run for those who cannot." 

 

The group ran in three rows...no one left behind and no one running ahead. The fallen Warden flag flew high at the front of the line. It was the focal point at each mile mark as the group stood at attention while another banner with a Fallen Warden's name was added to the flag.

 

When we rounded the corner in Augusta, the capitol building stood tall. We ran to the front of the Maine Fallen Officers Memorial. I do not do well with the combination of uniforms, flags, and bagpipes.  It was a moving ceremony. 

 

 

 

 In the truck on the way to Augusta, I had asked Evan why the run wasn't scheduled in the spring or summer instead of the fall....the Warden's busiest season. Colonel Wilkinson addressed this during his speech. The run is scheduled in the fall, not out of convenience, but because it is the season of the game warden. This time is set aside to remember.

 

When we returned to the police academy and got into Evan's truck, he noticed that his odometer read 2202, the call number of Daryl Gordon, the last Warden who died in the line of duty. 

 

15 Fallen Game Wardens. 15 Miles. Never forgotten.

 Lyman O. Hill 1839 - 1886

Charles W. Niles - 1886

Arthur G. Deag 1901 - 1921

Leslie Robinson 1901 - 1921

David F. Brown 1870 - 1922

Mertley E. Johnson 1901 - 1922

Lee H. Parker 1877 - 1927

Jean Baptiste Jalbert 1886 - 1933

Robert Lee Moore 1889 - 1935

Randall E. Shelley 1902 - 1946

George E. Townsend 1919 - 1956

R. Lyle Frost Jr. 1926 - 1968

Richard E. Varney 1931 - 1972

William F. Hanrahan 1943 - 1992

Daryl R. Gordon 1950 - 2011

 

When we had first arrived at the police academy, there were other women dressed to run and I was devastated (we didn't know I could run!). I had everything but sneakers. Luckily I have man feet and we found a Warden with an extra pair..and they matched! I feel so thankful to have been able to share this day with my Warden and his comrades!

Thanks to Emily MacCabe for the pictures!



The Essence of SKUNK

It is so ridiculous but I might be more excited about this post than any I've ever done. I like really gross weird things like those CRAZY cyst popping videos on YouTube. I LOVE those!

This was a first for both Evan and myself. Taking the smelly stuff out of a skunk. Skunk essence is used for lure while trapping. It's something that will get most animals' attention and they like to come investigate when they catch a whiff.

You can find skunk lure pretty much anywhere online. Although, since it's trapping season, the pure essence("pure quill") is hard to find this time of year because of the high demand. So on to plan B, just squeeze it out all by yourself!! :)) There are easier, less messy ways to do this. Evan's Lieutenant got his out with a needle. We didn't have a needle and we don't live near stores so......medical gloves and some good strong squeezes will do the trick! 

One of the cutest pictures I've ever seen!!! Annoyed that he takes the best pictures when he's holding a dead animal.

plain Vaseline

Taking the creature to the other side of the yard....



I was SOOOO terrified that it was going to squirt on me. But we soon found out that this was just poop. LOL



Oh and there it is!!! Squirting right out just like a bottle of French's mustard after it's been sitting in the cupboard for a couple of months!! Yummy!!!!



Those two little ninnies are the glands.



And there's some more!!!

 



It was a small skunk so we didn't get a lot.

 



We put boiling hot water in a bowl and put the Vaseline in so it would melt. Every time we went back to work with the Vaseline all I could think of were lip gloss recipes. The only other thing I've ever heard of making something from Vaseline...was fruity flavor lip glosses!!!



 

Then we dumped the essence into the melted Vaseline and gave it a good stir. Voila! Fisher and Marten Call Lure!

Queen Anne's Lace

 

Things quiet down in September and October

Everything stills in November

Tall grasses sway

They whisper about flowers that will fade and fall away

Flashes of amber light up the field, the trees, the sky

One flower stays

Once light, white, and delicate

Now, transformed

Bound together, sturdy, and secure

Preparing for the inevitable

It towers over the meadow

Standing alone

Striking, solid, and tall

It is Queen Anne's lace in the fall

 

 



 A week or so ago I went with Evan to one of his trainings in Bangor. I sat in the truck for the majority of the time but eventually got bored. I grabbed my camera and started walking. While walking near a field I noticed this cool cage looking thing and had no idea what it was but knew that I wanted to take pictures of it! I came home and found out that it is actually Queen Anne's Lace. Such a cool transformation.....