Out of the mouths... A December to remember!

So this past week was a crazy one. My to do list wasn't getting any shorter and the holidays were fast approaching. One of the things on my list was to pull a seasonal box I planted so I could return it to Force of Five. I have been trying to pull this box since the end of October with no luck what so ever. Well on the way home last week, I hit the trifecta. Christopher was still awake, the sun was still out and it was reasonably warm for December and Christopher was wearing boots! Not wanting to pressure a four year old into going on a half mile walk if he didn't want to I asked him if he wanted to go on a walk with me to get a box. I'd have to say, his response didn't surprise me too much. "We have to go get Ambur (Teacup.)" Christopher was not overly impressed that she couldn't join us as she was still at work, but he still agreed to join me in order to keep me safe. We all know my batting average in the woods!


So off we went. The first part was easy enough. The ground was firm and mostly dry. Since the beginning is a tractor road, it does tend to have deep ruts for the tires, and they were full of water with a thick coating of ice over them that a 65 year old boy couldn't break. This only further proves winter is definitely settling in in Maine. Bummer. We made it to the first field and the grass was much taller there, but bent over heavily laden with frost. We crunched across the field to the entrance to the 'walking path.' I say this is a walking path, because it used to be. Last springs excessive amount of water pretty much destroyed what little path that had been there.


First hurdle to cross was a mini 'brook' which at this point was a mucky muddy pile of leaves, sticks, and tree roots with a big flat rock in the middle used as a stepping stone. It wobbles badly and the first time I stepped on it I almost ended up in the drink (back then there was actually water around it.) This time I was prepared for the wobble. Christopher not so much. He hot footed it off on the other side, stepping into the muck and the mire along the way. But being the little gentleman that he is, once on the other side, he turned to me and said "Jump Mumma, I'll catch you." While it warmed my heart that he offered, truth be told - that if I did need to jump - I'd more than squish him! LOL! Besides, all I really needed to do was take one step forward and I was across this massive stream!

So we walked the path as far as we could. When I had planted the box back in the summer they were in the process of cleaning up the water damage. Evidently they got abducted. They had managed to put 3 slabs of granite down to cross over the mucky mucks to get to the other side and they were still in need of about 15 more. I had only been out on this path one time before to pick up a micro series (which did not survive the flooding) and the damage from the water was amazing. You could still see the water line from the spring about 1 foot off the ground level, and all of the vegetation in this section still had a look like it was still trying to dry out - 6 months later.

So - not able to cross over the stone slab path - we had to bush whack about 50 feet higher. And even here the ground was still ucky and mucky. But Christopher seemed unphased as he trudged to the other side. Oh, did I fail to mention, that while my son had boots on - dumb Mom had on sneakers. But we were about 100 yards from the box, and I was not turning back without it! Did I also mention I'm afraid of falling? So traversing the mucky mucks while balancing on ruler thin tree roots encased in mud and leaves is WAY up on my list of favorite things to do... NOT! I managed to make it to the other side none the worse for wear and we made it to the box. Without missing a beat, once the box was in Christopher's hands, he looked up at me and said, "Mumma, can we stamp up in the car?" Yes, Christopher, we can stamp up in the car. You don't think he's been with Team MudCup a couple of times when we've been visiting drive-bys do you?

So he tucked the box under his arm and headed back the way we came. Now somehow we ended up higher than we were before - so the roots I had developed a relationship of trust with on the crossing over, I couldn't find on the way back, we were another 15 feet higher than before, but nothing looked right from this side and every thing looked very wet. We managed to make it back, bushwhacked our way back to the rock and jumped back over to the other side. By this time, the sun was getting low in the sky and it was beginning to get a little windy. This was also just about the time Christopher's energy started to dwindle. So the walk back to the car took a little longer, but we knew we were safe and sound because we had the moon watching over us. Once back at the car he had completely forgotten about stamping up... good thing to since my stamp was already in the logbook ; )





Later in the week I had a different kind of boxing experience. Teacup and I have been wanting to test out a local night boxing series. And what better time than on a crisp December evening on your way to a dinner party. The dinner party had us kind of at a loss to begin with. It was labeled as a non-stamping, non-boxing dinner party with only our letter boxing friends. What does one talk about at such a party? How are we even going to relate to these people if we don't talk about boxing? We don't even know their real names. Okay - so maybe we do, but do we ever use them? Now there is a quandary.

I had to work in the morning and the dinner party was for 6pm, leaving us just enough time to gather up this 3 box series. Teacup picked me up at work and we transferred all the required gear for the evening. Hostess gives, check. Swap gifts, check. Letterboxing gear, SHHHHHHHH!!!! Check and double checked! Change of shoes, check! Okay - so we were ready to pull off the illusion that we could make it a whole Saturday without boxing. Now the next problem, how to hide the inky fingers. Sometimes boxing in the cold is a good thing! Gloves, check!




A quick stop to get fueled up (Sweet Tea and wraps) and we were off to Kennebunkport. There was another series we thought we could pick up on our way to the night boxing, if we could find the right location. We drive down into Kennebunk, ooohhh, aaahhh. The lights are lovely. Teacup is twisting and turning looking for landmarks while I'm dazzled by the twinkle lights. And all of the Gothic mansions festooned for the holidays. A little further and we were knee deep, make that rim deep in shoppers bustling about with bags all trying to make progress on their shopping list while the weather was holding out. Now while Team MudCup has been known to get turned around every once in a while, we were pretty sure when we left Freeport, we were traveling south. But there, by the side of the road waving up a storm was Santa Claus.


Now I know the greeting for a boxer is "Which way is north?" but how on earth did we end up at the north pole? So we went a little further and ended up further south than we wanted to be. So in lieu of heading to Boston, we did a quick turn around (note, no u-turn this time) and headed back the way we came. Wait, I think we need this road. So off to the left we travel heading back towards the wedding cake house. While we wanted to do the night boxing in the dark. We wanted to get there before it was dark. We managed to do this and headed off for the flowers series. Teacup had heard that there might still be a couple viable boxes in the series, so we thought we'd attempt them while we still had some light left in the day.


Off to one side, the first spot we found easily enough. Not too sure why the wig was hiding out on a limb, but we were pretty sure the flock of geese that flew away were not having a costume party when we arrived. Well a few more stops along the trail and we were pretty sure the series had been pulled. Besides, it was getting dark and we needed to get closer to where the night boxing series was located. On we walked, following clues by flashlight. The lights were wonderful. And Teacup was making fast progress along the path while I dallied behind enjoying the lights when I hear "Watch for that rock." Yup - when your flashlight is reading clues, its not on the ground as you traipse over hill and boulder. One boulder, two, then three - yup, found them all! Continue on!


Teacup was deep in clue translation, and every once in a while she would stop and point her flashlight at something. This would momentarily catch my attention long enough to pay attention to what we were supposed to be doing. Well, we rambled on a little farther, we were on a time limit after all. We had dinner plans we needed to get to and we didn't want to show up late. We searched a little longer and finally found a landmark that seemed to ring true to what we were seeking. Off into the woods we rambled in the dark. In an area we were totally unfamiliar with. We were safe - if anything came at us - we'd swat them with our clue sheet - this would surely leave a killer paper cut!

Well, this set of clues left us stampless and quickly running out of time. But now that we had a sense of where we needed to be... we could come back and ramble around again without having to do the mile hike. We now had a sneaky peak on where we could park a bit closer and cut some of the travel time off our trip. Back out to the main trail and all of a sudden y side started to vibrate... my phone was trapped in a pocket under my coat. Managing to wiggle it out of the pocket it was trapped in - and who could be tracking us down? None other than Team Dazzling Koko. After a bit of harassment banter back and forth - they taunted us with a find we did not have. Coming up empty on this recent walk, it hit hard... oh wait - that was the branch I walked into!

We were a good forty minute walk back to the car so we told them if they made it to dinner before us... let Happydaze know we were on our way. The walk was longer than we had thought. Team DK were still shopping at the mall and now the race was on to see who would make it to Saco first! Tune in for the next episode to find out all the craziness that one gets caught up in over dinner and an evening of games.

What's that Crunch?

So what do most folks do on a cold, crisp Sunday morning in November? Snuggle down deeper under the covers and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist for a little while longer? Maybe brew a pot of coffee and bake a pan of ooey gooey cinnamon buns to share with your family?

Pish posh... that's what you whimps do! Team MudCup packed up our letterboxing supplies and headed off to the booming metropolis of Gorham? Why Gorham you ask - well we only had 18 hours left to get the latest box at Chateau d'Koko... oops, wrong town. It was at the leir of Koko. So we travelled there admiring the frost that frosted the tops of the trees and everything below them.

The frost was definitely thick every direction we turned. But we would not be scared off by a little bit of frost... we had come properly dressed in... oops. We both forgot our boots and were dressed in sneakers. But Teacup had her mittens and scarf... and I had my clipboard to protect me from the morning bite in the air!

We pulled in and grabbed our bags of caned goods to trade for this seasonal box. I opened the cooler... but where's the box? Maybe its under the cooler? Nope - not there. Dang. I thought briefly about banging on Koko's front door - but out of respect for his guest, I opted to leave the front door unassaulted. Instead, within a fifty foot reach was another elusive box.

We tromped off down the hill, closer and closer to what we hoped would be a sure find. Yup - sure enough it was there. Safe and sound, sort of. It was frozen solid in a bucket of ice. So back up the hill we took the box and the bucket. One nice thing about Koko's house - he has a paved driveway! So we dropped the bucket on the driveway... it stayed put. One more drop to the pavement (with a little more gumption this time) and spew! Like Mt. Vesuvius it erupted from its icy capture. I grabbed the box... the Lock n Lock was encased in a tomb of ice. A few more strategically placed whaps to the pavement and I was able to release the lid!

One would have thought - with all the nice, laughter and racket we were making - someone would have woken up by now. It was 7:35am after all. Who sleeps this late on a Sunday? Why aren't they up and boxing? Surely they have boxes on THEIR lists to get off? I hear there's a new Lighthouse series without any finders... And a good CBB boxer should have been up serving us refills on our coffee and tea by now. But alas, we went away without the BOM... seems the Dazzler stamped up late and it didn't make it back outside. Next time - we're knocking on the door! So you are forewarned Koko! Team MudCup does their night boxing in the wee small hours of the MORNING, not the night!

So we mozied off to Dunkin Donuts for a refill on liquids and breakfast. It was 8 am. Time to use my phone a friend! Dang! Even at 8am Koko isn't awake! How on earth does he get any boxing done? Half the day is gone! So off to Portland to visit the Ninja Hideout by Genesha. Safe and sound and no one saw us at all. We we very stealthy! Okay - so no one else was even up, but that's besides the point. From there we strolled around the Eastern Prom. Poking around a tree or two, trying to get some bearings that would fit, but came up empty - so off towards home. This was a quick trip today, and we were down one from the start.

Time to pick up a sure thing, one nice thing about having a boxing buddy that has a list much SHORTER than your own, its a safe bet you'll pick up at least one sure bet : ) And a lovely box it was - too. We pulled into the parking lot... and my cell phone starts ringing. Tea - its our 'phone a friend' life line.

"So Koko, where's the box?" "Wait, I can't here....." dang, I lost him. I'll try that again. "Koko, sit still, I keep loosing you!" "You're where?" Dang... gone again! "Koko! Get out of bed! Every time you roll around I loose you!" Damn! Lost him again. Well he told me the box is outside again if we want to go get it! "Koko! We are heading into the woods... "

And the gauntlet is thrown! It would seem Team Dazzling Koko picked up the latest CBB box before us! We tried for it... but we were afraid the Portland Police were beginning to get suspicious about all our u-turns in parking lots : ) So we opted to park the car and head into the woods to pick up a Weathergleams instead. Fear not Jiffy! I now know where another of your boxes is... well get that this weekend : ) LOL!

So - this leads me wot wonder. If anyone else needs a phone a friend... do you also have bad reception as Koko rolls around trying to get a signal? And what time is a good time to pound on the front door to have the owner pony up the box? I wonder if Koko got the message we left on his car window etched into the frost? Or did it disappear in the morning sunlight?