GLOBAL MAINE

     It looks like you could tour the world without leaving Maine.  These are but a few of the unusual names of some of our cities and towns.  It makes me wonder who chose the name and why?

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

     Sometimes the light is just perfect and you must grab the camera and take a picture then and there.
     Now - if only I could paint..........

OUR WINTER BUDDIES

     About four years ago we noticed a single blue jay had become one of our regular bird feeder visitors.  Naturally we encouraged him with dried corn on the cob and plenty of suet.
     A year later we noticed we had accumulated another blue jay.  They came almost daily and about a year after that we had three steady customers.
     This year we have a total of four and they arrive everyday and sometimes several times a day.
     The kitchen offers the best viewing spot and whenever I am cooking or doing dishes I have the luxury observing theses beauties right out the window.

SO I CAN BAKE ALSO

     Although most baking in this house is done by David, I do have my moments.
     This beautiful and delicious strawberry cake (from scratch) was my offering to a dinner given to assist some local people with their medical expenses.  It was well received and obviously everyone was hoping for a taste.
     I think I prefer cooking to baking because baking is so precise.  I like a little freedom and creativity.  And - we all know too much creativity in baking can be a problem.  Certain chemical and physical reactions must take place to ensure an elegant and delicious product.  Whereas cooking allows some spontaneity and tends to be a bit more forgiving.

OUR IN-HOUSE BAKER

     I can cook and I am very good at it, but David is the baker in this family.  He is very exact and meticulous and, of course, makes his own crusts from scratch utilizing his secret ingredient.
     This is a mincemeat pie he make for Christmas last year.  Not only was it delicious, you can see it was also a work of art.  Perhaps that is what happens when artists bake.

COLLECTING ROCKS

     This past summer we went to several Maine beaches that I hadn't visited before.  At Sipp Bay I found an interesting rock I wanted to keep - so I brought it home and labeled it.       After that whenever we went to a beach that was new to us I selected a small rock as a remembrance.  (Hey, I'm retired.  What are you going to do?)  I will probably keep these rocks for a while and then toss them out.  But for the time being they amuse and entertain me.

NEW TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS

     For Christmas David got a ready-to-fly drone with attached camera.  Needless to say one must master the art of controlling the in-flight drone. It's not rocket science, but it does present a new learning curve and requires a bit of practice.
     Here's a brief documentation of the famous or perhaps infamous first flight attempt.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

     2016 was not the best of years although it did have it's high points.  A lot of  big name personalities passed away.  Our government took an about face and seems to be going in the wrong direction.
     Politics became very personal and ugly this year.  I am sad to see the Obama Era fade into the past.  It looks like scary things are on the horizon.  I have made an effort to turn myself off politics and go with the flow.  I will try to remain aware and I will support the causes I believe it.  And - I will pray that the man in charge of out country for the next four years does not destroy it.
    The maple leaf and the sardine were dropped from The Tides building at midnight for the joy of a moderate crowd in Bank Square.  It was cool and rainy and not too comfortable.
     Today begins a new day and a new year.  I hope we will see positive improvements in our government and in our attitudes toward one another.
     I heard a phrase from a friend, Katherine Cassidy, and it has stuck in my mind.  "Do what you can when you can where you can with what you have."  Perhaps my new mantra?

MERRY CHRISTMAS  - 2016

     Well, another Christmas has come and gone.  We had a lovely celebration here at home.  David's daughter, Martha, was visiting and it made the holidays all the more special.  We had promised to not get carried away with gifts this year.  It wasn't easy and we did go just a bit overboard.
     I got David a drone and he is busy mastering the art of flight.
     The weather was pleasant and we had no snow.  Christmas was clear and bright, but cold.
     It seems the spirit never touches me until the tree is up and decorated.  Then, everything seems to become magical.
     I decreased my card list this year and only replied to ones received.  I think a lot of people are doing the same thing.  I think you should stay in touch with those who are special to you all year long and not just because the calendar rolls onto December 25th.  This year I am going to work on my communications with friends and hope my example encourages them to do the same.  

SAVE THOSE EGG SHELLS.

      Crushed egg shells are good for your kitchen garden because of the high amount of calcium they contain.  Just rinse the shells to prevent odor and when dry store them in a large zip log baggie.  After collecting a sufficient amount, crush them up and sprinkle them in your garden.        The shells will discourage snails and slugs.  Deer tend to avoid the area also because they do not like the odor of albumin.
      When planting new seedlings, put a bit of finely ground up egg shell into the hole before planting.  You can use a bullet or a food processor to grind the shells finely.  You will be amazed at the improvement of your produce.