In Pursuit Of Maine: April 4, 2014

Friday, April 4, 2014

April 4, 2014 - Silent Sentinels

A visit to the Old Harpswell Common Burying Ground always evokes a feeling of time bearing down on me. Most of the graves are from the 1700s and 1800s, with some of the inhabitants having been born in the 1600s. It's hard to imagine, but they were here, living their lives as I am today. They had hopes and dreams, fears and loves. There are graves of tiny babies and young people, some of who may have been saved with modern medicine. Yet there are a fair amount of elderly inhabitants as well, so even in this harsh climate, those of strong constitution lived long lives. Many of the old tombstones have an eerie story to tell at the bottom of them, with phrases such as, "Prepare to follow me." Some talk about the vanity of the living, others about reward and punishment. There are Revolutionary War heroes buried here with the flag standing in salute at their graves. Everywhere there is a sense of silence and peace, without a care in the world.

"The Plain Maine Cookbook" is my own collection of vintage Maine recipes that will immediately bring you back to a simpler time, a less confused time. These recipes are more than just comfort food. They're family food, traditional food, simple food, plain food. One bite and you'll say, "Ah, yes! I remember my grandmother used to make this. I had forgotten all about it!" Recipes for whoopie pies, funnel cakes, fried fiddleheads, haymaker's switchel, coffee can bread, glogg, and much more are in these pages. There is even a recipe on how to render lard. So open the door and go back to some simple, time-tested foods you can prepare easily. You'll find that you save money and waste less by "making do" with commodity cooking. What's in the pantry or in the garden is what's for dinner.

"So You Want to Move to Maine" is an invaluable little book in helping people to make a permanent move to Maine. It will save you a ton of time because all the initial footwork is done for you, including 100 links on how to find work and living quarters, getting your driver's license, pet requirements, programs for people with disabilities, programs for senior citizens, getting married in Maine, hidden taxes and expenses, hospitals, health insurance, handling a real winter like a pro, etc. Stop being "just a number" or another face in the crowd. Walk away from the rat race. Become boldly individualistic and make your mark in life. You can still do that in Maine, one of the last holdouts of ordinary, old-fashioned, kind, and decent American living.

I’ve chosen 37 unique fairy tales that will be loved by both adults and children as they can be read and interpreted on many levels. But if you are looking for only sweet tales that end in joy and fairness, you may want to pass this book by. Some fairy tales are simply “dark,” and that is because sometimes life is simply dark. Not always, of course, but often enough. Sometimes the hero lives; sometimes he dies. Check out my book, “Fairy Tales of Maine,” in the photo link below. If you are brave, you might just meet yourself in one of these tales.

Pages

Friday, April 4, 2014

April 4, 2014 - Silent Sentinels