In Pursuit Of Maine: May 10, 2014 - Fairy Construction

Saturday, May 10, 2014

May 10, 2014 - Fairy Construction

I heard a bit of a ruckus in the woods--some pounding, rustling, and a bit of flute music--and thought I might investigate. I crept up ever so quietly, but just as I was about to peak my head out from around a large boulder, my foot stumbled on a small rock. Instantly, as if by magic, the woods went quiet. I stepped out quickly and not a fairy was to be found, but . . . I did find this bit of construction. It seems they had enough time to personally vanish but not enough time to hide their work. What a find! It's ingenious, really. Thin saplings are bent in half in a loop shape. Each end is buried into the ground, probably by at least a foot, I would imagine. This sets out the "ribs" of the building. Then thinner branches are woven in and out of the ribs. Obviously, I caught them in mid-construction of the shell. I'm certain they would have finished it off with quite a bit of leaves, greenery, fallen pine boughs, moss, and possibly even a rock-like veneer in places. It makes me wonder just how many of these finished dwellings I have passed by and never even saw. I am getting closer. They cannot hide from me forever. Run fairies, but you cannot hide.

"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.