In Pursuit Of Maine: May 3, 2014 - Island Kingdom

Saturday, May 3, 2014

May 3, 2014 - Island Kingdom

This tiny little island in the middle of the Androscoggin River is its own kingdom. It has one tree (although a tiny new one appears to be growing on the other side), a bit of brush, and the rest rocks. Not very much to look at, I'll admit, but I've always been so enchanted with it. I imagine a whole kingdom of the Wee Folk must live there. And why not? No one would ever suspect. It's protected on all sides by the rapid river and its sea monsters, and from the air, it's not even noticeable. It's surrounded by underwater rocks and boulders (you can see one sticking out of the water to the right), so it's treacherous to take any kind of craft out there. It's perfect for one of the last strongholds of the Good Folk. If you were ever to step foot upon this island (and no one ever has), I can assure you that you would return a completely different person, assuming you returned at all. Tiny, little brave island out in the cold river, eking out its existence not because of us but in spite of us.

"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.