In Pursuit Of Maine: August 30, 2014

Saturday, August 30, 2014

August 30, 2014 - Cardinal Flowers

Cardinal flowers grow wild all along the edge of the Cathance River, and when you travel in a canoe or boat at this time of year, the riverbanks are dotted with riotous red spikes everywhere the eye can see. It’s a magical river and a magical flower, so it only stands to reason that it would attract magical beings. Are you one of them?

If I were to meet you along this river, among these cardinal flowers, how could I be sure that you weren’t one of the magical creatures who live here in Maine? How could you be sure that I wasn’t?

The answer is we can’t be sure at all, so perhaps we should all treat one another as if we were magical beings, just in case. Perhaps when we look at one another, we can silently say to ourselves, “Ah, yes, there goes another lovely sprite.” Perhaps when we gaze at one another, we can envision a magical spark just under the surface.

And this might just be a lot closer to the truth than we realize.

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis).

"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.

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Saturday, August 30, 2014

August 30, 2014 - Cardinal Flowers