In Pursuit Of Maine: September 14, 2014 - Mighty Oaks

Sunday, September 14, 2014

September 14, 2014 - Mighty Oaks

This imposing old oak tree stares at me as I walk by. I am mobile and he is not. I can walk to countless destinations; he remains rooted. I can swim to various places; he remains in the Earth. I can change my surroundings when I am unhappy or fearful; he must face whatever comes head on. I can hide myself from interaction with others; he must graciously take whatever presents itself to him. I can protect and defend myself; he must remain completely passive to all insults and harm.

A mighty oak; a silent sentinel.

Is it no wonder then, that we look at old oak trees and call them “mighty oaks”? Is it no wonder that their wood is so solid and hard? Should we be surprised that things built from oak stand the test of time over and over? I used to think that my ability to move from place to place wherever I fancied made me a privileged species, and in some ways, of course, that’s true. But it does not make me a patient species. It does not make me a serene species. In my constant movement back and forth, I seem to have forgotten how to remain solid, how to stand tall.

What would you be like if you had to bear any weather condition without complaint? If you had to live in one spot only, and a spot that you didn’t even choose? If you had to patiently bear all of your surroundings? If you could not run and hide when you were fearful? If you had to passively accept any action done by another?

And we think we know what strength is.

"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.