In Pursuit Of Maine: June 11, 2015 - I am Icarus

Thursday, June 11, 2015

June 11, 2015 - I am Icarus

The heat has hit us in a bad way, and all eyes turn to the shore for relief. I am sure that 83 degrees might not seem hot to some people, but for me it is stifling and painful. All outdoor work must be done in the very early morning or in the evening. I wouldn’t dare to approach the Sun King directly at this time of year. Although he is known for his benevolence, he can be overpowering at times. An archetype cannot choose his behavior.

But I am Icarus today, and I can choose my behavior. Daedalus has warned me repeatedly not to fly too low or too high. The dampness of the sea will clog my wings if I fly too low, and the scorching heat of the sun will melt them if I fly too high. Moderation is the key to the warnings of Daedalus. Fly too low with a lack of confidence, and you will be drowned. Fly too high with hubris and an overestimation of your abilities, and you will be burned. The Sun King approves of neither extreme but can only punish you with one.

It’s a tightrope we all walk. Drowning at sea is easier to discern and can usually be remedied in time. But flying high? Who can resist soaring in the brilliance, even though only momentarily? I’ll take my chances.

Fly to the heavens?

"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.