In Pursuit Of Maine: November 7, 2015 - Busy Work

Saturday, November 7, 2015

November 7, 2015 - Busy Work

The sun is setting on another day in the country. This day, like every other day, is not marked or tracked by a clock. There is no nagging message that says I must do this or I must do that. There was nowhere I had to be. Which is why I was so busy.

Another day.

There was a lot to do. Winterizing of the house. Putting warm weather things away and taking out cold weather things. Clearing out waste and building up the compost piles. Cleaning up fall messes, which will be back tomorrow. Working on writing. Taking photographs. We were out of bread, so I had to bake more. Animal care. A necessary trip into town. The list goes on.

It’s frustrating when I get to the end of a long day and feel as if I’ve barely accomplished anything. There’s no time clock on which to punch out. I basically work until I’m exhausted, and I know darn well that there’s just as much work to do tomorrow.

Then the sun sets, and I figure if the sun can still be so beautiful after a long day of travel, if the sun can wave farewell to me with such a dazzling smile, if the sun can labor with never a complaint, maybe things aren’t so bad after all. Maybe peace and beauty are still the important things, and the busy work can wait until tomorrow. It’s a gift given freely, which I gratefully accept.

Tomorrow the sun will be right back at it again, toiling tirelessly in order to take care of the entire world. In the face of that, my chores don’t seem nearly so difficult.

"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.