In Pursuit Of Maine: May 14, 2016 - The Little Things

Saturday, May 14, 2016

May 14, 2016 - The Little Things

It’s the little things in life, really, that matter the most. And if that’s a cliché, then so be it. In the end, I mean, after all is said and done. The large home, the fame, the fancy car, the designer clothing--none of that matters. They’re not little enough.

Moments.

A colorful sky comes closer to the “little things” because even though it’s vast, it’s fleeting. The ocean, too, can qualify since it cannot be quantified. The Earth, the forest, the deserts . . . all these things matter and come close to the “little things,” but they still aren’t quite little enough.

What is little enough to matter in the end? What might be the last thing we appreciate and say goodbye to with tears in our eyes and love in our hearts when we die? The first chirp of a tiny bird who senses dawn half an hour before it actually comes. A blade of grass. A momentary whiff of a lily or a rose when the plant is nowhere in sight. An azure dragonfly. A bird hovering far, far above. A tiny breeze against the back of your neck. The sound of a baby breathing. The scent of dew. The wail of a loon.

Tiny things, momentarily available, breathtakingly unique. In the end, those are all that matter.

"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.