A slap on the butt for the here we go. You start life peering out at it with a brand spanking new tiny set of baby peepers.
Wide eye amazement unfolds as folks that love you explain the ways things work.
As they lovingly guide you through the stages of a Maine childhood. With special attention thrown in for good measure. To have it your way. Metered out, tailor made for just how you need it dished out for the best long term results.
Begin Again, Rebirth, Renew, Maine Spring Flowers So Up Right On Cue.
To make sure you learn all about the nitty gritty from all those family members that love and surround you in small town proud Maine.
To prepare you for the venture out into the deep end. Of the wild blue yonder where you make your way through life the best you can. Humming the tune until you learn the words.
And then it is your turn. Take the controls. For the 10 and 2. To raise your own kids to know right from wrong. To have a morale compass that works best and true. Some argue our society addresses the effects, not the cause.
Like health care, a pill for the ill rather than the pause to see the cause. Before the open wide, here it comes. Chased with a teaspoon of sugar. Mixed to create the bitter sweet tasting cure.
Maine Blueberries… Show Up Single File Here And There As Volunteers.
More than practical knowledge is discussed around the family supper table beans and hot dogs or meat and potatoes growing up in Maine.
The polish, the finish work that each of us chooses to color the blank starched white canvas with the Maine back drop.
What each of us has to find along the way on our lonesome, collectively charting the course with our trusted mate.
The mental life seed beds prepared with loving hands for self assurance. But up to us to cultivate and nurture in our own way. Making choices that lead to whatever blossoms at a bountiful harvest.
Spring is underway in Maine.
Plenty Of Water For Maine Canoe Circuit Races This Spring. Fueling The Paddling Adventure.
Capture the newness, the promise, the begin again. But find out what is missing to apply, make it rich for a memorable in Maine. Life is for living. Grateful has to happen before happiness that last does.
Come paddle down a Maine swollen river, celebrate spring with a bike ride through Acadia, a ferry boat trip to explore an island.
Tramp the woods and hear the birds, yourself think. Peer into a crackling camp fire or out over the bottle smooth calm waters as the sun goes up or down or both.
Unplug to recharge in keep it simple, easy does it living Maine.
Moo Yourself. Don’t Happen To Have An Apple, Carrot, A Little Grain?
Smell the last of frost leaving the ground replaced with lush new grown budding all around you. Leave the pushing, shoving, all those people in a hurry in the rear view mirror looking south.
Don’t waste your spring, any of the other three seasons that follow you around Maine.
Think about the life, the ones you love and get centered in Vacationland. The take away more than a lobster dinner, a t-shirt with the five letters or a moose on it.
Not just tourist trinkets follow your back home to show for the all important trek north to Maine.
If you live or have visited Maine a few times, this blog post is like preaching to the choir.
Bare with me people. But if you are new to Vacationland, you’ve heard plenty. And it is high time you experienced Maine yourself.
Walking, Talking, Exploring Maine. Lots To Do Town Or Country In Maine.
So here goes, what is there to do in Maine? Like most things in life, the approach is up to you. Your budget of green stuff, the days and nights you have to spend in your discovery of Maine.
But if outdoors in Maine, that is where 90% of all the things to do happens.
All four seasons the blue skies, fresh air, clean water and natural surroundings are the destination. Cooped up, on house arrest does not set well with true Mainers.
Coupled with all this unspoiled space, not a slew of people but plenty of wildlife. Step outside in Maine.
You can ease into a collection of Maine lighthouses. Visit the Old Port. Hit the outlets for shopping in Kittery, Freeport. Wander around to absorb the flavor that oozes out of our many quaint small communities. Maine is famous for its unique, home grown small town living heritage.
WARNING! Pace yourself. Maine is not a quick study. Approach it like any life long habit.
But it could be a pleasant shock to the system. Stepping away from your normal haunts, knee jerk reactions to city living. Especially when you take to the areas further up into the heart of Maine.
Our Maine Youth, The Talent Is Sharp, Rich, Vibrantly Entertaining.
Those off the beaten path special nooks and crannies.
Not so close to population centers like Boston, being further away up into Maine.
That’s where you savor the real essence of Vacationland. Breathing, drinking in the fragrance of Maine. We strive to keep it all about simple small town living.
Fishing early in the morning. Casting a line, pulling out supper that went for the hand tied fly. Or hiking up Baxter’s many mountain including Katahdin, the highest peak just shy of a mile tall.
Lots of things to do in Maine.
Many you have put off, don’t know what you are missing.
Biking the trails of Acadia Park, coasting down into Bar Harbor. Tooling, fooling around impressive MDI. Or taking a ferry ride out to Cranberry, Peakes or as many as the stars overhead.
For island retreats to sneak. That tiny dot the dark blue salty water. Just off the rugged, craggy rock bound coast line of Maine.
Sampling local source nourishment, Maine has its share of foodies. Farm to table easy for a Maine taste that’s home town proud and rich. Food from one of a kind eateries that are not cookie cutter ho hum predictable. Most of the best not franchised. But the first and last of their kind. Like the people you meet and never forget in Maine.
Stopping, shopping at a local farmer’s market in Maine or co op is one of the many new traditions to tickle, jump start the senses. To strike up a memorable discussion.
Or raking blueberries, picking potatoes, digging clams, scoring some fresh lobster direct from the boat. Pulling up a chair, gathering around a table spread in Maine. Food grown, raised, pulled out of the waterfront is on your mind. As you talk, share and learn.
Lighthouses Of Maine, Lots To Collect. One Option Of Many To Do For Fun!
Along with the warm friendly people, in the wide open unexploited surroundings. Surrounded, we got you covered. With all this sheer space in the place someone thought was east to spell. To label Maine.
Come for the day, end up staying a lifetime in Maine.
Whether it is taking in one of our many state festivals, local fairs, a canoe race, hunting trip or ride on snow. Wearing boards or sitting high atop the seat of a snow sled.
You are in Maine. Don’t worry about which season to do it. Make it a year round habit. To steal away. To dig in and sample a ME experience.
Come back for seconds, thirds and more of big farm table size servings. Anytime you can squeeze her in. She is big and beautiful. Always glad, ready to see you. You won’t go away hungry.
Because Maine for things that enrich and hit your senses deeply is one healthy life habit to adopt. Better sooner than later Chummy. Remember, it’s hard telling without knowing Bub. Come see what you are missing.
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What sparkles most is different for everyone that ventures into the great state of Maine. But it is way way more than the fresh air, clean water setting. The people who you meet, that greet and serve you if a tourist are what hit you deepest. They are friendly, helpful, warm and genuine.
Find Answers In An Unspoiled Four Seasons Setting.
But if you were thinking of a last minute trip to Portland Maine, did not have a ton of time, visiting the Old Port section would be a good idea.
Grace Restaurant, A Former Church Portland Maine Restaurant Dining Option.
There is nothing like being right in the heart of any Maine all natural setting. To squeeze the most take away from it. To experience it best.
To hang around. Try out and visit the quaint one of a kind shops, the neat watering holes. The cobble stone streets and granite buildings all adding to the historic jaunt. Nothing works like a Maine vacation with friendly people, no over crowding or pushing, shoving. Exciting the senses with not available anywhere else venues open for business, your enjoyment.
Taking it all in. As you ply up and down, criss cross the hill side slanted narrow streets. To discover what is offered in Portland Maine’s Old Port Region. Where every business works hard to stand out. To make you darken their doors.
The Old Port thrives with unique shops, diverse restaurants, a working, hustling, bustling fishing, boating waterfront.
One dining option to remember, and there are so many, is to book reservations for dinner at Grace Restaurant at 15 Chestnut Street in Portland Maine. Housed in a former church, the wide open setting adds to whatever you order off the locally sourced Maine cuisine.
Along the shores of Casco Bay in Portland Maine.
Exercise, Up, Down, Sideways In The Old Port Portland Maine. Places To Stay, Restaurants To Eat At, Bars, Shops In Casco Bay.
As you walk along the Portland Maine Old Port harbor. Into the heart of the fishing industry, ferry, cruise and fishing boat traffic. The leaning, colorful lobster trap stacks. Mingling, ticking the senses with salty air and other smells generated around the waterfront.
The blue green water increases the sensory volume inside your heart and head. Ramps up the awareness meter of what is important. Of the “how is life going reality check”. Dialing into the signal as you dine on the open deck. Starting your day front row. With the Maine sea harbor sunrise unfolding, now playing in front of you.
An omelet made with crab, lobster and a slew of multi colored ingredients to pick from as you wind yourself up. Fuel the body.
Making it anything but mass produced, fast food. No not that. The decor feels original, because it is.
Real Maine.
No gimmicks, smoke, mirrors, bait and switch shell games.
The Maine cooks wearing a variety of winter hats, there is laughter. Giving you the signal loud and clear. This place would be a fun one to work at each day or night shift.
To serve hungry folks, old souls. Meandering, mingling, loitering and hating to leave. Around the Old Port region of Portland Maine. That is their mission in life for now. And that leads to many return visits from those that can not stay away.
Maine, we have lots of blog posts on the deep interior, northern regions, the crystal clean waterways, uninhabited wooded townships with no official names.
Off the beaten Maine pathways that are not the destination of many and a big secret.
And we’re just hunt and peck, adding imagery to the trying to increase the list. Of the many reasons to get to Maine anytime you can squeeze me in. To explain why we live here. Think that you should to. To unplug, recharge and witness first hand. That Maine is the way life should be.
The attitude of people, animals too in Maine when Spring knocks on the door.
It is an exciting time of renewal, replanting if you are into flowers, growing what you eat. Spring is hope, having faith in another season with three more right after it. Begin Again, Rebirth, Renew, Maine Spring Flowers So Up Right On Cue.
Spring seems to be the follow the leader, self appointed Rudolph one to set the pace. Like a weather, climate control alternate delete on the life channel to dial in. Adjusting the tin foil on the rabbit ears for a clearer, less snow reception.
Don’t get me wrong.
All four seasons in Maine are special. But along with Spring’s brand new baby approach to living, to start over and begin again. There is always a nagging thought or two in the back of the mind. Like better get the winter wood, pellet’s or oil when cheaper stocked up. Always aware, putting it all in perspective when you live in Maine. And practice frugality.
Maine is simple living, careful spending and a greater awareness. Of how things work around you, where you fit in and how to be sensitive to others.
Because we are a smaller knit group of people spread pretty far flung. Scattered around the all natural, pure, unspoiled landscape. Maine Is Simple Living, Outdoors, Family Based In All We Do!
Plenty of space, not really enough people and the volunteers are worked pretty hard. Sometimes put away wet from sweat, bone weary but with a feeling of satisfaction. By pitching in, which is a given in small town living in Maine.
So Spring is here, canoe races underway, ice cream dairy bars opening up left and right.
Lining up contractors before they get too busy and you lost them for the house repair construction season.
Folks are putting window boxes back on their hangers, in their designated places around their properties. Digging out and cleaning off the wicker chairs for the patio. Wheeling into place the gas grill to park off to the side of the sliders on the open deck. Digging out fishing boats, putting away snow sleds. Family First And Last In Maine. Raising Them. Attacking Others Is Not The Target.
Kids dusting off bikes, fixing chains, blowing up slack pan cake flat tires. Playing catch and reaching for tennis rackets and basket balls to play outside in the fresh air of Maine.
Water hosing off their homes, washing exterior house windows that have been bothering them from the lack of clarity.
From what the roadway sanding trucks caused over the last few months for grime, loss of shine and glass sparkle.
Insides of cars and trucks are itching to be swamped out by their drivers too. After a long winter of ice scrapers, snow brushes, overworked heaters and defrosters. But neglect in the tidy end of the tin lizzie primary ride providers.More Hand Work, Planting, Tending, Weeding, Harvesting On Maine Organic Farms.
New piles of leaves raked that blew in because not everyone did the strokes to bag and tag or mower munch them last fall in their yards down the street.
Change of wardrobe to lose the sleeves and lower pant legs. Plans for what summer camps, rec programs, what to do on vacation this June, July, August all front and center in the gray matter thoughts. What to do bantered, entertained, talked about around the meal table.
Out on the street, down at the coffee or barber shop, hair salon or gas station too. As kids count the days until school is out. And all the neat small town summer program recreational activities kick into gear. Weather in Maine, we have all kinds. Take your pick.
Been away from Maine? Come up this weekend and catch the spirit, get unplugged, recharged. Relax. See what you are missing by being a stranger, staying away from Maine and all her natural charms.
I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573 info@mooersrealty.com
The eggs you eat, the way you like best for them to be prepared, what does it say about you?
Lots evidently, read more in this article on unlocking the secrets of your egg persuasion. Sunny side up means you have a wild side, but an old soul. Maine Vacations, Get Cooking Outdoors To See What’s Up Deep Down Inside.
The personality of the way you lock and load, rock and roll do anything each day.
Putting your pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us right? But your preferences, the style in the swagger, the way you play the part of you. In the short production, up on the stage of life. Where it is said we are all but mere actors, living our life in quiet desperation.
So Maine, what would the way you like a potato, blue berries, lobster, micro brew.
Anything grown and raised in Vacationland reveal about you? Well, lots. Sometimes out of necessity. Your potatoes whipped, garlic infused with cheese please. Your blueberries in a pie or a cobbler, what will it be. On second thought, make it pancake providing the ride for what is inside raked from the Maine blueberry barrens. Happy To Be A Kid In Houlton Maine. I Was. Say, Want A Graham Cracker?
The Maine lobster serve up lazy man style, no need for all the tools to make it cracking good for what is inside. Or slide it into a stew, for the last swim before down the gullet for your denizens of the deep delicacy from Maine.
The color, the kind of car you drive in Maine. Depends if you are in Kennebunkport or Wallagrass Plantation or Otis Maine. Clothes too, with all agreeing warmth, layers are more important than chic, trendy, tres suave. Home Grown, Maine Made Is Small Town Special, Unique.
“Behaving in a relaxed, confident, and pleasant way in social situations” the definition of that last label.
That someone might hang on you due to your habits, preferences, your air. As you rise and shine. Move around wherever you live in Maine.
Maine, down to Earth, simple is what most in the Pine Tree State do best. Attracted to that, all over that. Like a moth to a open porch light on a Maine hot summer evening.
Not being in a rut is important too. When you open a menu at a local eatery in Maine where it all looks good. Could work just fine but one selection seems to always get your vote. Because it is so good, from experience the last time you darkened the door. Fresher Fish In Maine Only Found Still Swimming In The Sea.
Filled, stuff, no longer feeling hungry as a horse.
But with a pang of regret after the table is cleared and it is time for dessert. The what will it be for the perfect ending.
And you ponder, lament you could have, should have, might next time will actually sample something out of the ordinary.
The predictable for you is just the way you roll. That’s today. But getting out of that comfort zone. Ah, there is the rub. To apply to the steak, chicken, fish, vegetarian bounty. Whatever is for breakfast, dinner, supper three times a day at least meal time addiction.
Peel back those onion layers.
Stop playing it safe. Open up the curtained windows and dead bolt doors. Crack the skylights of the inside places you don’t visit much. That not many other people get to tour either.
Try new things in Maine. The way life should be. Learn what makes you tick. Following Strings, Lanes In Maine Blueberry Fields, Raking Up A Storm.
Shake it up, get to Maine. Prepared just the way you like it best. Meet the people. See the sights in Maine. Hear the stories shared but definitely do sample the local grown close to home Maine cooked food.
The topic of school system mergers in Maine, anywhere in the free World is a very heated topic.
People squirm. Because small Maine communities are built on, steeped deeply in rich school history. Thrive on the vivid folklore, are identified in part by the school colors they cheer for in sports, music, academics. The high school graduation ceremonies they attend yearly too like one big town wide family.
In small Maine towns where the entire graduating class knows each other well.
Growing up together in and out of the school house corridors lined with lockers, class rooms. Classmates with lives so intertwined and connected in small Maine communities. That the very notion or mention of a Maine school district merger creates indigestion, heat under the collar, division among family and friends.Get Lost, Be Found. Find Your Island, Special Space In Maine.
Maine, where the village raises, has a hand in the rearing, shaping of each small child. The local population may be sparse in number. But they all shine brightly when pitching in to create the community flavor that makes each burg unique.
That Maine neighbor is your little league coach.
His sister married your cousin. The one who is your Scout leader. Who’s brother is a pastor. Who married into a family that has three educators among them. Delicate, volatile, not an easy proposition.
Beyond the emotion of even considering such a bold albeit necessary move. As small rural areas of Maine without an abundance of jobs continue to hemorrhage employment options. Are frugal and resourceful but never flush with cash to reverse the tide.
With our Maine kids becoming the greatest export if we don’t strive to embrace necessary change. I would rather take logical steps to assure a quality education continues in consolidation. That it can be bankrolled by the local property tax payers already under the weight of other local obligations. The increase weight of which speeds the exodus of youth and their parents alike. Lifted By The Wind, Powered By Hot Air In Oakfield Maine.
So school merger in Maine. Like two hospitals in an area that both are struggling to keep up with the maintenance of facilities. When there is shrinkage in patient flow as population decreases and there is room for one and a half or a single health care center. Isn’t is smarter to consider how we would do it before we are at the brink of doing it?
Less emotion, planning for not firing, just not replacing retiring educators and administrators ahead of time.
Less costly because it is more natural and thought out. Then force fed from the state and not defined locally. Where the focus is always our children, their proper education.
Making the most of the resources we do have. Not the ones we don’t with already over burdensome property taxes. That are a band aid at best if not applied to a sound strategy. And ignoring the delicate subjects needing fresh air and the same kind of innovative ideas to embrace change. Be disappointed, but not angry when the local diner debate is school merger, consolidation in Maine education.
Would there be a savings, what would be the best bus transportation plan, which buildings for which grades and educational uses.
Like a partnership and joining forces. Not a shot gun wedding force in the eleventh hour crazy. But input, a strategy to set minds at ease. For when looking back, we did the best we could with something that was going to happen. Like it or not. Why replace the building roof, heating system, do any work on the structure.
If in three years a merger happens not planned for and it does not make the cut for a purpose in the new merger. But represents a waste of funds for a future use not as a school. That is wasting the tight, precious tax payer dollars we do have.
The promises and perils of school consolidation. The Maine department of education started the consolidation mandate a few years back that seemed a certainty at the time. Hard feelings developing because gun to the head told you will. Refreshing, Water Over The Dam Means Regrouping To Work Together In Small Maine Towns.
But if revisited with calm clear reasoning. Attacking the problem, not the people, the business exercise of how would it work, when is the best time to get ready on both or more sides of the partnership could be seen.
As the best possible solution to a very contentious problem no one really wants to face, let alone implement.
Locally based decision making on education always wins over dictated from many hours away by people you don’t know, don’t share the home town connection.
But no longer is the one room school house in Maine an option like it was in the distant past.
Waste left on it’s own festers and sinks the ship when it lists to the point of no return. Moderation in the approach to consolidation can smooth feathers and turn up the volume on reason. Without letting fear rule the roost.
The concerns each side of the school merger lament are common. “We”, “our” has to replace “they” if there is a coming together to share resources to be more than the sum of the parts would be without the combination.
Or law enforcement operations with the same mission, only wearing different color uniforms. 10-4. Roger that.All Year Long, Maine Is Outdoor Living. This Is Where Best Discussions Are Held. In Family, For Issues Facing Small Maine Towns.
Yesteryear state incentives to stay small and preserve what we have today tomorrow discouraged consolidation.
But like many aspects of shrinking population Maine towns faced with escalating expenses to keep the shops open, the streets paved and plowed, the halls of education shining brightly.
The easy revenue sharing money is gone, flow back from the state to small towns drying up to a trickle.
Changes to encourage efficiencies and improve accountability are needed.
Inside or outside or better both coming together to shape the education in small Maine towns. Before disaster hits because it was put off and neglected which only makes it more costly in ignoring the declining numbers and increase in red ink flowing in small Maine communities.
That lead to lay offs, wide spread panic when the push comes to shove. And the time for the rhetoric, the face saving fence straddling debate is long over. And drastic measures in the slash and burn, the wasting money on expenditures that won’t be good in the long run. If left until do too much in too little time. No pause to bend it, not break it.
Due to delay, missing a plan all hurts the Maine towns deeply. That will take more recovery time to heal from then if the earlier pro-active approach shaped by many was seriously was kicked into gear. Double clutched explored and then implemented fully. By moving forward.
Without the “war between the states” bloodshed atmosphere over which trophy case location the gold balls will be placed.
The new color scheme and combined bigger better mascot branding in the marriage. The Maine communities have to come together quickly.
Get up to speed in forming a working partnership to offer a stronger, tighter educational experience that lasts. Than ignoring the complicated problem that will cause going it alone in a sinking ship. Where ultimately the kids suffer. As this, that course of study are dropped entirely. That program trimmed to the bone and too limited. As the intrastructure erodes. Becomes very outdated, just plain inefficent.
It is no longer a case of if you want to have a Maine school merger.
It is past the opportune time of devising the plan for the best way how to consolidate school systems. Plan quickly, build slowly and the end result will be stronger, lasting. And assure the quality of education in our small Maine towns all will rally around and support.