Maine Winters, Not Just Spent Hibernating Inside Waiting For Spring’s Arrival.
If you have never been to Maine, when asked about winter weather you could be thinking polar bears, igloos, dog sleds for travel.
Winter is one of Maine’s four seasons. And getting outside, dressed warmly for the sport of the day is just a given when you live in Vacationland.
But rather than trying to tell you, convince you it is not 40 below zero every day of the winter and that we are not Artic region cold and blustery, it might be better, quicker, simpler to just show you. To take you on some winter in Maine outdoor examples.
Watch a few winter Maine local community activity videos.
Maine, one big, sometimes misunderstood state only because you’ve never been here. Yet. Come for a day, stay a life time. Find the space, your place in Maine.
Maine Waterfront Islands, Sandy Beaches Make Never Fade Memory Rich Vacations.
Space, room to roam and not in an area wall to wall with people, that’s Maine.
The ability to live four seasons without bumping in to, offending by accident any other person. If your surroundings are not over populated, wouldn’t that be a big ingredient in a more content, easier day to day life?
Maine is not short suited, has islands.
A slew of them. According to the State Planning Office’s Maine Coastal Program there are 4,613 islands along the shoreline or a tidal waterway. The Wikipedia list of Maine islands shows 3166 along the coast with Mt Desert being the biggest. This link lists detailed information on many Maine islands.
Some Maine islands are privately owned with title deeds to them.
Others are government property. Two have the island’s ownership still disputed by the US and neighboring Canada. A few Maine islands are part of a mainland town, and others have seceded from the cities that used to lay claim to them.
About a third of Maine islands are ten acres in size or larger. And depending on your resource it wavers between fourteen and fifteen the number of year round islands in Maine. Back in the 1970s the property ownership titles to every Maine island, rock, ledge was complied in the Coastal Island Registry. Any islands without clear title revert back to the state of Maine. The Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife manage many islands that are used exclusively for bird nesting, seal breeding sites. The bigger islands are watched over by the Department of Parks and Lands.
Like any Maine waterfront resource, being a good steward, treading lightly or without a trace is the common theme of respect of island living, exploring. Following Maine Shoreland Zoning Regulations that apply to beefed up zones of 250′ feet back from waterbodies requires vigilance, study if you truely do not want to harm, hurt the natural resources Vacationland is famous for protecting.
Islands in Maine are a great place to get away from people.
Surrounded by water as a natural protection from land invaders that could disturb your peace and quiet. Not many trick or treaters to worry about. I have sold lake islands in Grand, Drews Lake before. But with such a low population through the state of Maine, you don’t need to lay claim to an island to truely take a break from being in any one’s face, and vice versa. To recharge, heal, refresh or just spend some time truely alone with just yourself to hear yourself think. Here’s details about Maine lobster licensing regulations so you can have delicacies of the sea that are fresh fresh fresh to go with your island life.
Maine, one drop dead gorgeous state. With more than enough space to enjoy because of low population, way way less people to mess it up with traffic, crime, noise and hustle bustle. Come for a day, stay a life time. Find your place in the space of Maine.
Back in 1971, the state of Maine designated the tourmaline as Vacationland’s official gemstone.
Maine Tourmalines Dazzle The Eyes With Different Colors, Intensities, Cuts, Shapes.Tourmalines ranges in color from black, white or distinctive shades of red, green, and blue. Watermelon Maine tourmaline are multi-colored, a variation of red, pink and green. The “watermelon” variety feature a green outer layer surrounding a pink core.
The tourmaline gemstone crystals can be opaque or transparent. And with the many shades of single or many color combinations, each stone like people, snowflakes, sunrises or sunsets is unique.
The first major Maine tourmaline gem stone discovery happened in 1820 in Mount Mica in Paris ME. Very few naturally occurring tourmalines are suitable for use as gemstones because they are not free of inclusions, imperfections. Maine’s most common type of tourmaline is a black variety called schorl, which has no value as a gem stone.
One single Tourmaline crystal can radiate up to four different colors.
Subtle combinations occur with the chemical composition, crystal structure variations many years ago when the tourmaline crystal was formed. Some Maine tourmalines may be purposely cut so that the stone may be green on one end, pink on the other. Tourmaline was the first gemstone to be mined commercially in North America.
For over 2000 years, Tourmaline has been a treasured gemstone. In over 200 recognized hues, far more than any other gemstone. Some colors are so rare, like yellow or some purple ones that they don’t even have names, designations beyond the hues. The more rare, the more valuable. And like anything beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When you study say a green tourmaline to purchase for a loved one, yourself, the shade of green, the saturation richness of the color and the cut, size of the stone all enter in to the experience when you behold one.
I don’t wear jewelry beyond a gold ring that was my great uncle Finley’s with his initials engraved on it. But I have always had a fascination with stones, the Maine tourmaline. I guess because they come from this state which is not know for gem mines of many kinds. And because like any stone you know it took millions of years to form and are not whipped up, passed out at a drive through window. Like panning for gold, you can also spend some time looking for your own Maine tourmaline in the rough, raw natural mine. The tourmaline is not unique to Maine.
As for eye candy, I have trouble resisting studying the spotlighted images of Maine tourmaline gemstones.
Like the ones that grace ads for Cross Jewelers in Downeast Magazine monthly editions. Buying something you give away to a loved one is one of the most rewarding experiences you can ever engage in. Have a birthday, special occasion, wedding anniversary coming up and stumped on what to get? Consider a specially cut, shaped, colored Maine tourmaline as a present. Or Maine lobsters, clams, blueberries, fiddleheads and potatoes can make a lasting impression when it is time to sit down to eat too!
Maine, always simple but something special discovered anytime you can get away to spend time with her. Visit Maine, find your space, your place.
Maine Natural Music Outside, Inside Our Family Homes With Variety Of Tastes.
Grabbing a coffee this morning heading in from Drews Lake, Cameron’s Store owner Doug recalled the Cobras who played at the Cobra Club in Caribou Maine back in the early 1960’s.
The Leavitt Brothers from Oakfield were the heart and soul of the sound of the local musical band. He also recalled how gifted Richard Sullivan was with the guitar. How hearing a 45 rpm record of the Ventures he could by nightfall have the guitar rift down pat without any sheet music.
In my radio days, I remember helping set up for Walter Holmes and the Sunshine Boys (and one daughter too). Ralph Hall fiddled with the curled neck instrument. And lots of musical cronies crowded in to the studio for a mic check before the on air light lit.
My oldest brother Stephen played piano, sang lead in many bands over the years.
And was in the same 1964 Houlton High School graduating class as Richard and Doug. And it got me thinking of besides working in radio for nine years and that musical programming exposure, how each brother’s musical tastes contributed like my kids did with what filled their ipods to the mental jukebox inside my head.
Brother Stephen, ten years older introduced my to the Everly Brothers Phil and Don. To the grandfather of rock and roll Chuck Berry. To the killer, Jerry Lee Lewis along with Elvis, Little Eva, Sam Cooke, Chubby Checker, The Platters, Drifters and Fats Domino.
Next oldest brother Jonathan, class of 1967 was in to the Beach Boys, CCR, the Beatles.
And I can see him sitting in his backroom farm bedroom, bent over a guitar he was a novice at finding his way around on. But mastering chords, tempo and words of the Animal’s hit “House Of The Rising Sun”.
And then brother Brian, class of 1969 enters the front piano room where we all studied at the Maine farm.
Where during a good bonanza potato year, Mom and Dad bought a top of the line stereo at the time to sample Cream, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the Rolling Stones, Kinks, Iron Butterfly, Traffic. Songs played also on the eight track in the new 1967 spring time yellow with black roof Mustang dropping me off to school.
My Dad played in a band, weilding the clarinet back when folks danced, did not park it on the couch. And zone out becoming detached in front of a television programming… even the commercials where no one talks. Or races for a 30 or 60 second snack. Mom filled the home with old fashioned piano gospel hymns, played the organ at church growing up. And “Up On The House Top Click Click” at Christmas on the ivories. My Aunt Ruth was a music teacher and drug me and my cousins to operettas, school concerts growing up too.
So now with XM, Sirius, ipods with four thousand song titles and the easy double click to find new bands to toe tap, hum along with, the sky is the limit on anyone’s musical repertoire.
Never one band for long but always new and different sought out, enjoyed, experienced to help ease on down the road of life. Electric Guest, This Head I Hold is kinda catchy.
Music… feel, taste, hear, visually see it being presented so easily these days to help you through yours. Cherish the moments and remember Maine offers it’s own natural version, like its waterfront loon calls you can only experience outdoors in Vacationland.
Everyone, you and me included has a purpose in life to help others along the way. To help unlock mysteries and support each other. No one is an island, no one is truely alone.
Are you self contained, wrapped tightly needing no ones help or not able to reach out, not available to assist someone else?
Is your antenna out behind the dog house, parked in back of the studios standing skyward straight? Secured by guy wires, monitored daily to make sure the brightly fresh red and white drying paint, the FAA approved lighting operational to not hurt anyone happening to fly by? It is all about working harder on relationships in life… reaching out to others, not just taking care of you, me alone.
And knowing the higher the antenna, tower the less energy, effort needed to help more people. To always being mindful to not knowingly rub people the wrong way or cause any disharmony if you can help it. And to be a vessel so full of inner joy, peace, understanding that a bump, nudge is okay. A little spills out. No big deal if someone runs, piles, even tears in to you. Even if barbed, hurtful. Take time to find out why. And don’t take it personally. Or do take ownership if you are responsible because it always takes two for the good, bad, ugly.
Be an aid, helpful, available when others around you need a friend.
Someone to lean on. Be quick to forgive because it is a two way street and you and I need plenty in return on lots of offenses. That bog us down. Throws us in to permanent park postion. Placing us dead in the water, in our tracks in the breakdown lane of one very short life if we don’t get skilled at giving, receiving forgivness. With an little seasoning of mercy on the side to round out the forgetting a trespass.
To have your signal reach further in to cars, homes, businesses, camps out in the hinterland. To places depending on the signal, message that is from your heart. Spreading the news, weather, entertainment and a form of companionship. But not for a series of advertisers in spot clusters inbetween song and information segments. Working as a servant instead for one higher power only. Exclusive sponsor of your life.
Like prayer, daily maintenance of your broadcast facilities, the tower, transmitter monitored without ceasing. To keep the signal beaming, shining, reaching out. Not to impress, not to annoy, but just offering whatever can be gleaned from anyone picking up the signal. Life’s balancing act to meet the needs of so many around you. To live up to the expectations of society, others, yourself means easy does it.
Do the best you can but make sure to spend lots of time on your knees.
Be willing to ask for help, to offer it just as readily with a kinder, gentler heart to know we need each other to improve. To polish our imperfections after one by one they are identified, inventoried and addressed daily with the help of others. True friends can hit you with the truth if you open your heart, ears, eyes and trust. If you are willing to tune in not out.
Pointed skyward and radiating the joy you and I are supposed to be filled with inside is what your beacon is supposed to be offering others. The assigned frequency from one three letter authortiy FCC like our purpose, talents, skill set and “shape” as defined by a different set of triple letters “GOD”. Grateful and spreading the good news to stay on the air at full power. Not for ratings, large numbers but just to help row the boat, pitch in, make a difference in small ways without lots of fanfare, attention to yourself.
Despite setbacks from lightning, thunderstorms in life when protecting the transmitter, tower means reduction to a lower power.
There are times when you have to crawl, get knocked down and have to learn how to walk, run all over again. But changed in a good way. Not understanding during the transition what is ahead but the weaker you get the stronger your faith becomes. And stays. As you give up the controls, lean back and trust because there is no other way to lead your life. To teach your kids, grandchildren that are modeling their behavior, thoughts around yours. Let go, surrender.
Study of the plate current amperage, voltage of the final stage in the transmitter from pre set tolerances provided by the manufacturer with three hour clipboard meter readings taken, monitored. Much like vigilante, round the clock care and attention that we all need to work on to protect, build and improve our character with guidance from our creator. And your beacon does not have to be Eiffel Tower broadcast fancy either.
You and I learn more from the man and woman on the street, your neighbor next door, brothers and sisters in faith about setbacks, successes.
Nothing against paid professionals taught to sheperd with a sheep skin but others around us. Testimonials about what Jane and Joe, Ken and Barbie did right, wrong. Lessons they dare to open up and share. So all can benefit from. To not keep making the same blind mistakes or hurting others you love in anyway.
These Me In Maine blog posts are a humble, meek and humility approach to life from one individual some kind of excited to live, raise a family in Vacationland. I don’t think I could examine my life, the inside of my heart and improve, change or add to what’s needed living in a hustle bustle urban area outside of Maine. If you are country mouse simple too or strive to be, watch the fire in your belly grow, increase by spending more time in Maine. Maine, small town proud, down to Earth. Come for a day, stay a lifetime. Find your space, your place in Maine, the way life should be. Start really living.
Maine Natural Settings, Ideal For Opening A Book To Enrich, Understand Your Life Clearly.
Growing up books were a big part of the Maine home my three older brothers and I lived in.
One wall of a den was nothing but one big book case filled with extensive collections of everything from philosophers to economic principles to spiritual writings. My Mom and Dad enjoyed, learned much from books. And shared what they learned around the supper table, on picnics, working the farm with each of us on different tasks growing up.
In the upstairs hall room more book cases with a variety of
encyclopedia sets, other resource materials to help the four boys in their education inside the Maine farm home.
We learned our most valuable lessons outside on the Maine farm. Laboring with parents who we saw through out the work day, all four seasons. Or from talks on the glass front sun porch or in a pair of rocking chairs in the farm house kitchen in front of a wood cook stove radiating heat. Each of the four bedrooms in the home had bookcases too. That each of us boys added to as we grew taller. To supplement the books our parents stocked each bookcase with depending on our interests, hobbies.
This summer with ENS settling in and new routines, reading more books on a variety of subjects has been an eye opener. In the books from the farm, pictures, handwritten notes, underlined passages show me I am on the path of the reader before me, my parents.
Even though both have passed on, I continue to learn more from the two that raised me, my three older brothers.
Dad was an economic agriculture major from the University of Maine at Orono. Completing his college degree after flying World War Two missions in the tail end of a B-24 bomber plane. Mom earning a college degree in business from Becker College which was invaluable with the enterprises both entered in to as a team.
“Affection produces happiness if – and only if – there is common sense and give and take and “decency”.
In other words, only if something more, and other, than Affection is added. The mere feeling is not enough. You need “common sense”, that is, reason. You need “give and take”; that is, you need justice, continually stimulating mere Affection when it fades and restraining it when it forgets or would defy the art of love. You need “decency.” There is not disguising the fact that this means goodness; patience, self denial, humility, and the continual intervention of a far higher sort of love than Affection, in itself, can ever be. That is the whole point. If we try to live by Affection, alone, Affection will “go bad on us”.
And on C.S. Lewis expounds further… “Friendship is – in a sense not at all derogatory to it – the least natural of loves; the least instinctive, organic, biological, gregarious and necessary. It has least commerce with our nerves; there is nothing throaty about it; nothing that quickens the pulse or turns you red and pale. It is essentially between individuals; the moment two are friends they have in some degree drawn apart from the herd.
Without Eros none of us would have been begotten and without Affection none of us would have been reared; but we can live and breed without Friendship.
The species, biologically considered, has no need of it. The pack or herd – the community – may even dislike and distrust it. Its leaders very often do. Headmasters and Headmistresses and Heads of religious communities, colonels and ships’ captains, can feel uneasy when close and strong friendships arise between little knots of their subjects”.
Learning from a good set of parents that prepared the four boys for life, taking the time to share what they had learned. And placing books in our hands, at our disposal in the Maine home to continue that family education even after they died. Thanks Mom and Dad. Happy Memorial Day. Maine, a great state to be a kid, be raised in and taught to take nothing for granted. To appreciate everything, everyone around us that we need to get along with to learn from, illuminate the path of our life.
