MeInMaine Blog

Category: Uncategorized

  • The Mother College Campus Of The University Of Maine Is In Orono.

    Thirsty Jeep Ferrying, Shuttling Youngest Son Elliot To Colorado College.
    Thirsty Jeep Ferrying, Shuttling Youngest Son Elliot To Colorado College.

    Back in 1979 I got a Maine college degree from the University Of Maine at Orono.

    Two of my brothers did as well as civil and mechanical engineers. My dad was an agriculture economics major from UMO. My degree was in broadcasting with a minor in film and a slew of advertising / journalism courses. My four kids had other ideas and colleges, universities further away called their names liked sirens. So early on I started saving for these schools, sheep skin degrees from more expensive, located further away higher educational institutions.

    Today I am awake in a hotel room outside of Des Moines Iowa and letting youngest son Elliot saw another hour’s worth, a cord or two of sleep logs. Driving west from Houlton Maine to Colorado Springs Colorado to leave he, a red jeep for another year of college at Colorado College. While I climb on a silver bird Sunday with Delta printed on it proudly for promotional purposes to flap two wings, aided by a pair or jet engines to guide it safely back to Bangor Maine.

    Like countless other parents making trips to Kmart, Walmart, Target and Sam’s Club for back to school supplies, I am part of the exodus, the trek from home to the halls of higher learning.

    The oldest daughter surviving four years with a tightly wrapped degree from Columbia in New York City. Her youngest sister doing the same at Boston’s Simmons College. The oldest son closing in on the four year degree from George Washington in Washington DC, the home of all those elected officials, upper levels of Federal government.

    The trip west with Elliot will take us to Greeley Colorado tonight to retrieve last year’s college survival items, supplies. With a droid to connect daily on line to keep the Maine real estate office running smoothly with Robin’s help back home. And with a healthy flow of a very wide selection of musical genres, Elliot and I have had smooth sailing. With lively conversations on a variety of topics on life, love, family and everything in between. What has he learned, what I need to make sure I told him about, shared that he could use year’s later to guide him part of my never ending job as a parent who takes that job serious.

    I am missing him already after his summer move back home before we even hug. Say good bye for a fall semester as he heads to class. With no doubt a series of college home coming parties around campus to get the year started official as old acquaintances are renewed. Kids catch up on what happened over summer vacation. And now I enjoy time with his older brother this fall who returns to DC for his last semester in January. Who is still home for a few more months.

    One on one time with one of a parent’s kid is special for that parent and the child as they head to college, university or during the time off from school.

    Blogging from a little town west of Des Moines Iowa with a half hour to kill before the alarm goes off to signal resumation of the last leg of the cross country college trip. The one in a red jeep called Sally that four kids sharpened their first set of driving skills in. And that will serve Elliot well on any weekend snow skiing trips he can squeeze in on the many slopes of Colorado.

    Have a college kid or two you are ferrying, shuttling back to college or university? And getting an education to top your own with the conversations, exposure to the exciting lives of your students, kids, sons and daughters along the way to add to your own? I love being a parent, feel privledged to have four bright, neat, smart kids.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, Broker
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com.

  • Maine, Why We Do What We Does Here.

    Maine, It's Not Like Back In Jersey, Jersey, Jersey.
    Maine, It’s Not Like Back In Jersey, Jersey, Jersey.

    If you relocate, retire, invest in Maine and move here, let’s establish a few ground rules.

    Absitively, postituvelly do not go on and on about back in Jersey, or when you lived in California, etc. You are in Maine now. Some of the earlier references that come up continuously could be because you miss traffic, crime, pollution of your old place on the planet?

    If the motivation to do the show and tell and on and on about your old state is to impress someone, that won’t work here. Mainers are down to earth, community and family centered. And not in to being easily impressed, wooed by your new European car, imported this or that. If it is insecurity that prompts the laundry list of your accomplishments, your material and financial wealth, we understand. But slowly, one by one all that won’t matter. You won’t need to be a name or label dropper. The spell from that kind of dog and pony does not cast here.

    Maine is simple, clean, real and not spun. It is not man made. Four seasons outdoor recreation with widlife infested woods, less wear and tear on those trails is the rule, not exception. Hiking to places you can not get to by car, where man is not commercializing for profit is possible here. Everywhere in Maine.

    So when you visit on vacation to Maine, if you buy property for full or part time use, leave your old over populated state and the ways to survive there there. Maine, she’s simple, healthy, will steal your heart. You are going to find just as long a laundry list of what we don’t have that you don’t need and prompted your consideration of Maine in the first place remember?

    Those high property taxes, insurance and cost of living back in Jersey, New York, wherever the concrete urban jungle surroundings should, need to stay back there.

    In your rear view mirror, left behind when you skiddadled from wherever you hung your hat last. Remember why you moved, longed for what Maine offers up here in the right hand corner of the country. That is key, and replaces what prompted the move down country.

    We operate a lot leaner, simpler, and take money…the need for lots of it right out of the equation in our day to day. Add that to the four season beauty, the fewer people, lack of crime, traffic, pollution and now you get it. Are tuned in to the same wave length, story line, signal and watching the same smoke signal roll by over head.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com.

  • Don’t Forget This Weekend’s American Folk Festival In Bangor Maine

    Courtesy Of BDN Aerial Penobscot River, American Folk Festival
    Courtesy Of BDN Aerial Penobscot River, American Folk Festival

    Bangor Maine Weather For The American Folk Festival Is Hot, Sunny Days, Cooler Moonlit Nights…The Perfect Back Drop For The American Folk Festival This Weekend.

  • Maine Summer Weather Superb, But Irrigation Helps Farm Crops.

    The Maine Potatoes, Spuds Are Thirty This Summer
    The Maine Potatoes, Spuds Are Thirsty This Summer

    Day after day of sunshine, cobalt blue skies and summer weather that could not be improved on for recreation, for growing vegetables, fruit.

    But lack of water, a drink for the potato plants of Aroostook County means irrigation is part of the farming exercise this summer. A family farm I own in Houlton Maine has two ponds that came in handy for Michael Hagan who farms potato and grain on this homestead.

    This is what the irrigation of the Maine potatoes, spud fields looks like at sunset on the farm.

    Those two Maine farm ponds provided lots of extra water pumped at sundown to get maximum sustaining power without the hot sun’s evaporation robbing the plants of moisture they are crying out for, need. This farm field, land outside Houlton Maine on US Rt 2, the County Road. Other Maine Flickr photostream images to enjoy.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com

  • The American Folk Festival Held In Bangor Maine End Of August Each Year.

    Bangor Maine Musicians Perform On 4 Stages By The Penobscot River.
    Bangor Maine Musicians Perform On 4 Stages By The Penobscot River.

    Warm Maine weather, wandering from outdoor stage to stage to hear the best music, continuous performances, entertainers from all over the country, world converge in Bangor ME.

    We’re talking the American Folk Festival in downtown Bangor Maine along the waterfront of the Penobscot River. This year’s musical buffet of national talent in Bangor Maine is August 27, 28, and 29. Music, song, dance, fun with folks from all over that drop a donation in the bucket to help keep this wonderful musical trek to the American Folk Festival happening. The donations keep it free admission.

    Volunteers are needed to pull of a musical operation of this size and what better way to enjoy the festival than pitching in a working on it? Maine is famous for its hard working volunteers. There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer. That’s the home made flavor not store bought taste of living here in Vacationland, in Maine.

    Here is the list of muscians, dancers performing at this year’s Bangor Maine American Folk Festival. If you are traveling for the first time to Maine, here are the directions to Bangor ME.

    The music is a big draw and the diversity of performances offered, the enormous amount of talent and choices of watching a little of this cajun bayou sound, then walking over to another performance going on at the same time of gospel mixed with blues. And everything in between heard before the weekend is over for another year. But the food, the amazing array of ethnic foods, everything from around the world is represented along with a chuch’s annual bake bean, blueberry pie spread. Here is a list of American Folk Festival food vendors, crafts offered.

    Enjoy four musical stages, here’s the Bangor Maine American Folk Festival layout map.

    There are well run shuttles so park it once, hop on the bus to save leg wear and tear and make sure you spend more time in front of a Bangor Maine musical stage, less time tramping.

    Beer and wine tent, musical cd sales part of the Maine American folk festival too. Heather McCarthy, festival organizer is from my home town of Houlton Maine. Great job Heather and all the Maine support, volunteers that keep the festival lively, growing, better than after year after year.

    Chicken pickin’ music from Baileyville Maine’s Johnny Hiland is one example of a native son performing at the American Folk Festival this year too. WLBZ Channel 2 in Bangor Maine does an excellent job covering, promoting the folk festival performers with highlight stories to help draw the crowds needed to donate, fund and underwrite this amazing musical event.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com.

  • Barter, Swapping Goods And Services, No Money Exchanged.

    Round Bales Taking Over For Square Bail Haying Maine Farming Operation.
    Round Bales Taking Over For Square Bail Haying Maine Farming Operation.

    Maine is helping your neighbor, the bartering of a job done for another in exchange with something of value to you in return besides money.

    Carrying on from the days of everyone being a farmer in Maine. Barn raisings where this week we are at your farm, next week at mine and returning the favor. The IRS is not so fond of trade outs, because they are below radar, not taxed. No money in the picture and sweat, effort the currency. Favor for a favor.

    Do you do all your own repairs, home construction, vehicle maintenance? That self reliant behavior is a handy trait Mainer’s possess. Independent, sometimes from lacking the financial resources breeds the handyman spirit. Like the Red Green Show’s advice or desire to find me at least very handy, if not handsome too.

    On a Maine farm growing up, use of hay wire, bailing twine, duct tape, vise grips, a welder and hose clamps served the process well.

    Not throwing away an old part that could be modified to get another season or two out of weary Maine farm equipment during a lean year.

    Or recovery from last year that was a little lack luster financially too come to mention it.

    Do you find the situations that give you the most joy are home made and not store bought? Do you desire to grow your own food, can and preserve, eat healthy? To become more physically fit, your financing health rosier and your mental outlook strong, more positive? Maine, it’s in your cards, what the little voice in your head is whispering.

    I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers
    207.532.6573
    info@mooersrealty.com