A little of everything: midnight mass, a tour of the Rockland Breakwater, a simple and tasty recipe, and a story about some wild, wild weather. This is an action-packed post. Perhaps the first story is nothing more than a reflection or a recollection, but it’s still fun to read. The real fun begins a bit further down the page where I discuss our recent trip to Rockland, Maine. We experienced some, let’s just say…interesting weather while walking from the breakwater lighthouse back to shore, but that was nothing compared to the flooding we experienced toward the end of December. I’ve even included photos of some of the damage. Click through to read this post – I think you’ll enjoy it. There’s a lot going on inside. Continue reading…
The Beauty of Western Maine
I’m constantly surprised by the beauty of western Maine. When Laura and I first moved to the state, we really had no idea where we were going. I’ve said this more times than I can count – “We got lucky. This area is NICE!” And we did too – got lucky, that is. As I explain in this post, I’ve never stepped foot in the state of Maine before moving to it. We purchased our house sight-unseen (in person) and Laura’s only driven through, from bottom to top and back, as a means to vacation in Canada. So really, neither of us knew what we were in store for. Apparently that was/is lovely hills and mountains, lakes, streams, abundant wildlife, and winters that make you proud. Maine is chock full of natural wonder and all a person needs to do to see much of it is hop in the car and drive around. That’s what we recently did and the photos I took while doing it are posted inside. I encourage you to click through to view them. Continue reading…
Rockport, Maine
It’s not every day someone gets to roam around Maine’s coastal towns during the month of December. Most folks usually visit during the summer months. I have to tell you though, winter is actually my favorite time to get out and about. There are very few people to navigate around, the towns are virtually mine, and to me, the landscape just looks more appealing. Instead of the trees being covered with green, each and every branch and twig is clearly visible. It makes for some wonderful photography. And one more thing – because the sun hangs so low in the sky, the lighting is simply outstanding. In today’s post, I share a healthy 38 photos of one of Maine’s most beautiful towns – Rockport. It’s a small place and generally not on the average person’s radar, but trust me when I say that if you’d like to experience quintessential New England, and more specifically, Maine, this town is a must see. It screams harbor and white clapboard and libraries and churches. And the best part is that it’s nestled right between Camden and Rockland, two other stunning Maine coastal locales. Click through to view all my photos as well as read my commentary on each. Continue reading…
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, Maine
Of the 65 lighthouses along Maine’s coastline, the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse might just be the most interesting. It’s not the best looking lighthouse to be sure, but it does rest at the end of a very long breakwater. That breakwater is walkable year round and if you’re lucky enough to meet some wind and snow while you’re walking it, all the better. In this post, I talk about a recent trip my lady and I made to an attractive little town in Maine called Rockland. Before this trip, I’d never stepped foot in Rockland, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found gift shops and boutiques, coffee shops and art galleries, antique stores and even the well known Project Puffin Visitor Center – all right along Main Street. There was a lot to see in Rockland and we saw a mere fraction of it. The real goal was to walk to the lighthouse. We did that. How did we fare? Well, you’ll just need to click through to find out. I ended up taking over 400 photos during the day, some of which I share in this post. I think you’ll enjoy looking at the photos. I sure do. Continue reading…
Raking the Roof – A New England Tradition
Raking your roof is one of those things you’ll want to do early on in the season, before previous snowfalls have frozen and are impossible to remove. In New England, snow can accumulate on a roof rather quickly. That snow is heavy and it doesn’t melt very fast. Storm after storm can have a profound effect on the structure of a home and if not tended to, all that snow can actually have devastating effects – and by that I mean the roof can collapse. Since none of us want that, we rake. Raking is simply pulling a shovel type thing that’s attached to a long pole in a “raking” fashion. That shovel collects the snow and removes it from the roof. To see photos of this in action, please click through. For loads more commentary on why, how, and when you might want to rake your roof, again, click through. It’s not the longest post in the world, but it may just teach you about something you didn’t know you should be doing. By all means though, if you’ve got a roof that consists of asphalt shingles, be very careful when raking. You don’t want to touch those shingles with the shovel because they can wear away extremely quickly. Continue reading…
Surviving a Bitter Cold Maine Winter
When we moved to Maine in 2013, our first winter was brutal. It was, by far, the most extreme winter I had ever experienced, and I’ve been through some pretty intense winters. While living in upstate New York during the late 1990s, the temperatures stayed below zero for nearly a month. That winter didn’t touch the winter of 2013 in Maine. Feet and feet of snow fell and the temperatures were nearly intolerable. Things did thaw out, however, sometime in early May. Yes, we still had snow on the ground in May. I’ll never forget kicking it around the dormant grass in an attempt at making it melt faster. However brutal Maine’s winters can be, they’re still utterly beautiful. To appreciate them, all one needs to do is prepare and take advantage of what they have to offer. In this post, I share some experiences of our most recent winter here in the state and I share some photos as well. Please click through to read my thoughts and view my photos. Continue reading…
Country Farm Fresh Goose & Turkey Eggs
One of the best reasons to live in the country is to take advantage of all the farm fresh food opportunities. We’ve been living in rural Maine for over 10 years and I can tell you that here I’ve tasted some of the best and highest quality food I’ve ever tasted in my life. The fresh meat is off the charts and the eggs – well, the eggs are the world’s best. In this post, I discuss how I recently happened upon some of the most luxurious and downright delicious goose, turkey, and chicken eggs I’ve ever tried. Given to me from a real farmer. Yes, that’s right, a real farmer. Up until this point in my days, I’d never tried some of these types of eggs and I can tell you the wait was worth it. Now I look for them at every turn. They’re not easy to find – I can tell you that. I suppose I’ll have to patiently wait for the next opportunity to arise. Click through to read about my experience and thoughts on my latest and greatest egg adventure! Continue reading…
Snow Sweeps into Northern New England
The winter in Maine usually begins with a bang. The first snowfall generally occurs in early December. It’s a hefty snowfall that excites nearly the state’s entire population. Photos are taken and photos are shared on social media. It’s a good time. I engage in the aforementioned behavior regularly. Actually, I’m doing it now. I recently shared the photos in this very post on Facebook and received a positive reaction. I mean, let’s face it; snow mixes things up like few other things can. It changes the entire landscape and disrupts regularity. Everyone talks about it and things need to be done about it. But at the very least, pictures need to be taken of it. That’s what I’d like to show you in this post – photos. Some of my better ones, actually. It’s not easy getting good shots of something that doesn’t offer much contrast and distinction, but I did what I can. Click through to take a look. I’ll show you what winter in Maine is all about. Continue reading…
How to Become More Articulate
Articulate speech is something that floats in the atmosphere, far out of reach for so many of us. It’s extremely difficult to grab hold of and master. So many of us would like the ability to speak in an articulate manner, but if you’re like me and have tried, you surely know how truly challenging it can be. It’s tough enough to think with any amount of clarity. It’s even more challenging to write clearly and coherently. It’s nearly impossible for the unpracticed to speak with consequence in a manner that’s efficient and has meaning. This is a long post. In it, I tried my best to achieve a few goals. First, I attempted to define articulation. Then, I offered some goals a person might have if they endeavor to become more articulate. I offer activities to improve articulation and I share a few personal stories about my own struggles. Toward the end of the post, I introduce you to two gentlemen who will always speak more articulately than I will. I simply don’t have it like they do. It’s amazing how some people’s minds work, really. Please click through to read this post. Even if you’re not interested in the topic, I think you might learn a little something about the struggle so many of us face. Continue reading…
How to Expand Your Vocabulary
There’s a distinct connection between thinking and articulating and having the ability to use words to do both. Thinking has been on my mind lately. Fall is coming. The same thing happens every year. I begin to forget about all the sweat and discomfort the summer is beginning to leave behind and I sit back in my chair to write about what bubbles to the surface. This time around, it’s vocabulary. When I was a kid, I thought “vocab” was about the simple process of learning what new words meant. Boat means a thing you hop into so you can float around a lake. Or something like that. Sure, words mean things, but to go a step further, they also convey emotions and have the ability to change people’s behavior and alter their trajectory of life. What I’m trying to say here is that words are much more than the sum of their parts. When applied correctly, they can add depth and nuance and understanding and beauty to much of what we see and experience in this world. In today’s post, I offer a few things; I explain why expanding a person’s vocabulary is a worthy endeavor. I then explain the benefits of having a large vocabulary and then I offer tips for growing a vocabulary; how to do it. I know, the topic of vocabulary might not be on your reading list today, but please give this post a chance. Perhaps it’ll spark an interest in something most all of us do on a daily basis – think, read, write, and speak. Continue reading…