Maine Adventure Mom

Go Belfast!

2012-11-30T21:35:00.002-05:00

There is a fantastic article in this month's Downeast Magazine about Belfast. What a swell little city!

http://downeast.com/magazine/2012/december/moonbat-kingdom

This weekend and next there are lots of events in town around the theme of "An Old Fashioned Christmas."
http://ourtownbelfast.org/welcome/holiday-events/

It all starts with an early bird sale on Saturday morning: http://ourtownbelfast.org/welcome/holiday-early-bird-121/

Have a great weekend!

Curling, A Princess, and a Happy Holiday

2012-11-20T22:27:00.002-05:00

Trying Something New This Winter!

Belfast is home to the only curling club in Maine. Because the Belfast Curling Club is here, I watched curling last time the winter Olympics came around. It's a sport that I'd never known anything about, and it looked like fun. I kept saying that I wanted check it out, and a friend who has long been a member of the curling club said she knew I'd like it if I came in to give it a try.

This afternoon, J and I stopped in for a quick lesson. It's hard. As hard as it looks. And just as much fun!

I'm sure we'll be back to give it another try. Or I will. J will have to wait a few years. The stones that players slide across the ice weigh nearly as much as she does!

Disney's Princess Leia?
On a completely different note, last month I heard that Disney has purchased LucasFilms -- including all of the rights to Star Wars. Have you heard about this? I keep thinking about Princess Leia, one of my childhood heroes (Princess Leia and Debbie Harry, of course, with Olivia Newton-John following close behind). How long before we see a new animated princess movie starring a weirdly-large-eyed version of Leia? I don't think I'd care for that.

Thanksgiving in Belfast
For those who will be in Belfast over the Thanksgiving holiday, Bell the Cat will be showing the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special on Wednesday night on their 136" projection television. "Bring the kiddos in to relax a little before the big holiday...show starts @ 6pm." We went in to see "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" after trick-or-treating and it was such a nice way to end the evening.

A healthy and happy Thanksgiving to all!

Catching Up

2012-11-09T14:32:00.000-05:00

There is a lot of catching up to be done. We've been so busy this fall that I haven't had a chance to write about some of our exciting outings.

They are closed for the season now, but I wanted to be sure to write about the Desert of Maine. I adore a good old-fashoined tourist trap. Honestly. Years ago, on a camping trip in the California redwoods, I was suckered into paying $5 to visit a drive-through tree. As the car emerged at the completion of a short uphill drive that ended with a squeeze through a decades-old tunnel through a gorgeous old redwood, I wondered whether it was worth the price of admission. Absolutely! The goal is simply to take these experiences for what they are -- a burst of kitschy fun -- and enjoy the moment. Expecting sophistication where none has been promised is a direct road to disappointment.

Which brings me back to the Desert of Maine. Just an odd little roadside attraction in Freeport. My favorite bit of the tour was the hilltop home to two fiberglass camels. J enjoyed hearing that there were once real camels in this desert, but they spit at people and were generally unfriendly, so that had to be re-located. Let's hope they sent them back to their natural environs. Maine is no place for a camel!

It's really quite a beautiful landscape -- sparse, bright, and warm, with the early October sun beating down on the sand. There are some nice short hiking trails through the woods as well. And, for all it's surface kitsch, they do a great job of explaining the environmental mismanagement that caused the desert to appear in Maine. They also give a clear explanation of how the forest is slowly taking back the land. Don't miss the 18th-century barn, which includes a replica of a period farmhouse kitchen and a fascinating collection of sands from all over the world.

This week, I also wanted to write about how excited we all were to meet Angus King a few days before the election. We had a chance to say hello when his campaign bus stopped in Belfast. Now, when we hear about Senator King on the news, J will be able to make a connection to a real person. I love how opportunities like this make politics, local and in Washington DC, seem close to home. I was also so pleased that J got to share this experience with her grandmother, who has followed King's career for years.

Seems an odd collection of subjects here today: Drive-through trees, misplaced deserts, and the senator elect. Life in America, right?

On the Run

2012-10-16T12:19:00.000-04:00

When I describe myself as a lazy runner, I am being completely honest. Over the past summer, I gave up running entirely, convincing myself that 20 minutes on the Stairmaster a few times a week was a fine substitute. It's not.

I made a deal with myself to begin running again in time to complete the last local 5k of the season without keeling over. A few good friends made it both fun to launch into a dedicated training schedule and impossible to back out of my commitment to run the race. With only 10 days to prepare, I ran every day, adding a bit more distance one day, backing off the next.

My goal was simply to complete the race, and that's all I did. I'm not terribly competitive by nature (not when it comes to sports at least), but I was relieved not to come in dead last. My daughter, J, who is now nearly 6 years old, kept asking me if I was going to win. I kept telling her that I had no intention of winning. I was full of long-winded advice along the lines of: winning isn't the goal; setting goals for yourself is more important; it won't do to compare yourself with others...

On some level she was buying it, but I think these are messages that I have to keep repeating. Somewhere between the summer Olympics, friends playing sports, and occasionally watching Jeopardy or singing competition shows (I know...but we love to sing...) with me, she has been exposed to the idea that doing well means doing better that everyone else. Sure -- that's how our competitive society works. And yes -- a bit of healthy competition is probably a good thing. Still -- It's so much more fun just to do something that you love for the love of doing it.

Which brings me back to running. I have never really loved it. But once I made the decision to do it more consistently I noticed some promising changes. First of all, every day was a bit easier than the last. I have noticed this in the past, but it was much more pronounced this time, likely because I took such a long break and then started up again with determination and a set goal. I was exhausted at first. But over the course of the time it took to train, I realized that I was sleeping better, and felt generally less scatterbrained. And, most surprising of all, the running itself became more fun. As I have continued on a regular schedule, I enjoy it more and more. Running with friends helps a lot, as does the delightful fall weather. There are actually moments now when I do love it. And I love the way it feels at the end of a good run.

I'd like to keep it up. I hope I will be able to maintain the enthusiasm over the winter. One thing I have to do is find time to download some new music. I'd love some suggestions! This one, by Tina Dico, isn't the best choice for keeping up a good running pace, but it's a great song, and I've had it in my head all day.

By the way, Open Creamery Day was so much fun. We had a fantastic visit to Appleton Creamery and brought home some delightful goat's milk soap made by Sisters Soap of Camden.

Columbus Day Weekend

2012-10-06T09:32:00.002-04:00

We're off to join Mary Weaver at this morning's Church Street party!
Here is a fun article from the Pen Bay Pilot: http://www.penbaypilot.com/article/belfasts-last-weird-street-party-needs-you/4143

Also this weekend:
The Belfast Rotary Club sponsors the annual Pancake 5k -- Race starts at 9:00am on Sunday, October 7 at Belfast Area High School. Registration begins at 8:15. A pancake breakfast follows the race in the HS cafeteria.

Sunday is Open Creamery Day!
11am to 3pm
As the hardwood foliage bursts in a blaze of colors on Columbus Day weekend, take in the spectacular sights and taste some award-winning cheese during the Maine Cheese Guild’s annual Open Creamery Day. Visit many of Maine’s cheese makers in their creameries, meet the animals, and learn the stories behind Maine’s more than 150 artisan cheeses. Along the way you can also visit a farmers’ market, stop at an orchard, explore one of Maine’s premier breweries or wineries, pick fruit at Maine’s legendary orchards, and drop-in on one of the many artisan bread makers our state has to offer. You’ll love the views, and the taste of Maine cheese, straight from the source, will be the best memory of all!

And Hope Orchards hosts Fruit and Fiber day on Sunday:
Join local fiber producers and fiber artists at Hope Orchards as they show their
products and demonstrate their skills in hand-dying, knitting, spinning, and more!

Have a great weekend!

September

2012-09-28T22:40:00.000-04:00

Where did this month go? With the start of kindergarten and various other fun activities, my weekly postings have flown out the window... Everyone is probably too busy to read blog posts at this time of year anyway, right?

September has been loads of fun around here! J, her Grandma and I started the month with a trip to Boothbay Harbor for a whale watch on a gorgeous Saturday morning.

Rough seas shortened our trip. We didn't quite make it out to where the whales could be found. Boothbay Whale Watch gave us passes to head out on another day. A perfectly fine outcome, and, since no one felt the least bit seasick, still a lovely day out.

Seeing as we were heading back early, we decided to stop at Moody's Diner in Waldoboro for slices of pie. What better way to break up the drive home?

Another September highlight was the Common Ground Fair. We always have a great time at the fair. This year's best moments:

Grinding wheat (We've been reading the Little House on the Prairie series. We just finished The Long Winter, where they spend a lot of time grinding wheat with a coffee mill. J suggested we begin grinding our own wheat here. I'm thinking it over...)

The hay jump -- A perennial favorite.

And the donkey obstacle course. This little guy was our favorite.

Finally, it's apple picking season! This week we went with J's school to Maine-ly Apples in Dixmont, a lovely orchard. We were the first to pick empire apples. I've never seen trees so full.

We visited Hope Orchards a few weeks ago, too. We'll be back to one or both of these before the season is over.

So many possibilities for the coming weekend! I'm considering Vinfest at Cellardoor Vineyard in Lincolnville. Check out the schedule here: http://mainewine.com/events-2/vinfest-2012-festival/

Maybe the Harvest Moon Celebration at Beech Nut in Rockport:
Coastal Mountains Land Trust and the Camden Public Library will team up to celebrate the full Harvest Moon and Great Maine Outdoor Weekend at Beech Hill Preserve. Land Trust volunteers will open Beech Nut, the historic sod-roofed stone hut on top of Beech Hill, for this special evening open house. Miss Amy of Camden Library, will read stories in the firelit hut, and the library’s telescope will be on hand to view the full moon up close. Be sure to bring a blanket to sit on and a flashlight to help guide your way up and down the ¾-mile hike. FMI: http://www.coastalmountains.org/news/calendar.html#fullmoon

Coming up in October:

Open Creamery Day sponsored by the Maine Cheese Guild: Sunday, October 7. 11am - 3pm.
As the hardwood foliage bursts in a blaze of colors on Columbus Day weekend, take in the spectacular sights and taste some award-winning cheese during the Maine Cheese Guild’s annual Open Creamery Day. Visit many of Maine’s cheese makers in their creameries, meet the animals, and learn the stories behind Maine’s more than 150 artisan cheeses. FMI: http://www.mainecheeseguild.org/?tag=open-creamery-day

We're excited to meet the goats at Appleton Creamery!

Also, Maine moms raising daughters mark your calendars: Friday, October 26, 2012. 5:00-9:30 PM.

The Maine Mother Daughter Project: A Conference For Women on Cultivating Strong Bonds With Our Daughters
University of Maine’s Hutchinson Center
80 Belmont Avenue (Rt 3)
Belfast, ME 04915
FMI: http://umaine.edu/mainemotherdaughterproject/october-26-conference/

This is such a great project.

Enough already! See you before another month has passed.

EWG Healthy Cleaning Guide

2012-09-13T11:15:00.000-04:00

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a new Guide to Healthy Cleaning out this month. There is some scary information here. There are many good suggestions, too.

I clean most things with vinegar (floors, drains, wooden cutting boards...). But there are some other cleaning products that I buy regularly.

Simple Green, for example, which I now see is at the top of EWG's Hall of Shame list. Here is what they have to say about Simple Green:

"Simple Green Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner

It's labeled "non-toxic" and "biodegradable." It contains:

2-butoxyethanol, a solvent absorbed through the skin that damages red blood cells and irritates eyes;
A secret blend of alcohol ethoxylate surfactants. Some members of this chemical family are banned in the European Union.

Worse, the company website instructs the user to dilute the product significantly for even the heaviest cleaning tasks. Yet it comes in a spray bottle that implies it should be sprayed full-strength. Such use would result in higher exposures."

The good news is that there are many safe products out there to keep our houses sparkling clean and smelling lovely -- Smelling lovely without the use of chemical bomb air fresheners, which are truly disgusting.

Now, where is the list of products that will keep this clean house uncluttered?

Homesteading Therapy

2012-09-05T14:00:00.000-04:00

Years ago I never would have thought that cooking and canning projects could be so good for the soul. I love these small homesteading projects, love that our big vegetable garden produces pretty well even when a bit neglected, due to a busy summer schedule. And love having J help me in the kitchen -- with most projects. Although it can be hard when some of this stuff requires a great deal of heat. She is often happy to put on her apron, push the button on the food processor, and keep me company.

This weekend we made green tomato relish. My mother-in-law's recipe is a huge favorite around here.

We just barely made it blueberry picking last week -- on the last day of the season. This year was the first time I tried making jam. J helped me make strawberry jam during strawberry season. We froze some of the mashed strawberries and made blueberry as well as mixed berry jam this week. We used Pomona Pectin, which works really well, and comes with recipes for low-sugar and juice-concentrate-sweetened varieties. I used white grape juice concentrate every time.

I decided to freeze tomatoes instead of canning them this time. I think that by the time you peel and boil the tomatoes through the canning process they end up losing a lot of their nutritional value. I usually use them to make sauces, so frozen tomatoes will work out fine. I cut them into 1-2 inch pieces, put them into small glass jars -- the Ball canning jars website has a chart that tells which jars are safe for freezing. Just leave plenty of space at the top so that the jars don't explode when the liquid expands. No explosions here yet...

This year we planted Glacier tomatoes -- small, red, and prolific:

We also planted the Fedco Heirloom Tomato Mix. It was fun to see which varieties produced the most during this mostly hot, dry season. The winners:

Big Golden Jubilee tomatoes

And these pretty Orange Banana paste tomatoes

I planted Roma tomatoes three years ago and they have come back as volunteers each season since. The first ripe Roma of the season is in the foreground of this photo. The tomato behind it is a mystery. Some other paste tomato. I can't figure it out from the descriptions in the Fedco catalog. Any guesses?

I considered deleting my last post because I was sort of regretting putting something out there that was so dark. But I left it for two reasons. First, this blog is an honest account of a trial-and-error life, winding our way through the difficult parts of that life is a piece of the whole experience. Second, I thought it might be worth leaving that sad moment online, just in case someone else finds it in their own moment of heartbreak, and feels better, knowing that they will wind their way through, too.

The Harvest and the Hound

2012-09-01T23:04:00.000-04:00

J is an only child. When people ask whether we plan to have another, I often answer, "We have dogs."

The dogs are a big part of our family, too. When we lost Fern, my dearest friend through what felt like many lifetimes, in 2010, I was completely devastated. I still cry sometimes when I think about how much I miss that little dog. But she was 14, and there was some consolation in knowing that I grieved for myself far more than for her. She lived a long, happy life.

I thought that it would be a long time before I would have to go through the pain of losing a beloved canine friend again. Not so, it seems. Our beagle, Eva, who is only 4 years old, is in the midst of final-stage kidney failure. She has been vaccinated, but she still developed lyme disease. She only started showing symptoms recently, but the veterinarian thinks that she has had the disease for several months, long enough for it to cause the damage to her kidneys that has not responded to weeks of treatment, medication, and a special diet.

The worst part is that Eva is J's dog. She sleeps on J's bed every night. She is gentle enough that J can hold her leash on her own when we take the dogs for walks, and she puts up with all of the hugs that J can dish out. I've been honest with J, telling her that Eva is very sick and may die -- while trying, sometimes unsuccessfully to keep a stiff upper lip. It's so awful that J has been through this before. She was just 3 when Fern passed away. She went back and forth between being sort of blithe about the whole thing to melting into tears at random moments and saying that she was sad about Ferny. It seemed like the only way that such a young child could take it all in. She has said that she understands what is happening with Eva. Anyone can see how sick that little beagle is. J will be okay, but it kills me for her to have to go through it again.

So that's the current state of affairs here. I'm not much for sharing my worst moments, but I just felt compelled to write about this one because my heart is breaking.

The title of this post is a bit misleading, I guess, but it sums up all that is on my mind this weekend. My consolation has been harvesting potatoes and tomatoes while Eva sleeps in the sun and J and our other dog, Emily, play.

Eva

Fern

Madeline (My husband's beagle, who lived to be 17)

More Summer Nights

2012-08-30T11:20:00.000-04:00

Why did the fairies cross the road?

We had a great week! On our hike along the Head of the Tide Preserve we saw a monarch butterfly caterpillar.

Later in the week, we did make it to the Union Fair. That was fun, too. J is tall enough now to go on many of the big scary rides. We tried out the tilt-a-whirl, the flying swings, and she jumped on the bungee jumping rig -- harnessed into a set-up of several bungee cables set over a trampoline. Watching her jump on that almost made up for the lack of professional aerialists at the fair. I do hope they will bring The Flying Wallendas back next year.

Summer isn't over yet! There is at least one more outdoor music event in Belfast: Belfast Summer Nights -- TONIGHT -- Thursday, August 30th @ 5:30pm With new band Captain Obvious. See you there!

Flying Through August

2012-08-16T16:31:00.001-04:00

Although we missed out on the scavenger hunt (they only had 150 maps), our voyage aboard the HMS Bounty was a fun adventure. It was interesting to see the ship and read some about seafaring in the 18th century -- by all accounts a rather uncomfortable occupation. I must admit I was a bit disappointed that the only crew member aboard wearing a period costume (a fantastic costume!) was posing for $15 souvenir photos. Still, he was charming and J had a nice chat with him.

August, as usual, is flying by. We've had such a busy summer--a lovely summer--but now that we are nearing its end, I feel like we have not had enough quiet time. Coming up, we have two full weeks where J has no camp/structured activity followed by a third week with a sparse first-week-of-school schedule. Likely just the remedy for my wish for a little lack of structure. I'll be ready for the end of summer after this. Probably.

Of course there are quite a few things we are looking forward to checking out in the coming week.

Coming up:

I'm looking forward to bringing J to the Northport Music Theater summer camp's performance of The Jungle Book Kids!

Join Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie and the gang as they swing their way through madcap adventures and thwart the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan. Specially adapted from the beloved film, this musical includes all your favorite Disney tunes, like “The Bare Necessities,” and “I Wan’na Be Like You.”

1 Public Performance: August 18 at 11 AM Tickets: $8/$5 kids under 11.

The Harbor Fest takes place in Belfast this weekend. Highlights include the National Boat Building Challenge on Saturday (10am--2pm) and cardboard boat race on Sunday starting at noon.
More information: http://www.belfastharborfest.com/

The Camden Public Library will host their Children's Book Fair by the Sea on Saturday, August 18, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm:

This event will feature area authors and illustrators. Readings and presentations will take place in the library rotunda every 20 minutes throughout the program. The book fair will include opportunities to meet authors and illustrators, and to purchase books to have personally signed.

The schedule of author/illustrator presentations is as follows:
Toni Buzzeo 1:05
Lee DeCora Francis 1:30
Susan Hood 1:50
Marilyn Janovitz 2:10
Amy Lowry 2:30
Hazel Mitchell 2:50
Liza Walsh 3:10

For further information, please contact Amy Hand at the library. 236-3440

Saturday is also the first day of the week-long Union Fair! We always have a great time at this agricultural fair. Although, looking at their schedule for this year, I'm disappointed to see that they will not be featuring anything like the aerial performers we've seen for the past three years. That's always my favorite part.

For this year's Union Fair and Maine Wild Blueberry Festival there will be a one-price entry fee of $12, which will include unlimited midway rides. There will be an optional early gate admission of $8 available Monday through Thursday until 2 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 11 a.m.

The Union Fair will be held Saturday, August 18, through Saturday, August 25. For more information, visit www.unionfair.org.

For adults the Maine Wine Pavilion is located on the fairgrounds, sponsored by the Maine Winery Guild and featuring the best from wineries around the state.

See you at the fair!

HMS Bounty in Belfast This Weekend

2012-08-11T09:39:00.003-04:00

The rain has stopped! We're heading to the scavenger hunt.

NY Times -- Raising Successful Children

2012-08-07T07:22:00.002-04:00

I'm finding some time to catch up a bit this morning. Had some time to read an interesting article from Sunday's NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/raising-successful-children.html

I've read similar articles/theories before. I think the ideas are along the lines of what I try to do with J. Finding the successful mid-point between "overparenting" and whatever the opposite is (Not taking an interest at all?) seems entirely logical. Encouraging a child to do what she (or he) can for for herself, not doing things for her unnecessarily, I can absolutely get behind.

When I read articles of this sort, though, the warnings about the dangers of praising your child always concern me. I can't prevent myself from telling J she has done a good job when she puts together a challenging puzzle, takes a handful of good swim strokes, draws something lovely, shows special kindness to a friend... Yet I'm not going to tell her that every little thing she does is fabulously fantastic. Am I damaging her self esteem by telling her that I'm proud of her when she does a good job? I tend to think not. I can see how constant praise can create a monster, or how telling a child that everything they do is perfect discourages growth. The last thing I would ever want to do is damage my daughter's confidence by making her think that she has to keep up some standard of perfection. She just has to give things a good solid try -- with plenty of rest and silliness in between the more difficult stuff.

I want her to know that when she does challenge herself, when she learns something new, or does something remarkable, I'm delighted. When things go the other way, when she has trouble listening, and doing what she is supposed to do, I have to make sure she hears from me about that, too. I'm going to continue to tell her what I think, and hope for the best.

The Big Night!

2012-07-26T11:08:00.002-04:00

Tonight is opening night! We've been working hard on the Belfast Maskers' production of Brigadoon and we're excited about our first live show tonight. It's going to be fantastic! Come check it out:

The Belfast Maskers continue their 25th anniversary theatre season with open-air performances of the musical “Brigadoon” by Lerner and Loewe in July and August. This lively show is the central production of the company’s celebratory season with music, dance, live farm animals and humor in a magical evening of theatre.

Brigadoon performances will be held at Steamboat Landing Park in Belfast from Thursday through Sunday, July 26-29 at 7 p.m. Searsport performances will be held outside at the Town Hall (Union Hall), Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 2-5 at 7 p.m. Admission for all performances is $18 for adults, $10 for teens and $5 for children ages 5-12. Tickets are available by calling 338-9668 or at the venue one hour before performances. In Belfast, advance tickets may also be purchased at Out of the Woods (48 Main Street). In Searsport, advance tickets may also be purchased at Gallery 37 (37 Main Street). For more information, please call 338-9668.

I do wish that we could be in two places at once this evening! The Camden Snow Bowl is hosting a circus tonight:

The exciting all new Walker Brothers Circus under the BIG TOP will be stopping at the Camden Snow Bowl for two shows Thursday, July 26th at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM! Their newest production will dazzle and delight adults and children of all ages. The list of breathtaking acts includes performances such as aerialist, acrobatics, magic, tons of comedy, along with an astonishing array of circus acts. Adults and children will be in awe at the performers stunning athletics ability and captivated by the clown’s comedic antics. Adult tickets can be purchased through their web site www.walkerinternationalevents.com or at the circus box office day of show. With the purchase of ONE adult ticket two children (14 and under) are admitted FREE with coupon. Children’s coupon can be found at local businesses. For additional information, please call 800.528.6577.

Some sad local news this week. We have never met this little girl, but she is very much on my mind today:

23-month old Hailey Mello developed a rare case of Streptococcus A. She is currently under doctor's care at EMMC. According to family friends, the illness has caused some tissue damage and Hailey may need to have her lower right leg removed below the knee.

Friends have set up a fundraiser for the family. Tonight, the Anglers Restaurants in Newport, Searsport and Hampden will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to help the family with medical costs.

Well done Anglers! http://www.anglersseafoodrestaurant.com/

Wishing Hailey a speedy and complete recovery.

Festivals and Outdoor Performances For All!

2012-07-21T09:49:00.001-04:00

Plenty to choose from this weekend!

The Maine Celtic Celebration is underway in Belfast: http://www.mainecelticcelebration.com/

Plenty of great music and dancing. Children's events include wheelbarrow races and a Wellington boot toss.

Events run all weekend. Check out the schedule on the website.

And then there is the Pirate Festival at Fort Knox today: http://fortknox.maineguide.com/events.html

Saturday, July 21st, Pirate Festival, 10 AM until 4 PM- Join the professional Pirates of the Dark Rose for a day of swashbuckling sword fights, duels, cannon fire and pirate ship attack. The pirate ship "Must Roos" will let loose cannon fire on the Fort as she sails the waters of the Penobscot River, in search of booty. The festival will feature a treasure hunt, pirate parade (all are encouraged to attend dressed in your best pirate attire), best dressed and most authentic sounding pirate contests. Regular Fort admission and a $3 per person event donation requested, because pirates love their gold! Those planning to spend the day may want to bring a lunch.

Tentative schedule:

11:00 Captain Crudbeard’s Cannon Shooting Lesson

- Noon- Pirate Parade and Costume Contest

1:00 pm Pirate Ship Attack with Cannons, Flintlocks, and Cutlasses in front of the Fort

1:45 pm Talk Like a Pirate Contest

2:15 pm Treasure Hunt

3:00 pm Pirate Weapons Demonstration with grappling hooks, pikes, boarding axes, whips, swords, pistols, and blunderbuss.

Next week:
Thursday is opening night! J and I have been rehearsing with the fabulous cast of the Belfast Masker's production of Brigadoon. We're having so much fun. It's going to be a great show!

Finally Back in Maine

2012-07-13T15:07:00.001-04:00

I thought I'd be able to dispatch a blog post from afar last week, but breaking away from a family vacation to park myself in front of a computer just didn't seem right. We were in Rhode Island and on Cape Cod visiting family all of last week, followed by an unexpected and emotional return trip at the start of this week.

J and her cousins had their first visit to the Cape Cod National Seashore. We walked the Fort Hill Trail above Nauset Marsh in Eastham, a gentle hike overlooking the pretty coastline. Later in the afternoon, we spent some time at First Encounter Beach (also in Eastham). I'd never been there. We'll definitely be back! It was gorgeous. We were there at low tide, when you can walk forever in shallow water, crossing sandbars and picking up tiny hermit crabs. Before the tide went out all the way had a chance to swim in the lovely warm water. It was perfect.

We spent an afternoon at our old favorite, Kalmus Beach in Hyannis, too. Some serious sandcastle building was accomplished between rides on boogie boards in the bouncy waves. These visits were before reports of shark sightings off the Cape were all over the news! Although the latest reports say it was a basking shark, not a great white... I hope they're right!

Now that we are home, I'm looking forward to our first visit to Lincolnville Beach. We just haven't had a chance to make it there yet this summer. It's lovely, too, but the water is awfully cold!

Coming Up:

My recommendation for this weekend -- A visit to Merryspring Nature Center in Camden to create a fairy garden:

Children and families are invited to join local author and librarian Liza Gardner Walsh in creating one-of-a-kind fairy container gardens at Merryspring Nature Center. The workshop will take place on Saturday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. outside at the Hexagon.

With some seeds, soil, and a little imagination, kids young and old can create miniature gardens perfect for attracting fairies. Guests will work with Liza in building their own miniature container gardens perfect for capturing the imaginations of young children. Supplies will be provided and will include herbs grown in Merryspring’s greenhouse.

The cost of this workshop is $15 for non-members with a discounted rate of $10 for Merryspring members. Due to limited materials, this event requires pre-registration and spots are limited to 15 people. To sign up, interested participants should contact Merryspring by phone at 236-2239 or by email at info@merryspring.org.

We have a big fairy garden in our yard -- complete with an odd little ceramic fairy that J found while we were poking around a local flea market. The sweet peas, lilies, roses, daisies and phlox are all in bright bloom now. The garden was a beautiful sight to come home to.

The big vegetable garden is trying its best, too. We do have delicious peas, and lots of lettuce. The squashes and cucumbers are struggling a bit though.

We missed fun local band, The Hips, at last night's installment of Music in the Streets in Belfast. They always put on a fun show. We could hear a bit from Steamboat Landing, where we were busy rehearsing for The Belfast Maskers production of Brigadoon. There are a lot of rehearsals scheduled between now and opening night in two weeks! I'll post more details about the show here soon.

One last photo for this week's installment:

In loving memory of my kind, quick-witted, charming, candid Grammy, who taught me to knit and play mahjong, and shared with me her love of family gatherings, good books, the beach, and above all, living life to its fullest.

Movie Night, Game Night and BOOM!

2012-06-29T13:49:00.003-04:00

We did make it to Fort Point Lighthouse last weekend on a beautiful Sunday morning. What a gorgeous view!

We had a great time at the first of the Belfast Summer Nights concerts last week, too. Check out the photo of J and her friends dancing to the music on page 3 of this week's Republican Journal!

This week we didn't make it to the concert on Thursday. Still recovering from our trip to the movies on Wednesday. I took J to see Brave, which was definitely scarier than I expected it to be! J jumped into my lap. There were tears, but she did not want to leave. I'm glad because I always think it's better to see it through to the happy ending. I can't recommend this one for the 5-and-under crowd, but I did like it. J did, too. We loved the main character, but we could have done without the scary bear-fight scenes.

Coming up:

Our Town Belfast for is hosting a family game night on Saturday, June 30th. Belfast Boat House from 3:00 - 7:00pm. This sounds like fun!

"Local EXPERTS will be on hand to teach you and your kids how to play many of the fun and funky games you see all over downtown, including, but not limited to:
Blokus, Kazink, Muchkin Quest, Moose In the House, Anomia, Tensies, Qwirkle, Joe Name It, Skippo, Zap, Five of Crowns, Wig Out....

We will have games set up at each table with a coach to help you and your kids learn to play. All the games have been chosen by the owners and employees of Out On a Whimsey, the Cool Spot, All About Games, Out of the Woods and more as super-fun but lesser-known games that can be found at their establishments for either purchase or on-the-spot playing! If you don't know these games, you should! Beginners to experts welcome, all ages, light snacks and drinks provided."

We're going to have to miss this one, but if you are in Camden this evening, "The Earth Maiden," presented by Terra Diddle Collective, looks lovely.

"The Earth Maiden, calls on a cast of over 40 players, including 30 children, ages 5-15, who participated in dance and song workshops for several months to create the piece."

Friday June 29th, 6pm in the Camden Public Library’s Amphitheatre!

Rain dates: June 30th @ 10:30 am & July 1st, 1pm

Tickets are available at the Amphitheatre an hour before each show

$8 children (under 12) $10 adults.

And there is all sorts of fun to be had at Fort Knox this weekend. They will be firing the cannon all day on Saturday and Sunday!

June 30, July 1, Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM until 4 PM - 6th Maine Battery Cannon Firings - a full scale Civil War era Parrot cannon firing demonstration will take place throughout the day. This is the real deal and will provide some explosive excitement for all who visit. Click here for a YouTube video of the 2009 cannon firing.

And on Saturday night they are hosting Ghosts of Fort Knox Tours. Admittedly, far too scary for me (and probably for J, too). But if you are fearless, this will be great fun!

Saturday, June 30th, 7:00, 8:15,9:30 PM, Ghosts of Fort Knox Guided Tours. Join the East Coast Ghost Trackers on a guided tour of Fort Knox in search of ghosts and paranormal phenome

Strawberries, Folk Games and Lighthouses

2012-06-22T22:12:00.000-04:00

Busy week! Music in the street in Belfast on Thursday was loads of fun. J was tired -- in that wild kid-tired way -- but we stayed to the end to take in the music and warm air.

We made a quick visit to Monhegan at the start of the week to visit friends. It was fun to be there for the island's first farmer's market of the season, and J tested the water at Swim Beach. Still pretty cold!

It's strawberry picking season! Two great places nearby:

Raven's Berry Farm - strawberries, raspberries
127 Raven Road, Freedom, Maine. Phone: 207-382-6329. Pick your own farm fresh strawberries, raspberries. Open in season, 7 days a week.

Sand Hill Farm Organic Strawberries - organic strawberries
Sand Hill Road, Somerville, ME. Phone: 207-549-5089.

Check out PickYourOwn.org for additional listings.

This weekend:

Saturday, June 23: Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport hosts a Summer Folk Game Day. The first of three, with the others scheduled for July 14 and August 25.

"Game Days will include lawn games such as croquet, badminton and bocce, and indoor games like cribbage, backgammon, checkers and chess. The events run from noon to 4 p.m., and participation is free with museum admission."

Saturday and Sunday, June 24 & 25: Midcoast Maine Lighthouse Challenge. The following lighthouses are open 9:00am to 5:00pm: Dyce Head, Fort Point, Grindle Point, Rockland Breakwater, Owl's Head, Marshall Point and Pemaquid Point.

For more information: http://www.lighthousefoundation.org/events/midcoastlhchallenge.htm

We're destined for Fort Point, in Stockton Springs on Sunday.

This Week / Next Week...We Love June!

2012-06-15T08:21:00.000-04:00

A fine start to our summer this week! On Wednesday, we spent a rainy afternoon in Belfast, stopping into my favorite shop downtown, Beyond the Sea, for a visit with children's author Brian Benoit. He read his sweet picture book, Crustacean Vacation.

Thursday was such a beautiful day! We packed the dogs and some snacks and headed to the top of Bald Rock Mountain in Lincolnville with some friends. It's a good challenging hike for little legs, steep at the top, but well worth it. It took us about an hour to climb up at a pretty steady -- but still quite pleasant -- pace.

Coming up:

This weekend (June 16 & 17) at the Owl's Head Transportation Museum you can check out the Hot Rods, Customs, Muscle Cars & Antique Aeroplane Show:

"From the style and color of the 1950s to the raw power of the 1970s, come celebrate America's passion for cool cars. Pre-1992 vehicles are welcome to exhibit too. Vehicle demonstration, Model T rides, family activities and more."

Never an admission fee for visitors under 18.

While I'm on the subject of motor cars, this sounds like fun, too! Tuesday, June 19 at the Camden Library:

"DINNER AND A MOVIE! Come celebrate a classic movie and the release of a new book. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again. We will be showing the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and we’ll do a potluck. If your last name begins with A-F, please bring a hot meal to share. G-P, please bring a salad of some sort. Q-Z bring a desert, and the library will provide drinks and paper goods and the movie. Come enjoy dinner and a movie with friends and family in our community! Tuesday, June 19, PROMPTLY at 5:00 pm. Call to let us know you are coming!"

AND next Thursday, June 21, one of my favorite things about summer in Belfast -- Belfast Summer Nights. Music from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of Main and High Streets featuring OdLaW. Bring snacks, folding chairs, and dancing shoes!

This weekend: June 8

2012-06-08T12:42:00.000-04:00

Last day of preschool today! I just brought J home for lunch. We'll be back into town for some fun -- and shopping -- later.

I'm going to try out a new format for this blog -- A sort of What's On for the weekend, or week:

We’ll be biking this weekend, but if flying is more your speed, it’s a great weekend to be in Belfast, too. J is too young, so I don't have to think about whether I'd be too nervous, but for kids ages 8 to 17, and parents with good, strong nerves, there is excitement in store at the Belfast Airport this Saturday. The Belfast EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) chapter will sponsor free airplane rides for kids Saturday, June 9 (Rain date June 10) from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information call (207) 323 0616. The old-fashioned small planes often fly overhead when we're in the dog park (next door to the airport). Looks like fun! Any brave parents out there?

How about boating? On Saturday morning the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition hosts Paddle the Passagassawakeag River:
"Paddle the Passagassawakeag River from the Boathouse to Head of Tide. Bring kayak or canoe, paddle, PFD, water, lunch, binoculars, sun, rain, and wind protection. If you need (or have extra) space in a canoe, call 338-1147." Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Also this weekend, the UU Church in Belfast hosts its annual spring clothing sale. With the promise of “Distinctive used clothing,” this sale is always worth a look. One year we found a new pair of pink sandals in just the right size. For kids – or adults – in need of summer gear, sales like this have great potential. If you have the patience to sort through piles, you might find just what you need. Of course there is always the risk of coming home with many treasures that you didn’t realize you needed. The UU Church of Belfast, located at 37 Miller Street. The sale is on Friday, June 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 9 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Further afield, in Camden, head to the Snow Bowl on Ragged Mountain for off-season rides on the chairlift. We spent a lot of time at the Snow Bowl last winter, and I’m thinking that it would be fun to go back and see the recreation area in its springtime glory. There are some great hiking trails. Mountain biking trails, too. Although, for us, those will have to wait until the training wheels come off. Sunday sounds like a good day to check it all out and pick up a trail map. The Camden Snow Bowl is located at 20 Barnestown Road. Chairlift rides are Sunday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 per person per ride, or $15 for unlimited rides. For more information call (207) 236 3438. There are additional chairlift ride dates monthly from July through October. Details are available on the Snow Bowl’s website: http://summer.camdensnowbowl.com/

The midcoast can be a lot for families – especially in the summertime. In spite of the June weather we’ve been subjected to so far, I’m convinced that a nice summer is on the way. I’ll keep an eye out for family friendly events and I’d love to hear from readers, too. If you hear about something fun, please send it along and I’ll include it here. Here’s to the upcoming season, with days at our beautiful state parks, or Lincolnville Beach, and nights dancing to music in the streets in Belfast.

Free Plane Rides!

2012-06-05T12:33:00.001-04:00

J is too young, so I don't have to think about whether I'd be too nervous, but if you have kids ages 8 - 17 and good, strong nerves, stop by the Belfast Airport this Saturday.

The Belfast EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) chapter will sponsor free airplane rides for children ages 8 - 17.

Saturday, June 9 (Rain date June 10)
Belfast Airport -- 10am to 2pm
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information call (207) 323 0616

The old-fashioned small planes often fly overhead when we're in the dog park (next door to the airport). Looks like fun! Any brave parents out there?

Parades -- The Fab and the Fearsome

2012-05-29T12:56:00.000-04:00

I love parades -- The noise, the excitement, the kids, the flag-pattered buntings, the old cars, the animals, the marching bands. It's all so much fun!

But whose idea was it to toss candy from moving vehicles and encourage kids to dive into the road to gather it up? Can't we ban this? First of all, it's incredibly dangerous! Second, I hate to see kids more interested in gathering candy than in the parade itself. Aren't all of the exciting things listed above enough?

That's my rant. Here are some fun pictures from the Memorial Day Parade in Searsmont yesterday:

We had a great time. It was the best Midcoast parade I've seen. Some groups handed things directly to kids -- the Girl Scouts handed out freezer pops, an oil company handed out beach balls. I'm all for that sort of fun. But the candy... Do other people have strong feelings about this?

Training Wheels

2012-05-25T16:20:00.001-04:00

Last fall, when J turned 5, we bought her a fabulous pink Electra cruiser bicycle. It came, in great secondhand condition, from a shop in Rockland called Bikes and Java. Sadly, they shut their doors over the winter. But, happily, the doors were re-opened by another bike shop, called Side Country Sports, soon after. I love this bike! And they have some very stylish Electra cruisers for adults, too.

I remember learning to ride a bicycle. I have this great vivid memory of my dad holding onto the back of bike on the wide flat stretch of pavement behind my parents' garden shop. I remember the sensation when he let go, and I was riding alone -- maintaining that balance just long enough to feel like I really had it. And eventually falling over, but knowing that I could get back up. We were both so pleased.

What I don't remember is the slog leading up to that moment. Were there training wheels involved?

My big plan was to teach J to ride the balance bike/Skuut bike a friend loaned us so that she could get straight onto her two-wheeler without training wheels. This, I figured, would save her having to learn to ride twice. That's not really how it worked out...

She did okay on the balance bike, but she clearly preferred her tricycle. "I like to pedal," she told me. Fair enough.

Also, she rode a friend's bicycle with training wheels in the fall, with great success and much laughter.

Out came the pink bike this spring. We were all pretty excited.

She has definitely been interested in riding it. She gets all geared up -- helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and of course, riding gloves. And for all that style, she seems to have no sense of balance whatsoever.

I just want her to have fun on the bike. We went to Side Country Sports yesterday afternoon and came home with a good steel set of training wheels. She can ask for them off when she's ready.

This weekend we'll ride together!

Sea Fairies in Belfast

2012-05-18T09:15:00.000-04:00

The Playhouse Children’s Theater Company, directed by Mary Weaver, will premiere Fritz Lyon's adaptation of L. Frank Baum fantasy, The Sea Fairies. Performances begin tonight at The Playhouse, 107 Church St., Belfast. Cost $5. Limited seats, call 338-5777 to reserve. Recommended for age 5 and older. Fridays 7:30 p.m. and Sundays 4 p.m. through May 27.

We're excited to see this!!

May Flowers

2012-05-08T21:38:00.001-04:00

Our wildflower walk on an overcast day was lovely , thanks to Coastal Mountains Land Trust and Botanist Wanda Garland. The weather has been so chilly that there were few flowers, but still lots to see and learn. We walked along the Georges Highland Path, setting out from Rockport.

We tasted wild oats (spicy, perhaps fittingly), and wild leeks (pictured below).

Next we spotted wild honeysuckle.

And this fairy house...

We ambled along the trail with the group for about an hour, then turned back while they continued on. J's friend couldn't join us, and J turned out to be the only kid. She did well, and the adults out for the walk all seemed pleased to have her along. If we go again, I think I'll make sure she has a friend -- mainly so that I can hear more of what the guide says.

------------

Next week Coastal Mountains Land Trust and the Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition sponsor A spring bird walk. Too early in the morning for us -- Besides, keeping J quiet on a bird walk seems unlikely... But you might like to join them:

Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 - 8:30 AM

Ducktrap River Preserve, Lincolnville

From the CMLT website: "Kristen Lindquist and BBWC's Cloe Chunn [lead] this quest for early bird migrants. Past highlights have included many warblers species (such as the magnolia warbler, above), scarlet tanager, barred owls, rose-breasted grosbeak, and indigo bunting. Meet them at the Route 52 north-bound trailhead. Wear footwear suitable for a wet, muddy trail and bring your binoculars and bug repellant."

Enjoy!