Maine Adventure Mom

Interview

2011-09-28T13:03:00.002-04:00

It's been more than a month since I last wrote anything here! Sorry. The start of the school year -- before and after -- is such a hectic time. I'm just now recovering.

Another blogger recently asked to interview me for her site, which I thought was awfully nice. Here's the link:

http://annadeskins.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:an-interview-with-mommy-blogger-erica-rubin-irish&catid=1:news&Itemid=3

I'm still not sure about the ear protection for the little guy at the outdoor music performance-- but clearly too much loud music has done me little good. I'm pretty sure that my hearing is starting to go already. I'm forever saying, "What? What did you say?" I suppose it's possible that I'm just not paying attention.

Today I'm fighting the cold damp weather with thoughts of a sunny summer day on Monhegan. Here's J pinning the tail on the fabulous donkey that Alison Hill painted for her granddaughter's birthday party.

August Gardens

2011-08-19T15:24:00.001-04:00

In spite of a rather lax attitude on my part, once everything was finally planted, the vegetable gardens are lush and fruitful!

The zucchini and pattypan squash have slowed, but for a while, it seemed like there were 10 new squashes every day -- of both varieties! They are still producing, but at a more manageable pace.

Our cucumbers last year withered into nothing, so this year I planted more cucumber plants than I care to counts. Three different varieties, two of which are doing incredibly well. Straight 8 - I don't remember where I bought this variety -- plants are growing like weeds. And the Marketmore, which I bought from Johnny's Seeds, are doing well -- if not as fabulously well as the Straight 8.

We have lovely broccoli, purple cauliflower, chard, kale, green and purple beans, rainbow carrots, winter squash, corn and 4 different varieties of tomatoes -- with the very first fruit about to turn red. I'm sure I've forgotten something.

Nasturtiums are supposed to help keep the bugs away. We've had Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles, but the nasturtiums are pretty.

Meanwhile, we did make it to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens on a rainy Sunday for their fairy festival, which was very sweet. The rain only put a small kink in our day. There were lots of indoor activities, and when we did want to be outside, J didn't seem to mind getting her wings wet.

We are due for another visit on a sunny September weekend.

We are heading into blueberry-picking season, and the Union Fair, some more summer weather, maybe a few days at Sebago Lake and soon apple-picking season.

Be Still My Heart

2011-08-06T14:47:00.002-04:00

Last night we went to see the Belfast Maskers' Pirates of Penzance on the waterfront in Belfast, which was fantastic! J loved the music -- even if she didn't quite follow the entire story. Tonight is the last night, so I wanted to be sure to write about it today.

Also this weekend the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens will host all sorts of activities at their Maine Fairy House Festival. We missed it last year, so we're doubly excited about it this year. I love the botanical gardens, and J loves fairies (of course), so it should be a lovely day -- Never mind that the forecast calls for rain tomorrow. We'll bring umbrellas to keep the wings dry.

J said something this week that warmed my heart. She had climbed her stool to get a cup down and filled it with water from the filter pitcher very casually, and completely on her own.

I said something goofy like: "You're such a big kid now. What am I going to do with such a grown up kid?"
And she answered: "Take me to new places where I can learn things. That's what you always do."

Thump thump.

She also cracked me up, as I shook my head at all of her summer scrapes and bruises:

Mom: "How did you get that bruise on your hip?"
J: "I don't know. I guess a life of fun is full of hard knocks."

One last thing, I finally finished the Joan Jett doll to keep Joey Ramone company. Joey still needs sunglasses -- it's awfully hard to find sequins around here.

Have a great weekend!

Fabulous Prizes and a Great Cause

2011-08-02T11:19:00.000-04:00

I received an email from Elmer's Glue last week, telling me about a great program they have put together with the Kids in Need Foundation.

Help Elmer’s Help Kids in Need!

Millions of kids go without school supplies every year. Elmer’s is partnering with the Kids In Need Foundation to provide essential school supplies to students who need them the most. For every “like” on the Elmer’s Facebook page through Sept. 1, the company will donate one Elmer’s product. Plus, they will make an additional donation for every unique view the video receives on the Elmer’s Kids In Need tab. Please like the Elmer’s Facebook page, watch the video, and share it with your friends and family. With just one click, you will help a child in need!

And now for the Fabulous Prizes!

I have three prize kits to give away. The first three people to write me with your address will receive a packet of prizes from Elmers.

Email your address to: (My first name)@ericarubinirish.com

(I'm not sure how else to put my email address on here without attracting all sorts of spam.)

The prize packs will include:

· The all-new Elmer’s X-TREME School Glue Stick

· Small foam tri-fold

· Project Popperz

· Mini bi-fold foam

· Disappearing purple glue sticks

· Gel school glue sticks

· School glue

School glue dual tip pen

I see sticky craft projects in our near future.

Jumping in the Lake

2011-07-27T16:54:00.001-04:00

We do love the beach. We love Lincolnville Beach in particular. But the water -- even during a heat wave -- is freezing. Not refreshing freezing, icy unpleasant freezing, unfortunately. So I've been on a search for a nearby fresh water swimming spot.

There was an unpleasant incident involving nasty little bugs at Levenseller Pond in Lincolnville. That spot is now out!

Lake St. George State Park is only about 15 minutes from here. I have intended to check it out for ages, but didn't do it until last weekend. I'm so glad I did! It's lovely. The water is clear, and just the right temperature. Grass, instead of sand, leads right up to the water's edge -- which was a bit odd at first, but is so much tidier. And there is a great playground, which IS sandy. Well worth the $4 per adult (Maine resident) admission fee to enter the park. We went on both Saturday and Sunday -- when it was so hot. I will qualify my recommendation though -- We were there in the late afternoon both days. I don't know how mobbed it gets in the middle of the day.

Last week we also went on an insect safari, organized by the Coastal Mountains Land Trust. They host fun, family-friendly activities several times a year, and it is well worth taking a look at their events calendar. Between the pond incident and the beetles (Japanese and cucumber) who are attacking our garden, it was nice to think about some of the positive things insects do, and how fun some of them are to observe.

That didn't stop us from putting beetle traps around the yard to lure them away from the garden -- and toward a fateful dive into a plastic bag. They're cool looking, but they are a nuisance!

Summertime Whirlwind

2011-07-10T23:01:00.002-04:00

We do love July 4th on Cape Cod! My home town knows how to throw a parade -- or two. We went to the Barnstable Village Parade in the morning --which I love for the dogs kitted up in patriotic garb -- and the big parade in Hyannis in the afternoon -- which I love for the music and the impressive crowd. Gorgeous beach weather while we were there as well!

Back home, the gardens are alive! The flower garden is full of bright colors this year. This photo is from a few weeks ago. The irises have gone by now, but the peonies are still blooming, the roses are gorgeous, and the perennial sweet peas are enormous and bright, bright pink.

Kale is, by far, the most bountiful crop in our vegetable garden. J was eating it raw the other night! I made kale chips for the first time, which were a big hit. I scouted around online and most recipes looked about the same --

Cut, or tear, into bite sized pieces
Drizzle with olive oil
Season to taste (I recommend salt and lots of nutritional yeast)

Bake at 375F for 10 - 15 minutes

Two things: It IS possible to put too much salt on the kale chips. My first batch was a bit too seaweedy. And, it is nearly impossible to "drizzle" olive oil from a regular bottle. I must buy one of those little sprayers.

They taste delightful, but don't photograph well, so I won't bother posting the odd photo I took here.

J has decided that she likes salad this summer. She's never been a picky eater, but salad didn't appeal for some reason. Hard to chew, maybe. But I'm delighted by her change of heart. It makes gathering the greens (Elegant Greens Mix from Johnny's Seeds, in Winslow Maine) that much more fun. Arugala is still out, though. Too spicy. Good thing I like it because we have a ton.

This week we visited Hidden Gardens in Searsport. A pretty garden center that mainly sells hardy perennials. They have beautiful poppies, lots of different varieties of hostas, AND, they have friendly miniature horses. No website, but their address is 96 Seekins Road, Searsport, ME 04974 (Phone: 207-548-2864). From Rt. 1 North, turn left after Tozier's Market in Searsport and follow the road for 3.8 miles, then make a right turn. There are small yellow signs pointing you in the right direction along the route.

Something is eating our strawberries. I've been so busy that it's been hard to keep on top of all of the yard work. I should have put netting over the berry plants -- if, in fact, it is the birds eating them, and not chipmunks, which might just walk under the netting and continue to snack away -- but I didn't. We've been berry picking at Raven's in Freedom twice, bringing home six quarts the first time, which went fast. And nine more yesterday! Some will make it to the freezer.

Raven's doesn't have a website either, but they are easy to find. From Rt. 137 West, turn right after the Freedom post office, and follow the signs. The season is ending, but they will likely be open for the rest of this week. Call to find out for sure: 207- 382-6329.

That's a lot for one post! And there is so much more to do this July.

Belfast Summer Nights

2011-06-26T15:45:00.002-04:00

We had so much fun at this year's first installment of Belfast Summer Nights. The Hips were very gracious about J storming the stage and they gave a great performance. They even did two Cibo Matto songs (Not Birthday Cake, but I'll post a link to this video anyway, because it's fantastic).

Our Town Belfast posted this photo on facebook. That's J and her friend parked right at the singers' feet.

Dancing in the street is so much fun! J was a little wound up -- no nap that afternoon, which always makes for a wild time in the evening. She was already dancing when the band did their sound-check. She had a blast. And fell asleep in the car on the way home, so thank heavens some friends were smart enough to bring pizza, and she had dinner there. Next time we'll bring a picnic, too.

And next time is sooner than I thought it would be. This Thursday, June 30th, The Bel-Isle Trio is playing at Heritage Park. That should be loads of fun, too.

Spring Outings

2011-06-11T23:01:00.001-04:00

When my cousin came to town last week, we made our first visit to Sears Island. So beautiful! We didn't hike all the way out to the end of either long trail road this time. A 4-year-old who hadn't had her lunch yet, simply wasn't going to go for that. Looping to the left 5 or 10 minutes in, we took the Homestead Trail. A great hike for short legs. Long legs, too.

Four-legged hikers can get plenty of exercise chasing each other in circles and running off into the tall grass.

The trail loops back to the beach. Perfect for dipping our toes in, and a well-earned picnic lunch.

It was Emily, our boxer's first trip to the beach. She loved it!

Another bit of excitement this week: J's first ballet recital. Fantastic, of course!

Coming up: the Coastal Children's Museum, in Rockland, celebrates its second birthday on Saturday, June 18th. 10AM - 4PM. Hula hooping workshops, magic shows, face painting, art activities, bubbles, free ice cream... Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. We're planning to be there. Hope we'll see you!

Upcoming Performances for Families

2011-05-27T10:31:00.001-04:00

We're excited to see "Stalwart Dragon" in Belfast! This one sounds great for young kids.

From the Republican Journal:
"Stanley the Stalwart Dragon," by Trisha Sugarek, will be presented Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m., May 27 through June 5, at The Playhouse, 107 Church St.

Directed by Mary Weaver, the play features Leander Andrews as the Stalwart Dragon with the Playhouse Children’s Theater Company and is for everyone older than age 5. In a magical forest, the fairies, bugs, birds and an elf try to help Stanley who has run away from home. Then the dragon runs away again to join the circus and must be rescued. The cast of young actors ranges in age from 5 to 13.

Tickets will be $5 at the door. Seating is limited, so call 339-5777 for reservations.

Also this weekend at the Camden Opera House, the Rockport Dance Conservatory presents its Spring Showcase -- including a series of "Grimm Tales on Dark Trails"

Friday and Saturday, 6:30PM at the Camden Opera House. Tickets: Adults $15, Students and Seniors $10, Children under 6 FREE.

And finally... Save the date! J's first ballet recital!

Atlantic Ballet Company's Spring Performance will be at the Camden Opera House on June 11th at 4:00PM.

P2PDance Center and Atlantic Ballet Company
Spring Performance 2011
DANCES from CARMEN and ESMERALDA
Hip Hop, Tap, Character Dance
Camden Opera House
Saturday, June 11, 4:00pm
Tickets: $10 Children under 12 and Seniors and $14 Adults
Ticket Locations:
Hav II in Camden 236-6777
Mr. Paperback in Belfast 338-2735
Reading Corner in Rockland 596-6651

Slacking in the Rain

2011-05-23T22:50:00.004-04:00

I'm obsessed with the weather. I can't help it. All this rain is depressing. And I have a garden to put in! The forecast does promise to improve mid-week -- for 2 days at least. I hope they're right. Why I don't live in Jamaica -- or Miami, maybe -- is beyond me when we've had a month of rain here. I love Maine, obviously. Winter, summer, and fall, but spring is often like this: wet, cold, painful...

Things have been busy since we returned from our trip. Not only have I not found time to blog; I have found little time to vacuum; tonight I fed J frozen fish sticks (although, to be fair, they were sustainably caught whole pollock filets with allergen-free all-natural breading from Ian's); and I let her stay up until after 9:00 because I was having such a lovely time snuggling in reading a "Daisy Meadow's" fairy book. Plus both dogs (one of whom could use a bath -- although she hasn't rolled in anything nasty) were on J's bed with us, sullying up the bedding I'd just washed.

That is how many days have been lately. So today I had a laugh, and breathed a sigh of relief, when I read one mom's essay on "Questionable Parenting Skills" on Goodkin. Some of her infractions were likely exaggerated -- I have to think so! What I took from the article was that it's okay to be laugh about being imperfect.

We HAVE been getting out when the drizzle eases off. Lots of trips to the dog park in Belfast, in an attempt to socialize our rapidly-growing boxer pup -- which does seem to be working, she's very sweet with people and other dogs.

And, for the first time, we caught the fiddleheads at the right time. There is a big patch of them right behind our house, but this is the first year we've picked them. The first year J was old enough to really get into it, and there were not a ton of black flies.

Fiddleheads -- which I had not encountered before moving to Maine -- are uncurled ferns. The rule is, that you can pick and eat them (after cooking thoroughly) as long as they are still curled at the top, but the best fiddleheads are definitely those that have not begun to uncurl at all. They have much more flavor. Next year we'll skip the taller ones. It's such fun to forage in the woods for these treasures during their brief season.

So here I've come full circle and I can't help writing about the things I love to do here in the Maine woods. I guess I am happier here than I would be in Miami...Some sunshine, though, would not go amiss.

Jamaican Adventure

2011-05-05T13:15:00.000-04:00

Our first international adventure! J and I escaped for a quick mother-daughter trip to Jamaica at the end of April. It has taken me this long to find a few minutes to sit own and write about it -- but it was certainly well worth throwing my schedule temporarily out of whack.

We stayed at a fabulous small hotel outside Port Antonio, on the northern coast of the island. Far from the big resorts, quiet, safe and gorgeous! Because of my work with Willing Foot, I met with several guides and drivers -- all keen to show us the truly amazing sites of their region. It's a gorgeous and diverse environment -- with lush mountains just inland from the coast (Like Maine, only WARM).

Our favorites --

The multi-layered and crystal clear Reach Falls. A quick climb through the rain forest, in the company of our naturalist guide, who pointed out flowers and collected shells for J, led to this magical place. (If the plastic princess floaty was a bit incongruous, it did make for a relaxed paddle through the many levels of warm water.) Getting J to leave was a challenge -- not that I was in a hurry, but I wanted to look for manatees, back at the coast, before lunch...

Not a good day to see the sea cows, unfortunately, we'll have to look elsewhere another time. Florida, maybe.

We also loved Winnifred Beach. It was school vacation week in Jamaica and this beach, in particular, was packed with local families. My ever-outgoing daughter was quick to make friends. As much as I love the fun we have together, I was grateful for her friendly nature, and some quiet time sitting on the beach blanket, taking it all in from a few feet away.

Traveling with J went very smoothly overall. There were a few tired moments, a few "stand right next to me and hold my hand, or else" moments (in the airport :- )). But, for the most part, we took in our fabulous surroundings, or entertained each other. I was so pleased to be able to show her a very different part of our world, grateful that people were welcoming and friendly everywhere we went, and relieved that she did not end up with a sunburn. Although she did come home with some bright red bug bites...

One thing I will note. Our hotel was definitely welcoming, and family friendly. They were fantastic! We had a great time there, but J might have been happier -- and other families might find that their kids are happier -- in a hotel that has special amenities for children. There was a marked difference -- more in my sense of what was acceptable than J's or even the hotel's -- between the sense I had staying here and the ease I felt at Sunday River during family week, for example. I think that staying in a place where children -- and low-level chaos -- are the norm, makes traveling with kids a more relaxed endeavor. Next time we might go for a hotel with a children's program. Even if we don't make use of it, it will mean more chance of interacting with other kids/families throughout the day -- and especially toward evening.

More international adventures to come! Now back to Maine -- this month's Downeast Magazine has a some great ideas for things to do this summer...I'll be back with more on that soon.

Go Ahead, Take Some Home With You...

2011-04-15T22:33:00.002-04:00

At my daughter's preschool they keep stick bugs as pets in the classroom. This year -- for the first time, it seems -- conditions in the classroom were too perfect. The stick bugs multiplied like crazy.

So last week at the school's open house there were several mason jars set up as mini-terrariums. The extra bugs were looking for good homes...Of course we came home with a jar -- and five stick bugs who needed a small tank and a good supply of Romaine lettuce.

For days the jar sat on the counter. I bought lettuce and we fed them, but I had mixed feelings about keeping them -- a sort of buyer's remorse. I've been so busy that taking on another responsibility -- even this small one -- seemed like a bad idea. My husband (very helpfully :-)) suggested that I bring them back to the school and tell the teacher I'd changed my mind. I could bear that less than the thought of keeping bugs as pets. Besides, J likes them. And they are easy to take care of.

Here they are, all set up in their new home atop J's bookcase. They're not so bad. Fun to watch. But they had better not multiply!

Best Dog Toy Ever

2011-04-10T22:05:00.004-04:00

Plush toys with squeakers in them are pretty useless around here. Eva can disassemble one in seconds. Although she does really seem to like a stuffed lobster that makes a weird underwater noise. That one has remained intact for months.

Since adopting our new puppy, I've tried a handful of toys that are supposed to be good for teething pups, but look rugged enough to withstand an adult beagle's interest. The Nylabone "PuppyFish" looked promising. It wasn't. Although, in their defense, it does say on their website "Not recommended for adult dogs..." It's impossible to have a toy that is only for the puppy -- seems cruel to keep taking it away from Eva. But ridiculous to watch her destroy it. And Emily, the poor teething pup, is stuck chewing bark from beneath the wood rack. Or socks.

It may seem inane, but a good dog toy is hard to find. They either like it so much that it's quickly torn to bits, or they completely ignore it. But I recently did find something fabulous, from a company called JW Pet. Here's the toy: Great Ape.

And here it is in action. It has lasted for weeks.

Spoke Too Soon

2011-03-28T10:55:00.000-04:00

So, of course, just after I wrote the last post, welcoming spring, we got 5 inches of snow overnight. Much of it has melted into the mud now, so maybe it's safe to show a few photos of the sprouts in our garden and our seed trays.

Outside, we spotted daffodils (or they might be narcissus), irises, and tulips:

Really fabulous outfit choices were also spotted by the garden.

Inside the house, we're filling our seed trays. Bit by bit, since we're short on peat pots and I have not had a chance to stop for them in town. The broccoli and cauliflower that we planted last weekend are making an impressive showing:

The little flowers, too. More to come soon.

This weekend, we're boiling sap. Amazingly, we still have syrup from last year. Probably not enough to see us through next spring, though. Besides, it's fun to make more.

Goodbye Snow

2011-03-16T14:38:00.007-04:00

It's raining out again now. A few days ago, it rained so hard that most of the snow in our yard washed away. There is still a few inches covering much of the lawn, but I think we've done all the sledding we're going to do this year. In the time between my last post and this one, we've done all we can to enjoy the last of the snow. Ready now, for spring -- time to start our seeds for this summer's ambitious garden.

So here's what we've been doing:

One last snowshoe trek around the yard.

The puppy in the front -- our new boxer, Emily! She is not quite 4 months old, and already 25 lbs! Sweet, snuggly and so smart -- she comes when she's called (mostly) and, I don't want to jinx it, but I think she's house-trained.

Emily and Eva, our beagle, are already great pals. We're going to need a bigger dog bed soon.

(J chose her name -- I was so relieved she didn't suggest Tinkerbell, or some equally cringe-worthy cutesy name).

We built one last snowman -- snowwoman, more accurately. Or snow-mom. J gave her curly hair and said it was me.

And we finally did go ice skating. First on The Muck in Belfast, and then at the impressive new skating rink when we were visiting family on the Cape. I found J some double-bladed strap-on skates at Maine Sport. Fun for an introduction to the ice, but a bit awkward. Next year, real skates.

So I think we've made the most of winter, and I'm ready for things to begin warming up. Wish I'd remembered to plant crocuses. Every fall I intend to do it, and I always forget.

This Can't Be Spring

2011-02-18T23:40:00.005-05:00

It has taken me all week to find the time to write about our visit to Hermon Mountain last weekend. And in them meantime, we seem to have been pushed right out of ski season and into spring. I know it's only mid-February, and in Maine we should be able to expect to keep up our winter outdoor fun well into March -- sometimes April. But with temperatures in the 40s today and snow melting everywhere, it's a bit deceiving.

It's not that spring won't be welcome, but in its due time. I know, it's blasphemy in the depths of February to say a word against warm weather. BUT, I just bought J some strap-on ice skates -- acknowledging, at least, that I'd left it too long this year and buying a pair of actual skates would be a waste. I figured with skates that strap to her shoes she could give it a try this year, and maybe the start of next year, before we buy the real thing.*

It's supposed to be pretty nice this weekend, Sunday might be the day we head out on the ice. I'm excited for this adventure because I actually can skate. I'll get to show off my spins, gliding on one leg, skating backwards. We have the option of The Muck in Belfast, which looked good and clear the other day, and the new outdoor rink in Camden, which I hear is gorgeous. It will be a bit of a relief from skiing, which I have been loving, but, somewhat clumsily, re-learning.

So, back to skiing. My review of Hermon Mountain: Pretty good. Quite good for me, with long, gentle slopes all the way down from the top. For J, though, not great. Those gentle slopes are not quite gentle enough. And there is just one lift, so no little-kid alternative/bunny slope. On the positive side, lift tickets are inexpensive and pro-rated if you are just there for a short time, even on the weekends. The Camden Snow Bowl has 2-hour tickets on weekdays only. But, at the Snow Bowl, kids 5 and under ski for free. Looks like it's lessons at the Snow Bowl next season for J. I think she'll love that. Then we can move on to Hermon and check out our other options. The Ski Maine Association website is a good place to continue our search for a mountain that's close to home and suits J's burgeoning skills as well as mine. They list general information about Maine's ski areas -- Alpine and Nordic -- as well as upcoming events.

I don't know whether we'll go again this year, but I think the excitement will keep until next year. Mine will anyway. I hope J's will, too.
I'd hate to have to ski without her.

*This photo is from livestrong.com -- there's a good article on breaking in your new skates.

The World Cup in Maine

2011-02-09T22:39:00.002-05:00

During last year's winter Olympics I developed a fascination with the biathlon. This month, the biathlon world cup is in Maine! The competition was in Presque Isle last weekend and will be in Fort Kent this weekend (Feb 11-13). Too far, alas, for us to take part in the festivities. This is the second time that the competition has been in Aroostook County. Maybe if they come back again we'll be better prepared and can plan for a weekend. I have dreams of entering the sport -- at the amateur level -- one day. One day in the distant future, perhaps, since both my cross-country skiing and rifle-shooting skills need a lot of work.

In the meantime, J and I are working on our downhill skiing. My appreciation for skiing at the Snow Bowl has waned a bit. The lift issue/ice issue that I wrote about last time is one deterrent. Although, they do have the rope tow that goes up 200 feet of gentle learner slope, which is handy for little skiers. The other problem is that the bottom of the mountain slopes down to the lodge and it's impossible to get around between the lifts and the lodge without climbing uphill in skis. As you can imagine, doing this while pulling a 4 year old along on her skis, is not ideal. Complaints aside, the Snow Bowl is 20 minutes from our house, which is a big mark on the plus side.

Another plus, I know I mentioned it in my last post, but it's worth noting again that the Snow Bowl is home to the annual national toboggan championships -- also this weekend.

Our next plan is to check out skiing at Hermon Mountain, which is about an hour from here, near Bangor. According to their trail map, we can take the chair lift to the top and come all the way down on easy runs. Looks like fun! I hear their tubing set-up is great, too.

And Skiing

2011-01-30T12:53:00.004-05:00

I didn't quite finish writing about our ski trip -- didn't write about the skiing at all, in fact. It's been two weeks now, but the excitement hasn't waned around here -- especially on my part. I'm so pleased that J loved skiing. I'd forgotten how much I love it. Weather permitting, of course. Which is to say that I am a fair weather skier. As it happened, our first day at Sunday River was so absolutely gorgeous that, even moving at my slow pace, I was never cold. It was the perfect day for J to head out for her first lesson. On day 2, we skied in a full-on blizzard. But what better to do in a blizzard, really? It was only really cold on the chair lift. Blowing snow is fine, it's just that bone-numbing cold that you can't shake that drives me right back into the lodge.

We were at the resort during Children's Festival Week, which was really fun. Lots of kids in the 3-6 year old ski school, at the hotel's breakfast buffet, in local restaurants, everywhere. J loved that, of course. We all did. It made for a nice, relaxed atmosphere. The general feel of the entire resort was relaxed and happy. Every staff member we met was friendly and helpful. I'd like to go during Children's Week again next year.

We are so lucky to have the Camden Snow Bowl nearby. I'll get J into a few lessons this year and sign her up for their weekly program next year -- if she's still keen. Every November they have a "Ski Swap" -- secondhand ski sale, which I hear is a good place to find kids' equipment. Next year, I'll have to make sure to mark it on my calendar.

I skied at the Snow Bowl for the first time yesterday and it was loads of fun. It is rather a nuisance, however that none of the lifts, except for the 200 ft Mighty Mite, which will be great for J, take you up to a green run. You have to either dive off of the T-Bar mid-way up (which they may frown on...), or traverse a couple of steep, icy hills below the chair lift to get to the gentle trail on the far side. Not my favorite way to start the day, but after the first couple of times, it was fine. For me. But J is dying to ride the chair lift and I don't see that happening this year.

The National Toboggan Championships at the Snow Bowl are the weekend of Feb 11th. I saw the schedule in this week's paper and thought the festivities were this weekend, but no, there's still time if you want to get into the race. I've never done it. Not yet. But it does look like fun. There are kids' activities planned during the day on Saturday the 12th, and fireworks over Camden Harbor that evening at 5:30.

Advanced Tubing

2011-01-19T14:51:00.001-05:00

Last year we went tubing for the first time and it was loads of fun. At the time, I didn't realize that our exciting trip to the Seacoast Fun Park was really rather tame. Fitting, I suppose, for tubing with a three year old. But now that J is four, we seem to have moved on to the advanced level of tubing. Not quite on purpose...

Tubing at Sunday River was one of the most terrifying and exhilarating experiences I've had in a long time. Terrifying, the first time down, because J was coming along behind me, alone, and I hadn't realized quite how fast and wild the ride would be. Exhilarating because, once she made the first run down safely, we took several more -- with me holding onto her tube -- and laughed like lunatics every time.

There is only one run. A 30-foot mountain of snow with it's center hollowed out in a steep, winding slope. As the tubes fly down, they slides up and down the sides, like marbles, never seeming to lose momentum. At the final turn, they whip around the corner and up one final steep hill, sliding back down and resting at the bottom. The sign there says something like: "Get out of your tube and clear out of here FAST!"

We worked out a system, with my husband going down first and then waiting at the bottom to help pull our tubes out of the way quickly -- before the next person came barreling around the bend. As we waited in line for our third run down, one young boy came around the corner crying because he'd been knocked down by the tuber behind him. He was fine -- although, he could have been hurt, those tubes go fast.

I'm thinking that next time we might wear helmets.

The Fairy Trap

2011-01-10T12:58:00.001-05:00

A friend recommended the Tinkerbell movies, after I complained to her that I was having a hard time finding children's movies that my 4 year old would not find terrifying. Granted, I should have previewed Anastasia, wherein the Rasputin character is, in fact, cover-your-eyes creepy. AND the original Toy Story, which I remembered as fantastic, having somehow completely forgotten about the psychotic neighbor kid who tortures toys...

So, we'd had a bad run, and I was fairly desperate for something light and sweet. The Disney fairy movies really are lovely. Although J, who has developed quite a sense of empathy, did cry when Tinkerbell first left the little girl. She came right back. We ended up buying two movies and I'm perfectly happy with them.

The problem began with the simple question about the name of the fairy who wears the yellow dress. I'll just look online, I thought. This led to my discovery that there was a whole intricate Disney fairy website. I don't know why I was surprised...Being fairly naive about these things, I called J in and said, "Hey look, there are games on here." Huge mistake.

The next thing I knew, we were making our own fairy to join the gang in Pixie Hollow. Sounds like fun, right? UNTIL it came to light that in order to maneuver the fairy beyond the most basic level, AND, in order to buy the beautiful fairy dresses and accessories in the little village shops, you have to purchase a premium membership for $6 per month.

And I might even be willing to do that if the site would load quickly, if the games were suitable for a 4 year old, or if I didn't find the very idea offensive. Thankfully, for the moment, J has agreed that her fairy's white dress is lovely and that the few things she can do on the site are enough.

I'll make the best of it. She'll spend an hour sitting with me every few days, flying her fairy around and making me play the games that move so quickly that I can barely keep up. Pretty soon, she'll probably agree with me that it's boring, go put on her fairy costume and engage Eva, our beagle, in some elaborate magical adventure all through the house. Everything will be back to normal.

The Good and Bad of the 2010 Holiday Season

2010-12-31T14:22:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year.

The big snowstorm that followed Christmas extended our holiday, with relatives visiting through much of the week. We love to have our family stay and there was all sorts of fun to be had in the snow.

We gave J a pair of snowshoes under the tree and she was out on Christmas morning tromping around the yard without any trouble. Yesterday we went snowshoeing again with friends and the deeper snow on unblazed trails was a bit more challenging. Next time we try something like that we'll bring along her poles.

The snow has been lovely. Now we can get to the business of enjoying winter. We've made our first snow being of the season. A snow fairy with oregano hair.

As for the bad. Our dog, Fern, passed away about a week before Christmas. Fern was my dog. 14 years old and with me long before my family. A fabulous friend and I miss her terribly.

What I want to talk about here, though, is more to do with J than me. I've written about the death of an extended family member and she and I have discussed death in ways that have always seemed abstract. This time, we are faced with the daily absence of a member of our family/household. I was not sure how she would respond. I explained that Fern had been sick and, at the end, unhappy, and now she is in another place, young again, healthy and free to run and play.

I've told J that it is alright to cry when you miss a friend, okay to be sad. She gets it, I think. I've tried not to let her see the extent to which this has effected me -- I want her to know that it's fine to be sad, but not make her feel worse by seeing me bawl...

I debated whether to buy a copy of Cynthia Rylant's Dog Heaven , but finally did buy it today. Now that our company is gone, J has mentioned a few times that she misses Ferny. I think that the right thing to do is to let her feel and express whatever she wants to. It's not as though we are wallowing in grief around here -- Just waves of sadness as they come and living and laughing in our ordinary way at other times.

The woman at Left Bank Books recommended another book, too: I'll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm. That one is about a boy growing up with his dog, the dog getting old, and finally dying...I just gave it a preview read, and it's a good thing I did, because I'd like to read it to J without falling apart.

We're moving forward, but we won't forget our girl, Fern. Eva, our other dog, is really J's dog. Thank heaven she's only 2 years old.

A happy and healthy 2011 to all.

Holiday Favorites

2010-12-16T23:07:00.003-05:00

It's just about a year since I started writing this blog. It struck me as I sat down today that one of the first things I wrote about was packing up the menorah and hauling a Christmas tree across the snow. This year, we went to a lovely Hanukkah party hosted by Adas Yoshuron Synagogue in Rockland. J sang the prayer to my Grandmother over the phone one night as we lit the candles. We made latkes, read Hanukkah books and played dreidel. It was fantastic. The Hanukkah book we like best this year is Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah, a sweet and silly story.

A friend told me a few weeks ago, that The Farnsworth Museum
was going to show Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer stop-motion special last weekend, along with A Charlie Brown Christmas. I'm not sure where she found out about it, but it didn't seem that many people knew. I called ahead to reserve seats, thinking that there would be a crowd, but the seats were not even half filled.

If they do it again next year, it is well worth the trip -- they even had juice boxes and popcorn.

There was a certain amount of restlessness among the crowd. Especially during the second feature -- after they'd mostly sat through Rudolph. It's hard to watch those Peanuts kids dancing and stay in your chair.

Which brings me to the question of the week -- A question that I've pondered on many occasions prior to this week, to be honest. How does one decide when to intervene, ie ask your kid to sit down, calm down, etc?

This was one of those situations where, in a room full -- or, in fact, not even half full -- of families, does it really matter if the pre-k crowd is still during the film? I am all for not interfering with anyone else's good time. By that measure, I don't feel as though my fun is interrupted by kids milling about.

There were a few points where J was spinning like a top and I felt like I had to jump in and ask her to settle down a bit. For the most part, though, she and the others were just up. AND, no one gave any indication that they minded at all.

The small conflict was, and often is, entirely internal. Sometimes it feels like a fine line between teaching good manners and being a tyrant. I try to walk it as gracefully as I possibly can. These outings are all about having a grand time, but we must maintain a certain amount of decorum. :- )

There are some more kid-friendly events scheduled for February at the Farnsworth. Check out the details here: http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org/education/family-festival-farnsworth

Busy, but Willing

2010-12-04T15:17:00.001-05:00

The ideas for things to write about here are plentiful, but the time to get it done is in short supply.

We're all working so hard to get our new company, Willing Foot, ready for launch next month. The web site is almost done! The Facebook page has over 120 followers. The trips we've put together are fantastic!

And at the end of each day, I am too tired to type any more...

But, here it is Saturday -- we're between Mr. Harley at the Belfast Library and the Hanukkah party in Rockland, and I am finally back to writing here.

This time of year -- not the holiday season, but the in-between weather season -- knocks me out. Winter is a blast once the snow piles up, but the chilly, dark days that precede it, are exhausting. Sure, it's only been a few moths since we were able to go to the beach, but at this time of year, I always want to go back!

We've traveled some, but not a lot, less since J was born. All of this work for WF has me fired up to take her somewhere warm -- probably in February. I will say though, that the airlines are on to this February Vacation thing, and flights are not at their cheapest during those two weeks in the middle of the month.

Still, we might make it work. If you have been anywhere gorgeous and warm with your kids lately will you tell me about it? Maybe a resorts with a kids' program.

Thank you for reading!

Upcoming Performances for Families

2010-11-08T22:09:00.002-05:00

There are a lot of great live performances coming up! A show to suit any taste.

Once Upon a Mattress opened at Camden Hills High School Last Weekend. There are two more performances on November 12 & 13, both at 7PM. http://www.fivetowns.net/chrhs/

At Searsport District High School, School House Rock opens this weekend. Performances are at 7PM on Fridays, 2 & 7PM on Saturdays through November 20th. http://waldo.villagesoup.com/ae/story/live-from-searsport-it-s-school-house-rock/362051

A Christmas Carol will be performed by The Belfast Maskers beginning November 26. Evening performances November 26 & 27, December 2, 3 & 4. One matinee performance on December 4. http://www.belfastmaskers.com/

Atlantic Ballet Company's Nutcracker will be at the Camden Opera House December 3, 4 & 5 http://www.atlanticballetcompany.org/ & December 11 & 12 at The Grand in Ellsworth http://www.grandonline.org/events

Also at the Grand, The Velveteen Rabbit, December 15 at 10 & 11:30 AM http://www.grandonline.org/events

December brings Annie to The Waldo Theater in Waldoboro as well. December 9, 10, 17, 18 at 7PM & 2PM on December 11 & 19. http://www.thewaldo.org/

Okay, not this Annie. How fabulous would that be? The Waldo didn't have a photo on their website.

I loved this movie when I was a kid! This was always my favorite song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry79LzkkDb4

Fall Feast Article on Goodkin

2010-11-06T20:20:00.000-04:00

Goodkin published my roasted veggies article and recipe this week:

http://www.wearegoodkin.com/fun/menus/colorful-autumn-harvest