Settling in

We are finding places for our stuff and settling in. We have unpacked almost all the boxes and the house looks like our home. We have registered the cars and begun our job searches and life is taking a resemblance to normalcy except-

We can't believe we are so lucky as to have found this lovely spot. At night when I take the dogs out you can hear the ducks carrying on out in the rice (Look out ducks, hunting season starts next week!) The air is clear and clean and the water imparts a steady calming effect on our beings.

We got up to Camden yesterday, took a little jaunt around the country side, saw beautiful homes in Rockport and had a glass of wine harborside in Camden before we went to visit an artist studio of a guy that we really like, John Whalley.

 He was wonderful and is terrifically talented. His graphite work (pencil drawings) are incredible. Check out his website www.johnwhalley.com. It is really thoughtful stuff. His studio was very stimulating for me. He has all sorts of knicknacks and old bits of things that he uses for his work. He is showing in New York, Boston, Portland and Florida. An artist making a real living. Understandably so.  He and his wife couldn't have been nice or more welcoming. I am hopeful that we can see them again. It is such a nice thing to be able to call an artist and say hey, we like your stuff, can we see more?  

Anyway, it was a lovely day all around. Look at this view of Camden harbor. The boats in the harbor were to die for of course, a little beyond our budget but I do keep playing the lottery so who knows, you have to be optimistic about these things.

I am getting ready to go to Croatia and am hopeful that I can get on a computer. I am not taking my laptop and have been practicing deep breathing so I don't go through withdrawal. I will try to keep up posts but don't know what sort of opportunities I will have. I am glad you have been enjoying the blog so far. I have had some problems with the slide show for the fair but I keep trying.

Ciao for now.

Eco-Central

I have been observing a dedicated and interesting phenomenon in Maine. I thought it was just in the Brunswick Portland area but after what I saw today I am changing my mind.

We went to a fair today in Unity, Maine, about an hour and a

 half from Brunswick. I thought it sounded like a big nice fair based around organic farming but I was not prepared for the size and the scope of the Fair we attended. It is called the Common Ground Fair and it is quite a bit larger than any of the fairs of Loudoun County all combined. There were thousands of people there by the time we left and this was the third day. The exhibits ranged from organic farming, even horse driven farming to recycling tips, political causes, dog sled adventures to sign up for, lovely crafts, a terrific section for kids, mini parades, music, and demonstration exhibits, all oriented to be earth friendly and sustainable.

The whole place felt really different. The people that were in attendance were diverse and happy. It was a place of peace if you don’t mind my saying so, which was a really nice feeling. There were demonstration tents of any topic that you can imagine, from tending your lavender beds to saving the polar bear to lowering your cholesterol. The food isles were plentiful and interesting. The split pea soup was good and the samosas from a restaurant in Portland were excellent. Everywhere was recycling possibilities, earth friendly products and interesting people to watch, all ages and sizes. It was a very cool experience.

I thought Californians might have the corner on saving the world but I am not sure at all anymore. These people in Maine just seem to put thoughtful consumption into practice more in an everyday sort of way without the fanfare. At the farmer’s markets, at the Bowdoinham fair that I went to a week ago, grocery stores and small shops, even in these small things, expect you to recycle, be proactive about supporting your local farmers, and conduct yourself in a way that is responsible to the society you live in. People are outdoors all the time, walking, biking, and doing things. It is a very different feeling from Loudoun County where it is so easy to get caught up in going to a destination and dealing with your business until you go home again. Maine is much more interactive so far and the fair was the epitome of interaction. The town Unity is pretty far from most places but there were many, many, many people attending this third day of the fair. I am enclosing a slide show to accompany this so you can get an idea of what I am talking about.

Toto, I get the feeling we are not in Kansas anymore.

First Impressions

First impressions

The morning wisps of fog skim lightly over the wild rice as the sun rises. There is a definite chill in the air in the mornings now although the light is crystal clear you can see the trees preparing to meet Fall and the Great Beyond. Everyone is warning of winter. I try not to think about it. Maybe this winter won’t be bad….

People are exceptionally friendly up here. I am repeatedly welcomed to the community by shopkeepers, the people at the DMV, the library, even Tim at the dump. I believe it is genuine. We have had lots of good advice, interest in where we’ve come from and why we are up here. “It’s an adventure”, we reply. I think they agree although it is not clear what kind of adventure they envision for us. Vamos a ver- we shall see. It is my intent to log my thoughts periodically as the year goes by so that you can also see what will happen.

We were invited over to our neighbor’s house and it was a delightful evening. He is a retired classics teacher from Bowdoin, she a retired principal. Funny and literate, and very hospitable. The road to the point is an eclectic mix of people, a pastry chef/midwife from New York, forestry managers and everything in between. Some are here year round some small cabins-camps- are not insulated and hanging over the river as they do would make for an unpleasant winter

This week I went walking with the dogs searching for a long bike trail that ended up not being there. We came across a large and beautiful red fox that easily got away. Further on that walk we saw signs of beaver, or do porcupines do the same gnawing-something to check out. I live in slight anxiety of the dogs encountering a porcupine. It almost seems inevitable but luckily we have a very nice animal hospital nearby so we are (relatively) prepared.

I went adventuring yesterday to the Cathance River Preserve with my doggie daughters. They weren’t supposed to be there so we kept it short and quiet. There is a beautiful rapids drop there that was worth the adventure. Flowing over rocks it fell to a pool that flowed to some more rocks and another pool, three drops in all, not a soul around and the woods laying a soft ground of a century of pine needles. The place is set up in some other areas for cross country track and skiing. I am hopeful that I will learn how to cross country ski this winter.

Life at the house continues to be one of placement, discard and the “I don’t know what to do with this” box. I have ordered a rug and a sleeper sofa for the library, which, next to the window seat overlooking the bay, is my favorite room. When the house is together I will take pictures again and you can see how we can fill a house!

In truth I could sit all day looking out at the bay. As I was working in one of the upstairs rooms I looked out the window and saw one of the bald eagles fishing (our family of eagles lives on the point). She caught a foot long something- possibly catfish and then had the grace to settle right where I could watch her eat. It was pretty cool. We have binoculars upstairs and down so that we can satisfy our curiosity at any given moment. There was a lovely multi sail boat out sailing yesterday afternoon. Made quite the complete picture. Next time I see it I will be sure to take a picture.

We strive to downscale, a difficult thing when so many objects have so much history attached. I have friends’ advice ringing in my ears. Be ruthless- I am being better but I haven’t reached the ruthless point yet. Although I don’t even remember what I threw out when we left our old house. Maybe the key is in that mentality if I can tap it. We are who we are at the moment. We don’t have space to hang all our artwork but I can think of worse predicaments.

We are off to the farmers market this morning with our canvas bags. Recycling and food are definitely part of our experience here and deserve a column of their own.

 

 

The beginning

The Prequel

I thought I was pretty on track. I thought sorting and packing the classroom, going through the house and getting rid of truckloads

 of stuff would ensure that all would be well. I thought that dog tags, change of address, health insurance, proactive checkups, finding a fabulous rental and a positive attitude would carry us through the challenging move ahead. Boy, was I naïve.

The Beginning-

Moving is an interesting experience. I felt not unlike a fat lady being squeezed through a keyhole. The three days of exhausting hell have been draining but successful.

 We realized Tuesday how unprepared we were for everything. So very clueless. The movers came Wed. morning and promptly assessed that we would not be out by 2:00 as anticipated. They were still there at 8:00 pm! By that time we realized we would not be going hours down the road, heading north as planned. We finished throwing out quantities of stuff, I don’t even remember what and decided to sleep one more night in Virginia.

 We managed four hours of deathlike coma. The dogs thought it was a great lark to have us sleep on the floor. All in all they have been sterling for the Move in all ways.

The middle

We woke at four in the morning and finished our little chores, hitting the road by 5:30. 

For the drive up we stopped almost every two hours to let the dogs have a stretch. We were in zombie mode but chugged through all the way to Maine, with all the stops and a bit of traffic we had a fourteen-hour drive. -Too long, to be sure—I stopped by the grocery store for a chicken dinner and we blew up the mattress bed collapsed, and that was Thursday.

The endless end

Friday- Dogs woke us up at 6:00. Movers came at 6:30 but we did not get going until 8:00.

 Worked all day all day. The movers were machines and kept plugging along. There were three of them, nice enough but it’s a stressful time and when they finished at 3 I was ready for them to go. The crew chief had brought his fishing pole. 

 I encouraged them to chill for a while and go swimming. They swam and caught a whole mess of fish right off our property rocks. I mean a mess of fish.

  They were planning to cook them and I put out a pan but was not about to cook for them.

 We sent them on their way at 7:00. Another incredibly long day. We were beat and slept like the dead.

The New Beginning

Saturday we unpack and putz.  Life begins to indicate its rhythm of unpacking, placement and routine. It has been really interesting to realize how our systems must change with the changes of the house.

 Where do things go? How will I operate in this room, etc. Will takes the dogs to the point, a pleasant walk,and a beautiful day.

  We get the house functional if not fabulous and go running errands to make ourselves fish chowder for supper, tasty. Meet the neighbor, great guy who invites us over for drinks. We watch the tide come and go.

The house is wonderful comfortable and bright. It is marvelous to watch the tide go out and in over the course of the day. There are at least two bald eagles down at the point that seem to do their fishing as the tide is coming in. We had a big blustery storm last night and were quite cozy. It is really hard to believe we live here now and aren’t just vacationing. The light is lovely and the view an unending interesting panorama. The shore birds scuttle in the wild rice as the tide comes in. There are a variety of little islands that we see from our vantage point to the bay. On one side of the property is the Androscoggin River and our house points north, northwest viewing the Bay. I have no doubt it will be bitterly cold outside in January but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

 In the morning we watch the kayakers go by off the point where the eagles live. Turns out that the family of paddlers includes a champion kayaker who lives several doors down. We get this from our neighbors who invited us over for drinks last night. Very pleasant.

The neighbors say there are many point parties and to get involved in local activities to keep from getting cabin fever. Sounds like a plan to me. I also found that we can audit classes at Bowdoin College for free with instructors’ permission so I may become a student again. How lovely would that be.  I am sure I will be a wiser person about life in Maine next summer. I am welcoming the adventure. Will and I had lobster last night, which, although not cheap, was delicious.

We have a month of coming and going while we put the house together, he to Florida, I to Croatia. He has been lining up his school prospects and seems very happy with the way things are heading. We have been trying to find all the local shortcuts and places of interest but know it will all take time. We are both still struggling to find our previous energy level but are plugging along. Moving is tough but promising. I think our mantra of change is good will be true in the long run. There is enough wonder here now to give us spurts of optimism and encouragement.

It’s all good.