MaryAlice Musings and More

  Someone sent me this great little video of "birding" in the National Monument, after they had read about my hiking at Katahdin Woods and Waters last week.  It made me laugh and I had a fun time watching someone else's vantage point. Then I had my second week back at the library.  Above is a picture of the "new books" shelves and the circulation desk (well one-half of the desk!).   It is good to be back at the library to see people that I have not seen since way early this year and to be a part of helping the library to run.   I watched the Pete Souza documentary.  It opened my heart,  I cried, I laughed, I was so very engaged both with his image and the images he took.  It was so uplifting to see through his "lens".  I also felt a stab of grief for what we have lost, for the long long time that we have had this dumpf who shows absolutely none, not one of qualities that were shown and highlighted in his work.  Pete hardly ever mentioned trumps name, I

  2004 Gay Pride March - Minneapolis Calling All Grandmothers - A poem by Alice Walker We have to live differently or we will die in the same old ways. Therefore I call on all Grand Mothers everywhere on the planet to rise and take your place in the leadership of the world. Come out of the kitchen out of the fields out of the beauty parlors out of the television. Step forward and assume the role for which you were created: to lead humanity to health, happiness and sanity. I call on all the Grand Mothers of Earth and every person who possesses the Grand Mother Spirit of respect for life and protection of the young to rise and lead.   I saw this poem this morning and then found this photo oh Myah, Luke and I,  Sasha had hand printed t-shirts for them both to wear to watch the Gay Pride Parade, it was 2004.  We had a great place to sit on the street, and they had so much fun, they ran out and got candy, condoms, pamphlets, and Luke had so much f

  I left my self imposed isolation of the weekend.  I knew the "binge watching", card playing, and screen check-ins needed to decrease.  I spent a large amount of time this weekend, trying to "put my head in the sand"....there were good moments:  my UU Church Service on Sunday,  Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, and some good phone call check in's.  Mostly I felt the overwhelming burden of life the Trump administration.  I am not even saying anymore.   The good news is that I woke up this morning and didn't want to hide my head in the sand.  I made my tea,  responded to some emails, and the blue sky and sunshine lured me out of the house. I headed to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument   and the "loop road".   There were hardly any clouds in the sky, but most of the fall color has been blown off the trees, and you can know see contours that the leaves have hidden for the past five months.   I made various stops along the way - stopping at Sandbank

  Seven months ago I stepped off the train in Winslow Arizona to spend several nights in the wonderfully restored "Harvey Hotel" LaPosada.  My friend Cindy was waiting for me even though the train was woefully late.  The dining room and bar had closed but Cindy had ordered take out and we ate a late late supper and enjoyed what would be one of the last days of being blissfully unaware.   I had a little over a week earlier, taken the bus from Bangor to Boston.  Spent an overnite in Boston and then boarded the Amtrak to Chicago,  I had a roomette and I don't think that there was even one person on the train that wore a mask (I was never in the passenger cars so it might have been different there but I don't it!).   Upon arrival in Chicago I checked into my hotel overlooking the Chicago River.  I had several wonderful days walking near the lake, in the parks, along the river.  I went to the theater, it was unintentionally very socially distanced, and heard live jazz.  I

    Well, here we are over 208,000 people in the United States have died in less than eight months, over 7 million infected and now the president, his wife and his close close associate ms. hicks are all infected, and the house of cards have not been all dealt out yet.  The number one person who has done his absolute best to spread lies, chaos, disinformation and obfuscation is infected.  Today her has probably gone longer than he has since starting this night on the campaign trail in 2016 without a f___ing tweet.   Of course it is almost impossible to not be surprised, dismayed, conflicted, whatever about this new gut punch.  It is horrifying to try to imagine what they knew when and how many people have been exposed and infected.  It is impossible to imagine that he will remain tweet-less and  in quarantine.  I have quit wondering what tomorrow will bring, but if it has to do with trump it is something that one could never just make it, the reality as imagined by trump is bleak and d

  Yesterday had big big winds.  A very large limb from one of the biggest trees in my "mini-back 40" snapped and fell.  Luckily it was in a place where it is not creating a big problem.   The top to my "grill cabana" loosened and fell to the ground, the good news was that it did not blow away and I was able to get both the top, frame and grill all tucked away into their winter home in the grill.   The electricity was out for a couple of hours,  Nate (of my most needed and appreciated Richardson's Hardware) came by to start my generator.  It would not start.  He took back to the shop and it is being attended to so it is ready to start the next time the power goes out.   The longest consequence of the wind and storm was that my cable, internet, phone went out in the morning and did not get restored until almost 9 pm last night.   So no blogging for me... Today, was calm, the sky blue and the sun shining.  There were lots of colored leaves that have blown off the t

  I often write my blog in the evening, sometimes in the afternoon but seldom if ever in the morning.   Today, as I am enjoying what I feel is "bonus time" on my porch I thought I would bring out my laptop and see what happens as I think about today.    I have quite a show all around me as I sit on my side porch.  The birds are very loud this morning,  I can see squirrels chasing each other around tree branches, the wind is orchestrating beautiful sounds with the leaves.   It rained last night and the air is still soft, but there is a coolness to the breeze that was not here yesterday.  There are leaves on the ground.  Yellow leaves.  The sun is breaking through every now and then.   My tea tastes just right and I am marveling at how many leaves turned colors while I slept well last night.   Earlier this morning I was thinking about the fall harvest,  I am feeling in tune with these seasonal pulls, I keep preparing jars filled with goodies and putting them on the shelves in

 Monday brought a hint of rain and more warmth.  It is almost tropical here, not a climate one evokes when thinking of Maine.  It allows me another delightful porch time in between my errands and tasks!  All of this with more and more color surrounding me.   Even in enjoying the soft, moist warmth of the day, I was restless.  I was up and down all night long,  not feeling well, and it was early this morning when I began to feel better.  So the day had a tug of sleeplessness and the omnipresent worry that are these days.   I took to roasting again.  This time apples.  I found an inviting Italian recipe for roasted applesauce and I roasted an entire baking sheet of apples.  The applesauce is delicious and I will make another batch to freeze tomorrow.   Then I took a nap,  it was just right for napping.  The softness in the air seemed to be like a blanket and I slept long and hard, and awoke with a fun dream just dancing at the edge of my consciousness.   I made a cup of mint tea and  can

What a weekend, warm breezes,  leaves turning colors so fast you can almost watch them turn, and reaping the joys of the fall harvest.    Yesterday I decided to drive up to "the county" of course the county is really only about a mile away from my house, but I decided to go to the farmer's market in Houlton and then drive US 1 to Presque Isle and visit the Micmac Farms and buy some trout.  The bonus of the drive - fall foliage which is almost at peak here in the north end!  The sun was shining, the sky blue and the colors were great.  I got to visit with Roz and Fred and Tessa at the market.  I picked up my Rosie the Riveter mask and headed for Presque Isle.   I plugged Micmac Farms into my google maps and off I went...there was great color and I got to see one planet before my plan was upended.  My gps was re-routing off of 1 and taking me south and east,  I was needing to go north and west.  After this re-routing I drove maybe another 5-10 miles, not sure....then I coul

 It is Friday.  Time is is so so warped in this time of chaos and the pandemic.  I used my new washer and dryer again today.  They are so quiet and so much quicker than the old machines that were in my house when I bought it.  I had never bought a washer and dryer before.  So at 70 I get to feel very grown up and my laundry gets done quickly and well.    My kitchen garden has served me well this summer, and now I find myself enjoying the light as it shines on the frosted and barely standing greens.   The spring and fall light is exquisite.  I am captured and delighted often.  I still am surprised.  I am so very grateful for these feelings that are evoked as I notice and appreciate and feel buoyed by these rays of light.   Today as I sat on my porch the green that enveloped me all summer long now has orange, yellow, gold and red interspersed between the green.  Some trees are almost all orange.  Some of have not changed at all.  But they will.  The leaves get to have their final glory,

RBG died and I could not write.  I was with my dear friend Kathy and we were in Lubec, Maine.  A long planned safe time together-then one more horror of 2020 occurred the notorious RBG left her body.  The republicans could not contain their glee and the same guy that said 9 months was too little time to confirm a justice said he would move to confirm a new justice before the election!  It was all too much, so we hiked the coast trail at Quoddy State Park.     After coming home I still could not imagine what I could say, my heart hurt, the daily assault of such vicious lies continues and fall has arrived. The light is exquisite, the sky has comforting blues and puff clouds.  I have roasted sun gold tomatoes, made applesauce and simmered soups on the stove.  Today I went to the Blum-Evitt’s to press cider.  Rick and Sara arrived and Alisha, MaryLou, Ron and I were like an old (emphasis on old) well oiled machine.  The cider tastes great.  The simple task of making the cider was so satisf

No Words.  What a women.  What a loss. 

Today my laundry is all done and it is CONSTITUTION DAY!   The National Constitution Center     Today is Constitution Day,   and only about 32% of students and adults can name the 3 branches of government - Legislative, Judicial and Executive.  In my idea of a new normal.  Civics classes would be held every year, bringing together current events,  legislative action (local, state, and federal),  how government works.   Since moving to Maine I have had more people tell me than ever how they distrust government and doesn't think it works.  (I think that they are talking about politics - which is not a branch of government).    What about amendments,  we sure are hearing people take a new and novel take on the first amendment - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a re

I have spent the entire day in preparation.  Preparing for Kathy's visit.  Preparing for cooler weather.  Preparing for the washer and dryer to be delivered tomorrow, and more... Matt not only came over to mow the lawn, but he graciously agreed to help put my new porch rockers together....they look and feel great and the front porch with windows, new chairs and good books - it is ready for fall.  I hauled more canning down to the basement.  I brought up several bins of winter clothes.  I took summer clothes bins downstairs.  The upstairs is all vacuumed and tidy and the remnants of summer are all put away for this year. My 'misfits' box was delivered and I have a a beautiful head of Romanesco Cauliflower,  beautiful peaches not quite ripe, fennel and leeks.   I am looking forward to a little cooking, and lots of women's basketball!   WNBA Playoffs, Lynx in the hunt for the 10th straight year!   It is Tuesday.  Tomorrow I get my new washer and dryer I do not think I have

  I felt compelled to start today's blog with a little glimpse of my time at Millinocket Lake and the New England Outdoor Center on Saturday.  Turn up the sound, take a breath and enjoy.  I listened several times before I started typing away.  It was a day, so unlike my last week where I woke up to the smell of the ocean, watched the tides and enjoyed the softness of the fog.  I am past that initial feeling of appreciation for being in your own bed and enjoying all the comforts of home sweet home.   What a day, Monday and a new week, and lots to do! This morning I woke up really early,  fell back to sleep, and then had to step up my pace to be ready for the first day of my fall Tai Chi class.  Besides the class,  I had several folks who were coming to the house for appointments and several packages from UPS and Fedex!    Besides the comings and goings that kept occurring at my house today, the wind was gusty and relentless.   Mark, who was here cleaning the furnace, told me about a

  I didn't really mean to take a few days off....it just happened.  September 11th was an idyllic day, poignant with memories, and somber with realities.  I drove out to Golden Ridge to go to Ada's, the sun was shining, the green was really green, and the air, the air was very clear.  So different than the air on the West Coast and traveling across the country on the airstream impacted and a part of the thousands of acres of wildfires.     When I drove up to Ada's, it was fun to see that Don and Candy had also stopped to pick up some goodies.  Then I look at Candy and she has her right arm in a sling.  She was so understated and matter of fact when she said that she had broken her arm the day before on the treadmill at the school.  They were off to Presque Isle, she would need surgery to get it set properly.  We gave a little elbow bump, left handed (good news Candy is left-handed) and I wished them both well and off they went.   I am always so happy to see Ada, she lights

I left behind the softness of the coastal air this morning.  I woke to the sound of the fog horns and my phone sending texts about the heavy ground fog in the area.  As I did the final packing and bringing my "too many things" to the car the sun burnt away the clouds and the fog and I got to say a good farewell to the Lubec Channel.   It was a good day for driving,  not too hot and not very bright.  There were very few cars on the road, I saw hardly any for almost all of the ride home.   I enjoyed the ride,  the terrain changed, there were a few spectacular vista views.   There were stretches where I could see the road stretched out through the woods like a ribbon.  The closer to home, the more woodss and less water.   On the way into town, I stopped at Ash Hill.  The cows were happy,  the mountain range was still there, and the vista was all around me.  Next stop the post office and then home.   It felt wonderful to walk back on my porch.  The porch welcomed me back home,  i