MaryAlice Musings and More

Matt is the director of our library, at the end of the year he will have been here two years.  He is "all in" for the Katahdin Region, Millinocket and most importantly the Library!  He has become a good friend to me and countless others.  Today he got the Outstanding Librarian of the Year Award from the Maine Library Association.  It was so fun to be a part of writing letters and highlighting the actions, commitment, passion and vision that Matt has accomplished in the time he and his partner Emilie have been here.   I was at the library for several meetings today and everyone who knew that Matt was getting the award today were just buoyed with the good news.   A nice way to start the week.   It is October, turning of the season.  Change is inevitable.  

While I was in radio silence, nursing a not so good back, and spending more time than usual indoors vs.  out in wild the colors just starting popping.  On Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning I was out on the lake - the colors were just starting, they were almost visible but very muted.  Now there is big color, more and more beautiful pics are being posted online and you can feel fall is in the air. I still feel that I am adjusting,  it is easier to put more and different layers on each morning.  I have finished the semi-annual changing of the clothes.  I have started to drink hot cocoa in the afternoon.  I am still cooking and canning.  I made a sour cream apple cake yesterday, brought it to the Fanjoy's for supper and it was a hit!  I also made a big batch of quinoa tabouli using cucumbers and tomatoes from neighbor's garden,  and scallions from the Fanjoy's.  It is the last whisper of summer flavors that I can eat along with ...

The last day that I blogged it was Sunday,  a day of the Equinox and it was in nature only that any balance could be felt this week.  I started the week beginning to feel not so good and then I wrenched my back.  Plans had to be cancelled and I gingerly moved through my days trying to do good self care at a time when the national news and democratic process (or lack thereof) ripped at my heart and soul. The magnitude of disconnect between good news in the Katahdin Region:  5 days of very good visioning workshops and news of a over 5 Million dollar grant to revitalize the mill site.  The bad news:  US Senate Judiciary Committee Republican members and Leadership, the arrogant terrifying reaction of a man thinking he would not get what he is entitled to - a seat on the supreme court and the continued polarization not only in our national political bodies but across our nation. My heart is heavy.  I do not believe that we are as polarized as we are...

Fall Equinox Mandala  South Twin Lake September 22, 2018   Today started cool and very sunny,  it is these mornings that the south/east facing porch is such a treat.  The warmth pours into the house when I open the living room door.  It was a crystal clear day.  I bought some Mums for the front and back porches and they sparkled in the sunshine.   I did not have the pictures last night from our ritual so today I am posting our mandala.  Today was most certainly a fall day!  Moving us one day at a time to the longest night of the year!  For now it is wonderful to have the light shining for half of the day!   I stopped by the Fanjoy's to get more parsley and basil.  Tomorrow night I will be making more pesto, but the herbs had to b picked as the freeze warnings are out for tonight and I think it is for real.  After herbs and Mums were put away it was off to more visioning - today was a mid-poi...

Last night the wind blew and blew and today we had blue skies and bright sunshine!  I enjoyed a lazy morning and then went out to Ambajesus Lake and onto the Northwoods to get a little lunch.  It absolutely felt like fall.  The sky was brilliant and although the sun shown bright, you could feel the coolness in the air.  After lunch I headed back to Millinocket for another visioning session, this one on Community Centers - good conversations, good ideas and so fun to be hanging out in the guest house!  In between visioning sessions stopped in at Picker's Paradise-found some good bargains at the end of the season sale, including an beautiful mahogony table with 3 leaves!!! Then back to visioning, last session was of emerging opportunities...good news we have more than some....it is exciting and I am looking forward to what get's crystallized over the next few days.    Then off to South Twin Lake for a Fall Equinox Ritual with Sue Van Hook....

Today the former Guest House of the Mill Owners was opened up for the Katahdin Collaborative Visioning Sessions.   I went to two sessions today - one of Age Friendly Communities and Existing and Emerging Threats.  They were good sessions and there are more all day tomorrow.  I don't have the same enthusiasm as I did last night, but it has been a long week.  I feel weighed down by the way the republican leadership is handling the supreme court nominee hearings.  The way that women continue to be treated if they dare to name sexual abuse.  My heart breaks for Dr. Ford.  The price paid is so high.  I feel so weary as more and more imbalance occurs in Washington, DC.   My words won't come right now.  There are days that the situation we find ourselves in my this president and his party is so deplorable and horrendous it is just plain hard to cope with.  Meanwhile, tomorrow is the autumnal equinox at 9:54 p.m. est.  ...

Today was the kick off for a week long visioning process for All In Katahdin  We were at the library today, so fitting that at the equinox when we think of the harvest, we are harvesting ideas, hope, dialogue and community.   It was one of those meetings where the energy in the room was more at the end of the meeting than when we started.  Some great ideas,  and for the next 6 days every day is filled with sessions and times to just gather and then there will be debriefing and some very defined and clear next steps leading to our Regional Vision and Action Plan.  Wow...it feels good.  It was fun tonight and I am looking forward to what I hear, the ideas generated, what it sparks in me.... So I will go to bed tonight feeling very happy about being a part of this community.  On the sleep front last night was another night when I went to sleep and did not wake up until the morning, 8+ hrs of uninterrupted sleep - bliss!  Two nights in...