Camden – Page 5 – Louisa Enright's Blog

Turkey Tracks: Garden Promises

Turkey Tracks: March 18, 2013

Garden Promises

We are getting “plowable” snow tonight and all day tomorrow.

You’d never know it as it is a sunshiny day today.

Last summer I went around the yard and took pictures of all our garden decorations. We have way more than I would have thought as neither I nor John like overly decorated yard stuff.

Anyway, I’ve saved the pics for a day just like today, when we are expecting a big snow storm and can’t quite imagine what the yard looks like during summer.

For instance, this porch now has two feet of snow on it–which was melting away until we got our present cold snap.

I love wind chimes and have them hanging all over the place. They sing to us all summer. This hanging plant was so beautiful this past summer. At dusk, in the quiet heat, it perfumed the whole porch. John loved sitting on this porch the most of all.

John and I both say the dragonfly one day in Renys, and without a word between us, it went into the basket to come home. The dragonfly is my artistic sign. Were I to start selling quilts, they would be “Lovey Dragonfly Quilts.”

The rock woman came from our hillside. She was waiting to be showcased in this place where she now lives.

Bedo was a present to John from me back in Virginia. The story is that the real Bedo was made by a little girl for the Notre Dame cathedral roof in Paris. He keeps watch over our driveway all summer.

All across New England, people hang stars of various sizes and colors on barns and houses. For no message or reason that we’ve ever been able to discern. Everyone just likes them. And, they are happy, aren’t they? That’s a metal butterfly to the left of the left garage door. I forget what is usually on the right side and will remember when I start bringing out the decorations in the spring.

The children gave John this bench one father’s day. We would often have a mug of tea together while sitting on this bench and admiring the garden in all its stages of development. This past year we planted all kinds of winter squash in the blue tubs, and they fed us well into the winter. You can see them just sprouting in this early summer picture.

June Derr sculpted this Indian, and Charlie Derr worked on it as well. Skywatcher. He likes Maine a lot a there is no ambient light to keep one from seeing ALL the stars. The garden is fenced temporarily to keep the chickens out as they are still loose in the yard.

St. Francis sits in the river birches amidst the Lady’s Mantle.

That’s our well pump with the bird bath on top. Putting the bird bath on the well pump was John’s very clever idea. The Smoke Tree (purple plant) was planted just after we came nine years ago in June. Beyond the pump are wild woods going up the hill.

John built the two fences to shield my compost holders, the generator, the propane tanks, and the clothes line. The red climbing roses are doing very well in this spot we carved out of the gravel and fill dirt. The blue pot stops the eye from plunging on down the rock wall just beyond it. And, hopefully, any young grandchild unaware of the drop. Later I planted nasturtiums in the beds at the foot of the fences.

Bowen, Kelly, Talula, and Wilhelmina made me this rock for my birthday the year after we moved to Maine. I love it.

So there you have it, a garden pictorial essay when, in Maine, we are yet far from spring.

Turkey Tracks: Wild Turkeys and Chicken Bedding

Turkey Tracks: March 6, 2013

Wild Turkeys and Chicken Bedding

With all the snow, I’ve had wild turkeys around the house a lot this winter.

There has been a group of males, from five to seven in number, almost every day. They are hungry.

There was so much snow that I had to put discarded chicken bedding in piles on top of the snow several times this winter. The snow was just too deep for me to carry the pails further into the edge of the woods where I have a passive compost pile.

That bedding is filled with food that the chickens have “billed out” of their dish. And, you know what else.

I cleaned out the coop a few days back, and the turkeys were ecstatic. They will pick at the bedding until there it is pretty much all gone, even the wood shavings.

I took this video this morning. It isn’t great as the turkeys start to leave the moment they see me. But, you’ll get some idea. And you can see how often the snow does not hold their weight. You will hear my chickens fussing in the background.

Later, the hens came, and the males came with them. One male spent quite a lot of time fully displaying all his charms. I will try to get a picture of that one of these days. It’s actually pretty spectacular. My knitting group was fascinated, especially with the way the tom’s head turned bright, cobalt blue.

Turkey Tracks: First Video, Snow at Dusk

Turkey Tracks: March 3, 2013

First Video, Snow at Dusk

Camden, Maine

I’ve upgraded this blog so that it has its own domain: http://louisaenright.com.

I’ve added the ability to add videos, and I’ve added more memory.

I’ve also been trying to learn how to take a video–on what was John’s fancy android phone, on his bigger camera.

It’s been snowing for the past three or four days, but not sticking.

So, here’s my first video!

Turkey Tracks: The Blizzard of 2013

Turkey Tracks: February 10, 2013

The Blizzard of 2013

We knew it was coming.

We were warned. We went to the store and stocked up for the usual two days.

But, understanding what “blizzard” means is a big like trying to understand what “hot” means if you live in Maine or what “cold” means if you live in South Carolina.

And I lived in Nebraska for 10 years. And I certainly read about all sorts of blizzards if I didn’t actually experience one.

I can just tell you that I have never seen so much snow dumped out of the sky in one time or place. I would look out and see a veritable wall of white swirling around in wind that was swinging tree tops wildly. No one could get a good picture of that effect. For one thing, no one with any sense who was surrounded by trees would dare go outside.

The word “blizzard” now means the following: put the snow shovels INSIDE the house; put the snow shoes and poles INSIDE the house as opposed to, say, the garage, which is 50 feet away and might as well be a mile if 4 feet of snow is between you and it; and don’t think anyone is going to come right away to clear out the propane vents or the generator or help you get to the chicken coop–nevermind to the garage and a car. For that matter, cars aren’t going anywhere for some time to come. And, be glad you have a really good pair of TALL boots because you’re going to need them. An ergonomic snow shovel would also be nice. (Mine was trapped outside the kitchen door until about an hour ago when help arrived to shovel and plow me out.)

Here’s the situation with the kitchen door. See the snow driven through the screen at the bottom? The crew told me that one man they ploughed/shoveled out had the snow come through the screens so forcefully that it popped out all his screens. I had trouble locking the doors last night as the snow inside the seals was preventing a solid closure. I finally figured it out, cleared it all out, and could lock the doors again. I wasn’t worried about intruders–no one was coming up our hill–but about the doors keeping a good seal and not blowing open. The snow on the deck is in drifts, and most of it is waist deep–except for the large mound just beyond the door which marks where the grill is.

Here’s the front porch. You can see the snow out there is higher than the window sills and almost up to the railing top. Sorry about the view through the screens; it was the only way.

Looking out to the garage. See that the snow is halfway as deep as the doorway? I dug that path yesterday, trying to get to the propane vents on the north side of the house, back up to the left. It filled in by another foot last night.

Here’s the chicken coop through the dining room window. It was completely covered. You can see the cage to the left that adjoins the coop is covered. The coop was covered that high a well. It was hard to clear it off a there was a limited place to put the shoveled snow because the sides of the path were already so high and because the slope next to the coop is severe.

This is the view from the back door after the crew shoveled me out. You can see how buried the hot tub is and how much snow there is between the path and the hot tub–about 12 feet of waist-high snow. That’s going to require some hearty shoveling. We did not do the back path that goes around the hot tub to the driveway. There is just too much snow.

Here’s what the kitchen door looks like after shoveling. The only way to get to this door was to shovel a path around the side of the house and then shovel the drifts down from the outside.

Here’s the right side–you can see how high the snow is in relation to the windows.

Here’s the back path, around to the chicken coop. The railing to the left is on the deck, which is 2 plus feet off the ground. So you can see how much snow that is in the back yard.

It’s hard to convey just how much snow we got. Three plus feet fell in flat, measured sites. But, when it blows and drifts, it can be a much greater accumulation.

So, now I have a “blizzard” memory and experience.

It’s a beautiful day here today, Sunday. Clear blue, blue sky without a cloud around, and the snow is all sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight, especially if you pick up a shovel full.

Can I tell you that we are going to get snow or rain tomorrow. And, on Wednesday. But no one is using the “b” word.

Turkey Tracks: Camden Snow Bowl: View From the Top

Turkey Tracks: January 5, 2013

Camden Snow Bowl: View From the Top

My friend Marsha Smith–a founding member of Citizens for a Green Camden–for which she works tirelessly and for which she has done so much good work–sent me this picture of her 9-year old grandson–taken at the top of Ragged Mountain. The recent snow meant folks could ski the whole mountain, which many of them are doing as often as they can.

Look at the view from the top!

That’s Megunticook Mountain to the north; Penobscot Bay is out there; and Hosmer Pond is the white, frozen expanse below Ragged Mountain.

It takes a good 10 minutes to ride the lift all the way up–which I have done in the summer–so the downhill run must be so much fun if you ski.

Cl;early this young man is already an accomplished skier!

A link to Green Camden is on the right sidebar of this blog.

Turkey Tracks: Highlights From Thanksgiving 2012

Turkey Tracks: December 15, 2012

Highlights From Thanksgiving 2012

Christmas is drawing close to us now.

But, I’m still savoring Thanksgiving.

Here’s one of my cherished moments:

Here’s another:

Bo was reading to Kelly and Wilhelmina while waiting for muffins to cook.

Last summer we visited our neighbors Chris Richmond and Susan McBride Richmond–who had just started raising our Thanksgiving turkey at Golden Brook Farm. I tried to remind the kiddos of this visit, but I don’t think they got it then or at Thanksgiving. Probably there was too much going on the day of the visit to Golden Brook–the Richmond-McBrides have terrific children, some of whom are the same ages as some of our crew, and in addition to friendly children there were barns to explore and new sights to see.

We got in two good hikes before the weather turned too cold for the clothing the children had available. The first, up to the Maiden Cliff area, is one of our favorites. On the way there is a gorgeous stream to cross. Here’s the view–the red in the foreground is a blueberry barren. We live across the lake/river and back to the left on that range of hills.

After the weather turned off really cold (and has since, alarmingly warmed up again so that there is no snow at the Snow Bowl), we had to find all kinds of layers to keep the kiddos warm. Here they are in front of the base of the Rockland Christmas Tree–which is all made of lobster crates and buoys.

Talula has lost a front tooth and is working on losing the other front tooth.

Turkey Tracks: Delicious!!! Massaged Kale

Turkey Tracks: October 30, 2012

Massaged Kale

Well, you are in for a real treat.

Don’t hesitate for a moment to make Georgeanne Davis’s “Massaged Kale” recipe–which appeared in one of our local papers, THE FREE PRESS, last week. She also included a Chocolate Beet Cake and Squash-Filled Potstickers, so I’m including the whole citation so you can read the column “Home & Garden” for yourselves: http://www.freepressonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=50&SubSectionID=72&ArticleID=22592.

Son Bryan is here visiting–actually he’s trapped here due to the strange storm calledSandy, which has cancelled most flights along the East Coast–so we made Massaged Kale–with lamb loin chops and the roasted veggie dish I love to make when it’s time to pick the green tomatoes. I wrote about this recipe last year and you can find it under the recipe tab on the right sidebar. Basically you roast cup up green tomatoes, a deep sweet squash like a Buttercup, some fresh potatoes, some onion–all garnished with fresh rosemary, garlic, salt, and olive oil. The sour tomatoes work beautifully with the sweetness of the squash, and I look forward to this dish each fall.

John, Bryan, and I all loved the Massaged Kale, and John doesn’t even like kale very much. The tiny bit we had left over was very good the next night as well–and I shared it between the three of us.

Plus, it’s easy to make. You just wash the kale (I used enough from the garden to fill a big bowl–Davis recommends two bunches of kale) and tear it into bite-sized pieces–leaving out the stalk and tough stems. Mix up the following and pour it over the leaves. Then start to rub the leaves–kneading them–with your hands–until they get shiny/glossy and have reduced by half. This part only takes a very few minutes–maybe 5 or less.

I think sauteed pine nuts sprinkled over the top would be good, too. Or, toasted walnuts. This plain base would also be good for sandwiches or further worked into a pesto, as Davis notes.

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice–I just used the juice of one lemon

3 large garlic cloves, minced–it might be nice to grind them down to a paste with the blade of your knife and a bit of good Sea Salt

1 Tablespoon soy sauce

1 minced anchovy fillet (I keep a tube of anchovy paste on hand and used that so I didn’t have to open a bottle just for one fillet)

Sea salt and pepper–go slow with added salt as the soy sauce and Parmesan cheese are also salty and I almost got my batch too salty…

ENJOY!!!

Interesting Information: Walmart’s Campaign to Fight Hunger

Interesting Information: October 22, 2012

Walmart’s Campaign to Fight Hunger

A Walmart insert came in our local Camden, Maine, paper last week.

I was horrified by its contents. And, saddened.

The front page of a four-page sale flyer announced–in big capitals–“ONE IN SIX AMERICANS STRUGGLE WITH HUNGER.”

The background picture (I would try to photo it, but I’m afraid of their copyright laws) shows four children (two African Americans, one with dark hair whose face is turned away, and in the center of the page, a blond white child with big blue eyes) and a “mom” or “teacher” adult. So, unspoken is that we really have to do something about hungry children, not just hungry Americans. (The last time I looked, childhood hunger was one in five children–and if Walmart paid better wages, they could help that problem immensely.)

In the foreground are 2 apples, four raspberries, six oranges, and a bunch of about 6 bananas. Behind them–and filling the rest of the pages–are boxes of horrible, fake, sugary, unhealthy foods: Honey Nut Cheerios, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, Country Crock margarine, Jell-O Oreo Dirt Cup, Knorr Pasta with Chicken, Knoss Rice with Cheddar and Broccoli, a box of Hamburger Helper that promises seven meals, Kellogg’s Special K (really, there’s nothing in that box that’s good for you–see my Mainely Tipping Points essays), and Nature Valley cereal bars.

The other three sheets are more of the same kind of fake foods. The only fresh foods are the token fruits on the front page–and they aren’t on sale in the flyer.

The logos of General Mills, Unilever, Kraft Foods, and ConAgra Foods are on the cover page.

Meanwhile, the government and the medical community and all the public health folks are running around screaming about the obesity epidemic. Really, they don’t need to look any farther than this Walmart flyer. Here’s what is massively wrong and why so many folks are obese. They’re eating TOO MANY CARBOHYDRATES and fake foods, like the ones “on sale” in this ad.

Don’t for one minute think that Walmart cares about obesity or children. Or, that Walmart is NOT making a huge profit on a sale like this one. There is not one philanthropic bone in this corporation’s structure. And, according to Tracie McMillan in THE AMERICAN WAY OF EATING (more on this book later), Walmart already controls 25 percent of the grocery market in America and is now threatening expansion that will harm inner city markets and urban farming efforts. Don’t think Walmart will always keep prices low as they get more of a market share either. They won’t.

So, don’t fall for this kind of appeal.

Don’t be a part of feeding hungry kids or your kids or yourself this kind of unhealthy food. Find other ways to help feed the hungry and to eat yourself. There’s plenty of help out there for you to learn how NOT to use these boxed fake foods.

Most of all, don’t shop at Walmart. Yes, some things may be momentarily cheaper at Walmart, but there are huge costs in all kinds of ways in the Walmart model. Walmart is part of why we have hungry children in America in the first place.

Turkey Tracks: Maine Woods are Fall Gorgeous

Turkey Tracks: October 22, 2012

Maine Woods are Fall Gorgeous

I probably say this every year, but the Maine woods this fall are in full fall foliage and are gorgeous.

One day last week was what I call a “pumpkin day.” The late afternoon light coming through the orange and gold trees turns everything orange and gold. The very air shimmers with color. That effect is very hard to capture with a camera. And, anyway, mine was way upstairs, waiting to be downloaded. So, I didn’t stop and at least try to capture the light effect.

Last Friday, John went with me to Hope’s Edge, and we stopped and took these pictures along the road. A storm was coming in–and it did rain for two days–so the shimmering effect is not there. But the flaming hillsides are…

And, here’s one John took:

Here’s a view from the front of our house to the wetland area down by the road:

Our house is ringed with gorgeous views in every direction. The woods up close often feel like the trees have donned frilly dresses for us to admire. Remember, we had a storm coming in, so the special light that filters through these leaves is missing.

Camden is full of “leaf peepers” at the moment. I hope most of them get into the woods on our many trails, rather than just riding in buses and cars and seeing only the one picture of the woods–in full color, yes, but not the frilly dresses we see when we get closer.

Turkey Tracks: Canvas Etc.

Turkey Tracks: March 21, 2012

Canvas Etc.

Russell and Joanne Spear recently returned to Maine. They used to work for Moss tents up in Belfast. They came back just in time to fill a need for folks like me who needed to have furniture refurbished. Our local upholsterer retired some years back.

The Spears don’t upholster, but they do fabulous slipcovers. And, Russell and Joanne are really, really nice. Joanne is a hugger, like me.

I saw their work when they put a slipcovered chair into Quilt Divas in Rockland. I could see right away what quality work they do. I hadn’t even been thinking slipcovering until I saw their chair. Thanks Debbie and Doris for supporting them.

The Spears work out of a small building on Route 90, just south of the intersection with 17. Call first, 207-596-3285. They have a good selection of fabric books, and we’re really happy with our choices.

They slipcovered a chair, a hassock, and a big sleep sofa for us–from our tv/craft room/den/spare bedroom room. These pieces get a lot of wear over the course of a year. The Spears’ price was fair, and they did all this work pretty fast, too. Plus, they took the chair first, so we’d have a place to sit and watch tv, returned it, and then took the sofa and hassock. And now we’re so enjoying having what feels like new pieces of furniture.

Look at this pretty chair!

This chair is Reynold’s favorite. She lies across the back, so she’s up high, feels safe, and doesn’t miss anything. Of course I’ve thrown a protective blanket over it. BUT, if someone comes, we can disrobe this pretty chair in a flash.

Here comes the old sleep sofa back home, with its newly covered pillows piled in its belly. That’s Russell in the back.

Russell and Joanne put the slipcover on the couch. You can see that Penny has brought them a toy.

And here’s a pic (blurry as it is) of the Spears, the sofa, and the hassock:

Pretty nice, huh?

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