There I stood in the middle of an icy dooryard, dressed in an old fashioned, green plaid nightgown, my feet clad in raspberry colored L.L. Bean “Wicked Good” slippers. I was on a quest to see whether or not Barney’s gastrointestinal problems were resolved.
Dealing with the death of a friend or family member is probably one of the most difficult things for parents to discuss with their children.
How much should a parent tell their child about death? Should they be included in funeral ceremonies? How much detail should you go into? Should you openly show grief in front of your children or try to keep up a brave face and not show your emotions?
Everyone knows how much I love the color blue and periwinkle blue has got to be my favorite shade. Periwinkle blue is also the color of the plastic Crocs that I hold responsible for the events that took place on the frigid November morning I am about to share with you.
Anderson Giles, professor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, recently helped lead a private tour to South Korea for the College of the Ozarks, which gave Korean War veterans and students the opportunity to visit important Korean War sites, the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, and important cultural sites.
The sky above was black and blue, its usual bruised condition in November. Ah, November! With its limited hues of brown and gray and its naked trees; branches reaching upward in prayer for snowfall that will linger on limbs and blanket the barren ground with diamond dust.
Creepy, scary things associated with Halloween are supposed to frighten us. Haunted houses, weird costumes, fake cobwebs, dangling paper maché bats, satin witch hats, black cats, hokey headstones, waxy makeup, realistic masks, long green wigs; you get the picture! Young and old alike are thrilled with the season. And of course, there is the candy. Need I say more?
Slowly but surely the Aroostook whitetail population has come back from the devastating decline caused by two severe winters several years ago. At first it was the urban edge farmlands with plenty of feed around small woodlots, and fewer coyotes then the big woods, where deer numbers increased.
Sightings and plentiful deer sign throughout 2013 substantiated by wardens, campers, anglers, and woodsmen throughout the summer and recently by partridge and moose hunters all point to more deer everywhere. Further proof lies in the issuing of a few doe permits this fall, an incentive lacking for the last few autumns. The final candle on this celebratory hunting cake to buoy the spirits of Crown of Maine whitetail enthusiasts occurred on the Oct. 25 Youth Day.
Next Tuesday, voters throughout the state will head to the polls to cast their ballots on five state referendum issues. And while some may be tempted to pass on voting this year, due to relatively few items on the ballot, there is no greater responsibility for a citizen than voting.
In addition to Maine’s pristine scenery and well-deserved reputation as “Vacationland,” Maine’s traditionally low rate of violent crime is one of the primary reasons that our state provides an ideal place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.
Though she was small in stature, she commanded attention when she entered a room. She was usually dressed in a simple shift; sleeveless and solid; falling in a straight line just above the knee. Her medium brown hair was swept up in the back and held in place with a single tortoise shell comb, all beneath a clear hair net.
