A new home...

I am settling into a new apartment; going through the process of opening all the packed boxes, reassembling and arranging my furniture, creating new routines that fit this living space. I am getting used to the rhythms of this place. Though I only moved a few blocks from my old apartment, the feeling is very different.

I had lived in my previous building for 12 years. Six of those years were spent on the first floor and the remaining six were on the second floor, in a apartment that was a mirror image of the first. The space changed but the location was the same. While my view changed a little, the neighborhood was still the same. I grew used to the sounds and rhythms of life that went on around me there both inside and out.

This building, with over twice the number of apartments, is much quieter. I the week that I have been here I have only rarely heard my neighbors comings and goings. The front door makes only a faintly audible 'thump' when it closes. The only hint of sound I have heard from my building mates were some muffled 'oh-oh'-ohs' of love making above my bedroom early this morning. Had I been asleep or in the living room I would not have heard even that.

The neighborhood is much quieter also. My apartment is on the side away from the street, and a block away from any main thoroughfare. I don't hear the traffic sounds that I heard through the night from Park Avenue. After 9:00 my new street falls silent. Quiet enough that I can hear the footsteps of some one perambulating up the sidewalk long before they come into view outside of my window.

There are two sounds I have come to love in the short time I have been here. Outside of my window live several tall maple trees where every dawn and dusk birds gather to sing. I feel a bit like a Disney princess listening to the harmonies that take place outside my windows; watching the birds flit from branch to branch, the males puffing up their chests to sing. The cats of course love this too, adding their chitters and mews to these low light avian jam sessions. These same maples also make the rain into a soothing rhythm section.

Settling in has been a process, slowed a bit by a shoulder injury that prevents me from doing much heavy lifting. The kitchen and bathroom were the first rooms to be fully ready. My main living space is still in bit of disarray but tonight a friend is coming by to assist with reassembling my computer desk, the last piece of furniture to be put into place. Once this is done the remaining boxes will be able to be unpacked, there will be places to put everything and I can begin to do the more fun parts of moving...like figuring out where to hang pictures and fine tuning my decorating.

I feel that I will be happy here. I am looking forward to really settling in, making this space my own and watching how things change here through the seasons.

City dweller find wildlife 'tucked away'..

From today's Portland Press Herald:

City Dweller Finds Wildlife "Tucked Away"

Leather Aprons

When I was a kid one of my favorite treats was sugar or snow, or leather aprons. My mum would heat up maple syrup on the stove and when it was ready, she would send my brother and I outside to scoop up bowls of snow over which we would drizzle the hot syrup to make a tasty, gooey, maple treat.

Here are directions for making this bit of Maple goodness from the Maine Maple Producers Association website (where you can also learn a lot more about maple syrup).

"In the old days, when syrup making was a community affair, children and adults alike enjoyed the taffy-like candy made by pouring hot Maine maple syrup onto well-packed snow. This first treat of the maple season should always be accompanied by plain doughnuts and sour pickles, which provide a necessary contrast to the sweetness of the maple.

Heat the desired amount of syrup to 22 degrees above the boiling point of water. Without stirring, pour immediately to form a thin coating onto packed snow or shaved ice. Wind the taffy onto forks for eating -- it's too soft to pick up. A quart of syrup is sufficient for 12 to 16 people, depending on how many of them are under 10."

Enjoy!

When Casco Bay Froze...

I was looking out over the cove as I waited for my food to heat up at work. I have to say, no matter how I might feel about the office moving, we have ended up with great views. The cove is partially frozen. It has been very cold these past few days; cold enough that even salt water can freeze. The center of the cove is still free water though and there are gulls and some hearty ducks floating, swimming and diving.

Several years ago I worked with a woman who lived on Peaks Island in Casco Bay. The island is not that far from shore. Close enough that some folks commute by kayak in the warmer months but too far for a bridge. This woman lived in a small house on the island which had been built some time in the 1800s. However the house was not built on the island. It was constructed here on the mainland and brought out to the island after completion on skids across the frozen ice of Casco Bay.

Yep. That's right. Casco bay used to freeze over solid enough, and predictably enough, in the winter that a whole house could be dragged across the ice to the island. I am not sure of the last time the bay froze over but I did find a link to this photo of five men who in 1933 drove a car from Chebeague Island, which is even further out than Peaks Island, to buy the local paper.

January 18th Storm

Those that know Portland will recognize this as State Street. These are just a few photos I took while walking to a friends place on Sunday evening. The snow had pretty much stopped falling and there were a lot of folks wandering about after leaving their cars in parking ban lots. Oddly enough though these pictures make the city look quietly abandoned...

“O Winter! ruler of the inverted year, . . . I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturb'd Retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted evening, know.” - William Cowper (1731 - 1800), Task (bk. IV, l. 120)

Sometimes when I want to write, but I am not sure what the write about, I browse the Quotations Page for inspiration. It is snowing like mad here and so my mind is not unexpectedly thinking about Winter. I came across the above quote by perusing the subject index.

I've written many times before about my love of winter and of course one of the reasons is because of the enforced quietness it brings. Days like today when it would be very difficult to leave the house to go anywhere and I am able to sit at home without burden, and just be. I count these days among my favorites things.

29 Days of Giving - Week II

Another week of the giving challenge has passed. It has been an interesting one, with some unexpected surprises both given and received. The one thing I have not done is up date regularly on how the challenge is going, so this post may be a bit long.

Saturday was a pretty busy day. I co-organize and event called “Beans, Leaves & Deities.” Held the second Saturday of the month from September through April it is a place for those who practice various forms of alternative earth based spiritualities to meet and discuss various topics, eat yummy snacks, and get a bit over caffeinated. I give my time, money and energy to this every month and reap the rewards of seeing a diverse community come together to share. This past Saturday was no different and we had a large group with several new faces.

That evening I attended a potluck to which I brought a molasses sweet bread and fig-ginger jam. I offered to be the designated driver that evening and drove a friend's car so he could woop it up at the party. I was happy to do it. I certainly don't need to be drinking to have a good time and I was able to make sure everyone on arrived home safely. I had an wonderful time at the party, played a game I'd never played before, met some new folks, caught up with others I'd not seen in a while and had a very interesting cab ride home later that evening, or rather early Sunday morning; one which ending up in an exchange which I am only beginning to experience the rewards of (and yes, for now, it will remain that cryptic).

Sunday was another rather social day, lunch with a friend (his gift to me in this case) and a full moon celebration that evening. I once again gave the gift of food in the form of the last remaining spice cake form the freezer. I won't be making more until the beginning of next winter.

Monday was a bit of a rough day. It started out well, as well as any Monday, but towards the end of the work day an event occurred which brought me way down. I met my mother for dinner that evening, she gave me the benefit of her ear and her company. My plan for a gift that evening was to pay for dinner but she said she would rather I gave the money to some one who needed it more. So I have sent in a donation to Friends of Feral Felines in the same amount.

Tuesday I was still feeling the slumps of the events that occurred at the end of the day Monday. I did take steps to resolve them, which felt good to do but still left me down. I was left wondering if I had the energy to give anything at all but later in the day found myself giving extra attention to a project I'd not worked on for a while. During lunch I bought the makings of dinner for when my circle would be meeting later in the week. I still wasn't feeling great but a friend provided me with an ear to vent into that evening which left me feeling better.

Wednesday, oh Wednesday. What a day Wednesday was! I had a plan for a secret gift, which I gave thought it was not something tangible. I am not going to say what it was here because I want it to remain a secret...and well, posting to a public blog would sort of defeat that purpose wouldn't it? Wednesday was special because it was the first day in which I was actually asked for a gift...a kiss. Which I gladly gave. Who did I kiss? Well...the gift of that answer is not one I am ready to give here, not yet anyway.

Thursday I woke up spilling over with happy. Before leaving for work I prepped the dinner I was making for my circle's meeting that evening, put it in the crock and set it to cook. I managed to finally write a post for Urban by Nature, and gifted my readers, how ever many there may be, with a story of snowy fruit-loops complete with picture.

The rest of the day I was in a great mood and full of smiles, which I shared with anyone who happened to look my way (hmmm...the lady gets kissed and the next day is riding a wave of happy, are they connected? Perhaps). I found that nothing could bring me down. It was an easy day to be generous and I gave time and effort to anyone who needed it.

The evening was spent in the company of my circle. Spending time with these women always brings me up. We shared food and energy and good company...lots of mutual giving there.

And so...here I am on Friday. Another week of the challenge passed. My realization for this week? While being happy makes it easier to give, when I am down, giving tends to bring my up and make me happy...even when it doesn't involve kisses :-)