#3 Christmas Memory

Tourtiere Pie: A tradition of French Catholic's is serving Tourtiere Pie on Christmas Eve, or that what I was told.
Although, my family was Baptist, the Wilbur family embraced the practice of Tourtiere Pie as well.
I don't remember that my mother made them, we ordered them at Log Cabin Grocery, who baked LOTS of the delicious pies at Christmas time.
My mom would also make homemade eggnog to serve to guests that dropped by during the Christmas season and laced it with "spirits" that was left in the house over the past year.
She would sit at her spot at the island, and serve one for you and one for me. BUT the one for me was one times the amount of guests. I don't remember my parents drinking much any other time of the year, so it was fun seeing my parents getting in the "spirit". Mostly Mom, but I think Dad had a glass or two :)

If you have more information about the Tourtiere Pie tradition, let me know.

I think I might call Log Cabin Grocery and see if Helen is baking the yummy pies, OR if they are sold out as she did in the past.

#2 Christmas Memory

Remember when we left the mailman in our rural mailboxes, the bus driver, our teacher etc. boxes of delightful and delicious homemade candies and cookies?

My mother would make candy for days on end and if I was lucky, I got to dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate. My mouth watering just thinking about the drippings landing on my fingers and when my Mom had her back turned I could lick!!!!

She made all kinds of fudge and other sweet treats, but I have never had anyone else's peanut butter balls that were as good at my mom's.

Can you even leave food in the mailbox anymore or take the bus driver good eats? Times have changed.... but those were very good traditions.
judy

Christmas Memories

I was just sitting here thinking about childhood Christmas's and about my mother who left me with so many memories. And that made me wonder about other peoples memories.

I help Fred Wintle with ideas for his writings and it got me thinging that as we get older, the most memorable memories that stand out should be shared.

I think over the next few weeks, I would like to share some of mine....... But I would like readers of my blog to share yours as well. Just click on "comment" under my blog and you can write your memories. Short or long, I would love to hear from you.

The first one is of my mother who would cook pecan rolls on Christmas morning for all of our neighbors and closest friends.
After Steve and I had our Christmas stockings, BUT before our Tree, we delivered the holiday rolls to everyone.

Sometimes in the car with Dad driving, but also in our teens, Steve (my brother) and I delivered on our snowmobiles around the neighborhood.

I wonder how the neighbors like those sticky bun treats and how they must miss them once my mom passed away. I don't know if she continued the tradition after Steve and I left home, but I should ask around.

It is a wonderful memory......
judy

Flu Season

So I am on the end of my second time with the flu in a month, and I am hardly ever sick!!!!!!
Fortunately it is only the 24-hour type, with another day of recovery, but hey, isn't once enough?

I am sick of fever, aching bones and being freezing cold and sweating hot & I am probably blogging because of "fever" overtaking my better sense.

Wish I could take the flu shot, but unfortunately I am now allergic to them, but I hope you all are "flu free" this holiday season!
Be sure to wash your hands after shopping... heheheh

Merry Christmas

Conflict of Interest

What constitutes “conflict of interest”?

In a small town with only so many people who are willing to serve their community, one could find “conflict of interest” in many areas, if they look hard enough or want to push the issue.

But is it a conflict?

Is it a conflict if you serve on a town board, town council or other town committee and you happen to makes wreaths for the town, fix cars, sell insurance, sell merchandise, create a website, or contract some sort of service?

If you look through the history of Dexter or any other town for that matter, you will find overlapping of such activities. Does that make it a conflict of interest and people are not serving you well?

Should that make civic minded people ineligible for serving their community?

According to the Town Charter in Dexter, ARTICLE IX: GENERAL PROVISIONS/CODE OF ETHICS
The charter reads as follows:

Section 9.01. Personal financial interests
Any town (officer) Councilor, Board Member or employee who has a conflict of interest, or a financial interest, direct or indirect or by reason of ownership of stock in any corporation, in any contract with the town or in the sale of any land, material, supplies or services to the town or to a contractor supplying the town shall make known that interest and shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating in his capacity as a town (officer) Councilor, Board Member or employee in the making of such sale or in the making or performance of such contract. Any town (officer) Councilor, Board Member or employee who willfully conceals such a financial interest or willfully violates the requirements of this section shall be guilty of malfeasance in office or position and shall forfeit his office or position. Violation of this section with the knowledge express or implied of the person or corporation contracting with or making a sale to the town shall render the contract or sale voidable by the town manager or the town council.

I am making this point because I was informed by someone (after the election) that it would be a “conflict of interest” to continue my job as web designer for the Town of Dexter that I have been doing since 1997, (with no complaints) and also be on the Town Council, and we needed to talk about it.
If I would be forced to give up the website (DexterMaine.org), it would be like cutting off an extension of myself as well as making it a financial burden.

Five years ago when papers were taken out by current council member Dean Thompson on my behalf, I was concerned that my position on the Development Corp. or my job as web designer would be in jeopardy.
Former town manager Bob Simpson researched and found that Dexter Regional Development Corporation was not an issue due to it being a separate entity and not part of town government.
He also assured me that he found that it was not a conflict for me to continue with the website as long as I did not vote on my yearly pay during budget time or keep it a secret.

Upon the evidence found, I made the commitment to run for Town Council and sat on the council for 3 years, and I did refrain from voting when it seemed to be a conflict, as other council members continue to do.

So I ask you, is it a conflict of interest that the candidate you chose to represent you on the Town Council or people that serve you on other boards, be ineligible to provide products or services for the town? And if I am ineligible, are all the other people who provide services also banned from serving their community?

I hope that the people that are serving you are capable and honest human beings and will abstain from voting on issues if they feel that it will be a “conflict of interest”.

Please let me know your thoughts.
Thanks,
Judy

Saying of the Day

By William F. Scolavino

The height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions.

Also at the Nov Council meeting

... also at the Nov. 8th Council meeting was a presentation by new Code Enforcement Officer Jana Wood about how things can be misinterpreted in the Land Use Ordinance and maybe it should be revisited and clarified in writing.

At the end of the presentation, she suggested that this go to the Planning Board for further action and recommendations. The planning Board meeting is tonight, Thursday November 15th at 6:30 pm.

Dana Wilbur with his handy dandy camera recorded the presentation and I am sharing it for you to see. It is a very important issue for the future.

November Council Meeting

The November Council meeting was held on Thursday the 8th with a very good crowd in attendance.

The evening started with a Retirement Reception for Cemetery Sexton of 17 years Maurice Neal and his wife Corinne. They were presented with tokens of appreciation in the presence of their children and a cake was served. GREAT JOB Maurice! We will miss you and the wonderful job you have done. The Dexter Cemeteries are known as some of the best kept in the State of Maine and you will be missed!

One of the topics brought up was a proposal to buy Holiday flags (signs) with lots of lights for just over $300 a piece. They would have been hung on the light posts on Main Street. Now, I am not Grinch, but with the times as they are, many of us thought that the $2000 plus to purchase the first installment of 'flags' taken from the Reserve account, is kind of hasty. These flags would NOT replace the wreaths that are purchased out of the $1000 holiday decoration fund, but be in ADDITION to.

The council did vote 4 to 3 to not purchase them this year; but with that said, I found out after from a reliable source, that the 'flags' are 4 foot long "metal" signs and if hung on our decorative light poles and a strong wind blows, it could potentially take down the pole, the wreaths and the new 'flags' due to the almost 200 pounds that they weigh. (or all that 2 men could do to take out of the box)
I wish that would have been brought up during the discussion.

I know that a few people thought that $2000 wasn't a lot of money to spend on Christmas, but with oil prices the way they are, I am afraid we may need Reserve Accounts to pick up the slack on other things. I would like to point out as well, that our Main Street business do a great job decorating their store fronts and our Main Street always looks festive for the holidays.

Dexter Regional Development Corporation is sponsoring the Holiday Light Contest again this year and last year most of the businesses and offices (including the Town Office girls) submitted entries in the contest.

The next Town Council meeting is being held on December 13th (the 2nd Thursday of the month) and hope that residents will attend.
Thanks.. those are my thoughts........
Please comment if you agree OR disagree......
Judy

To see pictures taken during 2007 Council meetings taken by Dana Wilbur, click here

Saying of the Day

I love this saying of the day by American Writer Leo C. Rosten (1908-1977). It is my phlosophy and how I try to lead my life. If everyone can try, it would be a better place!

I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate.
It is, after all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.

Greenhouse Seminar

Darlene and I went to a wonderful seminar on Thursday which was title; The Sustainable Greenhouse: Producing Crops while saving Energy, sponsored by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

It was held at Longfellow's Greenhouses in Manchester Maine and all I can say is holy hanna, what a wonderful place. There were greenhouse after greenhouse filled with Poinsettia after Poinsettia after Poinsettia, more than 60 cultivars on display. Huge Christmas displays in the main store and lots of house plants.

The greenhouses can make grown women weep with envy!

Back to the seminar..... We learned the potential for organic greenhouse production in Maine; an overview of energy alternatives for greenhouses; and the best was a panel discussion on alternative fuels for Maine Greenhouses.
Lisa Turner from Laughing Stock Farm in report talked about her experience on heating with recycled commercial cooking oil and Mary Lou Hoskins of Greencare in Bangor/Exeter on heating her greenhouse with a corn furnace.

Both women and their husbands (not there) are great examples of growing green. They explained the daily principals and the working day of using these alternative heating and both said they would not do it any other way.

After a tour of Longfellow's, free buffet lunch we sat in the huge middle greenhouse for the next segment called Energy Conservation, Things every greenhouse grown can do now, by John Bartok, Professor Emeritus of the University of Connecticut.

John's practical tips were things you could do everyday to converse energy in greenhouses, but could be applicable in everyday life.
John also did a comparison of fuel costs; Fuel oil, waste oil, natural gas, coals, softwoods, hardwoods, chips, corn biofuels/vegetable oil and electric. Interestingly did you know that #2 oil runs hotter than kerosene to get to the same temperature or that wood pellets and corn are the most burner efficient?

All in all, on the way home, Darlene and I started plotted on how to better heat her greenhouses at the Snap of the Dragon (but on a budget)... I am getting a smaller greenhouse and can institute the same principals only a smaller scale and to fit my personal use.

There were a few other displays Tuesday, one of which was SARE, a sustainable agriculture research & education program that I think may be beneficial to farmers in our area. I want to do more research on that, but I think the Green Thumb Society could take advantage of some grants that could benefit the community.

My message today is, if you see a class by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, please take advantage of these great programs. They are free a lot of time and you learn a wealth of information and sometimes even get a free lunch.....

Election Results

Good morning....
I am very please with the huge turnout of voters on a non-presidential year. On a rainy day, 754 voters turned out at the poll or submitted absentee ballots, which show a growing public interest.

I am also please that I will have the opportunity to act upon the concerns that employees and taxpayers have expressed at recent Council meetings.

I want to encourage Residents of Dexter to continue attending the monthly Council meetings. The public attendance has grown each month since June of 2007, which shows that people are becoming more educated in how their town government operates.

Although I will not be sworn in until January 2008, I encourage residents to contact me with any questions, concerns and thoughts they may have at 924.3067 or judy@DexterMaine.com.

The results went as follows with voters choosing three (3) Councilors for three year term:

CRAIG, Judith W. - 414 (won)
HASKELL, Peter A. - 348
MUNDAY, Ella L. - 203
SHERBURNE, Erlfred W. - 456 (won)
TEMPESTA, Albert C. - 290
THOMPSON, Dean R. - 391 (won)

Thanks to those who have and are supporting me. PLEASE, just because the elections are over, don't stop coming to the council meetings, calling with concerns and asking questions.
C ya Thursday night

Did you vote today?

Courtney and I went and voted at lunch time and it was nice to see so many cars parked in front and on the sides of the Town Hall!
We were greeted at the door by the Tri-County Tech Center law enforcement class (not sure of the correct name) with teacher Steve Spaulding.

They were giving directions on where to vote, showing off the renovated Town Hall and operating the new elevator! Funny about the elevator, I think it makes a total of "3" elevators now in Dexter..... hehehe

Any whoooo.... We went upstairs and voted.... I spoke with Town Clerk Shelly Watson who said the turnout today, despite the rain and not being a presidential year, that it was a 'very good' year so far.

So, if you haven't gone to the polls yet, please go before 8 pm tonight!

Election this Tuesday

Elections are coming in a few days and I hope you take the opportunity to exercise your right to be heard and VOTE.

If you are not registered, please stop by the town office and take the plunge!
It doesn't hurt, it doesn't cost anything AND it gives you the right to bitch and complain later because you voted! You can also register at the polls.

I, as many others, hate it when people moan and groan that they don't like what is
going on, where their tax dollars are spent what laws are being passed, etc..... and they don't bother to vote.

With that said; if you are from the Dexter area, you know that the Town Council race is quite unusual with 6 candidates running for 3 seats.

While I respect many of our current council members, I and others feel that there needs to be some changes in the Town of Dexter. Running for council this time isn't as easy as it sounds. There are a few people (who I won't name), that I have admired for my whole life, and now they won't speak to me. I have to admit that hurts, but I have to remember, they don't know the "whole" story, only one side of it.

On the other hand, thank-you to all the people that have called, emailed and even written to me thanking me for taking a stand!

Reading Letters to Editor in local papers that "may or may not" be directed at a few of us running, makes 'me' wonder if I am doing the right thing?

* Am I really seeing the inconsistencies that I think I see?

* Do I believe what the employees have been telling me for almost 2 years that cause concern?

* Is money being spent where it should be spent?

* Are the Elected Officials you voted for running our town or is someone else?

I ask myself these and other questions daily, making sure I am true to myself & my beliefs, and when I can answer all those questions I come to the same conclusion; I AM doing the right thing. Especially when I see valued sick employees terminated, others resigning so they won't be terminated and others miserable going to work. Please ask any employee their thoughts and feelings about the current situation and form your own opinion.

Ask yourself, why is it that the current council (not all, but many) can't see these inconsistency's. Or maybe, they are NOT being told the whole truth! ?

We asked the public to come to council meetings after the June 2007 meeting and at that time only a handful of people attended. Now there is standing room only! We want to thank the citizens of Dexter for becoming involved. Each meeting since brings more people and at the last meeting in October there were close to 70. I hope that this trend continues in the future.

I am voting on Tuesday and I can say on my own blog that I am voting for myself, Judith W. Craig, Al Tempesta and Fred Sherburne.

But PLEASE vote on Tuesday, whether you agree with me or not.

Micro Chipping your pet

Saturday update: Adoption Plus sponsored a great program on Saturday that Courtney and I decided was a great preventative idea for our beloved dogs.

We got our dogs Emma (6 pound Yorkie) and Snowflake in the Wind "Flakey" (106 pound White German Sheppard) micro chipped in hopes that if they become lost or worse (stolen), we will have a easier time in locating them.
If you have pets it might be something you want to consider.

The cost was $35 and it took only a few minutes to do and with only one painful yip from both Emma and Flakey. There is paperwork to fill out (at home) and send in to the American Kennel Club, and then your pet is good to go. Most Veterinarians, animal control officers, and people like the Pet Motel in Corinna, have the wand to recongize and read the chip from then on.

For me, it is worth the money. I had one Yorkshire Terrier stolen from my yard 5 years ago, so it is a little more "insurance" for me.

Call Dexter's Animal Control Officer Kathie Ricker or Dr. Rick Dubois at Dexter Vet Clinic for more information. Or you can call me 924.3067

Extended Fall

Amazing weather we are having in October..... I still have morning glories & cathedral bells blossoming outside and zucchini's still in the garden.

I still have LOTS of plants still out on the deck that I need to bring in the house, but many have grown so large I am not sure where to put them IN the house.

I have been offered a greenhouse by Al Ross that I am planning to put up, but with the cost of fuel, how to keep it warm through the winter is another matter.
Anyone have any tried and true ideas?

I always hate when the fall cold sets in. My deck is an extension of my living space and I love it out there, but I don't like the cold much anymore.

It just seems such a pity to dump out all those beautiful annuals and the many variety of geraniums I have collected over the years.
I guess I will squeeze in as many as I can and weed out when I get sick of picking up dead leaves and watering for hours.

I now understand why seniors like to migrate to warmer climates when the colder weather sets in. I am spoiled now that I work from my home office and don't need to go out in the winter weather each morning to go to work. So I shouldn't complain, should I?

Well enough procrastination, back to clipping back plants and find places to put them in the front room, window stills or the spare bedroom.
C ya!

Saying of the Day

Tis the business of little minds to shrink,
but he whose heart is firm,
and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.
by Thomas Paine (1737-1809) British-American Writer

Candidate's Night

A ritual of running for an office was held last night, "Candidate's Night", hosted by Abbott Memorial Library and moderated by Gerry Rudmin.

There was a good turn out in the audience, probably many more than normal, and good questions were asked by the audience after each candidate introduced and told a bit about themselves.

Topics ranged from the Union Contract, to the boat ramp, the no confidence petition, bomb scares, how much the town manager should tell the council, the Town Hall/rec department, water levels of Lake Wassookeag...

This was my introduction:

Hi, I am Judy Wilbur Craig (Judith W. Craig on the ballot) and I am running for Dexter Town Council, which I was a member of 2 years ago.

My family and I have proudly lived in Dexter on the Number 10 Road since the end of the Civil War in 1865 and most of my family has been self employed and involved in our community for as long.

I worked at WDME Radio for almost 14 years as a Sales Manager, Station Manager and talk show host. Upon leaving WDME, I created my own business, Judy Craig Consulting web design.

In my job, I work with many other self-employed people when starting their own businesses. I create and maintain business websites; including a hospital, nonprofit organizations, real estate companies and towns including Greenville & Dexter. So I feel that I have a good grasp of the current local business climate.

Currently I am President the Dexter Regional Development Corporation and Coordinator of Wild West Weekend.
I was an original member of the steering committee for the Pine Tree Zone representing Dexter.
I am also an Officer & Media Correspondent of the North Country Riding Club and Co-founder of the Green Thumb Society.

I volunteer as a Public Announcer at the NCRC Horse Shows, Garland Days - Horse Shows and 11 years at the Pittsfield Egg Festival.

I decided to run for Council again, because I am not comfortable with the way town business is currently being conducted; the treatment of sick employees, excessive use of executive sessions and closed door policies.

While I know that everyone has the right to their own opinion, those opinions should be well thought out and informed when expressing & acting on them in public. That is why I and many others are now attending meetings and asking questions, to become informed.
I feel that with my background, I can effectively serve as a Town Councilor for the residents of Dexter with an open mind and open door policy.

If elected I promise to be the voice for the citizens of Dexter and advocate for you on local issues, concerns and needs of the community.
Thank you

Filming at the Brewster Inn

Good news for Dexter~
The filming at the Brewster Inn today by HGTV's "If Walls Could Talk" crew went great! The crew of 3 were so nice and professional, but extremely friendly.
Courtney and I went and took pictures of the crew with Mark and Judith.

I called the 3 news stations and Channel 2 and Channel 5 film guys came and filmed the HGTV film crew interviewing Judith and Mark.
Diana Bowley from the Bangor Daily News and Fran Emmons from the Observer will both have features in their papers this week as well.

Mark & Judith did a wonderful job promoting not just the Brewster Inn, but also the Town of Dexter!

To see the pictures we took yesterday while cleaning and today while filming, go to http://picasaweb.google.com/judywilburcraig/BrewsterInnInDexterMaine

I would like to thank some people for helping yesterday at the Brewster Inn.
LOTS of thanks to Carmen Nelson & Jeannie of Spring Street Greenhouse who filled their van and arrived with both fresh flowers and plants, but also beautiful fall wreaths and swags. They spent several hours and did a great job putting on the final touches to create a wonderful warm ambiance.

Thanks also to Renys for donating pumpkins and chrysanthemums for the front steps of the Brewster.

AND the cleaning crew: Courtney Brown, Barb O'Brien, Barb Leighton and her mom Maddie, Diane Fillmore, and Dave Pearson who brought by some of his own homegrown pumpkins.

Be sure to watch both channel 2 and 5 tonight (Tuesday) on the evening news; they are both airing on the news tonight. The HGTV's "If Walls Could Talk" will be airing in the spring of 2008.

Judy

Community Concert at Wayside Park

I have been on a learning quest!
Technology is moving so fast, that sometimes we have to take some time and just explore the new possiblities that we have at hand. AND FREE ones at that.
I just uploaded a movie my Dad took during a Wayside Park Concert in June 2007.
This is the test..... Enjoy
judy

Great Family Fun in Dexter

The Dexter Recreation Department is pleased to announce that Roller Skating begins Saturday, October 13th, 2007. Come by the Town Hall on Hall Street from 2 pm to 4 pm every Saturday for the next 6 months and have great family fun of all ages.

If you have your own skates, feel free to bring them, including regulation Inline Skates, Roller Blades (not the sneaker type with the drop down wheels); limit sizes are available at the Roller Skating Rink.

Volunteers are needed to help run the concession stand, handing out skates etc, so if you could donate some time call Andy at 924-3438 for more information.
Fee is only $1 for admission and $1 for skate fee.

If you have some skates hanging around and would like to donate them, they could use all sizes. Call Andy at 924.3438 or Eric Munday at 692.2342.

Happy Halloween

It is finally fall in Dexter! It is also Halloween month.
Be sure to stop by the Dragons Den Halloween Haunt every Friday and Saturday this month.

Greenville's Seaplane Fly Inn

I have discovered YouTube and have fallen in love with the information, creativeness, and now thinking about ways to use it to promote Dexter and/or my clients businesses.

This is a video I found about Greenville's Annual Seaplane Fly Inn filmed for bangormetro.com.

Check it out and enjoy!

Singing Emma

 
Emma singing me a tune.

Emma is now 10 1/2 months old and is a happy puppy!
She has quite a sense of humor and was singing to me is only a voice a yorkie has. She sings about as good as I do, but it still is music to my ears :)

Town Council Meeting

I would like to remind you that there is a town council meeting on Thursday, October 11th at 7 pm.
If you are interested in your community, please make an effort to attend Council meetings.
Knowledge is strength!
The agenda is at http://www.dextermaine.org/council/agendas/101107.pdf

A blast for the past

I got a call today from Sheila Grant and she said I had to go to YouTube to see a movie of WDME from 1990.
As many of you know, I worked there for a lot of years, so it was great to see a movie!
WDME Radio's home was in an am track train car, bought by Fred Hirsch in the early 80's, and is now owned by Steven King with it's studio in Bangor.
Mark Young who joined the WDME family a year before me in the mid 80's is still working there today!
Check out the video! It is a hoot!

Another great saying...

Perseverance is a great element of success.
If you only knock long enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.
-- Longfellow

November Election

Yes, I am running for Town Council (again). I took some time off from my last stint sitting on the Council Board, but feel it is time to get back on the horse again.
The people running in Dexter are as follows:

The following individuals will be on the ballot:
TOWN COUNCIL: (Three positions for 3-Year terms):
Judith W. Craig
Diana L. Fillmore (withdrawn)
Peter A. Haskell
Ella L. Munday
Erlfred W. Sherburne
Albert C. Tempesta
Dean R. Thompson.
Council Terms expiring are: Fred Banks, Fred Sherburne and Dean Thompson
Because Councilors can only serve 2 consecutive three-year terms, Fred Banks is not able to run this year. Fred Sherburne and Dean Thompson are seeking re-election to their seats.

SAD #46: (One position for 2-Year term). This position is to fill the un-expired term of Richard A. McInnis who resigned for health reasons:
Patricia M. Smith
SAD #46: (One position for 3-Year term). This position is to fill
the seat vacated by Shawn Lancaster last March (whose term would have expires in 2007). Jill Jones has filled that un-expired term until this election:
There were no papers filed to fill that position.

DEXTER UTILITY DISTRICT: (Two positions for 3-Year terms):
Robert E. Crawford
Hartland L. Cushman
Francis L. Kaufman
The terms on the Utility District Trustees which are expiring are Bob Crawford and Harland Cushman who are seeking re-election to their seats.

All elections in Dexter will now be held at the Town Hall.

Please find out what candidate best represents your thoughts, ideas & community and please Vote in November!

Town Council Minutes from August

Morning;
I am providing a link to the Town of Dexter's Council meeting minutes, but would like make my own amendment to the minutes during Public Forum. I know mistakes can be made, it is only human, but once they are approved by the council, they can not be altered.

So here goes, during the meeting, which was only 4 days after Wild West, no mentioned was made about Wild West Weekend and how successful it was. So I wanted to publicly thank Highway Department Mike Delaware, Police Chief Art Roy AND facilities Duke Leighton. Another person was named, but I didn't thank that person:, but Duke needs to be thank too!

I am not trying to be finicky, but I definitely want Duke recognized.

Click here for the August 09th Council Minutes. To read about public forum, scroll down through. It is near the end of the minutes.
Have a great day!
Judy

Fall Flowers

Last night, Darlene and I decorated the Main Street and the Heart Garden for fall.
Last Thursday we ordered 20 pots of hardy chrysanthemums from Roger at Spring Street Greenhouse.

Roger gave us a great price on these hardy mums and they should make Main Street more festive for the next month or so, or until frost hits.
We probably could have used more, but I thought that would do a good enough job. This money does come from the Flower Fund ($1500 for the year, July 2007 to June 2008) from the town budget and we have to save most of it for next spring. We try to make the money stretch as much as possible, we only pay for some product, but all the labor is free.
We ordered new planter earlier this year, so they will be filled next spring.

Once we got started planting, we realized we needed water, so I made an emergency 'water call' to Dad and Marilyn and they brought down 26 gallon jugs in the trunk of the car, and saved the day!

We also filled the bench pots with mums, which we built last year. I hope people sit on the benches and enjoy our pretty Main Street and the fall flowers.

It is wonderful seeing so many people decorate their businesses and home for all the seasons. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, although I really dread the winter months and no outdoor flowers. But it gives us more time to pour over the flower/seed books and plan & plot for the next planting season.

Feel free to dump some water on the posies if you see them dry!

Submitted to TheDailyME

"It's amazing how much panic one honest man can spread among a multitude
of hypocrites." -Thomas Sowell

Support Appreciated

Since my last post, I have received numerous emails, phone calls and stopping in the street encouragement.

When we take a stand, it is putting yourselves in a precarious position. You know you are doing the right thing, but you know people are going to talk. It is very uncomfortable, BUT if you stick to honesty, facts and figures, TRUTH WILL PREVAIL.

If we all stand together, the impact with make our town officials take notice. PLEASE contact your councilors, come to meetings, talk to employees. We only want what is right for our community. We aren't trying to make trouble, we are just trying to do the right thing.

Thank you all for your support.
Judy

Thought of the Day

Courage is the greatest of all the virtues.
Because if you haven't courage, you may not have an opportunity to use any of the others.

-- Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) English Author

Community Involvement

Isn't it funny how a saying comes to you at the appropriate time? I found this saying recently and it inspired me to write this letter.

“Decide on what you think is right, and stick to it.” by George Eliot (1819-1880) English Novelist

I will start out by saying, like many other locals, I love my community of Dexter. My family of many generations have lived, worked and believed in our community and have been involved with other 'like minded people' in making Dexter a better place to live, work and raise our families.

My daughters are now grown and are creating their own stamp in life, so it is my time to give back to my community. Sometimes it is very consuming, but at the end of the day, I am rewarded by seeing flowers growing in town, successful horse shows, my work with Dexter Reg. Development Corporation, successful Wild West Weekends and even Easter Hat Parades with glowing children's faces.

I feel that our town has always been compassionate and value our Town Employees. I have consistently been attending meetings expressing my concern about the employees, who through no fault of their own when reporting they are very sick, were terminated or are currently being terminated from their jobs. OR they resigned so they don't have to go through the embarrassment.

While I am uncomfortable in taking such a public stand, I felt it was time to get out of my comfort zone, and do something about it!

I am not pleased with the way some of the top town officials are conducting town business. I respectfully ask the questions, why is everything such a secret & behind closed doors, gag orders given or done in executive session? (Not just the employees' situation). Why are there double answers; depending who is asking the question, or no answers at all?

While I know that everyone has the right to their own opinion, those opinions should be well thought out and informed when expressing them in public. That is why I and many others now attend meetings and are asking questions, to become informed.

Last Thursday, September 13th, during a lengthy monthly Town Council meeting, the Public Forum took place. There were many people in the audience and we had lots of questions to ask. We sat through a long discussion one gentleman had, but then in a blink, the public forum was closed and Executive Session was announced.

We all sat there in disbelief. The public forum never really was official closed as far as we could tell. It appeared to most of us it ended by the Council Chair saying, "Is that it?” We thought he was addressing the person in the audience who had been speaking.

I would like to ask or maybe even challenge you, Dexter Residents and taxpayers to come to Council meetings. Call your councilors, ask question and demand answers. Find out for yourself what the mystery is. After all, it is our tax dollars being spent by our Council, who we voted for, and our Town Manager, who works for the Council and us.

Are you ready to come out of your comfort zone?

Join us the 2nd Thursday of the month, 7 pm at the Dexter Town Council Chambers for the monthly meetings.

Respectfully,
Judy

Thanks

Dexter Regional Development Corporation would like to thank the businesses, residents and visitors for making the 5th Annual Wild West Weekend a great success.

Although we had some extreme heat on Friday (110 degrees was 1 reading at about 1:30 pm on Friday where the vendors were set up), and the extreme storm Friday night dictated that we cancel Renys Debbie Myers Concert, the Worst Boot Contest and the Fire Department auction, all the others events went on without a hitch.

But the Friday night rain and storm cleared the air, the streets, the heat and moods for a wonderful Saturday and Sunday.

Boy Scout doughboys sold out, Field Hockey Maine Chicken BBQ sold out for the 1st setting and had to go buy more chicken, Toot’s Deli had a record day, Bangor Savings Costume Contest had 21 contestants, 14 Businesses participated in DRDC’s Business Decorating Contest, lots of kids at Varney Insurance Kiddie Parade, huge turnout for the NCRC Horse Show on Sunday, record amount of vendors, 614 kids registered in the P&L Pig Scramble, great turnout for Maine Choice Realty Skillet Toss & First Free Baptist Wild West Olympics; over 300 tickets sold for the 1st Annual MaineMilitary.com Heritage Revolver Raffle, 300 tickets sold for the Dexter Fire Department Duckie Race, great attendance for the Cruz’ In and Ray Stafford Show, no lack of ‘good ole’ Country Music’ during Jim’s Jamboree at Wayside Park; 94 attended the Christian Community Church Sunday Service at Wayside Park and the Christian Community Church Chicken Pie Supper at American Legion Hall sold out.

The Dragon Den’s 1st Annual Stick Pony Rodeo was well attended despite the heat, and Country Charm’s 1st Annual Wheel Barrow Race was a hoot as was Crazy Bob’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

DRDC would like to thank Mike Snow of Snows Saw Shop for providing the Husqvarna HUV that transported Princess Tired Eyes, Cowgirl Courtney Brown, Announcer Fred Wintle, Vendor Wranglers Dave Pearson & Josh Doore from one part of town to the other; moving concert trailers, finding lost people and giving rides to people (and kids) who needed rides.

Big thanks go out to Sherburne Farms and Ronnie of Simpson View Farms for the generous donation of 100’s of bales of hay to decorate the streets; Darlene at the Dragons Den & Snap of the Dragon for Wild West signs, props, flowers and lots of hard work.

Chris Reardon of Save Virtues also deserves thanks for the donation of beverages & snacks for WWW headquarters; Rich DeMuth for the use of his building for headquarters; Barb & Sherman Leighton for watching over headquarters; Frankie Spizuoco & family for providing Poop Patrol; and all the horse and riders who road downtown despite the heat.

Patti Dowse & Bits provided horse and cart rides and Lisa & steed gave horse rides for 2 full days! Thanks to Skowhegan Savings for their support and Liz at Abbot Memorial Library.

Special thanks also go out to Mike Delaware & Duke Leighton from the Highway Department and Police Chief Art Roy & his officers for their support during the weekend, moving barriers, controlling traffic, and all without incident. Chief Roy also arranged for the Penobscot Sheriff Department to provide a demonstration by the Departments Bomb Detection Dog "Eric" with handler Deputy Sheriff Jim Roy during Wild West Weekend.

This 5th Annual event was made possible by the people & businesses who participate, a little or a lot! Dexter Regional Development Corporation wants to thank you for helping us “Unite Family and Community, now and in the Future”.

Judy Wilbur Craig
President of Dexter Regional Development Corporation
Coordinator of Wild West Weekend

Whirl Wind of Activity

My home/office is a whirlwind of activity as Wild West Weekend approaches. We are only a week and 1/2 away and details, details, details have to be attended to.
Monday night Darlene and I hits the streets and started decorating at P&L Market promoting the Pig Scramble and Bob's Variety promoting the 2nd Annual Hot Dog eating contest.

Once done there, we went to the Fossa Building (DRDC's new main street entity) and starting covering the windows with information.
I haven't written backwards since I was in High School! It isn't as easy as it looks:)
In fact, try writing backwards and spell right at the same time. Brought a lot of laughs when we went outside and started reading......

Last night, we had a special DRDC meeting at the DeMuth Building where we are setting up WWW Headquarters. Dave Pearson and Darlene "wrote" all over the windows there doing a great job!!!
We have lots of new exciting things for Wild West this year: Maine Military Revolver Raffle, DRHS Field Hockey Maine Chicken BBQ, DRHS Music Boosters Horse Shoe Tournament, Worst Boot Contest, Stick Pony Rodeo, Baby Picture Contest, to name a few.
Also something new, Ray Stafford Show is performing during the Cruz In Saturday night.

And something to remember; all these people who either sponsor contests or perform are all doing it for free!!!!! Amazing isn't it?
Stop by our website at WildWestWeekend.com for times, locations, etc. We are updating many times a day, right up until the event.


Well signing off..... Hope to see you at the Egg Festival this week. Stop by and say hi or a wave; I am the announcer and in the Main Office at Manson Park during the Kiwanis Karnaval.

Flowers and stuff

Thought I would give you an update on the downtown Dexter flowers.
You may see my Dad (Dana) and Marilyn in the evenings on Main Street watering the 14 flower barrels, 8 pots that are on the benches and the Town Office Gardens. They fill their old white car trunk with milk jugs and start at one end of the street and end up on the other.
They refill the jugs every so often with the hose by the Town Office.... PHEW! they do a great job! If you are ever down there, stop by and lend a hand.
Darlene and I loaded up our pickups at the Snap of the Dragon on the Dexter/Corinna Road and went to work on the Main Street flowers for almost 4 hours last night. We went thru and dead headed, replanted some, snipped and fertilized.
When we planted everything in May, we tried using new and different things, BUT the big thing is drought tolerant plants. Those barrels on the hot top just suck up any moisture and need more water than you can image. Last year we tried a new thing by putting "pampers" in the bottom of the barrels..... The baby diapers are designed to retain water, so it seemed a logical plan. Actually worked pretty good, but watering is still an almost daily project.

After Darlene and I finished Main Street, he headed our (2) pickups down to Wayside Park. Wayside is such a nice park. The stream is babbling in the background, the Gazebo is so nice, the magical Covered Bridge and of course those nice tables that Mike and the highway department built a few winters ago. If you haven't stop down there for a concert in the park or during Wild West, pack a picnic and a game and stop and and enjoy.

So anyway, Darlene and I cut back the Bleeding Heart and put in a bunch of annuals Darlene donated from her nursery Snap of the Dragon. By the way, all this work is done for free!
The town supplies us with $1500 for the year for supplies, (most of which we don't use, except this year.... I got 15 new barrels for next year and that took a big hunk out of the budget)
All the free labor is a labor of love for our community.
I hope you enjoy the new flowers, and if you ever have a chance or have time and would do some watering, please (did I say please?) give me a call at 924.3067.
C ya during Wild West Weekend!!!!

North Country Riding Club

Have you ever been to a horse show?
Well if you have and miss it, or always wanted to, please stop by on Sunday, August 5th for our largest show of the season, the Wild West Weekend Equitation Show!
This season, we are seeing an amazing number of riders/horses and an amazing increase in talent, especially with the younger riders.
The June show had over 60 registered riders if I remember right, but the July show brought approx. 70 registered riders/horses. HOLY HANNA!
Long day, but what a nice show.

So stop on by and see up...... and it is free for the spectators!!! the day starts out at 8:30 am with a terrific version of the Star Spangle Banner by brother/sister duo Thomas and Crystal Clukey playing their trumpets..... Brings tears to your eyes!

There will be food available and some vendors to shop! The western classes will be in the morning this show with English in the afternoon.

Stop by our NCRC website to see pictures of past shows and past years.
Judy: NCRC Media Correspondent

Busy Summer

Sorry it is taking so long to write, but things have been wicked busy.
Wild West Weekend is only 2½ weeks away and so many things to do!
I am so impressed with the ideas that people have!

New this year is WWW Horseshoe Tournament sponsored by the Dexter Regional Music Boosters. It will be held on Saturday, Aug. 04th.
Lots of music is lined up for Wayside Park on both Friday and Saturday thanks to Jim and Donna Lee Palmer and LOTS of musicians playing for free! Donna Lee is amazing. She schedules all these musicians over the 2 day period and that is no easy feat. Bring your lawnchair down to Wayside and enjoy some great entertainment.

Debbie Myers will be performing again on Renys Concert Stage on Friday night from 6 to 9 pm, with the 5th Annual Costume Contest being held right before at 5 pm.

There is a slight change on Main Street closings which cause some realignment of activities and placement of vendors/displays, but a compromise was met and on we go. (check out the website for actual times).

Not new, but bigger is the car show on Saturday night. There are many car groups being invited (they expect over 100 if the weather is good) and awards will be presented that night, instead of at the Egg Festival as in the past, appropriate music will be playing and food vendors still open.

Speaking of the Egg Festival, it is the weekend before Wild West. Stop by and say hi! I am the announcer/go to person in the office at Manson Park on Wednesday thru Saturday. Lots of fun!

Back to Wild West: The firemen are still having their auction, First Free Baptist Church is still hosting the Wild West Olympics down at Wayside in front of Chia Apartments, P&L Market Pig Scramble, Maine Choice Realty Skillet Toss, Varney Agency Kiddie Parade on Friday, Ride In to Dexter Health Care, 2 different scavenger hunts and on and on......

I would like to personally invite you to Wild West Weekend on August 3rd, 4th, 5th for a fun filled weekend with something for everyone, including an amazing array of food. Not only can you grab a bite to eat at the Vendors at Vendor Alley on Lower Main Street, but also many of our local eatery's have "Wild West" specials.
Please check out our website as we add things daily and I will try to journal my journey for the next few weeks.
Maybe if I do that, I can keep myself more organized...... one can only hope!!!!

Yoga

I have finally succumb to my daughter Jennifer's urging to try Yoga!
I think I was always afraid, that being a "big girl" that I wouldn't be able to bend like a pretzel and make a fool of myself.

Well, guess what? It is not like that at all!

Courtney and I had our first private lesson with Yoga Instructor Donna Kraft-Smith on Monday. She gently and in her quiet voice took us through the safe way of warming up and explained the philosophy of yoga. "Enrichment of body, mind and spirit"

Courtney and I, who work in front of computers hour after hour, felt AND HEARD popping, snapping and then relaxing of our bones and muscles. It was like the pressure of the day exiting our bodies.

After almost an hour of "poses", we couldn't believe an hour had passed and can't wait for next week.

So, when Court and I got back to the office, we gleefully called Jennifer to tell her our our accomplishment! Of course, she was thrilled, but probably more pleased that she WAS RIGHT!
We can't wait for Monday now..... Of course it is now time to go and pick up the yoga mat and stretchy but not bulky clothes.

We will keep you posted on our yoga journey, AND fyi there will be no pictures to post of our adventure!
Judy & Courtney, the jcc girls

Kitchen Update

The kitchen is almost complete! At least done enough for a party!!!
Jennifer, oldest daughter now living Manhattan, came home for the first time in 5 months. She of course has seen pictures of the kitchen work in progress, but seemed impressed with her mother and sisters handwork in person.
So a BBQ was hosted Thursday with family from both or all sides of our family (Wilbur's & Craig's), some new friends, old friends and great food!
Did I mention in the past that we all cook? The 3 of us all have worked in the food industry all our lives, so......

Tiffany cooked most of the BBQ starting on Wednesday night when she cut 8 or 10 whole chickens in 1/2, de-boned them and made a couple of different rubs to marinate in overnight and put a big pot of bake beans in the cast iron dutch oven to cook over night.

Jennifer peeled a ton of 'tators for salad, while planning the rest of the menu. Lists were made of food to buy and things to do…. and cleaning and more cleaning was done Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

We also made Portabella mushrooms with homemade Garlic Sausage (from P&L Market), Brochette, fresh veggie platter,cheese and crackers, homemade dips, etc for Hors d'Oeurves, Rizotto salad with fiddle heads, coleslaw, and a big 'ole bucket of drinks.
I had picked up a new power washer Tuesday (yippee) from Snow's Saw Shop (1500 psi) and the girls set out cleaning the deck and power washing. Of course for Courtney (my unofficial 3rd daughter) and I had to work in the office thru most of the cleaning, but by the time they got done, the deck and lawn area looked great and we got a lot of work done in the office 


The girls set up tables on the lawn "Martha Stewart a la Dexter" style, with 2 saw horses and a heavy wood door. We had a smaller door that was transformed into the buffet table and chairs were set out for outside dining. Jen went down to my Dad's to pick some fresh rhubarb for cobbler (her sister made) and Dad picked some awesome apple blossoms for our tables. We serve the Hors d’Oeurves on the deck and food on the lawn.

Well anyway, it was a nice time and to get back to the kitchen, when night fall was descending we all gathered around the new island in the new red kitchen to tell tales and such.

It was a great way to break in the new digs, with great food, even better company and my girls home together!

Harry Hog & Birds

I have a new visitor/resident in my backyard. Harry, a cute little ground hog.
In all the years I have lived here, I don't recall a ground hog in my backyard, although my Dad down the hill has had his share. Harry seems to like being looked at. He watches me as I watch him out my office window.

Okay, so your thinking, ground hogs are not very good to have around, especially when you have gardens. True, but I can't quite picture myself getting out the shotgun and ....... So the next best thing right now is enjoy the cute little creature. When my gardens are all dug up this summer, I may have to rethink the situation.

Also new to the neighborhood this week, Red Breasted Grosbeaks. I have had lots of grosbeaks, but these are so pretty. The boys that is. The girls are the same size, brown in color, like so many of the other bird species; the ladies are dull colored and the men get all the brilliant colors. Have you ever wondered why in the human world, it is just the opposite???

Speaking of birds, my daughter Tiffany has focused her carpentry interests (evening hours) into building bird unique houses. She has been Googling bird houses, sizes, types, what birds are looking for etc.
Another good resource is www.DIYnetwork.com for birdhouse projects and gardening projects.


This bird house is her first prototype which I am keeping. Simple and straight forward with a removable bottom for cleaning after each season.

Each birdhouse has a different look and with each one built they get more elaborate. She is building them with scrap wood left over from her day job and whatever she can scare up from my various wood piles. They are very CUTE!
Stop by the Snap of the Dragon www.SnapOfTheDragon.com (see post below) where she is selling her birdhouses and other wooden products we are working on. (Limited quantities at this time :)

New Nursery

On Sunday, I worked at my friends new nursery (flower that is)! Darlene of the Dragon's Den has now opened "Snap of the Dragon, a dream we began talking about last spring/summer.
Darlene and I are part of the Green Thumb Society for the past few years, doing the flowers on Dexter's Main Street, and gardens.


Last year in the spring we poured over flower magazines, online website and even Ebay for new and different flowers and plants for downtown barrels and now she has put that energy into her new nursery.

If you know Darlene, you know she is ingenious when it comes to 'budget on a shoestring'! This woman can and does make great things out of what others throw away. That is one of the things I admire about her the most, other than her incredible work ethic. She never stops, like the energizer bunny! She was recycling before it was cool. This is the queen of recycling!!!! Her husband Greg, friend Jen and others have worked on creating a great family Greenhouse that has the usual fare of spring plants, perennials, culinary and medicinal herbs, Native Maine Flowers and next year plans even more.

So, on Sunday Mothers Day, I got to help with her opening, and also work in the Greenhouse. Now, if any of you have the "greenthumb bug", you will understand the immense joy I got in doing that!
The smell of damp potting soil, the heat of the greenhouse with the sun beating down on the plastic warming all those little plants that started as a seed such a short time ago and now are in various stages of growth.

I got to be creative with some plantings, repotting, and various other things, but the day just went by too fast.

It is fun to watch Darlene give the customers, browsers and visitors the "tour" from greenhouse to greenhouse and patch of plants to the next hanging basket. She isn't one for saying much about herself, but I can see the pride in her face.


So if you are on the Dexter Road in Corinna, stop by and say hi to Darlene at the new Snap of the Dragon at the Dragons Den.

Her hours are:
Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 5 pm

I have her website up and going at www.SnapOfTheDragon.com
Judy

Proud Daughter

Tonight my daughter Tiffany and I went to the Annual Wassookeag Snowmobile Club Landowner Appreciation Dinner.
The dinner was held at the new Lido's Restaurant (formerly TJ's) and it was a full house. President John Fogerty opened the festivities with awards, one of which was Landowner of the Year.


(Picture: Secretary Lynn McKusick, Dana Wilbur, President John Fogarty)

Hence "proud daughter"! My Dad, Dana Wilbur, was honored tonight with the distinction of being the 1st to be bestowed with this title. Dad, not only donated the land upon which the Clubhouse sits, but he has supported the club since its origin.
Back in the 1960's Dad built one of the first drags out of 2x4's and hauling it behind my mother's old Ski Doo Bombardier. Some of you might remember that sled was a 'heavy' double track "tank". Slow ... steady ... stable..... Hardly ever went off the trail but when it did, it was hell getting it out!!!
Dad would go out during the day and drag the local trails, long before anyone ever heard of "groomers" for a more pleasant ride. Remember those trails in the old days? So bumpy it would either put your back out or put it back in again!


Pictured: Frank Spizuoco, Business of the Year; Ray Bailey; Volunteer of the Year; Dana Wilbur, Land ower of the Year

Snowmobiling was something I think back on with fond memories. Many of my parents friends reminisce to this day about the night sled parties that always seemed to end up at our house on Number 10, with my mother (Mackie) serving up Oyster Stew. This kept me in babysitting jobs back than, because all the adults were out sledding.

Dad doesn't snowmobile anymore, although I think there is still a skeleton of a sled and old tracks around the farm somewhere.
Dad is more the "mountain bike" type now (really) at the age of 83.
Speaking of which, Up North Magazine just did a great feature of him in this months issue. Great magazine!!!!! and great article....
So, all in all, it was a proud evening with Dad receiving his "Landowner of the Year" award. Thanks Wassookeag Snowmobile Club for recognizing my Dad!

Wild West Weekend

Dexter Regional Development Corporation is pleased to announce the 2007 date for the 5th Annual Wild West Weekend as being the first weekend of August which falls on August 3rd, 4th and 5th.

DRDC held the first official WWW meeting on Tuesday, May 01st, 7 pm at the Brewster Inn to share ideas and suggestions. There were 23 people from the community as well as DRDC members who attended. There would have been more, but many contacted me who were either sick, on vacation or at other meetings. So I was happy with the attendance.

New Brewster Inn owners Mark & Judith Stephens, also new members of DRDC, are excited to get involved in our community, generously offered to host this public meeting and future wild west meetings.

There were lots of new and creative ideas for 2007 tossed around and DRDC hopes that you will be brainstorming with your staff, club members, etc to create great ideas.

Please let me know what your plans are to make your business, club, church or home "wildly" stand out. Also, please invite your business neighbors to participate. I have created an emailing list, but may not have everyones email address, so let me know if you want to be added to the Wild West email list.

Wild West Weekend has fast become an economic boost for area businesses, helped with fund raising, creating awareness for non-profits, and showcasing our variety of vendors.

We have been receiving calls from vendors, musicians and event planners since the end of last year and Q106.5 FM is booked for their annual live broadcast in 2007. So grab your partna' and join us at our next meeting (TBA) at the Brewster Inn.

If you would like more information, contact us anytime.

DRDC President Judy Wilbur Craig
judy@DexterMaine.com
Wild West Weekend Coordinator
(207) 924-3067

Apple Pruning Seminar

Courtney and I went to a great demonstration a week ago Saturday (April 28th) at Olmsted Orchard on Route 15 in Charleston. (By the way, Courtney works with me designing websites, but has become part of the family).

I have old trees in my yard that I remember as a child helping my Grandfather Homer Wilbur and great Uncle Mel, graft and prune. I want to bring those old trees back, so Courtney (who is always up for learning something new) decided to head on over to the free demo put on by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

I thought there might be a dozen or so people there, but it turn out to be close to 40 or more.

Donna Lamb opened with Fertilize and Feed, Sprays and treatments and things like that. After about a 1/2 hour of great info, free donuts and coffee, we headed out into the orchard with Mr. Olmsted.

That man is a wealth of info. We covered what to prune, when to prune, how much to prune, what to prune with and on and on.....
The seminar last a couple hours but it was well worth it.

If you would like a copy of the email with info from the Olmsted's, just ask and I can send it along to you. Email judy@DexterMaine.com

Okay.. I lied.....

Yup, I said a couple of months ago I was going to be more diligent in blogging, but alas, I lied.
After reading my daughters blog today, I am ashamed. She does a great job and it is so interesting..... As does Holly with her Taylor Made Yorkies blog.
So hear goes, I am going to attempt it again.



A lot is happening lately and for the past month, my youngest daughter Tiffany and I have be renovating our kitchen. She is staying with me during the week, but is working with her Dad during the day doing carpentry in the area. But at night we have torn my kitchen apart!!! (she goes home to Portland on the weekends to see her friends, her "Little Sister" Maria and probably take a break from me :)

It all started with, a faucet needed to be replace. Next thing I knew, the 28 year old wallpaper was off the walls and holes being cut in the walls.
All the cupboard doors & drawers were taken off (her grandfather, Cleo Craig, custom built them when we built the house 28 years ago. Tiffany then sanded them down to fresh wood and put new varnish on! WOW

Then came the creativity. I watch HGTV, DIY and all those home improvement shows religiously. SOOOOOOO, of course we had to use tile, accent tile, kewl lights and paint, etc.

We installed new track lighting with pendant lights hanging over the island and no one got shocked in the process!
I choose a Tamale Red paint for the walls... that was a big bold choice, but now I am totally please with the outcome.
Home Depot opened their arms for us on a Thursday evening! We arrived with our wish list, dimensions, and questions from the helpful crew, and proceeded to load the cart with 12 X 12 tile, accent tiles, pendant lights, under counter tube lighting, grout, sandpaper, well you get the picture....
But of course I also bought lots of stuff from our own local stores, Tillson True Value and Dexter Lumber. We are on a tight budget and did a lot of comparison shopping and local was very competitive. Mostly we got things in Bangor that were not available in Dexter (more variety).

Of course, we forgot some of the most important part of the track lighting, so Courtney and I made a mad dash to Home Depot again on Sunday to get that piece and pick up more "stuff". When we got home Tiff has a assembly line of doors and drawers in the yard, sanding and varnishing.



So now going on the 4th week of working nights and weekends on this project, we can see the end of the tunnel. There is still lots more to do, LOTS of dust to clean, and baskets and cookware to find homes for. But thats another story.

It is amazing what a couple of women can do, when you put your mind to it!! "Woman Power" Plus, it is satisfying to be doing it with my daughter! Projects like this can make or break a mother/daughter relationship and thank goodness it worked out for the best :)

Local native weaves stories about growing up in Dexter

I am please to announce that my long time friend Fred Wintle has published a new book "When Weavers Wove". Short Stories of a Small New England Mill Town

Fred's introduction to his book is as follows:
This story begins on Lower Spring Street at the house where I grew up with four sisters and a younger brother in the fifties. The essence of the book really begins with the reader standing on the knoll in the hollow behind Poirier’s Market and Field’s Garage, which are both situated on Spring Street. I invite you to stroll with me through the streets of a small Maine Mill Town.

When Weavers Wove is the story of every small town New England family who lived during the tumultuous transition from Industrial Age to baby boomers of the sixties and seventies and the loss of their innocence. It is an embellished view written by a fifth generation Yankee blessed with the gift of knowing people and capturing their stories from the 19th, 20th, and 21st century.

When Weavers Wove is a collection of short stories written to capture the taste, smell, sounds, and realities of a by gone era. An era that looms large in our memories. An era which, in no small way, still longs for its innocence. When Weavers Wove is by and large a work of nonfiction written as a stroll through Dexter, Maine, a small New England Mill town, which typifies the birth and end of the Industrial Age.

Fred will be having a book signing during Dexter's Winter Festival at the Historical Society Gift Shop on Church Street on Saturday Feb. 17th 10 to 2. Fred will be reading from his book at the top of the hour during his book signing. There will only be a limited amount of 1st Edition books on hand, so get there early.
Another Dexter 'boy' will also be on hand that day, Artist Mark Robichaud will be displaying his art at the museum.

Local boys showing what great talent we have in Dexter!

Saying of the Day

While watching a Kleenex commercial, the punch line was "Tears don't compromise my strengths"..
I could go into a long dissertation about "tears & women", but I will make it short. Do you find yourself being very passionate about something and it brings you to the "watering of the eye" at times you wish it wouldn't. IE: speaking at meetings for me :)

I have found that those menopausal moments to be maddening, but I try to remember that I have no control over those leaky eyes, it is just the sign of the times.

Many men seem to take it as a weakness, but we women know it is just passion in what we believe in!
So, when I saw that commercial, it was an 'a ha' moment.
Hence, "Tears don't compromise my strengths" is my new favorite saying.....
Have a nice day,
Judy

Emma Update

Emma is now 9 1/2 weeks old and 3 lbs.
She has taken over the house in the week and a 1/2 she has been home and is definitely Princess Miss Emma Mae.
Her favorite cat Sassy allows her to crawl all over her and even lets her bite her tail, but the other animals are tolerating her energy. Sassy just pulls her along behind her.
My other pets are on the "senior" side of life, so they look at Emma and seem to say, 'can we take the battery out of the energizer dog?' It is a hoot!
She has brought new energy and laughter to our home!
Judy