Fall in love with these perfectly autumn-themed date ideas, including suggestions from our readers
26 FALLING FOR FESTIVALS
Fairs and festivals abound this time of year! From pirates to pumpkins, we're rounding up ideas for fall family fun
30 MAGNIFICENT MURALS
Take a tour of the wonderful and whimsical public art popping up all over Bangor and beyond
IN EVERY ISSUE
10 OBSESSIONS
What we can’t get enough of this month
34 THE VIEW FROM HERE
What I know now
ON THE FLIPSIDE
Celebrate love with Maine wedding tips and ideas in Marry ME
30 MAGNIFICENT MURALS
22 CRISP & CUTE FALL DATE IDEAS
ARTS & CULTURE
06 THE ART OF FELTING
Hampden artist needles her way into children's books
08 MAINE READS, MAINE WRITES
The impossible is possible in "Shift" by local author Penny Guisinger
FOOD & DRINK
12 LITERARY ADVENTURES FOR THE FOOD LOVER
Take a love of food and Mainethemed books to new places with these fun adventures
HEALTH & FITNESS
14 ADVENTURE ME
Boo! Explore spooky hikes and adventures in the Maine wilderness
HOME & FINANCE
18 TRANSFORM YOUR AT-HOME OFFICE
Tips for an inspiring and affordable spruce up of your home office
Fall in Love with MAINE
THE CRUNCH OF FALLEN LEAVES, the golden light and crisp air, weekends full of fairs and festivals, the kids heading back to school — there’s really a lot to love about fall. This is a favorite season for many Mainers, including me, for all those reasons and more. I love a pumpkin patch, fresh apple cider, and a homemade doughnut. Let’s face it, Maine does autumn better than most.
IF YOU’RE FEELING SWOONY FOR THE SEASON, THIS MAGAZINE IS FOR YOU.
We’ve got adorable fall date ideas starting on page 22, from shopping under the stars to hunting for sea glass. Like so many others, I’ve fallen hard for all of the public art to be spotted around Bangor and beyond — learn more about the magnificent murals popping up all around town on page 28. Just looking for some fun and games? Starting on page 24, you’ll find a list of fall fairs and festivals. If you’re interested in a literary-themed foodie adventure, visit page 12 — and enjoy some Maine-based book recommendations as well. Want something more spooky? Our outdoor adventurer Aislinn Sarnacki is sharing hikes that will give you the creeps on page 14. Boo!
There’s so much to discover in these pages, and even more on the flipside! This is the season for falling in love, as evidenced by the number of wedding invitations on my refrigerator. If you’re recently engaged and looking for ideas or just love beautiful wedding photos, flip this issue over for Marry ME. Our special section dedicated to Maine weddings is full of helpful tips and fun ideas. Check out inspiring venues all over the state, from rustic barns to stunning inns and everything in between. Tired of wedding cake? We’ve got seven delicious alternatives. Can you say doughnut board? Plus Maine-made gift ideas and more.
CHEERS TO FALLING IN LOVE WITH AUTUMN,
AMY ALLEN EDITOR & ART DIRECTOR
(Top) Newlyweds Cait and Chris in Downtown Bangor.
SIERRA ARCHER PHOTOGRAPHY
(Left) The Orono Bogwalk is a beautiful place for a romantic stroll
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COVER DESIGN: Amy Allen
The Art of FELTING
HAMPDEN ARTIST NEEDLES HER WAY INTO CHILDREN’S BOOKS
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY JODI HERSEY
“Everything I saw, there was nothing like the artwork I was making,” Hillary Dow said. Dow, a fiber artist and self-published children’s book author from Hampden, uses her felted artwork for all of her illustrations.
“Unfortunately, felting simply isn’t as mainstream as knitting,” the mother of two explained. “Felting is a process of using a barbed needle to go back and forth through fibers. When the barbed needle goes through the fibers, it just kind of makes those fibers lock together. The more you poke it with a needle, the denser, firmer, and smaller the wool becomes.”
According to feltingart.com, felting is the most ancient form of textile art. It even predates weaving and spinning techniques.
Dow’s felting passion began when she first purchased a felting kit from Wrinkle in Thyme Farm in Sumner. It wasn’t long before she was needle felting fairies, mermaids, and other creatures using dyed sheep’s wool. She then layers her pieces onto a background before photographing them for illustrations in her children’s books.
“Each illustration takes anywhere from 15 to 25 hours to complete,” Dow said. “The characters in my books have often been inspired by our two children, Eva and Tyler, or our nieces and nephews. My parents are in the first book as Babcia and Dziadzia.”
Maine’s numerous farms and festivals help Dow stay well stocked with fiber supplies.
“The Common Ground [Country] Fair and The Maine Fiber Frolic are both wonderful opportunities to network with Maine’s fiber farmers and producers. I always leave those events lugging large bags of beautifully colored wool,” she said. “Rolled balls of roving, blended batts, bumps, curly locks, I try it all.”
Dow has written and published three books. Her fourth, titled “Flock of Rock,” is due out this year.
“It’s about a musical sheep named Leona, who is bound and determined to help her flock find their groove,” she described. “Leona begins with classical instruments, but it isn’t until she moves on to rock [music] that she piques the interest of her fellow sheep.”
Dow, who has a full-time marketing job and a busy family that loves to be outdoors, finds time to create in the wee hours of each morning.
“I have a daily routine of waking up at 4 a.m. and spending the first two hours of every day doing things that bring me joy: writing and illustrating,” she explained. “It’s miraculous what one can achieve when they commit 14 hours a week to something. Throw in hours on a rainy weekend here and there and productive car rides during family outings, and the pace of achievement just keeps going.”
This fiber artist plans to keep needling away in hopes of inspiring young and old alike to try felting.
“It’s really cool to be doing something different,” she said. “The pictures in my books will introduce felting to people of all ages. I aim to do my part to help others find it and to love and appreciate it as much as I do.”
To learn more about Dow and her books, log onto bindingtales.com.
Making a SHIFT
THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE IN “SHIFT”
BY ROBIN CLIFFORD WOOD
When you dip into the first few pages of Penny Guisinger’s new memoir “Shift: A Memoir of Identity and Other Illusions,” it is clear you are about to delve into much more than a simple story. And yet, in another way, “Shift” is exactly that — a simple, uplifting, sensuous, heart-fluttering love story. But simple stories can be complicated.
After years of living a heteronormative life that included a fraught marriage and two young children, Guisinger found herself startlingly and deeply attracted to a woman in her rural Maine community. The book grapples with a constellation of “shifts” that Guisinger had to come to terms with: a self that felt split into two impossibly incompatible selves, divorce, coming out, and co-parenting throughout the upheaval.
In one chapter called “Counterfactuals,” Guisinger writes: “Let me be clear. I did not choose to upend my identity and my life and enter the world of the other, but I also did make it a choice. … That I both did and did not have a choice in this transformation does not seem like it can be true, and yet it is.”
“Shift” is an exploration into seeing the impossible as possible. Guisinger navigates her exploration through a multifaceted gem of metaphors, dipping into physics, music, animal behavior, palmistry, and the cosmos. Her book challenges notions of linear time and binaries. Time moves forward and back. Identity shifts, but it also remains unchanged. If this book were a shape, it would be an illusion, a Mobius strip of interwoven ribbons with no beginning or ending.
At the same time, Guisinger’s writing is filled with vivid clarity and incisive sensory images — a trailer hitch crushing a foot into the mud, burnt sweet potato quesadillas, caterpillar feet “like suction cups on my skin,” fingers pressed against the steel strings of a guitar, the soft curve of a neck where it sweeps into a shoulder.
The solidly physical and the ethereal are blended into one rich continuum, a soup of life, including lines like this one: “… stars drilled their way through the dark and appeared like shining pinpoints of hope above our heads.”
Guisinger’s writing has garnered a cascade of accolades, including a Pushcart nomination, three “notables” in Best American Essays, and a Maine Literary Award. She is the founder of the Iota: Conference of Short Prose in Lubec and a former assistant editor at Brevity magazine. Her first book, “Postcards From Here,” is a collection of micro-vignettes. For “Shift,” she said she intended to write “a normal book” in chronological sequence.
“Turns out that’s not the book I know how to write,” she said. “So I ended up with all these little pieces.”
Those pieces are assembled into the “before, during, and after” of Guisinger’s life-altering relationship. The poignancy of part three
will be familiar to anyone who knows the struggle for acceptance, both personal and political, for those who find themselves outside of the mainstream.
“The months of questioning everything I was supposed to be had turned my brain into a snow globe and shaken it hard,” writes Guisinger, who also faced conundrums like this one: “In 2011, Kara and I got married in Massachusetts, then were not married anymore once we drove home. In 2012, at the whim of the electorate, we were married again, but not when we filed our federal taxes.”
Guisinger, a rugged DIY-er, loves life in rural Maine. Though she and her wife have a supportive local community, Guisinger also knows threats still exist for LGBTQ people who want to live their lives openly. Nevertheless, she had no qualms about sharing the details of her personal story.
“I was not scared to send it off,” she said. “I’m not a private person. I don’t think there’s anything in this story that hasn’t happened to other people — sex, falling in love, getting divorced. Anyone who’s shocked by that is pretending.”
There is no pretense in “Shift,” only the story of a life, simple, complicated, the way a life should be.
ROBIN CLIFFORD WOOD is the award-winning author of “The Field House,” a biography-memoir hybrid about Maine author Rachel Field. For the last 20 years she has immersed herself in Maine’s writing world — as columnist, poet, blogger, essayist, teacher, student, and colleague. To learn more, visit her website: robincliffordwood.com.
OBSESSIONS
WHAT WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS MONTH.
HAWAIIAN SHAVE ICE IN BANGOR
Before we get into sweater weather, I’m hoping to get my last fix of Sawyer’s Hawaiian Shave Ice!
This new food truck on Broadway has been a fun addition to the Bangor food scene this past summer. They offer many natural and artificial flavor combinations to order. I really enjoy Tiger’s Blood, which combines the flavors of strawberry and pina colada. I also like to include a Snow Cap, which is a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk on top. You can also order toasted coconut as a topping and Li Hing Mui, which is a sweet and salty plum powder topping. To view their menu and their schedule for operating hours, check out their Facebook page and Instagram at Sawyer's Shave Ice or sawyershaveice.com.
— MARISSA DONOVAN
WATCH
‘A PRETTY COOL HOTEL TOUR’ ON YOUTUBE
LISTEN
NORMAL GOSSIP PODCAST ON SPOTIFY
I’m not a huge podcast listener, but a friend encouraged me to check out Normal Gossip during a recent road trip — and now I am fully obsessed. Each episode delivers a juicy bit of hot gos — the kind of funny second-hand stories that get passed around and typically elicit a jaw-dropping OMG moment or two. Listeners submit their “you’re not going to believe this” stories and host Kelsey McKinney shares and discusses them with guests. My favorites so far have been about mushroom foraging escapades and a decades old neighborhood dice game tradition. It’s fun, light, usually ridiculous in some way, and makes a road trip fly by.
— AMY ALLEN
For most people, hotel rooms are used as breaks during a long road trip. For Margaret and Corey of “A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour,” it’s their kitschy destination. The married couple have toured many themed hotels all over the country on their YouTube channel. An episode is typically under 10 minutes and will most likely showcase a room with a heart-shaped bathtub. Aside from honeymoon-themed rooms, some episodes have featured rooms inspired by “Home Alone,” Dolly Parton, “Cinderella,” and even one partial episode of “Gilligan’s Island.” Airbnb stays with a vintage flair also make an appearance here and there through the online series. This channel unveils the creativity that can go into crafting an experience for overnight guests. What I also love about “A Pretty Cool Hotel Tour” is how animated Margaret and Corey are while traveling together. They truly show off their personalities by reenacting movie scenes and making ridiculous jokes about the decor during their stays. After watching a few episodes, you may find yourself planning your next vacation!
— MARISSA DONOVAN
ATTEND
BANGOR SILENT BOOK CLUB
AT CHIMERA COFFEE IN BANGOR
There are no excuses now when it comes to planning time to read. Elizabeth Simonds and Chimera Coffee have collaborated to create a monthly gathering that encourages designated time to read a book of your choosing while socializing with other book lovers. There is no mandatory discussion about the book you are reading, but you may receive some great reading recommendations from fellow attendees! There are also no club fees. However, I strongly recommend purchasing a hot beverage and a delicious dessert. How could you pass up buying a cosmic brownie or a small dish of tiramisu? I’ve attended twice and enjoyed both times tremendously. For upcoming meetings and club updates, follow Bangor Silent Book Club on Instagram at @BangorSilentBookClub.
— MARISSA DONOVAN
READ
‘ THE COLLECTED REGRETS OF CLOVER ’ BY MIKKI
BRAMMER
Clover Brooks is a death doula, helping her clients transition from this world when their time comes. As you can imagine, spending that much time with the dying has made her a bit awkward with the living. This book gives “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” vibes (another favorite book of mine) as Clover struggles to navigate both romantic relationships and regular ol’ friendships. But with nudges in the right direction, she eventually gains the confidence to go after what she wants. FICTION
‘ ACID FOR THE CHILDREN ’ BY FLEA
It’s weird, it’s wonderful, it’s very much Flea. The Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist tells the tale of his childhood — born in Australia (who knew?!), a huge fan of jazz and a seriously talented trumpet player (who knew?!), and a longtime drug user (kinda figured). I found myself pausing to google and going down fascinating rabbit holes — did you remember Flea was in the “Back to the Future” movies? I didn’t. Turns out, he and Chili Peppers (which Flea insists should be called the Red Hots) frontman Anthony Kiedis grew up together, along with drummer Jack Irons and guitarist Hillel Slovak. I read the paperback, but now I’m tempted to go back and listen to the audiobook which is narrated by Flea. MEMOIR
‘ THE VILLA ’ BY RACHEL HAWKINS
Two longtime friends (frenemies might be more apt) rent an Italian villa with a dark history including a murder attached to a 70’s rockstar. As one of the friends digs into the secrets held within the home, their own relationship takes a turn. The book bounces from present day to 1974, when rockstar Noel Gordon and friend Pierce Sheldon, who turns up dead, are in the house with Pierce’s girlfriend and her sister. While things turn ugly for the men, the women walk away with an award-winning album and a famed horror novel — which may just hold hints to what happened all those years ago. FICTION
— AMY ALLEN
LITERARY ADVENTURES for the food lover
COMBINING A LOVE OF MAINE BOOKS AND FOOD
BY SARAH WALKER CARON
Maine is home to so many authors and a vacation destination for so many more. With its picturesque coastlines, working waterfronts, quaint towns, and deep-rooted lore, it should be no surprise that so many writers are inspired by and reference Maine in their books.
If you are looking for something to do this autumn that springs from the literary page (and why wouldn’t you be?!), these novel-inspired adventures are the perfect plan.
‘THE CLIFFS’ BY J. COURTNEY SULLIVAN
A Victorian house sits abandoned on a secluded Maine bluff overlooking the ocean. When Jane stumbles on it, she is mystified by the dishes in the cupboards, the clothes in the closets, and the marbles still on the floors. Twenty years later, she’s back in Maine after a terrible mistake threatens her career and marriage. She’s horrified to find the Victorian unrecognizable — gutted and transformed into a glossy monstrosity. Meanwhile, the new owner is convinced the house is haunted. She hires Jane to research the home’s history — a story even older than Maine itself.
“The Cliffs” is an enthralling story filled with twists and turns set in Maine in a fictional town based on Ogunquit, according to the author.
GO: Ogunquit
DO: Take a walk along Marginal Way in Ogunquit to see the cliff walk that inspired the one that Jane walks her mother’s dog Walter along. Then continue on to Perkins Cove for a walk across the pedestrian bridge that inspired one in the book. While you’re there, take in the fishing boats (the Finestkind boat inspired the one in the book), do a little shopping, and grab a bite to eat.
EAT: Why, Barnacle Billy’s (70 Perkins Cove Road, Ogunquit) of course! This seafood restaurant overlooking Perkins Cove Harbor is the inspiration for Charlie’s Chowder House.
PHOTOS: ADOBE STOCK
Marginal Way in Ogunquit.
‘HAPPY PLACE’ BY EMILY HENRY
Popular romance novelist Emily Henry set “Happy Place” in the fictional Maine town of Knott’s Harbor. In the book, Harriet and Wyn were the perfect couple — the kind that meets in college and just seem to go together. But … they don’t. In fact, they’ve broken up but not told their best friends. And rather than spoiling the group’s annual weeklong vacation, they head to the Maine cottage and pretend they haven’t been split up for five months. Surely, the former couple can fake it for one week, right?
While Emily Henry has been pretty tight-lipped about her inspirations (or where she likes to spend time in Maine), her descriptions of the town, which include a bookstore, a candy store, a coffee shop, and an eatery overlooking a harbor, provide some hints. Sounds like a lot of midcoast towns, right?
GO: Despite the harbor reference, the descriptions remind me of Brunswick, with its walkable downtown filled with shops and eateries. Start your downtown stroll at Reverie Coffee House (117 Maine St., Brunswick) for a caffeinated beverage. Then head to Gulf of Maine Books (134 Maine St., Brunswick) to find just the right book for your vacation, like one of the characters always does (she’s a cozy mystery fan). And don’t forget to stop at Wilbur’s of Maine (143 Maine St., Brunswick) for a confection or two.
DO: While you’re in Brunswick, why not stop by the Bowdoin College Museum of Art (245 Maine St., Brunswick)? There are also several galleries in Brunswick, in case you want to take some fine art home.
EAT: For that harbor eatery experience, head to nearby Harpswell, where there are many eateries overlooking the water including the atmospheric Morse’s (119 Lookout Point Road, Harpswell), a fan-favorite seafood spot.
‘FLYING SOLO’ BY LINDA HOLMES
Laurie returns to her Maine hometown to deal with the estate of her great-aunt Dot, who lived to 93. As she cleans out the house, she finds a mysterious wooden duck at the bottom of a cedar chest along with a love letter to her never-married aunt that references ducks. Though she’s told the duck has no value, it disappears and Laurie is swept into a mystery trying to unravel who would steal a worthless duck and why and what secrets her aunt was keeping.
“Flying Solo” is set in the fictional town of Calcasset, which was also the setting for her hit first novel, “Evvie Drake Starts Over.” Writer Linda Holmes said in interviews her family spent time near Rockland as a child and that it’s loosely based on that area. But the library? Think Camden for that part.
GO: Stroll along Main Street in Rockland where you’ll find Hello Hello Books (316 Main St., Rockland), The Grasshopper Shop (400 Main St., Rockland), and many other shops to keep you occupied. While you’re there, don’t miss the local favorite Rock City Cafe (also 316 Main St., Rockland) for a coffee.
DO: After you’ve explored Rockland’s downtown, take a walk out to the Rockland Harbor Breakwater Light. It’s just under a mile and a scenic stoll. Or head to Camden to check out the Camden Public Library, where the second floor inspired scenes in the book. Maybe there will even be an event for book lovers happening there.
EAT: In “Flying Solo,” Laurie orders Thai food for herself and her friends. In keeping with that, Roselyn Thai Fine Cuisine (80 Camden St., Rockland) is a good choice. Or, while you’re in Camden head to the acclaimed Long Grain (20 Washington St., Camden) for Thai curries, stir-fries, and more.
(Above) The Bowdoin College quad in Brunswick. (This photo) Mackerel Cove on Bailey Island in Harpswell.
The Rockland Harbor Breakwater.
SPOOKY ADVENTURES IN THE MAINE WILDERNESS
EMBRACE HALLOWEEN SEASON WITH THESE MYSTERIOUS OUTDOOR
DESTINATIONS
STORY & PHOTOS BY AISLINN SARNACKI
BRANCHES SWAY and clack together as a cool wind sweeps through the forest. Tree trunks cast long, dark shadows. A group of crows chatter back and forth. “Caw. Caw. Caw.”
Is this place haunted? Or is it just the Halloween movie I watched last night that’s infecting my surroundings?
Autumn is the perfect time to embrace all that’s creepy, especially in a place like Maine. The landscape is full of skeletal branches, wilting plants, fat spiders, and noisy corvids.
As nights grow longer and the weather cools, pumpkin patches overflow and corn mazes confound. Ghost stories are told over crackling campfires. Bats swoop through the sky. It’s time to go on some spooky — though not quite scary — adventures.
(Right) The grave of Joseph Marie Junin, who died in 1791 at age 32 and was reportedly murdered in his home, then cursed to seek vengeance on his murderer, who escaped justice. Junin is thought to be the oldest internment in Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor. He actually has two gravestones, one in front of the other.
MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY IN BANGOR EASY
As the second oldest garden cemetery in America, Mount Hope has a lot of stories to tell. Each fall, the Bangor Historical Society conducts ghost tours on the property. One of the highlights? The grave of Al Brady, leader of the infamous Brady Gang, which was wanted for multiple murders and robberies in the 1930s. FBI agents gunned him down on Central Street in Bangor.
The cemetery sprawls out over 264 acres of hilly land. It’s so big that you can wander for miles on paved and gravel paths.
While this isn’t exactly a wilderness setting, there’s plenty of wildlife to enjoy. The cemetery ponds often feature ducks and wading birds. Barred owls nest in some of the trees, and squirrels and chipmunks scurry between headstones.
Dogs are not permitted. Admission is free. The gates are open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. May through mid-September. After that, the closing hour will be posted at the gate. For more information, visit mthopebgr.com.
Photos from Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor.
COMPASS HARBOR TRAIL IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
EASY
Ruins of mansions are decidedly eerie, with their crumbling walls and doorways to nowhere. On the 0.4-mile Compass Harbor Trail, you can visit what’s left of the grand home of George B. Dorr, one of the men responsible for the creation of Acadia National Park. You can also walk down to the ocean to find the ruins of a saltwater pool that he used to enjoy. Dorr died in 1944 at the age of 90. If you spot his ghost on the property, have no fear. It seems to me Dorr would be happy to have hikers enjoying the place. Just tread with respect and pick up after yourself.
Pets must be kept on leash, and the leash cannot exceed 6 feet in length.
The park entrance pass is $20$35, depending on your mode of travel. For more information, visit nps.gov/acad.
Legend has it that Colonel Jonathan Buck was cursed before he died after he burned a witch. As the lady was burning, her leg rolled out of the bonfire and she yelled a curse to Buck and his family before she died. Now an image of a woman's foot and leg appear on his memorial.
rolled appear on his memorial.
BUCKSPORT WATERFRONT WALKWAY IN BUCKSPORT
EASY
Who doesn’t like a good witch tale for Halloween? Stroll along the 0.8-mile Bucksport River Walk, enjoying a lovely tidal portion of the Penobscot River. Then, on the east end of the walk, continue up Main Street (headed east) about 200 feet to visit one of Maine’s most famous haunted objects: the Jonathan Buck Monument.
It’s a long story, but here’s the nutshell: A founder of Bucksport, Jonathan Buck died in 1795, and his grandchildren erected a monument near his grave site. Afterward, it’s said an image appeared on the stone in the shape of a woman’s foot. There are many versions of this tale, but one is that it’s the foot of a witch who cursed Buck as she burned at the stake.
Pets must be kept on leash. Admission is free. For more information, visit bucksportmaine.gov.
BDN FILE PHOTO
Stone steps lead up to the foundations of a home that was owned by George B. Dorr, the first superintendent of Acadia National Park.
OWLS HEAD STATE PARK IN OWLS HEAD
EASY
A number of Maine’s lighthouses are said to be haunted, but this one is particularly accessible, being in a state park. About half a mile of easy walking paths surround this iconic structure, which was built in 1852 and stands on a granite promontory about 100 feet above Penobscot Bay.
The lighthouse topped Coastal Living magazine’s most haunted lighthouse list, published in 2006. Numerous stories have been told about paranormal encounters on the property, some by former lighthouse keepers themselves.
MACKWORTH ISLAND STATE PARK IN FALMOUTH
EASY
Cemeteries don’t have to work very hard to elicit goosebumps. Just add a little fog and some inexplicable sounds, and you’ve got yourself a hair-raising experience. But what’s even creepier than a regular old cemetery? A pet cemetery. Just ask Stephen King.
Mackworth Island State Park is home to a cemetery built for Percival Baxter’s pets, including 13 Irish setters (a spooky number) and Baxter’s horse, Jerry Roan. For those who don’t know, Baxter is the man responsible for Maine’s famous Baxter State Park, home of the state’s tallest mountain. He also clearly loved his pets.
A 1.5-mile loop trail explores the park, with benches located at scenic locations and stairs leading to the shore in a few places.
The park is open 9 a.m. to sunset unless otherwise posted at the gate. Pets must be kept on leash. The entrance fee is $3 for adult Maine residents; $4 for nonresidents; $1 for senior nonresidents; $1 for children 5-11 years old; free for Maine residents 65 and older; and free for children under 5. For more information visit maine.gov/mackworthisland.
The park, which features picnic tables and a beach, is open 9 a.m. to sunset daily, unless posted otherwise. Pets must be kept on a leash. Admission is free. For more information, visit maine. gov/owlshead. AISLINN SARNACKI is a Registered Maine Guide and the author of three guidebooks: “Dog-Friendly Hikes in Maine,” “Maine Hikes Off the Beaten Path,” and “Family Friendly Hikes in Maine.” Follow her adventures at aislinnsarnacki.com.
The 30-foot tower of the lighthouse at Owls Head State Park. ADOBE
BY AISLINN SARNACKI
More and more, people are working from home.
This trend, spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and advances in technology, has positives and negatives.
For more than a decade, I worked in an office building alongside dozens of coworkers. Now, working from home, I enjoy the freedom of doing laundry in between phone calls and occasionally sending emails while still in my pajamas. Yet I feel lonely at times, and I find it easier to procrastinate when I have a household of chores surrounding me and not a boss in sight.
Working from home is an adjustment, but I’ve found that creating a nice office space helps.
A few months ago, I created an office that has quickly become my favorite spot in the house. Even when I’m not working, I find myself wandering in there to sit on the loveseat and read a book. So, I thought I’d share my experience with you — as well as some tips from a local interior designer.
Lisa Gant, the owner of Modern and Contemporary Interior Design out of Belfast, said offices are often an overlooked part of a house.
“They’re somehow at the bottom of the list when it comes to decorating, despite them sometimes being one of the most regularly used rooms in a home,” she said. “To inject life and movement, I recommend house plants, focused lighting, and inspiring and motivational artwork or decor.”
Multiple studies have found that certain lighting can significantly alter your mood and even your cognitive performance. While a dark space can feel gloomy and oppressive, bright, fluorescent lights can also be irritating. The trick is finding lighting that makes you feel calm and content, yet awake.
When creating my new office, one of the best things I did was move it from a fairly dark space to a bright room with windows that let in the morning light. The sunlight — and the view from the windows — instantly boosts my spirits.
House plants have also added a lot to my new office space. Sitting on shelves in colorful pots, they serve as decor that’s both cheap and interactive, plus they add fresh oxygen to the atmosphere.
“I’m a pacer when on a [phone] call,” Gant shared. “So, I often find myself with a little watering can in hand, watering my
Aislinn Sarnacki’s revamped home office is clean and simple, with plenty of natural light, plants, and different seating options for variety while she works.
REALTORS
plants while working. It calms the need to pace and keeps me grounded as I work.”
Wall art can also make a huge difference in how you feel about your workspace. Some artwork can evoke feelings of calmness, while others serve to motivate or inspire.
For example, a vacation photo could remind you of what you’re working toward, Gant said. A painting of a place you’ve always wanted to travel to could serve the same purpose.
“I have a lot of creative clients who like to display their own work in their office space,” Gant said. “As a creative [person, such as an artist], the office is sometimes the worst place to be. So, being surrounded by their own work and the work of those that inspire them is an incredible boost for productivity. It encourages them to get their office work done so that they can return to doing what they love.”
Above my desk, I’ve hung a framed illustration by one of my favorite wildlife artists, Jada Fitch. It serves as a reminder that once I’m done with writing and sending invoices, I can get outside to enjoy the wilderness.
However, I may have made a mistake. When designing my office, I placed my desk up against a wall.
“Working at a desk facing a blank wall can sometimes make you feel, well, like you’re at a dead end, or even more accurately like you’ve hit a brick wall,” Gant warned.
Fortunately, I have another spot to sit if I’m feeling that way. Not far from my desk, I’ve placed a loveseat and ottoman that faces a set of windows and bookshelves.
Gant said providing multiple places to sit allows you to mix things up throughout the day. A cozy armchair and side table, preferably by a window, can be a great place to take phone calls, work from a mobile device, or simply take a break, she said.
What about home office trends to avoid? Gant said she isn’t fond of cork boards, whiteboards, or any other wall-hung piece that can become messy or overwhelming. Clutter can quickly destroy any sense of tranquility in a space.
However, if you enjoy brainstorming on a whiteboard, that’s perfectly fine. There are no strict rules when it comes to designing an office. Make it your own. Just don’t let it be an overlooked space in your home. With a little thought and effort, you can transform it into a place you truly enjoy.
AISLINN SARNACKI is a lifelong Mainer who has worked as a journalist for over a decade. Follow her writing at aislinnsarnacki.com.
Crisp and Cute FALL DATE
IDEAS
FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE PERFECTLY AUTUMN-IN-MAINE DATE IDEAS
BY MARISSA DONOVAN
Some of the best romantic movies show us how lovely autumn can be. “When Harry Met Sally” makes every viewer romanticize about falling in love in New York once the leaves change color. Maine can also be a dreamy setting for our own love stories. Sometimes we forget what is in our own backyard when it comes to our enchanting state. Be the main character in your own rom-com this autumn and try out these date ideas.
SHOPPING UNDER THE STARS
Turn shopping into a romantic date night by taking it outside. Bangor Waterfront Night Market will be having their final event of the season on Sept. 22 starting at 4 p.m. There are many artisan booths and food trucks along the waterfront with handmade goods and delicious food. Maine Micro Artisans, who organize the event, are also opening a new storefront in Bangor at 21 Washington St. in late August. Or take it old school and visit an antiques store. Couples who share the hobby of refurbishing furniture should check out the treasures at School House Antique Mall in Brewer, Old Creamery Antique Mall in Ellsworth, or Hobby Horse Antiques Marketplace in Searsport. Much of their inventory is held inside, but each one has an outdoor area with rustic hidden gems worth bringing home.
Maine Micro Artisans organizes the Bangor Waterfront Night Markets in the summer.
SUNRISES, BIRDWATCHING, AND SEA GLASS HUNTING
Leaf peeping season is perfect for hikes and scenic walks. Lace up your hiking boots and plan a sunrise hike to highpoint with seascapes. Lookout Rock in Brooksville and Pine Hill Preserve in Little Deer Isle are two brisk, beginner-friendly hikes with panoramic views of nearby coastal islands. Head out early and bring a flashlight or a headlamp to help you watch your step during the dark hike up. For additional comfort, pack a sleeping bag and large thermos of coffee to enjoy while watching the sun come up.
When it comes to scenic walks, the Orono Bog Walk is a perfect destination in Greater Bangor. Bring some binoculars to spot the many birds and plants along the way. Harriman Point in Brooklin is excellent for a relaxing walk near the water and beachcombing for sea glass. Pieces of sea glass can be saved for collection or turned into a craft night for you and your partner. Outdoorsy dates will allow you both to decompress and appreciate spending time together.
FUN TIMES AT THE FAIR
The Blue Hill Fair and the Fryeburg Fair are two fall-time family-friendly events that also make for an entertaining date. Split a bag of cotton candy or a large funnel cake with your special someone. To get the best view of the fireworks, make sure to get a seat on the Ferris wheel. There’s also live music shows to attend at night and many agricultural demonstrations to watch during the daytime. You can spend hours looping around the fairgrounds making memories as a couple.
FARMS, ORCHARDS, AND PUMPKIN PATCHES
Whether it’s the first date or weekly date night, a day at an apple orchard or pumpkin patch should happen at least once in your relationship. Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant has a massive landscape of activities to choose from, such as taking a hayride around the property, picking out pumpkins, and petting baby goats. Its corn maze will ultimately put your relationship to the test as you work to find your way out together. Conant Apple Orchards in Etna offers specialty beverages such as their apple cider slushies, pumpkin spice iced coffees, and hot apple cider topped with a doughnut and whipped cream. Along with their many beverages and apples, they also have candy apples, pumpkins, and fall-themed clothing for sale. Before leaving the orchard, look up apple recipes and jack-o’-lantern designs together to make the most of your harvest!
DECORATIVE DRIVES AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
This budget-friendly date idea is inspired by a Christmas episode of the television show “New Girl.” Instead of driving around your neighborhood looking for houses decorated for the winter holidays, go find houses decked out for Halloween. Couples who enjoy celebrating the fall holiday can admire homes with gigantic skeletons and orange lights. This date should definitely be BYOC — bring your own candy.
The Orono Bog Walk is a beautiful place for a romantic stroll.
Well, Aren’t You JUST THE CUTEST!
We asked our social media fans to share their adorable autumn date ideas and our readers did not disappoint! Here are just a few of the suggestions we received. Visit Bangor Metro on Facebook and Instagram to view all of our reader suggestions and to answer future polls. You might just see your name in print in a future magazine! WE ASKED, YOU ANSWERED!
ENJOY A “DATE DAY AT TREWORGY FAMILY ORCHARDS TO PICK FLOWERS, EAT BACON APPLE PIZZA, AND GET FRESH APPLE CIDER AND, OF COURSE, DONUTS.”
Treworgy Family Orchards is located at 3876 Union St. in Levant. For more info, visit treworgyorchards.com.
—SAIGE B.
“LOVE A QUIET STROLL AROUND LEONARD’S
MILLS IN BRADLEY RIGHT AS THE LEAVES START TO PEAK!”
Leonard’s Mills is located on Blackman Stream in Bradley. It’s the site of an early pioneer settlement that is now home to a museum featuring an authentic reconstruction of a logging and milling community of the 1790s. Learn more at maineforestandloggingmuseum.org.
—ANGELA M.
“FLING INTO
FALL
[IN] SEARPORT.”
Searport’s annual Fling into Fall event is traditionally held in early October and features pumpkin decorating, a parade, craft fair, music, and more.
—KATHY C.
“COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR!”
The 48th annual Common Ground Country Fair comes to Unity Sept. 20-22, 2024. For more details, visit mofga.org/the-fair.
— STONE FOX FARM CREAMERY
“FALL-INSPIRED MIMOSA FLIGHTS AND BRUNCH AT MASON’S BREWERY!”
Mason’s Brewing Company at 15 Hardy St. in Brewer offers a full restaurant and brewery, as well as a scenic outdoor patio along the Penobscot River. Visit masonsbrewingcompany.com.
—LAUREN A.
“A RIDE UP THE PENOBSCOT NARROWS OBSERVATION TOWER DURING FOLIAGE SEASON.”
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which connects Verona Island to Prospect, includes an observatory located in the 420-foot-tall west tower. It’s the tallest public bridge observatory in the world. From the top, visitors can view the bridge, nearby Fort Knox State Historic Site, the Penobscot River, and Penobscot Bay. For more info, visit maine.gov/mdot/pnbo.
—CHRISTEN G.
FALLING FOR Festival Season
FEELING FESTIVE THIS FALL?
DON’T MISS THESE FUN AUTUMN EVENTS!
BY EMILY BAER
Summer is often the golden child of road trips and adventure, but there’s no shortage of fun to be had in Maine as the seasons change. Whether you’re interested in sticking close to home or exploring the state’s farther reaches, fall fairs and festivals await. Plan ahead, arrive hungry, and expect the unexpected.
THE EASTPORT PIRATE FESTIVAL
There’s treasure to be found in Maine’s Down East region! Three days worth of it. Whether you’re a salty sailor or landlubber for life, the Eastport Pirate Festival is pure gold. When you arrive you’ll find yourself awash in a crowd of swashbuckling visitors, musicians, street performers, artists, vendors, and more. Throughout the festival, there are as many chances to engage in the town’s rich maritime history as there are to indulge your more playful whims. Kids can try their hand at sword fighting, participate in cutlass lessons, enjoy a concert or puppet show, compete in a costume competition, or make art at interactive stations scattered around town. The more seasoned pirates in your midst might be found throwing axes, running the barrel-race, or enjoying historical reenactments, live music, and food truck fare with whatever motley crew you’ve set sail with. Either way, you’ll want all hands on deck. This one-of-a-kind Maine experience is one nobody should miss.
SEPT. 6-8 | EASTPORTPIRATEFESTIVAL.COM
TRAILS END FESTIVAL
For 17 years, the Trails End Festival has celebrated the Katahdin’s region’s spirit of adventure with three days of live music, food, and entertainment. As much an event for thru-hikers as it is for fairweather explorers, this year’s festivities kick off Friday afternoon with three back-to-back shows featuring Maine favorites, including the “world-famous” Grassholes bluegrass band. The next two days are jam packed too. On the music front there’s everything from country, honky-tonk, and Americana to blues, soul, and jam-band style extravaganzas. In between shows, you can check out local vendors, taste test during the chili cook-off, and indulge your sweet tooth at the home-made pies and cakes auction. There’s plenty for kids to do too, with a bounce house, face painting, and games around town. It’s hard to imagine there’s anywhere else you’ll see canoes, kayaks, sleds, ATVs, bikes, and skis as centerpieces to a parade, so make sure you catch the All Trails Lead to Millinocket Parade on Saturday. Even pups will get in on the action during the Mutt Strut. On Sunday afternoon, a flock of fearless rubber duckies will race down Millinocket Stream. And for those with enough energy left to chase them, there’s the No Duck Left Behind Paddle. Before you head home you can help wrangle runaway ducks with kayaks and safety gear provided by Katahdin Outfitters.
SEPT. 13-15, | TRAILSENDFESTIVAL.ORG
COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR
One of Maine’s most iconic events, the Common Ground Country Fair is a three-day celebration of organic agriculture, rural living, and sustainable communities. Each year, over 60,000 visitors make their way to Unity in search of inspiration, education, and fun. With more than 900 vendors and exhibitors, there’s nowhere else in the world you can eat an heirloom apple, pet a donkey, enjoy fresh pad thai, buy a handwoven wall-hanging, watch kids rocket down a grass hill on cardboard sleds, and listen to world-renowned experts share tips on regenerative agricultural practices all in one day. There’s truly nothing else like it. In addition to the Common Ground Education Center, where the fair is hosted, you can explore the Maine Heritage Orchard and organic demonstration gardens. There is also a 5K, fiddler’s showcase, draft horse show, poultry exhibit, exhibition hall, and children’s area. And, if you’re looking for something truly unique, there’s the Harry S. Truman Manure Pitch Off, which takes place only on Friday and Saturday. This may be your one chance to test your manure throwing skills so don’t miss it. Otherwise, keep an eye on the MOFGA website for updated lists of workshops, speakers, kids activities, and live music.
SEPT. 20-22 | MOFGA.ORG/THE-FAIR
DAMARISCOTTA PUMPKINFEST & REGATTA
The annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta is as much about community as it is about competition. And courage. It takes a certain kind of brave to hollow out a giant pumpkin, outfit it with a motor, and set off into the wild blue yonder, but it’s happened every year since 2007 and there are no signs of stopping. Quite the opposite in fact. Equal parts fun and imagination, the all-volunteer festival continues to grow like the giant pumpkins it showcases. This year’s event will feature the iconic pumpkin regatta, a pumpkin derby, live music, and a parade. There will be a Kids Zone, a pumpkin dessert contest, a pie eating competition, and, of course, the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth Weigh Off. Throughout town you’ll find giant, painted pumpkins featuring the work of local artists, and stories about the farmers and families who grew them. Organizers expect more than 14,000 visitors so plan your trip and clear your plate. You’ll want to be hungry when you get there.
OCT. 12-14 | MAINEPUMPKINFEST.COM
AUTUMN GOLD FESTIVAL
An official marker of fall is Ellsworth’s Autumn Gold Festival, which features an array of activities and attractions that anyone can enjoy. Follow the golden flags to find everything from boat rides and car shows to live music, art exhibitions, a golf tournament, food vendors, games, the annual Mutt Strut, and more. Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to get to know area businesses and organizations as they showcase their creativity and sense of community spirit with in-store events, discounts, and decorations. Hosted by the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce, this annual festival embodies their mission to boost tourism and foster community connections.
SEPT. 26-29 | ELLSWORTHCHAMBER. ORG/AUTUMN-GOLD
DOWNEAST CIDER AND CHEESE FESTIVAL
Ellsworth’s Downeast Cider and Cheese Festival celebrates two of Maine’s most iconic agricultural traditions. Having enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, cheese and cider purveyors around the state continue to offer a surprising variety of products to new and steadfast consumers. This festival, the only
one of its kind in the state, underscores the community-oriented nature of both traditions by bringing together foodies, artists, experts, and musicians, for concerts, tastings, and workshops that explore the various aspects of cheese and cider making in Maine. If you’re curious about foraging wild and heritage apples, want to expand your palette and don’t know where to start, have dreams of becoming a pommelier, or are a selfproclaimed turophile, you’ll want to be there.
NOV. 7-10 | HEARTOFELLSWORTH.
ORG/DOWNEAST-CIDER-CHEESEFESTIVAL
MAINE HARVEST FESTIVAL AND CRAFT SHOW
The bounty of Maine’s harvest season is on full display at the Maine Harvest Festival and Craft Show in Bangor. With hundreds of vendors showcasing their Maine-made goods, it’s a veritable feast for all five senses. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the festival and will welcome over 200 farmers, artisans, and exhibitors as they share and sell products. Visitors can sample products, talk with producers about where and how their goods are made, and learn about Maine’s many agricultural industries. This
year, the show also highlights the work of craftspeople from across northern New England. Work on your holiday wishlist as you wander the aisles, try out new offerings from your favorite local companies, and enjoy the opportunity to sample the diverse and delicious menu that is Maine!
NOV. 23-24 | MAINEHARVESTFESTIVAL.COM
BANGOR AUTHORS’ BOOK FAIR & LITERARY FESTIVAL
The third annual Bangor Authors’ Book Fair & Literary Festival aims to connect bibliophiles, booksellers, and writers during a one-day extravaganza in celebration of the written word. With more than 90 authors and 1,600 visitors, there’s no shortage of opportunities to meet your favorite writers and connect with like-minded creatives in your community. All genres will be represented. In addition to book talks, panel discussions, book signings, and networking events, this year’s festival will feature Maine literary lion Paul Doiran, author of the beloved Mike Bowditch Mystery series, as keynote speaker.
A close-up detail of artist Matt Willey's bee-themed mural on the side of the building at 47 Park St. in Bangor.
PHOTO: LINDA COAN O'KRESIK / BDN FILE
TAKE A TOUR OF THE AMAZING MURALS POPPING UP ALL OVER BANGOR AND BEYOND
BY JULIA BAYLY
When it comes to accessible public art, few things beat a mural.
As an art form it’s stood the test of time going back tens of thousands of years to the earliest known cave wall paintings in France. Those primitive works are at least 300,000 years old. The artists are of course long gone as are any indications of their muse or motivations. But it stands to reason the paintings were created in a public place to be seen by others.
Since then, the early Egyptians, Romans, Medieval, Renaissance, and Victorian artists right up through present day creators have worked to create murals on blank walls.
Over the last several years, Bangor has joined the mural world with large scale paintings showing up on the sides of buildings and roads.
“I strongly believe that art and trees and place-making makes you happier in general,” said Annette Dodd, president of Bangor Beautiful. “It makes [Bangor] a more interesting place to be.”
Bangor Beautiful was created two years ago by artists and citizens of Bangor who are passionate about making our community a more beautiful place through public art, trees, gardens, and other beautification efforts.
The downtown murals are a big part of those efforts.
“When a building has a huge wall it’s like a blank canvas,” Dodd said. “We want to do things to make it look better.”
So far the non-profit has supported the design and creation of six large murals around downtown showcasing native plants, trees, wildlife, aquatic species, insects, and culture.
FEATURE
A Sundial lupine designed by Bangor High School student Jaeda Grosjean can be found on the back of One Lupine on Park Street. Bangor Beautiful board members and a handful of students from Bangor and Brewer, including Grosjean, painted it last year.
LUPINE LOVE
A mural on Park Street depicts the sundial lupine, which is the only native lupine species in Maine. The more familiar bigleaf lupine has pushed that species to extinction, so the “One Native Lupine Mural” gives passersby a chance to see what the plant looks like. The mural was created last year by Bangor High School student Jaeda Grosjean.
DRIPPING WITH HONEY
Not far away, New York-based muralist Matthew Willey spent about a month painting a bee-themed mural on the side of the building at 47 Park St., which houses Pepino’s Mexican Restaurant.
Covering the entire three-story exterior wall of the building, the mural is dripping with honey as healthy working bees are shown buzzing around delivering pollen and nectar to their hive.
The mural is part of Willey’s longrunning project The Good of the Hive, a 20-year effort to paint 50,000 honeybees — the average number of bees in a healthy hive — in murals across the nation and the world. Willey said on his website that his goal for the project is to spur conversations and action around conservation, nature, and the interconnectedness of all things.
KENDUSKEAG HOMAGE
Just below the U.S. Post Office and facing Franklin Street is a mural paying homage to the wildlife and plantlife of the nearby Kenduskeag Stream.
The vibrantly colored mural transformed once-gray supporting walls along the back exit of the Bangor Post Office and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office. Painted an array of blues, oranges, greens, and yellows, and studded with intricately detailed images of fish, birds, turtles, insects, and other creatures, it connects the art with the ecosystem of the Kenduskeag.
NEW THIS YEAR
Two new murals joined the downtown art scene this summer with completion of a two-story mural on the side of a Hammond Street building, across from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office.
The mural, created using spray paint, shows Maine’s forest floor in spring, with a vernal pool and native flora and fauna, and was designed to educate people about the area’s natural ecosystem and environment.
Local nonprofits Bangor Beautiful and Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness teamed up to create the Hammond Street Ground Mural, Bangor's first ground mural.
PHOTOS:
That’s why fiddleheads, serviceberry branches, and a wood frog are included.
This spring, Bangor Beautiful planted 17 serviceberry trees at the intersection of Hammond and Ohio streets. Vernal pools are critical to wood frogs that lay their eggs in them, so both elements appear in the mural.
Just down the hill is the city’s only ground mural that runs along the road shoulder on Hammond Street from the intersection of Central Street and stretches uphill, ending just after the U.S. Post Office.
In addition to being art for arts’ sake, the ground mural serves a very practical safety purpose.
The display is designed to make the road appear narrower and slow traffic as it turns from Central Street onto Hammond.
Both of these murals were a collaboration between Bangor Beautiful and Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness.
The nature-themed murals showcase a unique feature of downtown, Dodd said.
“In Bangor, you can go from downtown to a walk on the Kenduskeag Stream Trail,” she said. “In less than 10 minutes, you’re surrounded by nature, and that’s pretty amazing.”
Dodd is also the artist who painted two of the city’s first murals — the Greetings from Bangor mural at the intersection of Main and Union streets and the Paul Bunyon mural on Central Street.
This year, the nonprofit is expanding into publishing with a planned coloring book featuring the murals. The project is a collaboration with art students at Bangor High School.
In another collaboration, the group is working with art and ecology students at the University of Maine to create a mural for the pump station building on the corner of Broad and Water streets planned for next spring.
Costs of the murals are covered through successful grant applications, business sponsorships, and private donations.
“The response to the murals has been fantastic,” Dodd said.
And neither she nor Bangor Beautiful are anywhere near done yet. There are still a lot of blank walls out there.
“Murals can make a city so unique and fun,” Dodd said. “I just love public art in general, and [murals] are something where everybody who is downtown can enjoy and hopefully makes their day better.”
MORE MURALS AROUND MAINE
BY JULIA BAYLY
Bangor is not alone in sprucing up the sides of buildings with colorful murals. From the St. John Valley to southern Maine, murals around the state greet visitors and tell the stories of the communities in which they are painted.
In Fort Kent, a large mural on the side of a building on West Main Street shows off one of the town’s signature events: the Can Am Crown International Sled Dog Race. It also gives a nod to other winter sports like nordic skiing and biathlon.
Over on East Main Street a second mural honors the boats and those who operated them, ferrying people and goods across the St. John River, before any bridges connected Maine and Canada in the area.
Far to the south in Brunswick, colorful depictions of the old Cabot Mill and Dam and the First Parish Church are part of that city’s “Art Around Town” public art display.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Rockland — well known for its galleries and museums — took the opportunity to extend an existing mural on Oak Street onto the pavement.
Murals cover several exterior walls in Belfast. One of the newest is a 34-foot mural on the waterfront featuring an Atlantic sturgeon as its centerpiece.
A person could spend a good chunk of time searching out these and the scores of other murals around the state. Frankly, what could be a better adventure right here in our own backyard?
David Hurley’s 34-foot sturgeon mural can be found on the Belfast waterfront.
Annette Dodd works to finish the “Greetings from Bangor, Maine” mural on the Union Street-facing side of the McGuire Building in Bangor in 2014.
DOING THE Work z
BY EMILY MORRISON
WHEN TEACHING my students the difference between passive and active voice, I often put the same sentence on the board every year. It’s one that I, as a mom, and they, as 17-year-old kids, can easily relate to, I suppose.
“The laundry was done by my mother.”
They look at it for a moment or two and then, usually, I pick some bright, young know-it-all to come up and circle the subject.
Nine times out of 10 they circle the laundry, and my little English teacher's heart rejoices. It’s such a beautiful thing to wield the power of knowledge and the dry-erase marker over them.
“Whaddaya know, you’ve circled the object!” I chortle.
“The what?”
“The laundry didn’t do itself, did it?”
“No, the mother did. Ohhhhh,” and the lesson is complete. For the sentence to be active, they need to put that mom in charge. They need to show who’s doing the work.
When I ask another volunteer to rewrite the sentence 10 times out of 10 they get it right. “My mother did the laundry.”
See how fun English class can be?
Yeah, I know. It’s still pretty lame-ville, but this lesson pops into my head all the time, and not because I love grammar (though I do love me some grammar).
On the wall at my gym there’s another whiteboard. (It used to be an elementary school, but now it’s a community center.) While I’m pedaling on the stationary bike, scrutinizing my sweaty appearance in the mirror, I tear my eyes away to read the following mantra:
“The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.”
My oldest daughter, Addie, walks in to see me searching for said magic and commiserates while asking for a swig of my water. I hand it to her and point to the whiteboard.
“Some days I wish the work would just do itself, Ma,” she laughs.
“Ah, if only,” I say.
God, wouldn’t that be great? If your body went on autopilot while you exercised? If your work day, whatever it is, was as easy as clocking in and out, and everything that happened in between required no effort on your part?
Just think of it. That chore you hate doing at the end of the day. The Herculean task of cleaning your home. The daily laundry, dishes, and food run. Walking the dogs. Taking out the trash. Washing the kids. Feeding the kids. Mowing the lawn. Showing up for your people at various events.
What if all the things that make your life challenging were done for you?
Yeah, you guessed it. You’d be as passive as that ol’ passive sentence. Who’s in charge here, anyway? Your life or you?
You. Ten out of 10, it’s always you.
“The work doesn’t do itself, Addie. YOU DO THE WORK!” I cheer her on.
She rolls her eyes and steals my water bottle, and I keep pedaling while wondering how many more days we’ll have like this, how many more times she’ll be in the same place as me and want to grab a quick workout with her mom before she runs off to her summer job.
Probably not many. And that’s OK.
It’s OK that she’ll be jetting off to do big things and her dad and I will still be teaching kids and walking dogs and doing laundry. It’s OK that Meg and Jack (my other two urchins) will be grinding through high school and college, and I’ll be their crisis control center either on the phone or in person.
It’s OK that my parents are getting older, and they’ll need me to hop in the car and come visit them more than they can hop in the car and come visit me.
It’s life, and life doesn’t do itself. We live. And I like living. I really do. I like doing all these things for myself and my people.
Some days, though, I’d really, really, really like an electric bike. Now that would be magical.
EMILY MORRISON is a high school English teacher, freelance writer and editor from coastal Maine. She is living happily-ever-after with her handsome husband, three beautiful children and two beloved dogs. And a cat.
