How to identify, pick, and cook Fiddleheads!

In the latest book of the Antrim Cycle, Jane and the children go out to pick fiddleheads, a Maine delicacy in the spring. This article from the Maine Cooperative Extension will tell you all you want to know about Fiddleheads.

http://bangordailynews.com/2015/04/28/homestead/how-to-identify-pick-and-cook-fiddleheads-and-when-to-leave-them-alone/

Learn about Goats!

Applegate Farm, the newest book in the Antrim Cycle, takes place on a working farm in Maine. Our main character, Jane, arrives and tangles with the resident goat.

Her question was never answered as something hard hit her in the butt and Jane fell forward, landing on her hands and knees. Something hit her again and she fell flat on the ground. Both children were yelling and the dog was up and barking and her butt hurt, but Jane didn’t understand why. From where she was laying on the ground, Jane saw the door of the double-wide fly open and a young woman rushed out, waving a broom.
“Git, you old goat! Git!”
Really, Jane thought, rubbing her sore tush, labels from the children are one thing, but this was just plain name-calling. She rolled over, trying to get up and explain, and that’s when she saw Sunny tugging at the collar of an evil-looking goat, trying to pull him away from her. Screech was helping, pushing against the other animal and barking loudly, while the goat started baaing or bleating, whatever goats did. Chickens were squawking and flying away from the melee. The woman had arrived and was batting at the goat with her broom while Rain stood on the bench waving her doll and adding to the general noise.

In truth, goats are not quite so evil and can be even very lovable. They are also great animals for a beginning farmer to raise. Here in Maine, you can learn all things goat at Stony Knolls Farm, or Goat School, in the tiny town of Saint Albans. http://www.goatschool.com/

Vacation in the Oxford Hills - Norway Lake

The Oxford Hills are full of lakes and ponds, lovely clear water filled with fish and waterfowl. Residents take advantage of them for sport and recreation. The largest is Long Lake over in Harrison, but I based Antrim Lake in The Black Swans on Lake Pennesseewassee, or Norway Lake as it's often called.

There are ducks, geese, loons, and alls sorts of waterfowl to enjoy.

Many of the lakes are stocked and abound with togue, salmon, bass, cusk, pickerel, and sunnies for the little ones to catch and release. There is all sorts of boating, both motor, jet ski, and sailing. In winter, there is snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and ice skating.

And there is swimming of course. My children would be in the water at ice-out, shivering and blue. In summer, the top layers will warm up, but a deep dive on a hot day is the best cure for cooling off.

Come to the Oxford Hills with the entire family and enjoy yourself year round. Maybe you'll even see some black swans!

Literary World Trip

What a fun idea for a blog! The Black Swans is featured today!

Book/Scene Location: Naples Causeway, Naples, Maine, USA

What happens there? The Naples Causeway is between Long Lake and Brandy Pond in the western part of Maine. There is a steam paddle-wheeler boat and all sorts of other water ventures as well as restaurants, gift shops, and other recreational activities.

Link to Literary World Trip

Vacation in the Oxford Hills - Fairs Edition

Spinning angora from the rabbit on her lap

In The Black Swans Taisie and Conn meet for the first time at a fair. Maine is known for its summer fairs. There is a fair every weekend in some part of the state and crowds of people head to them for fun days of rides, food, agricultural exhibits, and horse racing. The fair season culminates every year in the Oxford Hills at the Fryeburg Fair, maybe the biggest one of them all.

Trying the rockers

Over the years I've been to most of these fairs. The fair in the book is an amalgamation of these, but the fair most like that in the book is the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)'s Common Ground Fair held on the third weekend in September. It is my very favorite fair. The food is fantastic although if you want a coffee or caffeinated drink you're out of luck - the food is all natural and delicious. There is every type of food you can imagine: Indian, turkey legs, pie, gyros, and so on. There are exhibits over the three days ranging from sheep herding to building a sustainable community to choosing the right fleece. The classes and lectures are great. There's entertainment for everyone with many artists, craftsmen, and musicians. There's a separate childrens area where they can play games and do crafts. There are no rides excepting some horse-drawn wagons, but I don't think anyone misses them at all.

Cross Pollination

Pictures all from 2014 Common Ground Fair







Maine fair schedule  - http://www.mainefairs.org/fairs.html

Bean Hole Beans are the best

Another Adventure in the Oxford Hills - plan your vacation in Maine!

The Black Swans takes place in the fictional town of Antrim, Maine which is based in the western part of the state in the Oxford Hills. Taisie takes a hike up the hill behind her parents' farm. At the top is a quarry where she and Conn swim and camp out.

In the Oxford Hills there are many beautiful hiking trails, but my favorite is the family-friendly trek up Singepole Mountain. My sister and my nephew (Matt was about 7 yrs old at the time) hiked up Singepole many years ago for the first time. Since then I've hiked up multiple times as well as four-wheeled it on one memorable trip.

At the top is a quarry where we have had picnics, swam, and picked blueberries. The view of Norway/South Paris is spectacular. And yes, after swimming, you do come out all sparkly from the mica in the water. This was way before Edward Cullen and the Twilight series and has nothing to do with vampires.

Time to plan a vacation in the Oxford Hills!

The Black Swans takes place in the imaginary town of Antrim, Maine which is placed in the not so imaginary region of the Oxford Hills in western Maine. 

Conn and Taisie have their first date at the nearby Causeway which is based on the real Causeway in Naples, Maine which lies between Long Lake and Brandy Pond (on the way to Sebago Lake). It's a great area for families with a lot of activities for everyone to do. There's boating, jet skis, the Songo River Queen, tons of restaurants, golf and sea planes.

It's a great place to visit and to learn about the area that inspired Antrim, Maine.

Among the many restaurants is Rick's which in The Black Swans has been renamed Jimmy's

Capt Jack's at the Naples Marina has food and all sorts of water sports

The Songo River Queen will take the whole family for a ride up Long Lake.