Uniquely American New Year's Celebrations

As we bid a fond adieu to 2012 and welcome the arrival 2013, I thought that this would be a great occasion to celebrate the New Year with some of the more unusual New Year's festivities from around the United States. And believe you me, there are some doozies out there. 

Through the use of my mastery of Google-Fu, I found some unique ways that Americans say goodbye to the Old Year and howdy to the New Year.

For Example...

• The Droppin' of the Carp - Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin  
• The Muskrat Dive - Princess Anne, Maryland
• Last Night Fayetteville (Hog Drop) - Fayetteville, Arkansas
• The Deuce of Clubs Drop - Show Low, Arizona

And last, but certainly not least, in my wife's hometown of Eastport, Maine (The Easternmost City in the USA):

• The Great Sardine Drop - This year end festival is an international event featuring the Maple Leaf Drop honoring the arrival of the New Year an hour earlier in the neighboring Canadian province of New Brunswick. 

How will you be celebrating the transition from 2012 to 2013? We'd love to know, so leave us a comment and tell us about your plans!

We'll see you in 2013!

Happy New Year!

Veteran Makes Christmas Merry for Soldiers

Christmas Across the State***

I wrote this piece two years ago, but it as timely today, if not more so, as it was then. 

I have mentioned that when it comes to serving in or showing support of the United States Military, Mainers are second to none. Literally. Per capita, Maine has the highest percentage of active and retired veterans of all fifty states in the Union. I know that to be true because I have substantiated it before, I just can't remember where. So you gotta trust me on this one. Most of the people I know in Maine are members of Heather's family and off the top of my head, I can name seven men that have served or are serving as I type this, and that's just a small part of her family. I know that's a bit anecdotal, but it also is representative of the larger group,the total population of the state.

Your average enlisted man/woman in the military is not exactly raking in the dough. Sure, they get some good benefits, but many of our bravest also have families to take care of. In a trying economy, like we are currently experiencing, it's all the more difficult to make ends meet for service members.

There is an organization here in Augusta that is a beacon of hope for military personnel during the Christmas season. I discovered an article in the Lewiston-Auburn area newspaper the Sun Journal that tells the story of Christmas Across the State and the man behind it, Kerry Birmingham, himself a Viet Nam Vet.


"We've been doing this for well over a decade," said Birmingham, who oversees a Maine National Guard program that grants Christmas wishes for needy military families. "We've never seen so many."
Last year, "Christmas Across the State" helped about 60 military families with presents, he said. This year, the number of requests could reach 80.
 
Daniel Hartill, a Staff Writer for the Sun Journal, gets the props for a job well done for bringing Christmas Across the State to the attention of the masses. Read the entire article on the Sun Journal web site.

Isn't that article a perfect example of selflessness, patriotism and a damn fine man? Daniel, again I thank you for your work in bringing this to the fore, and to Mr.Birmingham, I salute you, Sir, for your service to our country and for your continuing efforts to make sure our Bravest and Finest young people are looked after during the Christmas Holiday. God bless you and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

I'm sure that there is an organization similar to "Christmas Across the State" where you live, so please consider lending them your support. Thanks.

Merry Christmas!
***Photo shamelessly swiped from the Sun Journal ***

Maine Christmas: The Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport

The Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport

Lobster Trap Christmas Tree

Thanksgiving, 2012 is in the books and that means it's now twenty-two day mad dash to Christmas. All over the country big cities and small towns are all dressed up in their Christmas finery as we await the arrival of good old saint Nick.

One of Maine's most famous cities, Kennebunkport, is celebrating a thirty-one year old festival called Christmas Prelude. While Christmas Prelude may be a relative newcomer in terms years, it's long on tradition and big on beauty.

The first Christmas Prelude was held in 1982 and "included a tree lighting ceremony, a River Tree Arts concert, a chowder luncheon, candlelight caroling and Santa’s arrival by lobster boat. We now have three tree-lighting ceremonies – Dock Square in Kennebunkport, Lower Village of Kennebunk and the lobster trap tree in Cape Porpoise; about a dozen Art and Craft Fairs; approximately 12 venues serving either breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner; programs sponsored by the Historical Society; and 12 programs of music celebrating the season. Santa still arrives by lobster boat escorted by two very special “lobster elves”. The Kennebunkport Business Association’s Christmas Prelude is now in its 31st year. For each of these years, business people have worked with the community to recreate the spirit and joy of the Christmas season."

Click here to go to the Christmas Prelude web site home page, and you be treated to a beautiful slide show from previous years of the celebration. On that page there are also helpful links about lodging, a schedule of events and contact information for the folks who run the Christmas Prelude. This year's festivities have already begun so be sure to check the schedule of events for the day and time of your favorite activity. 

Cuttin' the Mustard for Over a Century

Still Cuttin' the Mustard

My main(e) (<---pun) goal in writing this blog is to feature something you haven't previously known about, and today I may have reached that goal. Unless you have strong connections to Maine (Eastport specifically), like living/have lived here or have family or friends here, chances are you've never heard of Raye's Mustard. You are gonna thank me by the end of this post.

Raye's is located in Eastport and has been at the same location for 105 years using the same stone grinding machinery for that entire time! Here's a four minute video that walks you through the whole process of how Raye's Mustard is made. Even watching the video gives you the feeling of traveling back to 1903, the very beginning of of this legendary business.

Today, in 2012, Raye's, recently spotlighted on The Cooking Channel, has more types of mustard than the Octomom and Kate plus Eight together have kids. My personal favorite is the sweet and spicy, but I have tried several different flavors and each is very tasty.  Raye's really is a good product and they offer a large variety of mustards to choose from so your sandwich will never be the same twice in a row.

Pride, tradition and those 105 year old seed mills have proven to be a winner in New England...and maybe your state, too.

***DISCLAIMER : I WAS NOT compensated in any way by Raye's Mustard for writing this post.I genuinely like and use their product...I have some in my 'fridge right now.***

Win a FREE Vacation in Maine!

If you've never been to Maine, then a FREE vacation to the Pine Tree State is a great way to break the ice! Except the rivers and lakes won't be frozen for another 7 or 8 months. :) MaineTourism.comhas a contest going on right now that will get you started in making Maine a regular vacation spot, and all you gotta do is register! All you need is an email address! It's that simple.

Having lived in Maine for the last 6+ years, I can tell you that it's a prime piece of real estate with 1.3 million friendly people and very few grouches. 

For more immediate plans or perhaps a trip for another time, order a FREE Maine Travel Guide.

The Boothbay Region (Maine) - The Coast With the Most

Boothbay, Maine

With the onset of gardening seasom here in Maine, I am looking back with great fondness on this year's garden. I live in an apartment with my wife and kids, so I am limited as to exactly what I can do gardenwise, but I plow (pun intended) ahead by doing as much as I can without pissing off the Property Manager. And those you that know me know that I teeter right on the edge of "acceptable" and "don't you dare". Such is life.

While time is short until first frost here in Maine, we still have time to enjoy the bounty before us and I know just the place to enjoy said bounty - the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. From mainegardens.org/  we learn of the humble beginnings of CMBG, "This magnificent and ambitious project began with a kernel of an idea generated by Rollins Hale of Boothbay Harbor. He and other mid-coast Maine residents who shared the belief that northern New England in general, and Maine in particular, were in need of a botanical garden founded the grassroots organization in 1991." Sixteen years later, on June 13, 2007, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens became a dream come true. The Gardens now encompasses 248 acres, a 9500 square foot Visitors Center, a seasonal cafe and a gift shop, as well as a bevy of  blooming botanical beauties bound to bewilder you.

The CMBG also serve as an educational experience, with information about natural history, botany, horticulture and the ecology of the area. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens can be reached here. CMBG is privately funded (as far as I can tell) and that alone is reason enough to label it as 248 acres of awesome.

Coastal Maine Accomodations and Activities

While much of the country has enjoyed Spring for several weeks, we are just getting started with it in New England and a place like Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is a perfect reminder of the bounty that awaits us.So getting to a wonderland like CMBG is a must for Northeast US residents.

Boothbay is a neat little town in a great area for family fun and exploration. Given Boothbay's location, fishing and boating are the obvious activities at hand. But there is much more to the area than that. There is dinner theater, music arts and along with water sports, terrific opportunities to see the flora and fauna of Coastal Maine. This handy Calendar of Events has an itenerary that has a variety of offerings surely to please everyone in your family.

As far as places to stay, you'll find everything from campgrounds to fine hotels. Dining, including bakeries and specialty food shops dot the seaside and believe you me, they are outstanding!


More Info

I realize that I haven't covered all you need to know to plan a trip to Boothbay, so click on the Boothbay Region Information Center's web site and scroll down to the bottom for contact numbers and such.

Be sure to click on one of the ads on this page to look for the right hotel/motel for you.

Order your FREE Maine Travel Guide at visitmaine.com.