A tropical storm with livestock is uneventful

I am grateful Hurricane Irene was a nuisance rather than a more violent storm in Maine. We had spent some time in the days before the projected arrival of the hurricane to prepare our house, yard, kids and livestock for an extended power outage. We had a water collection plan in place in the backyard because the pigs have an automatic water source that is hooked to our house water and when we lose electricity, we lose the well pump too. The chickens and sheep have manual fill water troughs so we needed to make sure we collected plenty of water during the rain event of the storm for them too.

Who said being a Maine farmer was easy? Oh yeah, that would be no one.

I am thankful to CMP that we were only without power for about 10 hours on Sunday so our water collection plan did not have to be fully implemented in its delivery to the various pens. The girls, Fino and I went out to check on the livestock a couple of times during the storm and everyone fared well in our backyard.
The pigs were their usual playful selves. They didn't mind the storm much but like the Almeida humans, they casually hung around and took a nap during the worst of it. Unfortunately the pig's pen is back to it's full Swine Lake capacity. This happens a lot during a heavy rain storm because even though we expand the pen every year, the pigs like to root. They avoid the yellow wires of the electric fence while digging and their wallows (holes) end up creating a small berm around the perimeter of the pen. Pigs really are fabulous lake builders!

We're working on a plan to dry the pen out by digging a drainage trench. We're also exploring plans to completely change the set up of the pen to avoid these drainage issues next year.

The sheep were their usual hang out selves and snacked all afternoon on their hay in their shelter and chewed their cud (an indicator of healthy, calm sheep). L. and I actually hung out in the sheep shelter for a while because it was quite cozy in there.

We opened the door of the chicken coop (we free range them normally anyhow) and the chickens were scratching around the yard for a while. During the highest gusts of wind the chickens stuck closer to their pen. But they seemed unconcerned in general and did their usual foraging for bugs even though the storm pretty much blew the bugs elsewhere.

The kids played cards, read books and generally kicked back and relaxed. Our homemade candle collection was out along with some store-bought candles and flashlights in case our power was out all night. We didn't need to light the candles but we had a couple going because the scent was nice.

L., ever my creative thinker, decided it would be fun to cover each of her fingertips by dipping them in the candle's hot wax. Apparently this is some cuticle treatment but she admitted she just wanted to sport some wax covered fingers for fun because she was bored. She peeled them off and had little finger-tipped bowls to roll around the kitchen table.

It is so much fun to be 13.

I took some video of our backyard during the storm. The gusty winds were impressive but the animals were less impressed with the storm as were the humans at our house. And that was just fine with me.

Working mom knows how to maximize a day off

I decided to take a day off from work this week to hang out with my kids. I haven't really taken any days off this summer that didn't require some 4-H/fair event. I asked the girls what they wanted to do on our totally free and clear day and a few ideas were tossed around before we made an ambitious plan chock-full of activities.

This is when I was reminded that having been a full time working mom for many years has taught me some really good time management skills. I, as well as many other working moms, really know how to maximize the hours in a day.

We started my day off with a trip to open skate at Family Ice in Falmouth. The girls have been doing great skating this summer and have now graduated to the ISI Delta level. I, on the other hand, have been stuck in the Alpha (beginner) level since April. The girls gave me pointers on my cross-overs on the ice and G. took a couple of photos to show me the error of my ways. The upside is I get some "good job mom" comments and provide some amusement for the girls. I count that as a plus in my communication repertoire with my teen daughters.

I don't look too bad doing cross-overs but that darn front skate doesn't want to point in the correct direction (for an inside edge) during the cross-over, hence why I can't 'graduate' from Alpha.

Then we made reservations to do some lobstering on the Lucky Catch. It was a fun hour and a half and a beautiful day to be on a boat in Casco Bay.

Then it was off to lunch for fried seafood. My kids are all about fish and chip plates.

We had to run home after lunch to feed the animals because having livestock requires you deal with feeding schedules and such even when you'd rather not (which is a topic for another time)...

Then it was off for a paddleboarding adventure with my friend Shannon at Ferry Beach in Scarborough. L. has been asking to paddleboard all summer (she caught the bug back in early June) and Shannon was happy to have an enthusiastic partner. G. and I opted out so L. could maximize her board time and we simply enjoyed sitting around on the beach relaxing.

After paddling around for a while Shannon started showing L. some yoga moves on her paddleboard (you can read Shannon's story about SUP yoga)...

.... and suggested L. might want to give it a try since L. had a good sense of balance on the board. L. and Shannon had some silly fun trying some of the yoga moves on the board. It turned out, L. was actually good at it.

We left the beach just after dark because really, we couldn't miss this beautiful sunset.

A perfect sight to end a fun, albeit exhausting, day. I might not be very good at ice skating (or paddleboarding) but I sure do know how to manage the hours in a day when I put my mind to it.

My cooking girls and their spiced cherry jam

My 15-year-old really likes to cook. She is my go-to-girl whenever my family needs to bring a dessert or a potluck dish to a gathering. She makes my life soooo much easier with her love of cooking and baking.

She's been taking an occasional cooking class at Measuring Up Cooking for Kids in Scarborough for the past couple of years. Instead of a week-long camp, she and her sister decided they wanted to do a weekly class to keep themselves busy all summer. They learned how to make everything from pretzel rolls to lobster raviolis to creme brulee to butter biscuits and peach jam for the past two months. The whole family has benefited from these cooking class and we've had a tasty summer!

The girls have not just been cooking in class though, they have been on roll of canning jam at home too. They've made strawberry and strawberry rhubarb jam, spiced peach jam (the addition of a teaspoon of cinnamon in a standard peach jam recipe is extra tasty) and our latest - and most favorite recipe this summer - spiced Bing cherry jam.

Bing cherries are on sale this week at Hannaford and although we always can fruit we've picked ourselves, the jam we made from the grocery store cherries was really tasty. A co-worker who tried it said it "tasted like Christmas." I think the combination of cinnamon, cloves and a bit of Amaretto does give it a spiced holiday drink taste.

My 15-year-old suggested I share the recipe here on the chance others want to take advantage of the cherry sale this week to make this jam. Trust me that on a biscuit (the girls learned how to make yummy homemade biscuits at cooking class this summer), this is the tastiest summer breakfast!

The biggest hassle of this recipe is pitting the cherries. My kids have said it is worth the time for the end result. With two people pitting cherries we've made this recipe and canned the jam in less than 90 minutes.


BING CHERRY JAM
1 quart (4 cups) chopped and pitted Bing cherries
1 package powdered pectin
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup almond liqueur (we use Amaretto)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
4 1/2 cups sugar
 
Combine all ingredients, except sugar, in a large saucepot. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Return to a rolling boil. Boil 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary. Ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Adjust two-piece caps tightly. Tip upside down on a cutting board for 20 minutes. Turn cap side up to cool completely. Should hear the pop of the vacuum seal cap lock in to place after a couple of minutes.

Here's the recipe the girls learned to make at their Measuring Up Cooking for Kids class this summer that we really like.

BISCUITS
1/2 cup butter
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut butter into flour, sugar, baking powder and salt with pastry blender until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in milk until dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn on to lightly floured surface knead lightly ten times roll or pat to 1/2 inch thick. Do not handle dough too much. Cut with round cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart for crusty sides bake until golden brown, 10- 12minutes.

The homemade biscuits are topped with the girls' spiced peach jam. When making these biscuits we've also substituted 1 cup of the all purpose white flour for the "white whole wheat" variety to add an extra fiber boost.

If anyone has any favorite pear butter recipe or, vegetable pickling recipe, let us know. The girls want to try some other canning projects before school starts.

Preview: Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival

Brunswick hosts its Outdoor Arts Festival for the fifth time Saturday, and there will be plenty to enjoy, from traditional visual arts to musical performances and in-progress projects like barn building and dragon tunnel making.

Spin Art's hula-hooping interactive demonstrations and roaming musicians will keep the festival even more lively.

"The Outdoor Arts Festival has grown from 39 artists its first year to 100 artists and artisans this year," said David Nadeau, event co-organizer.

He believes each year the festival attracts higher quality art, presentations, artisans and performers.

"We have a lot of artistic diversity this year," said Nadeau. "And the juried artists are not to be missed."

The festival's musical lineup starts at 10 a.m. with the Cajun sounds of Jimmy Jo & the Jumbol'ayuhs. All-female swing band Swing a Cat will take over at noon, and the bluegrass tunes of Cribstone Bridge will wrap up the afternoon.

In the spirit of artistic diversity, the festival also will include a variety of artisans, such as traditional flute maker Ken Brunsvold of Spiritwind Flutes. His flutes were played at the passing of the flame ceremony during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The artistry of barn building also will be demonstrated with the framing up of an actual barn.

"From fine arts to photographs and fine crafters, it's a great festival to come to," Nadeau said. "And there are price points all over the place to meet everyone's budget."

Children's activities have been expanded this year. Interactive entertainment will include lotus flower making, balloon twisting and face painting, as well as roaming jugglers and mimes.

Stage performances from Studio 48 will include excerpts from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," a glee club musical revue and a performance by the Dance Evolution Team.

The afternoon features excerpts from "Harriet the Spy," performed by the Theater Project's Young People's Theater Camp, and a couple of family-friendly sing-alongs.

Nadeau said organizers had both parents and kids in mind when they expanded the children's offerings.

"One parent can do an activity with the kids and the other can explore the artists' booths," he said.

The don't-miss feature for kids, as well as adults, is the dragon tunnel project. All ages are welcome to work with local craft book author Heidi Boyd and her architect husband, Steve, to construct the giant tunnel. The kids will enjoy reaping the benefits of tunnel construction with a crawl through the final results.

If you want to find out more about some of the participating artists, watch Fox 23's "Good Day Maine" this week between 8 and 9 a.m. The show will host an artist or performer from the festival each day.

"Get yourself to Brunswick and get caught up in the whole festival, and you won't be disappointed," Nadeau said.

BRUNSWICK OUTDOOR ARTS FESTIVAL
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20
WHERE: Maine Street, Brunswick
HOW MUCH: Free
FOOD OPTIONS: Area restaurants
PARKING: Around downtown
DON'T MISS: The dragon tunnel
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Rain or shine
MORE INFO: brunswickdowntown.com/boaf

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram August 14, 2011.

Kid Tracks Column: High ropes course fun, and tests your nerves

You might understand on the logical side of your brain that your carabiner pulley clips are securely attached and you are not going to go splat on the ground if you walk out on the tightrope. It's no problem. You can pretend to be a monkey for the day.

But the other side of your brain is saying no way are you leaving the stable wooden platform to swing like a monkey. You are way past that evolutionary milestone, thank you very much.

My daughters and I each went through a variation of this debate before taking that leap (and step) of faith out onto the ropes course at Monkey Trunks in Saco.

Money Trunks is a high ropes course that offers 48 "challenges." That means 48 ways to cross to different points of the course. Think giant tree house with rope ladders, tightrope wires, tires and foot-looped swings, as well as many other variations on this theme.

It's a true thrill-seeking, monkey-inspired climbing adventure.

There are three levels of challenges, the lowest offering more stable crossings. Stable, though, is a relative term when describing this course, because everything moves to some degree, except the round wooden platforms. The highest challenge level offered the most swinging-type crossings.

This place is an adrenaline-pumping experience, but the staff makes sure you know they keep safety in mind at all times.

Before we were allowed to step on the course, we watched a video that explained the course and its safety rules. Then we were fitted with a harness and helmet. The "monkey clips" were attached to each of our harnesses, with a demonstration of how to use them. The two carabiner pulley clips have a safety mechanism that prevents more than one clip from being disconnected at a time, to ensure you're secure and always connected on the course.

Each climber manages his or her own carabiners by detaching and reattaching to each crossing's safety rope so you can be self-sufficient and move through the challenges at your own pace. There are plenty of staff members around to assist all the climbing monkeys.

Once we walked through a low ropes course to demonstrate that we could sit back in a belaying stance in our harness (a move we knew from our indoor rock climbing adventures), we climbed the steps to the first level of the high ropes.

My 13-year-old hesitated before stepping out to the first crossing. The plank bridge secured by dual ropes running through the wood had some sway to it. That first step was a shaky one for her, but the next was steadier. She made it to the next pole platform with a smile, ready to face the next challenge.

My 15-year-old also hesitated before her first step and then crossed with ease. I had the longest mental debate before my leap of faith came. I think when you're over 40 you get slower about everything, including making a decision to follow your kids somewhere you are not sure you really want to go.

Muttering monkey puns (like "I must be bananas") offered some comic relief before I took that step out on the tightrope about 20 feet off the ground. But once I got a sense of my balance after a step or two, I really enjoyed myself on the monkey-like terrain.

After crossing a few challenges, my 15-year-old waited for me to catch up to her to share her observation of the course: "Everything moves, Mom."

As you work your way around the course, the challenges change; some are easier, others harder. But there was one constant: every crossing offered a balancing challenge, with forward and sometimes sideways movement on the wires.

In addition to a couple of hard wooden planks, other challenges we tried included a balance beam-like crossing that had rivets allowing the wood to move vertically when you stepped on it. That made walking a tricky process of securing one's footing and weight on the shifting wood before placing the next foot.

If you ever wanted to know what it's like to be a real tightrope walker, there are single, double and crossed wires to walk across, just like they have at the circus.

When I asked the girls which crossing on the main course they liked best, they said the rope ladders. I agreed. The rope ladders swayed more than some of the other crossings, but we felt more secure walking across them. They enveloped our whole bodies, unlike the open-air feeling (and reality) of the plank bridges and single wires.

Our favorite part of the course overall was the zipline. The girls' first experience on a zipline was this past winter at Sunday River. They absolutely loved it. There really isn't any need to balance your body like on the ropes course, so ziplining feels like a real breeze. I think the hardest part of the zipline is simply taking that first step off the high platform.

This entire course is actually about having fun high above the ground, so I would be remiss if I failed to offer this caution: do not push your child to do a ropes course like Monkey Trunks.

They might say they want to do it. They might be thrill-seekers every other day of their lives. But until you see them take that first step onto the rope, don't assume they are ready for it.

Get yourself mentally prepared to walk away if you see fear instead of excitement on your child's face.

I saw a mom coax, and then express surprise, that her normally thrill-seeking daughter was so afraid to step onto the rope.

The company's policy is that a full refund can be issued if a visitor (of any age) cannot make it across the first challenge. It's better to simply walk away and try another time.

My daughters are teens and I found this was a great age to enjoy this climbing challenge. But because it was an adrenaline-filled afternoon, they were exhausted afterward. So was I. This is not an adventure for the faint of heart.

You have to be able to manage your fear of heights. Once you're up on the ropes, it takes at least a couple of crossings before you can get to a platform with stairs to the ground.

Of course, the staff can belay over within seconds to panic-stricken visitors and get them back down quickly.

But if you don't want to make that kind of scene when the realization strikes that you are not cut out to be a monkey, you will likely still be stuck crossing some challenges before you're back on solid ground.

If you have older kids who like trying new things, Monkey Trunks is a great place to visit. And mom and dad should get ready to be outmaneuvered by the kids on the course.

It's a challenge made for an agile teen ready to show his or her parents who is the real king of the jungle.

IF YOU GO
MONKEY TRUNKS, 2 Cascade Road, Saco, www.monkeytrunks.com
ADMISSION: $49 for monkeys over 48 inches; $39 for monkeys under 48 inches; $179 for a family of four; Maine residents get $10 off admission prices every day after 3 p.m. and all day on Saturday. Maine ID required for discount.

KIDS' REVIEW
13-YEAR-OLD: I liked the zipline at Monkey Trunks. I liked the course, but I didn't like some of the things that wobbled too much.
15-YEAR-OLD: I liked the zipline a lot. I liked the course, but it was a little intimidating and there were some parts of it that were a little nerve-wracking. Overall it was really fun but you have to be a little daring to enjoy it.

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram August 14, 2011

Preview: Maine Lobster Festival

When an event promotes a "Lobster-Palooza" theme, you know there's going to be a lot of lobster there. But you might need some perspective about what "a lot" of lobster really looks like if you haven't been to Rockland during the Maine Lobster Festival.

Organizers expect to serve as much lobster as they did last year. That was more than 20,000 pounds of crustaceans.

"What's really cool about eating lobster on the waterfront is the view across the harbor. You can see them unloading the fresh lobsters we're serving at the festival," said Chuck Kruger, entertainment director for the Maine Lobster Festival.

According to Kruger, facilities in the main tent have the ability to cook up to 700 pounds of lobster an hour.

"This is the shortest distance from habitat to stomach you can get," he said. "You can't get fresher than this."

The Maine Lobster Festival is a five-day affair that kicks off Wednesday night with the Maine Sea Goddess coronation.

Kruger said this is not a beauty pageant. There are five finalists interviewed by judges, and the winner will be chosen based on knowledge of coastal Maine, the seafood industry and achievements in high school. Added to the mix will be King Neptune and his court.

There is no admission fee for the festival on Wednesday, which includes live music by the Bay Winds brass ensemble, the folk/blues band Paddy Mills and the rock band Chaos Sauce.

The festival will offer live music daily, from a variety of headline performers to well-known local musicians.

Thursday night's performance by Changes in Latitudes, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, is included in the daily admission fee ($8). Friday's contemporary country band, Emerson Drive, and Saturday night's performance by Uncle Kracker both have an additional fee. Tickets should be purchased in advance on the festival's website, www.mainelobsterfestival.com.

Children will have some of their own special events, including a costume parade on Friday. The festival also will host a children's tent each day and offer a kid-specific lobster eating contest, codfish carry and diaper derby.

There will be a marine tent as well that will offer kid-friendly displays but is really geared for all ages to learn about the Gulf of Maine and its inhabitants.

On Friday, amateur cooks get a chance to get their unique seafood recipes judged (usually they include lobster) for a chance to win cash prizes. Participants cook and talk about their dishes before judging time. Judges delve in at 11 a.m., with a winner announced at 12:30 p.m.

Kruger offered an insider tip about this event all foodies will appreciate: "There are free samples available for tasting after the judging."

The big parade down Rockland's Main Street begins at 10 a.m. Saturday. The theme for this year's parade is "Lobster-Palooza." The parade includes marching bands, floats, drill teams, mini lobster boats and other vehicles, and the newly crowned Sea Goddess and her court.

A 10K road race will be held Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Participants can register online or on race day starting at 7 a.m. New this year is a Barefoot Runners Division, with prizes awarded to the first male and female finishers. Also new this year is a 5K walk (not timed) at Harbor Park. That race also starts at 8:30 a.m. A 1-mile kids' fun run begins at 7:30 a.m.

The lobster crate race - it's a Sunday event - attracts lots of spectators. Contestants run across partially submerged lobster crates. The winner is the one who can run over the most crates before falling into the ocean.

"Sunday afternoon is a huge deal, because it is one of the festival's original events. We've had people run across more than 3,000 crates before they fall in," Kruger said. "But most people only get past six or eight of them before they make a spectacular splash. Usually a young person with a slight build flies across these things and wins."

Carnival rides and a large Ferris wheel - to appreciate the harbor from a bird's-eye view - will be set up. There also will be a fine-arts tent hosting local artists' work, and a Maine crafters tent that will include local handmade items from pottery to fudge.

If these aren't compelling enough reasons to attend the festival, here's another: The event, which has an $8 daily admission fee, is run by a nonprofit organization that raises money for others.

"We have over 1,000 volunteers run the festival every year," Kruger said. "A lot of them give a week's vacation to work the festival. There are no paid staff, and all of the proceeds from the festival benefit local community charities and nonprofits."

MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL
WHEN: Aug. 3-7
WHERE: Harbor Park, Rockland
HOW MUCH: Admission on Wednesday is free; admission Thursday through Sunday is $8 per day. There is an additional fee for musical entertainment Friday night and Saturday night.
PARKING: Visitors can park at the high school parking lot at 400 Broadway free of charge. A free shuttle service is available from this location.
FOOD OPTIONS: The main food tent will serve everything from single lobsters and lobster dinners to fried shrimp, haddock, steamed clams and combination plates. Other fair-style food vendors will be serving at locations around the festival grounds as well.
DON'T MISS: The music. The headliners and regional artists give the festival a great lineup.
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great
BENEFITS: Proceeds benefit local charities and other nonprofits.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: The festival is a rain-or-shine event.
MORE INFO: www.mainelobsterfestival.com

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram July 31, 2011

Kid Tracks column: Finding swimming holes

 My family likes to swim but we are not the type to spend the entire day at the beach. We are drive-by visitors. When we go to a beach we spend an hour or two in the water and then we're done. Lying around on beach towels all day is not my idea of a good time, nor do my teens enjoy that (someday, I know, that may change). It's a 2 to 3 hour adventure that is usually timed around a meal or on our way home from another activity.

 There are a couple of swimming places we enjoy for a quick dip but in writing this column about fresh water beach suggestions, I checked in with friends about where they like to swim. Some entertaining banter ensued in a group email. One mom didn't care for a particular location suggested by another because it is dog friendly. She said it translated to "(crap) everywhere" because not all dog owners follow the rules of picking up their messes.

 While the other mom agreed on that point during our email exchange, she said her kids liked swimming there because there was a place to climb and jump into the water. There was also a convenience factor as the swimming hole was right down the street from where she lived.

 I spoke with a friend on the phone about her favorite places to swim and she was very enthusiastic about Limington Rapids. It is actually a rest stop of Route 25 but locals know it to be a great place to cool off. My friend said it's a fun stop for her four kids when they're driving home. 

 "Nicole, you do know that's the place we had the run-in with leeches a few years ago, right?" I asked, recalling a story I wrote three summers ago about scraping off numerous wild-rice-sized leeches from my then 10-year-old with an old credit card.

 She did not realize it was the same place. But she said in all the times she's been there (many over the years), she has never seen a leech there. And the truth is, this used to be a favorite swimming spot for my kids as well. It wasn't until the proverbial 101st visit that a bunch of leeches found their way to my daughter (we've been back there swimming and, sticking to the sandy areas, haven't run in to leeches again).
I think these chats underscore how most parents make choices about places to swim during Maine's short summer. We don't always go for the 'ideal' beach but rather for one that is convenient to where we live or a place we're passing by on our commute home. The cost is also typically a factor as well, particularly if you're taking your kids' friends along, too.

 A quick stop is also a good incentive program for getting the kids to do chores in exchange for a quick dip.

 So I offer a roundup of swimming holes that my friends have suggested to me as being family-friendly even if some also have some less ideal features about them.

 I also want to note that I am aware this is not a comprehensive listing. But it can offer a lead if you live near or are passing by these areas. The best way to find out about fun places to swim is to simply ask all your friends. Other moms are the best sources of information. You can also post a comment (below) to offer your own suggestions.

Readfield Town Beach
From Kerry Wilkins-Deming of Winthrop

 Where: on Maranacook Lake, off Route 17/Main Street in Readfield
 Hours: Dawn to dusk
 Terrain: Sandy beach
 Swim Area: Roped off area
 Admission: Non-resident day pass $5 for one guest; $10 for 2 to 4 guests; Resident season permits available.
 Lifeguards: No
 Bathrooms: Yes
 Trash: Carry In, Carry Out
 Pets: Not permitted
 Other: Dock to swim out to. Picnic tables, some under cover. readfield.govoffice.com 

 Kerry explains why she likes to visit with her preschooler and teen. "I enjoy the Readfield beach due to it's quiet and quaint nature. You are able to keep an eye on your wee ones without difficulty and it's very clean! It is a true family beach."

Range Pond State Park
From Sarah Sparks of New Gloucester

 Where: Range Pond in Poland Spring, off Route 122 on Empire Road
 Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 Terrain: Sandy beach
 Swim Area: Float perimeter
 Admission: Maine residents: adult $4.50; children under 12 and seniors: free; Non-Resident adult $6.50; Non-resident seniors $2 
 Bathrooms: Yes
 Trash: Carry In, Carry Out
 Pets: Permitted on leash, not allowed on beach area
 Other: Picnic tables and grills available. There is a playground, ball field and boat launch. Lots of parking available. www.maine.gov

 Sarah explains why she likes to take her preschooler to this beach. "I like this beach because it is convenient for parking, restrooms/changing, and has other options, like the playground."

Shaw Park
From Julie Anderson, of Gorham

 Where: on Presumpscott River in Gorham, off Route 237 on Partridge Lane
 Hours: Dawn to dusk
 Terrain: Sandy beach
 Swim Area: No roped area
 Admission: Free
 Lifeguard: No
 Bathrooms: No
 Trash: Carry In, Carry Out
 Pets: Yes
 Other: Because this is a dog-friendly spot, you may find droppings on the beach   

 Julie explains why she goes to this spot with her two elementary school-aged boys. "It wouldn't be my first choice for an afternoon of beaching it because it's quite small. But my kids love to go for a quick dip since it's so close to our home."

Limington Rapids
From Nicole Foster, of Windham

 Where: on Saco River in Limington, off Route 25
 Hours: Dawn to dusk
 Terrain: Have to walk across rocks to get to sandy beach
 Swim Area: No designated area
 Admission: Free
 Lifeguard: No
 Bathrooms: Yes
 Trash: Carry In, Carry Out
 Pets: Permitted on leash
 Other: Picnic tables and grills available. Small parking area usually fills up on hot days.

 Nicole explains why she likes to visit with her four children, ages 8 months to 12 years old. "I like this place because it's a nice stop on the way home. There are quiet inlets for little ones and the little island for the bigger kids to swim out to. There is also a Porta-Potty and it's convenient and free."

Tassle Top Beach
From Nicole Foster, of Windham

 Where: on Sebago Lake in Raymond, off Route 302
 Hours: Through August 15 – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; August 16 to Labor Day – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 Terrain: 900 feet of sandy beach
 Swim Area: Float perimeter
 Admission: Children age 2-10 - $1; Adults (age 11-64) - $4.00; Seniors - $1; Evenings Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to closing general admission is 1/2 price (except holidays and weekends); Season passes available
 Lifeguard: No
 Bathrooms: Yes
 Trash: Carry In, Carry Out
 Pets: No
 Other: Nature trail. Parking area can fill up on hot days and staff will close beach to new visitors. www.raymondmaine.org

 Nicole explains why she likes this beach. "There are little private coves to set up your stuff. And there is a huge roped area for swimming. There is also an old fashioned foot wash to rinse feet."

Kiwanis Beach
From the Almeida kids

 Where: on Watchic Lake in Standish, off Route 25 on Kiwanis Beach Road  Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 Terrain: Sandy Beach
 Swim Area: Float perimeter
 Admission: $4/adults, $1/children under 12; After 5 p.m. $1 for all ages
 Lifeguard: No
 Bathrooms: Yes, bathhouse
 Trash: Cans or Carry In, Carry Out
 Pets: No
 Other: Boat launch for a fee; Snack shack.  642-3071

 The Almeida 15-year-old explains why she likes this beach. "It's a nice big lake. The water is clean and it's fun to hang out there. I like how it has a real bathroom there and they sell food at the snack shack. I also like that we can bring out canoe there. The lake is really pretty." 

Dundee Park
From the Almeida kids & friends

Where: on Presumpscot River in Windham, off River Road on Dundee Park Road
 Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 Terrain: Sandy Beach
 Swim Area: Float perimeter with floating dock
 Admission: Windham residents: adult $4; child (ages 2-12) $2; Non-resident adult $5; Child $3, All seniors $3 anytime; *After 5 p.m. Adults $3; Kids are free; Season pass for residents and non-residents available
 Lifeguard: Yes during peak hours
 Bathrooms: Yes, a bathhouse
 Trash: Carry In, Carry Out
 Pets: No
 Other: Life vest rentals, basketballs, volleyballs and horseshoes offered at no charge with photo ID;  Paddleboat and canoe rental for $5/hour.

 I recommended this spot to my friend Meg and she had this to say after her visit. "The younger kids had a blast. The water was clean and comfortable and it was certainly family-friendly. If anyone decides to visit, you may find it helpful to know that after 5 p.m., children are free and adult prices are reduced to $3." 

Pequawket Beach at Horne Pond
From Meg Kusturin, of Gorham

 Town: Spring-fed lake in Limington, off Route 25 to  North Road, first right onto unpaved road
 Hours:  9 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily
 Terrain: 1500 feet of sandy Beach, Forested surroundings
 Swim Area:  Float perimeter with floating dock, boat launch, small pier to allow for little ones to jump
 Admission:  $5 a carload (up to 15 passenger van)  Season pass is $25 for residents,  $30 for non-residents
 Lifeguard: unable to confirm
 Bathrooms: Yes, changing room
 Trash: unknown
 Pets: unknown
 Other: playground with older swings, slides, and tetherball, tennis courts, volley ball area, horseshoe pits, picnic tables, charcoal grills, Abenakis Path, walking path and convenient benches to enjoy nature, canoe and paddleboat rental available

 Meg and her large family explain why they like this spot. "The kids really enjoyed being able to swim to the dock, while I appreciated the small pier area which afforded the younger kids a safe jumping area. Another plus was the pine trees and their ample shade. A heads-up that the last mile of the approach is gravel and you truly begin to wonder it you have missed a turn off. The price certainly can't be beat!" 

Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine August 2011

Dad, kids host crowd without mom

When L.'s 4-H rocketry club asked Fino about water rockets, he eagerly offered to have the meeting at our house. He had all the equipment and space needed to do it so it would be easiest to have everyone over to our house for the meeting.

The trick of this offer was that I wasn't going to be able to be home at the time of the weekday afternoon meeting. Fino has been the primary at-home parent for several years while I work full-time (and not at home) and he is certainly capable of hosting people at our house without me. But still, I feel compelled to try to be home when a larger crowd is going to be there (about 25 kids and adults).

I left the girls with a list to pick up a few things around the house before the crowd arrived but I couldn't anticipate everything. I told them to be flexible and if somebody needed soamething, be ready to help. Being flexible takes some explaining to the girls because I am usually very specific with them about chores.

This is where I admit that I'm a list-maker. Generally the kids are OK with this because I don't include "clean the bathroom." My list looks more like this:

1. Put away all the brushes and hair stuff in the bathroom drawer (they are teen girls after all).
2. Clean the bathroom counter and sink.
3. Wash the bathtub.
4. Clean the toilet.
5. Shake-out the bathroom rugs - outside.
6. Mop the bathroom floor.

The girls feel a greater sense of accomplishment with every little item they can cross off their list so a bunch of small tasks actually shows more progress, which in turn provides more motivation to get everything done.

I also think this works for us because my kids like knowing when they're done with their list, they're done. They know I respect the notion of planning their day around <I>expected</i> work. Generally I don't think efficiency should be penalized by piling on more work simply because you got it done sooner than the task-master (i.e., mom) thought you would. I try hard to stick to the list I give them without demanding more (but of course, there are some exceptions).

My husband, on the other hand, HATES my lists. If I put something on a list, I have almost guaranteed its failure. It might be a month, or a year, before he decides that's a task he'll complete. Instead we verbally discuss our plans for projects and cleaning regularly. We agreed years ago (I thankfully figured this out early in our marriage) that neither of us will try to dictate a "to do" list to the other. Write it down and that project is toast. Talk about it and we each have better luck.

Anyhow, back to the crowd.

Because I wasn't going to be home I could not anticipate what everyone would need at the actual meeting time. Fino had his hands full making sure all the launch equipment worked properly (there is nothing worse than having an equipment failure with a bunch of eager kids).

It turned out everything worked out great.

One family brought a canopy to set up for wayward rocket landings and shade, which I had not thought about beforehand but was an awesome idea. There were other things the moms in attendance located in our house, with the help of my daughters, that made the day comfortable for everyone - like finding folding tables to set up snacks outside and a cooler for popsicle storage to avoid a lot of in-and-out of the house (which was great even though a freezer run wouldn't have been a problem for me, the cooler option was better and I appreciated the mom's forethought). Everything got figured out and everyone had a great afternoon of water rocket launches.

There is much praise to be said for both the stay-at-home mom, the part-time work-from-home mom and the work-outside-the-home mom as well as the (mostly) at-home dad. We all have our moments of making things work out for our kids when we team up and focus on what part of 'hosting' a meeting/activity we each do best.

Yup, a win-win for all involved.