Animals take over my world & required reading

L. figured out how to create signatures on her email account a while ago and since she's such a fan of pigs, she used two pig icons in her signature when she first set up her account.

Today she sent me an email with an updated signature. She has managed to track down an icon to represent each one of her animals (ones that live with us year-round as well as our temporary friends).

We've got a little of everything at our house these days and now every time I get an email from this kid it's going to remind me the lack of control I have when it comes to restraining all the animal lovers I live with from inviting more friends to live with us.

I've had a few moments this week when I've thought about how way over my head I am with all these animals. Within the past four weeks we've moved in a couple of piglets, a foster dog (a blog for another time - we can't keep him even if G. wanted to) and two sheep to join our year-round flock of poultry and three cats.

But when I come home from the office every day and I see clean pens, happy kids and content animals I realize everything will work out just fine.

A benefit of all of these animals has been that my "brain age" is quite young as I've done plenty of reading - and learning - lately. Of course I'm sure (insert sarcasm here) everyone is envious of my reading pile this past month and can't wait for my reviews of each title.

* Storey's Barn Guide to Sheep
* Raising Sheep the Modern Way
* 4H Swine Resource Handbook for Market and Breeding Projects
* Storey's Guide to Raising Pigs

Our wooly friends have arrived

We moved L.'s lambs Minette and Symphony to their temporary home in our backyard on Sunday. They'll be living with us until mid-October unless L. has her way and keeps them until November 1. She has some crazy idea that she is going to include them in her Halloween costume plans. I have yet to be convinced this is a good idea (that's another blog topic for later).

The lambs arrived via dog crate. The ride was a little tight for them but it was only a 10 minute ride from their farm home to our backyard and they seemed no worse for the wear in the close quarters.

They did make a quick exit once the door was opened though.

There isn't much grass in their pen at our place so we'll have to rely on purchasing more hay than most of L.'s other 4H sheep-raising friends. L. will be taking her lambs for walks around our yard and letting them graze wearing their halters but that won't supplement their diet much at all. I'm curious to compare the costs of taking care of the sheep versus the pigs this year once L. finishes her record sheets in the fall.

The lamb's arrival was fairly uneventful until L. decided to take the lambs for a walk in our open field area. She put a halter on each of the lambs and I walked Symphony while she walked Minette.

(Guess which one walks better on a halter? It would not be the one I was given.)

So while we were in the field Symphony decided to do the roll over and refuse to walk thing. I finally coaxed her to stand up (via a manual lift back on to her legs again) and then gave a small tug.

Big mistake.

Symphony managed to slip out of the brand new (hence slippery rope) halter with that one not-very-strong tug. Luckily I reacted a half of second faster than the lamb did because I managed to get a hold of her wooly back before she bolted.

My neighbor (the fox chaser) saw the lambs in the yard and came over to meet them with his wife just after I grabbed Symphony. It was such wonderful timing as I was carrying a lamb across the field to get her in the pen because the halter just wasn't feeling secure when I tried to put it on her again.

There is a special sort of feeling when you know you don't know what you're doing and you have an audience to see that first-hand.

So off I waddled to the enclosed pen with my arms around the lamb's forelegs while it's hind legs dangled down the front of my body chatting with my chuckling neighbors.

G. was (thankfully) nowhere around with the camera to capture the moment.

But we did manage to catch a few pictures of the lambs in their new pen. The pig pen is nearby and they've been checking each other out the past couple of days.

L. will be attending a 4H workshop at the fairgrounds this weekend to learn about showing sheep. We have quite a learning curve but I'm sure L., although nervous, will get it all figured out.

At the moment I'll just focus on how cute the lambs are. I'm not going to think about how we're going to transport them to sheep shows at the fairs this summer or how to do any of the 101 things that need to be done to get them ready for one.

No, I'm just going to enjoy their little "baaaahs" and "maaaahs" sounds right now and think about how darn cute they are.

Odd sightings this week

Dolls in the freezer, pig taking a milk bath and a high mileage odometer reading - I've seen it all this week.

Twin dolls L. has had since she was a newborn are still an active part of her life. I guess I never realized she intentionally puts them in the freezer to make them cold. I found them there yesterday. "Mom I've been freezing them since I was little. They feel good when they're cold." Apparently they make friendly ice packs on warm days.

I was at a stop sign when I glanced down and caught the numbers on my odometer. Makes me think I should play that number in the lottery this week.


The sheep farm L. is halter training her lambs right now (they'll move to our house this weekend), there's a sweet pig named Natalia. L. loves to visit her when we're at the farm. Natalia is not so keen on her grain at the moment so she was having a little milk to ensure she was eating enough and was happy to provide some humor for us as well. This reminded L. why she enjoys pigs so much. They are funny little (big) creatures.

Drinking the milk wasn't quite enough as she purposefully dumped part of the bowl so she could roll around in the milk. Apparently this felt very nice on her skin because she rolled around for quite some time in happy piggy milk-covered bliss.

It has been an interesting week...

Kid Tracks Column: Park rangers great resource for families

Rangers at state parks are some of the most helpful people you'll ever meet, especially if you're new to outdoor adventuring with your family.

When the girls were 4 and 5 years old we visited Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in Freeport. The girls were curious about the signs identifying the type of trees on one of the trails and when one of the park's rangers overheard them asking questions, he came over to chat with the girls about the trees. He then suggested we attend the guided nature program happening a short time later that included a scavenger hunt-type worksheet to learn how to identify the trees at the park.

That was my daughters' first introduction to a state park ranger and they haven't forgotten one of the tips that ranger told them that day about white pine trees - there are five letters in the word w-h-i-t-e and that's how many needles are in each buddle on a white pine.

My girls share this tip often and feel quite smug in their knowledge of their home state's official tree.

The girls and I recently took a trip to Florida and planned to take a canoe paddle my cousins had suggested in the Ocala National Forest. They raved about the seven-mile paddle and we put it on our "must do" list during our visit. But when we arrived at the river a sentence at the bottom of the canoe rental flier sent up a red flag for me.

"This is not a beginner paddle."

The kids and I are not beginner paddlers but being the solo parent on this particular adventure and with my unfamiliarity with Florida waterways, I opted to consult one of the rangers at the park about the statement. The ranger asked me a couple of questions before answering mine.

"Can you steer a canoe well?"

"I do OK and have been out on rivers and ponds many times in Maine."

"How well do the kids paddle?"

"Umm, they do OK generally but don't have a ton of experience. They usually rely on me to steer."

"How many canoes are you renting?

"Just one. It's just me and the girls."

"This is not a paddle I would recommend. Here's why..."

That's when the ranger explained the obstacles in this particular river and the likelihood (very high for novices) of flipping over in the first two turns. Since Florida is known for alligators in all its waters (the reason we wanted to visit this location in the first place was because of the wildlife sighting options), we were not keen on a paddle that might result in a flip. The ranger also went on to explain that she did not recommend this particular paddle for a solo canoe. It was best enjoyed traveling in a group.

The ranger made a suggestion of a beginner paddle she thought matched our interest and skill level on a river about 15 miles away.

That paddle turned out to be exactly right for us.

Once again this experience confirmed for me that park rangers are some of the best resources for families new to a particular park.

My family has visited less than half of all the Maine State Parks (we're working on getting to them all before the kids graduate from high school) but have found each one we have visited to be wonderfully unique. Each visit to a new-to-us park almost always includes a short chat with a ranger about the area.

"Rangers expect to answer questions and interpret what people see around them to explain the types of trees, birds and animals at each state park. Visitors should walk up to anyone who has a state park uniform on and ask a question," explained Will Harris, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands director.

If you're interested in a more in-depth learning experience, there are interpretive ranger programs available to groups at several Maine state parks, including Bradbury, Mt. Blue, Sebago, Cobscook and Aroostook. Groups simply need to call ahead to arrange a time for a requested program.

Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in Freeport publishes a monthly roundup of guided nature programs at the park on weekends and holidays each month at 2 p.m. No pre-registration is required. During May, the programs include a weekly Osprey Watch to learn about the bird's history and view their nesting area. There is also a hike with a ranger on the trails, activities on the natural history and ecology of the park's varied shores, a wildflower walk and more. To download a schedule of programs and/or trail map of this park go to www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=31.

In the news recently there has been some hoolpa over the new fees at Mackworth Island and Kettle Cove, both managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Both of these locations will have new "iron rangers" (metal fee collection receptacles) this season along with signage to request a fee of $2 residents, $3 non-resident, $1 kids 5-11 years. Neither of these locations will be staffed to collect fees. Harris explained that because of the public outcry about these new fees, "we're not enforcing fees (at these locations) at this time."

If you're looking for a free park visit, mark Sunday, June 20 on your calendar. It's Maine Day at state parks and historic sites and all Maine residents receive free admission to the parks that day.

Families can also take advantage of the state park pass as well. The 2010 Vehicle Pass Allows all the occupants of up to a one-ton vehicle free day-use for $70 for the year. Individual passes are also available for $35.

Highlights from my family's adventures at a few state parks over the years...

Bradbury Mountain State Park - 2004

Bradbury Mountain State Park - 2010

Grafton Notch State Park's Table Rock - 2007

Grafton Notch State Park's Appalachian Trail - 2008

Grafton Notch State Park's Eyebrow Trail - 2007

Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park - 2003

Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park - 2009

Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine, May 2010.

A cheese making failure

Even after we read all the instructions and thought we'd followed each step accurately, L. and I discovered we were sadly mistaken that making cheese would be as easy as it sounded.

It is apparently not called an "art form" for nothing.

My interest in cheese-making started after reading a story in Hobby Farms Magazine. L. agreed with me that it sounded very do-able and she was as eager to try making it as I was.

So I made an inquiry at Whole Foods in Portland about rennet, which I needed per the magazine recipe. I got an offended-type look and a decisive, "We do not carry that product in this store." I figured it was something animal-related based on the clerk's reaction so I went online to find it.

Turns out that rennet, a key ingredient in modern day cheese making along with food-grade citric acid, is actually an animal byproduct.

Rennet is an extract from the fourth stomach of young ruminants, such as cows, goats, and sheep. This extract contains a number of enzymes which are designed to help these animals digest their mother's milk, and when added to milk, rennet will cause the milk to coagulate, forming the curds and whey which are so essential in the cheesemaking process. Humans have been working with rennet for thousands of years, and it is typically readily available in stores which carry cheesemaking supplies; it can also be made at home, if you happen to have access to the necessary ingredients. You can read the rest of the explanation here...

This explained the unpleasant look I was given by the guy at Whole Foods. He must have been a vegan...

Anyhoodle, I found a cheese making supply store online, www.cheesemaking.com, that offered a kit that included all the ingredients I needed to make several pounds of cheese. It was less than $30 and even included step-by-step directions and a trouble-shooting guide. The only thing the kit did not include was the milk.

I ordered it.

The recipe was very precise in the instructions when making cheese in the home kitchen.

* Use stainless steel pots (no reactive metal as that will have a negative effect on the chemical reaction to form the cheese).

* Use water that does not have chlorine in it (they recommend distilled if you're not sure)

* Use milk from a local dairy that has not been processed using high heat. Ideally that's raw milk.

I had the first two things covered but the milk required a visit to Smiling Hill Farm. I know Smiling Hill makes cheese so I figured they would have the type of milk I needed. I spoke with a very knowledgeable person at the farm store and learned that dairies in Maine can not sell raw milk (per public health concerns and is actually illegal to do so). It has to at least be pasteurized.

It turned out that "Creamline" is as close as I can get to purchasing raw milk commercially (I need to chat with some 4H friends with dairy cows this summer to give me some raw milk).

Smiling Hill's Creamline is pasteurized but it is not homogenized (read more about the difference in these processes on howthingswork.com so it has a "cream plug" at the top of the bottle.

L. liked that plug a lot and licked each bottle's neck clean of it.

We followed the directions, really we did, but the cheese never got to the "ball" form.

We had a pot full of substance that looked a whole lot more like vomit.

Even though I thought we'd followed the directions correctly, there are some things now I'm second-guessing.

* My stainless steel pot may have been too big. We made sure the milk mixture was heated to the correct temperature but the extra space in the pot may have cooled the milk too quickly and caused things not to react correctly at a key point in the process. I have a smaller pot we're going to try next time.

* The metal slotted spoon we used could have caused a problem. I'm not sure now if it really is stainless steel or not.

* We might not have used enough rennet. Cutting a small pill-like disc in to quarters is not all that accurate and I think we'll use the largest of the quarter cuts next time. Or maybe use a half piece and see what happens. The directions said you can play around with this ingredient a bit based on how it works at your home kitchen.

I think now I understand a bit better why a lot of even the DIY-types don't make cheese at home. But L. and I have not given up. We're going to try it again sometime soon.

Anyone ever try to make their own cheese? Have any tips for us?

Preview: Take a Cake Walk to historic Camden

Mothers can have their cake and eat it too thanks to the Camden-Rockport Historical Society's Cake Walk event on Saturday.

Twelve historic inns in Camden have agreed to open their doors and put their Maine hospitality on display for the day. Visitors will have the opportunity to sample some scrumptious sweets and experience the resplendent beauty of each building.

"We chose Mother's Day weekend for the Cake Walk because it's so quiet here (at this time of year) and thought it would be a fun gift idea for dads, husbands and brothers to give their mothers, wives and daughters for Mother's Day," said Dana Fittante, a volunteer with the Camden Cake Walk Committee.

But this event isn't just for mothers. The Cake Walk is a family affair and children will enjoy the adventure of exploring the history and splendor of each inn just as much as their parents and grandparents.

"These innkeepers are great, and many have families of their own, so there will be a welcoming feel for all who have kids in tow," said Fittante. "And what kid doesn't love cake?"

The participating inns are within reasonable walking distance of one another so a stroll from one location to the next -- and a bit of exercise before the next slice of cake -- might be just your cup of tea. For those who need some time off their feet, Rockland's All Aboard Trolley will be on hand to offer rides to each location.

Marlene Hall, executive director of the Camden-Rockport Historical Society, believes this event is a win-win for the society, the inns and the community at large.

"We are extremely pleased to premiere the inns and Cake Walk in this kind of format," she said. "We're all working together to preserve our local historical landmarks."

All proceeds from the Cake Walk will benefit the Camden-Rockport Historical Society, its complex and its ongoing educational programs.

Hall said that each inn will have something special to offer Cake Walk participants. When pressed to choose a location not to miss she offered two suggestions: Hawthorn Inn and Camden Maine Stay Inn. Both are part of the town's High Street historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tickets for the Camden Cake Walk must be purchased in advance (by Friday) at one of four locations in and around Camden. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Walkers will receive a detailed map including locations for each inn and trolley stops.

CAMDEN CAKE WALK
WHEN: Saturday, May 8, 1 to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Downtown Camden
HOW MUCH: Tickets $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at HAVII, 87 Elm St., 236-6777; Surroundings, 39 Main St., 236-8536; Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce, 2 Public Landing, 236-4404; and Dot's, Route 1, Lincolnville, 706-7922.
FOOD OPTIONS: Each venue will offer a different type of cake.
PARKING: The Camden Cake Walk map denotes parking areas. Because it's off-season, on-street parking should be plentiful.
DON'T MISS: Hawthorn Inn and Camden Maine Stay Inn, both on the National Register of Historic Places.
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great.
BENEFITS: All proceeds benefit the Camden-Rockport Historical Society to support the society's buildings and ongoing educational programs.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: Event is rain or shine.
MORE INFO: www.conwayhousemuseum.org/cakewalk10.html

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram May 2, 2010

Super cool Portland Library

I have been anticipating the re-opening of the Portland Public Library's main branch for some time now and took a quick look around today after picking up an interlibrary loan book I'd requested.

It's super fab and full of light. It was a treat to visit. Can't wait to take the kids!