Up the Where the Road Bends… A story from the life of Jessica Marie I hopped in my little red car, my Mom tagging along as she enjoys little marketplace excursions. We hit the road for a nearby town. We chatted about the usefulness of the supplies we were about to get. Sure, they were sheep supplies, and we didn’t have any sheep, but there were other supplies in the box that could prove useful in the future no matter what livestock we may get. We found the home with a beautiful, large, red barn just like the ones you see in pictures. I parked under a large, low hanging tree that reached over the gravel driveway. I walked up the front steps which showed signs of age as well as a lack of use. Clearly the occupants used the garage or barn entrances over the front door. After knocking on the blue door I could see movement on the other side of the glass panel in the door overlaid with a white lace curtain. A kindly, elderly woman named Janet answered as we exchanged pleasantries. She held a small box in her hands. She set the box on the porch and pushed her shoulder length white hair out of her face. She showed me everything in the box that she had owned for her sheep. She informed me that nothing in the box had been used in about fifteen years. But that didn’t bother me as most of these tools were metal or still sealed in original packaging and would last even longer than that. We chatted about sheep and goats, my research on trying to decide which manner of livestock would work best for us. She told me her story of how she came to own sheep. When she and her husband had first moved into the neighborhood they had held a housewarming party. A neighbor had come and Janet told this neighbor that she and her husband were considering getting sheep. The party ended, a month passed and this conversation was almost forgotten by Janet. Until this neighbor called unexpectedly to inform Janet that her sheep were ready. Surprised, as this was not her plan, she went with it and took the three sheep in. This led to her keeping and breeding sheep for several years before retiring from the sheep keeping world. She had found this box of supplies in the barn the other day and decided they would do someone else more good than collecting dust in her barn. I told her she was right and I greatly appreciated her time. As I was descended the three steps down the front porch she asked if I knew Dana Moore. Dana bred goats for both cashmere and milk. I told her no, omitting the part of my having only moved to the area in February. She told me just up the way where the road bends, just past the post office and near the local farm was Dana Moore who raised goats. She said if I happened to be driving by, I could stop in one day and talk to Dana about goats. I thanked her for the information. Half of owning livestock is knowing the right people and having knowledgeable associates in one’s corner to call for advice or stock if needed. I took my box of newly acquired materials and knowledge to the car. As we pulled out of the driveway, I told Mom about this Dana Moore. Mom and I took a look at each other and said, ‘let’s go find her.’ We turned left at the stop sign instead of right and set off to try and find Dana. We followed the road and sure enough the road did curve to the left. We found the post office on the right. We drove for a way past a place that looked like a local farm but couldn’t tell where Dana and her goats lived. I pulled over in a nearby driveway to turn around. Saddened at not being able to find this woman as it felt a bit like a quest at this point, when a neighbor walked down his driveway. I called out to him from my car, asking if he knew where Dana and the goat farm was. Sure enough he did! He told us we had passed it and gave us directions to her house. I wrote down her address in my notebook for future reference. I didn’t have any specific questions just yet, and I didn’t want to show up unannounced without at least a proper list of intelligent questions to inquire about goat keeping. But when the time was right, I would be able to say that Janet sent me. We then headed back for home. Laughing about our little quest to find Dana with the goats and the turn of events that led us there. We pulled up to another stop sign in the small nearby town. Directly to our right on the corner was the town library with a sign boasting of a book sale. They were open for another 30 minutes. Mom and I looked at each other and immediately agreed to check it out. I promptly turned into the parking lot. Having made no disruption to traffic as not a single car was on the road in any direction. We ascended the steps to the small, white, traditional style library building. In the foyer were about a dozen books not apart of the library, we assumed this consisted of the book sale. We paused to peruse the modest selection as the librarian approached. She informed us the basement was full of books for the book sale and we could acquire a library card if we wished. Libraries are one of the best resources so we quickly joined the town library that is but fifteen minutes from home. The small-town library did all record keeping traditionally, on paper. The library card is hand filled out and each item checked out is recorded manually into a card box. Mom is a fan of Karen Kingsbury and found she had a new book recently released and quickly collected it for check-out. I descended the stairs to the basement and found it was in fact filled with books for sale. As well as projects that the local youth were working on as part of the libraries’ summer program for kids. I moved through the aisles soaking in the presence of so many books both here and above. It was small, but the fact that libraries exist and service even this far out is a beauty in my eyes. I found a book to purchase and quickly ascended the stairs to pay before they closed. The librarian was friendly, helpful, and happy to have more members to look forward to their return. I took one last look around the single room library. Adults’ fiction and non-fiction on one side, childrens’ on the other, movies and new releases in the middle, the librarian desk in the center of the room. Taxidermy geese and owls of local species dotted the walls. One owl was decorated per season. As it was summer, he wore sunglasses and a hat. Come fall he’ll don a scarf I was informed. I paid for my book while Mom finalized her check-outs and we strode out the screen door and down the steps with the library closing in but a few minutes. A few cars slowly rode by on main street as we walked to the car with our newly purchased and borrowed goods. A convenience store across the street boasting several patrons as we pulled out of the parking lot and continued our ride home. We began to laugh at the turn of events of the evening. A better or more entertaining hour and a half we hadn’t had in awhile. Going for sheep supplies then searching for Dana and her goats, finding a book sale, and joining the library. I felt like I had found a new town with side quests to complete and enjoyed every moment of it. We are learning how to settle into a new place, making connections and finding new places to visit is part of the adventure of moving. It takes time to truly become embedded into an area, but evenings like this made the process that much more enjoyable
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Penobscot Narrows Bridge, Observatory & Fort Knox Maine Review By Jessica Marie Where the Penobscot river meets the Penobscot Bay and eventually the Atlantic Ocean, sits the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory as well as Fort Knox in Maine. We hear of Fort Knox, Tennessee but there is another just off the coast of Maine. It is packed with history and views. Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory The bridge crosses the Penobscot river and joins Verona Island to the mainland. It is a striking and unique bridge that flits into and out of vision through the surrounding forest as one approaches. It is a relatively narrow, two-lane bridge with towers that stretch high into the sky. The observatory is taller than the Statue of Liberty! The views from the observatory allow you to tower over the forests of Maine to see the Penobscot river, where it diverges into the eastern channel, and the Penobscot bay. You can also see the town of Bucksport nearby. There are multiple parking lots and parking is included with admission. Parking any vehicle is easily accommodated for your visit. There are bathrooms in the parking lot but none at the bridge or in the observatory. There is one elevator to the top of the observatory and the group limit in the elevator is 8. Covid-19 rules require all elevator occupants be from the same party. You won’t be in the elevator with those outside your party. The top can comfortably hold maybe 15-20 people. There are a few small stair wells with a wall to one side and windows on the other. These lead from the elevator to the observatory. There is another elevator for the disabled to reach the observation deck. Once at the observation deck you have a full 360 view of the area. We saw a large school of fish swim through the river being chased by a seal. There are stairs down to the bottom of the observation tower that can be used in an emergency. There are employees present at the base and the top to guide visitors. Parties are given about 15 minutes before they are encouraged to return so the next group can come up. Fort Knox Fort Knox began construction in 1844. It is very close to the bridge and one admission fee grants each person access to both the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, Observatory and Fort Knox. Most visitors park at the bridge, then drive over to the Fort to park in that lot. There are bathrooms, a drink vending machine, and gift shop upon starting the trail to the Fort. Once inside the fort there are no amenities. There is a trail down to the Penobscot River and the cannons along the river. The trail is steep in places, but there is plenty of space to pause and rest if needed. There is a covered stairwell from the area by the river up towards the fort. The stairs and rooms are very cool and are a great place to head if you get too hot. The stairs are very steep, so watch your step. On the walk up to the Fort you are impressed by the size of the Fort and how well fortified it was. Inside there are many signs explaining the area as well as free guides that can answer questions, give tours, and more. Once inside the fort, you have free run of the place. There are back halls that are very dark and completely unlit save for sun streaming in through the rifle slits. Be sure to bring a flashlight or use the one on your phone. These back areas are very cool both in temperature and for adventuring. But watch your step as much of the floor is uneven and steps can crop up anywhere. Do not navigate these halls without use of a flashlight. You can ascend the stone, spiral staircase to the upper level. You can see the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory from the upper level. Under the main level are small cavern like areas that can be explored. However, you will need to duck or crawl to fully explore them. If you play the flute or other such instrument, you can find some fantastic, highly acoustic areas where music can be heard through much of the Fort. Conclusion This is an incredibly fun place for people of all ages. Families with small children had a great time exploring the Fort, just be sure to watch their step as the floor is uneven, unlit, and can be slippery in places. I spent most of my time finding as many tunnels and back halls as I could. I spoke to a guide at the end of the day and was told I had found every hidden area. I felt very accomplished! Strollers and wheelchairs could see the main level, but little else. These could, however, see the Bridge and Observatory. If you love history, views, and exploring old forts these two attractions are perfect for you. The plan your trip to either attraction click here. This is not an affiliate link. https://www.maine.gov/mdot/pnbo/ You can pay for and visit only the observatory or the fort, or pay one fee to see both. The bridge itself is free to drive across. Happy exploring! Starting Our Homestead
By Jessica Marie I realized that I have given updates on our little homestead for the past several months. But I never gave it any formal introduction. What we have, what we do, why, and where we plan to go. So, this is to give some context for our fresh little homestead so that the updates I give every month in the Monthly Catch-Up blog posts make a little bit more sense. Where We live on 80 acres in central Maine. We currently have 30 hens and one rooster plus 2 Guineas. One has been missing for awhile, we aren’t sure if she is sitting on a nest of eggs or if something nefarious has befallen her. We also have 3 farm dogs that are mostly guard dogs for the family. They are not livestock protection dogs, as they have amply demonstrated for us, but we know their limits and capabilities and have adjusted accordingly. Chickens I grew up with chickens, at least half of my life has been lived with chickens in some form or another. Last year we started with 6 hens and brought them with us when we moved from Colorado to Maine. In March of this year we got 24 new hens as day old chicks. We suspect a few are laying their first eggs as we have found a small egg here and there. The first eggs are often smaller than usual. We got a year-old Rooster from a local farmer who had too many roosters. Guinea Fowl Disclaimer on guineas. If you, like me, have seen and heard of these unique albeit bizarre birds and are considering getting them, I have some information that doesn’t seem very common. Now, I hadn’t done extensive research, but I had done some research on Guinea Fowl before we purchased them. I had heard they were good at protecting or at least alerting your fowl to intruders, and would attack small rodents and snakes. But their biggest complaint from homesteaders was their loudness. Which is true, guineas are loud. However, we have plenty of land so it doesn’t bother anyone. But what seems to get left out is that guineas are also bullies. They will chase, peck, and otherwise harass your chicken flock no matter what you do. Our entire flock is completely free range, no fences, lots of waterers and feeders. I know how animals get angry and territorial when there is lack of food, water, or shelter. That is not an issue here. Know they are bullies, know they will be aggressive with your flock. Garden We have a garden that is about 80x40 feet with corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, potatoes, garlic, onions, peas, beans, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, and one sunflower. This is our second year planting in a large garden. In years past we had a small, micro garden in a rolling bed that could be rolled in the garage in bad weather and rolled into the driveway in good weather. Last year we had primarily tomatoes, peppers, and carrots in raised garden beds. We learned a lot from that previous garden. We learned we must harden off seedlings, we lost most of our seedlings last year due to lack of hardening off. We also learned the importance of weeding regularly, and to pay attention to sun and shade loving plants. This year, we built a great fence that has done wonderfully in keeping critters out of the garden. We built fence posts from trees from our own land, we have 8 foot tall fencing to keep deer out. We use wind chimes and ribbons to keep birds away, and these have been working wonderfully. In the adjacent field we have no ribbons or wind chimes and crows have eaten nearly an entire field of corn seeds. We didn’t have enough mulch to properly mulch the garden, however, and so our biggest enemies are the weeds. This year we intend to collect more mulch that we can use on our garden next year in hopes of diminishing that issue. The Wild We also are incorporating what is wild or already present on the property into our homestead. There are pear, apple, cherry, and peach trees on the property that are all beginning to fruit nicely. There are wild raspberries all over the edges of the forest. We have collected thousands of raspberries and cherries and made them into jams, raspberry lemonade, and frozen for smoothies and pie filling. We also are avid hunters and fishers and will be trying to fill in our needs from hunting and fishing. I intend to begin learning archery within the next year for both hobby and hunting. What’s Next? What’s next? We haven’t decided yet. We are looking into sheep, goats, cattle, rabbits, and swine at the moment. I haven’t worked much with livestock so I am in the research phase on all options. We are deciding what our goals are and which animals will be most helpful in meeting those goals. I also want to fully understand the needs of each animal so that I can ensure what we have available will best suit the livestock we do get. I personally lean towards sheep but some others on the homestead prefer goats, so I am learning about them all to see what will best benefit both our needs and the needs of the livestock. I want these creatures to live their best possible lives no matter if we use them for dairy or meat. I want them happy and healthy, they deserve nothing less. We intend at harvest to do canning, so far we have canned beans and jams. We know our garden isn’t big enough to support us for an entire year, which is a goal. But we know it will take years and practice to get to that point. To learn the best set up and the correct ratio of plants that we can eat during the summer and can for the winter. Come winter we intend to learn to make our own soaps. Both bar soap and laundry soap. I already make our deodorant and have for two years now. Much Love, Jessica Marie Monthly Catch Up: August 2021
By Jessica Marie Hello and welcome to another personal journal style update from me. July was a very creative month for me. After family and friends had come to visit and we took a little staycation with them, I came back to my writing with a renewed sense of vigor and excitement. This carried over into everything, which was a fun burst of energy to move through the summer. Personal Update I have been putting a lot of thought and intentionality behind my actions. This not only stems from slow living being a newly adopted method of living for me, but also from juggling so many factors. I have my life, my brand which consists of a blog and a podcast, plus work, writing, and the homestead. None of them take too much time on their own, but they must all be attended to each day, little by little. I have been trying to go to bed just an hour or so earlier so that I can get up that much earlier. This is so that I can have a slower and more relaxed morning instead of feeling behind all day. To come to my writing after a nourishing breakfast and feel calm and prepared when I sit down to be creative. It has taken some discipline but it is getting better and I am really happy with the flow I have been able to create. Brand Update I am happily maintaining my brand. I am prepared with content as far out as I can. I am not too overwhelmed and am able to flow in this process as well. It is still growing and changing ever so slightly, but it is simply maturing into what it is supposed to be. I am enjoying this process more and more. I have completely let go of expectations and am simply doing what makes me happy. Those who enjoy it and resonate with my brand will be my people and that is good enough for me. Writing update For the short story competition, I heard back that they will not be making final decisions until September 30th. So, come fall I will let you know how that went. For the last little while I have focused solely on writing and have not needed to go back and work on backstory. However, this first draft, when it is complete, will really only be ¾ of a draft. As I have realized I need to add a few more characters’ POV’s to fully understand the story. While the characters I am writing from right now are the main characters, they are who I am using to discover and write the story. Once I have that down, then I will go back and fill in with the other characters POV’s. Right now, I have 3 separate POV’s I am working from, and I will add at least two more. I am still working on my eWorkbooks. I have been trying to find a writing schedule to work on more than one project a day without getting burnt out. I have decided that writing two projects every day on top of everything else is too much. So, I am going to be working on the secondary projects (like workbooks and short stories) on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. I am going to look into other writing competitions that I could write for/enter into. I had a great time creating and writing for the last one. It is also a great opportunity to come up with new stories and flex my writing muscles without having to undertake such a large project (like a novel, etc.). Homestead Update We have one female Guinea Hen and she has decided she is going to brood. I am very excited about this prospect! I would love nothing more than to see the mama guinea brood, hatch, and raise a bunch of baby Guinea’s. We will probably keep a couple, and if there are more than we need, we will sell the rest. During the visit of company, we had wonderful rains that watered the garden for us. However, we also fell behind on weeding. And now the garden is a bit overgrown. We plan to head out soon to all work on pulling those weeds and take stock of what is growing, how well it is or isn’t growing, and if we can begin to harvest anything yet. We have wild raspberries on the property! While out felling trees the other day we found hundreds of wild raspberry bushes that will be blooming here soon. Be prepared for hearing about raspberries here! The property also has cherry, apple, and peach trees. The little fruits are growing nicely, we will have a great harvest of these fruits come fall. Today we are trying our hand at making yogurt. Books I read in July reviews: The Dark Tide By: Dennis L. McKiernan: This was a short little book that is a typical fantasy story. In the introduction the author admits it is inspired by and a bit of an homage to LOTR. Which, after reading the first book in the series, he is not wrong. It does feel very much like a LOTR style story. From the writing, the characters, the races, and the plot. I preferred the LOTR movies to the books. I listened to LOTR on tape as reading it was difficult and not my personal style. However, this Iron Tower series I purchased in a trilogy set from a library book sale. And since each book is a quick read, I plan to finish out the stories that I have. I have recently started the next book in the series, and I am more invested now than I was in the first book. Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep By: Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius: This is exactly what it sounds like. A step-by-step guide for raising sheep. Storey has great information for the beginner, and these books are fantastic references to keep for future. We don’t have sheep, nor have we decided to get them, but I wanted to know more about them. Their rearing and the type of care they require, so that we can make a more educated decision on which livestock to get (if any) for our homestead. I highly recommend Storey’s books for anything you may be looking into for homesteading. Nourishing Traditions By: Sally Fallon: This is more of a cookbook with important health information within it. The first hundred pages or so are about how inaccurate modern nutritional information is. This is compared with documented traditional diets and how so many of our health issues come from poor diet. Then it is broken into sauces, starters, dinners, and many other recipes. To help break dependence from unhealthy box-stores and how to create your own nutritious foods. Note: All books I purchased myself. I read and reviewed of my own accord. I was not paid, prompted, or promoted to read or review these works in any way. I do not receive any money or other stipends from these reviews. Books I am Currently Reading: The Iron Tower: Shadows of Doom by Dennis L. McKiernan High Tide in Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver Podcasts I am Binging Right Now: My Favorite Murder The Rebel Author Podcast Cheap Wine & Screaming I hope you have been having a beautiful summer, full of adventures and time taken just to look at the stars. Go with the flow, don’t be afraid to change and grow, every moment is a chance to discover something new. Much Love, Jessica Marie |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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