Gardening from an easy chair: Plan your dream garden while it snows

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Emily Catesby  Emily Cates

As I type this article, the first real snowfall of the season gently and gracefully descends from the sky to my yard. I look out the window, captivated. It’s hard to be inspired to work in the garden when it’s snowing. However, there is a different – and some say as exciting – way to get your green thumb fix, all in the comfort and convenience of a cozy armchair. If snuggling up to a seed catalog comes to mind, then we’re on the same page. What other publications evoke such passion and nostalgia?

Our mailboxes and the cyber world are filled with all kinds of catalogs this time of year, begging for our attention. The glossies have their impossibly perfect pictures of flawless specimens, raising our hopes sky high that our gardens will likewise produce such beauties. One catalog offers what seems an unbelievable deal and another has a coupon for a specified amount of “free” merchandise (or shipping) if the cost of your order reaches a certain total. Another catalog claims unmatched quality and another has varieties that are “exclusive.” And yet another catalog is brimming with full-color photos of rare and endangered varieties that are so unusual you would wonder what planet they were from.

So many choices! So much hype! How can a practical-minded gardener keep it simple and affordable, yet remarkable and pleasant? Here are some hints, I hope they help:

First, I should mention that the best seeds are likely the ones you or your friends and neighbors lovingly saved from last year and thoughtfully maintained. However, when purchased seeds from a catalog are desirable, check the reviews for the seed company. Dave’s Garden and other online forums are oftentimes helpful to sift out the “bad seeds.” Also, make sure their offerings will grow in our cold northern climate. (Some companies actually grow their crops in warmer locations, yet market those varieties as being suitable for northern growers.) Usually it is possible to tell if they are a “seedy” enterprise or not, especially when their catalog is honest in its descriptions as opposed to inflated hyperbole. Be realistic! A good rule of thumb is to order from a catalog where the seeds were grown in Maine or another location similar to ours. I have always had good results doing business with Maine companies such as Fedco, Johnny?s and Pinetree. Give these guys a try; each is a unique, high-quality seed company that has never disappointed me. All of them offer valuable heirlooms for small gardens as well as worthy commercial varieties for markets. Look for early bird specials, consider group ordering possibilities, and save on shipping by picking up your order whenever practical.

If you are looking for something truly unique that cannot be found anywhere else, read the descriptions carefully. Pay attention to the days to maturity and growing zones. Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company in the Ozarks and Sand Hill Preservation Center in Iowa are both seed companies I would highly recommend for rare and heirloom varieties. Also check out the Seed Savers Exchange and Territorial Seed Co. if you are interested in something different.

Happy seed-searching!

The birds and a brawl at the feeders

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

It’s a new year!

Boy, that was a news flash.

Anyway, we’ve turned the calendar to a new year, the holidays have passed, and we are now settling into the reality of at least three months of winter.
Over the recent week or so, we’ve experienced some messy weather, and the aches and pains of moving the snow – and anything else that nature throws our way.
With all of this turbulence, there is one thing that still brightens my day, and that is watching the birds at the feeding stations.

Following a couple of years where my wife stopped feeding the birds because of the constant battle with squirrels (I know, squirrels have to eat, too), she decided to give it another try. This year, she was introduced to a new bird seed (Spiced Food), one that repels squirrels, and decided to try it. Besides relocating the feeders that make them less accessible to the little gray rodents, the new seeds have been a success.

I have seen squirrels (that would be Martha and Stewart) sit on the porch railing and assess the situation, knowing that what is going through their clever little minds is trying to figure out how to attack the stations. Well, they have tried, and they have failed.

Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor), Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren), Mitch’s sister Cathy (Veronica Cartright), and his mother Lydia (Jessica Tandy), prepare to escape Bodega Bay while the birds gathered by the thousands, driving every resident from the hamlet. Internet photo

In the meantime, the activity around the feeders has been remarkable. Every day we see a plethora of birds coming and going: chickadees, nut­hatches, gold finch, cardinals, house finches, the occasional titmouse, and the most unlikely of all, a hairy woodpecker. We have lots of crows and bluejays around, but so far have stayed away from the feeders.

Sometimes there are more birds than there are feeding stations. That causes a problem, for the birds that is. They engage in a little bit of rough housing. Maybe that is what is keeping the crows and blue jays at bay.

That is fine with me.

Ironically, my wife and I, following a hectic weekend, sat and watched the Alfred Hitchcock classic film, The Birds, last Sunday night. As we watched the birds, mostly crows and seagulls, take over the small hamlet of Bodega Bay, supposedly located north of San Francisco, driving out all its residents, I really didn’t make a correlation between that, and the birds that have, literally, taken over my side porch at the house.

What if…?

That could never happen, could it?

Monday morning saw me standing at my kitchen window, watching as the onslaught continued at the bird feeders. My imagination, which has been described as a little on the strange side at times, began to take over. What if those little feathered creatures came to the conclusion there wasn’t enough food or feeding stations, and decided to try to enter the house to get at the feed bag? Maybe they could even engage the cooperation of the squirrels.

Slap! Slap! Wake up, and get a hold of yourself. They are only tiny little creatures. They couldn’t possibly do the kind of damage those big birds did in that film. Could they?

I’m Just Curious: Happy new year!

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by Debbie Walker

Here we are again folks! Happy New Year! Now you must do your resolutions and make some unrealistic promises to yourself. I read the column Roland [The Town Line’s managing editor] wrote for New Year’s; I was very pleased. I enjoy his writing anyway but I found his suggestions for resolutions to be of the helpful kind! They aren’t the typical ones of losing weight, quit smoking, quit drinking, etc.

I don’t tend to take this custom seriously. By now you have noticed that I don’t think in terms of “politically correct” anything.

Last year I read somewhere that a man had chosen a New Year’s Resolution he thought he had a good chance of keeping. His resolution was to break any resolutions he chose.

Yup, he figured it was better than a good chance he could break his resolutions. I loved it! But let’s stay with this subject a little bit.

Today I heard the first of what will be many to come; the commercials telling us we must improve ourselves. This one was a weight loss program. So I am sure you have heard that we are all supposed to be walking around skinny, oh and don’t forget the exercise programs we need to keep our body in shape! Sounds like you are supposed to work a full time job, an take care of your home and family. Oh yeah, make sure the kids all have extra curricular activities to bring them up well rounded mentally, physically and emotionally. And what else they might learn is who they are is never enough.

I have a new word for you. It is “Stressolutions.” Those are what become of the well-advertised resolutions. I love some of the ones Roland had in his column the issue before Christmas. My favorites were: 1. Be proud of your age. We earned those lines and wrinkles! 2. Get messy. I love that one; remember I work with first graders, not sure who has more fun, them or me! 3. Walk to the beat of your own tuba.

The “Stressolutions” are the ones you feel bad, sad, guilty or angry because you “failed.” I really don’t like the word ‘failed,” if you tried, you did not fail. Often the timing you began the “Stressolutions” with wasn’t workable.

I would like to see a year where we would each feel like we were good enough just the way we are. It would be year where if you have tried you don’t feel that you failed. I am not saying to never learn anything new or change anything. This week I am going to have a tutor to help me with my new phone, tablet and new computer. I need to understand “APPS,” my little niece keeps mentioning APPS. So between the tutor and my niece I am hoping to be able to add to my understanding of these gadgets. It’s really not a pass or fail deal for me.

I would like to see a year when folks could be comfortable with who they are without all the “Stressolutions.”

I’m just curious what you will decide to do about stressolutions. Contact me with questions or comments at dwdaffy@yahoo.com. Thanks for reading. Have a healthy and happy New Year.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Record company: Grey Gull; Conductor: Richard Strauss

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Peter Catesby  Peter Cates

Beyond the Clouds

Ben Hitchfield, tenor; The Old Rugged Cross – the Cathedral Duo (Hall and Ryan, male vocals); Grey Gull – 4091, 10-inch acoustic shellac 78, recorded approx. 1922-3.

The history of Grey Gull records begins in 1919 in Boston and lasts for just over a decade with some advanced techniques in disc techniques that almost bankrupted the firm, and more subsequent changes making for fascinating reading under wiki. This record has not generated any information beyond the above.

As listening material, it is extremely noisy yet still provided gleanings of some pleasure. The two vocalists gave a beautiful rendition of the ever familiar Old Rugged Cross while tenor Ben Hitchfield deployed his fine voice on the previously unfamiliar and pretty Beyond the Clouds; unfortunately, this side was even noisier. I will definitely keep this record as a stopgap.

Richard Strauss

Also Sprach Zarathustra
Henry Lewis conducting the Royal Philharmonic; London Phase 4, 12-inch stereo LP, released mid- to late-‘60s.

The late African-American conductor Henry Lewis (1932-1996) revealed his gifts through conducting for his former wife, the very famous and talented Marilyn Horne, and a series of LPs for the above listed Phase 4. I own a number of the latter, which feature the Beethoven Pastoral and Tchaikovsky Pathetique Symphonies; the Tchaikovsky 1st and Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concertos, with the great pianist Ivan Davis; and, of course, the above Strauss – all these quite recommendable.

There are other great Strauss Zarathustras on my shelves because it is a very exciting piece of music with the universally familiar theme from the 2001 Space Odyssey. They are conducted by Zubin Mehta, Karl Bohm, Serge Koussevitzky, Frederick Stock, Fritz Reiner, Eugene Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Carl Schuricht, Bernard Haitink, Zdenek Kosler, Rudolf Kempe, Clemens Krauss, William Steinberg, Sir Georg Solti, Antal Dorati, Gerard Schwarz, Artur Rodzinski, Pierre Boulez, Stanislaw Scrowaczewski and, last but not least, the composer Richard Strauss himself (1864-1949).

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of January 5, 2017

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

Certainly, our faithful readers are going to be especially happy throughout 2017, because at noon on December 31, WALLS, you are wishing each and every one a happy new year. Yes, you, WALLS, have assured each of us that 2017 began with the age-old New Year’s Eve celebration in New York City and that ball announced that 2017 was for all of us to be super happy throughout the new year, because it is said, “….never met a strong person with an easy past.”

Well, WALLS, admittedly, happy started for all the family as we gathered at daughter Lynn’s and significant other Chuck’s new home in East Madison on Christmas Eve. Chuck has made sure that the house has been refurbished just beautifully and that outside is absolutely beautiful with a deck, white siding and rosy-red trim, while Lynn has decorated the inside for Christmas par-excellence that the entire family enjoyed. Yes, those wonderful great-grandchildren not only had an introduction to their cousins, but a very special time was had with Aunt Roxie, who recently ran a marathon in Antarctica. Yes, you have read it right, faithful readers. granddaughter Roxie, our world traveler, was joined by 40 other members of the team and ran a marathon in Antarctica!

Now, that snowstorm that blessed the Northeast on December 30, 2016, probably didn’t seem like much snow at all to our Roxie, but those of us who are looking out our windows today know that Winter has begun, for sure. Yes, it is Maine outside at last!

Y’know, WALLS, we promised our faithful readers something old and something new with this column, and that we shall. Actually, you thought Antarctica would do it, WALLS, but you forgot to tell our faithful readers about the photograph that is for everyone to see on our kitchen table. Yes, everyone, that photo is of Antarctica having an American flag’s being waved by Roxie (maybe) with the large plane that took them there in the background. Amazing, right?

Well, last evening, National Geographic showed the bottom of the world’s oceans on TV. Yes, it was amazing to see that some of the oceans in our world have growth of cliffs and tree types that are taller than our Grand Canyon! Well, WALLS, you can’t get much older than our world, so you sure have kept your promise for this first week of 2017!

Speaking of National Geographic. All the little kids in our family received a year’s subscription of NGM for Little Kids and the older kids received a year’s subscription to NGM to Kids. Then, Lew surprised all the men with cans of mixed nuts, which was no surprise, as he does it every year.

This year, his traditional gift to each woman was a half-dozen red roses and the little girls got their daisies. Yes, he is a wonderful Apa (grandfather in Eskimo, as our Landon Ouilette was born there). Our Bellingham, Washington, family will be here next summer for Apa’s birthday, but since our Landon spent seven years at St. Jude’s Cancer Research Hospital, in Tennessee, and he just celebrated his 19th birthday, Lew and I have donated to St. Judes in everyone’s name and in Landon’s Wellness Honor. Now, when you faithful readers see advertising for St. Judes’, you will know we all had a dream come true, as Danny Thomas, the founder, did.

Happy 2017 to everyone from WALLS!

SOLON & BEYOND, Week of January 5, 2017

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by Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Good morning, dear friends. Don’t worry, be happy!

As I sit down to write this week’s column, it is already 2017! Where did 2016 go? My mother-in-law always told me, “The older you get, the faster the years go!” Truer words were never spoken. It is nice to be busy, but there is such a thing as too busy! And that is what I was in 2016, hope 2017 won’t be quite so busy, ( I can dream!) Anyway, I wish you a very Happy New Year.

Starting January 4, for the months of January and February, the Embden Thrift Shop (and Lending Library) will be closed Wednesday afternoons. Bone Builders (9 – 10 a.m.) and Sewing (10 a.m. – noon) will meet as usual on Wednesdays.

Because the name of this column is Solon and Beyond, I have always appreciated news from other communities as well. This week I have room for some words from a very interesting e-mail I received from Somerset Woods Trustees about Bill Townsend receiving SWT’s 2016 Conservation Award. “Somerset Woods has many reasons to thank Bill, his dedication to conservation has bequeathed us with Townsend Preserve, the Land for Maine’s Future, free-flowing rivers and surely the best fishing stories in the county.”

Another one of Bill Townsend’s favorite hometown (Canaan), projects was the Canaan Public Library. More words from the e-mail I received: “Just a few feet from Rte. 2 sat the Canaan Public Library, located in a one-room schoolhouse from the 1850s. Despite its tough location and lack of a restroom, it was a popular place. Schoolchildren walked down in groups from the Canaan Elementary School for special occasions, people in need of a computer or wireless service logged in to connect to the internet , a knitting group met there, and books, DVDs, and a variety of items loaned.

“The Library’s trustees had long wanted to build a new library, but it seemed like a bridge just too, too far for our small town. But then Bill Townsend did something extraordinary. He donated 14 acres of land across the street, behind the town hall and fire station, and made it available to the library for a new location. His generous donation was catalytic. The townspeople, loath to take on debt, contributed up to $25,000 per year to a building fund; private foundations such as the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Skowhegan Savings Bank, Davis Family Foundation, Morton-Kelly Foundation, The Betterment Fund, and Plum Creek granted about a third of the cost of new construction; a local engineer Steve Ruell patiently designed the building with endless citizen input; and Friends of thye Library baked pies, sold used books, held events, and wrote checks.”

It took several years, with help from many people working together but in 2014 they reached their goal of paying cash for a new library on the land that Bill donated. “In 2014, we opened our doors to a lovely library that sits quietly in a field with old apple trees, ample parking, and a trail to the Carrabasset Stream.”

He envisioned a trail by the stream for children to fish from and it was built with the help of volunteers. A veteran’s memorial now graces the grounds. Flowers have been planted by the entryway and “thye little library that could” now sits on the brow of the hill that Bill Townsend donated.

“Bill Townsend will be remembered with fondness and gratitude for many, many generations, for without his generous gift to the town of Canaan, as well as his vision, this library would never have been built.”

My many heartfelt thanks for that e-mail, it was very heart warming.

I do have one more little piece of news to share. The Pilgrim Fellowship of the North Anson Congregational Church will be meeting at the church at 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 8.

Percy always did like to quote words from important people so this week his memoir is from Eleanor Roosevelt : “Do whatever comes your way to do as well as you can. Think as little as possible about yourself and as much as possible about other people and about things that are interesting. Put a good deal of thought into happiness that you are able to give.”

TECH TALK: How safe is online shopping?

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by Eric W. Austin
Computer Technical Advisor

My mother is paranoid. The idea of using her credit card to shop online fills her with dread. And she has good reason. A few months ago, she got a call from her credit card company asking whether she had recently used her card to purchase two round trips to Miami?!

She had not!

She was a victim of credit card fraud. In fact, 31.8 million Americans had a similar experience in 2014 – that’s three times the number in 2013. Very likely, this has already happened to you or someone you know.

Is it safe to shop online?

First, the bad news. Credit card fraud has become epidemic in the internet age. But it’s not just about hacking – it’s also about distribution: trading and selling stolen credit card information has become easier than ever.

So, how does your credit card get stolen in the first place?

Skimming is when a device is attached to a credit card reader like an ATM, gas pump, or merchant card reader which scans and stores card numbers as it is used. The thief then detaches the skimmer and downloads the credit card info.

Phishing happens anytime someone is able to trick someone into giving them personal information that they have no right to. They may do this by calling you and pretending to be a collection agency seeking a payment, or your electric company verifying your address. Or by building websites that look like your bank or favorite internet store.

SpyWare/Malware: This is software that is inadvertently downloaded and then attempts to siphon personal information from your computer and send that information back to a criminal who then sells your information, along with thousands of others on the internet black market.

Data Breaches/Hacking: You may have heard of the recent Yahoo data breach where over one billion accounts were hacked (if you have a yahoo account, and haven’t changed your password – do that RIGHT NOW!). What about Ebay, The Home Depot, JP Morgan Chase, Michael’s, Staples, Domino’s Pizza, Sony Pictures Entertainment, or Target? Yep, all these companies have been hacked!

Scary? Almost makes you want to do all your holiday shopping at Hussey’s Hardware this year, huh? But it’s not all bad. And there are some things you can do to minimize your risk.

Credit card companies are well aware of this problem, and most major banks have policies in place to protect you. Often, they will call you when they see a charge that is out of character for you. Check with the bank that issued your card to make sure you are protected and are aware of the procedures in case fraud occurs.

Keeping a close eye on your account is also important so you can spot fraudulent charges and report them immediately. You can set up fraud alerts with most card companies and the three major credit bureaus.

Install anti-virus and malware protection software on your home computer, and run a scan before you do any shopping. Two good free anti-virus programs are Malwarebytes and AVG Anti-Virus.

Never use public WiFi or a public computer to do shopping. Also avoid checking your email on a public connection if you use that email for finance or shopping. Secure your WiFi at your home with a password and encryption. Activate Windows Firewall or install a third party option to further protect yourself.

Upgrade your credit cards to the new EVM chip versions. These new type of credit cards have chips which change the information being passed each time it is used, and thus prevents skimming. Countries that have adopted EVM, such as the UK, have seen a drop in counterfeit fraud by as much as 70 percent. The United States’ slow adoption is one reason this is so prevalent here.

Never give out your personal information to anyone without verifying their identity. This includes phone calls, emails, or letters asking you to provide personal or financial data. Get a phone number and call them back to ensure it’s an authentic representative of that company.

And what if it does happen? Relax. Credit card companies are so used to this by now that in most cases all that is required is a phone call and the charge is immediately taken off your account. Disappointingly, you’ll probably never know how your information was stolen. They will tell you an investigation is being undertaken, but the fraud is so prevalent that I think most companies simply consider it a cost of doing business.

How about purchasing on sites like Amazon? Amazon is one of the safest places to shop, storing all credit card information on servers not connected to the internet. While not all sites go to the extent Amazon does, generally shopping with reputable merchants online is as safe as purchasing in a traditional brick-and-mortar store. Smaller online merchants typically use third-party services to process payments, so check out that service before committing to a purchase.

I hope that you have noticed that the lion’s share of fraud that happens is not the direct result of online shopping. Much of it occurs locally on your computer (malware & viruses), at a physical location where you use your card (skimming), by someone convincing you to give away information (phishing), or by hacking the companies that store your information. All of these things can happen to you even if you never buy anything off the web!

So, be smart, take precautions, but relax and enjoy the convenience of online shopping.

Have a tech question for me? Maybe I’ll answer it in my next column! Write me at ericwaustin@gmail.com subject line “Tech Talk” or use the contact form on the website.

I’m Just Curious: Let it Snow, let it snow!

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by Debbie Walker

Let It Snow!! NOT!! I’m writing this column Saturday afternoon with the snow coming down. It does make for a pretty picture (but who’s taking pictures!).

My days of rushing outside to go sledding or build a snowman are over. Do kids still do all that? We were lucky to have our own hill to slide on. Mom didn’t worry about us because at that time she had a clear view of the hill. The other day I noticed the clear hill of years ago is trees and shrubs now. (Seemed a lot bigger back then.)

Sadly, I imagine kids now are spending their sliding time on various computer games or applications. I remember coming in from outside to hot homemade cocoa (not a mix) and curling up with a blanket and good book, while our outside clothes dried out. Then it would be “to the outside again.”

Dad wasn’t much of a carpenter but occasionally he’d make an effort. Someone gave me a pair of skis. However I have never done well on skis. So dad took some wood to build the body (seat) and the ski would be the “runners.” Well the “sled” and I went down the hill and promptly ran into a tree. I wasn’t hurt but one ski broke off. The end of that sled!

Let It Snow!! Okay we have snow on the ground so I guess people who wanted a “White Christmas” will be happy. It made for tough shopping the weekend before Christmas but on the news it looked like plenty of people were still out there shopping. Bless their hearts!

I have about 30 Florida Christmas’s behind me. No, I was never upset about the lack of snow for Christmas. People tend to go nuts with lights down there. Really neat. They are so pretty every evening. My neighbor added a few new things every year. I’d hate to see his electric bill! He LOVES all things Christmas.

Let It Snow and it is still snowing. I hope you’ll all have a Merry Christmas and a Wonderful, Happy, Healthy New Year.

Contact me at dwdaffy@yahoo.com , sub line: Let it snow. I would love to hear some of your thoughts, favorite Christmas stories, or Snow stories.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Film: The Reader; Singer: Jo Stafford

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Peter Catesby  Peter Cates

The Reader

starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, etc.; directed by Stephen Daldry; the Weinstein Company, 2008, 124 minutes, DVD.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet

Ralph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes

Based on the 1995 novel by Bernhard Schlink – which I have on my shelves but haven’t read, The Rea­der is a depiction of two people, Hanna and Michael, whose lives intersect at very crucial points during the 50 years, after World War II, in Germany. From the 1950s, when the two have an intense romance (there is an R rating here; thus a resulting advisory similar to that of Schindler’s List), to the ‘60s and ‘80s, when a very tragic legal situation results from the cowardice of one and the stubborn pride of the other, the story is a gripping one that is impossible to summarize in two paragraphs.

Kate Winslet as Hannah and David Kross and Ralph Fiennes as, respectively, the younger and older David, give exceptional performances. My copy of the DVD will bear repeated viewings and is very fairly labelled a masterpiece by a long time favorite critic of mine, the very colorful and delightfully opinionated Rex Reed.

David Kross

David Kross

Jo Stafford

Happy Holiday
Columbia CL 691, 12-inch LP, recorded 1955.

Jo Stafford (1917-2008) was one of the most accomplished singers in history, earning the admiration of Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Judy Collins for her phrasing, breathing – she could sing 18 or more bars without exhaling, and all around musicality. I own many of her records and have derived hours of listening pleasure. She was also married to the phenomenally gifted arranger and composer Paul Weston (1913-1996), with whom she collaborated on most of her records, live concerts and TV and radio appearances.

Jo Stafford

Jo Stafford

The 1955 Happy Holiday featured the usual high quality vibrant singing and instrumentation of the Stafford/Weston team, with the voice of the couple’s then three-year-old son, Timothy, and the exquisite backup harmonies of the Starlighters. They provided a varied selection of the well known — Silent Night, Toyland, Let It Snow, O Little Town of Bethlehem, etc.; a musical recitation by Jo of ‘Twas the Night before Christmas with Timothy’s help; and, finally, the unfamiliar Winter Weather. This was not the usual boring Christmas platter but one of newly minted freshness.

It is available as a CD reissue on Amazon but watch out for Stafford’s 1968 Xmas collection, with the title adding an S on Holiday. Scroll on each entry for info on recording date. Finally the CD has several extra tracks!

IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of December 22, 2016

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Katie Ouilette Wallsby Katie Ouilette

Christmas Trees were decorated in each room! Well, unless the people who frequented Redington Home, in Skowhegan, were ‘The Elves of Christmas,’ there were some busy members of various organizations at work! Yes, the beautiful Redington Home was decorated for Christmas and the Christmas Carols that rang out, thanks to Barbie Demo’s magnificent singing and playing her guitar, were from enthusiastic people who reside there. Wow, those men and women sure knew the words and lifted everyone’s spirits.

Yes, Redington Home and its director and staff have rolled out the Christmas Carpet for Ch.11’s Keeping Pace for many years. It is a tradition for those of Keeping Pace, though we missed Darla Pickett, who didn’t feel up to the task, and Alan Foxwell, who was very busy at Alan’s Cut Above Barber Shop. Chris Perkins and Donna Finley kept the pace for all of us. Katie encouraged everyone to sing the carols that they knew and, for sure, those Redington Home residents didn’t disappoint, as they sure did know every word of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Barbie’s renditions all the way to We Wish You a Merry Christmas, at the end! Yes, John Harlow was our videographer. John is the manager of CATV-11 and you faithful readers and residents of Redington will be treated throughout the holiday season to the wonderful evening of Christmas Carols and music by Barbie Demo that Keeping Pace did for you all on December 15.

Now, for you faithful readers who prefer a bit of talk to go with the singing, Chris Perkins and Donna Finley did give tribute to Keeping Pace’s early days and Katie reminded everyone that Keeping Pace is now 18 years old.

Yes, these folks have kept the pace for Herb Paradis, Keeping Pace founder, with Katie… and Alan Foxwell was one of those early panelists. Donna mentioned missing Herb, Betty Withee, Alice Corson and Maitland Richardson, and many who have shared so much with us. As a matter of fact,

Residents shared the Christmases that gave them special memories. Actually, most everyone there lived through the Great Depression, when no one had any money. and wonderful memories of ‘making do’ was an education for the younger folks.

So, until the next issue, may you enjoy our Christmas Season in Maine.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and for those of you who remember Melissa Gaspar, who used to be librarian in Skowhegan, Katie read a piece entitled Happiness, sent to her by Melissa. “Happiness lives inside our hearts and shines like a shimmering star. It lights our way on a dreary day and finds us wherever we are.”