The rain falls like a million tears, a cascade of water reflecting Life and Death. The Spring rain nourishes the new Life and at the same time reflects the grief and the tears for those we have lost.

Life and Death, joy and sadness, beginnings and endings are all part of one and yet reflect the other. How can this world be so much of both? How do we balance the feelings and emotions that come from just being alive?

Sunday was a lovely day, with Spring in the air and hope all around. I attended a bridal shower for my daughter's elementary school friend. The laughter and excitement of the day filled me with a sense of purpose and I watched as the threads of our lives were drawn tight in this community. Childhood relationships have blossomed into love and the World seemed at peace and right.

Later that evening another childhood friend of my daughter's lost her life in a horrific attack. She was stabbed to death in her mother's van as she drove a friend home. Now as one child watches as her parents marry, another will grow up without his mother, his love and his life. The mixture of emotions is too brilliant, too raw and too early to really even comprehend, and yet I must try.

Rachel was a special child, with energy and laughter that still rings in my ears as I think of her. How could that laughter have been silenced? Why? No details of the murder have been released as yet, so we that knew and loved her are left to wonder and speculate as we wait for the police report.

I read online the talk of drugs or random reasons, but she did not deserve to die for her personal struggles. She lived her Life as best she could and loved her son with all her might. She loved animals and always made me laugh even if I didn't feel like it. Yes, she had her own demons and struggled with depression and bad choices. So what! Who is perfect without flaws?

Be at peace Rachel and know that you were loved and you did make a difference in this crazy Life we live. We will miss you and you will be remembered.

Spring has arrived here at Windsong Woods as the bright purple and yellow Crocus push through the leaves and Winter debris. The Wild Turkeys sing their mating song and the frogs cry with joy and urgency in their little vernal pool. The blueness of the sky brings warmth to my soul as I clean up the yard and watch furtively for the annual arrival of the Black Flies.

Tax day has come and gone, though for many of the self employed, the bill remains until the season begins again. They will pay their 'Interest and Penalties' for a financial world gone mad. They are not slackers or thieves.

It was a hard Winter for those that ply their income from the sea. It was difficult to watch as these strong, competent, self-willed men and women lost their income by half over the Winter. It's one thing to loose money from a retirement plan, but when your total income is cut in half and you have worked just as hard if not harder, the word 'discouraged' takes on a whole new meaning.

At least the privatization of Social Security did not go through and we avoided that catastrophe. I have wondered for a while now why it is that the wealthy get away without paying their full share of Social Security.

Why is payment into that fund limited to only the first $100,000 or so a person earns? How much better would it be for the whole country if everyone paid the same percentage of their income? Why do the poorest of the poor carry this burden on their backs while the richest of the rich are relieved of this duty?

Someone earning $30,000 a year pays the full 12.4% to Social security and 2.9% to Medicare (at least Medicare is not now limited by earnings amount). How is this fair and equitable? To say the rich have "paid enough" doesn't seem right to me. If a person earning $30,000 a year must pay 15.3% of their income, then that is a hardship. A CEO making a million dollars or more pays the same 15.3% as someone making a $100,000 and not a penny more.

Let everyone pay their fair share and take the burden off the poor.

1-20-09

Today is the inauguration of Barack Obama. The players have arrived and the prayer has been spoken. Aretha Franklin sings Let Freedom Ring and I am crying. The pictures of the crowd in Washington are awesome and moving.
This day has been so long in coming and it means so much to so many. Joe Biden is being sworn in. He wears a blue tie and I feel comfort and hope at seeing him. Cheney had to be wheeled in because of a back injury from packing yesterday. He threw out his back. Perhaps he was trying to take all his secret files with him, which I heard this morning that he was ultimately allowed to do.
A beautiful song plays by Itzak Perlman and YoYo Ma and tears come to my eyes again. It is the music of hope and the change that is in the wind. I feel a fresh breath of air and a smile comes to me.
What is this feeling? I watch the little Obama girl dance in her seat at the lilting melody. It is joy and a sense of relief, as the tension and uncertainty fade away. Bush gave us feelings of fear and they have been replaced by feelings of hope.
Then it is here. The swearing in is spoken with a mishap by Chief Justice Roberts and then Obama stumbles over the words and shows his humanity, his enthusiasm and the overwhelming enormity of it all. I wonder that he doesn't want to run screaming the other way.
Humble, mindful and honored he becomes our president. His words reassure - Hope over fear. All are free. He speaks of our history and how we have come to be here. Then he speaks of the things we can and will do to transform our country. He dismisses the critics and talks of restoring the trust of people and their government. He vows to restore the rule of law and declare that we are ready to lead once more. (Bush is shown as he hears the words and understands that what he has wrought will not stand.) America will play its roll in a new era of peace. WE must change with the world. He speaks of the spirit of service and a new era of responsibility. Remember what brought us here, he says and we picture the sharecroppers and the factory workers. Let's carry the gift of freedom forward for future generations. Then, with that thought, our nation begins anew. Tears fell and hearts were healed, lives were fulfilled and deaths were avenged. This was a truly miraculous moment and it was a wonder to see.
Elizabeth Alexander, poet, read Praise Song for the Day. She speaks of the people, ordinary people and how they lived and how they died and what they died for. She speaks of love and how words can change and bring in light.
Dr. Joseph E. Bowery - reads the Benediction - and it is a prayer for the world and the poor, the commitment to work together and choose love, not hate, tolerance over intolerance, and bring fellowship and the oneness of families. And he ends with a witty rainbow of racial rhyming hope and everyone chants AMEN.
I do not stand for The Star Spangled Banner. It glorifies war and I always exercise my right to deny any glory to war. When they sing of love and light, then I shall stand and hold my hand over my heart.
With that, Barack Hussein Obama walks into history as the 44th president of the United States of America. A new day has dawned. This country will never be the same. He shakes Bush's hand on the way out. Bush looks like he will cry and I wonder who he cries for.
Bush deserves our thanks as well, for without his dramatic presidency we would not be here. Bush galvanized this country in such a way that would not have been possible without his guidance. He woke us up and showed us that without paying attention, we as a people can loose our way. Unless we speak up and get involved, others will. WE may not like or want what they seek and it is our duty and destiny to create our own future, for ourselves and our children.
The Bush's finally got on their helicopter and leave their legacy behind. They never embraced Washington and will get to fly over it as they return to Texas. The crowd sings "Na na na na - Goodbye!" Bush can now witness the millions of people that have come out to see him go and the parade route of people that will celebrate today. What a stark contrast to the anger and protests that marked his own inaugurations.
For it is not just a celebration of Obama becoming President, but it is also a celebration of the end of an era. The people have spoken loud and clear. Their will be done and not the will of the neocons and oilmen.
Today is also a personal highlight for my family. My daughter takes her oral exams for her PhD. Program today. She is the first doctor in our family and the only woman besides my sister to hold a degree higher than high school. This day she carries the hopes and dreams of many women in our family. The ancestors must be smiling today.
My mother's mother remembered not being able to vote as a woman when she was young. She prided herself in never forgetting or neglecting that sacred duty. She taught me it is a privilege that should never be taken for granted. Since then the women in our family always vote and I think of those female ancestors each time I close the voting booth door.
So this day represents the hopes and dreams of generations of people. We can change the world and with this day, we have.
Blessings to all and best wishes to my daughter as she travels the road to her own freedom.
P.S. - My Daughter called later in the evening. She was crying. She didn't pass.
Life is a struggle and we rarely get a glimpse of the why of things. It is unimaginable how things are linked and we can never see what the life line we are holding on to is connected to. Perhaps that is just as well, because if we could anticipate all the blood, sweat and tears that go into living, many of us would simply let go. Yet we know our efforts are not in vain for we cannot always hope to see the harvest of the seeds we sow. We can only go on - one step at a time and with determination and purpose. We hope that our work will accomplish what needs to be done and that we do make a difference. Yet if the end result is never known, be at peace, for the effort is never wasted, never lost. The eyes of the ancestors are on us this day and they know too that our journey will not be easy. We will struggle as they did. We will shed our own tears and blood. But what we learned today is that this hard journey is NOT in vain and the struggle does matter. It helps us to choose the things that are important and remember why we do the things we do. That is the lesson here today. Never give up. Never waver in the conviction that we all can and do make a difference. What matters is the kind of difference that we make and whether those goals bring us closer to each other and our hearts.
Let freedom ring.

In this time of economic uncertainty there are two things you can do to help your neighbors, friends and families.
#1 is to buy Maine lobster! Prices are lower than they've been in over 30 years and you can get deals from the local fishing coop or even your nearby supermarket. Take a day and drive from Portland to New Harbor for special deals. This weekend you can buy 20 lbs or more for $3.19 lb and smaller amounts for $3.49. Just go North on coastal Rt. 1 to Damariscotta, and take Rt. 130 to New Harbor then left on Rt. 32. The coop is about a mile on the right next to Shaw's Wharf. It's a beautiful hour and a half drive and worth the effort. The trees are gorgeous now too
#2 is please vote in the upcoming election. Now is the time for Mainers to stick together and help each other. Question 1 will hurt your neighbors if it passes. Please listen to this debate and don't believe the claims of the huge alcohol, soda and insurance companies.
Thousands of people just raised tons of money for breast cancer, but some of these same people refuse to help other Mainers by paying a tiny bit more on beverages that they shouldn't be drinking anyway. Would you pay a few cents more for a soda or beer if it helped your neighbor overcome a deadly disease? It would be money well spent.
Are a few pennies on an unnecessary beverage worth more to you than helping working people receive life giving health care? This isn't about raising taxes. It's about funding a program that helps thousands of people get the medical help they need.
What will happen to these people when they loose affordable health care? Can you really vote to deny basic care to the young, working family and their children? Or can your aunt or your next door neighbor live quality lives without their health insurance?
This bill was written and passed by the legislators in a bipartisan attempt to help poor working Mainers receive health care. Please don't vote for the beer and soda companies. Support your neighbors, friends and families and vote NO on Question 1.

I was beyond flabbergasted as a read a recent blog that blithly described the Maine Lobster industry as an 'endangered species'!! If lobstering is dead, than we are in lobster heaven! The author clearly has no knowledge of lobstering or the way of life for thousands of Maine fisherman. As the wife of a Maine lobsterman, let me tell you the true side of lobstering.

My husband has worked on the Maine waters for over 30 years and I can tell you first hand what it's like. He leaves the house to be at the dock well before sunrise and often doesn't get home until dark. He fishes in all kinds of weather - hot, cold, rain, ice and snow do not stop them. Only wind will keep them home, but at times they do take chances. They have families to feed, mortgages and bills to pay. So they go because they need to. And they go because they love it. The hard physical labor and the beauty of being on the water gives them a sense of self and pride in their work that cannot be duplicated, bottled or sold. It is their life, their heart and their souls.

Boat price today is $2.50/lb I think. Last year at this time they were all complaining because it was $4/lb. I won't quote gas prices, but we all know that the price of diesel has skyrocketed. The herring they use for bait is now unobtainable due to fishing quotas on the herring. There will be none through the month of October as the allowable amounts have already been caught. So the fishermen are now forced to purchase whatever bait fish they can find. And guess what? Some of it must come from as far as California and it all costs a lot more than herring.

The lobster markets are also frozen now due to a glut in frozen lobsters in Canada. We no longer have processors here in the US. Government regulations made it unprofitable for the processors, while the Canadian government subsidies their fisheries. Oh - and the Canadian lobster fishing season begins November 1. So the processors will want the Canadian lobsters first.

Also I want to stress how much the lobster industry brings to the state of Maine in terms of tourist dollars and money for the local economy. It supports local small coastal businesses, boat builders and restaurants. It is a healthy protein that provides delicious, chemical free food! It supports the environment by being a beacon of sustainable harvesting of seafood. Without the cold, clear Maine water, the lobster would not live, so fishermen respect and take care of their livelihood. Sustainable practices include strict size limits, trap limits, limited numbers of fishing licenses, and v-notching egg bearing females to use as brood stock. No other fishing industry can claim such diverse and thorough practices.

Please support your neighbors, your state and your health! Buy and eat Maine lobster. It's cheaper than steak and better for you. Your fishing neighbors will thank you!

It's the 1st of October, the day after Rosh Hashanah and a few days after the New Moon. Late flowers still bloom in the gardens and along the roadways here in Midcoast Maine. The old Ash tree is in full color, a purple than defies description, while the red maples light the edges of the fields. A bit of wood smoke hangs in the early morning chill, and the Autumn sun brings a far off light that seems too thin to hold much warmth.

This year the summer garden was an explosion of produce; a delicious bounty throughout the growing season. There are more stray tomatoes to be picked and the beets are superlative this year. Hidden acorn squash gather in the pucker brush, but to me they seem like money in the bank. Actually, I feel better about them then any money I would have in the bank, but that's another matter.

Autumn arrived officially last week, so we have met the end of summer and now embrace the dark half of the year. The nights will be longer than the days for the next six months, until the Spring Equinox tips the balance once again. The Autumn months are the time between the steamy, hot Summer and bitter, cold Winter; a time of transition. Here we get ready to nestle down and settle in for the long, cold months. There is wood to stack, food to store, windows to wash and plants to repot and bring in. We heat with wood, and it's all dry and paid for. We're one of the fortunate few that have no heating worries this year. How I wish it was true for more Mainers. But we know it gets cold every year, so we plan ahead.

The economic crisis and the election are on my mind. I have strong opinions and feelings and I try to remember that I cannot control the outcome of these situations. My energy is better spent planting the garlic for next year's harvest. I can make compost and weed my gardens. I wave at the migrating geese and blow kisses to the last monarch as it drifts over the trees and out of sight. I wonder at our ignorance and shutter at our stupidity.

I'm glad I'm here to witness this time of change. The future generations will look back and laugh, in amazement and disbelief. We are seeing the end of an era and the beginning of a new phase in history. I only hope that the future generations will have learned from our mistakes, because they will certainly be paying for them.

So in this time of endings and beginnings, I will pull the dead plants and nuisance weeds from my life and plant anew. Crocus, for color and hope in the Spring, and garlic for strength and health. I remember that all endings are only new beginnings and I have faith that this too shall pass.

Now I'll go and find my 4 year old neighbor and teach her how to plant some bulbs.

We live in a world of names. We are taught the names of things as soon as we learn to listen and speak. Cat, shoe, cloud, and milk are words we know and agree upon. But by changing the context or use of a word we can create a different feeling, perhaps even a strong emotional response. For instance someone called "Catty" will react differently from someone referred to as the 'Cat's Meow".

I've been called lots of names. My real name is Elizabeth Ann Throckmorton Kellett. Sounds pretentious, right? In another time, I might have been referred to as a Blue Blood. In fact the family castle still exists in England, though I've never been there and was raised by my widowed mother in a modest suburban Jewish neighborhood. She struggled to make ends meet after the death of my father and we were hardly wealthy. So I was never called Rich Bitch, though I was referred to as Four Eyes, Tomboy and One-of-the-Twins. We weren't Jewish either, and that never seemed to matter until the day I told a friend's mother that my mothers' family came from Germany. After that, my 'friend' referred to me as 'Jew Killer'. She didn't seem to care that my family had actually come from Germany in the 1700s and had nothing to do with the Holocaust. She never spoke to me again.

So names can identify you but also create a false sense of who you actually are. I am a woman, mother, white and a naturalist. Can you picture me in your mind? What about if I said I was a meat-eater and a crack shot? Now picture a diabetic cancer survivor with one kidney, a bad back and high blood pressure. Does the image change?

I am more than a name and more than what you may think I am. So are you. That's what makes life so interesting. After all, we breathe the same air, we eat and sleep and love. I may like red and you may like blue. I may like to read and you may like to play video games. Perhaps you pray with your eyes closed and I pray while I hold my breath. Does it really matter? That doesn't make me right or you wrong. Or make you evil and me holy. Our differences are what make us alike and names meant to divide us will only bring hate and misunderstanding.

Ultimately, we want the same things - good food, clean water, safe homes, and opportunities for our children. Labeling others and name calling will let you make assumptions about your neighbors that may or may not be true. So give them a break and the benefit of the doubt.

I say celebrate your differences and look at the other side. Let us work for the good of all and realize we each represent the best of the best. Don't judge someone based on their skin or gender, place of employment or house of worship. Look beneath their political views and avoid labeling and naming others. Calling someone a "Lefty" in a derogatory manner is as offensive as calling someone a Redskin or a Faggot or any other disparaging name. Listen to yourself and how you label and judge others. You may learn to be less judgmental and open up to new friends and alliances.

United we stand - divided we fall - a saying that is as true today as ever.

Today was the first day of school in our area and I watched as the neighborhood children boarded the morning bus. Memories of the hectic and exciting first day jitters came flooding back as I remembered the school days of my own two now-grown children. I thought of the struggle to mesh our work and school schedules, and the critical after-school babysitters. My husband and I balanced the conflicts of scout meetings, sports activities, the kids' social calendars, work, school meetings and the building of our own house and gardens.

It was a wonderfully difficult time in our lives and sometimes we failed miserably. We struggled to buy school clothes and pay a sitter. But we ate a homemade dinner together every night and we were there for our kids and their friends.

When my children were babies though, I was a stay at home Mother. I wanted to welcome them into this big, bright world and watch them smile and sleep and grow. Being a Mother is the most important job in the world, even more important than the vice presidency. Motherhood is a commitment to the child and humanity, to nurture and sustain a contributing member of society.

Perhaps a Mother with five children, including a tiny 5 month old handicapped child and a pregnant unwed minor daughter, should be spending more time with her family and not trying to be a partner to the ruler of the most influential country in the free world. Ultimately, either her family or the country is going to get short changed, and I don't think I want to see which one it is.

Rain, rain, rain… the summer has been one for the record books as the lakes and rivers, streams and gullys fill up and overflow. Plans are ruined, local summer establishments loose money and tans fade.

"Blame it on Mother Nature" we are told, but is that really who's to blame?I say blame it on China and the Olympic Games! China's pollution and poor air quality has caused lots of concern and attempts to clean up their mess so that the best athletes from around the globe can run and jump, swim and dive without smog obscuring the end result.

Thus lots of effort has been made to remedy the horrible air and some of the ideas seem like good ones. Millions of trees were planted, factories were closed (maybe not good for the workers!), and cars were banned from certain areas. When this failed to produce sufficient results, even clouds were seeded over and over again to create rain that would remove pollution and particulate from the air. But is that a good thing?

When weather is controlled by man and rain is caused to fall in certain areas, can this affect other weather in different parts of the world? I think it can and I think it has. We like to forget that everything on this planet is connected to everything else (including ourselves) and weather in China has a direct relationship to weather in Maine.

In considering the impact of the Olympics I cannot also help think of the time, effort and money that has been put into these events. Yes, it's fun to watch the best of the best compete and strive for perfection. But is it really worth all the money that has been poured into this two week extravaganza? What about the million Chinese people that have displaced and left homeless so that their towns could become the Olympic stadium? How much has been spent over the years training and creating these practically mythical athletes? And for what? To see who is the fastest?

My question is - how will this make the world a better place? Will there be more love and peace in the world? Will more children be educated or loved or given decent living conditions? Will people help each other more or are we creating an atmosphere of 'might always wins' and 'strong is always best'? Yes perhaps a handful of children from China and Russia and other imperial countries will have improved nutrition and housing, but at what cost? For a childhood spent practicing and obsessing for a sport that will give millions of people a few minutes of adrenalin rush? What happens when they loose and what happens to the rest of their lives? Many are forgotten and ill trained to face the rest of their lives. Is that worth it?

So this summer I won't be watching the Games. I'll pick blackberries with my three year old neighbor and tell her where the Monarch butterflies come from. I'll teach her to swim for the sheer joy of it. And wait for the sun to come out again.

Is it August already? The days slip away as the sun sets a bit earlier each night. The shadows are longer and the Goldenrod brightens the field. I saw an orange limb on a Maple tree out back yesterday and it stopped me in mid-stride.
I feel I must wring the life from these last few weeks of sunshine and sand.
As the naturalist at Pemaquid Beach this summer I should have had my full share of sun and fun, but the summer always seems too short.
Tuesdays I set up a Touch Tank from 10 AM to Noon and children and adults watch and fondle sea stars and cucumbers, crabs and urchins. Encourage your children to hug a sea star, kiss a clam, and touch the Earth. Try it yourself. Life is short - so is summer - so enjoy!

I'm changing the World. I'm saving the environment, adding to biodiversity, creating World Peace, saving money on health care, reducing dependance on foreign oil, and creating beauty for the Earth. It's not hard and anyone with a little time and determination can do it too.

I'm not talking politics either. I'm tired of what the politicians promise and what the self absorbed think of everyone elses flaws, wants and needs. My votes don't change the World. Not a single politician has ever taken my advice.

You too can change the World and it doesn't matter what religion, race, gender or political slant you have. Young and old, rich or poor can all bring peace, prosperity and health to our world.

It's simple - plant a garden. Even a Tomato plant in a pot on your porch will save gas, bring health to you and your family, clean the air, provide food for the hungry and a sense of peace to the World.

Think of the miracle of the seed as you plant it and remember to weed your own life as you weed the garden. Smile and breathe as you watch your plan for peace grow and evolve. Appreciate the fresh water that nutures and sustains us and be thankful for the fruit of the harvest. Share this with your neighbors and find common ground.

Then bring a child to the garden and teach them the lessons found there. As a garden grows, so will a new and better world.

The Full Moon is a time of harvest, of completion, and the fulfillment of plans and dreams. The magic of Grandmother Moon is strong and it is the time to create medicine and focus energy.
This morning a Ruby Throated Hummingbird circled me as I watered the newly planted Poppy seeds. He flew in and out of the droplets and finally alit on the rich moist soil, to dance and sing and lick the moisture from the air. It was a moment of Magick and intimacy that I wondered if it were a dream. But Jeff saw it too and together we marveled at the delicacy and joy of such a tiny shimmering jewel.
What a contrast to our other winged visitors. The colors and variety is astounding; from the blue of the Jay to the red of the Cardinal, to the yellow of the Goldfinches, the rainbow of diversity abounds on our land. To the Chickadees that eat from my hand, with a nod of a thank you, to the Wild Turkeys that gobble and run at the first sign of the dog, we are all part of this land and part of each other.
The Full Moon in May is known as the Flower Moon. I gather sunny Dandelion flowers and cool silky Violets now to preserve and use throughout the year. Dandelions are healing for the liver, are diuretic and pain relieving. Violet flowers are loaded with vitamin C and known to sooth a sore throat and settle an upset tummy. Nibble some fresh from the garden and smile!
Remember to give thanks to the spirit of the plants as you harvest their colorful bounty. Watch for nectar gathering ants and leave those flowers for their enjoyment. Never harvest every bloom or leaf at one time, for other spirits of the Earth require their nutritional and healing properties as well. I use the guidelines of a third for me, a third for the Earth and a third for the creatures that share the harvest with me. I know it’s tempting to take them all, but greed does not bring prosperity or health to anyone.
Dandelion blossoms and Violet Flowers are healthful and healing and fun to harvest and process. This year, Page, my 3 year old neighbor who calls herself my “little helper girl”, gave a hand with the picking. Children love plucking the large soft flowers of the Dandies, though you will have to help them stay focused by enjoying the hunt along with them.
Dandelion blooms may be preserved in several ways. To make a DANDELION CORDIAL, soak the fresh blooms in a good Brandy by filling a quart jar with flowers and adding an organic lemon rind. Fill with your desired alcohol - some people use vodka instead - and shake several times a day for two weeks. Strain and enjoy over ice or added to tea. Substitute Violets to make a Violet Cordial or use Dandelions for the syrup receipt that follows.
VIOLET SYRUP - Pick just the blossoms after the sun has dried the dew and the blooms are fully open.
2 cups of Violet flowers
2 cups of boiling water
2 cups of honey
Pour the boiling water over the blossoms, stir and add the honey. Let mixture cool and transfer to a glass container. Shake several times a day and imagine the healthful properties of the flowers giving their healing to you. Strain, bottle, label and share with friends. Add a spoonful to iced white wine or mint tea. Take by the spoonful to sooth a sore throat or settle an irritable stomach. Feel pain and worry leave and recall the joyful day in May when you were given this blessing. Enjoy!

They say April is the cruelest month, yet May is the meanest month. Maine in May brings the promise of Spring with the desire for Summer. It holds the torrent of an Autumn rain and the frosty kiss of Winter. May is the time of Life and Death, of Do or Don’t Do. It is predictable in its’ unpredictable ways.
In May we run gingerly across the bright green grass and gather armloads of Daffodils before the rain beats the soft buttery petals into slug food. We plant Peas and gather Dandelion greens while the new Garlic leaves wave Hello. The next day can bring death to tiny nurtured seedlings by forgetting to cover or water or open or close a door. Other green children surprise me with their strength or mere presence. How did that the Lungwort get so huge? (Thanks Leslie - I always think of you in Spring.)
In May I don’t hurry to put away that Winter vest or those heavy wooly socks. We keep the wood box full and watch for 100 year Spring floods. I do dig out my summer sleeveless shirts and shorts and soak up the first warm days in the garden. One must feel the sun and breathe deeply of the scents of birth and Life. So enjoy and savor the easy joy of it all, for soon…usually the first week in May…it happens. The joy is sucked away. Along with pints of unauthorized blood donations, for the Black Flies have arrived.
And they are more than cruel - they are mean.
Now the garden chores take on an intensity as we pull weeds and swat our ears. No more strolling serenely and gazing about. Now we stumble and weave and wave our arms. Some call it the Black Fly Shuffle, though I think it may only attract the little buggers.
How do we deal with these annoying, insipid creatures? I avoid the Deet, despite the dire warnings that nothing else will work. I could explain it all in technical terms of the nasty chemical composition that neither you or I can fully comprehend or simply tell the bottom line truth - it gives me severe headaches. There are various natural products out there made with citronella that work well for me when I must use something. I also employ the ancient concept of a layer of oil. Avon used this concept when someone noticed the additional benefit of one of their skin so softeners. (Smirk)
Others don the baffling bug nets and this is my first line of defense if I must be outside in a swarm. (Especially if I’m standing at the potting table for an hour or so.) Just remember to tuck in those loose ends people!
I sometimes use the Bug Whisperer approach. This does work and I’ve heard this theory from others as well. I simply and quietly state that I must be outside for a while and I would appreciate it if the Blackfly herd could respect that and not chew me to bits. I will allow a few small bites as a Thank You for their respect. Too many bites and I will grab one by the wings, shake it sternly, remind it of our agreement, then let it go. She’ll usually tell her sisters to leave the crazy lady alone.
Here’s a favorite old time recipe from Midcoast Maine - It' good!

Blackfly Stew

1 onion
1 celery stalk
1 handful of green beans
1 carrot
1 handful of mushrooms
1 or 2 garlic cloves
Slice all and sauté in a heavy saucepan with a little butter or olive oil, adding each in order and stirring gently before adding the next ingredient.
Stir in a lb of thawed frozen Maine shrimp and pour in a quart of chicken broth with left over chicken. Cover and simmer an hour or so. Add more water if necessary.
Next - here’s the Blackfly part - go out in the garden and gather a handful or two of snips of fresh chives, garlic leaves, mustard and dandelion greens. Then chop them and add along with a spoonful of fresh minced Ginger to the simmering soup and any clinging Blackflies you may have accumulated. These are highly nutritious and delicious! In the old days, fisherman’s wives would knit small nets to wave over their heads in the garden to collect the juiciest bugs. Our modern day palettes are unable to appreciate the tenderness of the flavor now though; so many people (including me) omit this step. Stir in a couple of cups of cooked brown rice, add salt and pepper to taste and a few spoonfuls of soy sauce. Serve steaming hot with a salad of greens sprinkled with chives and heartsease (Johnny Jump Ups) flowers. Bake up some Biscuits too.
(Please note - the author assumes you know dandelion greens from poison hemlock and accepts no responsibility for any and all adverse reactions to ingestion of any wild plants or insects.)
Enjoy!

Last month the EPA ordered Scotts Miracle Gro to stop selling and distributing several of its products after it violated federal law. This report has been widely ignored by the media even though the EPA acknowledges that the risks posed by these products are unknown and they are currently conducting lab analysis of the affected products.
The illegal products include:
*Miracle Gro Shake 'n Feed with Weed Preventer All Purpose Plant Food (EPA Reg. No. 62355-4)
*Scotts Bonus S MAX (EPA Reg. No. 538-301)
*Scotts Turf Builder MAX (EPA Reg. No. 538-299)
*SLS Fertilizer with .28 Halts (EPA Reg. No. 538-304)