Frosty and Michelangelo

There are many beautiful representations of snowmen during Christmas.  The song Frosty the Snowman was written for Gene Autry by Walter Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson in 1950. They wrote Peter Cottontail too.  Gene Autry had a bit hit the year before with  Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  He got another with Frosty. There's no Christmas in Frosty the Snowman. The tie-in to Christmas was Frosty saying he'll be back next Christmas day.  That also solved the sad end of the melting man.   Do you know what wikipedia says about snowmen?  "A snowman is is an anthropomorphic snow sculpture often built by children in regions with sufficient snowfall. In many places, typical snowmen consist of three large snowballs of different sizes with some additional accoutrements for facial and other features. Due to the sculptability of snow, there is also a wide variety of other styles. Common accessories include branches for arms and a rudimentary smiley face, with a carrot standing in for a nose. Human clothing, such as a hat or scarf, may be included. Low-cost and availability are the common issues, since snowmen are usually abandoned to the elements once completed." Snowmen have been documented since medieval times - earliest is an illustration from a 1380 book of hours. And I saw this reference:  In 1494 a young up and coming artist by the name of Michelangelo was commissioned by Piero de’ Medici to create a snowman for the ruler. The article is HERE.  It is most enjoyable, with tidbits like: in 1818 Zurich started celebrating the beginning of spring by blowing up snowmen.   Consider our current snowmen and snow ladies:  Bethel Maine is known as the home of the world's tallest snow woman - the record was set in 2008 with the height being 122 feet (11 stories).  It melted July 30, 2008.  You can see it HERE.  We have a few snowmen from the Fantasy of Trees, and the little log sculpture in front of the library.  These little sculptures are all over town.

March Weather Savage and Serene

We enter the month of March, that which draws us into spring. Poets had great emotions on the subject of March: December days were brief and chill, The winds of March were wild and drear, And, nearing and receding still, Spring never would, we thought, be here. ~Arthur Hugh Clough (1819–1861) It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens (1812–1870), Great Expectations These, marching softly, thus in order went, And after them, the Months all riding came; First, sturdy March, with Brows full sternly bent, And armed strongly, rode upon a Ram, The same which over Hellespontus swam: Yet in his Hand a Spade he also hent, And in a Bag all sorts of Seeds ysame, Which on the Earth he strowed as he went, And fill'd her Womb with fruitful Hope of Nourishment. ~Edmund Spenser, The Fairy-Queen, 1590s Today's pictures are "Blowing Off Steam" images from the Sandy River and Rangely Lakes Railroad trip in Maine last year.

Tools and Their Houses

We've seen  the increasing size of houses over the decades since the second world war.  Then post-war houses were built on a 660 square footprint, and had three bedrooms.  When I was young, we saw these houses in many neighbourhoods in St. Catharines, and seemed fine at the time.  Now designer tool sheds seem as large as small houses.   It was a delight to see this tiny tool shed at the Maine Coastal Botanic Garden.  It seems like the right size for one of those post-war houses.  It would nestle in the back garden and be in scale with the house. This one is leaning - it is the children's garden where whimsy reigns supreme - the fence posts are carved in cats and the entrance is marked by giant watering cans and tools.

Love Locks

What is the relationship between the first picture and the second one?  Love is the answer.  Our couple overlooking the Bug Lighthouse seem romantically inclined.  And the second picture shows the Portland, Maine Love Locks Wall - where couples 'lock in their love'.  It started in 2013 on Valentine's Day and has increased since then -  so substantially that the fence has structural problems from the weight and started to come apart. When we were there, the fence is cordoned off.  The full story from July 2016 is here talking about the plans to move it, etc.

The Roundhouse and Rountable

Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad was great for the roundhouse and turntable.  We were treated to a live operational demonstration - here are  a few pictures.

The Big Maine Feast

Maine seemed to have its own traffic jams, and here's one on Route 1 that seemed never-ending and always present.  We knew as as we were standing in the one-hour line for a Red's Eats lobster roll at $23.00 U.S. each.   The Red's Eats website calls this a 'restaurant'.  I don't want to sound mean, but this looks like a lobster shack to me  - typical throughout Maine - order and pick up at the window.  Mostly fried food format with patio and picnic tables for eating. However, this one is famous (there are lists of all the famous people who have eaten here).  It claims to have the best lobster roll in America, and those in line were in agreement even before eating the lobster rolls. So this is definitely worth the experience. There's a picture of our personal lobster (it is a whole lobster in there) roll at the bottom - a load of truly fresh and beautifully cooked lobster - enough for the two of us to share.  Red's calls it "the overflowing mound of sweet, chunky meat in a buttery, grilled cradle." Here's what makes a lobster roll beloved: “A whole lobster required concentrated effort to eat, but a lobster roll is trouble-free. It is the simplest sandwich, basically lobster meat surrounded by bread. The best lobster roll on earth is served at an extremely humble shack known as Red’s Eats. Red’s primacy is a legend among lobster lovers, who flock to it in such numbers (summer only), the wait in line can be up to an hour.” Michael Stern, USA Today. Have you had a 'great eat' experience?  Let me know what it is.