lake living vol. 14, no. 1

A Tableau of Tables

spring 2011 • vol. 14, no.1

FREE

PLUS:resurgent barnsprepping for summer beautylighten up

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spring 2011 • vol. 14, no. 1

cover photo by john snyder for nurture through nature

8 atableauoftables byleighmacmillenhayes

12 resurgentbarns bylaurielamountain

14 savingaspiritlandmark byleighmacmillenhayes

16 affordablehomeupdates bylaurielamountain

14 preppingfor summerbeauty byleighmacmillenhayes

22 lightenup bylaurielamountain

24 livingsimply byjenderaspe

26 timeforourspringdetox bykevinpennell

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Lake Living ispublishedquarterlybyAlmanac Graphics, Inc.,625RockyKnollRd,Denmark,ME04022207-452-8005.www.lakelivingmaine.come-mail:[email protected]©2011.Allrightsreserved.Contentsofthismagazinemaynotbereproducedinanymannerwithoutwrittenconsentfromthepublisher.Annualsubscriptionsareavailablebysendingcheckormoneyorderfor$20totheaboveaddress.

Editor & PublisherLaurieLaMountain

Contributing WritersLeighMacmillenHayes,JenDeraspe,KevinPennell

Contributing PhotographersJohnSnyder,ChristineErikson,EveAbreu,DonJohnson,J.ScottCampbell,LindaGoldrup,BevHendricks,JenDeraspe,BridgtonHistoricalSociety

Graphic DesignerDianneLewis

Proofreader/Copy EditorLeighMacmillenHayes

editor’snoteResurrection. Whether the word

has spiritual meaning for you or not,springistheseasonofrebirth.Thesoilthaws and thenbegins to soakup thewarmthofthesun,sapstartstocoursethroughthetreesandonemorningyounotice the lakes have emerged fromtheirwombofice.Iknowit’swellandtruly springwhenMrs.Phoebebeginsbuildinghernestinthesamebadspotshebuilt it last year. I couldprobablydiscouragethischoice,butsomehowitfeels like Iwouldbemessingwith thenatural order of things. Everything innature,includingher,isbusywithnewlifeanddoesnotneedmyinterference.Besides,mynestisbadlyinneedofres-toration after a winter of wood firesandclosedwindows,sothere’snoneedformetobegettingallupinMrs.Phoe-be’sbusiness.

This issue of Lake Living is aboutresurrecting, restoring and revital-izing—from resurrecting a tree intoa table or an abandoned barn into anew home to restoring a communitylandmark or our very own home andgarden. It’s evenabout revitalizing thehomewerefertoas“me.”

Spring is an appropriately namedseason. Like winter run-off coursingdownamountainsideorawoodcock’scourtship dance, spring is nature’s ec-static release from winter’s constraint.It’sa seedemerging fromthe soilasaplant.Andit’soursweetopportunitytorejuvenateandrenew.

—Laurie LaMountain


42 Highland Rd. Bridgton, ME 04009

207-647-3628

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Our staff includes a licensed professional Forester as well as a Maine Master Logger. Why choose anyone else? Call us today for your Free Timberland Assessment and find out what your land holds for you. Reach us by phone at 207-925-1138 or e-mail us from the link at our Web site:


George and his wife Christine are currently collaborat-ing on creating tables from tree slabs and thick boards. They and other local artisans know that hidden inside

a tree trunk is a table waiting to be revealed and enjoyed. With patience and talent, they cut and carve and manipulate and sand and polish the wood until voilà, a table is born.

A few years ago a neighbor gave the Eriksons most of a butternut tree, aka white walnut, which was endowed with a burl—a type of fast-growing, abnormal nodule found on some trees. Burl wood grows because the tree has experi-enced some sort of environmental stress or damage. Art-ists love them since they yield a peculiar and highly-figured wood with misshapen grain. For the Eriksons this burl was the impetus of the design. “So much time goes into that thing [the burl],” says Christine as she talks about peeling away decades of growth. “Bugs get trapped underneath. It’s like surgery. You can see how they form. There’s rot and you finally get rid of the bad wood, then find another pocket of rot. Then there’d be a worm in there, and you

think you’ve got it all and find another place to clean out.”Christine’s slender fingers tenderly caress the curves

of the finished table while they describe the time spent shaping, sanding and oiling this work of art. The alliance between this couple is obvious and easy as they finish each other’s thoughts. The legs, made of birch and mortised into the bottom of the sculptured table, had been shaped before they were glued into place. Christine says, “We thought tapered legs would be a nice contrast with the top, which is very organic. Once we got them in there . . .” “This doesn’t work,” finishes George. So they sculpted the legs.

“It takes forever,” says Christine. “It really just takes days and days.” “Weeks and weeks,” adds George. “With all our time together it took close to three months.” Their tools of the trade are a chain saw, right angle grinder and a drill with bits and sanding drums plus a variety of hand tools including gouges and an enormous amount of sand paper. Steel wool even comes into play as Christine uses it to apply Tried and True Danish Oil. FMI: www.eriksonfineart.com or 207.647.0903.

A Tableau

of Tablesby leigh macmillen hayes

“When we shape the top I have no idea where we are going,” says George Erikson of Bridgton. “It just happens. You make a cut and that suggests another cut, which suggests a curve, which suggests another curve, which suggests a hole. The whole thing is like jazz.”


George also has collaborated on a table with local building contractor, Henry

Banks of Denmark. In this case, Henry says, “The table was an evolution of a design that started as a practical need to make some-thing you can move around. The benches at my workshop are very heavy.” At a job site he’s been known to create a workbench from a flimsy piece of plywood screwed to an upside down garbage can.

Their idea of a portable table to lay a saw and other tools of the trade on and then pack up for the next job turned into a stylish yet simple piece. Using a two-foot wide planer, they cut a two-inch slab of pine for the table surface. The legs, which pop out making it moveable, are hemlock. Both pieces of wood came from trees on Henry’s land. With steel sockets, the legs are rugged and can easily be bolted into the underside of the table. They are aesthetically appealing as they taper slightly toward the floor.

Henry and George envision selling these to other con-tractors as worktables that could be interlocked to create different configurations such as one long table or a T-shape. But, George says, “In a different direction, this table is func-tional and elegant in a simple sort of way,” and made from a higher quality wood such as maple, walnut or cherry, it could be used as a kitchen work table or with shorter legs as a desk or kitchen table.” FMI: www.eriksonfineart.com or 207.452.2045.

“The table was an evolution of a design that started as a practical need to make something you can move around. The benches at my workshop are very heavy.”

“That’s what I call it because it kind of reminded me of a gazelle. The legs are kind of stringy and delicate . . . If you put it on a slope, it will walk. I found this out when I put it on the ramp of my trailer.”

Using wood salvaged from a job because “I could tell it was very different from the rest; it weighed twice as

much as the rest of the pieces in that particular order,” Don Johnson of Intervale, New Hampshire, created what he fondly refers to as a gazelle table. “That’s what I call it because it kind of reminded me of a gazelle. The legs are kind of stringy and delicate . . . If you put it on a slope, it will walk. I found this out when I put it on the ramp of my trailer. The legs act almost like a slinky effect.”

The wood is African Ribbon Stripe Mahogany. The table’s basic boat-shaped design was a result of Don mimicking the arch and curves of the ribbon stripe along the outside edges of the wood. “Basically,” he says, “I let the material design. I just manipulate it.”

The leftover pieces determined the shape of the legs. They are tapered from top to bottom with an inside curve and splayed so they are further apart at the base than at the top. Giving the feet a little wider stance made it more stable. The legs are mortised to the underside and glued in place. Ebonized walnut plugs further secure them and add to the design feature as the plugs rise a bit from the top surface. “This was a situation where I didn’t know what legs I was going to use, but I knew what I wanted to do with

the top. I just ended up cutting the top out and then I looked at the waste and said ‘This would make a terrific leg.” He chuckles as he pauses, then adds, “Instead of

throwing it away or using it to keep warm.” FMI: www.dajfinewoodworking.com.


Thinking outside the box and experimenting with various kinds of wood, styles and ideas is Eve Abreu’s strength.

“I call myself a wood artisan. By that I mean, my work isn’t constrained by straight lines and I tend to keep or accent the live edges in the wood that I use. I often just let the wood take me wherever it seems to draw me.”

One of Eve’s designs is a Zen table that was the result of a trip to the ocean. “The feeling of sand, touching small pebbles and experiencing the quietness and peacefulness of the seashore” all influenced this simple piece of functional art. This particular table is made of pine that Eve hand carved. The tree’s rings produce a beautiful contrast, rippling from dark to light, emphasiz-ing the growth of the tree and the look of the sand as the tide goes back out. Small pebbles were epoxied to the center of the surface and the table top was painted with several shades of translucent milk paint, then sealed with three coats of poly and buffed with a high quality furniture wax.

Peeled maple saplings that Eve has collected over time form the legs. Saplings are also used to brace the table apron and legs. She’s attached this whole affair with table top mounting clamps. FMI: www.mainerustic.com.

A woodworker of traditional New England furniture of his own designs is Greg Marston from South Bridgton. One

of Greg’s creations is a hand-carved Queen Anne period piecrust tilt top table with pierced ball and claw-style feet. Greg prefers to work with local wood and create vernacular furniture. Instead of using the typical mahogany or walnut for this tea table he’s used maple from a Fryeburg tree.

“The client showed me a picture of a Duncan Phyfe table he wanted me to make for his wife.” Knowing the family well, Greg had an idea for something that might work better in their home and was given the go-ahead to create this table “very much in the tradition of an 18th century table, but the form is whimsical.” The table top is carved from a piece of sol-id wood in the dish top style typical of formal furniture. “I left the edge high and carved around it and scraped until it was dished out.” He undercut the vines around the table’s edge so that it looks like they were glued on. Greg says, “I wanted to achieve a sense of separation between these two [the

“The feeling of sand, touching small pebbles and experiencing the quietness and peacefulness of the seashore” all influenced this simple piece of functional art.

table top and the vines], instead of looking like it came out of one piece of wood because I wanted to deceive the viewer.”

The pedestal was hand carved to look like a tree trunk and in keeping with the fanciful mood of the piece, a small lady bug climbs up it. It’s his attention to intricate details that makes this piece remarkable. Instead of the traditional ball and claw feet, which is aggressive in theory, Greg carved vines around a rock, delicate and petite. All of this was achieved with basic hand tools including a manual hand router, bench chisels, a gouge and burnisher. Tinted with artists colors, the pedestal and legs are a burnt amber while the top is a combination of yellows and browns to make the vine pattern stand out. FMI: 207.647.8378.

Fine woodworkers and carvers never know what they are going to uncover, but it’s obvious in talking with them that that’s half the fun. These are not production line types of furniture; they are conversation pieces meant to be a fo-cal point in any room. Of course, all that personal care and attention means these custom-made tables are a bit more expensive than what you find at furniture stores. But if you have the money and taste for handcrafted furniture, it’s worth purchasing a one-of-kind-work of art. R

“I wanted to achieve a sense of separation between these two—the table top and the vines—instead of looking like it came out of one piece of wood because I wanted to deceive the viewer.”


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J.ScottCampbellwasbittenbythebuild-ingbugwhenhewasgrowingupinPA.Hebelongedtothelegionofkids,like

myself,whowerebroughtup infixer-up-pers:oldhouseswith“potential”thatwereinexpensivetopurchasebecausetheywereinvariousstatesofdisrepair.Thefactthatthehousesneededsavingsurelyhadsomeswayinthepurchasingdecisionbecauseitseemedeachtimeahousewascompletelyrestored, itwouldgobackonthemarketandamovewouldbemadetoyetanotherfixer-upper. It’s one of those elements ofchild development that probably doesn’tgetalotofplayinchildpsychologybooksbuthasaprofoundeffectnevertheless.InScott’scase,itsetthestageforavocationof building. He worked his way throughcollegeasacarpenter’sassistantandnowownsandoperatesMaineMountainPost&BeambasedinBrownfield,Maine.

Though he offers clients completereassembled antique frames as well asnew frames cut from new timbers, Scott

especiallylovessalvagingtimbersfromold“partsbarns”andre-cuttingandassemblingthemasa“new”antiqueframe.Hepointsoutthatwhathe’sdoingiswhatjoinershavedoneforover300years—adaptedreuse.Infact,twentytothirtypercentofthebarnsleftstandinghaveeitherbeenmovedfromtheiroriginal locationorareframedwithtimberssalvagedfromotherbarns.

FarmingmethodsinthiscountrychangedsignificantlyafterWorldWarII,rendering

most of the barns built before then out-moded. As a result they’ve suffered fiftytosixtyyearsofneglectandit’stestamenttohowwelltheywerebuiltthatsomanyofthemarestillstanding,however,heavysnowyearslikethispastwinterreallytaketheirtoll.Insalvagingmaterialthatwouldotherwisebewasted,Scottbringsrenewedappreciationtotheworkmanshipinthesebeautifuloldbarns.

“NoonetreasuresoldbarnslikeScott,and no ones restores them with as muchloveandenthusiasmashedoes,”saysownerCarolNoonanofhisworkontheQuisisanaBarnatStoneMountainArtsCenter.Fouryearsagohedismantled the200-year-oldbarnonStoneMountainpropertyinBrown-fieldtomakeroomforthenewartscenter.

Dismantling a frame is no small task.Theexteriorwalls,siding,roofing,windowsanddoorsareremovedtoexposetheframe,whichisthenmeticulouslydocumentedwithphotosanddetaileddrawings.Eachpieceoftheframeistaggedandthendismantledin

by laurie lamountain

Twenty to thirty percent of the barns left standing have

either been moved from their original location or are framed with timbers salvaged

from other barns.

Resurgent Barns


reverseorderofitsassembly.Pegsaredrivenoutandbeamsarecarefullypulledaparttopreservetheoriginaljoinery.Scottnotesthatinordertotakeabarnframeapartsafely,youneedtounderstandhowitgoestogether.“It’sreallynotahigh-techthing.Ifyoutin-kerwiththemandtakethemapart,youcanfigureouthowtoputthemtogetheragain.”

ThetimbersfromtheoldbarninBrown-field were cleaned, repaired, stacked andcovereduntilthispastMay,whentheywereraisedtoframethenewlobbyandticketof-ficeforSMAC.Onesideoftheframewasinparticularlybadshape,obligingScotttousepartsfromotherbarnstorepairthedamage,butyouwouldneverknowit.As“thebarndoctor,”hewilloftengiveclientsathree-partscenario:whatneedstobedonenow,whatwillrequirefairlyimmediateattention,andthe200-year-fix.TheQuisisanaBarnisanexampleofthelatter.

“Workingwith antique frames, you’reworking with other people’s work. Andalmosteveryoneofthosetimberscouldtellastory,”saysScott.Anotherframethathe’scurrentlycuttingforreassemblyinMartha’sVineyard is comprisedofantique timbersfrom four or five barns. “That timber isfrom a barn in Harrison” he says as hepointstoa40’longbeaminhisshop.“AndthatoneisfromabarninCornish”hesaysoftheonenexttoit.Iaskhimhowhecanrememberthatandherespondsthathere-allydoesn’tknow...hejustdoes.

Afactthatmakeshisabilitytoidentifywheretheycamefromevenmoreimpressiveisthathepurposelychoosestimberswithlikepatina,vintageandspeciesforhisreas-sembledframes.SincetheyarefromNewEnglandbarnframes,thebeamsaremostlypine,spruceandhemlockandthebracesareusuallyoak.NewEnglandframerstypicallyemployedanEnglishtyingjointintheirbarnframes,andwhenhe’scuttingandreassem-blingahouseframefromantiquetimbers,Scottwillusethesamejoinerytomaketheframeasseamlessaspossible.“Idon’ttrytoreinventthewheelandItrytousealotoftheexistingjoinery,”notesScott.

The Cape frame he’s cutting that willmake its eventual way to Martha’s Vine-yardbyferryisnoexception.Itisafour-bentframethatmeasures29’x36’withan18’x24’attachedell.Scott’sdesignemploys

a major rafter with common purlins andcontinuousplatesandties.It’sanuncom-plicateddesignthatsuitstheNewEnglandlandscape.Clientswhooptforanantiqueframeoveranewonewilloftenincorporatetraditionalelements,suchasplasteringandwainscoting,inthedesignoftheirhomes.

WhenaskedaboutthecosteffectivenessofdismantlingseveraloldbarnsinMaineinordertore-cutandassemblethemintoahouseframethatwillbeshippedtoMas-sachusetts,Scottrespondsthatit’sbasicallythesameascuttinganewframe.Headdsthat it takesmore time tocutanantiqueframe because the traditional joinery isscribe,asopposed tosquare, rule.Hand-hewntimbersdon’thavethecleancutsandanglesthatnewtimbersdo,sothejoineryisamorepainstakingprocess.Ontheotherhand,antiquetimbersdon’tcostanywherenearasmuchasnewtimbers.

Anothertime-consumingaspectofwork-ing with antique timbers is dealing withbugsandrot.Allofthetimbersaretreatedwithaborate-basedinsecticidetoridthemofpowderpostbeetles,butcarpenterantsandrotcanrendertimberscompletelyun-usable.Unfortunately,it’sdifficulttoknowthefullextentofdamageuntilaframeisdisassembled.

Finally, there’s thefact thatasalvagedframe has to be transported twice—fromitsoldlocationwhendismantledtoitsnewsettingwhenraised.ThefieldbesideScott’shouseiscoveredwithanetworkoftimbersfromthreecompleteframesandpartsfromatleasttenothers.HisfatherjokesthatScottis “farming barns.” Of course, given thegeneticties,there’ssurelyapointofprideandmaybeevenabitofenvyattachedtohisribbing.

AsfarasScott isconcerned,itdoesn’tmatterhowmuchmoretimeisinvestedinresurrectingtheseoldskeletonsbecausehe’sclearlynotdoing it for themoney alone.“I’vealwaysbeenenamoredbyoldhousesandparticularlytimberframes.Igetsuchgreatsatisfactioninsavingabuilding.It’sapassion.”R

J. Scott Campbell, owner of Maine Mountain Post & Beam, can be reached by phone at 207.935.7234. For a full portfolio of current and previous work visit the Web site at www.mainemtpostbeam.com

“Working with antique frames, you’re working with

other people’s work. And almost every one of those timbers could tell a story,”

says Scott.


The inevitable question is . . . Why? Why take on the huge expense of renovating an old building which is in desperate need of love and repair? I ask Richard “Stevie” Stevens this question as we stand shivering inside the first Northern

Cumberland Memorial Hospital building at Six Main Hill in Bridgton. He’s recently purchased the building. Part of the reason why he did this rests in the fact that he is rehabilitating a place where he once rehabilitated. And the other part: “I really believe in the building,” says Stevie. “I want to see it back to where it was and re-ally complete the upper village,” referring to the western side of Stevens Brook and extending up Main Hill.

Saving a Spirited Landmarkby leigh macmillen hayes

According to the Bridgton HistoricalSociety’sHistory of Bridgton, Maine, 1768 to 1994,thefirsthousetobebuiltonthissitewasmovedtoanearbystreetin1870.Thecurrentbuildingwaserectedin1874and occupied by the William FendersonPerryfamily.In1941,theNorthernCum-berlandMemorialHospitalopenedintheconverted three-story Victorian mansion.Theemergencyroomwas intheattachedbarn.Onatourofthisvintagebuilding,Ste-viepointsoutthatthestaircasewasalteredtoaccommodatethehospitalgurneysandsurgerytookplaceinthespacejustbelowtheWidow’sWalk.Afterthehospitalmovedtoanewfacilityin1964,thebuildingwasused for professional offices, LandmarkHumanResourcesandmostrecentlyasanantiqueshop.

TodaythestructurestandsemptyonthecornerofMainHillandHighlandRoad.

ofthebuilding,heenvisionseitherofficeorretail space and/or anupscale restaurant.He’d like tokeep thefirstfloor relativelyintact,butwelcomesotherpeople’s inputabout what could occupy the space. “Itcouldbecomesomethingtobeproudof,”saysStevie.“Itgivesmealotofenergy.”

The thought of energy raises anotherquestion.Isitreallyempty?Orisithaunted?Afterall,itisanoldbuildingwithlotsofhistory and it’s only natural to wonderif it’s haunted. People lived here. Peoplewerebornanddiedhere.As it turnsout,theanswerismaybe.ThispastNovember,StevieletLindaGoldrupandherteamfromLakeside Paranormal spend a few hoursinvestigatingthesite.

TheLakesideParanormalsareaprofes-sionalBridgton-basedgroupofghosthunterswhoworkwithvideocameras,digitalrecord-ersandelectromagneticmetersthatrecordwhat paranormal investigators call “elec-tronicvoicephenomena.”Ghostlyimages,mysteriousenergy,physicalencountersandstrangefacesarepartoftheirfindings.Thethoughtoflookingandlisteningforsome-thingotherworldlysendschillsupanddownmyspine.But...thisgroupisdrivenbyfac-tualandscientificproofoftheunexplainedandtrytodebunkallthattheyseeandhear.

DidtheyseeanythingatSixMainHill?Thesimpleanswerisyes.Thoughthetem-peraturewastoocoldfortheirthermalde-tectorstodenotecoldspotsindicatingphysi-calevidenceofparanormalactivity(onahotday,sometimesthespiritsorenergygenerateasuddencoldspot),theydidshootvideo.“We’restillreviewingsomeoftheevidence,”saysLinda,whoadmitsshe’salwayshadacreepyfeelingaboutthisplace.“It’skindofatediousprocedure,butinthisvideo,whichwassetupinthedarknessonatripod,youcanseeusgoingupover thestairs in thehospitalandaswegoupyoucanseeagroupoforbscomedownthestairsanddartofftoonesideandwhenwecomedownstairsyou can see the orbs again go upstairs.”

Okay,sowhatelsedidtheyfind?Divid-ingintotwoteamstoinvestigateseparatefloorssimultaneously,theytookrandomstillshotsanduponexaminationoftheirpho-tographs have discovered orbs in variouslocationsofthehouse.“Wereyourcameralensesclean?”Iask.Butit’sobviousfromthephotographssheshowsmethattheorbsarenotconsistentlyinthesameplace.

Lindadidmentionthatinwhattheybe-lievewerepatientrooms,theycouldseethe

Thesunstreamsinthroughlargewindows,showingoffevidenceofitsformergrandeur.Chandeliersfromanearlierdayhangfromtheceilingsinmanyoftherooms.Crownmoldingandhighceilingsgive the roomsasenseofspace.Awidehallwayleadstothestaircaseatthebackofthehouse.Thefacadeincludestwobaywindowsarrangedsymmetrically.Aporchwrapsaroundonecornerofthehouse.In1975thisItalianate/SecondEmpirestylebuildingwasaddedtotheNationalRegisterofHistoricBuildings.

WhenStevielooksatthistiredoldbuild-ingheseesitscharacter,history,beautyandtheopportunitiesitpresentsforhimandthetown of Bridgton. Restoring this historicstructure might possibly spur economicdevelopmentandcommunityrevitalization.Stevie foresees the impressive two-story1,400squarefootbarnasbecomingapuband/orfunctionroom.Fortheotherparts

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apparentimageofamanandboyreflectedinawindow.Inanotherphotographthereisareflectionofawomaninperiodstylecloth-ing.Whoarethey?Isitreal?Partofdoingparanormalresearchisnotonlyfeelingavibeaboutaplace,butalsobeingascepticandquestioningwhatisseenandheard.WhileintheWidow’sWalk,Lindasaysthatassheandtwooftheteammembersstoodtheretheyheardaloudknockonthewall.“That’swhathappens.Sometimes it’ssubtle,”sheexplains.“Sometimesyoudon’t expect it.Andsometimesyoudon’thearituntilyougothroughyourrecordings.”TheplanisforLindaandaphotographertoreturntothebuildingthisspringwhenthetemperatureiswarmertousethethermaldetectors,voicerecorders and to take more photographsbefore reaching a decisive conclusion.

In the meantime, are ghosts good forbusiness?StevieStevenscanonlyhopeso.Andafinal answer to thequestionwhy?Becausehebelievesinthecommunity-wideimpact of this historic preservation. It’snotjustaboutanoldbuilding,andit’snotsimplyaboutpreservingthepast.It’saboutbuildingforthefutureandbenefittingthewholecommunity.R

They took random still shots and upon examination of their photographs have discovered orbs in various locations of the house. “Were your camera lenses clean?” I ask. But it’s obvious from the photographs she shows me that the orbs are not consistently in the same place.

207.452.2591 denmark, me

graphic design with grace and humor.

d l d


It happens almost every year. Duringthedogdaysofwinter,whenspringisso-close-and-yet-so-far-away,Ifallout

of lovewithmyhouse. I begin to cast acriticaleyeonthingsthatpreviouslywentunnoticed. The kitchen cabinets start tolookshabbyandthewoodenfloorsrevealthewearandtearcausedbythetwolarge,four-legged creatures who live with us.Plus, after spending so much of the lastseveralmonthsindoors,there’sthestupefy-ingsamenessofitall.

My immediate response is to put thehouseonthemarketandlookforapieceoflandonwhichtobuildthehouseofmydreams,butintheendIdecidetotakealessdramatic,andfarlesscostly,approach.

Spring cleaning is helpful and with awood stove essential, but it doesn’t fixthe physical flaws or ease the boredom.Unfortunately, it’salso tax timeandanysparemoneyImayhaveisalreadyspokenfor.Fortunately,I’vefoundtherearedozensofwaystosprucethingsupandchangethelookofmyhousewithoutspendingalotoftimeormoney.Here,tosharewithyou,aresomesimplesuggestionsI’vediscoveredtoupdateandimprovethelookofmyhome,startingwiththemostimportantandmostusedroominthehouse.

Kitchen Remodeling: Improving the Design and Function

The kitchen is where you’ll get the

Before you do any major kitchen or bath remodeling, Dan Edwards, a Hancock Lumber Project Pro and Showroom Leader at the Bridgton location, suggests visiting one of their showrooms to take a look at the different products on display. Hancock Lumber has at least one professional kitchen and bath specialist on staff at all their major lumberyards. Using 20-20 design software, they can work with you to create design renderings so you can accurately envision what your new kitchen or bath will look like. For extensive remodeling projects, they will go to your home, make recommendations, take measurements and handle all the ordering.

Call a few days ahead to set up an appointment with a design specialist who will be happy to guide you through the showrooms and start you on the way to your new kitchen or bath: 1-800-471-4400.

mostbangforyourbuck.Renovatingandmodernizing your kitchen will not onlyincrease its function and convenience, itwillincreasetheoverallvalueofyourhome.Herearesomerelativelyinexpensive,do-it-yourselfwaystogiveyourkitchenafacelift.HardwareReplacingoraddinghardwaretokitchencabinetsanddrawersisthequickestandeasiestwaytoupgradeyourcabinets.Switchingoutthemanufacturer’shardwarewithhingesandhandlesthatreflectyourownstyleisasubtlebuteffectivewaytochangethe lookofyourkitchen.Chooseonestyletokeepthelookconsistentandthinkoutside thebox.OneMaine-basedcompany that carries an extensive lineof hardware is Kitchen Encounters inAugusta, Maine (http://www.kitchenen-countersinc.com/Hardware/).CabinetsRefacingkitchencabinetsisthenextmosteconomicalwaytoupgradeyourcabinets.Refacingcomesinmanyforms.Replacingdoorswith laminates,woodenorglassinsertscostslessthanreplacingthecabinet completely.Otherways to refaceinclude removing some doors to get thelook of open shelves, or simply paintingtogive themacompletelydifferent look.Anothereasywaytoupdateopencabine-tryisbypaintingtheinsidesacontrastingcolor,whichcreatesanunexpecteddetaileachtimeyoureachforaglass.Faucet Installanelegant,water-efficientfaucetatthekitchensink.Therightfaucet

Affordable Home Updatesby laurie lamountain


willimproveandupdatetheoverallappear-anceofanykitchen.Lighting Replace existing light fixtureswithupgradedmodels.Olderlightfixturestend to attract kitchen grease, discolorover time and simply become outdated.Replacing light fixtures is a good returnoninvestmentsincenewermodelsareoftenmore energy efficient. Installing dimmerswitchessavesevenmoreenergyandcre-atesambiance.Tiling Stained and discolored grout canreallydragakitchendown.Givetileworkafaceliftbyregroutingit.Or,ifyoureallywanttochangethingsup,consideradif-ferentsolidsurfaceentirely.Switchplates Replace old switchplateswithnewonesthatarethesamecolorasthewallsorthatcomplementaccentcolorsinwallpaper.Wooden FloorsSandwoodenfloorsusingadrumsander,edgerandscrapertoremoveold finish. Many hardware stores andhomecentersrentbythedayorhalfday.Stainand/orapplyawaterproofsealanttoprotectthewood.Add greenery Create an indoor kitchenalongasunnywindowsill.There’snothinglikeittobringtheoutdoorsinwhenyouneeditmost.

Bathroom FaceliftPaint, paper or panel Changing colors,patternsoraddingwoodentonestowallscan significantly transform the lookof abathroom.Lightercolorswillmakeitap-pear larger and warmer earth tones willcreateacalmenvironment.LinensMakeuseofthedecorativepowerofyourtowels,bathmatandshowercurtaintosubtlychangethelookofyourbathroom.Choosecolorsthatworkwithwhatyou’vechosenforthewalls.Hardware While often overlooked, newtowelbars,tissuepaperholdersandotherfixturescanreallyupgradeabathroom,es-peciallyifwhatyou’rereplacingisoflesserquality.Checkoutrestorationandantiquehardwaresourcesforuniquehardwareandaccessories thatareoftenofmuchbetterquality thannew.PortlandArchitecturalSalvage (www.portlandsalvage.com), justoffMarginalWayinPortland,stocksawidevariety of period bathroom accessories.Toilet SeatIfyou’rewillingtopaytheextraprice, most hardware stores can specialordercustom-colortoiletseats.Cabinets Updating medicine and wall

cabinetsisanaffordableyeteffectivewaytocreateanewlook.Considersomethingcustomfromalocalwoodworkersothatyoucangetthematerials,sizeanddimen-sionsthatsuityouroveralldecor.

Faucets New faucets can dramaticallyimprove the lookofabathroom,aswellasconservewater.

Light fixtures Newenergy efficient lightfixtures can upgrade the look of yourbathroomandsaveyoumoney.

Living Space UpdatesFurnitureProbablythefastestandeasiestwaytogivearoomanewlookisbyrear-ranging the furniture. Before you begin,it isagoodideatoplantheroomout inordertoavoidhavingtomovelargerpiecesseveraltimes.

Slipcovers A simple way to add textureandcolorandchangeabigitemlikeasofaorarmchairiswithslipcovers.Checkwiththesofamanufacturertoseeifslipcoversforthespecificpieceareavailable.Ifslip-coversarenotonhandforthatitem,tryabasicadjustableoptionthatsuitsthesofameasurements.Amass-producedslipcoverwon’tbeasfitted,butwillstillprovideafreshsurfacetoworkwith.Addcolortoaspacebychangingthecoversonthrowpillows and cushions. Patterned fabricprovidesvisualinterestwhenarrangedonaneutralsofaorchair.

Lighting Even minor adjustments in aspace’s lighting can have a big impact.Bringthefeelofnaturallightinsidewithfull-spectrum lightbulbs. These bulbsmimic sunlight, which can enhance thecolorsinaroomandareeasyontheeyesforreading.Ortrythewarm,goldenglowofareproductionantiquelightbulb.Thesebulbs are ideal for antique light fixtureslike chandeliers and sconces. Rejuvena-tion Lighting (www.rejuvenation.com) isahigher-endmanufacturerofclassiclightfixtures and restoration hardware thatmaybemoreexpensivethanaboxstore,butyou’rebetteroffwithonequalitytablelampthanalotoflessexpensiveones.

Carpets Having carpets professionallycleanedcaninstantlyupdateahomeandmakeitlookandsmellcleaner.

Now that spring is here, I’ll soon bespendinga lotmore timeoutdoorsandIknowI’llfallbackinlovewithmyhouseasIopenituptothewarmerweather.Inthemeantime,I’lldowhatIcantohastentheprocessbygivingitalittleTLC.R


Our on-again, off-again season only makes usallthemoreeagertogetoutinthegardenandgetgrowing.IknowthatmyneighborandIbegintochompatthebittogetoutsideandwork.Andeachyearwehavenewquestions.“WhatcanIdotogivemygardena‘legup’inearlyspring—whatshouldIdoonceIseethedirt(andnotsnow)tofortifyandreadyit?”she asks. “And if I don’t trimeverythingdowntothegroundinthefall,ismygardenalostcause?” My own questionsinclude the following: ShouldIwaterthegardenseveryday?AndwhatshouldIplanthereinthefirstplace?

For the following tips onpreppingourgardensandland-scapeforthesummerseasonI’veturnedtothreelocalprofession-als:LuciaTerryofPerennialPointofView,BeverlyHendricksofDeerWoodFarmandGardensandSamBennettofBennettLandscapeStudio.

Wake the Garden Slowly Natureisn’tintoomuchofahurryandyoushouldn’tbeeither.Don’trakeeverythingcleanatthefirstsign

ofthesnowmelting.Plantsliketobesnuggledinandprotected,especiallysincespringtemperaturestendtobecapricious.

Dry Soil Waituntilthegroundisdryandwarmtoplantordivide.Wetsoilisn’tgoodbecauseitbecomescompacted.Beverlysug-gests,“Addsteppingstonestoyourgardensoyouaren’tsteppingontheearthandfurthercompactingit.”

Soil TestingIfyouareremodelingyourlandscape,plantingalawnforthefirsttimeorthinkingthatlastyearthegardendidn’tlookasvigorousasitshouldhave,contacttheCooperativeExtensionforasoiltest:CumberlandCounty:207.780.4205orhttp://exten-sion.umaine.edu/cumberland/;OxfordCounty:207.743.6329orhttp://extension.umaine.edu/oxford/.

Top Dressing Don’t disturb the soil. Instead, top dress withcompost tosolveproblems.Topdressingreplaceswhatnaturewouldaddtothelandscape.Thisallowsplantstogrowstrongandhappyastheynaturallyshould.“Therearemoretypesandbrandsandrecipesofcompostavailableeveryyear,bothbaggedandbulk,tochoosefrom...Usewhateverticklesyourfancy,”saysLucia.Beverlycautions,“Don’tuserawmanureinthespring.Itburnstherootsandleaves.”Youcanadddrycomposttoplantsatanytimeoftheyearduetothesandy,rockysoilinourregion.“Compostabout1inchdeepor9cubicfeetfor100squarefeet.That’s20poundsofdehydratedmanureor10poundsofchicken

Ah, springtime—I can smell it in the air! This is Maine, however. Just when we think it’s safe to don our gardening gloves the weather throws us a curve ball—it rains, the temperature takes a nose dive and then it snows.

by Leigh Macmillen Hayes

Don’t rake everything clean at the first sign of the snow melting. Plants like to be snuggled in and protected, especially since spring temperatures tend to be capricious.


manure,agedbutnotdryhorsemanureorcowmanure,”saysBev.Workthecompostlightlyaroundeachperennial.Thiswillimprovetheoverallconditionofyoursoilandprovideagentleslow-releasefertilizer.

Dividing PerennialsSpringisthebesttimetolift,divideandreplantmostperennials, except for the earlybloomingplants,e.g.epimediums,violas,helleboresoranythingthatalreadyhasbuds.Thedividedplantswillhavetheentiregrowingseasontoreadapt.If,however,youtakegoodcaretoprovidewaterandshade,Luciasays,“Manyperennialscanbemovedalmostanytime.Sometimes,hardasitis,youjusthavetocuttheplantbackwhenyoudivideit...itwillrecovermuchmorehappily.”

Native Plants Use plants native to the watershed, which arenaturallyadapted toMaine’s climate, soilsandenvironmentalconditions.Ifitrainsforamonth,oristoodry,theywillsurvive.“Forlargeorproblematicspaces,trynativeferns,nativegrassesandlowbushblueberry,whicharetrulylowmaintenance,”sug-gestsLucia.“Theseplantsalsominimizeyourlawn,makingyourmowingtimeshorter,”saysSam.“You’llhavemoretimetoenjoywhatyouhave.”

Think Ahead Lookforwardforplantstofillin.Whenyouseeaplantinthecontainer,rememberthatitisn’tnearitsmaturity.“Readthetag,”encouragesSam.“Remember,itmaytake20to30yearstoreachitsmaturesize.”Inventoryyourstock.Beverlysays,“Don’tyankanythinguntilyouknowwhatitis.”Usewhatyou

havetoyouradvantage.Trytocreateafour-seasoncompositionwhereplantsembracethechangingseasons.Youmayneedtomoveperennialsaroundtomanagethemsothatthereisn’tcrowding.

PruningSomespringshrubs, like forsythia,arebest toprunerightaftertheybloom.Pruneoutanydiseasedordamagedwood.Don’tbeafraidtolimbanovergrownshrubasifitwasasmalltree,creatingatree-formedshrub.Alwaysuseclean,sharptoolstoprune.

Watering Usingtherightplantsintherightplaces,youshouldn’tneedtowaterperennialgardens.Ifyoudoneedtowater,dosoonceeverytwoorthreeweeks.Allowthewatertopercolatedeeplyintotheground,thusdrawingtherootsoftheplantsdowntowherethereismorenourishment.Rememberthatannualsmayneedtobewatered,butit’sbettertobuycompostandfeedthesoil

thanspendmoneyonwater.

Drainage Because we live inthe lakes region, we all needto understand the special re-sponsibilitywehavetoprotectour rivers, lakes, ponds andstreams.Luciaremindsusthat“the landscaping we do andhowwemanageitplaysahugerole in this.” Samadds that“themovementofsurfacewater

isveryimportant.”Anygardenorplanting,sitedandconstructedproperly,willfunctionasaraingarden,andwilldirectandcollectrunofftowherevegetationcanfilteritbeforeitcanflowtothewaterbody.Beverlysays,“Considerinstallingdiversionbarsondrivewaysandpathwaysasafurtherformoferosioncontrol.”

MulchBeverlyoffers this information:“Mulchcutsdownthewateringandweeding,reducessoilcompactionandstabilizesthesoiltemperature.Italsoreducesfungaldiseases,becausetheyarespreadbywatersplashingonthesoilandthensplashingontheundersidesof the leaves.Options formulch includeaged saw-Dividing Perennials

Use Native Plants

Spring is the best time to lift, divide and replant most perennials, except for the early blooming plants.


Use Local Materials Understand Context

Lucia Terry of Perennial Point of View in Bridgton The business began in 1979 and today three generations of Terry women help folks create “a balance between people and the natural world. Through our thoughtful approach, original design concepts and ecological awareness and practices, we bring our perennial point of view to the work we do.” Lucia says, “No project is too large or too small for us.” www.perennialpointofview.com.

Beverly and Brian Hendricks of Deer-Wood Farm and Gardens in North Water-ford Years ago Beverly worked for PPV and found that their sus-tainable and earth-friendly practices appealed to her, but she really wanted to work at home. She started a day lily business that evolved into a farm and garden business and now includes landscaping, with hardscapes and waterscapes, and original sculptures by Brian. “We try to use indigenous plants and promote sustainable, organic gardening. My goal is to educate people on that whole level,” says Beverly. www.deerwoodgarden.com.

Sam Bennett of Bennett Landscape Studio in Auburn Sam is a landscape designer who works one-on-one with homeowners, architects and builders to design yards, pull the right team together, oversee and manage the project and make sure that everything is done to meet the specifications. His goal is to create a landscape that folks can either implement on their own or with the help of contractors. “I strive to educate homeowners about natural settings, habitat value and native species.” says Sam. www.ben-nettlandscapestudio.com.

dust,mowedleaves,whicharefabulousbecausetheyencourageworms,drygrassclippings—makesuretheycontainnoherbicides,barkmulchorstones.Foracidicplants,pineneedlesmaketheperfectmulch.”Luciaadvisesagainsttheoveruseofbarkmulch,“whichwhenappliedoverandover and doesn’t break down,results in a deep woody crustthat impedespropergrowthofplants, especially perennials.”Save thewood chipsor coarseshreddedbarkthattaketoolongtodecompose,thusrobbingthesoilofnitrogenandleavingtheplants hungry, for the gardenpathway or a place where youdon’twantplantstogrow.

Use Local MaterialsRememberthatalotofhardscapematerialsthatworkbestcanbefoundrighthereinMaine.“Considerusinghardscapematerialsthatcloselymatchwhat’snearyourhome,”saysSam,“anditwillseamlesslyfitintothelandscape.”Ifyourhardscapeisdesignedandbuiltrightitwilllastforever.

Understand ContextDosomethingthatworkswithyourprop-ertyratherthansomethingthatsticksout.“Thinkoffoundationplantingsasaframeworkforyourhome—spendalittleondesignandthinkaboutwhatyoulikeordon’tlikeaboutotherpropertiesinyourneighborhood,”suggestsSam.

Live in the Landscape “Thinkabouthowyoucanlivemoreinthelandscape...bemoreintentionallyinitandpartofit,”saysLucia.Youmightcreateaspecialcontaineroracornerof thegardenthatbecomesapartofwhatyoufocusonandsmileatinthemorning.Thisshouldbeaplacethatmakesyoupauseandsay“Ah,”aplacethatyouexperience,ratherthanremindingyourselfthatyouneedtowateritwhenyouarrivehomeafterwork.

It’stipslikethesethatwillhelpusthinkaboutthenaturalset-tingweliveinandmakesomesoundchoices.Asfornotcuttingthegardensbackinthefall...it’sokay.Beverlysays,“Idon’tcut

Think of foundation plantings as a framework for your home —spend a little on design and think about what you like or don’t like about other properties in your neighborhood,” suggests Sam.

back.Itendtoletthegardensdiebackandleavetheseedheadstoattractbirds.”Ifweusesustainablegardeningpractices,thenmaybe,justmaybewe’llhavemoretimetoslowdown,smelltheflowersandsipaglassoflemonadeaswewanderthroughouryardsthissummer.R


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After a winter of warming foods such as stews and oven-roast-ed offerings, spring brings the

prospect of lighter, brighter fare to the table. It’s one of the best aspects of living with four distinct seasons. Who wants to eat the same type of food year round, even if the ingredi-ents are available? It doesn’t seem natural to sit down to a Caprese salad in January or a boeuf bourguignon in June.

But spring is the transitional season . . . too early for

maine shrimp dumplingsTheshrimpseasoninMainerunsfromthebeginningofDecemberuntiltheendofwinter.Becauseitissoshort-lived,I’velearnedtobuyoftenandbuymorethanIcurrentlyneedsothatIhaveareadyreserveof1/2poundcontainersofthismostdelectableshrimpmeatinthefreezer.Oncetheyaregone,I’mdoneeat-ingshrimpuntiltheseasonstartsagaininDecember.

1/2 pound raw Maine shrimp, peeled1/2 cup cilantro leaves1/4 cup roughly chopped scallions1 Tbsp. sesame oil1 Tbsp. Mirin or Ume plum vinegar1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger1/2 cup soy sauce12-14 dumpling skins juice of one lime1.Combinesesameoil,vinegar,gingerandsoysauceinabowl.2. Pulsehalftheshrimp,halfthecilantro,

andallthescallionswith1or2table-spoonsofthesauceinafoodprocessoruntilsmooth.Transfertoabowl.Roughlychoptheremainingshrimpandcilantro,addthemtothebowlandstirtocombine.3. Placeadumplingskinonaworksurfaceandwetedgeswithwater.Placeaboutata-blespoonoffillinginthecenter.Gathertheedgesuptowardthecenter,leavingabitoffillingexposedatthetop.Repeatwiththeremainingwrappers,keepingboththewrappersandthedumplingscoveredwithadamptowelwhileyouwork.4. Inasteamerbase,bringaninchofwatertoboilandreducetoasimmer.Putasmanydumplingsasyoucanfitwithouttouchingintothesteamerandplacethemoverthesteamerbaseandcover.Steamuntilthewrappersaretenderandthefillingcooked,4to6minutes.Whilethedumplingsaresteaming,addthelimejuicetotheremainingsoymixtureforthedippingsauce.Serveimmediately.

roasted asparagus soup with spring herb gremolataGremolata(aclassicItaliangarnishmadefromlemonpeel,parsley,andgarlic)getsanewtwistherewiththeadditionoftarragon.5 pounds asparagus, trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces (14 to 15 cups)4 cups chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only; about 4 large)1/4 cup olive oil6 cups (or more) chicken broth2 Tbsp. minced fresh Italian parsley4 tsp. finely grated lemon zest1 Tbsp. minced fresh tarragon1 small garlic clove, minced salt and pepper to taste1.Preheatovento425°F.Combineas-paragus,leeks,andoilinverylargebowl;tosstoblend.Dividebetween2largerimmedbakingsheets.Sprinklewithsaltandpepper.Roastvegetablesuntilasparaguspiecesaresoftandleeksaregolden,stirringoccasionally,about45minutes;coolonsheets.2. Spoon1/3ofvegetablesintoblender;add2cupsbroth.Blenduntilsmooth.Transfertolargepot.Repeat2moretimes,usinghalfofremainingvegetablesand2cupsbrothforeachbatch.Warmsoupovermediumheat,thinningwithmorebrothby1/2cupfuls,ifdesired.Seasonwithsaltandpepper.DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Cover; chill. Rewarm before continuing.3. Mixparsley,lemonzest,tarragon,andgarlicinsmallbowlforgremolata.Ladlesoupintobowls.Sprinklewithgremolataandserve.Serves 8.

many garden offerings and too late for all of last year’s bounty. If you prefer to eat according to the seasons, it’s necessary to get cre-ative. It may be a primal response to the seasonal shift, but the bit-ter cleansing taste of herbs like cilantro, arugula and dandelion seem especially inviting in spring.

Adding spring herbs and greens to salads, quiches and soups that you’ve made with items pulled from the freezer is a great way to ease you through the pre-garden months.

Lighten Up

by laurie lamountain


avogolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)ThefirsttimeIhadthissoupwasataGreekDinerinFloridaonanAprilvisittomymother.Itwasoneofthoseeatingexperienceswhenyourememberwhereyouweresitting,thequalityoftheday,andespeciallythemeal.Iwillforeveras-sociatethissoupwithasunnyAprilday.2 boneless chicken breasts6 cups chicken broth1 small carrot, peeled1 small onion, peeled and halved1 bay leaf1/2 tsp. salt1 cup long grain rice2 eggs1/4 cup fresh lemon juice sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste2 Tbsp. finely chopped flat parsley1.Bringchickenbroth,carrot,onion,bayleafandsalttoasimmer.Addchickenbreasts,coverandpoachoverlowheatfor30minutes.Removechickenbreastsandletcoolslightlybeforepullingapartwithforks.Setaside.Strainbrothandreturntoaboil.Addrice,reduceheatandgentlysimmerfor20minutes.Addchickenbacktosoupforanother5minutes.2. Whiskeggsuntilfrothy,thenwhiskinlemonjuice.Addacupofthehotsoup,veryslowly,continuingtowhiskthemix-tureasyoupour.Repeatwithasecondcup.Removesoupfromtheheatandaddtheeggmixturetoit.Seasonwithsaltandpepper,sprinklewithparsleyandserve.Serves 4-6.

quiche with spring morelsWearefortunatetohaveatleasttwotypesofwildmushroomsthatgrowonourproperty—morelsandchanterelles.Luck,however,isfickleanditrequiresavigilanteyetocatchtheseshydelicaciesbeforethey’regone.Morelsmakeabriefappearanceduringthosefewdaysfol-lowingthecold,rainydaysoflatespring,beforetheweathergetstoowarmforthem.Theyareespeciallyniceinquichesincetheirearthyflavorseemstoinfusethecustardfilling.1 cup flour5 Tbsp. cold, unsalted butter sea salt ice water8 ounces fresh morels4 fresh eggs, beaten2 cups half and half or 1 cup heavy cream and 1 cup milk1 cup Gruyère cheese, cut in 1/2- inch cubes fines herbes salt and pepper to taste1.Preparecrustbysiftingflourandsaltinabowl.Cutbutterinwithapas-tryblenderuntilitiswellandevenlydistributed.Addicewateratablespoonatatime,fluffingwithaforkbetweenadditions,untilthedoughbeginstostaytogether(3-5tablespoons).Rolloutdoughandlineadeeppiedish.Bakeina425˚ovenfor5minutes.2.Whilethecrustisintheoven,clean,trimandhalvethemorels.Placetheminaskilletovermediumheat.Cook,stirringoften,untilthey’vereleasedmostoftheirmoisture;about8minutes.3.Combinebeateneggs,milkand/or

cream,finesherbes,saltandpepperinalargebowl.4.ScattercubedGruyèreoverthebottomofthecooledpiecrust,topwithcookedmushrooms,andpoureggmixtureoverall.5.Bakeina425˚ovenfor10minutes.Lowerheatto350˚andbakeforanad-ditional30-40minutesoruntilaknifeinsertedinthecentercomesoutclean.Letrestforseveralminutesbeforeserv-ing.Serves 6 hungry people.

haddock with chopped chives en papilloteThisdishissosimpleandyetsodeli-cious.Theflavorsdependonthefishandthechivesbeingasfreshaspossible.Serveitwithboilednewpotatoesandsteamedasparagusorpeas.1 pound haddock or other white fleshy fish handful of freshly cut chives, chopped extra virgin olive oil coarse salt and freshly ground pepper1.Preheatovento350˚F.Havefishatornearroomtemperature.Cutfilletinhalfwidth-wise.Cutfourpiecesofaluminumfoilinsquaresofabout12”x12.”Brushallbuttheoutertwoinchesofthedullsideoftwosquareswitholiveoil.2.Placethefilletsoneachsquareandsprinklewithseveralgrainsofcoarsesaltandfreshlygroundpepper.Sprinkleagenerousamountoffreshlychoppedchivesoverthefish.Drizzlewitholiveoilandplaceremainingaluminumfoilsquaresontop.Sealtheedgesbyfoldingthemoveracoupleoftimesandleavingastandingseam.Thefishshouldbeinapocketsurroundedbyair.3.Placethefoiledpacketsintheovenandcookfornolongerthan15minutes.Carefullyopenthepackets,releasingthetrappedsteamwithaknife,andslidethefishontoawarmedplate.Serves 2.


I live in a cabin tucked in the woods on the side of Pleasant Mountain. I wanted to experience living differently, closer to the land, more gritty, and more real by making choices each step of the way that felt

congruent with what I value; using less, being more self-reliant, keeping it simple, going local and making green choices to meet my needs. This breach with conventional life represented an adventure into the unknown for me. I had a dream of living at one with the land and creating a space for others to experience the same.

by jen deraspe

MostdaysIrisebeforethesunandpre-parethefireboxinthekitchencookstove,rakingwhatisleftofthecoalsfromtheeve-ningfire’sembers.Openingthedampers,Iprepareforthenewday’sfire.Thecoffeepotisfilledandstrategicallyplacedonthestove—amassive,blackenamelcookstovemadebytheAmishthatwarmsthewholecabin,cooksthesoup,bakesthebreadandheats the water for showers and dishes.Oncethefireissecurelylit,Ipulluptherockingchairandsettleinveryclosetotheslowlyrisingheat.Mycat,Molly,joinsmeonmylap,purring.It’sallquitecomfort-able,betweenMolly’ssoothingvibration,thecracklingfireandthewaterinthecoffeepotbeginningtosteam.

The33acresIliveonspoketomethedayIfirstwalkedtheboundarylinestenyears ago. A spring-fed mountain brookforms thenorthernboundary. I followeditspools,waterfalls,andfern-coveredboul-dersuptothebackpin,intowhatfeltlikethedepthsofthismountain.Shadowedby200hundred-year-oldhemlockandwhitepinetrees,Iwascompletelytakenin.

From thebrook’sbottom, I scaleduptheravine,followingtheoldredboundaryblazesonthetreesheadingsouth.Atthe

peak, there were granite outcrops cov-eredinlichenandblueberrybushes,withmountain oaks and white pines dottingtheterrain.Ifeltflushwithexcitementatthe longviewsoftheWhiteMountains.WhentearsfilledmyeyesatthesightofthenaturalgemsIfoundonthispieceoftheEarth,Iknewthiswastheplaceformetosettle.

TochooseasiteformycabinIwalkedthelandandstudieditslight,itsterrain,itstreegrowth.Iambledalongthehintsofanoldloggingroadthatbroughtmetothecenteroftheproperty.ThereIdiscoveredanopeningthatfeltdifferent.I immedi-atelysensedawelcomefeelinginthisspot,withitsnaturalopeningsandexpanse.

Withthemountainasmyhost,Iwantedtoimparttheleastimpactwhilecreatingahomehere.Iwantedtoblendintowhatwasherenaturally.Todothis,Icarvedasmallniche in the forest, expanding thenaturalopeningabit.Ilovetreesandfindcomfortinacknowledgingthemanywaysthesacrificialfewhavecontributedtomylifeinthewoods.Awallofoldwhitepineandhemlocktreeswassparedtoserveasa majestic, natural barrier, keeping thenortheastwindsatbay.

A spring-fed mountain brook forms the northern boundary. I followed its pools, waterfalls, and fern-covered boulders up to the back pin, into what felt like the depths of this mountain. Shadowed by 200 hundred-year-old hemlock and white pine trees, I was completely taken in.

Living Simply

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Iconsultedmycompass,added17de-greesdeclination,facedthesun,andstakedouta footprint formynewhome, facingtruesouth.Orientingthelongsideofthecabinandmostofitswindowstothesouthwouldgive themostsunlightandmoon-light.Honoringthoseelementswouldpro-videwarmth,lightandcompanionshipdur-ingthecoldanddarkertimesoftheyear.

Locating the cabin in the middle ofthe property was a deliberate means tobe enveloped by woods and wildlife. Tobringelectricity in fromthenearestpolewasestimatedtobethesamecostasusingsolarpower.For$10,000,IcouldhavefiveCMPpolesandamonthlybillforcoalandnaturalgas-poweredelectricityorsixteengolf cart batteries, an inverter and foursolarpanelsforgreenpower.AnydoubtIhadaboutbeingonmyownforgeneratingelectricityevaporated.

I felt strongly about going off-grid. Iwanted to try life differently, being in-dependent,toseeifIcouldlivewithlessimpact and consumption.Goingoff-gridfelt right, like a vote in the direction ofrenewableenergy.IwantedtoseeifIcould

paymoreattentiontoalltheconvenienceselectricityaffordsandthatIhadtakenforgranted all these years. I wanted to findtheeaseintestingformyselfwhatIreallyneededandwantedinthislife,togetdowntothemarrow.

It was also a conscious choice to livewithoutback-upheatsourcedfromoilorgas.IdidnotwanttobedependentuponthisculturalsystemofourtimesifIcouldhelpit.Thischoiceputmeinaquasi-hybridpioneerspacerelyingonwoodstoves(andmyback)forwarmingcomfortduringthewintermonths.

This lifestyle feels like going back intime;Idomostofmycookingandallofmyheatingwithawoodstove.Yet,Ihaveallthemodernconveniencesthattechnol-ogyprovides throughphotovoltaicswithenergy-efficientappliancesandlaptops.

Fromthebeginning,Iknewhavingnoback-upheatwouldmean stayingput inwinter,asneithertheplumbingnorMollywould allow me to leave for any lengthof time. Iwelcomed the lifestyle; stayinghome, following the inclinations of thenatural world, aligning with rest, going

why build a green home?Lower Operating Costs Your green home will have lower energy bills as a result of energy efficiency measures. Upgraded insulation alone pays for itself in three years.A Healthier Home With improved indoor air quality, less off-gases from volatile organic com-pounds (VOCs) and prevention of water intrusion which can create mold, your family should be healthier.Reduced Maintenance & Replacement Costs Increased useful life of products and materials will result in cost savings and will reduce the amount of time spent working on your home. Intelligent Design A space-efficient design utilizing every square foot of living space insures there is no wasted space, and less square footage means lower building costs. The cost savings of an efficiently designed home can offset any increased costs incurred by investing in a higher performance home. Potential Financial Incentives There are sev-eral federal and state tax credits or rebates for building or remodeling your home with Energy Star qualified products, some as much as 30%.

Higher Performing & Durable Home You will benefit immensely from a better built and higher perform-ing home; third-party verification of house air leaks will insure that any deficiencies discovered can be addressed and repaired during con-struction, saving an untold amount of wasted energy.

Higher Value & Resale Advantages Your green home will be worth more than a com-parable standard home.Environmentally Friendly & Sustainable Measures Build green because it’s the right thing to do. Can one family building a green home solve global warming or bring a complete halt to diminishing resources? No. Can one family building a green home contribute to the solution and be part of a movement that will be the new standard? YES! Through the use of sustainable practices, recycled and renewable products, and more energy efficient systems, we can reduce the impact on our environment and precious resources. What kind of world do we want to leave to our children and grandchildren?

Main Eco Homes, [email protected]

inward,unplugging,seeingwhatishereintheslower,shorterdaysandlongernights.

Andwhenspringcomesandgraduallypenetrates the dark and cold, I begin tochange as well. As the wood stove firesbegintodiminishinfrequency,Ifeelaslowfirerisinginme.Likethesaprisingthroughthesugarmaple’sveins,mysweetbloodbe-ginstomovetowardtheMarchsun,readyandrenewedtofullyengageandplugbackintowhateverthenextseasonwillbring.R

Jen Deraspe is founder and co-owner of Nature Through Nature, Maine’s first Green-Certified Retreat Center offering holistic and self-designed retreats, expan-sive workshops, sacred spaces, meditation, yoga, coaching and eco-getaways. For details and reservations visit www.ntnre-treats.com or call 207.452.2929.


In many respects, spring is the season of new beginnings. The earth awakens from a long slumber and new life blooms. We find ourselves with seed catalogues, pencil and paper in hand to plan for our gardens. Like the world of plants, the

vital life force surges through us, moving us out of winter’s hibernation to a state of renewed vitality. The time has arrived to shake off any excessiveness or sluggish-ness developed during winter with a spring detoxification. This is the key to spring: cleansing and detoxing our bodies. “Detox” is a method to eliminate unwanted

material or substances from the body. Our bodies should be detoxi-fied twice a year, in spring and fall. A spring detox helps the body

eliminate unwanted and unnecessary fats and other materials no longer needed to keep us warm and energized for cold winter

months. Through teas and nutrition, one can accomplish detoxification.

Time for Our Spring Detoxby kevin pennell

Accord-ing to theC h i n e s e ,

spring isa s s o c i -

ated withthe wood

element. Thewood element

is also related tospecific organs: the

liverandgallblad-der.Sincethe liver

can become congestedin the winter, it needscleansing in the spring.

Ahealthy liver shouldgrowstrong, yet remain flexible,flowingandrooted,justlike

ayoungtree(woodele-ment).Ahealthyliveras-suresasmoothandevenflowofinternalenergyand blood. Westernanatomy and physiol-ogy views the liver as

an organ with severalfunctions including the

detoxificationandfiltrationof blood, storage of vita-

minsandminerals,activationofvitaminDandthemetabolizationof

carbohydrates, lipids and protein amongsomeotherfunctions.TraditionalChineseMedicine (TCM) teaches that the liver’smain function is to regulate the smoothflowandproperdirectionofQi(Chi),orenergyflow,throughoutthebody.Further-more,TCMsaystheliveralsostoresbloodandregulatestheamountofbloodcircu-

“We are true omnivores. We can pretty much eat anything as long as we maintain balance in our diets through enjoying a variety of foods

and avoid excess.”

latedbytheheart.Fromanherbalstand-point,bothChineseandWesternherbal-ists view springas a time for cleansing,detoxificationofthebloodandliver,andto emphasizemoreproductive lifestyles.

Thosewhoseemto feelworse in thespring usually have congested livers. Acongested liver results in anger, frustra-tion,irritability,stiffneckandshoulders,hypertension, PMS, depression, moodswings,andirregularmenstruation.Someadditionalsymptomslikearedfaceandeyes,propensitytooutburstsofanger,diz-ziness,drymouth,splittingheadachesormigraines,insomnia,thirstandconstipa-tionatthistimeofyear,meanexcessiveheatispresentintheliver.

It’sallaboutbalancethroughencour-aging thenatural rhythmofour systemto detoxify in the spring. This may beaccomplished through teas and supple-ments,butthefoodsweeatarealsogreatresources.Now is the time to eatwhitemeats and fish. Try eating legumes, alargevarietyofcookedvegetables,somefreshfruitandwholegrainstoo.Greenordandelionteacanreplacecoffeeforenergy,andchamomile teawillhelpyou toun-wind.Eatplentyofdarkleafygreens,likecollards,kale,mustardandchard.Theycleansethebloodandliver.Tossinsomeother greens naturally growing at thistimesuchaswatercress,lamb’squarters,

Burdock (Arctium lappa) roots are often a prime ingredient in detoxifying formuals for their alera-tive, diuretic and nutritive qualities. They are often the first plants to appear in the spring.


chickweed,nettle,purslaneanddandelion.Addedlemonjuicetastesgood,assimilatesnutrientsfromthegreens,andaccordingtoChineseMedicineclearsliverheat.

Avoidingthefollowingfoodswillhelpease this excessiveheat in the liver:Anyextended consumption of caffeine, alco-hol,refinedsugar,fried,fattyandgreasyfoods,dairy,nutsandnutbutters,redmeat,turkey,avocados,chips,cheese,andspicyfoods.Thissoundslikealot,butasIoftensaytoclients,“Wearetrueomnivores.Wecanprettymucheatanythingaslongaswemaintainbalanceinourdietsthroughen-joyingavarietyoffoodsandavoidexcess.”

Detoxificationfocusesontheliverbe-

your maine tea

Warm up with the best of Common Folk Farm herb teas

Available in-store and on-line through L.L.Bean or at

www.commonfolkfarmherbs.com

o o o

o o o

o o o

Flights From Land and Water

SEAPLANE RATING• Private and commercial seaplane ratings in our PA-12 Super Cruisers

• Fly with straight or amphibious floats• FAA examiner on site

www.naplesseaplane.com

CHARTER SERVICEAre you a business executive who values your time? Let us pick you up after work on Friday and deliver you to your dock in a fraction of the time it would take

you to drive. Amphibious charter from May 1st to November 1st.

www.naplesseaplanecharter.com

SCENIC FLIGHTS• See the Lakes Region and White Mountains like you’ve never seen

them before!• Scenic flights available year round• It’s the trip of a lifetime. “The best

thing we did all vacation!”www.westernmaineaviation.com

at Eastern Slopes Regional Airport, Fryeburg, ME 04037 and5ME Brandy Pond Seaplane Base, 58 Seaplane Cove, Naples, Maine 04055

207-935-4711

causeoneofitsprimaryfunctionsistofiltertoxinsfromthebody.Ourbodilysystemsfunction much better when the liver isbalancedandwhenourdigestivesystemisneithertooacidicnortooalkaline.Again,it’sallaboutbalanceandspringisthetimetobringourbodiesbackintobalance.

Ifyouhavequestionsorconcernsaboutyourspecificnutritionalneedsordetoxifi-cationconsultanherbalistoryourdoctortohelpidentifythemostbeneficialmethodforyou,sinceyoumayresponddifferentlytocertainherbsandfoods.ASpringDetox-ificationcanbeawonderfulexperienceandmethodtopromoteWholisticLiving.R

Kevin Pennell, an author from Bethel, Maine wrote TwoFeathers-SpiritualSeedPlanter and writes for other periodicals and media. He is a Licensed and Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, Herbalist, an Usui and Karuna® Reiki Master/Teacher, a Certified Hypnotherapist, Shamanic Practitioner, and Intuitive Medium. He conducts Reiki and other workshops that assist spiritual and personal development. Kevin is the principle of and practices with other professional practitioners at East West Healing Arts & Apothecary in Bridg-ton, Maine www.eastwesthealingarts.org

The Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) like the Bur-dock, is an alterative and diuretic. It also aids the digestive process through the liver and gallbladder; a very important element for detoxification.

eth

an

mc

ner

ney


ANDY BUCKBuilding Custom House and Barn Frames Since 1987

Providing High Quality Timberframes for General Contractors and for the Owner/Builder

Life Member of the Timber Framers Guild

97 Kimball Corner RoadNaples, Maine 04055

(207) 787-2248

CustomTimberFramer.com

Moose Creek HoMe Center2319 Auburn Rd Turner, ME 04282

866-831-6616 • 207-224-7497www.mymoosecreekloghome.com

Locally Owned & Operated Manufacturer of Quality Homes.“Custom Doesn’t Have to Cost More.”

32 lakelivingmaine.com10 Hospital Drive, Bridgton • www.bridgtonhospital.org

Specialty Care Clinics

...Close to Home Specialty Care...In the Lakes Region of Maine

Isn’t it nice not to travel so far for your care?

Oncology & HematologyCardiologyPacemaker & Defibrillator ChecksDiabetesInfectious DiseaseOrthopedicsSports Medicine

If you’d like more information about any of our clinics, please call 207-647-6120.Quality Care...Isn’t it convenient to have it Close to Home?

Bridgton Hospital Specialty Clinics 10 Hospital DriveBridgton, ME 04009

Pain ManagementWound CenterNephrologyUrologyPulmonologyEndocrinologyEar, Nose, and Throat

“Bridgton Hospital cancer care - it’s

world class treatment close to home. Not

having to travel for my care has eased

the financial and stress burden for me. A

small hospital with ‘big’ hospital care.”

scott thomas lovell, maine

lake living vol. 14, no. 1

Documents

new hampshire landowners

new patients

home andgarden

tree intoa table

p issue oflake living

john snyder

summer beautylighten

soakup thewarmthofthesun