Lucky Rocky

Last week Tiffany, Alex, Zoe and Bobby spent hours "rescuing" a beautiful black cat from the garage attic. Of course, he's the most lovable cat ever. Purring, rolling around on your lap to get petted and he talks! And of course the kids wanted to keep it. But, having 8 living creatures to care for already, I said "Nope." This isn't the first time I've heard, "I'll take care of it." After calling shelters, the animal control officer and vets, I told them to take him to the no kill shelter in Cumberland. A couple days later Lost Cat signs popped up at Freaky Foods and the library - love a small town, somebody who knows us called the number right away. Everyone's happy and end of story.
But wait! We get a call with chapter two: Jen, the owner, had her sister stop by the shelter to pick up the cat. They told her there that not only did they not have a black cats but nobody from Gray had dropped one off recently. And, to top it all off, she got a big lecture about cat care and she was forced to leave empty handed.
Just to make sure, Jen stopped by for the kids to give a positive ID to a photo. It was definitely Rocky and he most certainly was taken to that shelter, and the kids had filled out paperwork there - including town of Gray. We had a full house when Jen stopped by as DJ and Dale were on a Harley ride and popped in. We were incredulous and mystified. Oh, the irony of trying to rescue a cat from a shelter! Everyone agreed that she had to get past the desk lady and into the "cat rooms". Dale was advocating cat commando - just push through and grab her cat and just tell them she wasn't leaving without him, and call "Johnny Law" in case of trouble.
When Jen went the next day she posed as a cat adopter, and in the very last room of cats she embraces Rocky and says she isn't leaving without him. The shelter people appear surprised at her story and offer no explanations other than "we've never had any trouble, before."
And that's the story of Lucky Rocky. Jen said Rocky will stay home 'til he gets his new tag with his phone number on it. I kind of hope he wanders over for a visit now and again!

Memorial Day:

Llilacs in bloom at the cemetery at Gray, Maine

WHEN lilacs last in the door-yard bloom’d,
And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night,
I mourn’d—and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.

O ever-returning spring! trinity sure to me you bring;
Lilac blooming perennial, and drooping star in the west, 5
And thought of him I love.

In the door-yard fronting an old farm-house, near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac bush, tall-growing, with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom, rising, delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle......and from this bush in the door-yard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms, and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig, with its flower, I break.

From Walt Whitman's elegy for Abraham Lincoln. "When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d"

Stranger Honored on Memorial Day

Gray, Maine sent more men to fight in the Civil War in proportion to its population than any other town in Maine.

Surrounded by flags fluttering at their tombstones, lies the body of a Confederate soldier.

Lt. Charles Colley of Gray Village went to fight for the Union. He was one of 175 men wounded in the battle at Cedar Mountain, Viriginia. Colley was removed to an Alexandria, Va medical facility where he later died. His parents, who lived in on Colley Hill, sent money for his body to be embalmed and sent home to Maine. When the coffin arrived, it wasn’t the body of their Union soldier they found, but that of a Confederate soldier. They buried the boy in the Gray Cemetery and a few weeks later, the body of Lt. Colley arrived in Gray.

The Confederate's tombstone reads, “Stranger. A soldier of the late war. Died 1862. Erected by the Ladies of Gray.”

The 15th Alabama Regiment, Confederate reenactors held ceremonies on Memorial Day at the grave of the “Stranger” in Gray Cemetery. They traveled from as far away as Massachusetts to honor the dead soldier. "His mother lost him twice," said the speaker. "Once when she sent him off to war, and again when his body was lost."

The Stranger has been featured by Charles Kurault, and in many magazine articles. It's included on the Maine Civil War Trail and people from all over stop by. When I went to the site early in the day, a medallian had been left on the tombstone reading "Sons of Confederate Veterans, Keep the Colors Flying."

Beware of Flying Cat

MaxiCat was full of spit and vinegar this mornng. Now that the weather is finally above 40 up here in Maine, seems like everything is livening up! MaxiCat brought me a live mouse right to my bed - Good Morning! Zoe and I got Thunder dog out of the room, got Maxi back out the window and trapped the mouse and took it outside. Not the least bit interested in the mouse, Maxi was waiting and yowling outside the kitchen door ready to help me make lunches by trying to push everything but the tuna can off the counter, gave him the tuna juice and he pushed my other cat off the food table. Waiting for the school bus he was on the roof, flying back and forth between the tree and the roof, yowling the whole time. I don't care for the mouse in bed trick, but I've got to say that Maxi is pretty entertaning!

DJ Art

DJ Landry (on the left) discusses her work with a patron at Little Sebago Gallery & Frame in Windham. DJ's work is strong and colorful, much like DJ herself. The paintings in this show explore DJ's fascination with the way free and random art connects people. The painting shown was inspired by a "parking lot band," the guys set up in a parking lot one day and played for homeless people.
DJ's art was included in the 10 year anniversary show. Try to stop in and see the art work, it's varied and by accomplished local artists. If you need framing done ask for Sandy - her framing work is incredible.

Thought for the Day

For the warrior, there is no "better" or "worse"; everyone has the necessary gifts for his particular path. (Paulo Coelho)


Early, I pad from the kitchen to the computer with morning coffee. I check e-mail, then I read. Or look at art. A new thought for a new day. Sometimes I read all the "daily" stuff. Sometimes I wake up with words from my dreams and google them.

This morning I looked for art involving roads. I'm working on a community project involving roads in the village where I live. Always looking to connect the dots spiritually, it's intriguing me that a physical road is affecting my spiritual road.

The project is fixing an intersection that's unsafe for pedestrians. The peanut gallery of vocal angry people against this project can be counted upon to be against everything. They aren't Yankees, and instead of the dry cool wit of natives, they're terribly outraged at every issue. Instead of a well placed harumph, they write insulting, overlong letters to the editor using words like idiot and selfish. They are always mystified at the stupidity of the natives and disappointed in their lack of understanding. You know what they don't want, but can't figure out what they do want.

The Yankees just let them whirl around, out of control. A big dusty wind before the August rain. Yankees are tough and smart, self-assured of their place, they mean what they say without having to say what they mean. On the rare occasions where they offer an explanation, it's usually unsentimental bare facts wrapped in irony offered without apology. Respectfully delivered.

Newbies stay newbies, they never learn to merge, impatient to be heard. Meetings end up being like the counter at Mike's Bakery in Boston. A mad press for the victory cannoli.

All this around a road? I drive myself crazy, but a road isn't just a road. Wonder how the piece will come out? Probably okay if I stay on track.

This was my thought for the day. It's what my artists friends Express yourself a little bit more, and you'll be surprised where it takes you!

Your Life Path Number is 7

Your purpose in life is to find truth and meaning You are very spiritual, and you are interested in the mysteries of life. You are quite analytical and a great thinker. You have many theories and insights. A life of solitude is perfect for you. You need time to think and do things your way. In love, you are quite charming. You attract many with your confidence and wit. While you enjoy being alone, sometimes you take it to an extreme. You can become too isolated, shutting out loved ones and friends. Express yourself a little bit more, and you'll be surprised where it takes you!

What Is Your Life Path Number?

Maine girls

It's a week after the last big snow. Balmy temperatures of 50 started the rapid melt of the snow, and the official start of mud season. It was also softball tryout day - these girls are moving up to majors and they are ready for the challenge. All the girls were really happy to be together again after a long winter. it's the official Maine coming out of the house day. Fired up by the tryouts, neighborhood girls gathered for an impromptu game of softball in the backyard. I love that second base is a sled and the outfield is a snowbank.