Columns

In the past few years, it has become tradition to build a vision board with my friends. Together, we cut out pictures from magazines, organize them in a meaningful way, then glue them to poster board. This creation represents how we want our lives to look for the upcoming year.

Well, it's that time of year — time to set goals for the new year and promise ourselves we'll see them through. We all do it. We often set the bar too high. We promise to eat healthier, exercise more, perhaps read more books or take a class to enhance a skill.

It is curious how we develop affection for certain species in the natural world. Whether flowers, birds or butterflies, we all have our favorites. As with Daniel Boone long ago, I have a warm spot in my heart for a long-lived, slow-growing giant that enhances the character of eastern forests: the American beech.

If you think "cereal" can be classified as soup, we can't be friends. Really. If you see me on the street, just scoot on by. Don't make eye contact that will lure me into thinking you know where cereal belongs in your kitchen and where soup fits in your life. Don't say hello.

The calendar says it's still autumn, but I know winter when I see it. As I write this, there is snow on the ground, it's 30 degrees, and the weather station says there's a 30-mph westerly wind gusting to over 40. There are whitecap rollers in the bay and I'm loving Maine being Maine. But, for some reason, today's weather makes me think of a time long ago when Maine weather taught me a life lesson that I'll share with you.

Question from Garry Hansen: It's getting a bit out of hand here in Harpswell with signs nailed to poles or stuck in the ground. Approaching the Orr's and Bailey Islands Fire Department station, there were three in a row, and over the bridge many more. They seem to be everywhere. Should the town do something about this?

We are entering the last month of the year! This means the temperatures are falling and storms could bring ice or snow. As the weather grows colder, it may be wise to have your vehicle looked over. The cold takes a toll on car batteries. It is also a good idea to have snow tires.

Carol Lord, manager of technical services at Curtis Memorial Library, discovered how much she loved being in the library when she volunteered to shelve books. She had tried several other careers, but decided the library was for her. She has been at Curtis for 25 years and knows the collections especially well, as part of her job is coordinating and overseeing the annual new books budget.