Happy New Year!

The word for 2008 might be snow. We got about 8 inches yesterday and are expected to get up to 8 more today. Last night, for the New Year’s Eve celebration around town, the clouds moved on and the skies were clear and starry. In a free party given by the Peninsula Pan, we had live music in 11 venues—11!—all within walking distance of downtown. I suffer from a severe case of FMS so events like this are a challenge. “FMS?” you wonder. Fear of missing something! From standing room only at the Congregational Church for Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame) to Jay and Bjorn Peterson performing at the library to various steel drum bands at the academy across the street from the inn, I couldn’t be everywhere at once. We also had humor with Joel McGraw (who used to work at my favorite boatyard in Brooklin), a magician at the MERI center (where we also got to check out their aquariums and wish a flounder and some lobsters a happy new year), and radio drama at the town hall.

Cabin fever hasn’t set in yet by any means, but I thought I’d mention a few books I’ve enjoyed lately. For a bit of nonfiction, I highly recommend The Price of Clams, by Lloyd Capen. He presents an intimate look at Deer Isle and the surrounding area from 1930-1943. I would love a book publisher to get a hold of this and print a new edition with more photos and a bigger map and well, just more. You can get a signed copy from Blue Hill Books. (And here's my plug for small, independently owned bookshops: buy from them.)

Linda Greenlaw has added a mystery to her growing list of titles: Slipknot is set in Maine, in “Green Haven” (seems a funny way to spell “Stonington” but you know how authors can be!) and is another must read for Maine lovers.

Joe Coomer's Pocketful of Names charmed me so much I bought it for everyone in my family and they’re still thanking me for it. His book, The Loop, is another favorite of mine. Based on these two, I bought everything he’s written that Nick carries at Blue Hill Books and will savor them throughout the winter. Have you heard of a literature map?
And I know I mentioned the Little Yellow Boatie, by Helen Sylvester in a previous blog but it’s sweet.

Turns out I waited too long to catch that Cadillac Mountain sunrise—much of the Park Loop Road is closed for the winter. I guess I could snowshoe up the mountain, before sunrise, but I’m really not that kind of girl.

I went walking around town this morning, to see if I could show you how much snow we have. I could hear the ice tinkling up to the shore as the tide came in.