"This really isn't normal for Maine"

I have heard those words so many times since I have been here. First in relation to the snow in October and now with the magnificent weather in March. Today's temperature was in the high teens. Apparently, this is usually the time when people are getting cranky at the sight of the snow banks and truly fed up with shivering. Instead, the roads are full of cyclists, porches are beginning to be inhabited again and wafts of backyard grilling are filling the air.

Thursday night was the annual MSAD51 Poetry Jam and what fun it was. The PTO kindly gave me the job of supporting performers on stage so I got to watch the action curtain-side. Children from grades 1-5 were able to sign up to perform as individuals or in groups and could recite their own compositions or those by published poets. The kids were amazing, performing with confidence and thoroughly enjoying the scary experience of being up in front of a microphone and a room full of people. Personal favourites involved an original poem about various celebrities being chomped on by sharks and a very lovely 'Ode to my brother'. Next year the poetry jam is going to have to visit Bliss!

On Friday, I had my second yellow bus experience as we headed up to the State Capital, Augusta. New territory for me as, having been told the local name for it was 'Disgusta', I hadn't rushed to visit. We were visiting the Maine State Museum and it was fascinating. There was lots of information about the traditional industries of Maine, one of which was shoe making which was an interesting parallel with Northampton. The textile industry used to be huge here too as did logging. There was a silent film being projected which showed the logs being put into rivers and floated down stream while men jumped between them to help with manouvring them...not for the faint hearted especially as the water would have been so very cold and was moving incredibly fast. All of the children were given a short talk about how the Native Americans in Maine made arrow heads with which to hunt and were then able to have a go at shaping one of their own by using moose antlers to grind away at the rock. I had a go too...we agreed I would have had to have been a vegetarian then too through necessity!

Owing to the glorious weather, I couldn't stand to be inside on Saturday so headed off on my bike towards Cousins Island, reachable by bridge. I cycled along sun dappled roads and gazed longingly at the wonderful houses which overlooked the sparkling water. It was gorgeous! On the way back, I scoped out a bakery I had been told about when I was bemoaning the lack of good bread in the teacher's room. They just so happened to have coffee and irresistably plump hot cross buns for sale which I ate whilst watching the world go by. As I was perusing the wares in the shop, a man said to me "That's a nice bike you've got there". My first thought was "How does he know its my bike?"...it took me a while to remember my stylish appearance involving a mish-mash of layers, helmet and cycling gloves kind of gave the game away. Duh!

Having changed into something more fitting, I went to the theatre again, this time in an old church in Portland to watch a production of 'Little me', a funny musical about a woman who was born on the wrong side of the tracks who sets out to join those on the right side of the tracks with various obstacles (and husbands) along the way.

I then had a contrasting cultural experience when I went to see a Red Claws game with my lovely neighbours, The Swett- Mazes (the Red Claws being the Maine minor league basketball team). It was fun to watch two teams of giants battle it out in an action packed game but sadly the home team lost.

Sunset from the Mackworth Island bridge last Sunday