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Michelle -- Hope Mills, NC
1/17/08 -- 08:02:19 PM

I was born in Portland, Maine but I have lived away for the last 17 years as I followed my husband around the world while he serve in the Air Force.  I miss my home and hope to some day live in the greatest state in the nation again!  Having lived on each coast, in the south and the midwest, Japan and Turkey I can tell you there is no place like Maine! 
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Jocelyn Jackson ( jocelyn.jackson@yahoo.com ) -- Pikeville, NC
1/16/08 -- 03:21:31 PM

Hi Mainers-we are here in N.C. hoping to see a 'flake' or two..but of course they forecast to be north and west of Raleigh as always...I found a webcam of Naples Cosway sebagolakeonline.com ...I miss Maine everyday...so helps to click in there and at least see it...hope on my next visit to have time to position myself to snap a pic of the portland skyline...
So glad to have all of ur posts to read...helps to know that i am not alone in my pining for the pine tree state!!
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Wayne St. Clair ( strattonstclair@mac.com ) -- Roanoke, VA
1/15/08 -- 09:17:58 AM

Barb... I add beer because I have always steamed my clams in beer (thats how I learned to do it anyway) and then used that liquid to make the base for the chowder so I add beer to replicate that flavor, just as I replace salt pork with bacon. I find I just like the flavor better. As for the thyme and tabasco, I add that because the person who taught me how to make chowder in the first place did.

Anyway glad you liked it... it is quite yummy.
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Kathy D ( kidget29@yahoo.com ) -- Richmond, VA
1/14/08 -- 02:16:49 PM

Hello everyone.

I am a rather new exile. I moved to Richmond, VA from Clinton, ME about 3 yrs ago. And although I love my new family and surroundings, I really do miss Maine and all four seasons.  Amazing how you can spend 20 years just waiting to "break free" only to count the days to your next visit.

HUGs and Happy New Year to all!
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Brenda A -- Holly Springs, NC (born/raised in Central Maine)
1/12/08 -- 07:08:00 AM

Hello to 'R. K. -- Fuquay Varina, NC' & all the other Mainers exiled in NC,

I too, am exiled in NC (your neighbor up the road in Holly Springs).

I don't know about 'missing snow' but I sure do miss the 'Maine deli style italians.' I'm convinced the difference is the bread, oil & ham! Gotta love that bread!

My hub & I just returned from a 10 day visit to 'home' and were reminded of why we enjoy the NC weather. It was great to be 'home in Maine' and to experience snow for a few days, but it sure was nice to return to NC's milder climate and NO SNOW!

My family (all still in Maine) tells me I've gone soft & become a snow wimp!
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R. K. -- Fuquay Varina, NC
1/11/08 -- 09:31:29 PM

..Had a great New Year as my Brother and Sister in Law visited after spending Xmas with their son in Asheville NC. We are all from Gray. I took them to a hockey game (Bruins were playing the Hurricanes). Then went to Myrtle Beach to see the Carolina Opry, it was fantastic. On the 2nd of January they both headed back to the land of Italian sandwiches......Asked them to stay a little longer but they said they missed the snow somthin' fierce. OK chummies? I do notice a lot of NC exiles, maybe a get together should be planned to talk about missing the snow, exchange recipes for brown bread and I can bring some Italians........LOL
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Barbara Edwards ( bedwards59@insightbb.com ) -- Ludlow, KY
1/10/08 -- 07:43:18 PM

Wow Wayne that sounds like a wonderful clam chowder!  I have never tried it using beer so I am making a copy of your recipe for the next cold day I am off work!  I don't measure just make a similar chowder but no tobasco or tyme can't wait to try this !  Thanks , Barb In Ky
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Kevin -- Princeton, NJ
1/9/08 -- 10:57:16 AM

Just found this site.  I was born in Houlton and gradually migrated south to Millinocket, Bangor, Windham and Westbrook.  I spent most of my time in Bangor.  Now living in exile in New Jersey for almost 4 years.  We get home 8 to 12 times a year but it is still not enough.  I especially miss Maine this winter as I am a big snowmobiler.  My wife gave me a snowmobile rental package in Greenville for my 40th birthday, cannot wait to use it.
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Wayne St. Clair ( strattonstclair@mac.com ) -- Roanoke, VA
1/9/08m --10:42:15 AM

Well I had a request the other day for some new england clam chowder and so I made a nice big batch and took it to a gathering. One guy woofed down 3 bowls claiming it was the best thing he had ever eaten and another woman proposed marriage after having some. LOL

I was asked if I would make some manhatten clam chowder and I said no absolutely not, and changed the subject.

Now what interests me is how and what we use in our chowders. For the record this is my recipe:

3 large russet potatoes peeled and chopped
1 large yellow onion diced
2 stalks celery diced
10 oz bacon, raw, chopped
1/2 stick butter
3 cups heavy cream
1 12 oz beer
1 quart chicken stock
1/3 to 1/2 cup white flour
(I live inland a few hundred miles so) as many cans of chopped and/or whole baby clams you can afford
1 teaspoon thyme
2 bay leaves
a few splashes tabasco sauce
salt and pepper to taste.

(1) put the potatoes, thyme, bay leaves, chicken stock the liquid from the canned clams and the beer in one pot and cook on medium high until the potatoes are done.
(2) in another, larger pot melt the butter and add the onions, celery and the bacon and cook until the onions are translucent and the bacon rendered. Add the flour and stir constantly to make the roux.
(3) pour the potato mixture into the second pot stirring constantly and reduce heat. add the cream, salt and pepper and tabasco. Heat until thick and add the clams and serve.

This was what I made in the restaurant I worked at and it was very popular... So the question is how is it like and how is it different from others recipes and what would you do differently.
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Wayne St. Clair ( strattonstclair@mac.com ) -- Roanoke, VA
1/8/08 -- 09:21:39 AM

RIP John Folgeberg. The Reach is still one of your best.
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Moughie -- Phoenix, AZ
1/7/08 -- 09:39:04 PM

I would like to encourage all maine exile posters to take a peek at the www.city-data.com/forum/maine!!! New posters always welcome to share their memories and observations!!
Cookie, I love your reference to Tim Sample and WIcked good Band!!! 
"Like Tim Sample sings ('n' prob'b'ly the Wicked Good Band, too), "How can I miss you if you don't go away?"
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Barb Edwards ( bedwards59@insightbb.com ) -- Ludlow, KY
1/7/08 -- 07:13:43 PM

I miss you Maine! I grew up in East Holden and Brewer and left in the early 70's and still homesick!  Anyone graduate from Brewer High in 1970? Email me ! Send a can of clean Maine air , and clam chowder!  I am married and doing fine but still homesick!  Mostly I miss the sound of the wind in the pine trees the fresh smell of balsam and the crashing waves of the rocky coastline.  I miss the people , the dry humor and the country where you could walk for long times in the woods and never meet anyone . Hugs, from Kentucky, Barbe
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L.L. -- Plant City, FL
1/7/08 -- 01:41:05 AM

Hi All,

Survived the holidays in Florida although it certainly is different.

I was lucky enough to go down to see the Florida Everbaldes Classic on the 28th when my UMaine Black Bear Hockey team came to town.  Even luckier to see them win 5-3.  But it is way different to see UMaine fans in shorts! Never saw that at Alfond!!

My coworker from Maine went home for the holidays.  She blessed me with a couple of boxes of Country Kitchen chocolate sugared donuts, how sweet that was! I NEVER THOUGHT FOOD COULD BE SO IMPORTANT.

I called my mom last week to tell her I was freezing.  Most of Maine had a storm that day and she did not have much sympathy.  She called me the next day to tell me she had seen on the news that the Tampa area hit freezing.  I asked her what she thought I was talking about the day before when I called.  She just laughed ...
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R. D.  -- Salt Lake City, UT
1/6/08 -- 12:51:00 AM

Greenville , ME is home and man do i miss it, except i heard there is nearly 6-7ft of snow...don't miss that!!

I miss all you Mainers it's such a special place, I hope you all know that...
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Cookie ( cookiecoogan@yahoo.com ) -- Ithaca, NY
1/6/08 -- 12:31:10 AM

I am blessed to have a regular voice/piano job here in Ithaca, and one of the regular couples at my regular job happen to have a second home out in Western Maine somewhere. They *love* Maine--as much as I do, if such a thing is possible. Anyway, they spent the turn of the New Year at their home in Maine and tonight, they showed me cell-phone pix of the snow! Man! It was up to the bottom of the roadsigns! How is it there now?

My plan right now---god willin' and the creek don't rise---is to get in my car and drive home TOMORROW. I just can't stand it any more. I don't have to work again until next Saturday (and classes don't start until the 21st). Nobody in my family knows yet, but I'm sure there'll be a couch with my name on it somewhere.

For Christmas, my Dad gave me his old copy of "Albion on the Narrow Gauge" by Ruth Crosby Wiggin. Oh! How much this book means to me!! I loved it so much as a child, and now that I'm grown and have a bit better perspective on history, I understand a little bit more of it. One thing I'd like to do while home is visit the Maine State Library to check some of the books Ms. Wiggin mentions. Also the archives to try and find some family records. The other thing is that Ms. Wiggin refers to houses by their current(1964)or former occupants, as in "the old Weymouth place." Now, some of the older folks mentioned in the book, I knew as a young girl. They were ancient to me then, and they are passing quick. Another thing I'd like to do while home is check Ms. Wiggins's geographical and residential references against my mother's and grandmother's. That way I can get a picture for people and things who went before and who or what is there now.

Albion seemed and probably, to some folk, IS nowhere, but for a nowhere, it's something special. Lemme tell you, I been in New York City recently, and despite all its fabled glory (and I love it for what it is, which ain't all it's cracked up to be), there's no place I'd rather be right now than Albion, Maine.

'Course, I'd come back to Ithaca eventually because it's easier to be a crackpot liberal here, not to mention those little things like my job and spouse!  :) Daaooow, but it's good, though. Absence makes the heart grow fonder so a little separation to get back to center is positive. Like Tim Sample sings ('n' prob'b'ly the Wicked Good Band, too), "How can I miss you if you don't go away?"
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