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R. B. -- Madawaska, ME
2/1/08 -- 07:47:23 PM

Winter greetings again from the St. John Valley from a former Exile.  It's snowing hard tonight, though we're supposed to get some sleet mixed in tomorrow morning, about a foot of snow expected.  At least we'er not supposed to get any rain; earlier this week it went from 25 below to +35 and raining in just a couple days.  January was way below normal for snowfall here; most of the storms dropped more than a foot in central Maine and only a few inches here.

I saw Jacobs Cattle beans mentioned.  They are always my favorite, I've never seen them outside ME.  Actually, they didn't even have them at Shop n Save here in Madawaska; I had to get them when visiting my folks in Winslow.  Did you know you can make baked beans in a pressure cooker?  They lose a little of the roasted flaver you get from leaving the cover off the last half hour, but if you brown the salt pork real well it helps make up for it.  The nice thing about the pressure cooker is that it only takes 50 minutes instead of 6 hours.  In fact, that's at 10 psi; I saw a recipe that said it's only 35 minutes at 15 psi.
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Charlene -- Bloomington, IN
2/1/08 -- 08:57:05 AM

I grew up in Freeport I really miss the ocean most of all. I have dreams of being back and when I wake up its almost like I can taste the salt. Still have 3 sisters and my son stills live in maine
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Bob Cushing ( jc_bob99@yahoo.com ) -- Lakeland, FL
1/27/08 -- 09:30:03 AM

Born & raised in Bangor,Maine from 1935 to 1995.
 Moved to Lakeland in 95 for warmer pastures.
 I still own my house which is covered with snow
right now in Hermon,Me. & some day I will be back. Right now Jan.26,2008 I`m enjoying the warm
Sun that is covering my house in Lakeland, Fl.
I miss the Maine Donuts,Fried Clams the most,
The beautiful Maine people & country especially in the Bangor area.  
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Arlene Bradshaw ( meinca@sbcglobal.net ) -- Bucksport/Salinas, Maine/Ca
1/26/08 -- 06:45:03 PM

Just stopping by again to see how everyone is doing. I have moved from San Jose, CA. to Salinas CA. Its better here... more country like. Going home in July and August. Going to take my Harley with me so I can ride with my girls. Can't wait!
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Jen ( mainesqueeze51504@yahoo.com ) -- Bamako, Mali, WEST AFRICA
1/26/08 -- 09:05:27 AM

Hello, fellow exiles! I'm enjoying this website and missing Maine, so I thought I should add my "two cents".

I'm teaching fourth-grade in Mali, West Africa, but my mind frequently wanders to my memories of the quiet winter road in Searsmont where I grew up.

Looking forward to getting back there...
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bob&shirl -- Sebring, FL
1/25/08 -- 04:14:49 PM

miss the 4 seasons, but the sun sure feels good down here when i check the temps back in mid-coast maine still go back for the summer in nobleboro
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Richard Hall Knapp ( rich1939@nc.rr.com ) -- Fuquay Varina, NC
1/24/08 -- 05:05:18 AM

Carol Jolly....You started a Maine club in Summerville? Wow I lived in Goose Creek years ago while in the Marines stationed at the Navy Base in No. Charleston. Why dont you start one here in NC? I know my wife and I would attend. My Family is from Raymond/Sebago Lake Region. My Moms from Gray and my Dad is from Standish. I joined the Marines in 1959 and have been down here in NC ever since. Any way if you ever do get some interest about a venture like that email me, I sure would be interested.
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Richard Hall Knapp ( rich1939@nc.rr.com ) -- Fuquay Varina, NC
1/24/08 -- 04:52:30 AM

To Breanda A ....Hi Neighbah you sure are up the road. My Wife (shes from WV) and I travel to Maine every September for the whole month. Every Labor Day our family(The Halls) has a reunion. This year will be the 100th and will be held on Quaker ridge/hill in Raymond. We wind up working at the Cumberland Fair the last week in Sept. I think it would be a great Idea if the exiles that live here in NC could have a gathering/get together. Seems as though there are a lot of exiles here in NC.
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Linda -- Pensacola, FL
1/21/08 -- 07:45:00 AM

Thx, Alice! Maybe I'll slip over--I need an excuse to head towards Foley anyway :)
Oh--and not to sound sissy--but what's with this weather the past couple of days? Freezing cold rain, bad. Lucky Birmingham: Snow, good!
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Cookie ( cookiecoogan@yahoo.com ) -- Ithaca, NY
1/20/08 -- 11:04:42 PM

Safe travels, bro! I'm livin' in the land of the Giants, but you KNOW I'm rooting for the Patriots.

Everyone's excited about your visit. Watch out if you play cribbage with Grammie: she beat me handily at 2 games of cribbage in maybe--oh, 15--20 minutes. My only consolation was that she didn't skunk me.

Made of pot of Jacob's Cattle beans in my new pot today. It was Upstate Sunday afternoon, but the cooking was strictly Downeast Sattiday night. I only got a quick taste though because I got called out to a last minute piano job. Ended up eating southern-fried chicken, greens, and macaroni salad at the club. I'm going to make a meal of the beans tomorrow (with hot dogs, molasses and biscuits).

Enjoy your trip, Joel! GO PATRIOTS!
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Joel ( jdrobinson_99@yahoo.com ) -- Los Angeles, CA
1/20/08 -- 05:37:12 PM

Patriots are in the Super Bowl...and I'm going to have a great seat for the game.

Granted, I could probably score a ticket and make the short 375 mile trip to Glendale, AZ, to see it in person, but I'm psyched because I'll be making the 3000 mile trip to Fairfield, MAINE, to watch it with friends and family all around. 

Could not possibly be looking forward to the trip back home any more than I am.  Gonna' be outstanding to see family, friends, and the natural beauty of the surroundings. 

See you all in a couple weeks!

-Joel (from Albion as always)
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Alice Duquesnoy ( duquesnoym@bellsouth.net ) -- Daphne, AL
1/20/08 -- 06:46:21 AM

For Linda in Pensacola, I haven't found a Maine snowbird group yet but the Press Register is holding their annual Winter Visitors Welcome Reception on Feb. 14 at the Erie Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores.  There is a reception at 9 am for Mainers.  Other then that I haven't seen or heard anything.  Hope that helps some.
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Carol Jolly ( jollygeaz@aol.com ) -- Morganton, NC
1/18/08 -- 07:40:03 AM

Happy New Year Exiles -
WE HAVE SNOW! We had a 'snow day' yesterday and today is a 'two hour delay' day. It is beautiful; a bit late for Christmas, but atleast we've got it. I've been reading some of the postings this morning and noticed one from Summerville, SC. I started the Maine Club in Summerville, even though I said Charleston in my previous posting. It is still going on. When hubby was transferred to Gulfport, MS, I handed the flag and baton over to another Mainer. When his wife got sick and they moved back to Maine to be near the kids, he handed it on to someone else. I don't know who, but you can check around and find out. We always met the last Sunday in  March and Oct in the 1:00pm, at Dorchester State Park. That will give you something to start with to find them.
We summer in Raymond, Maine and want to know just exactly where 'Bob's Italians' is on 302 in Casco, and we will go there. We can't seem to place it in our memory. We LOVE Mosquito's Ice Cream Parlor on 302 in Raymond. The Small Mouth Cone is huge, and inexpensive. They're building a new building so they may go up a bit on their price. It's located beside the old T-Shirt Tent. I'm going to try the beer-soaked clam chowdah recipe. Sounds good. I LOVE Country Kitchen Chocolate Sugared Donuts. I over indulged in those last summer. I have my Aunt Gerry's recipe for those. She boxed and sold her donuts in Westbrook in the late 40's - and on. My cousin used to deliver them on her bike. I'll post it if anyone's interested.

Until next time.
PS: The best smell in the world is the one I get at the Welcome Center after the ME/NH bridge. Getting out of the cah and filling my lungs with that wonderful gift from God. Wish we could bottle THAT.
Crossing over the bridge, my sister and I hold hands or on cell phones sing "Grand State of Maine" and also sing through the summer, everytime we cross the Maine line, coming from one of our many jaunts to NH - much to our southern husbands chagrin. LOL
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Cookie ( cookiecoogan@yahoo.com ) -- Ithaca, NY
1/18/08 -- 01:50:18 AM

I MADE IT HOME!!!

Not as soon as I'd have liked (had to wait a week) and not for as long as I would have liked, but I got there for a few short days. I just arrived safely back in exile.

I lost a day of rammin' the roads because we got socked with that Nor'easter on Monday (I arrived the night previous under fine fair skies). A foot fell at my father's in Albion. I just got cozy, settled in, and remembered the snowdays of my youth.

Because of a predicted Friday storm, I came back to Ithaca a day earlier than planned. I did not get to the library and archives in Augusta, but I did eat ham italians, dagwoods, and whoopie pies. I drank Moxie daily and brought home a couple cases. I spent $111.11 at LL Bean on the way back. Bought the Marjorie Standish cookbook, a book about Maine women, and Coffin's "Kennebec: Cradle of Americans", some sundry clothing and edibles but best of all, I found a good solid bean pot!

Best of all, I saw family and a teacher who profoundly influenced my life. I met friendly, helpful people everywhere. It was great to be home in another season besides summer, too. And a lot easier gettin' through Freeport!!

(ps: I can still hear my accent in my head as I type. It will stay with me until I once again staht hearin' 'n' speakin' flatlandah).

I love you, Maine!
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