Dan Kirchoff

Did you know there was a war in Northern Maine? The Aroostook War of 1838-39 was called “bloodless,” as there was never any shooting. It was a border dispute between the U.S. and Great Britan, and the Fort Kent Blockhouse is the only fortification built related to the conflict. It’s located at the confluence of the Fish and St. John rivers. The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 settled the matter, but federal troops were stationed at the blockhouse until 1845. The structure is substantial, built of square-hewn cedar logs, and was a private residence for many years. Can you imagine making your home in a 19th-century military blockhouse? Currently, the blockhouse is a state historic site.

When do you decide to light up the woodstove? Is it when the first frost appears out on the lawn? When the leaves on the ground gain that white, furry appearance Some of us wait until the first snow before deciding it’s cold enough to gather the kindling, get some newspaper crumpled up, light it afire and coax the woodstove into action. Not long after, the animals of the house (and often children as well) will curl up in front and soak in the heat like it’s a limited commodity (which it will be in the coming months). All that said, there are also those of us who don’t care to be martyrs and light up the stove at the first sign of cool weather. After all, nothing wrong with being comfortable, and what isn’t more comforting than a nice, warm fire on a late-autumn’s eve?

Living here in Maine, we get rather complacent with all the lighthouses around. But for those visiting us from other parts, they’re a fascinating and unique feature to see. Of course, there’s Portland Head Light, which one shouldn’t miss, but some of the other more remote lighthouses are a real treat. This drawing is of the light at West Quoddy Head, up near Lubec, just this side of the Canadian border. The neat thing about this lighthouse is its position on the most eastern point of the whole United States. You can stand here and know you can’t go any farther and remain in this country. Be careful with your mobile phone, as your provider may decide you’re already in Canada and charge you appropriately.

Do you have your garden in yet? It’s been pretty difficult to do, considering all the rain we’ve been getting. Then someone says, “Well we need the rain. It’s been an awful dry spring.” Seems someone’s always saying that, even if the spring wasn’t so dry after all. We’re watching the little seedlings struggling to get going while the rain keeps coming down. Finally, once the weather clears and we get a day or two of sun, the whole garden takes off like a shot. Everything appears to grow an inch or two every hour. It’s as if it was all just waiting. Send us some sun and watch us go. Some folks don’t care to plant a garden. Instead, they let whatever comes up to flourish and see what happens. Often, that’s the most fun. Everything that grows becomes a surprise.

Was your summer all you wanted? What did you do? Did you get outside? We had a pretty wet June, so it did take a while before we felt like summer was actually here. Maybe you went to camp at a Maine lake, a longtime summer tradition. Did you travel with your family on a summer vacation? We all have fond (and not so fond) memories of summer vacations, visiting relatives or maybe a distant corner of the country. What about summer visitors? Everyone loves to visit Maine. We’re Vacationland, after all, at least that’s what it says on our license plates. Then there’s the big question. Be truthful now. Did you get your summer lobster roll?