MAPLE LANE FARMS Welcome To Maple Lane Farms   While researching locally owned Maine farms, I discovered a dairy which offers a variety of products from dairy to meat. That farm is Maple Lane Farms. Last Saturday, we hopped into the car and drove 25 miles to Charleston Maine where Maple Lane Farms is located. Who knew what we would find?  It was our first time going to the farm.  What we discovered was a farm that produced milk for Oakhurst Dairy, a large New England milk processor.  This family owned operation also processes meat.  In particular, they had the "pork belly" that we were looking for. ...

ROSES FOR TERRI ROSES FOR TERRI   It was Christmas Eve and I wss trying to think of something which would tell Terri "I Love You". Well, red roses seemed the right choice. Obviously it was a hit because one week later on New Year's Eve, lightning struck twice. I went off and got another dozen roses. This time they were white. Now Terri has two dozen roses to show her friends. I must tell you, they really look nice on our kitchen table.   Guys, you can't go wrong with a dozen red and a dozen white roses! ....Steve  

Antique Marketplace  Strolling through the Antique Marketplace is like traveling back in time.  Life was simplier then. Many of the common items of yesterday are a complete mystry to me today. It's a hobby of mine to research items which I don't understand or recognize.  Terri loves the Fiestaware. There's quite a selection. This assortment of antique plains is fantastic. Why would anyone pay retail for tools when you can get such a great deal an older but perfectly fine tool?  These are a great deal. Big and small, you'll find it all at the Antique Marketplace and Cafe. It's two floors filled with...

Winter Palmer Hill Farm Winter Trip To Palmer Hill Farms This is Ray's newest purchase. It is a 100 year old steam engine which will be used to power farming equipment.  The wood fired boiler heats water to produce steam which in turn propels the big red wheels on top.  Those big fly wheels will power other farm equipment via a giant drive belt.  We'll ask Ray if we can come down to the farm when it is running. This is another item Ray just finished. It is an old John Deere Snowblower which has converted to a horse drawn snowblower. I can tell you that it works...

SEED CATALOG    The new seed packets have started to arrive at our home, and it is so exciting! I continue to look outside at the snow and cold, and slowly visualize what the garden will look like in the spring with green grass, and seedlings popping up through the ground. The packets of seed are new vegetable varieties that we are experimenting with for our gardens this year.  Varieties like; red celery (sounds beautiful, and I cannot wait to try this one), several heirloom tomatoes, especially a group of Amish varieties, lemon cucumbers, brussel sprouts. This group of seeds came from...