changing seasons

Hubby is out early today. He has to go to his buddy to cut the deer up. Yes, he finally got a deer last weekend. It was the last day of the Hunting Season [for rifles]. But the “bow and arrow” or what they call the Expanded Archery is still up to December 13. [As if I care].

Anyway, as I have said hunting season is over and Hubby is always home early now. The only downside is that he is always early and complaining about his painful back, his sore knees and his hurting ankles. He tried not to complain about any pains during the hunting season because he knows that I will be bitching about it because most of those pains that he felt were due to walking miles and miles of trails into the woods… climbing tall trees… and sitting for hours on the branches waiting for the deer.

So he finally got a deer [a small one at least]. It was not as big as the one he had last year. It was not a 14-pointer or a 250-pounder like the one he had last year. I guess it was just a 4-pointer and a 150-pounder. I am just guessing. I am not really sure because Hubby didn’t discuss the details. He is not as proud as last year where his deer got him a badge and was included in the top 10 [he ranked 7th] in the entire state of Maine and was featured in Maine Sportsman Newspaper. And this time, he is not planning of having the deer’s head stuffed and preserved by the taxidermist. Last year’s deer cost him 500$ for that job [and so was the other deer head before that]. There’s no way I would let him spend that much again for that head.

Hubby’s 14-pointer/250-pounder/$500 Deer Head.

Anyway, as I have said he was early today so he could cut the deer meat up and have some steak for supper. We already had some last weekend and it was good. It was lean aand fresh and Brandon [our 7-year old son] loved it. Of course we did not tell him it was deer meat… not after he finished his plate. But when his Dad told him it was a deer meat, he just said… Oh cool! So I guess it didn’t matter if we told him so in the first place.

As for me, it was the second time I ate deer meat. We don’t have that in the Philippines or at least not in the local market. We have to go to a gourmet supermarket to buy it if we really want some or better yet, go to a first class restaurant to order a venison dish. And yes, it is very expensive. Only the rich people can afford to pay for a gourmet dish like that since we also import the meat from abroad. And honestly, I really don’t care much about it.

So venison season is almost over. The last deer meat we had last year is still in the freezer. The rest of the 250-pound was given to all his friends and neighbors and whoever wanted to have a share of the meat. As for this new one, I don’t really have any idea where he will put the rest of the meat because as of now, there is no more room in the freezer. Any taker?

Additional Information:
Hunting Season in Maine

Thanksgiving Day is a big thing here in the US. It’s a non-working holiday and celebrated all over the states. Some schools have Thanksgiving Break too, so it must be really really important. This is the season to celebrate as a family. This is the season to enjoy family meals. And this is the season to catch up and be as a family again. This is the season where people are grateful for the good harvest and the many blessings they received from the Almighty.

Thanksgiving Day is one of the special occasions where the American people celebrate and uphold family traditions with high regards to history… family values… and shopping [LOL]. Just like Halloween and Christmas, they also have some Thanksgiving decorations especially in the dinner tables. They usually make or buy festive stuff for the tables to make it more special… to make food more appetizing… to make the occasion more extra-ordinary.

Thanksgiving Day is a special moment where family members gather in the dinner table, sit and eat together as a family again. With the kind of lifestyle they have here now where all members of the family need to work, they don’t find time to sit together and eat as a family. And thanksgiving is one rare chance to do that. This is the season to enjoy turkey, pumpkin desserts and other special recipes handed down from generation to generation.

Thanksgiving Day is a special day because it is homecoming season too for family members who live far from home. This is the time where grown-up children [those who are away for school or work or because they already have their own families] think about home. This is the time when the only place they wanted to be is home [I supposed]. This is the time where parents look forward to see their children again.

This is my second Thanksgiving Day here in the US. We don’t have Thanksgiving Day in the Philippines so my idea of this special occasion is limited to what I experienced here with my new family and my personal observations on this special celebration as a whole. Happy Thanksgiving Day to All!

Additional Information:
The History of Thanksgiving
The First Thanksgiving

Photo Credit:
Sharp Iron

This is my second Halloween in Maine.

When I was still in the Philippines, I have an idea of what Halloween is and how it is celebrated though we don’t actually celebrate it back there. Yes, we don’t “officially” celebrate Halloween in the Philippines the way it is celebrated here in the US, that is. The real Halloween in the Philippines is called All Saint’s Day [which I will have a separate blog about it soon]. But since Filipinos are very adaptable and fond of embracing other culture, Halloween is now celebrated in several key places in the country like the gated subdivisions of the rich and affluent members of the society.

Halloween celebration in the Philippines is also gaining popularity in the corporate jungles where employees come to work in costumes and throw Halloween parties. Well, that is one of the reasons why Halloween is more popular among the rich people. Because they can afford to buy expensive costumes and decorate their houses with Halloween knick-knacks and expensive pumpkins which you can only buy from high-end grocery stores. However, my brother told me earlier that Halloween is also catching up like fire among the low-income children too where their creativity are matched with their resourcefulness by making their own costumes out of their old clothes and what they can find from their humble trunk of junks just to have a share of the Halloween goodies.

My first Halloween experience here in Maine was actually limited to just seeing my step-son Brandon fully clad in Power Ranger costume and climbing in his half-sister’s car to bring him to her friends’ houses for trick-or-treating. And my first Halloween experience was just as ordinary as watching TV and enjoying Hubby’s rhythmic snoring because he was too tired from work.

My first Halloween experience was not so Halloween at all. I have not seen a lot of kids walking in the street in different costumes. I have not seen any kids who came knocking at our door begging for candies and other treats. I have not even seen anyone in our street walking in costume because there are not a lot of houses around here. Our next door neighbor is half a mile away from us and there are more open fields than houses. And with 30 degrees [or lower] tempature around this time of the year, kids in costumes are in their car trekking the road and pulling over only on those houses which their parents know the residents.

My first Halloween experience here in Maine is based on the research I did in google and personal observation. I see that some people decorate their houses with spooky decors like the all-time favorite skeletons, the Casper-ific ghost images made out of white linen/blanket with holes, and witches in black robes and pointed cone hats riding brooms. Some use scarecrows made out of hay and dressed in old clothes. And of course the star of the Halloween manger - the famous Jack-o-Lantern which looks rather cute than scary when lighted up [well, of course it depends on how it was carved anyway] and lots and lots of pumpkins in all sizes and shapes.

Halloween means carving of pumpkins and lots of pumpkins. But for those who can’t carve or don’t have the time to carve pumpkins, they don’t worry at all because they can buy them anywhere. Aside from carved pumpkins, I also see painted pumpkin as an alternative for the good-old Jack-o-Lantern. This comes in different face designs or drawing.

Halloween is associated with everything scary and death. It is celebrated every 31st of October but it is not a non-working Holiday. The tradition was brought to the US in the 19th century by the Irish Immigrants. Halloween celebration and activities are not confined on trick-or-treating in costumes, jack-o-lantern and Halloween parties alone. Ghost stories, ghost hunting and everything ghosts – are common activities during Halloween.

And since Halloween is a celebration, it is now a multi-million business cashing in incomes for big retail businesses. Candies and goodies run fast from the store’s shelves during this time of the year. And from that fact, I am guessing that dentist appointments will also be fully booked right after the holidays. Hahahaha. Happy Halloween to everyone, anyway.

Additional Information:
History of Halloween
History of Jack-o-Lantern

Maine has 1.25 million acres of land dedicated to farming and agricultural industry. And one of the most exciting and new things that I came to appreciate here is going to the orchards to pick our own fruits.

Coinciding with the Apple picking season is the Pumpkin season. This is an entirely new experience to me because we don’t usually pick vegetable straight from the garden but rather from the public market. And we are not familiar with pumpkin either but more with squash. The only place where you can get pumpkin is from the high-end grocery stores [according to my cousin] and it costs a lot. They usually use it for carving too for Halloween decorations around the posh subdivisions in Manila where they adapted the American tradition [not too long ago] to elevate their status from the already lower-than-lowest class in the society. It’s a status symbol back there.

Last year I got the chance to see lots of them at the Orchard where we picked apples. I wasn’t able to really go and pick them from the vine though. They were already picked and scattered on the ground near the farm house. But the most amazing event for me was when I went with my in-laws to the Cumberland Fair where I saw all those huge, humongous and gigantic pumpkins weighting over a thousand pounds. That was really a very memorable experience for me.

This year, we were not able to go back there because we were all busy with work. I only see the winning pumpkin weighting 1200+ pounds in the News and that was all about it. Other than eating pumpkin pie, pumpkin cake, pumpkin muffin, pumpkin soup and everything pumpkin from toys to masks… from plastic decorations to real ones… from candies to gummies… and from painted to carved… my all-pumpkin-laden experience is overloaded with fun and stirring comprehension of how important pumpkin is to this country.

Pumpkin season is not just about Halloween here in the US. Pumpkin season is not just about the food and the candies made out of it. Pumpkin season is not just a burst of autumn color and rich American tradition but it is a season associated with rhetorical preparation for the imminent bitter and ruthless season lurking from not so far away distant.

Additional Information:
Maine Department of Agriculture
Maine Pumpking Growers Association
DIY Halloween Decorations at Chiff.com

For some reason I woke up quite early this morning. And as usual I turned on my computer first before I made my first trip to the bathroom. After the computer, I turned on the TV next to check on the weather. That’s how I started my day normally.

“We are going to have a nice day today!”… that is according to the meteorologist. I trust him. Hubby trusts him too but he is jealous of him because he knows that I find him cute and I have a crush on him. Hahahaha. After giving the weather forecast he said… “it’s the start of the Autumnal equinox“. I don’t know about the equinox but I know that autumn means that summer finally ends and winter is just around the corner. It means that Fall is finally here.

This is my second autumn or fall here in Maine so I know what to expect now. I know that the nights will be longer now. I know that 8 pm is already dark. I know that we will have cooler or lower temperatures. I know that the maple leaves will start to change its color and will soon fall from the trees. I know that I will be raking a lot now and that will replace running as my exercise. I know too that I need to cover up now and my sexy clothes are no longer appropriate to wear.

This is my second fall and I know exactly what to do. I have to organize my closet again to make room for our fall and winter clothes. I have to sort out my summer clothes… keep those that still fit and throw or give away those that don’t. I have to put all my summer clothes in totes and keep them in the cellar. And I have to bring up the fall/winter totes to give way for the spring/summer totes. It’s the start of a new season and it’ all about the totes now.

This is my second fall and it means that Maine landscape will be changing dramatically into mono-chromatic red-orange-brown hue. When it happens I will be enjoying Maine foliage again. When it happens I know for sure that I will be anticipating the beautiful sights of Maine. When it happens I will be swept away by the breathtaking view of the countryside. When it happens I will be again awed by the colorful palette of the horizon. When it happens it will feel like I am living in a life-size canvas again.

This is my second fall season and I know it will not be the same as the first. And just like every changing seasons my life is constantly changing too. Maybe this fall, things will turn as colorful as the maple leaves. And as they fall on the ground I hope my life will also find the beauty of being free and well-grounded, literally and figuratively.

[Note: All the Photos here are from my 2007 Fall Collection… my first Fall in Maine.]

Additional Information:
Maine Foliage
Fall in Maine for Maine Office of Tourism
New England Foliage Tour

Summer is not officially over yet. But I woke up today to a morning frost. And having survived 4 seasons here in Maine… I know what it means. Summer is not yet over and autumn is not officially here too. But the leaves are already turning yellow. And being able to experience the 4 seasons here in Maine… I know what’s going to happen soon. But whatever season it is right now… it doesn’t actually matter to my Hubby. Being in Maine all his life… all these changing seasons are just seasons that will pass by. And if you will ask him what season is his favorite… you will receive the most unlikely answer – hunting season.

Yes, it’s officially hunting season here in Maine and Hubby is itching to go hunting since the opening day last Saturday. The problem is… his truck… his good old truck. His truck is still in his friend’s garage and undergoing major over-haul. The truck’s motor finally gave up on him last March after recording 300k miles on it speedometer and he was not so happy. He loves his truck so much but the good thing is… it is my only competition. Hahahaha. Without his truck he can’t go hunting because he needs to drive through the woods and if he gets lucky he will need his truck to drag the deer or [dreaming big] another big buck out of the wood to the weighing station.
Yes, it’s officially hunting season here in Maine and hunting season is just one of the most awaited seasons for all outdoor enthusiasts. Hunting season here in Maine is from September to December and you can hunt from Monday to Saturday. But here is the thing – hunting season here in Maine is taken seriously. This means that not anyone can just go hunting whenever they like… you need to be licensed to do so. And to obtain license you also need to undergo a workshop on handling firearms and basic first aid course. Hunting license or permit costs around $15 (for junior) to $55 for Maine residents and as much as $176 for non-residents. Hunting without license is punishable by law. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife of the State of Maine is the one responsible for issuing the Hunting License and the ones who implement the laws too. There are different kinds of animals to hunt around the state of Maine like deer, bear, moose, turkey [which is usually the training target for the young Mainers], rabbit, and even the stinky skunk. But the most famous among them is “deer” and that is what my Hubby is after. Aside from the animals there are also different kinds of hunting tools that they use like firearms (also different kinds), bow and arrow, and traps.

Yes, it’s officially hunting season here in Maine and I have to get used to not having early supper again. During this time of the year, Hubby usually comes home late because he goes hunting right after work. Last year, he came really really late… it was already past nine in the evening. I was already worried but I got a phone call that he was in the weighing station because he got a 250 lbs./14-pointer buck which made him 6th placer in the entire State of Maine and was featured at the Maine Sportsman Magazine.

My step-son Brandon checking out Daddy’s 250 lbs./14-pointer buck.

Hubby’s big buck which made him 6th Placer for the entire state of Maine last Hunting Season.

Hubby’s prized trophy.

This year, he is hoping to break his own record. But at the rate his truck is doing… I don’t know if he will get lucky. He already missed the first day and until now he is still working on his truck. Oh well, since he has not taken out his hunting clothes yet nor his hunting boots or even his bow and arrow… I can eat my supper on time for now.

Additional Information
Maine Hunting Season… go to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
For Hunting License Fee… go the The Maine Way
For News about Outdoor Activities in Maine… go to Maine Sportmans

I grew up in the province of Laguna, in a small town called Liliw at the foot of the mystical and legendary Mt. Banahaw, which is one of the few mountains in the area which is not yet spoiled by kaingin [a term we use for illegal logging in the Philippines]. Though our town is small, it is a bit congested because houses are built close to each other. Though our town is small, the roads are well-paved even the one going up the mountain. And though our town is small, it is already considered as a bustling business district due to the booming slipper industry and the presence of McDonald’s in the plaza. And for these reasons, if you really want to commune with nature, smell the flowers, and be carried away by the magnificent scenery… you either have to go up the mountain or go somewhere else to do just that. You can seldom see trees in the town proper because of those big houses and mansions that my rich town-mates have built for their abode. You can rarely see animals roaming around freely because they are all caged, chained or in the slaughter house. You can hardly have peace and quiet because of the earsplitting sound of the tricycles passing by. But don’t get me wrong. I love my hometown. I love its people… its scenery… its noise. And I miss it so bad.

Hubby strolling at Liliw Resort

Hubby in front of Liliw century old Catholic Church

Liliw’s century old St. John the Baptist Parish Church

A Holy Week Procession in Liliw, Laguna Philippines

I have been away from home for more than a year now. Living in Maine for more than a year now… I can say that I am adapting well to its changing seasons… its way of life… its culture. Being in Maine, I can say that I found a great opportunity to be one with nature… to be able to smell the flowers [in the real sense of the word]… and to be carried away by the magnificent sceneries around me. And being in Maine, I can also say that animals around here enjoy the freedom they rightfully deserve.

During the first few months of my stay here, I was so amazed by a pair of nosey chipmunks and a prying squirrel seemingly checking me out while I was raking fallen maple leaves in the backyard. I was thrilled the first time I saw the deer circling the lone crab apple tree in the middle of the yard outback. And I had fun following a rafter of wild turkey a month before Thanksgiving Day apparently looking for a place or a tree to spend the night. During my first few month here in Maine, I had to get used to the idea that our backyard or the entire state of Maine is an open zoo. And during my first few months in Maine, I realized that wild life – is the Mainers’ way of life.

The nosey chipmunk.

My first snow fall… my first deer sighting.

Turkey family enjoying their stroll at our backyard.

Being able to have the chance to live in two different places… with two different cultures… in two opposite sides of the world, I won’t dare compare them. Though there is much obvious difference between the two, still I can’t choose which one is the best. Though one could have more importance to me, the other has specific significance too. And though I could choose both as my favorite places in the whole world… sadly, I could only live in one… or the other.

Additional Important Information:
About Kaingin - meaning, pictures, solutions and news
For Mt. Banahaw… go to Bundok Philippines
For Laguna Province… go to WOW Philippines
For Liliw, Laguna… go to Bulatlat and Backpacking Philippines and Asia
For Maine Wild Life… go to Maine.gov Wildlife and Plant Life

It was autumn. It was my very first autumn in Maine. It was in fact, the very first autumn in my entire life. I woke up to a nice cloudless sky with the sun peeking out from the almost leafless maple trees in the backyard. I supposed to be happy because that was an indication of a nice day where I could go out and enjoy the breath-taking scenery around me. I supposed to be happy until I heard the weather newscaster announced on TV – foggy morning… scattered rains and showers in the afternoon… possible thunderstorm. Then my positive outlook went down south because I know what it means. I wonder – “what the heck is he talking about?” the sun is already up and bright. Then Hubby said, “you’ll see.” Then, I sulked.

I sulked because I know Hubby has a point. I sulked because I know Hubby was right. I sulked because I know Hubby trusts the weather but not the weatherman [because I thought he is cute and Hubby is jealous. *wink*]. Hubby trusts the weather so much because his work depends on it. He watches the news everyday just for one particular reason… to know the weather. And 98% of the time, the meteorologist is right. And so I have no choice but to wait and take note and hope that the weatherman will fail this time.

After a few minutes fog started to loom outback. It was foggy alright but it did not last that long. Soon enough it cleared up and I was able to see and enjoy again the beautiful autumn landscape. The rest of the morning was really a fine day. It was still sunny until noontime. And it did not rain as I expected because the sun was still bright and up till 3 pm. I went inside the house to get something to drink but when I got out again with my cold cranberry juice in hand, the blue cloudless sky was already clothed in dark, thick and heavy black cloud. It instantly turned that one fine day into seemingly cold night at 4 o’ clock in the afternoon. Soon enough thunder and lightning dominated the black sky and at that instant I know that it was smarter to stay inside.

For a solid hour of thunder and lightning and heavy rains I remained inside and calm. I remained calm because I know the thunderstorm will soon be over after an hour. I remained calm because I know that thunderstorm in Maine is surprisingly predictable. I know that soon enough the thunderstorm will be over and I will be enjoying the rest of the day watching the sun sets behind that monochromatic red hue backdrop. Soon enough the rain stopped. Thunder ceased sounding. And lightning stopped striking.

Almost instantly, the sky cleared up. The sun started to show up again. The thick black clouds vanished into thin cold air. The thunderstorm was over. And I was able to go out again and have a drink.

I have been away from the country of my birth for more than a year now. It was a drastic decision that I’ve ever made in my entire life so far. Though I miss home a lot, I have no choice but to get used to all the things that are new to me in this new country… with my new family… in this new home… with my new friends… and with my new life.

Being away from home for more than a year now gave me the chance to experience a lot of new things that I begin to enjoy and appreciate so far. Though I miss the old things I am used to… the Philippines… my family… our old home… my old friends… and my crazy old life, I know that they will always be a part of what I am now.

For more than a year of being away from home, I have survived 4 changing seasons so far. Coming from a tropical country I was used to only 2 seasons… wet and dry. Coming from a tropical country I am used to climate that never goes down below 80 degrees. Coming from a tropical country I am used to typhoons and tropical storms. Coming from a tropical country I am used to unpredictable changing seasons.

For more than a year of being away from home, I missed the 2 changing seasons so far. In this new country I have survived the annoying bugs of summer. In this new country I have survived the endless raking of fallen leaves of fall. In this new country I have survived the freezing cold of winter. In this new country, I survived the unpredictable days of spring.

Now that I am here in Maine, so far I am beginning to appreciate the changing seasons. Despite my earlier rants about the seasons here, I have to admit that I love the feel of the warm sun on my perpetually tanned skin in summertime. I have to admit I love the amazing foliage and the magnificent landscapes of hills and valley in autumn. I have to admit I love ice-fishing, riding snow mobile and snowshoeing in wintertime. I have to admit I love those delicate yellow dandelions in our yard in springtime.

Changing seasons… changing moods… changing moments. This is what life is. Always changing… always moving… always shifting. But will all the changes one has to go through… life still, is a continuation of one’s journey of the past, the present and the future.