Yesterday was beautiful. I believe that trees evolved to be tall simply to play and dance in the wind. Click on the image for a larger view.
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Where the Land meets the Sea, part 5
On a moonlit night at Pemaquid Point, two figures look out to sea. A soft wind presses against their bodies. The rhythm of breaking waves fills the air. “I would love to spend the rest of my life searching for beauty,” whispers the woman to the man.
Click on the image for a larger view.
Where the Land meets the Sea, part 4
We imagine the end of the day along the coast having the fiery reds of a sunset. But water, whether liquid or vapor, is a conjuror of color. When the sun is blocked at the horizon, color transmutes into something magical. Click on the image for a larger view.
Where the Land meets the Sea, part 3
For all of Maine’s lengthy coastline, what is rare is sand. Seawall Beach comes between the salt march of Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area and the Atlantic Ocean. Many threatened seabirds need the dunes behind these beaches to reproduce, which makes these areas along the coast extremely important. However, what are not rare on the Maine coast are mist and fog. Click on the image for a larger view.
Where the Land meets the Sea, part 2
Maine’s coastline is a contorted into bays, peninsulas, coves, and islands. Bailey Island is the terminal point along a string of inhabitable islands jutting out into the Gulf of Maine. Many small uninhabitable islands dot the coast as well, like these rocks on the other side of Jaquish Gut—a small waterway between Bailey Island and Jaquish Island. Click on the image for a larger view.
Where the Land meets the Sea, part 1
Maine is famous for its coastline. Millions of people flock to places like Acadia National Park to enjoy its beauty. But the land and the sea can have very contrasting natures. While a perfect day in June can have warm sunny weather with a soft breeze, swells from an unseen storm out at sea can lash the coast. Click on the image for a larger view.
Hikari on the Kennebec
We had a taste of summer this week. The air was filled with heat, light, and fragrance. We took Hikari, our Newfoundland dog, down to the Kennebec river. Click on the image for a larger view.
Dandelion and the Big Bang
The thirteen-billion-year journey the universe has taken since it came into being has led to this dandelion. Not a certain outcome—rewind this history and it will play out differently. But one thing is sure, if not dandelions, the product of a universe will be complex, it will be beautiful. It may, however, not be edible. Click on the image for a larger view.
Dandelion Roots and Coffee
The roots of the dandelion can be used in soup or stir fried with vegetables. We like to roast the root as a coffee substitute. Click on the image for a larger view.
For coffee, we harvest dandelions older than three years for the size of the roots. We do this in the spring as we can also use the leaves for cooking. You can also harvest the roots in the fall, but the leaves will be bitter.
- Wash the roots and chop them finely.
- Dry them in a oven at 250°F for two hours. Stir them occasionally to prevent burning.
- Finish roasting the roots at 350°F. You will need to check them frequently so they do not burn. (You can also roast them in a frying pan over low to medium heat as well.)
- Grind just before use. One and a half tablespoons of grounds are good for one cup of coffee. We usually simmer the ground root in water for ten minutes.
Dandelion Flowers
The dandelion flowers have a myriad of uses. The entire head can be used in fritters, tempura, and soup. We add the petals to bread, muffins, vegetable burgers, smoothies, salads, and omelets. This year we are trying dandelion wine. We took some ideas from a variety of recipes and decided to try the following: Continue reading
