January 22~A perfect day

This morning, like every other Sunday of my life, I went to church except today was a special day at our church: it was our church's annual meeting which is actually a lot better than it sounds. Not only was it the first time I had attended it as an official member but it was followed by the most delicious potluck lunch ever complete with corn chowder, chili, homemade rolls & cornbread, salad, some strawberries, and too many deserts. At the meeting, I was reminded of the Roberts Rules that I learned while at Girls State last summer. I was delighted that I knew exactly what was going on and was able to participate correctly due to my Girls State Education. (Thanks GS!) After that, I went on a 9 mile run with a good friend of mine. It was such a beautiful day with the sun beaming down through the trees making the snow sparkle. We ran up "Gloucester Hill" which has a beautiful view of the surrounding area from the trees to the snow covered fields to the distant mountains. I do not have any pictures and even if I did I know that nothing could give justice to the view which I have spent my life memorizing. After we ran for the 9 miles our coach recommended we run over the weekend, I was lucky enough to be invited to watch the game (AFC championship game) with my elderly neighbors. Until this year I have not been very much into football mostly because I do not have a television at my house so it is impossible to watch but recently I have been spending my time with football fanatics. These football fanatics happen to be my best friends and running buddies so their love for the sport somehow wore off on me and I am also enthralled with it. I was at the edge of my seat and was so relieved when the Ravens missed their penalty kick thus allowing the Patriots to win!! :D

January 20th Snow

It's beginning to look a lot like winter ~ Everywhere you go~
We had some more snow today which made me thrilled :D These are some pictures around my house after today's snow.

 What Maine roads look like in the winter as I wrote in one of my college essay's: "...the sand covered roads diminished to half their normal size"

 

My house~Greek Revival house built sometime in the first half of the 19th century. My guess is 1827 since we have an original door in our basement that has that date painted on it. It was moved to it's current location sometime before 1853 by oxen.

Finally it's starting to look like winter....

Two days ago we had our first real good snow storm in winter. We had a nice amount of snow in November and as well as a couple inches here and there but it would not stay until now (fingers crossed). Below are some pictures I took around my yard. Yesterday, it was much more beautiful yesterday as it alway is right after the snow-since the trees are still have snow clinging to their bows. 

I must say the snow was most welcome and I had the pleasure of playing some snow football with some of my dearest friends. When the other team was running to their side it would have made the most beautiful picture but atlas, I did not have my camera on me. 

This tree reminds me of something out of a storybook. :D

Village Coffehouse w/Balkan Folk Music

Every first Saturday of the month, there is a "Village Coffeehouse" performance at my church. It takes place in out recently renovated church sanctuary which looks beautiful with it's minimalist plastered walls paint brown instead of the 1960's style woods siding that had been covering the walls since then. With the renovation came the goal of our church to make it a sort of community room where the community could come together in our wonderful new space. It is set up with a stage in the front that was built when Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin, the amazing Civil War General (think Gettysburg) turned Governor turned Professor and College President, came to speak at our church. Anyway, this room has been holding these "Village Coffeehouse" shows monthly, hosting a slew of different musicians such as tonight's Balkan folk music duo, Cinder Conk, and singer-song writer Emila Dahlin.
Today the room was filled with locals as well as people from all round Maine. Strung on the walls were festive lights and candles placed on the tables to illuminate the room. The music was wonderful, consisting of alluring accordion music complemented by soulful bass (fiddle) playing and often including vocals and a bass drum. The Balkan music was greatly enjoyed and many people got up to do some Balkan dancing, myself included-even though it is my mother who is a pro. 
To sum up: The Village Coffeehouse is a wonderful event that is a must if one happens to be around for one.

Welcome!

Hello anyone who happens to end up stumbling here! :) I am starting this blog after a couple years of mulling over the idea of it in my head. I constantly read other people's travel blogs and dream about the life they lead in those places so I thought why not write a travel like blog about the place that I hold dearest to my heart; my home. Although it is not an exotic location I find many pleasures in it and hope to share them with anyone who wants to listen, even if I do just take up internet space. :P

About where I live:
I live in a quintessential little village in Maine called New Gloucester. No it is not on the coast, but I live in this beautiful space called the "Lower Village" which is the center of the town that was established in the 1736 but was abandoned for a while due to the Indian attacks on the settlers during the King George's War. Yet, in 1753 the settlers were back and have stayed here since then.

Below are some pictures of my town I took last year while walking around. It was such a gorgeous fall day in early October.

 These are some photos of my beautiful church established in 1764.

This is a picture of a beautiful old colonial house in the center of the Lower Village painted in what we townfolks call the "New Gloucester Yellow".