Summertime, and the Living is... Easy?!? by Delsora Lowe

I live in Maine, near the coast. Just far enough inland to NOT smell the saltiness in the air or feel the sea breezes. For that, I have to drive twenty to thirty minutes, down spits of land that thrust into the ocean, almost like islands, surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic. Lovely views…and gives me the feeling of being on vacation, even if it is just for a few hours. Plus, a yummy candy shop on the way (Island Candy Company – with handmade chocolates — and they SHIP!)

Island, Atlantic Ocean, and Beach Plums

Inlet Leading to the Atlantic and Filled with Anchored Boats

Although I do live blocks from a major river that flows from our western mountains into the Atlantic. As the river winds between my town and the town on the opposite bank, we do get some strange weather patterns. Just upriver it can be thundering at this time of year or piling up the snow in the winter. And by the time it reaches us, the weather has shifted. It happens all the time, that twenty miles inland they can have a blizzard, and we might get a few flakes. Looking at a map, it is as if this town sits at the widest part of a funnel. And the weather changes on either side of our funnel.

Our weather has changed a ton in the almost 35 years I have lived here. The winters are milder. And the summers are hotter. Since I moved here from a hot and heavily humid area so many years ago, I’m not so sure I appreciate the increasing heat. However, it is nice to have a cookout in July in Maine where I’m not still wearing knee socks and a sweater, as I did when I first moved here.

So now, the living is definitely easier during the summers in Maine.

As the song "Summertime" circles my head, I think of lazy rivers and sunny days, where one wipes one’s forehead constantly, to dispel the effects of that new version of summer heat in my neck of the woods. I think of lunches on the deck at a restaurant situated in the renovated brick factory that overlooks the rushing water that has spilled over the falls within sight of the deck. The water that now rushes to move the river toward its destination of the Atlantic. That lazy river above the falls, turns into a churning frothy rush of water. Beside the falls is a fish ladder, built to allow the alewives to “climb” the waterfall and travel up the river to spawn.

When I first moved to this town, the brick buildings were still in use as factories. On those still, hot days with no breeze, or a day with the wind blowing toward town, the stench of factory smoke was overwhelming—like a zillion eggs rotting on a sunny day. They now hold numerous condos and businesses, each with beautiful views down the river, where in the winter, when the river freezes over, sit the little wooden houses sheltering ice fisherpeople.

Now, as we move into summer and the living seems easier, we can enjoy so many things that were not here in this small town when I first moved in or have been greatly improved.

Farmer's Market and Town's Famous Tall Pines

We have a downtown green space with a gazebo that is large enough to hold a small orchestra. In the summer there are Wednesday concerts, when folks bring their lawn chairs and a picnic. We have the farmers market set up every Tuesday and Friday mornings on that green and in the winter if the weather permits, they flood that area with water for ice-skating. The town hosts first Fridays, where businesses stay open late and offer specials. We have lovely, small-town parades on certain holidays such as Memorial Day and the 4^th of July.

My town is building more housing and retail, that now stretches farther away from downtown. We have welcomed refugees. We have a private 4-year college, as well as a satellite campus for the state’s university system, which means our population increases at certain times of the year. 

Also on the campus is the infamous Maine State Music Theater, where actors clamor to be chosen to work the summer theater plays. I recently learned that the nine singer-dancers, aged eighteen to early twenties, were chosen from casting calls that started out with a pool of over 3,500. Coming to Maine for the summer to work with seasoned actors, many from Broadway, is a dream job. You have to be very special if you are one of the nine chosen.

We have a population of almost 22,000, up at least 3 to 4K from when I first moved here.

So, to say … summertime and the living is easy … might be a slight exaggeration as we all carry on with daily life as usual. But the special moments of gathering as a town or taking advantage of the wonderful summer offerings, certainly do feel as though the living is easy.

Lobster Boat at Dawn

Oh…except for the increased traffic and the crowded grocery store. But hey, that’s what taking a breather is all about. Driving to the coast to watch the ocean flow around the islands dotted along the shore or waking very early to hear the chug of the lobster boats and observe the lobsterpeople haul in their catch and reset their traps. Or listening to the seagulls squawk at the first signs of sunrise, awakening those who have summer rentals and might want to sleep beyond early dawn. Or watching the gulls swoop in and pluck out a fish. Those same seagulls have a nasty tendency to interrupt a picnic table dinner—hold on to your food, folks!

Seagulls Scavenging for Food After We Tossed Lobster Shells into the Water

But yeah, the living is much easier and more fun in the summertime.

No shoveling!

Does summertime seem to be easier?
Or harder? And why?

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~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns, from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. The Love Left Behind is a Hartford Estates, R.I. wedding novella. A Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker) were released in late fall 2022. Look for book 3 of the cowboy’s series, as well as book 2 of the Hartford Estates series, in 2024.

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

IMAGES: 
Lazy River: clipground.com/pics/get / clipart of a river 10 free Cliparts | Download images on Clipground 2024  
Conga Line: https://www.clipartkey.com/view/xhRoJi_conga-line-conga-line-clip-art/    
Lobster Boat, Seagulls, Farmers Market, Ocean and Landscape Views: photos taken by the blog author

Bragging: Or At Least Talking Myself Up...A Bit - - - - by Delsora Lowe

This month’s theme is bragging, ah, er, I mean, telling all of you the three things that I think are my strengths or things I do well.

That’s a hard one. Because, even though there are certain things I love to do, I never feel as though I am great at any of them. But I have to admit, maybe I am good at some of them. And at the same time, always trying to improve.

The obvious is I am good, getting better, but not a star, at writing. I have practiced a lot since I was a kid. My freshman year at a new high school, my teacher submitted a story I had written from a child’s point-of-view, about his little red wagon. It ended up in the school’s quarterly literary magazine. I wanted to run and hide, because I thought people would think I had a childish mind. I survived the ordeal—which wasn’t the ordeal my imagination thought it would be.

My three grandsons, who are all in high school now!

My first-year college English professor “kicked me out” of the required grammar class, because I already knew “that stuff.” As an aside, for the few weeks I was in his class, he also drilled in the use of the Oxford comma. When I went back to finish my degree fifteen years later after marriage and kids, my professors in various disciplines, asked me where I learned to write. So, I offer many thanks to my high school English classes, that at the time were pure torture. However, I did learn to write.

Here are two other areas that I think I am able to achieve in.

First: Cooking—and by that, I mean, I am able to make anything out of nothing. To me food is not only nourishment, but inspiration. I love recipes, but I never follow them. Oh, I try. But then I say to myself…hmmm, I bet if I add this or that, this recipe will be better. Or I look in the fridge and groan, because I haven’t been to the grocery store lately, and I make up a recipe out of anything that is still useable in the fridge. Or I scan the cupboards. I mix and match and add a tidbit of this and a spoonful of that, and a shake of something else.

I have my maternal grandmother and both my parents to thank for showing me how it's done in the kitchen. Use up leftovers in inventive ways. Never let anything go to waste. And always have enough wine - whoops - channeling my dad. Here's to you, Dad, as I hold up my stemmed glass toward the heavens.

I do the same thing in the grocery store since my list says bread, meat, fish, veggies, salad stuff, soup, etc. I have to feel “in the mood.” Today the butternut squash calls to me. Next time it might be broccoli or turnip or beets or avocado. And then as I wander the isles, or survey the meat and fish displays, or check out cheeses I have never tried, I devise my menus for the next few days. Okay, so I may be one of the few who love to grocery shop, and I especially love to wander the farmers market, where each week the offerings are different, depending on harvest times. My brain snaps into creative cooking mode.

Living in Maine – lobster, a favorite ingredient in a meal

The second other thing I am good at is TALKING. I can hear the groan from the peanut gallery of those who know me well. Yup—she talks ALL THE TIME. I love to talk with friends. But I also chat up the store clerk or cashier, anyone in line with me, or anyone searching for the same item in a store. But that love of chat came in handy in my chosen, and not-so-chosen, careers and jobs in hospitality, retail, event planning, government, non-profits, etc. In those jobs it’s a requirement to speak to strangers.

And out of that type of work, I also became good at being a connector of people.

            One example is that during 9/11, I worked in a school in Washington, D.C. It was also my alma mater. We had alumni all over the country, as well as living overseas. I received many calls from people worried about their former classmates in D.C. and N.Y.C. I also heard from many in those affected areas reporting in. I became a conduit between friends.

Part of my job was organizing gatherings for alumni all over the country. That included finding venues and caterers, plus programming for each event. That might include bringing along a beloved professor, or finding an alum in the area who had an interesting career they could speak about, or who had authored a book. I also used to connect alumni from different generations who had things in common—like similar jobs, lived in the same area, or had the same interests. Or those alumni who were looking for jobs and those who might be mentors in that search.

Working in non-profits and alumni relations, connecting like-minded people to resources, job opportunities, or other people who like the same things or are in similar careers, becomes a given. And now, with a network of writers all over the country, it is fun to connect other writers to resources, or authors who write in similar genres, or have areas of expertise needed by that author. And…luckily, they do the same for me. Writing romance is one of my joys in life. And with that goes staying in touch with my good friends, and connecting with authors who may have advice to help me on my journey.

It’s all about the networking, no matter whether it is a job search, connecting with people who have similar interests, jobs, or hobbies, or a simple helpful gesture guiding a lost shopper in the direction of the aisle filled with ice cream. So put on that bright smile and connect. You might be surprised at how much fun it is, even when you know you may never cross paths with that person again.

What is something you think you do well? 

And why do you believe you do this item well?

 

Check out Starlight Grille

Welcome to Serenity Harbor, Maine, a small coastal town where the Starlight Grille is a favorite meeting place. This sweet, with a touch of heat, 3-book collection includes a new bonus short story and a Starlight Grille recipe.

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~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town and contemporary western sweet and spicy romances, from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of New England.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine (most recently, an Easter romance in the April 1, 2024 edition.) The Love Left Behind is a Hartford Estates, R.I. wedding novella with Book 2 on the way. A Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker – the youngest brother of the Mineral Spring’s ranching family) were the most recent releases. Look for book 3 of the cowboy’s series, as well as book 2 of the Hartford Estates series, coming soon.

 Social Media Links:

Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe / https://www.instagram.com/delsoralowe/

Photo Credits:
Smile: Smile Clipart Images | Free Download | PNG Transparent Background - Pngtree

Lob-sta and the Annual Family Picnic: A Look Back at Summer ... Delsora Lowe

I would classify our annual lobster bake as a family picnic.

Every July, my daughter, son-in-law, and two grandsons leave Denver to descend on Maine. They coordinate the trip with my daughter’s best friend from high school and her family, who now live in Atlanta.

The fun begins.

Boat rides and kayaking off Bailey and Orr’s Island. Checking out our favorite- and some brand-new restaurants, zeroing in on seafood. But the highlight of the week is the “family” picnic, which includes high school friends, as well as their children and parents who still live in the area. We all bring salads, desserts, and hors d’oeuvres. Then we steam lobster in big pots over a fire outside, plus grill for those who don’t like—shaking my head, because who could say NO to
—lobster.

The entire event is a mini-reunion every summer. And, in essence, aside from the “rivalry” between graduates of two area high schools, one big family picnic.

But the true joy to me, is the entire week leading up to the grand finale of the lobster bake. My daughter and friend have been “besties” for over thirty-five years. The two were either at my house or her friend’s house all through high school. They were in each other’s weddings. Their children are similar ages, and despite living in different states, they see each other often, and spend the week in Maine glued to each other. Both ended up marrying two wonderful men they met at a college reunion, who are also best friends, having met at the same college.

So, for me, my daughter’s friend is like my second daughter and her husband is like my newest son-in-law. I’m lucky to have a wonderful son-in-law, and his bestie college friend, who always treats me like family.

This year, with a rental cottage right on the ocean, the views are spectacular, with plenty of kayaks, sailboats, and motor boats, plus seals, ducks, seagulls, and we suspect, from following the shark app, an occasional Great White who have been invading our coastal waters as they have warmed substantially.

Ocean winds, cloud formations, the slant of the sun, and the rise and fall of tides ensures the view continually changes. Add the beautiful day lilies, cornflowers, and beach roses with the rosy-orange rose hips ripening into fall, the setting is ideal for a summer vacation.

So, on a scorching summer July evening, being on the water with breezes and temps ten-degrees cooler than the middle of town, fifteen miles away, we enjoyed a wonderful “family” reunion, with plenty of chatter, eating, and excitement at the end.

The sun dipped in a fiery orange ball and bounced off equally tangerine-colored clouds. The woman next door flew a rainbow-colored, box-kite for her young son. The tide moved in, causing waves to lap against the rocks in front of the cottage and surge through the opening under the bridge.

And within seconds a mass of seagulls stormed the shoreline, squawking and swooping in from every direction to pluck the remains of the lobster shells from the rocks where we set out their buffet.

  

Memories abound and will be forever stored in the treasure chest of favorite occasions in the farthest reaches of our brains. Here’s to another great summer. Already looking forward to next year’s “family” picnic.

What kind of Summer fun did you have? Or are you looking ahead to Fall fun?

The Inn on Gooseneck Lane

Preorder now for October 17, 2022

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cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her newest novella is The Love Left Behind. Look for both a Christmas novel (The Inn at Gooseneck Lane) and novella (Holiday Hitchhiker) later this fall.

Social Media Links:
Author website
Facebook Author page
Amazon Author page
Books2Read Author page
BookBub Author Page
Goodreads Author Page
Instagram

 Photo Credits: Delsora Lowe