{"id":2,"date":"2009-09-21T14:02:27","date_gmt":"2009-09-21T21:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2011-04-22T06:47:39","modified_gmt":"2011-04-22T13:47:39","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/?page_id=2","title":{"rendered":"Moving to Maine"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

At the turn of the century we (my husband Mike and I) moved from busy San Francisco Bay Area to the quiet woods of Midcoast Maine. Here I belong to the local historical society for which I have published a couple of annual newsletters; volunteer at the local library, which, by the way, is a remarkable institution in such a small town and belong to the Searsmont Women’s Action Group, a mostly social organization who make favors and care packages for people in the community.\u00a0 I have continued my interest in fitness and got my General Fitness Trainer and Personal Trainer certifications. I teach a strength and flexibility class at our Community Center free for anyone to attend. I really enjoy my life in a small rural town.<\/p>\n

But my passion is gardening; I enjoy spending many hours in my gardens, planting, culling and tending to my growing crops and flowers.<\/p>\n

In Florida I have no gardens of my own so I volunteer at the Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.\u00a0 There I have made a fabulous friend in Michael the gardener for whom I work. Slave really, no I’m just kidding Michael. It is part of what makes me happy to head back to Florida when the cold winds start to blow in Maine.<\/p>\n

I also spend a lot of time at the \u2018Y\u2019 and read, walk the beautiful beaches and otherwise just mess around.<\/p>\n

In my retirement I have learned the joys of boarding felines. I say boarding because one can never really \u2018own\u2019 a cat. At present I have two loving pets, one black female \u2013 \u2018Spooky\u2019 and one very tubby, sweet and lovable male \u2013 \u2018Bubba\u2019.<\/p>\n

In addition to my \u2018blog\u2019 I have included a link to my online photo albums which are mostly of my gardens and of family and friends.\u00a0\u00a0 And now a Cat Haiku – not written by me but so true and you know it if you have a cat:<\/p>\n

The food in my bowl<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Is old, and more to the point<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Contains no tuna.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

So you want to play.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Will I claw at dancing string?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Your ankle is closer.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s no dignity<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In being sick – which is why<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I don’t tell you where.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeking solitude<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I am locked in the closet.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For once I need you.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Tiny can, dumped in<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Plastic bowl. Presentation,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One star; service: none.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

>Am I in your way?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You seem to have it backwards:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This pillow is taken.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Your mouth is moving;<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Up and down, emitting noise.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve lost interest.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The dog wags his tail,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Seeking approval. See mine?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Different message.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

My brain: walnut-sized.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Yours: largest among primates.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, who leaves for work?<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Most problems can be<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ignored. The more difficult<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ones can be slept through.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

My affection is conditional.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Don’t stand up,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It’s your lap I love.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Cats can’t steal the breath<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Of children. But if my tail’s<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pulled again, I’ll learn.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I don’t mind being<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Teased, any more than you mind<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A skin graft or two.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

So you call this thing<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Your “cat carrier.” I call<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

These my “blades of death.”<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Toy mice, dancing yarn<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Meowing sounds. I’m convinced:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You’re an idiot.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the turn of the century we (my husband Mike and I) moved from busy San Francisco Bay Area to the quiet woods of Midcoast Maine. Here I belong to the local historical society for which I have published a couple of annual newsletters; volunteer at the local library, which, by the way, is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24,"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/24"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/frees.com\/peg\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}