Palm Springs to Santa Fe

The six pre-press samples of Life and Times on Pleasant Pond arrived May 27. I must admit, when I opened the first book, I cried. It is so beautiful, I can't believe it . . thank you Greg. To every who collaborated on this project, “We did good!” “We look great in print,” and “We have done ourselves proud.” Doesn’t seem possible, but this project was started exactly one year and six months ago, November 27, 2008.

Now to market this book! Since I am Van de Bogart Publishing, back to Maine I go. This trip will find me, not only marketing Life and Times on Pleasant Pond, but also house/condo/ apartment hunting. But before I leave, I must say good-bye to my friends in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Desert Hot Springs, California, my home for the last six months: Dr and Ambie Henderson and your wonderful staff, a most sincere thank you for everything; the Rancho Mirage Library,”Yes, that’s me you are missing chatting on the phone with her book designer.” I do have all the computer log-on slips for proof of my many hours spent in your beautiful library; Sandy Swift, a person can’t have too many “sisters from the heart”; Johnny and Louie, “Yes, life is grand!” Richard Kay, “How many bearings can a person sell?” The yard sale in Palm Springs was so much fun. Who knew it could be so cold at 7:00AM? And Luciano, at Latino Books, thank you for the advice and counsel. Oh yes, Marsha, at Raymond’s, my hair is fabulous!! I will see you all in November when I come back for my book signings.

May 26

Now it’s time to leave and the books aren’t here. Buggers! They are being shipped over night to Phoenix, my first stop. Everyone in southern California, you’ll have to wait until November, or order now.

My first stop back to Maine is Pebble Creek, Goodyear, Arizona. n over 55 community just outside of Phoenix. Everyone one I meet here loves it! What is not to love: golf 365 days a year, no snow, a fantastic arts and crafts building where anything from woodworking and stain glass is done along with sewing, quilting and ceramics? The homes might not have enough room for crafts, but this building more than serves its purpose. And the gym, no wonder everyone is in such great shape! Just as I am getting ready to leave Phoenix, I learn of a new town up in the mountains with water!! Phoenix, water? This I have to see. True enough, Estrella has two lakes for kayaks! Gorgeous and the little house I tour, in Canta Mia, has an art studio! Kayaking and art studio for all my art stuff . . .  imaginative possibility. Not ready to make a decision, I head for Santa Fe, New Mexico, by way of USA Route 10 through Tucson, AZ and Las Cruces, NM. Not dawdling but night fall gets in my way and I only make it to Deming, New Mexico.  Who cares, I am still in my beloved New Mexico.

Deming, New Mexico . . . The Silver Spike was driven here in 1881 to commemorate the meeting of the Southern Pacific with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroads. Cute, and the Grande Hotel has a great bed and great food in the attached restaurant with such a fun cook and wait staff.

The next morning, May 29, I head for Las Cruces but the bells the Basilica of San Albino in the town of Old Mesilla ("Little Tableland") draw me to this quaint historical community in Southern New Mexico. Since its beginning, around 1848, Old Mesilla has had a major influence on the economic, cultural, historical, and political life of the Mesilla Valley. From the Gadsden Purchase, to the Civil War, to the Butterfield Stage Coach Trail, to the trial of Billy the Kid, to being a lively social center in the 1880s--Mesilla has been a prominent part of the rich history of the Southwest.

Remember, I grew up in New England, home of quaint, cute and charm. Old Mesilla has cute, quaint old New Mexico charm! Solamente de Mesilla is a perfect example of “got to have southwest” - rustic furniture, delicious salsa stations, the perfect dishes for anything, stomach burning hot - Got Salsa? Do they have salsa! (http://www.solamentedemesilla.com/)

Next stop, Josefina’s old gate- café/inn/antiques. This place is imagination and creativity gone wild. Kathleen is the granddaughter of the original owner of this old adobe home and she has restored, and with her family, maintained this property with unbelievable southwestern charm, love heritage, and flowers! Driving past, I was drawn into this oasis of potted flowers winding up and over bricks, water fountains trickling among the adobe walls, and laughter of the diners sitting in the outdoor café of colorful tiled tables and bright colored umbrellas magnifying the New Mexico sky. All this, and if you are lucky enough, you will hear the bells of Basilica of San Albino.

Old Mesilla is also home to the bar where the Billy Kid was tried and sentenced. This is a town of full of charm and intrigue . . . what fun!!

Forcing myself to leave, on to Las Cruces I go for the Old Town Las Cruces Street fair. Here, in the Southwest, due to weather conditions, street fairs happen all the time, drawing artisans from all over. Whenever I find a street fair, I hunt out photography to learn how and see how the photographs are being shown. In Las Cruces I am introduced to Tom Green and his artful way of framing a Giclée. Gorgeous! Lucky me, I get a mini lesson.

Time is short, it is nearly 3 in the afternoon and Santa Fe is calling! Wait, I have to go to Hatch, the chili capital of the world where Gilly’s Hatch Valley Chili Company has the best of the best homemade chili. Being a green horn chili eater, I get a lesson in chili preparation from Gill and learn the health benefits of chili. Who knew, what burns your stomach is so good for you. For me, wildly hot-killer chili doesn’t sit well with my Italian loving Mediterranean diet system. One has to love the southwest - lots of sunshine, great new friends and chili. With chili, you can have your choice . . . green chili for chicken, red for pork or beef, and if you like both red and green, you get Christmas!! Please, just don't give me a Breakfast Burrito with Christmas!

Santa Fe, here I come. Oops, next stop Truth or Consequences. With a name like that, I have to stop and see Elephant Butte Lake.

Santa Fe

I have made it, Santa Fe! Hi, Al!

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and we have so much to do. With such gorgeous weather, our adventures will be on his motorcycle!! What fun. I know I am suppose to be working on marketing the book, but it’s a holiday, and I need a break. While in Phoenix and along the way I have sent off review copies. I have booked more book signings. I gave a copy to the University of Maine Alumni Association auction - it sold! When I meet old or new friends, I give them either a postcard or business card in hopes they will check this blog, and have interest enough to purchase a book. Thank you.

The Story of Writing Life and Times on Pleasant Pond

Fall 2007

November 2007 I was visiting Joe Edwards when he asked me to write his family’s story about how the Edwards moved to Island Falls and settled on Pleasant Pond. Since I was living in New Hampshire at the time, and my Dad was living at Madigan Estates Assisted Living in Houlton, Maine, this would give me the perfect opportunity to visit my Dad more often, research the book, and occupy my time while waiting for my condo in Newmarket, New Hampshire to sell.

Winter 2008

During the winter of 2008, I visited my Dad and dropped in to see Joe Edwards about once every month. Visiting Joe, I would gather information, and then drive to Houlton to see my Dad. Visiting Dad and his roommate, Charlie Valleau, I would entertain them with the memories, funny stories, and bits of Pleasant Pond gossip I had collected. Charlie was so special: being from Arizona, he didn’t have a clue about any of these people, but he would listen attentively. Dad, on the other hand, would say, “That’s right, how about this?” Occasionally, he would add, “Remember when such and such happened.” It was so fun. All Dad’s Madigan Estates friends became my collective audience. Thank you.

Becky (Joy) Drew, the Island Falls local historian and librarian, I can’t thank you enough. You helped from start to finish. Whenever I was in Island Falls, she let me stay late at the library. She searched in the Old Jail for photographs and stayed in constant contact through e-mails. With me suppling paper for the printer, she allowed me to print, scan and copy to my heart’s content.

Spring 2009

As winter turned into spring, I thought my history of the Edwards’ family on Birch Point was near completion. I kept sending Becky e-mails with, “This is it,” “All done,” and “Complete” in the subject line. Then I would add more, she would add more. More pictures were discovered. I started thinking, “This has got to end!” Valerie (Lake) Powers and Pam (Hillman) Oliver even said, while I was staying with them, “Enough already!”

Summer 2009

June of 2009, I think I am done! I take my project to Joe; he reads it and replies, “You’ve done a great job. You have all the information, Sandy. You got it as I remember. You got it right.”

July 4th weekend I stayed with Mary (Hathaway) Sherwood at the Hathaway Camp on Pleasant Pond for a bit of kayaking. It is when Mary and I go kayaking around the Pond, in the rain, that I get another brainstorm. “Mary, there is more to Pleasant Pond than Birch Point, why not include it all?” There is Camp Theodore Roosevelt, named after President Teddy Roosevelt, started by “Mac” McAulliffe; the Lane Homestead, built by Cornelius Lane; the Powers, who own the lower end of the pond. The Va-Jo-Wa Golf Course that was a cow farm before Vaughan Walker built the golf course after the barn/home fire. Why not research the whole Pond and have pictures!

Since getting my Master’s in Education, I have toyed with the idea of pursuing a Ph.D. This could be my PhD dissertation! What a grand idea. June 2009 the condo sells, and I am free of New Hampshire. Why not take this opportunity, and time, to finish this project. I have to thank my many friends who have put up with this idea. The year I relate to college life: eat, sleep, wine and research.

Once I got started, it became a labor of love. Being a story teller myself, and working as tour director and fitness trainer for “Active Older Adults, I have discovered our senior citizens are walking encyclopedias and love sharing their stories and memories. When asked, people will joyfully share: Pat Emerson happily told me her funny story of burning her family camp, Camp Linger-Longer, down. Ava Joy shared the delightful story of Dot Ericson’s first kiss and Clara Hathaway’s eyes gleamed when telling me, “How we danced and danced nights away at the Dance Pavilion;” Marion (Lane) Hoar, her life and memories of the Lane Homestead. Intrigued, I thought, if these people have stories, what about all the camps on the Pond. With Sally (Walker) Cyr praising my efforts, I carry on with persistence.

The end of July, first of August every year, Island Falls comes to life. Everyone comes home for Summer Fest. I thought, “Why not put flyers around town and the Pond, and ask people to contribute their own stories and memories.” Perfect! I placed flyers in the library, at the golf course, the Historical Society, the bulletin boards at Bishops and Jerry’s, in the Briar Patch and Riverside Gifts, Porter’s, One Stop and Birch Point. The deadline for stories and memories was very specific, September 15, 2009. The last story came in when I visited my Dad for his 86th birthday and went to Clara Hathaway’s 103-birthday party - February 2010!

During the summer months, and late into fall, I kayaked around the Pleasant Pond clicking pictures. I stopped and asked people to write their memories and stories. I discovered information at the Registry of Deeds in Houlton. Off I went to Augusta to the Maine Archives. Trunks were opened, pictures were discovered, stories and memories were shared. I wanted anyone, and everyone to be part of this project.

As I gathered information, I started thinking about publishing. I had all this great information: fun stories and fantastic photographs; Bebe (Hunt) Walker came up with an Old Camp Roosevelt brochure and Bob McCaffrey had the original Fisher Log Lodge brochure. The Powers shared their family story. I had old maps and newspaper articles about fishing from Ted Roberts. I needed a book. I thought, if I get this published, not only will I have a published book, all my friends who contributed will have their stories published. This is so cool!

I contacted printing companies. I contacted self-publishing companies. I read the back of books to discover where they were published. I had a lot of interest, but no one wanted to help with the layout and design. I needed a book designer.

Fall 2009

Alzheimer’s Drive to Find Home
My fund drive for Alzheimer’s Education and Research in People and Animals
The fund drive was called Alzheimer’s Drive to Find Home. Interesting, if you ask a person with Alzheimer’s what they want, the answer just might be “I want to go home.” And me, I am searching for home.

October 2009, my Dad and his roommate Charlie decide I need to start looking for a place to live since I had sold my condo. So October 2009, I left northern Maine to begin my cross-country trip to Southern California, raising money for Alzheimer’s Education and Research and visiting places I just might want to live: Atlanta, Georgia; West Palm Beach, Florida; Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico; Flagstaff, Arizona; Palm Springs and San Diego, California.

All along the way I visited friends and relatives, trying to figure out where I just to want to live. I raised money for Alzheimer’s by showing my photographs at senior centers and churches. I visited one of Cornell University’s veterinary college libraries to research Alzheimer’s in animals. I continued to work on my book while looking for a publishing company.

I must thank my friends and long lost cousins who opened their doors to me: In Maine, my forever graduate school friend, Pat Day; New Hampshire - Ann Taylor; sewing friends in Massachusetts, Mary Lou Schneider and Olgo Galanis. In New York, my cousin Kathy DeWolfe who works for Cornell Veterinary College and informed me, not only people, but animals, including our family pets, get Alzheimer’s. Staying with Kathy, she and I dug through old Newman family photographs and shared many memories. In Blandon, Pennsylvania, Danny and Beth Joy opened their door, and Danny and I shared many Island Falls memories. Off to Washington, D.C., and my cousins Sheila (Ambrose) Bétit, her brother, Pat Ambrose, and his son, Nicholas. Thank-you for dinner, the bed and trip down memory lane. Nicholas, my IPod works great, thank you! Atlanta, Georgia, staying with my very best friend, Annie, who still has some of my stuff in her spare room and Margo Austin, a 4-H friend who lives in Jasper, Georgia whom I hadn’t seen in 15 years! Next stop, Florida, and Rick, my friend who lets me get cool in his pool and takes me snorkeling. On to Old Monroe, Missouri with Rev. Michael and Linda Kasevich where I spend Thanksgiving. My two day visit lasted for two weeks! Linda, thank you for staying up with me and reading every single page. To the people of the St. Paul United Church of Christ in Old Monroe, thank you for opening your hearts to me, and for “You’re still here?”’

Winter 2009

Leaving Missouri, I am off to Oklahoma and Debbie Thicksten and her family. Thank you for that great breakfast! Leaving Oklahoma, the push is on for California. I still have not found a publisher, but the book is coming together. I am raising money for Alzheimer’s and Dad keeps asking, “When are you coming back?”

I am gleefully bound for New Mexico, my home when I taught skiing for Taos Ski Valley and discovered my love of photography and got the inspiration to write and tell my stories. Hi Trey, I’m back! In Albuquerque I visit my friend Trey Hammond. Trey is the Reverend of La Mesa Presbyterian Church. Thank you to all his parishioners who opened their hearts to me. Trey, I had so much fun decorating your Christmas, your collection of Christmas decorations is fantastic! While in Albuquerque I check in with the New Mexico Alzheimer’s Associate and get praises for my efforts. Thank you to everyone for your contributions. In Albuquerque I discovered a class for Silver Sneaker Aquatic Certification. Since I am a certified Silver Sneaker Instructor, I stop long enough to keep my certification current.

Leaving Albuquerque I drive through Jemez Indian Reservation, gorgeous. Farmington, New Mexico is next and my friend Al Nicks. Here I have to thank Al for his friendship and placing me on “lock down” to work on the book. My hotel allows me to make my room into an office and I write and search for a publisher. When Al was finished at his shop, at the end of the day, we had adventures. One was off to Durango, Colorado for a bit of Christmas shopping.

Leaving New Mexico, California is in sight. I drive through Flagstaff, Arizona and push on for my friends in Southern California. Arriving in Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), California on December 22, 2009 I take up temporary residents with my tour director friend, Sandy Swift, and spend Christmas with another tour director friend, Donna (Baker)Olson, and her husband, Gerry, in Fallbrook, California (avocado capital of the world.)

Spring 2010

Santa Barbara, California and Keely and Karen Hathaway, thank you for inviting me to your beautiful home. Doug Huston, thank you for taking the time for the tour of this beautiful area.

It was here in Southern California I discovered my book designer, editor and cover designer. I had decided to go with a company in northern California, but still being a little unsure, when I happened upon Seahill Press in Santa Barbara and Greg Sharp. Through his staff’s diligence, and his wife, Cindi, who edited the book, this year and half project starts coming together. I also discovered a very talented graphic designer. With her creative ability, what I saw in my mine’s eye became the cover and all marketing artwork for Life and Times on Pleasant Pond.

Here I have to thank Pete Peterson. Having wanted, for a very long time, to pursue and finish my PhD. With your help, I feel I have completed the goal. Pete, thank you for reading every word and asking for more information. Without your help, advice and guidance, this project would not have gone from good to better to the best. Thank you for “more information needed here.”

Summer 2010

This summer has me leaving sunny Southern California and heading back to Maine to market my book. Not one to drive straight through to anywhere, how boring, I will travel through New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and then follow the Gulf Coast to Florida. From Florida, I turn north and head up to Maine. All along the way I hope to visit and re-visit my friends and relatives, showing them the book, without their help, I wouldn’t have finished.

My heartfelt appreciation to everyone who read, assisted, and contributed. I also must thank everyone who let me spend my “college year” with them: Ralph and Valerie Powers, Pam Hillman Oliver, Ted and Mary Sherwood, the Hathaway’s, Rick Madson, Pastor Mike and Linda Kasevich, Donna and Gerry Olson, and Sandy Swift. Thank you so very much for your friendship and willingness to share in this project.