Into the woods
Luckily, we saw a brief item in the Portland Press Herald, telling of a walk Jeff Tarling, Portland’s arborist, was to lead in Baxter Woods, between Forest and Stevens Avenues, at 10 a.m. Saturday. The walk was offered by the Friends of Baxter State Park. It started at the Stevens Avenue entrance.
A good crowd showed up, and we were pleased that Friday’s heavy rains had ended. We could pick up brochures on a table near the entrance. One told of the property, which was originally owned by Francis Ormand Johnathan Smith, who lived from 1806 to 1876. He had many careers, as a lawyer, landowner, businessman, inventor and as a congressman. He built a 70-acre estate and a “castle” of a house. He had a gatekeeper’s house, stone pillars and large iron gates. His castle had a greenhouse and a library that was considered to be one of Maine’s largest private collections.
Portland Mayor James Phinney Baxter bought the Smith estate in 1882 after Smith’s widow’s death. He wanted the lovely land for wildlife, wildflowers and as a bird sanctuary. He gave some of the land to the Sisters of Mercy for their convent and what is now McAuley High School. He developed some of the land for homes and named the streets after his children (Hartley, Clinton, Percival, Mabel, James, Florence and Madeline.) The rest of the land was declared “wild” and Mayor Baxter called it Baxter Bird Sanctuary.
Mayor Baxter’s youngest son, Percival, became the governor of Maine. He inherited this piece of land, and donated it to the city of Portland in 1946 in honor of his father. He requested that the 29.5 acres of woods remain “forever wild.”
We also received “Forever Wild,” a fall 2007 newsletter of the Friends of Baxter State Park, with 10 pages of information of that area, its directors and pictures of the Katahdin area.
Tarling led our group through the Baxter Woods paths to the memorial rock, which, according to Gov. Baxter’s deed, was to “recite the conditions of this gift, the same to be attached to a granite boulder located on said land and provided by said City.” Many of Percival Baxter’s deed restrictions for this area were printed on the back page of the brochure, “Welcome to Mayor Baxter Woods,” printed by the Portland Parks & Recreation Department.
On this walk Tarling pointed out many of the huge, handsome old growth trees, a red pine between 150 and 200 years old, a white oak, a hemlock and a white ash, all outstanding specimens in that forest and some of the biggest in Maine.
His statements about the various wooded sections were very helpful to us. From the Forest Avenue area we walked back to the Stevens Avenue area where we had gathered.
Neighbors in the Deering Center area frequently hike there, and exercise their dogs there. The paths are spacious and the trees are magnificent.
Here is a list the trees and birds seen there when a Longfellow School group of fifth-graders visited and studied there, from October 2002 through June 2003.
Trees: American elm, aspen, red oak, sugar maple, yellow birch, willow, paper birch, white oak, red pine, dogwood, white ash, black cherry, red maple, staghorn sumac, gray birch, Norway maple, balsam fir, Eastern white pine, red cedar, chokecherry, American beech and Eastern hemlock.
Birds: American crow, barred owl, chickadee, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American robin, blue jay, hairy woodpecker, mourning dove, Northern mockingbird, red-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse and yellow-rumped warbler.
Weren’t they lucky children to have that experience!
Attic treasures
A special antique appraisal program was held Oct. 19, after the Membership luncheon of the Woman’s Literary Union at the Woodfords Congregational Church.
Kaja Veilleux, of Thomaston Place Auctions, identified and appraised antique items members had brought in. Two items each from members attending were displayed on two long tables. His subject was, “What’s In Your Attic?” An interesting variety of items was brought in, including a student lamp; an iridescent glass bowl; a box of old eyeglasses, one with silver bows that were adjustable and another with gold bows; a Hummel figurine – Mr. Veilleux explained that the value of Hummels has dropped because of the quantity of them now available and perhaps the value used to be $100, but now is $25 or so; pewter bowls, a small end table – it was a reproduction, he told us; a gasoline lantern; a dainty, deep- red covered glass bottle; framed pictures; a pretty sampler, made by a child in 1834 and still in beautiful condition; and many more items.
These meetings of the Antiques Study Group are always interesting. We all learn from them.
Fluffy and sweet
Today’s recipe comes from the Kraft Minute Tapioca box, and is an easy one. We enjoyed it for dessert at our Sunday night supper.
FLUFFY TAPIOCA CREAM
1 egg white
6 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 tablespoon Minute Tapioca
2 cups milk
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Beat the egg white in a medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add 3 tablespoons sugar, beating until soft peaks form.
Mix tapioca, remaining sugar, milk and egg yolk in medium saucepan. Let it stand 5 minutes.
Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a full boil (a boil that doesn’t stop bubbling when stirred).
Remove from heat. Quickly stir in egg white mixture until well blended, and stir in the vanilla.
Cool 20 minutes. Stir. Serve warm or chilled.
This makes 6 servings.
Beat
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