From Tom's Desk: Thought of the Week 2/27/15

“The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.”
Abraham Lincoln

Day’s end Overlooking the Breakwater:  Photo by Robert Dennis

A Little Perspective Never Hurts

This was an interesting article from the Biomimicry Institute in Montana.
It makes an interesting point, and makes you think for a bit.  So think about this today as we drive around in our cars, fly in the sky and do all the things that humans do and have just figured out in the past few seconds...


From the Biomimicry Institute:



 

It's midnight at the International Date Line. That means...

 

It's officially Life's B(earth)day!

Life's B(earth)day is derived from what is often called Earth's Calendar Year. When we compress the age of the Earth (4.5 billion years) into a single calendar year, we can better understand our place in the vast time scale of evolution. For instance, Life first appears (as single-celled organisms) on February 25. Remarkably, nucleated cells don't appear for another five months, on July 15. And you have to wait until December 13 to see mammals emerge!

How much of the year do you think humans have been around for? 

 



From Tom's Desk- Thought of the Week 2/20/15

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”
Albert Camus

Sunrise over Goat Island Lighthouse: Photo by Dan Viehmann

Crazy Beautiful Nature

Sometimes when we are looking out our windows at work, and all we can see is... well... This:

We can start to get a little stir crazy.  Maybe start to feel like there might never be a view out the window again that doesn't involve a white mass.  Then when we look at our smart phones, we want to tell them they are just dumb because they are showing snow flakes for every day of the week these days...   My daughter actually said, "Seriously, how much more snow can Mother Nature make?"

My guess?  A lot more, so I am just not answering.

But let us not forget the wonders of the outside.  It is still a good time to go out and explore, the snow filters the sounds, and makes it quieter, more possible to hear all the wonders that are out there.  It is enough to remind us how amazing our world is if we just venture out of doors to greet it... without your snow shovel... leave that behind, because heaven knows, we have all bonded enough with them this winter.

Instead of seeing that huge mound of snow, look for that one red bird in that white tree... and be reminded that there is color out there.  So break out those snowshoes, skis, and probably a face mask for the cold, and come on out to the trails, and do some tracking, listening, and get a deep breath of fresh air.

If you aren't willing to see anymore of the white stuff... take an adventure online to remind yourself how amazing nature can be and check out these amazing pictures HERE of the 15 craziest things in nature.

 If you are reluctant to click there, let me give you a teaser....

Its better than the view out my window!

From Tom's Desk: Thought of the Week 2/13/15

“If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together. . .there is something you must always remember.  You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.  But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart. . . I’ll always be with you.”  A.A. Milne in “Winnie-the-Pooh”

The South Congregational Church on a Winter’s Day:  Photo by Robert Dennis

Even More Reasons to Play Outside in the COLD!!!!

So while we are feeling totally trapped under mounds of snow and gray skies, there still is a reason to get outside and get off the computer.  (Yes I understand the irony as I sit here typing.)  This article: 

Four Crucial Ways Playing Outdoors in Winter Benefits Children  

Gives us some reasons why it is good to get outside even when we feel like we are buried in more ways than one.  There are all sorts of reasons we should be letting our kids play outside, and somehow all of us let fears get in the way.  Whether it's fear of strangers, or fear of frost bite, maybe we can all take the common sense approach and head out of doors for the day.  After reading this article we will "Trust in Education" that advice.  (Yes we just used our name as a verb... tricky) While the article is written about getting kids outside... we are all kids at heart... heed this advice and use it for yourself as well!

1)  Remember that the rub down that we give our kids with anti-bacterial doesn't necessarily do the trick.  Getting them out for fresh air (which isn't recycled like in closed windowed houses and schools) is critical.  Its amazing how filling our lungs with that fresh cool air can make you feel totally new.  Now granted, lately here in Maine taking a big breath of air may include and inch of snow, so choose your breathe wisely, and remember, the great outdoors is large... the bacteria might lose you!

2) Exercise is a big must in the winter.  Many of us believe that we are headed for hibernation and start eating like wild beasts and being less and less active.  All this does is make us more tired, less active and our pants too tight.  Kids especially who are using their brains to learn every day at school, need the exercise to keep those synapses firing and keep their brains active by keeping their bodies active.  Remember, trudging through the 4 feet of snow in the front yard, is a lot of work...and perhaps just what the brain ordered.

3) Playing outside creates problem solving and use of imagination.  It is hard for us to look at the snow and see an underground castle, or the Himalayas, or even some fun snowmen, or disturbing snowmen like Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes.  Kids don't have that problem... they see a blank canvas, let them be artists!  Just think with the mounds of snow that we have built up, just figuring out how to get through the yard without getting buried could be a pretty intense physics problem... we could be raising geniuses folks... geniuses!

4)  Getting our Vitamin D.... we can only get that through sunshine or a little jelly pill...which is more appealing? 

So while Trust in Education can put a silly spin on a serious article, please read it and get outside, enjoy this beautiful place that we have to live in, and reconnect with the outside...  There is always hot cocoa on the other side of the front door!

If you are looking for trails and places to play, Visit our website: www.kporttrust.org/kctholdings
to see our properties where you can run and play and love Kennebunkport!

From Tom's Desk- Looking Back 2/10/15

“Gentlemen, I cannot but acknowledge myself obliged to you for the regard you have shown for me in the general invitation you have given me to settle in the ministry amongst you. . . I have at last concluded to accept of your call, upon condition you will grant the following. . . That the town shall take the £100 which they have voted to me towards my building in the town, and build and suitably finish a house 38 feet in length, and 18 feet in breadth, having four rooms and a garret; and also that they build a kitchen on the back side of the house: which house shall be given to me, my heirs or assigns, &c.”  Rev. Thomas Prentice to the committee chosen to bring the first settled minister to the town of Arundel (now Kennebunkport) 1730

The Olde Garrison House, Winter of 1956 and 2015