‘When the frost is on the punkin’

Thu, 10/08/2015 - 11:00am

We didn't need a calender or one of the TV talking heads to tell us fall arrived last week for its annual visit to the corner of God's great geography we call home.

Almost overnight, the maples began to pull on their bright red and yellow coats and the warm breeze that cooled the bedroom all summer long became downright chilly.

The other day, as many of our summer friends went away, many of us watched the big harvest moon sneak up over the Damariscotta River.

Just before Luna slid down the backside of the hills beyond Wiscasset, you might have seen shadows swirling over her yellow face like Richard Nixon's famed five o'clock shadow.

It is fall, so, just for a moment, put down your twinkling iWhatever, pocket your smarter-than-you-phone, and go outside.

There are fall chores to do. It is time to cut down the garden that gave us so much pleasure in the spring and prepare the earth for next year's edition. Inside, it is time to pack away the short pants and shake the critters out the sweaters and wool socks.

There are fun fall things to do too. Just up the river, Damariscotta hosts the incredible edible Pumpkinfest with magical giant jack-o-lanterns. And don’t miss the giant pumpkin regatta featuring the brave, and sort of off-plumb skippers sailing vessels(?) that never were meant to sail anywhere at all.

This weekend (Oct. 10 and 11) features the 48th edition of the Boothbay Fall Foliage Festival at the Boothbay Railway Village. It's always a good time, too.

Over at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Bill Cullina and his talented CMBG staff have crafted gaggle of creative pumpkin displays. With apologies to those annoying TV furniture pitchmen: “Don't miss it.”

And Cullina and company promise their holiday spectacular dubbed Gardens Aglow, (Nov. 21 to Dec. 31) will be the largest light display in the state. Even an old dog like me is looking forward to this one.

As you wander around, think of this for a moment? Is there anything that tastes better in the fall than a frosty glass of crisp, fresh apple cider? Just drive to the Biscay Orchard in Damariscotta and pick up a gallon or two. Some of us like to stop on the way to enjoy a Wasses hot dog smothered in a blanket of sauerkraut.

In most cultures, fall brings a celebration of the harvest, and what better way to appreciate Mother Nature’s bounty than a drive up the coast to Beth's Farm Market on Western Road in Warren.

Not only is their produce at its peak, but it is displayed in such a way that you will want to spend much of your time just admiring the piles of pumpkins, boxes of beautiful apples and cascades of carrots.

A week ago or so, my bride and I were at Beth's drooling over the goodies, when a youngish woman loudly announced to anyone who might care to listen that she was a vegetarian. Almost immediately, one of the staffers greeted her with open arms. “Welcome,” she shouted, and the customers cheered. Well, they sort of cheered, but you get the point.

Back home, after you park the car in the driveway, and if it is your lucky day, you may be asked if you would mind another chore. And it involves peeling a few apples.

Friends, the only, and I mean only, answer to that inquiry is: “Where is the peeler and how many do you want me to skin?”

Maybe, just maybe, this happy chore might be the prelude to a bucket of savory home made apple sauce. Better yet, your efforts might become a steaming pan of apple crisp.

Best of all, it might become the crème de la crème — a luscious apple pie with a homemade crust made the old fashioned way.

There are those who like to guild the lily by adding a bit of frosty vanilla ice cream to the harvest's favorite homemade desert.

Not me. In my book, the real secret of eating apple pie, especially just out of the oven apple pie, is to add a sliver or two of sharp cheddar cheese on the side.

“Apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze,” said my late Uncle Charlie. He was right.

In any event, your wonderful scenic adventure, sans iWhatever, will reward you with the sights and tastes of a Maine fall adventure.

Don’t tell anyone, but, despite what the guidebooks say, we don't have to drive all the way to Vermont to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the season. Fall is here. Enjoy it.

Now, I wonder if the old snow blower will still start?