Greetings from the Badgers of Bangor! Here it is the end of February and it just keeps on snowing! I don't get out as much as I used to, but Bruce pitches in with the grocery shopping and Tom has cooked a few excellent meals from his Indian cookbook. And I have been busy in the art studio, working on my Musicians of Bangor series.
A few weeks ago John, Austin and I (Tom was in Texas) attended the Democratic Caucus here in Maine. It was a chance to be registered and cast our votes all on the same day. We stood in line together at the Civic Center for an hour and a half, grateful that most of the time we were indoors as it was snowing outside. Governor Baldacci made his way through our crowd and shook my hand, and then a little while later John Kerry shook my hand also. I was sorry there were no loudspeakers in our anteroom so we could hear the speeches while we waited to register.
But the important thing was, we did get registered, and we went to our Precinct Room, and were counted...we three voted for Barack Obama. For the first time in decades I felt an excitement about the political process, and that my vote counted. These are exciting times.
After the ceremony we came home for a few more photos and some Chinese food from the new restaurant on the corner. John is now ready to enjoy his summer, working part time at the Bangor Raceway as he did last year, until he leaves for Hobart in late August. 
I left Bangor March 21st for a lengthy family holiday; they were de-icing the plane that morning! Spring had already arrived in the South, and April in High Island was perfect. There were games of croquet, washer-pitching, and horseshoes. Even the real-life adventure of having to dig up and replace some plumbing pipes out in the yard was a satisfying activity (of course I only watched Carolyn, Daddy and Paul dig). We saw the beautiful birds, the Baltimore Oriole, Indigo buntings, and Rose-breasted grosbeaks. But the Rare Norton Birds were the main attraction!
