Saturday was a busy day in Whitefield. The library had its annual fall festival. Seeing kids painting pumpkins, their faces, and their nails added such a wonderful element. Besides the many scrumptious looking baked items, the vegetarian chili was the best I’ve ever had and my husband said the meat chili was just as delicious. Music by Rusty Hinges was, as always, toe tapping fun. A new QR code payment method was unveiled and worked like a charm.

Bill Blodgett will tell you it doesn’t matter what hat he’s wearing. He’s the same person, whether it’s as county commissioner, high school teacher, representative in the Maine Legislature, or town select board member. At age 87, he’s lived a long life that also includes military service in the Army and raising two sons and two daughters with his wife, Carol, who never gossiped and was kind to everyone.

What led me to Inn Along the Way was an article in this paper in late August 2021. I was intrigued by an event called Conversation Circles. The topic was cross cultural and religious perspectives on aging and death. I decided to follow my curiosity and go to the event.

This article took place here in Damariscotta when Everett Stetson was master of Alna Lodge No. 43 in 1861. We find that on April 30, 1861, a middle-aged man from Newcastle had signed a petition to join Alna Masonic Lodge at the age of 40 years. He was a man of good statue, of sound mind, a good businessman, and believed in God. The candidate’s name was Stephen C. Whitehouse.

For the last week or so our blue skies have been gray, and the sun has been looking more like a daylight moon. With the wildfire smoke from Canada making its way to our region we have been experiencing what looks like smoggy city skies. Finally on Sunday the blue skies were back, and the temperatures were feeling like July. We will gladly take it knowing what we do about the months to come.

Festive fall country fairs have from time immemorial honored the harvest and those who have made it possible by celebrations of the season with sociability and food. For city dwellers it often is the only way to get close to a farm and its animal inhabitants, displayed in various pens competing for a blue ribbon of excellence.

Some time ago I was interested to hear on my television authorities in Maryland were looking for two stray cows. I don’t know where. Then, they had pictures of a flock of sheep roaming free in Gardiner.