Good friend shows no interest in my 6-year-old daughter
Dear Carolyn: My close friend of over 20 years lives next door. She is single, ...
See all in Ask CarolynColumnists
Nature
Nature: Tips for watching migrating hawks
Migration is on the way. Birds are traveling to their winter feeding areas far from ...
See all in NatureMore from our Columnists
-
Cast as the villain for sharing a name with his ex-mistress
Hi, Carolyn: My boyfriend used to be married to “Mandy,” with whom he has two children. He had a serious affair with “Jennifer” and left Mandy to be with her. Their mutual friends and Mandy’s family rallied around Mandy, of course. Ultimately the relationship with Jennifer didn’t work out. A few months after he broke …
-
Nature: Listening to the coyote chorus
Flowers still abound all over our island. A note from a friend asked me about a little plant that appeared near her house and she wondered what it was. She sent me a nice photo of bladder campion (Silene vulgaris). This is not one that most people probably know or pay much attention to. I …
-
Nature: Seals can live to be 40 years old
September arrived and you may notice a bit of color on a few trees, a hint of the show to continue. Apple trees are heavily laden with fruit everywhere and mountain-ash trees are aflame with clusters of orange fruit. Hawk flights over Mount Desert Island this month are spectacular. Learn their shapes as you would …
-
Listening for coyote, elk, owl
You never know when something unusual is going to happen to you. I had a “first time ever experience” this past week where I was enjoying watching two Great Pyrenees dogs and a young wolf roommate at the Kisma Preserve. It was interesting being so close to the beautiful young wolf. All of a sudden …
-
My mother-in-law wants ME to apologize to her for her son’s behavior
Dear Carolyn: My husband, “Eric,” and I accidentally offended my mother-in-law, “Gwen.” Eric’s parents are very nice people but are pretty conservative. They had a party at their house a couple of weeks ago to celebrate my brother-in-law’s 21st birthday and I offered to go over early to help cook and set up. We arrived …
-
Nature: Frogs gather to hear music
The soft pink spires of steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa) decorate Mount Desert Island as August unfolds. This is a very handsome plant! It is well named for steeple-like flower clusters rise high above other plants. The colorful flowers bloom in succession slowly downward, so often the top of the spike is half withered, while the lower …
-
My dad’s mad I’m having my daughter’s birthday party at my mom’s house
Dear Carolyn: My dad is mad that I’m having my daughter’s birthday party at my mom’s house even though we’re currently living with her to save money for a down payment. My parents divorced when I was about 10 and things between my parents were bitter for years after. These days they are usually OK …
-
Nature: Whale seen from in town Bar Harbor
Bright yellow tansy blossoms dominate the scene right now. The plant thrives on this island and demands your attention. I suspect that to many people it’s just “some kind of goldenrod,” but it is really a very interesting wild plant and has been one for many years in many parts of the world. This plant …