My Dad Had 7 White Trucks, An International, A Peterbilt Too.

My Dad and Mom raised potatoes for 24 years. Had eight trailer trucks to haul their potatoes and loads they bought from other local Maine spud farmers. Before trucks came in to the picture, trains did the potato market delivery to Boston MA, New York City, Hartford CT.

But over night service, deliveries tomorrow morning by loads ordered the day before became the demand, the norm. With just in time inventory control and because some railroad cars disappeared for days, weeks. And when located, deep in the heart of Texas, the load poured out the door, stunk to high heaven, ruined.

Dad’s first truck was a 1963 White cab over 250 Cumming diesel engine red color truck with sleeper. It was a twin screw, had a sleeper and was purchased with a 1957 Trailmobile trailer. Most of his trailers after that were Great Dane stainless steel types. One Fruehauf though. Allison Britton, a local painter sat on a wooden stool, hand lettered the truck doors with “Prem Pak”, the name of the trucking business arm.

Back in the early 1960′s you needed ICC rights to haul certain products in a set collection of states.

So Dad hired an ICC lawyer named Mary Kelly in Washington DC to work the deal to buy Mulcahey Express. Part of the purchased ICC rights allowed furniture moving which was not used. But the paper products for the New England states was. French fry cartoons for a back haul to Potato Service, other potato processors in the Presque Isle Maine area helped make the profit. Pay the fuel for mileage which was less than 4 miles per gallon.

Other Northern Maine truckers would lease the paper hauling rights, give a percentage of the freight charge for the load to my parents. They had Prem-Pak plaques to put on their doors to show under who’s authority they were hauling their load of laden for and where to in the paperwork in the cab. Next to their log book and the eight tracks of Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, Red Sovine, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn.

Other White trucks were bought, always with Cummings diesel engines. There was a Transtar, an International truck with a 903 diesel, a Peterbilt with a 335 diesel. And Dopey was a 220 Cummings diesel, single screw with a extra tag axle, no sleeper. Jeff Bossie, Doug McNutt were two early drivers of Dopey and paid an extra 35 dollars a trip. For motel room or a bonus if they just leaned over to lay down on the passenger seat. Catching some shut eye while waiting to be unloaded in the produce market.

Ole Elmer had a bumper with the name on it, was a gas job single axle conventional White used to “donkey” back hauls of paper products from Houlton to Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Kent Maine.

And to pick up potato loads to head south being pulled by their regular diesels. That were being engine serviced in our barn converted to a truck terminal. While Ole Elmer set, landed the next load for the regular driver home sleeping. Charlie McCordic was the day driver who would donkey north to pick up a potato cargo load.

Another truck, #5 had “Here Comes Kelley” on its bumper and was driven by Elwod Kelly. I went on lots of trips as a young kid to the produce markets. Pulling in to Fargo Potato on D Street in Boston. Helping unload with the promise of a seafood fried clam dinner at the Bel Aire Diner on Rt 128 on the way back to Maine. If you did not hire the brother of the guy with the big hand that raps on your truck semi’s door at 4:30 AM, you could be jerked around and delayed a long long time.

Truck #2 had “Home Wrecker” written on its bumper and Sonny Howe, Joey Nadeau I think were its drivers. Jack Graham, Dean Lynds, Astle McPherson, Carl Cottle, Albert Fitz, Charlie McAtee and lots of other really good drivers were in behind the wheels of these rigs.

I respect truckers, want to eat where they do on the road on trips.

I flick my lights off when they pass on the Interstate to let them know they are clear to pull back in the lane. And the morse code on and off of their trailer lights makes me feel good to have had some trucking injected in my blood as a kid growing up around them. They can not stop on a dime, get a bad rap when there is one trying to avoid a driver texting or on their phones and involved in an accident.

Having to go out with a load regardless of the weather. Missing lots of holidays to make a living to feed their kids. Put a roof over their head in homes that they are not themselves in very long. And when they are, they are sawing logs, sleeping soundly. Getting ready to go back out on truck. Listening to country music, socializing on the CB radio. Missing their kids, wife, girlfriend.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

Marketing that brand means having a clear vision of the steps needed to be taken daily to build on your image. So the public sees, senses, is aware of your brand that you build to stay in business.

If a company has a fleet of vehicles, the color of the paint is the same on each of them.

Looking For A Drive In, A Car Hop, 1956 Ford Crown Victoria Classic Car

Glen Holmes is my oldest brother Stephen’s age, ten years my senior. Graduating around the class of 1964 from Houlton High School. His Dad worked for Donald Guy who had a excavating company with a fleet of vehicles painted red. Cement mixers for Redi-Mix that were red, GMC dump trucks the same color. His slogan on his vehicles, business letterhead and billing paperwork reminded all “We Move The Earth”.

Which promptly stopped when piloting a private plane that went in to a mountain side in bad weather down around the Old Town area if memory serves me right. I was a little kid when all this was happening but remember hearing about it all. And yesterday, while sitting down with Randy Holmes at the Shamrock Cafe for a fresh Camden sandwich, found out his friend Glen’s Dad worked for Donald Guy at the Steelstone operation.

And Glen thought it was neat to have all your “toys” or vehicles painted one color.

To showcase the collection and without a doubt know who owns those construction rigs.

So everything Glen touched did not turn to gold but a shade of green when he started his collection. New outboard motors, snowsleds painted Glen Holmes green. Sporting camp boats, accessory items all got dips in the color that appears a lot in nature. But a particular shade of green.

Unique, distinct and part of the branding, the trademark, the look. Helped with security too so nothing “walked off” and no one would have to wonder who the rightful owner was. No matter the adage of possession being nine/tenths of the law… it was Glen Holmes’s if the right shade of green, period. Like a tattoo branding iron burning the rear end of a cow herd “trademark” obvious.

Oh and what about that “Heatwave”, the 1956 Crown Victoria Ford two door classic car?

My brother Stephen told me Glen was a whiz in shop /automotive class and owned the local legend. That it has five tachometers…in various places around the car to make sure it was operating at tip top efficiency. And maybe to impress a tad in the exchange.

Was the “Heatwave” painted Glen Holmes green? If this was fiction it would have been. But no, I think it was black originally, many shades ago. Or at least when I was about twelve and saw it parked at the farm and then owned by my cousin Randy Mooers it was red, tired but small Maine town famous.

Funny how a local car legend, a coloring marketing or security scheme was going on around me in a small Maine town while growing up. And the buzz about it got picked up, absorbed in my memory banks and enhanced with my conversation over lunch. I’ll check my facts with Glen and tell you about Randy Thompson being the first lease in the Bangor Mall with his leather business, Randy’s Leather in an upcoming MeInMaine blog post.

I love living in a small Maine town. The events, happenings might bore some, but the connection, closeness, bond that all in those towns have is special, unique and friendly. If you live in one you catch my drift. If you don’t but want to, I know a little red hen Maine real estate broker who can help you make it happen. Maine, get here quick as you can.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

No other cat was apt to creep on to the Maine farm, to set paws in any of the buildings.

Dreaming About Mice, Catching Them On A Maine Farm

Satie would come back to the Maine farm all scratched, ears nicked, bleeding and worn out. But nursed back to health, he would be back patrolling the barn, grainary, outbuildings to catch field mice. Rodents who liked a winter of grain, inside under cover living. Instead of out in the howling northwest winds and being out in the open weather elements.

The total black cat was not the most social, not going to hop in your lap, rub up against your leg.

Satie had a job to do, knew his place on the Maine farm. I remember taking him to Dr Perkins, the vet on Court Street in Houlton Maine to put him to sleep at age fourteen. When he was worn out, slowly dying and Dad told us it was time.

My Dad had a Newfoundland called Duke who he always told us four boys that the big black dog was pretty Clark Kent, mild mannered. But the easy going dog with the great disposition turned over the leaf when a German Sheperd down the road became more and more aggressive. One day backing Duke in to the corner of a machine shed and nipping, bullying. Until Duke had had enough. And nearly ripped the Sheperd’s throat out which caused the farm intruder dog to high tail it with something between his legs. And never to return.

Animals are a big part of a kid’s childhood, a family’s Maine home.

Through thick and thin, the pets are there. And on a Maine farm they are usually working animals. Large boned horses that pull the cut logs out of the woods. Carefully side stepping tree stumps to avoid the load of logs catching, fetching up on an object. Anything that would interfere with delivery of the wood twitch to the yard.

Do you have a pet that is always glad to see you, especially when you fire up a can opener? Or toss them a treat, scratch behind their ears? I think pets sense your moods, like to be close for attention and we need to give them more credit for the role they play in our lives.

Elderly folks especially are no longer alone, shut in by themselves when a pet is allowed where they live.

Maine, the living is simple, down to earth and easy to understand. We name our Maine cows too, feel just as close to them too because we count on them, care for them. Watch our Maine local community videos.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

Both my parents were raised on dairy farms.

But other than a few

Marco... Polo. What? What Are You Looking At?

The milk we produced we consumed rather than peddle to the public.

Not sold outside the farm household where I was raised in Houlton Maine.

So for years I have never understood minimum prices for Maine milk that could be charged.

Also wondered why minimum milk prices in Maine were in force, needed. Because potatoes, grains or a brief stint with sugar beets, the vegetable we sold roadside did not have the guarantees, price supports.

The minimum dairy price supports are designed to keep farmers in production, kept on their spread. In business, to maintain, add some stability to the farmer’s bottom line. Here is more on the how, what, why for minimum milk prices. I used to think for free enterprise to work, the market place could decide how low to go on milk and dairy products to bring in the customers. So to think standards for minimum pricing for milk were needed in Maine also seemed vague, fuzzy, mysterious.

At the same time, being right on the US Canadian border lots of milk is scooped up by cross border shoppers.

Taken back across the boundary crossing along with turkeys.And a quick tank fill up of vehicle gas. If you have ever sampled milk from New Brunswick, whoa. No offense but it is nothing like the milk on this side of the border. In the states, in Maine. Price supports and increases in New Brunswick Canadian milk prices happen too. More on Maine’s milk pricing history. And this article shows the bigger picture of milk pricing, exporting in Canada and the US.

Regardless, no one in my farm household growing up or with my own kids has seen milk rationed, or skimped on. In Houlton Maine, lucky to have our own local dairy served by three local milk farmers. And you forget how good the local, fresh milk without the growth hormones is to enjoy. Until you have to take a trip and sample what other people call, drink for milk. It would not pass the local standards for our local Houlton Farms Dairy.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

The people are not, but the day to day is.

Cobalt Blue Skies In Maine Over Head.

Grateful.

Because you may find yourself blessed with greater luck.

The natural four leaf kind or flavor you make yourself with hard work. Having more of something than the fellow down the street does. So you share, reach out and help because you can. Because it is right. He would and has done the same in reverse.

The basics.

You live in Maine, a rural setting and your home has lots of improvements. Or is a total creation of your own sweat, effort, creative passion. The wood you burn to heat it, keep the family warm is often from your own Maine land. Or family woodlot. Gathered in from wooded land or delivered tree length to the back yard. Then, slowly cut up, to fit your stove or furnace. And split, stored. Ready for another winter heating season.

The food we eat in Maine. You know where it comes from, the majority of it planted by you and the kids. Tended, hoed, weeded when the sun is high over head during the summer. Harvested in the fall. Stored for the months of layers of snow on the ground over a Maine winter. Sampled as it becomes ripe off the vine before that.

Meat from a cow named Sirloin or Chuck, Burger Boy.

Double yolk orange large eggs from laying hens in a coop out back. One protected from foxes. Money problems…not so much. Because money is not the end all, not so depended upon with a Maine country lifestyle. Removed on purpose, the price of admission to rural Maine involving a lower pay scale. But a rich life setting to raise your family in and assurance that practical values will be instilled in those kids.

Self sufficiency, standing on your own two feet. Whining less, working harder. Teaching your kids the same course in life. My youngest son, the last of four used the expression “first world problem” over the Christmas break. He and I were in a conversation and he caught himself. Explaining his lament was a “first world problem”. Examples of First World Problems.

In a third world, where you might not know where your next meal is coming from for you, your family. Where seamless exploitation happens every change of political regimes. New dictator, same old treatment of full throttle oppression. Medical problems but no one seems to care. Life is not so valuable, precious as you and I in this country are accustom to in America.

The ability to speak your mind. Heck blog on any topic under the rainbow, beneath the stars shining brightly on a velvet black sky. Without worry of a knock on the door, being wisked away for offending someone. For thinking freely, openly expressing what could be a contrary view point.

Mainers have their heads screwed on straight.

Have it figured out, are grounded. Keep life simple on purpose. Being as self sufficient as possible. Home grown not store bought. Real, honest, un-spun, unplugged. Is this what you are looking for or enjoying now?

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

A Maine REALTOR, Over 4200 Of Them In Vacationland.

CMA, GRI, DOM, FSBO … a Maine REALTOR sure does use some funny language, short hand to make his or her point. Get the job of listing, marketing, selling done.

Buying or selling Maine real estate is an emotional experience for the property purchaser or owner.

The job of a REALTOR, a real estate agent or broker is to educate, explain the process and tell it like it is from experience. Giving false expectations if a property is priced pie in the sky is not part of the job. Making representations about a property listing that are inaccurate, false, not honest isn’t either.

Disclosure of problem areas with a Maine property listing is way way smarter than trying to wrestle, dealing with it after a sale. But to know the real estate problem exists means thoroughly examining the property listing. Asking lots of questions to the owner, tradesmen that did work on the place. Even family members or neighbors if the sale is an estate property transfer.

Fifty percent of people settle down, move to within fifty miles of where they were born.

And to attract the attention of folks further away a Maine real estate agent, broker, REALTOR has a big part of his job putting his state on the map.

What it is like living where I do in Maine? The photos, blog posts, local community videos help paint the picture. Fill in the gray matter between the ears, behind the eyes of a Maine real estate buyer from outside Vacationland.

Maine REALTORS, the state has over 4200 of them.

Not such bad people once you take, make the time to get to know one. See them in action. Pretty darn involved in their local home towns, volunteering for community events and serving on boards. Parents, little league and hockey coaches. Sunday school teachers and sponsors of many non profit organizations. Hug one today.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

Mom, Mom, Wake Up. Sausage Is Causing Problems Again.

The ladies on the Maine farm, for milk and other dairy products had old fashion names.

And when my Mom and Dad had beef cattle, were raising a herd of Durhams, then the naming changed to IRA, Holly, Jacob and other family, friend names.

The two pigs I remember as a little shaver were not the most fun on the Maine farm.

And when it came time to “process them” my three older brothers and I had trouble eating a friend. Until Dad assured us he had exchanged, traded the two pigs we raised from piglets for two other total unknowns. That seemed to help. When passing the farm kitchen platter of heaped high sausage, ham, bacon.

My Aunt Ruth has a slew of horses. Over thirty at one point and ran a summer horse riding camp. Camp Little Ponderosa’s oldest horses, steeds were Stardust and Melody. Over 32 years old and more like friends, pets. Because when you live that long, animal or not, you are around for a long time. Part of a big chunk of life and household or barn yard fixtures. As life plays out right on schedule with casual speed.

Sugar Daddy, Pepper, Thunder, Geronimo were four of the ponies at my Aunt Ruth’s Maine horse riding farm. And cleaning out their stalls, grooming, showing the horses, ponies in shows was part of the summer adventures. Along with swimming lessons, arts and crafts and help around the Maine horse farm to keep it running. Run the Maine state animal exhibits, agricultural fair video Jimmy.

Head to the fair, check out a horse show, spend a few minutes at Houlton Community Park to see the 4H exhibits video.

In Maine we tend to name our cars, pickups and SUV’s too. The longer you have them, the more they sit in the yard long ago paid for, the fondness and attraction grows. Have a red jeep four kids learned how to drive in called Sally.

The white jeep after that handed down to a new drive called Celine. And the black jeep I drive now was labeled Vadar by the kids. The Ford Excursion due to incredibly lousy gas mileage and sheer size nicknamed “The Beast”. The inability to pass a gas station without automatically signaling to fuel up caused by the 11.1 miles per gallon. No matter if she was pulling a trailer, loaded with hockey players or not.

Maybe the name calling was a better census, keeping tract method on the Maine farm than Cow 1, Steer 5, Chicken 17 or “This Little Piggie”, etc. Do you have names, pet or otherwise that are unique, special or pretty down right funny or humorous? Share them here.

Maine, wake up, start your dream in blue and green. Thanks for follow our MeInMaine blog posts.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

One major distinction, difference.

Hard Work Outdoors On A Maine Farm. Not Much Idle Time.

Frugal is an “easy does it”,
slow as you go life pace.

That drives some
nuts.

Causes still others
to purr, be filled with a self
satisfying
content, peaceful
inner feeling.

Frugal, a consistent, creative way to what some term “live in gentile poverty”.

Cheap is an ugly maneuver that gives no credit to the finesse of haggling. Or how charitable you are when opening up the wallet to help others with the savings you landed in your everyday spending, living.

If you did not have to work for all the dead presidents you store away for a rainy day in your wallet or purse, the art of being frugal can lose its luster, appeal. Why bother if you have an endless supply of the green stuff? Or have no expenses around you needing a check written to cover them month to month.

But when two dollars IS a lot of money. Especially if you don’t have it readily available, or have no idea where it is going to come from. Suddenly the sting of reality, being pinched where it hurts can drive home the point and make it crystal clear.

Frugal as an art form survival tool adopted, put in to play by play, day to day is easy if raised on a Maine farm.

Seeing the practice work, embracing it can provide a sense of security. Knowing you are never apt to go out on a financial limb. And then hear a chain saw fire up that you started yourself by foolish, drunken sailor on leave like spending patterns.

Learn about The Tightwad Gazette, The Frugal Zealot.

Frugal, fix it yourself life thinking lets you stay on the Maine farm. And to consider if you don’t owe money you are rich. If you break even, you had a good Maine farm year. Gratitude is riches was one of many reminders my Mom taught her four boys. Happy is an attitude choice.

Frugal can not flourish, exist at all if your mental depression, blue moods are served, medicated by retail spending type healing actions. The practice of whipping out a stack of plastic cards to one by one tap in to credit limits at a store or on line are not a frugal lifestyle’s friend.

Better spending impulse control, shopping around for the best deal on the goods or service you find yourself needing means taking extra time.

To study up, get schooled on do you really need it? Can you tap in to your Jack of all trades experience or ambition to scratch the itch? And what about other resource priorities? Eye balled, thrashed out with MASH unit ER efficiency to determine the best all around course of action. To not bleed out, hit a major financial artery and code, flat line, die.

Every day dollars that you spend seem like just pennies. But the old adage Ben Franklin, your grandfather or someone penned still applies. Those pennies that seem trivial become dollars that are not. Do you just want it, or do you actually need it? (Said in a tone like Clint Eastwood’s “Do you feel lucky… well do you Punk?”) The urge to gotta have it can be replaced with the knowledge you don’t really need it. But could have it, step out and buy, purchase it if you did.

The good feeling of having your financial house in order is the secondary gain from not being quick on the draw to just automatically spend, spend, spend.

And fixing a needed household repair yourself is empowerment. Like bartering services. It’s own self reward of pure personal satisfaction that you can do it yourself. Flushing out, drilling down to get the best deal if you have to spend. Or doing it yourself without the rush to pick up a phone. And waving the white flag and crying for help.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
69 North Street Houlton ME 04730
info@mooersrealty.com

My Home Made Real Estate Video Mini Dolly

So as a kid, going in town to my Aunt Hettie’s home on Franklin Avenue was a treat.

Exciting to see the NBC peacock come on cable television.

To remind you and me in the television audience that the follow program is brought to you in living color. Not black and white so hang on to your seats.

Today there are hundreds and hundreds of channel offerings. All programming fare just a wand controller away to view. With a tap of your finger to surf them. When I was a kid, lots and lots of television viewing was not the way I spent my Maine farm childhood. Where chores, jobs to help out were not in short supply. Filled the time pretty snugly.

Now I find myself more and more studying the way films, movies, television shows are put together. In college a degree in broadcasting, job in the Bangor Maine market helped hone the skills. And a double major with film study also starting the wonderment. The mechanics of how video and audio go together, are created helps me in my Maine real estate job. Videos for local area events, for individual property listings help buyers no matter where they are watching them.

The machinery to shoot the real estate videos sometimes home made, improvised.

Like this dolly for a slide shot of a kitchen’s granite counter top. Simple roller skate board wheel trucks attached to a piece of light weight aluminum with slots.

So the arch of the two axles can be controlled, adjusted to track. Swing around the counter. Or the dolly used on a slide to make it a smooth, fluid, continuous shot instead of a pan of the same scene. For an entirely different effect.

Green screens, stage lights, sound boards, mics, jib cranes and updates to video camera, the software to edit the video loops. Part of my job to market the real estate listings using video. And to collect the Maine videos you might enjoy watching, listening to about the local area. Scope out our You Tube videos.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com

Watch The Video of Portland Head Lighthouse

Maine, the word means a lot of things because it’s not one of the smaller states.

Lighthouses and sea coastal living, lobsters are a few of the images most think of when the word Maine comes up in conversation.

In 1787, the Massachusetts legislature allocated $750 to begin construction of a The Portland Head lighthouse. In 1790, the United States Government took over control of all lighthouses. Congress allocated $1,500 for its completion.

The original Portland Head lighthouse tower measured 72′ from base to lantern deck. Light provideded by 16 whale oil lamps. It was first lit on January 10, 1791.

In 1790, the Portland Head Light construction of the first Keeper’s Quarters began in 1790. Massachusetts Governor John Hancock signed the contract to begin the work.

Maine became a state in 1820.

A single story residence built to replace the first keeper’s house in 1816. The size was 34′ x 20′ with two rooms, a cellar and a porch in the rear.

Visit the 90 acres around Fort William Park, see Portland’s Head Light and enjoy a minute on the Maine coast. Watch the Maine lighthouse Cape Elizabeth video.

Maine Lighthouse Video, Portland Head Light, Cape Elizabeth ME

The location of the Portland Head Lighthouse is 1000 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, Maine. For more information call (207) 799-2661.

Maine has over 60 coastal lighthouses. Another pretty special pretty lady that caught MeInMaine author Andrew Mooers’ eye is the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec ME in Washington County. Come see what you are missing whenever you are not in Maine. Wake up, start dreaming in blue and green in Maine.

Explore, Discover Maine and all that it offers any age traveller, vacationer for outdoor recreational fun. Pack a picnic lunch. Bring your imagination and plan to do some hiking, to get some exercise.

Find Us on Facebook,
Follow Us on Twitter, LinkedIn, You Tube.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com