Aroostook County residents have can-do spirit
Fiber Arts
by Alex Cheney
Those of us who live in the County are a crafty bunch. I am referring to our ability to use our hands to better our lives. Does your sister’s car need the oil changed? You can do it! Is your best friend’s son getting married and needs 200 dinner rolls for the reception? You can help! Are you going to a baby shower tomorrow and still haven’t found the perfect gift? Well, by golly, you can make the perfect gift, because baby things are small!
Oh, you mean I am the only person who has knit ties and earflaps for a baby hat at the shower? Well then disregard that last example. What I am saying is that Aroostook County folks are not intimidated by trying new things.
Now, I know that not everyone in the County does everything for themselves, and surely there are people outside of the County (maybe in southern Maine?) who will change their own oil. But, many County people in particular can be counted among those who are adept with their hands. This is a testament to our upbringing in northern Maine. Life can be tough up here, especially in the winter. We have had to learn to adapt and do our best with what we have.
Many of us experienced childhoods where we were not handed everything, but rather were encouraged to be creative. I can remember when I was younger, learning never to complain that I was bored, since that resulted either in being given some boredom-busting task by my mother, or being drafted into helping my father with his current home improvement project. We were not allowed to sit around playing video games, because there was always something to be done around the house.
This is why many of us, when looking for something that we want or need, may shop around for awhile, and then ultimately decide that we can make the item better, cheaper, and exactly the way that we want it ourselves. It is this attribute of County people that makes me proud to be considered one of them.
DIY tip: Speaking of Yankee ingenuity, I want to tell you about something that I fixed myself the other day, and every time I do this it makes me feel like a total genius. I can’t be the only person who has those annoying water rings on my nicely finished kitchen table. If you want to get rid of those rings, heat up your iron, but keep the steam off. Place a thin towel (I used a tea towel) on top of the water spot, and iron through the towel on the table. Keep moving the iron around, so that you don’t cause more problems. It might take some time, but eventually your water ring will be gone! When water gets on your table, it can separate the finish from the wood. The heat of the iron reseals the finish and makes your table look like new again.
Alex Cheney is employed at Garden Gate Fabrics in Presque Isle.
