The last of Maine

On our last full day in Maine we had a great breakfast at the inn and headed off to Acadia Park. We were going to be spending the night in Bar Harbor and so were going to go to the park before we checked in for the evening. It was grey and rainy this morning too, but as we drove along the coast we were able to see the water, which was nice.

We saw so many old cemeteries as we drove along every day. We never really had a chance to stop and both Robin and I really wanted too. This one had a spot nearby where we could park and so we braved the rain and took a look around. {There usually wasn't anywhere safe to park}

Such a beautiful spot, but so many tiny graves.
Further along we came to this bridge - I think suspension. Bob did bridge design early in his career so we always stop to look at pretty bridges. This one was spectacular.
We arrived at Acadia Park to find out it was National Park Day or something and so we got in free. Nice timing! We ate lunch first, at Jordan Pond. Good, but so foggy we couldn't see the pond until we were done eating. Then, we basically did the loop road and got out at the various places along the way. You really could spend days here, but we did the best we could with our little bit of time.

One stop was Sand Beach.

Just lovely, and so unspoiled - even with tourists.

This is Thunder Hole, and if you are there at the right time, the waves will rush in and sound like thunder. We weren't there at the right time:-( But so beautilful:-)

Many stone bridges along the way. {We like bridges:-)}
And finally our dinner destination in Bar Harbor. Just a short walk from our hotel, and very good. Last night of lobster for them, and something else for me. {Galyn's is our restaurant}
Bob and I got up on Sunday and had a lovely breakfast with Robin and Jim at the hotel. The fire was blazing in the hotel lobby and we were headed home to temps in the high 90's! We had a long drive in the rain from Bar Harbor to Boston, but it was uneventful. Our flight was delayed, of course, but we did make it back home by midnight. Poor Bob was up at 5 to fly out for work and was gone all week. I have been able to get the house in shape, a little, to get ready to go again! This time to the cabin for a few weeks. We will have lots of company up north and it should be a lot of fun. No internet at the cabin, but I hope to get connected at least once or twice to visit some of my favorite blogs.

See you when I get back.

More Maine

We are off to another day of sight seeing in beautiful Maine. We woke up to rain this morning, and it sounded so nice and cozy as I was lying in bed. But, we had a full day planned and we were anxious to get to it.

Our first stop was Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. The drive from Rockland was so pretty, very wooded with glimpses of water now and then.
I was thankful for no fog so we could see the lighthouse. This one was open, so we could go in the house and up in the lighthouse if we wanted. {Robin and I did not want}

Bob and Jim went up the winding stairs and took some pictures for us.
So beautiful, and yeah - the sun came out!
I had to take a picture of this - because Jim can't resist the rocks.
On his way down.
You can see why we worry - the waves are BIG!
But of course all ended well, and all of that adventure made us hungry. We had lunch at this little pub, and we enjoyed it.
We continued on the coast to Boothbay Harbor. Our lunch has worn off and so of course we are looking for ice cream. I am so glad I waited to order, because I wanted to see what Bob's looked like........that's a brownie sundae! I wisely decided not to order and shared his. It was very good.
The end of the day found us back on the porch of the inn having a little something before dinner. We ended up walking into town and eating at a little diner that was recommended in my travel book.
We had a lot of fun in Rockland. I know we could have stayed a few more days. I forgot to take pictures of the Farnsworth Museum located in Rockland. They have many Wyeth paintings there and it was nice to be able to go through quickly before we headed out for our day on the road.

Maine - Day 2

On the morning of our second day we drove around Kennebunkport for a bit before we headed on our way. The morning was very foggy, we still hadn't seen the ocean and it was right there in front of us!

After I got home, and was looking at my pictures, I could not figure out what this picture was. I thought it was a mistake and almost deleted it, then I realized that it was of the Bush home in Kennebunkport, the Summer White House. All we could see were the secret service agents in the guard house, waving us on as we took our picture of the fog. You can see the shape of the house in the fog.
The day got a little better and we headed south for a bit to see some sights we had missed on the way yesterday. We spotted this little Episcopal Church and thought it was pretty sweet. We were able to go in as there was someone working on the organ and he told us that they only have services there in the summer.
On to York Beach to see the Nubble Lighthouse. We were so glad to see that the fog had cleared. They say this is one of the most photographed lighthouses in America, and it is indeed a beautiful spot. You can't actually get to the lighthouse, it is on a little island.
Another view, with Jim on the rocks. He loves to climb on the rocks. I have many pictures over the years of Jim in precarious places.


Most of the Maine coast is fairly rocky but there is a beautiful sandy beach in Ogunquit. There were very few people there, I think we were a little early for the summer season.

We had lunch right on the beach. The weather was still clear and cool, and right after we got in the car it rained - hard - for a long time.
So we just continued on to our next inn, located in Rockland. This inn had beautiful flowers too, but the special thing here was fresh pie in the pantry - day and night -usually 2 or 3 kinds. Yum!!

We had a lovely room in the main house. There was a fireplace too, but I didn't get a shot of that.

A little sitting area outside our room where the fresh coffee appeared every morning.
We unpacked, had some predinner wine in another sitting area and then took a taxi to our dinner location located right on the harbor.

Not the best picture, but I had to get a shot of someone in a lobster bib!! The 3 of them had lobster, Robin and Bob had lazy lobster, but Jim did a great job with his. They all said it was very good. I, of course, had steak.
Finished the evening back in the inn for pie...wonderful day!

Maine - Day 1

Bob and I just returned from a brief visit to Maine. We joined some good friends that were going to Maine for a business trip - none of us had ever been there, so we added a few days on to the beginning of their trip to see some sights. We are so glad we did! We hadn't done much planning, other than our lodging each night. We were only to be there for 4 nights, and so we knew that we would just stick to the coast and see what we could see.

We flew in to Boston, both of us departing early. We arrived within about 30 minutes of each other and met up at the rental car and were on our way. We headed out of Boston and headed to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I did no studying up for the city, we were just going to get some lunch there. We asked our waitress what we could see in a short amount of time and she directed us to the harbor. We ended up at Strawbery Banke, a delightful surprise.
Here are the strawberries!! These were growing in the children's garden.
And here is the tea party...I guess they are all done eating. You can't really tell from this photo but this is a child's size table and chairs in the children's garden. I have my own children's garden, I have the table and chairs, and the chandelier, but all I have for garden is a few impatiens. I need to work on that!
Here are some of the historic homes. Robin and I toured several, and enjoyed a little mini lecture on colonial cooking and life in one of the homes. We didn't have a lot of time to spend, so Bob and Jim skipped the homes and spent time in the gift shop with their respective blackberries.
I think the middle home is the oldest on the property.
One of the lovely gardens.
These flowers greeted us at our Bed and Breakfast in Kennebunkport. They were everywhere, on the roadsides, next to homes, in ditches...so beautiful. Have you ever read Miss Rumphius? It was just like the book, the lupins were everywhere. I loved it. {and I love that book, one of my favorites.}
Here is our inn, taken on the morning we left. It was raining and foggy so I hope that is why this picture is so bad. It was a very nice inn, my first time in a Bed and Breakfast.
This is the side of the home, where you enter. Again, lovely flowers.
We ended up the evening eating - what else - lobster, at Mabel's Lobster Claw. {all but me, I had a salad:-)} They all loved it.
More to come on the next post - lots of lighthouse pictures!

Welcome to the Cabin

Bob and I had a great time last week opening our cabin for the summer season. I got a few new treats to spiff up the place, and had a great time hunting for them. This is one of the new treats, a fun little welcome at the front door. We have a bear thing going as you will soon see.We spent a great part of the week staining the front of the cabin and painting the shutters. Bob did most of the work but I did some low work and I painted the shutters. Pretty good for me, because I hate wood ticks and they love the grass that I was standing in. I did a thorough check every time I came in, that's for sure.

It looks good - on the front- next up is the side of the porch and the back deck. The rest of the cabin will wait until next year.
Another new treasure is the pretty red chair for my front porch. I love the color red and the chair was the perfect size for a basket by the door. The plant is being babysat at my sister's until we return in the middle of June. Thanks Amy!

I did a little sprucing up on the lower level too. We have a walk out, and there is one bedroom, a bathroom, laundry room and a large multi purpose room on that level. We have used the large room as the grandchildren's bunk room/play area.

This is the downstairs bath, basic, but you can see the start of the bears and the red! Bears are everywhere, and I am trying to keep it in good taste, but it is so tempting to go nuts with it. The very first thing I bought for the cabin was a bear footstool and that just started the theme. My friend and neighbor suggested that I go with the 3 bears and Goldilocks and I have amassed quite a collection of books and bears and toys and puzzles. It is quite fun for the grandchildren and they can't wait to come to the "3 bears" house.

I love it.

This is the one corner of the kids room. We are bringing up a tv stand and tv for the corner, for dvd viewing. We don't have any tv reception at the cabin. Comfy rocker for stories and baby rocking.
In another corner, we had a window cut out from the area under the staircase, and Bob made the bear shutters for a little play house under the stairs. If you peek out the window you will see a bear in the forest climbing a tree!!
We have 2 sets of bunks in this room, ready for 6 grandchildren. {we have 4 - so far} {hint}

Our little lake - so peaceful. I took this on my birthday as we floated along.
Bob was fishing.....just baby fish.
And I was relaxing.........perfect way to spend my day.
We are looking forward to spending a few weeks up there soon, with lots of company.