Our Maine Blog

08/10: Fisher Girl, Our Friends Amber and Dan's Lobster Boat, ready to take us to Job Island

08/10: Everyone got to go along

Perfect Day at Job Island w/ Friends Amber and Kate

August was all around awesome.   Next up, sailing from Rockland Harbor w/ friends, Rita and Zdenek:

Perfect Sunday Sail

Anchored for a break and lunch

Rita and Zdenek with our fresh lobster lunch, bought from a passing lobster boat. Can't beat that!

A little hike around, then back on board...skies are getting gray

Also, in August, our first trip to Fenway thanks to tickets from our friend, Jerod.  Reminded us both so much of Tiger Stadium…old seats, sticky floors, a column blocking your view of the scoreboard.  It was so cool.  It POURED all day, but quit just in time for the game. 

Stroll past the stunning Trinity Church on the way to Fenway

Ready for the old, ballgame

Soaked to the bone, but happy to be there

Onto September… We were so lucky to have an incredible summer and fall last year.  We volunteered for the Windjammer Festival last fall.  What a beautiful weekend.

Bryan on gate patrol

Stunning Camden Harbor

October’s biggest highlight was a visit from our friends from Michigan, the Klein’s.  Camping, autumn fun with the kids, and hanging out…what a treat to have them here! 

Climbing the strawstack

Into the corn maze

Finding sea glass in Camden

A stop at Cellardoor

And so much more.  We had so much fun. 

There was good, warm fall weather even into early November.  Bryan, Kramer, and I took this hike with these views just about 5 minutes from our house.

Admiring the view

But, eventually, the cold did come and we moved inside for fun.  In November, we got to discover curling.  This is way more fun, and more challenging, than you would ever guess.  One of these days, we’ll join the league and get good at it.  But, for now, our humble beginnings as curlers went something like this…

First time out...good to be amongst friends when you're about to make a fool of yourself! Tiffany, Marty, and Bryan wait for their turn.

Not exactly perfect form

Bryan giving it a try

Amber (the instigator 🙂 ) and me

Bryan ready to sweep

Later that month, Discovery Channel was in Rockland to film a local yearly tradition – the lighting of the lobster trap tree.  We went down to check it out for the first time.

Brrr...light that thing already!

Lighted up...and well worth the wait. Very cool.

In early November, work started rolling in and we were truly ready to dive in and get projects going.  Other activities slow down when work picks up, but we still managed to get out a little.  One highlight was a crazy tradition by friends Shelly and Rob…the, “Ugly Sweater Party.”  Suprising to many of you, I’m sure…we actually pulled out a couple of really ugly sweaters and had a great time.

Bryan's custom creation - an ugly sweater featuring ugly sweaters

My Goodwill special. Way too many snowmen for one sweater.

Then, all of the sudden it really was time for Christmas.  We went back to Michigan to see family.  We hadn’t seen mine since June and we hadn’t seen Bryan’s in over a year.  So, the trip was well overdue.  After a crazy work schedule for several weeks, even the 18 hour drive was a treat.  Getting to see everyone was so great and we had so much fun…but here are just a few highlights.

Everybody loves a snowball fight

Balancing Act

FBI's Latest Recruits

Puzzle Marathon...#5 Complete

Good Buddies Need a Nap

PRESENTS!!

Everyone told us that last year’s winter was an easy one – warm, not much snow.  Now we know they weren’t kidding…it has snowed, and snowed, and snowed some more this winter.  It was great…and not over yet as we just got another 10″ of snow on April 1st!   

January Whiteout

Fetching Snowballs

Onto February and more cold –  

Too Deep to Play in the Backyard

Hanging Out at the Toboggan Championships

Good Bye Tree!

Last Piece

In March, Bryan joined in a community basketball game.  Slightly outmatched by the trickster, Globetrotter-style opponents?  Well…you decide… 🙂

Bryan sunk one shot!...

...and couldn't stop this one...

Good Game

And that’s about it.  The rest of March was pretty much work, work, work.  Spring’s on it’s way and we’ll do our best to keep the pictures and updates coming.  All you need to do is check in once in a while and let us know when you’re going to come visit this year!!!  🙂

This Spring, the chance came up to help the Coastal Mountains Land Trust with their Organic blueberry barvest for a few weeks during the summer.  I thought, “Business is on a slow rise.  It’s just in the mornings and we could always use a little extra cash.  I’ll give it a go.” 

 I started a few weeks ago and Bryan had the chance to help starting last week.  Neither of us have worked so hard for a very long time.  But, you couldn’t beat the view.   

Penobscot Bay From Beech Hill

These are Maine Wild Blueberries – “low-bush” berries – meaning that the berries grow on a bush about the height of your ankle. 

Wild Blueberries

We started in the morning, around 9:00, when the dew is off the berries.  We usually finished up around 1:30, before the berries start to get warm and mushy.  Here’s how it works:

Working on the Hill

Lines get strung up the side of the hill so that the rakers can rake through their own row.  Rakers get paid by the pound raked.  So, giving everyone their own “territory” keeps it all friendly and organized.  We had a crew of usually around 5 guys…and me.  Did I mention their age maxed out at about 20?

Like I said, these are “low-bush” and they’re also smaller than the high-bush berries you most often see in the grocery store.  So, to “pick” them, you use a rake.  A mean looking contraption with long spikes that you bend over and scoop the berries into.

Blueberry Rake

From the rake, the berries get dumped into a box.  Each raker has a box with them and drags it up the hill as they rake.  

Blueberry Field Box

These are organic blueberry fields and intensive management has only really been happening for that last few years.  So, along with the berries, you rake up a lot of weeds and grasses.

Field Berries

After raking a full box (usually around 10 pounds), the box gets weighed.  Eventually, it makes it back to the barn to be packed for those who have pre-ordered them early in the season.  In the barn, the winnowing machine helps separate “the wheat from the chaff” so to speak – gets rid of all the leaves, weeds, and tiny or mushed berries.

Winnowing Machine

One gal on the packing crew drops the berries into the conveyor at the top, the small and mushy get pushed out along the way, and packers sort out any other berries that won’t make the cut.  And, that’s pretty much it.

It’s hard work.  Bryan’s good at it, for an old guy.  He’s hauling in more berries than the young guys and his ego is growing. 🙂  I had the good luck to get switched off of raking and onto an hourly job running the berries from the field to the barn.  That suits me better…hard enough work to skip the gym in the morning, but a few minutes of air conditioning sprinkled through the day! 

For all the aching muscles and sweaty clothes, it’s actually been fun.  We finish up tomorrow, if the weather cooperates.  But, I think if the opportunity arises, I’d do it again next year.  It’s really nice being part of a sustainable harvest and working outside.  Here’s a link to a local article about blueberry harvesting…http://knox.villagesoup.com/place/story/fields-of-blue-raking-the-hills-for-berries/340482.  (That’s me in the straw hat in the middle of the top picture.) 

Now, that’s the last blog post for the night…there’s wild blueberry and peach cobbler to enjoy downstairs!!

I hesitate to even admit it…but, I’ve never eaten a whole lobster before.  How embarrassing.  But, somehow the screening process when they gave me a Maine driver’s license, missed this little detail.  🙂  Yes, I’ve had a lobster roll, a little lobster pasta, even lobster pizza.  But, never a whole, break it in half, gets your hands sticky, drown it in sweet salty butter, lobster. 

Well, that’s all changed now – thanks to our friends at Harbor Builders and their 24th Annual Summer Party.  We’re working with Harbor Builders to hopefully get our design for a residence at Old Woods Farm built.  Great guys who extended us an invite to this big event.  It was a gorgeous, perfect Maine summer day – sunny and warm with a cool breeze off the water.

Headed to the Island

Freshly Boiled Lobster

Looks Like Maine, Doesn't It?

One More Maine Lobster Junkie

What a Day!

Great Party

Thanks for the invite!  It was a great afternoon!

I love having a garden.  Everything is coming up more or less successfully.  My broccoli is looking a little wonky and my radishes are going to seed too quickly.  But, that’s just something to do better next year.  Also, I  have a couple of tomatoes that don’t seem to want to ripen.  Anybody know why that might be?  Oh, and my cucumbers look like little yellow globes.

Okay, maybe my thumb could be a little greener.  Lots of rookie mistakes, I’m sure.  But, a few weeks ago, I did start taking off lettuce, then a few radishes.  Next came the delicious string beans and today, one tasty little cherry tomato.  With the squash, eggplant, and cucumbers blooming, the rest of the really good stuff is on its way.

Not Perfect, but Perfectly Fun for Me

My Favorite Garden Helper

A few weekends ago, we went on our first Maine camping trip to Cobscook Bay State Park.  The campground is way “Down East” (or…”Up North” to us Michiganders) along the coast – about 3-1/2 hours from our house.  Had a great little view of the bay from our site.   

1st Maine Camping Trip

Ready for the Weekend

Nice View

Getting Campfire Going

Good Book - Linda Greenlaw's "Seaworthy"

The next morning, we got up to go exploring.  It was blazing hot that day, but we managed to make it up for this great view.

Top of the Hill

Kramer was so tired after all the hiking and heat, he didn’t even want to stand to drink his water.  We were feeling about the same.

Cool Drink

Cobscook is near the Easternmost point in the U.S. – West Quoddy Head Light, Lubec, Maine.  This was a beautiful spot with one of the best coastal hikes we’ve done yet. 

West Quoddy Head Light

As East As You Can Go...

West Quoddy Light

We didn’t get up in time to see the sunrise.  But, as good luck would have it, we didn’t miss much that day.  The fog was so thick, we wouldn’t have seen it anyway.  But, all the fog made for a beautiful, mystic hike along the rocky shoreline. 

Foggy View

Loved That View

Fogged In

We All Loved This Hike

Loves A Good Hike

We made it through the whole weekend without any rain.  Can you believe it, Sherri? haha.  Lucky this trip, I guess!  As always, by the third day, we were ready to get home to a shower and a real bed.  So, we headed home early Sunday and had plenty of time to relax at home that night.  Great weekend!

Every year, the North Atlantic Blues Fest rocks Rockland for one great weekend in July.  This was our first chance to go and it was awesome.  It’s cool to live in a pretty small community, only around 15,000 people or so, and still get to go to really premier events like this right in our backyard.  The weekend started with Rockland becoming the latest location of a Mississippi Blues Trail marker.  It’s a great thing for the town.  We went down to check out the ceremony.

Just About to be Unveiled

Then, it was time for the festival.  Volunteered for the radio station at little bit, womaning our little booth.

Go WRFR!

Then, the real fun started!  Keb Mo was the only artist on the line-up that I knew well (he was always a favorite to see at Chateau Ste. Michelle).  But, the whole lineup rocked the place. (You can see them all here www.NorthAtlanticBluesFestival.com.)  Here’s a few of my favorites:

John Nemeth

Shakura S'Aida

Any woman who can sing like that in these heels, gets my respect! 

Look at those Heels

Keb Mo - Always a Great Show

Other than great music the weather was the other story of the weekend.  Saturday = lots of heat and only threatening clouds…

Enjoying the Show

Ready for More Blues

I'll Bring My Cool New Fan Next Time I Visit, Kasia!

Threatening Skies

Sunday was a different story.  While the music rocked on, so did the rain – all day long, non-stop.

Soaked Through Despite the Fancy Plastic Poncho

Rain Coming Down

Like I said, June was a big month.  My sister was married in Bar Harbor on June 14.   What a great day.  We avoided a seemingly inevitable rain shower from the looming gray clouds above and were able to just enjoy a beautiful wedding with family and friends.  Katie and Kyle also treated us all to a great nature cruise after the ceremony.  Here are a few pics from the big day:

Rehearsal Dinner...Lobster and Seafood, of Course

Don't Jump Boys...There's Really Nothing to be Scared of...:)

The Lovely Couple, Katie and Kyle

Nature Cruise Around Mount Desert Island

The Newlyweds

 We were lucky to have family hang around for a while after the wedding, too.  Katie and Kyle stayed for a few days.  Mom, Dad, and my nephew stayed for about a week and a half.  One evening mom suggested a drive past Aldermere Farm.  Never ones to pass that up, we hopped in the car and went for a ride to Rockport.

Belties at Aldermere

Family at Rockport Harbor

Perfect Summer Evening in Rockport

For those that know my dad and mom, you’ll understand that this “vacation time” at Mandy and Bryan’s House meant there “had to be something” they could help us out with around the house.  Beside the fact that my dad had built our new Adirondack chairs and they had hauled them out from Michigan, mom insisted that she help me paint them, too.  So, we picked a bright cheery color and, here they are gracing our front porch…

Nice Spot for a Summer Evening

There were also trees to be trimmed.  So, the guys headed outside for some chain-saw challenge.

I'm Ready Pardners

Tree Trimming Begins

Clean Up Time

Helping Like One of the Big Guys

Of Course, Kramer Needed to Swim

He Also Needed A Bath

I had planned for my dad’s Father’s Day gift to be his first-ever ride on a schooner.  We had booked tickets for a two-hour cruise on Schooner Olad.  

First, it was Sunny...

Thank you to the Captain of the Olad for looking to the sky and checking the weather before setting sail, because it quickly changed to…  

...Then 15 minutes later...

Oh well…next year, dad!

Time flys when you’re having fun….and, June was fun.  It was packed full of friends and family, the possibilities of new work for 2A, and lots of scenic detours.  All of which added up to a month that sailed by without a chance to catch our breath.

First, we had 2 great friends into stay with us – Angie and Jon.  Angie and I were college roommates at Lawrence.  After too many years of just seeing each other for a couple hours as we catch up with all our Michigan friends during our annual holiday trip, it was so good to spend some real time together showing off our new home on the Midcoast.  They even brought their dog Spencer.  He and Kramer got along like old friends too.  Thanks for coming guys!

Camden Harbor

Kramer and Spencer

Owls Head - What a View

Owls Head Light

Next up, big family visit!….

A couple weeks ago, we took the opportunity of a free Sunday to venture across the state.  We headed west to Fryeburg with the excuse of going to a home show.  The show had it’s highlights..including a treat usually reserved for a trip to New Orleans…a Snowball!  If you’ve never had this cool delicacy it usually consists of shaved ice surrounding soft-serve ice cream coated in syrupy flavoring…mmmmm, sugar coma.  Apparently the New England version doesn’t come with soft-serve.  But, it was delicious with coconut milk and chocolate syrup.   Somehow, Cory and Kasia, this cool treat just wasn’t as enjoyable when I wasn’t standing in the kind of sticky New Orleans heat that makes you sweat through your shirt with a friend there to coach you through ordering.  Awww, missed you guys. 

Snowball

 Another treat was seeing the lakes region and letting Kramer swim in Lake Sebago.  A beautiful day for it.

Swimming

Happy Boy

Work on the house is slowing to a dull roar.  We’ve pretty much made the changes we want for now…until the big reno’ work begins.  That won’t be for awhile, but all these little changes have really made the place feel like home to us.  

The latest changes were small but literally brightened up the place.  First, we took off the old wood storm door that covered what is a really lovely carved front door.  Our stairway inside is so much brighter and now we can get a little cross breeze through the house….a really good thing when you have a golden retriever who likes to swim and your top pick for home aromatherapy scent isn’t the smell of wet dog.

Storm Door Comes Off

Screen Door About to Go In

We have a great enclosed front porch – full of light and windows for breeze.  We’re not sure how we’ll work with it in the future renovations but, it just needed a little brightening to make it feel clean and fresh.  Once again, a coat of paint was the answer.  Bryan got this done while I finished the rest of the curtains.

Front Porch - Before

Front Porch - Before

Front Porch...Brightened

Nice Place for Summer Evenings