Summer's winding down

And the fair is over for another year. I went Thursday night and got my fill. I ate great French fries with vinegar, Italian sausage with peppers and onions, and a funnel cake. I got a big bag of cotton candy, which came home with me. The biggest surprise for me was the alpacas. I lump them together with llamas in my mind but alpacas make the most horrible noises!

I also have show-and-tell about the bracelets I just bought. They are Donna D'Aquino's work. Aren't they fabulous? I've barely taken them off since I bought them at the Turtle Gallery. I also just discovered Blossom Studio. I do love the beach glass looking earrings. I bought frosted blue ones and wore them immediately. I wanted to see Elizabeth Sawyer's work, up at a gallery next door but the sign said, "Gone sailing" so I have to go back.

We are well into September, which means the traffic is lighter, the days are a bit cooler and the conversation circles around where you can see the best foliage and when the peak season will be. Maine's Official Fall Foliage Website is fabulous! This area traditionally peaks between October 8 and October 21. We have already seen the odd limb here and there. I haven't had that afternoon yet where it's a full on sunny day but not hot and the breeze has a fall football feel to it. School's have started and George Stevens Academy, that gorgeous white building across the street, has welcomed 28 international students this year.
I snuck away from the inn and had lunch at the Cockatoo with some old friends. As I tell guests, it has the prettiest dining room view of any restaurant in the area. (The Maritime Cafe, in Stonington, has a pretty great view, as does the Lookout but the Cockatoo, adjacent to property owned by the Nature Conservancy, is my favorite.) I got out to the Lookout finally, too. I have to admit, I don't love mussels. I do always try them, though, and at the Lookout, they were incredible!
I had lobster cakes and a great soup, too. Everything--from the bread basket to the bottle of wine we selected to the coffee crème brûlée--I can't believe I waited until the end to tell you about dessert! I love crème brûlée but this was beyond any I've had--so creamy, so delicate crispy, and so smoothly coffee flavored. I wonder if I can get it to go... I've tried to figure out how to serve crème brûlée at the inn but since we only serve breakfast and crème brûlée would make a messy pillow chocolate, I think I have to keep dining out. Aw, shucks, right?

If you're planning to come to our amazing Foliage, Food and Wine Festival in October, call immediately! We got mentioned on CNN Friday and have been fielding oddles of inquiries. Did I tell you we're collaborating with El El Frijoles? They do amazing dinner clubs in the quiet season and Michelle is an amazing cook. We all adore Maxx at the Wine Shop and he'll be pairing wines for us. Have you met him yet? He's just brilliant about the grape. We all need friends like that.

So I've gone on too long and didn't get to mention the latest crop of amazing guests--I continue to struggle with my Italian (OK, struggle is generous. I don't speak Italian. Some day I will.) as the write up in gli itinerari di DOVE has made us a popular stop for traveling Italians (seriously, how long do I have to spend in Italy in order to get some of their style? Really, do you think I could? Pick up style like picking up a language?). Just America travel agency continues to send us Brits with great senses of humor. And September is always Georgia month as southerns escape the heat. But please, if you already know you're coming, whether this year or next, call and reserve your room. Between weddings and reunions and special events, we're already holding lots of rooms and I want you to have the room you want the nights you want.

I have to resist having a second strawberry muffin. Two are left from breakfast this morning but Assistant Innkeeper Maura, who will be on soon, and Venice, one of the housekeepers who keeps this place spotless, haven't tried this new recipe of Matt's. Resist, Sarah, resist!

Update: I then remembered Maura doesn't eat flour things. I saved the bigger of the two for Venice. Well, at least I haven't eaten it yet! They are sooooo good.

Final update: Venice came and got it. Whew!