Monday, January 28, 2008

The Cure for Whatever Ails You

I was T-shirt shopping at Merrill and Hinckley's, the little grocery store so convenient to the inn, with my friend Tracy, who is good natured and easy going about everything but, as it turns out, is very particular about which T-shirt she likes. I pulled out about every T-shirt they had hoping to find one she would wear. This one was not quite her but I loved it--maybe for my brother?--and had to get it. They also have a kid's shirt that says, "I'm a keepah" and has a lobster on it. I had to explain to Tracy that's what a fisherman would say about a lobster that was just the right size, not too large or too small.

The cure for the cold weather? Long underwear! I just got myself some black silk ones and I love them. You know it's Maine when "black silk" is not followed by "lingerie" but "long underwear"!

Last week I went to Castine to hear Bill Haviland speak about the Native American populations in this area. I picked up a map of a canoe route through the center of Deer Isle that was used between 2000 and 3000 years ago. How cool is that?! Bill has a book, Safe Passage to the Sea: An Ancient Canoe Route at Deer Isle, Maine, if you want to know more. I believe it's available through the Island Heritage Trust. And check out the other great things they have at their store--T-shirts with a Jill Hoy painting on them, books with gorgeous covers, a handsome cap.

I saw in the Ellsworth American that "locavore" was declared Word of the Year for 2007 by the New Oxford American Dictionary. The Blue Hill Inn is proud of its locavorism and 2008 will bring an expanded "foodscape" in the back yard and side garden.

Today was a whistling wind day at the inn, with the sign flapping. You hear more people talking about Jamaica. Not me, though. I got my long underwear.

Friday, January 18, 2008

O fickle Maine

Last week I was in a convertible--with the top down (OK, I was bundled up but it was almost 50 degrees and full-on sunshine) and we could see grass everywhere and only a few snow piles hung around. Monday we got another 10 inches of snow, gorgeous powder.

The other day I went cross country skiing in East Blue Hill, and between the sun and the exercise, got down to one layer, in spite of temperatures in the low teens. Winter sports make all this weather so much fun. I'm on the lookout for inner tubes for sledding. I've taken quite a few reservations from folks in Florida--they tell me about the sunshine and the 70s, I tell them about fleece and shoveling. Guests coming in on the weekend were hoping to snowshoe but settled for hiking instead. I got out to Blue Hill Mountain, which was a bit icy (but the views are still great). Barred Island, down on Deer Isle, was more peaceful than ever. I had a yummy breakfast at the Blue Moose--so nice to be served!

I have to update the chowder debate--Molly, of Molly B Designs, had me over for supper the other night, a scrumptious chowder full of fish and scallops. Her secret ingredient? Smoked salmon! She begins by sautéing that with the onions and makes a bit of a roux.

I wanted to share some of my holiday mail with you. That huge fabulous boat I've gone on about more than once? Here she is! The Baldwins, from Texas, sent me this.

A delightful couple, the Engelbrechts, from Germany, sent me this photo, which Lothar took in the mirror of room 8. As I always say, I have the nicest guests!

I've made it easier to leave a comment here on my blog, though I always appreciate readers who take a moment to send me an email.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!

The word for 2008 might be snow. We got about 8 inches yesterday and are expected to get up to 8 more today. Last night, for the New Year’s Eve celebration around town, the clouds moved on and the skies were clear and starry. In a free party given by the Peninsula Pan, we had live music in 11 venues—11!—all within walking distance of downtown. I suffer from a severe case of FMS so events like this are a challenge. “FMS?” you wonder. Fear of missing something! From standing room only at the Congregational Church for Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame) to Jay and Bjorn Peterson performing at the library to various steel drum bands at the academy across the street from the inn, I couldn’t be everywhere at once. We also had humor with Joel McGraw (who used to work at my favorite boatyard in Brooklin), a magician at the MERI center (where we also got to check out their aquariums and wish a flounder and some lobsters a happy new year), and radio drama at the town hall.

Cabin fever hasn’t set in yet by any means, but I thought I’d mention a few books I’ve enjoyed lately. For a bit of nonfiction, I highly recommend The Price of Clams, by Lloyd Capen. He presents an intimate look at Deer Isle and the surrounding area from 1930-1943. I would love a book publisher to get a hold of this and print a new edition with more photos and a bigger map and well, just more. You can get a signed copy from Blue Hill Books. (And here's my plug for small, independently owned bookshops: buy from them.)

Linda Greenlaw has added a mystery to her growing list of titles: Slipknot is set in Maine, in “Green Haven” (seems a funny way to spell “Stonington” but you know how authors can be!) and is another must read for Maine lovers.

Joe Coomer's Pocketful of Names charmed me so much I bought it for everyone in my family and they’re still thanking me for it. His book, The Loop, is another favorite of mine. Based on these two, I bought everything he’s written that Nick carries at Blue Hill Books and will savor them throughout the winter. Have you heard of a literature map?
And I know I mentioned the Little Yellow Boatie, by Helen Sylvester in a previous blog but it’s sweet.

Turns out I waited too long to catch that Cadillac Mountain sunrise—much of the Park Loop Road is closed for the winter. I guess I could snowshoe up the mountain, before sunrise, but I’m really not that kind of girl.

I went walking around town this morning, to see if I could show you how much snow we have. I could hear the ice tinkling up to the shore as the tide came in.