Saturday, April 19, 2008

My spring reading

Have you decided you can trust my judgment in books yet? I hope so. I have another to suggest—I’m only partway through but it took unseasonably warm weather and full on sunshine to get me to put it down this morning. Mary Chase, an author born in Blue Hill, wrote extensively about Maine and the Blue Hill area. In her book, Mary Peters, she writes about a seafaring family. Written in 1934, the book chronicles the change from sailing ships to steam powered and the effect on the coastal towns. Islandport Press reissued it in 2005 so you can find it. Check our their other listings, as well, if you need a Maine fix before you get here.

The kitchen garden is starting to come up--we'll have eggs with herbs from the garden from day 1! Matt, head of the kitchen, will be back in town soon to get set up for the season. Here he is last year, serious at the Garland stove.

It's almost time for the bird festivals! A friend participated in an owl count a few weeks ago--she was looking a bit sleepy as she told me about her middle-of-the-night adventure, listening to the sounds of nature in the dark. On Deer Isle, Wings, Waves, and Woods is held May 16-18. In Cobscook Bay, the festival is May 23-26. On Mount Desert Island, their 10th annual festival is June 12-15. You can see what local birders are seeing and hearing at this link.

We have all been grinning like fools over the weather. At the inn, we’ve gotten a good bit of outdoor work done--a powerwashing of the inn's brick end has it looking fabulous.