Saturday, September 26, 2009

Autumn's Bounty

October brings us to that time of year when I convince myself that candy corn looks great in a silver dish and can be offered in the parlor and the staff gently insists it doesn't and it can't.

Luckily they agree with me about the glass pumpkin now gracing the mantelpiece. This was a find from the farmer's market, where I also picked up two chevre spreads from Seal Cove--one with cranberry and the other a chili lime--not for the faint of heart!

Autumn also brings pumpkin donuts! Jill at Millbrook Bakery is now forcing us to decide--nutty sticky bun or pumpkin donut? Clever lady that she is, you can get a donut hole, and a sticky bun. And now she's offering soups and sandwiches, too. I tried the potato leek today. Scrumptious.

The Surry Inn will close up for the season soon. I'm hoping to get there for the beef salad one more time. This is the pretty view from their dining room.

I went to the Maine's Office of Tourism site this week after seeing an ad for the art museum trail. You'll find oodles of helpful information here. You can also see information on antiquing throughout the state, and great foliage tours, and food tours...

I had dinner at Fisherman's Friend last week, enjoying their cornbread and a crabmeat and swiss sandwich. Guests raved about the lobster puff--and had plenty for lunch the next day. I also had my favorite caesar salad and onion rings at Marlintini's, here in town. We do eat well in this area of tiny towns and very fresh seafood.

At the inn, guests have been raving about Jeff's sorbet, his cranberry scones, and one of my new favorites, the apple walnut cake, made with apples from our trees!


The inn will close up for the season at the end of the month but the Cape House Suite and Studio are open year round. Let us know if you'll be in the area.

Now go enjoy the season! There are leaves to scuff through, golden afternoons to enjoy, a fall bounty to partake in.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Eagle Island Lighthouse

September in Maine is amazing. The warm days, cool nights, and hints of autumn make Blue Hill especially lovely.

I took advantage of Maine's first Open Lighthouse Day to get on the Eagle Island mailboat. Guests Bob and Margie from Illinois joined me and we agreed it was a magical day. From Audrey, our mailboat captain, to the Quinns, our hosts for the island tour, we were entertained and well tended to. Bob Quinn gave us the tour across the island to the lighthouse and took us all up inside the lighthouse. The views were spectacular but I also loved the historical feel of the light and the spiral stairway leading to it. Bob and his wife Helene are fifth-generation Eagle Islanders and have great stories to tell. I can't hope to capture his wit and style but he was a delight. One quip about lighthouse tenders, "You have to be able to sleep with the light on." More poignantly, he spoke of when the light became automated and no longer needed someone to tend it: "They took the keepers away from the light."

My Saturdays have a lovely rhythm. I help with breakfast at the inn and then dash to the farmer's market. This week I picked up bread from Jill Smith's Millbrook Bakery, some produce from one of the local farmers, and a goat cheese spread from Sunset Acres Farm. Assistant innkeeper Maura used the cucumber for one of my favorite hors d'oeuvres--Greek grilling cheese with tomato and balsamic reduction with the cucumber slice becoming the cracker. After dropping off the farmer's market purchases, I often stop in other shops about town. This weekend I returned to Handworks Gallery and am now in love with some silver earrings with lots of hoops. They have a truly wonderful selection.

"How is breakfast?" I asked a guest the other morning.
"Just as yummy as the bed."