Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Happy 2013!  What a start to the new year we've had--over a foot of fluffy snow and days and days of full on sunshine. Folks have been ice skating, snow shoeing, sledding, and cross country skiing.  (And there is nothing wrong with participating in outdoor activities in order to justify hot chocolate with marshmallows!)
Blue Hill Bay, early morning


Some people think Blue Hill gets sleepy this time of year and it's true we slow down but it means we finally get time to get together with friends we haven't seen.  We also get to head back to favorite restaurants--the Arborvine (oysters!), Brooklin Inn (just in time for fresh local scallops), BarnCastle (for me it's always a toss up between the ribs or one of their pizzas or a homemade soup), and back to 66 for a cheeseburger. 

A guest was just delighted with the Blue Hill's YMCA and wanted to be sure others know about it--and this was before more machines were added.  There's no need to skip your workout just because you aren't at home.  If you're coming to Blue Hill from a New England state and you're already a Y member, you can even bring your card for free access to our Y.

Trail support donated by Charlotte Podolsky
I went into the inn the other morning just after a fresh two inches of snow and saw that a small deer had beat me to the inn!  Right across my path to the back door were delicate hoof prints!  I'm not sure if the family in the Studio that night got a peek or not.  In the past we've had a buck traipsing about the back yard as well.

Before we got all this gorgeous snow, some friends and I hiked out to Barred Island.  I was delighted to see that my friend Charlotte had sponsored the trail upkeep.  Although she's back in New York, I felt as though she were with us on the hike.  If you'd like to donate to trail support, contact the Island Heritage Trust or the Blue Hill Heritage Trust.  A goal for myself this year is to stop returning again and again to my old favorites and try exploring new trails.  Perhaps by the time you visit, I'll have new "favorites places in the whole world" to recommend.

Rackliff Pottery
I do recommend all my guests visit Denny and Margaret Rackliffe's pottery.  Their showroom is next to their studio is next to the finishing room is next to the wheel and the pile of clay!  They are such treasures of Blue Hill.  We're starting to design a Blue Hill Inn-Rackliffe Pottery egg cup--something that will show off the beautiful shells of the Acaucana chickens I'm planning to have this summer.  Wait--I'm counting my eggs before they've been laid!  The day old chicks will arrive in early February so that come May we'll have plenty of fresh--very fresh!--local--extremely local!--eggs for your breakfast.  In the past we've had brown, cream, and white eggs but now, with the expanded palette, I plan to offer soft and hard boiled eggs as an option so you can see how lovely the egg shells are.

Lobsters, rendered by Francis Hamabe
Speaking of lovely, the Blue Hill Library always has art on display upstairs.  The work of Francis Hamabe, who has long connections to Blue Hill, graced the walls in December, thanks to Jennifer Mitchell-Nevin.  Friday night is the opening reception for Katherine Greene's show.  Perhaps we will see you there?

One place to see just about everyone is at the Saturday farmers market at Mainescape.  You can get a Bucklyn cappuccino, a Tinder Hearth croissant, the most delicious vegetables from Four Season Farms, a scrumptious noodle dish from Mia, even local sea salt to put on the jalapeño bagel! We gather in the greenhouse and on a sunny day, it's fabulous!  O, did I mention there's a puppy?! A friendly, tiny, lick-you-in-the-face furball.  Photos to come!

Blue Hill Mountain from across the bay
But now it's time to head back outside, snow pants and snow shoes in hand, to explore another area along the coast here in Blue Hill.