The Blue Hill Fair, fried scallops, and a toasty fire

The Blue Hill Fair--which is what E.B. White based the fair in Charlotte's Web on--is held each year over Labor Day. Guests returned to the inn after going to the midway and reported on the sheep dog trials, the antique tractor pull, the Italian sausages, and the Ferris wheel. I didn’t get to the fair this year—running an inn is all the excitement I need and our kielbasa from Smith’s Smokehouse is heavenly but I did climb Blue Hill Mountain one dawn before work to see the Ferris wheel. I love climbing the mountain because you don’t have to go too far to see the spectacular view of Blue Hill and the bay opening up beneath you.



We had the best weather for the weekend activities and it continues to be just stunning. I have to admit, though, the leaves have that September look about them. I flat out refuse to admit that some have started to change color a little tiny bit. For all the leaf-changing information, check out Maine’s foliage website.

My friend Erica Wheeler came through town Wednesday on her way to perform in Prospect Harbor. We walked to the hardware store to run an errand and then meandered on to the seaside cemetery. We decided to get take out from the Fish Net—I almost always get the fried scallops but their crab rolls are great—and then walked to the town landing to enjoy our dinner on Blue Hill Bay. I’m always suggesting guests do that but it’s the first time I’ve actually made the stroll myself. I love being able to walk around town to restaurants and the shore. Back at the inn guests were enjoying assistant innkeeper Charlotte’s hors d’oeuvres, including a duck liver mousse and a caramelized onion tart.

This morning was the first time this fall we've had a fire in the main parlor’s fireplace—what a treat! I’ll admit, a nice fire makes a chilly morning much more palatable (and this morning so did Don’s peaches and cream muffins!). Tomorrow the weathermen say we'll have temperatures in the high 70s and plenty of sunshine.

I hope your September has gotten off to a great start, too.