The Heat is On

 I am cold just looking at these two guys in the pool. The heater is on and the water is warm but it is the 57deg temp and wind when they get out of the pool that I would not be looking forward to. Howard and Mike are our first guests in the pool this year and I would guess I wont see anyone else in there for a few more weeks. This group has been coming to the Inn every year for over Ten Years to celebrate the end of their Team Bowling Season. It is a pleasure to have the gang back again. My pleasure at least because they bring fudge and lots of treats from Dairy Queen.

We have had a few sunny days and one day almost hit 70deg. This gave Sue all the excuses she needed to buy more flowers and plant the Vegetable Garden.  We started some seedlings inside and now she has transferred most of them. I look forward to the fresh herbs that will be ready soon. Another bonus is the plants are almost gone from the dish corner and we will get our counters back :).  The Rhubarb is ready and I made the first Strawberry Rhubarb Pie of the Season. Matt was waiting at the oven door for it to come out.

We have had a steady May. I was just looking at the book and Wow this weekend is Memorial Day. We do have a couple openings on Friday night. It is still a great time to get in on our Spring Rates.
Enjoy the week ahead.

With Health and Peace, 


Alicia

Victoria

We have added a new person to our "crew". Her name is Victoria. Here she is serving a very creative breakfast to our Wiseman room couple. She made a baked egg dish with potato, tomato, spinach,and cheese. The pastry was a puff pastry with sauteed bananas, and a baked pear with a blue cheese stuffing!

Vicki has had many years of restaurant work, and we are thrilled that she has joined us. She is a "native" of the islands as well.
     It is hard for me to believe that we have been open for more than a month. The yard is spectacular right now with all the tulips and daffodils. The colors are super, and the grass and trees are so very green. Nice time of year. Tomorrow is Mothers Day, and as I have for many, many years, I will be here at the Log Cabin. I call this "work", but it is nothing like the many years we were a restaurant, when I would be the line cook, and cook for 10 straight hours. Mothers Day was the busiest day of our year. So far, we only have 5 rooms tonight....so we will be cooking breakfast for 10....verses cooking dinners for over 300! Phew, I am tired just thinking back on those days.  So, Happy Mothers Day to all the Moms out there.
   Bailey Island is looking mighty fine this spring. Come see us! Sue

A Tulip Burst

  We have had some nice sunny weather this week and in one day the Tulips Burst out in such Beautiful colors. I think they were as anxious to see the snow melt as all Mainers were. We have official put our No Vacancy sign out last week. This was a great sight to see in April. Speaking of signs, we got a new Log Cabin Sign on the front lawn. It looks like the old one but nice shiny new paint with many layers of gold leaf.
Sue also spent many hours this week scraping and staining all the room  decks. This isn't an easy chore, trying to find days that the rooms are not rented and then having the weather cooperate. I could not believe how well they turned out. They look like all brand new decks. We also had the Pool Company out this week to get the pool ready for the Summer but I think it may be several weeks before we can get Matt to turn the heater on. Going in wouldn't be bad but coming out wouldn't be very nice.

Are you looking for an adventure??? I had one last week. Terrence and I took the Amtrack Downeaster train to NH and went to the Children's Museum. Did you realize it now runs from Brunswick? You can even go shopping in Freeport or Portland or  visit Old Orchard Beach or go all the way to Boston and back in one day. We had a great time, quick peaceful and comfortable. Plus Terrence would want me to mention that it has Wi Fi so you can play games or watch movies on an IPad.

Happy Birthday tomorrow to Laura and our special room guest Carl.

With Peace,
Alicia

April

Well, April is almost over.....and we have had a busy month! We actually filled up last night!! It was a treat to put the "NO" out on our new sign. We have 7 rooms tonight, which is great for a Sunday in April. The weather is perfect....sunny and warm.....and is suppose to be all week. The flowers have started to blossom, grass is green. Nice.

My daughter in law, Aimee has a birthday tomorrow. I won't tell you how old she is (43). Ha! Of course, she looks 23.  For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting her....she is beautiful, brilliant, and kind. I am so happy to have her in my life.

Alicia came home this month too. It is a delight to have her back also.  We have a super crew here. No wonder folks return year after year. Not to mention the view! Speaking of view....Matt posted a picture of the Full Moon on facebook this week, and the Maine Office of Tourism shared it. As of this morning over 19,000 people had seen it!

Well, I must get back to laundry....the down side of being full! Sue

Gear Grab

  Hi All..it is me, Alicia I am back!!!  Yes I did have a nice warm Winter in Florida. It was crazy busy. I think I worked more down there than I do here. Terrence had a great Semester at School and will start back here in Harpswell tomorrow.
So many new changes at the Log Cabin. If you are a York Room junkie just wait until you see what is in store for you. A few of the major things is a new King Bed, new carpet and new Air Conditioning. Every Room has a few new items. I am anxious to get over to see the Harpswell Room with its new appliances, carpet, TV, etc. It may be awhile since the room is booked for 2 weeks with some of our very special yearly guests. Can you believe that we only have 2 openings next weekend, the Mt. Washington and the York both with King Beds and both a spectacular view of the Sunset.

Today the Log Cabin crew was out and about cleaning up the Shoreline of Harpswell. This cleanup is headed up by the Gulf of Maine Research Center and sponsored by many local business. The focus of the cleanup is to gather fishing gear, rope and trash that has washed up on the beach and shoreline. Some of the lobster traps get washed in by storms and the fisherman are not sure where they have gone. The gear that is salvageable is identified by the fisherman's license number and then returned to them. It was a nice sunny day but very windy and cold. This Florida girl wasn't ready for that, the first weekend home. It is a great family event and a way to give back to our fabulous community.

Before closing I should say that even though we are about 150 miles North of Boston we live in New England  and are saddened by the bombings and events that happened this past week. We can all share a story of someone we knew that  was at the Race or lived in or near Watertown. Our hearts go out to the families affected. We live in Maine but we are Boston Strong.

With Peace, Alicia

Thank You!

       Well, I am sitting at my desk at the Inn....looking out at our new sign! I know, it looks just like the old one.....but it is brand new! If you looked close at the old and new you could tell. This is just one of the new things here this year. We have done more renovations than in past years....and the place looks super!
    Now, this all happens because I am lucky enough to have a very talented family. Those of you who have stayed with us in the past know Matt and Aimee.  For those of you who do not know them, Matt is my son, and Aimee is his wife. Every winter they spruce the place up.....paint, clean, plumb....whatever needs to be done. Many of you have not met my other son, Adam. Adam is a carpenter (well, jack of all trades). He and our very good friend, Chuck have been here doing some rather extensive carpentry.....new windows, replacing siding, painting doors, jacking up the shed....as I write, they are outside doing some log work on the front of the building.
   I have to tell you, the four of them....Matt, Aimee, Adam and Chuck have done an absolutely superb job. They are all perfectionists, and it shows! I am so fortunate to have them all. Now, some of you are probably thinking.....sure, this is their Mom talking.....but, honestly, they are the best!
    So, I thank them all from the bottom of my heart. And, those of you who come to stay with us will enjoy all of their hard work.
   We are approaching 50% full now.....so call us if you would like to stay this season!

I must get to work now! Sue

What a difference a day makes!

So, I took this picture yesterday morning. That is Jim, Chuck and Adam frantically shingling  our middle building. See the blue sky? Sun? No snow?? Well, now 24 hours later and we are in the middle of a huge snow storm. They are predicting 1-2 feet of snow! Well, it is the last day of winter. Let's hope it melts in the next 2 weeks before we open for the season!

I know I have said this in previous blogs, but this year, we really went all out with renovations. And, we are not done yet! We should be ready if the weather cooperates more than it is today! All schools are closed, colleges closed, State Legislature closed.....There is one member of my family that is happy about the snow. My black Lab, Ebby! She jut loves it.

Spring tomorrow....yahoo. The spring bulbs have started to grow. But, I know from past years, the snow will not bother them. Been a long winter. The weather guy this morning said this will put our snow fall total to over 100 inches. Enough is enough. Bring on the sun!

Hope to see you all this season. All for now, Sue