Maple Weekend

A Tradition in Maine going back generations is Maine Maple Sunday .This event is always held the 4th Sunday in March. This year it was a little messed up with Eater on the 4th Sunday. So instead of
Maine Maple Sunday it was Maine Maple Weekend. There are many farms in Maine that "tap" their Maple Trees , boil it down and make syrup, along with a few other treats. If you have ever bought real Maine syrup you know that it is slightly expensive but this is why. It takes 40 gallons of sap from a tree to make 1 gallon of syrup. They can  tap a tree 2-4 times. This year was a little different because of our crazy warm/ cold weather. Most of the time I am not here for Maple Sunday but I do remember taking the hot syrup out on the snow and rolling it in the snow to make a lollypop type candy.
I know Matt and Aimee have tapped a tree on their property and made about a quart. Hatts off to the Maine Maple Syrup Industry. It's a product I would rather buy than try and produce myself. I feel the same way about clamming.

Another thing I have been wanting to do for years and finally did this Winter was  go to the Art Museum at Bowdoin College. The Building has a lot of history both old and new. The exhibits of course change all the time which makes it great any season. The best part is it is Free! The same day I also went to the Perry- MacMillan Arctic Museum, located on campus close to the Art  Museum. It isn't a very large Museum but interesting all the same. This is Free as well.

I was saying last blog about our random snow day at the end of March. The next morning the phone rang at 5:30AM from the School saying it was canceled. I looked out the window and not a flake of snow. Looking a little closer it wasn't snow but an Ice Storm. We only had 1 snow day all Winter and the last week in March we had 2, go figure.

Today Victoria and I spent several hours in the gardens getting ready for the opening. There isn't to much to do except for cleaning up all the dead stuff from the Winter. The ground is still partially frozen and we can still have frost and now they predict snow on Sunday. We were both nearly in tears when we saw that a deer ( or several) had eaten about half of the 200 tulip bulbs we planted last Fall. I want Matt to set up the Game Camera so I can catch them in the act.

I look forward to a Joyful 2016 Season and can't wait to see all of you.

Blessings,

Alicia

New Website

Sorry if it took a while for you to locate us. We haven't physically moved only our website has.
It has been a Winter work in progress and we hope to get all the kinks out and running smoothly shortly.

It was Ironic I wrote in the last blog about the crazy Winter weather we have had. This week we had a snow storm and our second No School day of the Season. Who would have thought on the 2nd day of Spring we would be plagued with a No School day. Today has been spitting snow all day and we are in for another mixed bag

Aimee, Sue and I attended the Gift Shop Show in Portland on that crazy snowy day. I was supposed to take a picture of us looking at cool things at the show but between sampling the chocolates and the other snacks I never got a chance. That is why you have this not so interesting picture of us in a van.
Stay tuned for some new items in the new Gift Shop.

Aimee and I participated in the Chili/ Chowder Cook off at our local Elementary School. They had an outstanding turnout and between the tickets sold and the Silent Auction ( of which I know own a 4 man LL Bean tent) it was the most amount of money raised for this event which will benefit the incoming 5th grade class ( Josh) and their week long outdoor wilderness trip to Chewonki in the Fall.
Around Town the Dolphin Marina is set to Open April 7th. The Giant Stairs Restaurant is open on the weekends. I believe Cooks is shooting for about the 3rd week in April. The School house Café has been open year round for breakfast and lunch. The Vegetable Corner has also been open year round and have been having some appealing lunch specials.  I know we have several guests interested in Quilting. There will be a new fabric and quilt shop opening soon on Maine Street in Brunswick. I have also found a hidden gem on a side street off Maine called the Union St Bakery. It is open for Breakfast and Lunch and has some amazing pastries. It is also conveniently located near Terrence's school :)

We will be opening in 8 more days! Which crazy enough Aimee and I have decided to go away overnight. Nothing like waiting to the last minute. Next blog I promise to have a few photos of the Inn.

Happy Easter                                Of course this photo is from the archives.

Blessing,

Alicia

Lots Going On

You may have thought I disappeared somewhere in Florida never to be seen again. Well unfortunately that isn't the case. I did have a nice 2 1/2 week stay and missed some real frigid temperatures back in Maine. This has been a very strange Winter. We have had snow storms but then the next few days it could be 40-50 and then the following week snow again. After last Winter no one is complaining but just after you think about putting your boots away the snow hits again. We had snow yesterday for about 5 hours but didn't accumulate to anything and tomorrow is going to be 58 degrees. The kids have only had 1 snow day which they are not happy about now but will be in June when they may get out before the end of the month.

I finally took a ride to Bailey Island today. It has been months since I ventured the 5 miles South. I drove to Lands End and then stopped at the Inn. Matt was working on the Gift Shop project and I checked out the plants that are poking their nose out of the ground. I then went to check out the Renovations at Cooks Lobster House. My it looks like we are going to be in for a treat this Summer. They ripped the bar area out as well as most of the Kitchen. The Big Picture windows facing West will open up the great view they have. I have heard they are going to do a Sunday Jazz Brunch as well as an extensive Brew Pub and Wine Bar. They also plan to have some live music and move the outside deck to the other side of the building which will give much more room and a better view. Jenn and Nick Charboneau  that bought Cooks last Summer have some great plans for this Season. Jenn's parents Paul and Rita Dube have just purchased the Bailey Island Motel from Chip Black. I saw a dumpster there today and looks like renovations are under way.
My news from Brunswick is a new Café has opened up at Brunswick Landing ( the former Navy Base) along with a call center for Wayfair, a home furnishings catalog which will employ 500 people starting this Summer. A new Restaurant,  Portland Pie has opened on Maine St. next to my favorite store "Hatch". It's Pizza Pie and Pub style food along with many beer choices. The atmosphere is nice and food is good.

The Big News is we Open Friday April 1!!st  We look forward to seeing all of you back again as well as new guests that will become long time friends. Everyone is doing good and anxious to get back to work. Sue said I always make fun of her in the blog so this time I am not. She is ready to get back to work to get away from the dogs.

Blessings,

Alicia