Calm before the storm

Although it is quite cold today, as you can see the sun is bright and the wind is calm. Our forecast for tomorrow is not so nice.....snow, sleet, freezing rain. We have been lucky so far this winter with no ice.

It has been a very busy day for reservations. I have taken 6 so far....September being the popular month. We are over 50% full for September already! The rest of the season is filling up fast as well. This is quite exciting as it is still January!

The temporary bridge is coming down slowly. Cooks restaurant has been closed for a couple weeks for renovations--opening this Friday. I will go check it out. The Bailey Island store and Giant Stairs grill have stayed open all winter. It is nice to have a few places right on the island to get a meal. Of course, Maine Street Brunswick still supports dozens of places to eat as well. Lodging and restaurant sales were up over 4% in Maine from the previous year. I think the Brunswick area has contributed more than their fair share!

Hope all is well with all of you and winter is not too harsh. We open in 73 days! Sue

Bailey Island's major intersection

This sign just cracks me up! First of all, it has only been a few years since we had names for our roads on the island. They were established for 911. Although I am sure it has made the UPS guy happy. This is the only "street" sign the State decided was necessary on the island.....for the life of me I cannot figure out why. The island is only 2 miles long, and the speed limit is 30 mph. I would think you could read the signs as you were driving, without a "warning" sign from the State. And, of course, we named our "road" a lane. It is Log Cabin Lane, not Log Cabin Road. The Log Cabin is the only property on this "road". But, because we have 3 separate buildings, 911 wanted us to name it and number the buildings. So, we are 5, 7, and 9 Log Cabin Lane. But, anyhow, thanks to the State DOT for giving potential guests fair warning that the Log Cabin is coming up on the right by the oncoming curve! So, now when people ask where we are on the island we can say right after the new curve sign, instead of half mile past the bridge!

So, we open 83 days from today. Come see us! All for now, Sue

Abner Point on Bailey Island

I just took my dogs for a walk to the end of Abner Point. It is sunny and 40 degrees today. What a contrast to Monday when it was snowing and blowing 50 mph and 10 degrees. Even the dogs did not go far that day. Tomorrow is New Years Eve! 2010 was a very busy and eventful year for us at the Log Cabin. No big events for 2011....yet.

Alicia leaves for Florida tomorrow until April. My grandson Josh will be sad, as Alicia's son, Terrence, is his good buddy.

Matt continues to do repairs at the Inn. I continue to take reservations. Looks like another busy year for us.

Lots of interest in the Brunswick Naval Air Station. There are many companies vying for space, as well as Bowdoin College. The navy will be missed, however.

No big plans for me for New Years Eve. Hope all of you have a safe and healthy new year.

Happy New Year to all of you, Sue

Temporary bridge

Now that the "new" Bailey Island bridge is complete, the bridge workers are slowly taking apart the temporary bridge. Although I watched them build the temporary bridge, I cannot figure out why they are taking the road away from the structure first.....seems it should be the other way around to me. But then, I am an innkeeper, not a bridge engineer. I am sure they know what they are doing. I will keep you posted on the progress.

Speaking of progress, can it be we have been closed for almost 2 months? Let's see.....that means we open again in 99 days! Yahoo!! Can you tell that I love the Inn? I love everything about it.....the building, the view, the crew, the guests....oh yeah, and the gardens.

Christmas is next week. My grandson Josh turns 5 this week (speaking of time flying). His nursery school holiday pageant is Wednesday. Of course, I will attend. Last year he sat in his Mom's lap and watched....we will see this year if he participates. It is very cute either way.

Hope you are all well and happy, Sue

Mackeral Cove

Winter on Bailey Island looks so different than it does in the summer. Boats are pulled out of the water, lobster men take their traps up and put them on land. There are very few buoys in the bay. One lobster man told me this weekend that they take their traps out of the bay so the shrimpers can drag the bay for shrimp. There is nothing better than Maine shrimp right out of the water. They are a bit messy to cook, and tedious to pick as they are small, but yummy.We serve local Maine shrimp and Maine scallops on our dinner menu. Both of these are caught in the winter.

We still have no snow on the island. We did just have a heavy rain storm that would have been a ton of snow had the temperature been cold. But last night and today, the temperature has been in the 50's! I am sure the snow is coming soon enough.


Hope all is well with all of you, Sue

Best of the best survey

Here is a picture of the plaque we received as well as the announcement that was in the Times Record newspaper. We were voted best Bed and Breakfast in Midcoast Maine for 2010. And, believe me, there are many bed and breakfasts! We thank all of you who voted for us!

We are getting our first snow of the season today. It is not much snow, but it is covering the ground. I do still have some snapdragons blooming and rose buds in the gardens. They are seeing how long they can hold out. Northern Maine is getting a much bigger storm. It will be interesting to see what winter brings. Last year we had a very mild winter.

All is well on Bailey Island. They are taking apart the temporary bridge. Matt is busy with projects at the Inn. He is rebuilding the window boxes on the Sunset and Westview rooms. All the money was raised for the Bailey Island Post Office this month. So, now it is officially owned by the donors. Thanks to those of you who donated to that cause.

Hope all is well with all of you, Sue

Bailey Island morning

Today is crystal clear and calm. These photos were taken from Cook's point early this morning. You can see the bridge, which is now open to traffic. The renovated bridge is the same width that it was before renovation. The temporary bridge was quite a bit wider! For anyone that has crossed the original bridge knows, it is very narrow. I would say that many drivers got used to the temporary width, and forgot how to drive on the original. You really do have to stay in your lane, and not cross the center lines, or 2 vehicles cannot pass. The Department of Transportation tried to convince the towns people to make it wider, but this was voted down. So, a word of warning.....if you are coming to Bailey Island, stay in your lane. Many a rear view mirror has been lost on the bridge over the years.

We still have not had a hard frost on Bailey Island. There are still a few flowers blooming in the gardens. We have much milder weather than Brunswick, which has had a hard frost, and had sleet last Friday.

Reservations are steadily coming in. Remember, a gift certificate to the Log Cabin would make a super gift for the holidays!

Hope all is well with all of you. 121 days til we open! Sue