Family

On a Beautiful Warm October day last week Terrence, my Mom and I drove North on Rt.1 to see the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. We stopped at Shaws Wharf in New Harbor and had the most wonderful lunch out on the dock. Not often that you can wear shorts in October in Maine and still be Hot. On the way back we stopped in Damriscotta at the PumpkinFest. This was one of the most amazing sights. There were over 50 Pumpkins lining Main St. all designed in different genres. As you can see in the one above, that is the Sandwich Shop Pumpkin. This will be a definite stop for next year.

I started to think, only 2 more weeks before we close for the season and already I am starting to miss our wonderful guests who are more like family than they are customers. I said Good Bye to Jean and Carl this week, whom I am not sure they would like it but are like really cool grandparents. Doreen and Joe are leaving today and I would have to say Doreen gets the award for the most visits per year. Curt and Kathleen are back in NY not to be seen from again til April. The Taylor's are here today celebrating yet another Anniversary with us. The point is I could go on and on every day about the guests we have that day and what they mean to us/ me. It is comforting that they are truly interested in where my husband is traveling and how Terrence is doing at school and what strange thing he is eating this week. In the next two weeks I will be savoring every conversation until next year.

Regards
Alicia

Birthday week

What a great week we have had. We celebrated my birthday, as you can see. Alicia made me a yummy Boston cream pie (from scratch of course). And, we had the cutest honey moon couple stay with us.....their car broke down, so they were "stuck" here with us. Fortunately for us, Emma is a singer and sang for us and played the piano. They are a great couple, and we wish them a very happy life!

We also have been 100% full (finally rooms open up this week a bit), and we had record breaking heat this past weekend! It was 85 degrees in Portland, and sunshine and unlimited visibility. It could not have been prettier here on the island.

I cannot believe we close up in 19 days.....time sure zipped by this season.....maybe because we were so busy! We are already over 25% booked for 2012.....looks like another busy one. This place is soooooooooo grrrreat!!!

Hope all is well, Sue

Aquaculture

You should be able to tell that it is Apple Season here in Maine. Apple Pie for Dessert last night and homemade warm Applesauce at Breakfast this morning. Sue was also making an Apple Crisp for her home today. Sue's baking doesn't happen often but since there wasn't a crust involved Neal should be safe. Speaking of Sue, Aimee and I are reminded daily ( by Sue) that it is her Birthday this week, the 5th. Last year we planned a Big Bash so she said we didn't have to go Big this year but she would like a luncheon and homemade pie, hint hint.

Big things are happening across town at Mitchell Field. Plans are being formed for the Harpswell Oceanic Center. This will be a sustainable fish hatchery focusing on education and research. This facility will be searching for a way to build an aquaculture facility that replaces mechanical water filters with organic filters like worms,algae and shellfish. Mitchell Field is a great location with easy public access, the pier and beach all right there.

September was a crazy busy month at the Inn. It seemed like we were busier than July. I know a lot more people were eating Dinner and I don't blame them. The Sun is setting at about 6:25 and it has been the most Beautiful Fall Sunsets ever. It is sad to think we are open only 28 more days this Season.

Take Care... Alicia

Fall is here

The first weekend of fall started out foggy and rainy. Then it ended up hot and sunny. Neal and I went north this weekend to the Sugarloaf area for the first time in 5 years(I know, we are boring). I first started to notice some color in the trees when we hit the Maine Turnpike in Augusta. Then the further north we went, the color intensified. Around the Belgrade Lakes area and up Route 27 towards Kingfield is quite beautiful right now. I would not say peak, but close.

The Inn has been full almost the whole month of September. We do have a couple rooms open during the week this week. Then the first 2 weeks of October are almost completely full too....an occasional opening. We really have had a super season. I cannot believe we are only open for another 5 weeks!! Where does the time go??

Well, I must go cook breakfast.....here come the guests! Hope all is well with all of you, Sue

Fall is Here.

Well, technically Fall is not here until Friday but this morning it felt like it. I wore long pants today for the first time since May. Later in the day it heated right up and I wish I had shorts on. Some parts of the State had their first frost, which usually doesn't happen for 2 more weeks. Any leaf peepers out there headed this way can first check the Maine Conservation's Fall Foliage Website @ www.mainefoliage.com and follow the colors. Fall Foliage is also a Big Time for Cruise Ship Season in Maine. Portland just opened its new 1200ft Ocean Gateway Pier. It will enable 2 large Cruise Ships to berth in the harbor at the same time. This week docked at the Pier was the 960ft Celebrity Summit.Sixty Five Cruise Ships with a record of 92,000 passengers are scheduled into Portland this year. What a boost to the Old Port economy. The Casco Bay Ferry is also running weekend Foliage Cruises from Bailey Island at Cooks Lobster House.
September is also one of the busiest months at the Inn. I think this year it may be busier than July, go figure. We also have so many of our return guests at this time of year. It is so great to see them catching up with each other and sharing with them and us what has happened in the past year. Not only are they chatting at Breakfast they are making Dinner Reservations with each other at the Inn, like they are all Family. Special thanks to Tony and Linda for our new FBI Hats.
Terrence and I got our last dip in the pool on Tuesday before we closed it for the Season this week. It was a great Summer for the pool. Terrence is now jumping off the deep end and swimming to the side and I hold my breath every time until he gets out.
I am off to Fenway this week. Go Red Sox.

Alicia

Hospitality

We just received this plant and card from one of our guests who checked out today. I don't know if you can read it, but it says "Hospitality is an Art". Inside it says "Hospitality is the art of making others feel welcome, comfortable, and at home. It's the talent for spreading warmth and kindness that will always be remembered. Your hospitality was this and so much more."

All I can say is Thank You Kate. We try very hard to make everyone feel welcome and at home. The Log Cabin has been our "home" for 31 years now, and we love it here. It is a sincere pleasure to share it with all of our guests. All of our Log Cabin guests have become our extended family.....a family that is growing day by day. We, who have the pleasure to "work" here at the Log Cabin are so happy that you who "visit" the Log Cabin can enjoy the magic of the Inn and Bailey Island.

We have had the pleasure of an extremely busy year. We do have some openings for the last week of September and into October (we close the last weekend). So, if you have not visited us yet this year, we would love to see you!

Thank You to all of our Log Cabin "family", Sue and the Crew

Whoopie!!!

One of my most recent creations is of the Whoopie Pie Tower above. I made 70 pies for a friend's Birthday Party. Little did I think of when I said " Yes" that 70 pies is really 140 cakes because each pie takes 2. Then there were the mistakes and the Dozen or so I kept for home. Most people are saying " What in the world is a Whoopie Pie." Recently it was named the State of Maine Dessert. Can you believe it won over Blueberry Pie. The outside cake is typically chocolate and the filling a Marshmellow Fluff vs Frosting Combination. Many years ago when we were a Restaurant the Whoopie Pie was one for the Bakers Signature Desserts. So now when you visit Maine after your lobster take a Big bite of a Whoopie Pie for Dessert.

An Update on Sue's Hurricane Report is that they got that Big Boat off the beach on the next High Tide, towed it to Portland and there it sits at the Repair Facility. Speaking of Big Boats... The newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer built nearby at Bath Iron Works, The USS Spruance sailed down the Kennebec River to the Roar of a Cannon Salute and Patriotic music from the Bath Band. You could stand by the shore at the Maritime Museum and watch it sail by. She is bound for Key West, FL where it will be commissioned in October.
Brunswick Landing (the former Navy Base) has added a new Technology College to its ever growing list of Tenants. We all gathered at the Air Strip last week to watch the Air Show and the Blue Angels perform. What a great sight, the boys were quite impressed.

September brings on one of our busiest months of the year. I was looking and saw that the Wiseman Room isn't available on a weekend til next April. The Pool is still warm and the days are crystal clear. You can't beat the Sunset this time of year either.
Have a good week..Alicia