I Love September!

I just Love September! I love the temperatures, the clear air, everything about it.....except it does mean winter is closer. We are very busy this September....already 90% full for the month. October has more openings if you are considering coming to visit us. I am back to cooking 5 mornings for the rest of the season. I had quite a break from the kitchen this summer....we had many competent people working for us. Now, our 2 college kids have left us. We have hired a couple part time people for the fall though. I do like working breakfast. Even when I was not on the schedule, I would come in each day.

Been doing some fall cleaning as well. I just took apart out steak pit and cleaned that all out. It is quite the "yucky" job.....one noone else has fought me for! Oddly enough, I enjoy the "yucky" jobs. Hmm......

Now I will go out and play in the gardens. Our dahlias are a bit late blooming this year...so I am urging them along with some extra fertilizer. They are my favorite flower....another reason to love September!

Tonight there are fireworks and music at Mitchell Field.....to celebrate September!!

Hope you are all well, Sue

Air Show Weekend

  The area is very lucky that after the Navy Base Closure the now Brunswick Landing  has taken over the Base and has continued to host the Air Show. Last year the Blue Angels flew and this year the Air Force  Thunderbirds are flying their F 16 Falcons.The Thunderbirds and their support teams started showing up on Wednesday and started practicing so even out on the Island we could see their practice routines. The soloists will fly up to speeds of 700mph, they can cover 5 miles in 1 sec. it is really a spectacular thing to see them take off, land and perform their stunts. I am looking forward to the All Women Skydiving team. Yes, Skydiving is something I have done twice and not sure I could get the courage up again.

  Both Shelby and Lindsey are gone  to College and we welcome  Donna, and Rachel who will help us out through the Fall. Speaking of the Fall if you were thinking of coming to stay with us we do not have a Fri and Sat night available until October 12th and then again on the weekend we close which is October 26th and 27th.

I took a little "staycation" lunch this week. My Mom,Terrence and I headed down Rt 127 ( just over the Bath Bridge) toward Georgetown, the end destination was Five Islands Lobster Wharf. This is a great, as it should be place to have lunch or dinner. You order at the counter, they have every type of fish and non seafood items. Then they have another section where you can order lobster and steamers, cooked or live to go. You can also pack a cooler with drinks and eat your yummy lunch on the picnic tables at the dock. You can watch the lobster boats bring in their catch and while we were there we saw a 150ft Yacht heading up the River.  On the way back, the foodie in me just had to stop at Five Islands Farm on Rt 127. This is a tiny little building with the most spectacular selections of wine,beer, cheese, olive oils, breads, pastas, sauces, local produce, salami, pate, local eggs and most surprising Glidden Point Oysters. Every nook I looked at had a different awesome item, even cookbooks. I will have to save more time for this hidden gem on the next trip. www. fiveislandsfarm.com

  

The Parker family

As you know, we have many "regular" guests.....many of whom have come to the Inn for several years. The picture on the bottom is of the Parker family.  This is their 13th year coming....Bill and Joan are the grandparents, their 3 daughters and one son and families come with them for 3 days every August. There are many grandchildren (3 of them were not even born when they first came)....and some of the older are not here with them now as they are off to college!! They are a wonderful, loving family, and a joy to see each and every year. It is fun to watch the kids grow up.

We have many, many other regulars as well.....Ann and Frieda just left today (their picture is below with Alicia)....they have been coming for 15 years. The Gortzigs just left this week after a wonderful 4 week stay!  The Newcombs come tomorrow (for the 2nd time this year).....they have been coming for 16 years!!!

Matt took some amazing pictures of the lightening storm last night.....but I cannot find them on our computer. So, check out our Facebook page to see those!

I am going to the Brunswick Outdoor art festival today. The weather is "iffy", but they all have tents. I just started taking some art classes, so I will go see what the local artists have to offer!

Hope you are all well! Sue

Fairy Houses

  The tradition of building Fairy Houses has its roots on several islands off the Maine Coast. For decades families have been inspired to create these little habitats made from pieces of nature for the "fairies" to visit.
Using Nature's beauty,colors,shapes,textures and sounds you are inspired to create little habitats using surrounding materials. Twigs,stones,leaves,pine needles, sea shells, etc.  It is important to use only natural materials while not harming anything that is still growing.

I am fortunate to live in a perfect place for Fariy Houses and my family has built many over  the years. Living in Harpswell we are also fortunate to have 2 walking trails behind the Town Hall that have dedicated areas for building Fairy Houses. Then if you are ambitious enough it is well worth the trip to the Boothbay Botanical Garden to view their Houses plus build one of your own. Age doesn't matter. On your next visit to the Inn stop and build a Fairy House and celebrate the child within you.  There are some amazing books written by Tracy Kane about the Houses and Fairy Boats, check it out www. fairyhouses.com

The 157ft   Pride of Baltimore will be at the Maine Maritme Museum in Bath this weekend.  It is a reproduction of the privateer that sank British Ships during the War of 1812, it is a sight to behold. It is one of the Star Attraction for the Museum's 50th Anniversary.. It is a relativly small ship for its time but fast.  The Ship will be open for boarding this weekend. The crew will also conduct 2hr river sails for a limited number of people.

If Sailing isn't in your plans you could check out the Orrs and Bailey Island Fire Dept Yard Sale and famous Auction on

Saturday and Sunday. Just opening at The Maine State Music Theatre at Bowdoin College is 42nd Street

 There is always the choice to just lay at the pool with a slight breeze and watch the lobster men  haul their traps or

sailboats, kayaks and Yachts cruise by.

I am off for a few days to Rangeley Lake in Western Maine~~~~Alicia

Bailey Island Beauty

There is so much natural beauty that surrounds us here on Bailey Island. This one picture is of Giant Stairs.....which is difficult to see the actual depth of the water from this picture,  but the ledges form what looks like big giant stairs! The town of Harpswell has a Land Trust which maintains the path to the stairs....a very easy, scenic walk. The trust also owns and maintains many other beautiful areas such as Mackeral Cove field, Mitchell field, Skolfield shores preserve, and many more. There are good walking trails, public boat access, biking areas....and they have recently published a lovely booklet describing them all and directions to them. If you are into hiking and exploring, it is the perfect guide.

Of course, you do not need to walk to enjoy the beauty. Here at the Inn, we can see Mt. Washington in New Hampshire (90 miles away). Frequently, it is outlined at sunset as it is obviously west from here! On a clear day it can be seen during the day as well. We are also surrounded by beauty everywhere.....Casco Bay, fishing boats, all can be seen from each and every room deck. And, of course, there are our gardens....my pride and joy.

Guests ask if we get used to the view and we do not. We are so fortunate to live and work here on the island. It is an extremely pretty, friendly and safe place to be. If you have not visited, come see us!

Off to tend to the gardens! Sue

Orrs Island Library

What a busy week. As you can see I have followed up on Sue's  blog from last week with a few pictures from the Tuna Tournament. It was a real exciting week. There were more Tuna Fish brought in this week than there has been in years.  Twenty or so  years ago getting an 800lb Tuna was the norm for this week. It brought back many memories for me as my parents owned the dock at Mackerel in the 1980's and that is where the Tournament was held. As a matter of fact the man who won the Tournament this year won 30 years ago when he was 30.

It was also a great week for the kids and the mackerel fishing. The Tournament gives every kid, even if they do not catch something a fishing rod. Terrence, Danny and Josh all enjoyed their new rods and hats. Josh even won a real nice fishing reel for having the smallest fish on Monday, which is a nice lesson learned.

Today I spent the day in the rain at the Harpswell Festival and Lobster Boat Races. The Races have been a tradition for over 30 years. There is actually a circuit that Races all over Maine. I was making Veggie Wraps and Kids Lunch's for the Nursery School. The Fireworks are scheduled for this evening and now it looks like it is clearing.  We really needed the rain, just wish it wasn't today.

We have picked lettuce, zucchini, basil, parsley, sage, peppers from our garden at the Inn. The tomatoes should be coming soon. August looks like a very busy month at the Inn. The only room that is available for 2 nights in a row until Labor Day  Weekend is the Harpswell Room.

Another Big Island Tradition this week is the Orrs Island Library Book Sale. It will open on Wed and the place will be mobbed. Whatever books they have left after Wed will be left out and you can give a donation to the Library. The Library has just been through Major Renovation and is so pleasant to just go in, use the computer, browse or work on one of the many puzzles they have going.  Please stop by when you visit and check into this hidden gem.

Have a Wonderful Week~~~~Alicia

Update on the Tuna

800lb Tuna, Tournament Winner





Terrence and his new rod



Josh and his small fish prize