Always a Day Late or a Dollar Short!

I admit it. I only read blogs about twice a month now. Some blogs I don't even get around to anymore. So I am pretty much "not-in-the-know" of all the fun things in blogland these days. And that's why I missed this party! One of my favorite blogs is hosting it. And I didn't even know it!

Alas, I cannot play along. Because I have not decorated my mantel, or my fantel. I'm more than a day late. In fact, I may not even get around to decorating my mantel for fall. But if you want to see my mantel decorated, you can just click this link and see last year's.

Still, I did redo my plate rack. Only because I was tired of seeing spring flowers on my wall. So, here's a little peek. I'm sorry there's not more to show, but frankly this is all the seasonal decorating I've done.

I did put out a fall candle...
Then I poured myself a cup of fall tea.
And then I pet my fall cat.
What have you decorated... or not decorated for fall?

Every Weaver Has a Dream.

Perhaps it comes from fairy tales of spinning straw into gold, but weavers are dreamers. We weave simple dreams, not outlandish dreams of opulence. No. We dream of cool days and ocean breezes lightly lifting the fleece from our flock and spending days combing and spinning that fleece into the softest yarn imaginable. Then weaving our handspun yarn into the most treasured of gifts.

Luckily, in case our own dreams don't come true, we can order the gifts of this very nature online.

Here is another love I found in Maine this year. Enjoy! The website alone is a virtual vacation.

A Convenience for Travelers That Will Extend Your Vacation

Here's a tip I just learned this year. When you are on vacation and particularly when you are flying, ask shops if they will ship your purchased items home for you! It saves you tons of weight hauling bags yourself, or baggage handlers from breaking your 15 bottles of maple syrup in your checked bag. Plus, many stores will ship for free or at least cheaper than buying a tote bag to carry your haul since your suitcase is already overflowing with dirty clothes.

And the real fun of it... about a week after you get home... just about the time that it seems so far away and you can barely remember you took a vacation... your doorbell will ring and boxes of lovely items that still smell fresh as the sea air of Maine (or wherever you went) will pop out and delight you all over again.

Here's my loot from Maine:

Wild Maine Blueberry Jam, Maine Maple Syrup, Maine Sea Salt, Pure Maple Cream, Maple Chipotle Grill Sauce, Orange Cranberry Marmalade. Are you getting the drift? From Stonewall Kitchen. Yes, I can get their products in Oklahoma, but not the variety they have in Maine, plus they ship for free with purchases over $75. And in-store you can sample to your hearts content. I should have bought the new salted chocolate caramel sauce! And if I forgot to buy the Whoopie Pie Mix, guess what? I can get it online.

And in Bar Harbor we visited a tea lovers paradise, Bar Harbor Tea Company. So hard to pick just two. Lucky for me they have a website too.

Did I mention how yummy pure maple cream is on pumpernickel toast? Or just even on your finger, if you should happen to drizzle a little bit down the side of the jar. Not that I would ever lick my fingers while preparing food, but you know, if... someone out there wanted to. You could.
And even small mom and pop shops will ship your stuff. I bought all this gee-orgeous yarn at KnitWit in Portland. Quince&Co yarn, also a Maine company. Very nice wool, very reasonably priced, and did I mention... they have a website, too.

So if you haven't been to Maine, pretend. Visit these sites and bring a little Maine home to your doorstep. And, if you are family reading, guess what you are all getting for Christmas? It starts with the letter M.

Yes, I'm still on a Maine High!

We got home Saturday, (I know what you are thinking!) Why the heck has it taken me so long to post about our trip? Well, I am still washing the sea air out of laundry and organizing photos and cuddling the kitty. But here are some of the best ones, with briefly as I could comments about where they were taken. Enjoy!

Happy to be on vaca!

At Thunder Hole, about 8 pm, 9/3, Hurricane Earl coming in.

on the river at Kennebunkport

We got up early to watch the sunrise in Kennebunkport.

(these are in non-sequence, but you can figure it out I bet.)

This is the Lewis R. French, sailing in Camden, circa 1871, oldest operable sailing vessel in Maine, perhaps in the US.

These were at Sandy Beach in Acadia National Park, about 6 pm on the eve of Hurricane Earl, which fizzled out in local terms.

We went sailing one day on the Schooner Surprise which was awesome!

These are the Portland Head Light on Cape Elizabeth.

And from Portland, we ferried out to Peaks Island for an afternoon of the best seafood we had the entire trip an a walk around the island.

Ongunquit Beach where we saw a guy almost drown. seriously.

They put lobstah in ever thang! Just kidding, no lobster in the beer, despite what you may have heard.

Kennebunkport at low-tide.

The lighthouse off of Cape Porpoise, accessible only by boat.

A beach day at Kennebunkport.

More of our sailing neighbors.

Those rocks are called the Graves, I'll let you fill in the blanks.

This is Somesville, settled by the English in 1760.

Cape Porpoise, a true fishing village.

Lobster boat going out early one morning.

Lovebirds on the Ferry.

Dinnah!

On the coast of Mount Desert Isle, morning after Hurricane Earl.

Some handsome guy I saw on the beach.

Awe, this is Captain Jack and his "first mate" Barbara who took us sailing in their schooner, the Surprise.

Camden is a sailing community, in case you didn't know.

Overlooking Camden and the Penabscot Bay from Mount Battie.

All those little white dots are sail boats.

And lastly, that's me... going as deep into the ocean as I ever have.

It was an awesome trip! If you get the chance to go, you really should! Now, back to my laundry!