6.02.2009

"Goodnight you princes of Maine, you kings of New England..."


Our first trip to Maine was just under a year ago and this summer weather has me longing for those icy coastal waters. We had six glorious days of sun, surf and shellfish. And one of the best hot dogs I've ever tasted... really.

I found this poem that was originally written about another town in Maine, but perfectly captures Boothbay Harbor where we stayed. It's also fitting because we stayed at a cabin called "Camp David".

"Lubec"
A small town by the sea
With the salt breeze blowing free over all.
Where the graceful gull swoops low
And the black duck rarely go in the fall.
A small town on the end
Of the coastline -- as it wends out to the sea --
Like some giant outstretched hand
Seeking Campobello land constantly.
A small town on the shore
With its people -- a few score, at the most.
All are known by their first name
And take pride in their fame as a host.
A small town on the hill
With its churches -- white and still over all.
With their spires -- heaven bent
That to many a sailor's meant 'Stand or fall.'
A small town on the bay
Where the fishes flash and play in the waves.
Where there is great ebb and flow
Of the ocean as it goes down to Dave's.
A small town on the coast
Where the weirmen yearly boast of their take.
Where the work's from spewing to fall
And the fish determine all -- make or break.
A small town by the mere
Where the sight of fog in the air brings no frown.
And the foghorn at the Head
Lulls the native in his bed snuggled down.

by Robert G. MacBride, MD
Longtime Lubec, ME resident and poet(written circa 1936)
Post title is a quote from "Cider House Rules". Picture is the Lighthouse at Pemaquid Pt., Maine.

6.12.2008

My Next Hobby

How freaking cute are these? Seriously? I get the Daily Candy email and today's featured a new shop called Grana & Mau that sells hand embroidered awesomeness. I LOVE these bloomers. Anyway... the e-mail reminded me of my recent found love of all things hand embroidered. My new old standby is Fidget. The owner of the shop, Amanda, has done several hand embroidered goodies for me.
Here is the latest:
I can't help but add one more of the shops I've discovered on my travels through Etsy. It's a new one I just found but I love the onsies they are selling. The shop is called ERG originals. And here's my pick from them:

Happy Thursday everyone!

6.09.2008

Dog Days of Summer

We had a true summer weekend... popsicles, pools and a bar-b-que (or two). It was HOT in Upstate New York. Hot and muggy. It reminded me of my summers in Baton Rouge.

We pulled out the kiddie pool and filled it with too-cold water from the hose. The kids had a blast and Libby {above} couldn't resist a splash through pool, either.

During naptime I was worked on my new hobby -- sewing. I found an online store for awesome kids clothes that I love called Flour Clothing, but they sold out of my favorite top within hours of putting it in their shop. So I tested my newly found sewing skills on creating my own version. It turned out okay, but not as nice as theirs. Here's a picture of their top:
Perfect top for a picnic on a hot day.

5.02.2008

My new favorite Etsy site is drearyneedle.etsy.com. Affordable, beautiful handmade goodies. Here's my most recent purchase.

I also visited their blog and found one of my favorite poems of all time.

The More Loving One--

W. H. Auden

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time