luluThere are many reasons I enjoy time in Maine. Primarily, it’s the natural beauty of the coast, especially as seen from the water which is my happy place.
Penobscot Bay is our cruising ground, and it is one of the most perfect boating places on either coast. I like nothing better than setting out in the early morning when the sea is calm and the sky a brilliant blue.
Except for an occasional lobster boat that left its mooring long before us, it is not surprising for there to be no other boats around early in the day.
Out in the bay, there are islands, hundreds of them created thousands of years ago by volcanic action.
Most are uninhabited, covered with spruce. Looking at them, I am reminded of the Tlingit stories having to do with regrowth that were heard recently in Alaska. How is it that nature can recreate without help from man?
Here and there a building is spotted, giving indication of life there now or in an earlier time.
Many of the islands have lighthouses, some still active but most not. I always try to imagine the life of the lighthouse keeper whose job it was to keep boaters safe.
Some islands are connected to the mainland by a bridge. This recently constructed one goes to Deer Isle where the much visited Acadia National Park is located.
Heading north from Rockport Harbor, islands are not all we see. High above Camden are the rolling hills which is why Camden is described as Where the Mountains Meet the Sea. What a wonderful combination!
As we go along, I study the charts which identify the islands and make notes about islands that may hold possibility for picnics and new discoveries.
Yes, Penobscot Bay is a beautiful, beautiful bay, Spruce covered headlands jut boldly from its shores, jewel like islands float on its surface and the gentle, glacier rounded contours of the Camden Hills look down on its broad reaches.
Louise Dickinson Rich, Coast of Maine.
I so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind
Roughly 11 miles from home down a curvy road leading to the woods where the only sounds are bird songs is a special place.
Arriving at this little cottage slows my heart and calms my spirit.
I love walking beneath the arbor where the sweet smell of roses perfumes the air.
All around is a profusion of colorful blooms that last until leaves fall and there is a hint of frost.
They are tended by the same loving hands that know all the secrets of my body.
Mention Maine and it seems the first thing people think about is lobster. It is true that lobster is plentiful in Maine and at a lesser cost than in many places so people do indulge when visiting.
Where do you find these tasty crustaceans? Along the coast, they are available at any number of roadside shacks selling lobster in all its forms.
Perhaps the most well know is Red’s Eats in Wiscassett. 
I’m not sure how it got so famous, but rain or shine you can be sure there is a line of folks waiting to order.
Red’s may draw the crowds, but I like best the shacks that are on the water.
There you can eat outside and watch the comings and goings of the lobster boats.
You can be sure there is competition among these lobster shacks with each one claiming to serve the best. Now, I can tell the difference between lobster rolls, but with steamed lobsters it’s hard to distinguish among them.
When it comes to lobsters, there are two places I enjoy them most. One is on the boat anchored off an island enjoying a picnic with a good lobster roll, one that is mixed with a little mayonnaise and nothing more.
The other is at home where we serve up some pretty good lobster be it steamed or as an ingredient in a tasty dish. 
In our family, when something is abundant we call it _________ heaven. For the last couple of weeks, peony heaven describes the bounty that has existed in the garden.
These beautiful blooms don’t last long especially if there is rain that weights them down, so I cannot resist cutting a few every day.
In a variety of containers, they are placed on every flat surface in the house
from the kitchen
to the bathrooms.
Their variations amaze me. There are tree peonies the blooms of which remind me of a ballerina’s tutu.
There are whites, some with layered petals reminding of ruffles,
others flat with yellow centers and tinges of pink.
What is sad is that these beauties last for such a short while, but even as they fade and petals drop I see them as works of art.
Changing houses takes a little time to settle in, but there is one thing that has priority, and I don’t mean unpacking suitcases or going to the grocery. I mean getting the porch ready for the hours we spend there.
The porch is where we often start our day enjoying morning coffee
and watching the lobster boats heading out for or returning from the day’s work.
It is where we relax with a book,
observe the birds that come to the feeder
enjoy time with friends and family
and have afternoon tini time.
Once the furniture is in place, the next step is to go to the nursery to replenish the potted plants that did not make it through the winter.
Now all is done and that means I can sit and rock. 
Arriving in Maine, the first thing I do is walk around the yard where so many varieties of blooming plants color the landscape. This year we missed the azaleas but were in time for the rhodendrons to be in full splendor.
Alongside them, the sweet smell of lilacs fills the air.
I was pleased to see the viburnum blooming more profusely than in recent years, but they also remind me how important it is to keep them trimmed or they can crowd out everything else.
Peonies are staked thanks to advanced help and are filled with tight little buds that won’t pop for another week or two. Just the thought of those beauties makes my heart race.
To my surprise, bachelor buttons had sprung up among the ferns.
Beautiful alliums are hanging in there, but it will be only a matter of days before they are done and ready to dry for fall arrangements.
It is too late in the day to do more than look around, but that’s time enough to plan what needs to happen next. And, with all this beauty, it’s impossible to resist cutting a few blooms to take inside where they add color and joy. It doesn’t take much to make me feel right at home.
Setting the table to inspire memories of Italy was easy. The centerpiece was a $3 find from the local Goodwill.
Clusters of red grapes repeated the look of the clusters on the candelabra. Talk about an easy creation!
Dishes, each with a different Italian landscape and wine, bought some years ago at TJ Maxx completed the theme.
It’s hard to imagine a table coming together more quickly than this one. With the plates having so much color and energy, there was no need for more than a simple background.
PROSCIUTTO BAKED BUFFALO MOZZARELLAWITH GARLIC & TOMATOES