Dear Reader:

Maine is a parody of calm, pastoral farming fields and wild, crazy sea coasts filled with turbulent waters and jagged rocks…it has something for everyone.

For me…just seeing rocks was amazing! There are no natural rocks in the lowcountry…in fact the only rocks that ever crept into the lowcountry came from rocks on ships used as ballast (in the bottom of the sea vessels)  to secure/steady them while sailing from England and other European countries to the colonies.

The drive from Camden to Northport (where Sherry lived) was spectacularly beautiful…the rocky cliffs reminded me of the North Carolina mountains….there was also lakes with islands filled with maple trees blooming away….breath-taking!

Sherry  had wild turkey crossing the road to her house…I think we should have named these three Anne, Sherry, and Boo….turkey trotting as fast as we could to see as much as we could.

Wednesday, October 9 on our way to Sherry’s we stopped at the Doyle’s farm of apple orchards and pumpkin farms. School children were there walking through mazes, eating apples and playing pumpkin games ….too cute!

As we were leaving the farm… we noticed the most beautiful hydrangea “tree”…they are HUGE in Maine and grow several feet straight up…this time of year the gigantic blooms are pinkish white while the leaves turn yellow…resulting in this gorgeous sighting!

After going through several small towns heading towards Camden…we decided to detour and go visit our third and last light house…we were not disappointed…the sun came out and there really was a ‘sea to shining sea’ beside the Permaquid Lighthouse Park.

This beautiful weathered clap-board house was right next to the cafe where we had lunch…Anne spotted a lone spruce on one section of the rocks….I think there is a children’s story just waiting to be told… “The Lonely Spruce”

The next day with Sherry driving her bright red truck…we were off to Acadia National Park where we planned to picnic at a ‘secret garden’  Anne discovered…from her stay at the College of the Atlantic one time. Sherry made the most delicious chicken salad sandwiches with cranberries. We sat on this gorgeous bench in the garden… cut off from the strong chilly winds from the sea.

Then it was on to Bar Harbor and the Cadillac Mountains where I thought life would end… by getting blown off the rocks. The temps dropped over 10 degrees in a matter of minutes with gale winds.

Friday we were back in Portland again….with the tour I shared with you earlier and then home again on Saturday. Whew…what an amazing adventure!

Much calmer in Summerville….my garden seemed happy to see me and has been showing off the last couple of days…trying hard to please me with autumn leaves too. Eva Cate’s Japanese Maple sprouted a few fall leaves yesterday for me. The Confederate rose bush is blooming more each day.

Tea Farm is really getting in the “spirit” with lots of them, spirits that is! 🙂

Honey….yesterday I drove by the entrance to your father’s Pine Forest Inn and saw the plaque dedicated to the memory of this beautiful inn…and thought of you!

Thanks Honey for this Victorian Period Halloween card…adorable! Love historic cards.

Today is Mollie’s birthday! Happy Birthday girl! A new car to fit in the whole family, more comfortably, came just in time for birthday.

Wednesday I took Mollie to Five Loaves for lunch or, rather, she drove me in her new car and we had a delicious lunch….time to catch up…I gave her the treats (lobster/chocolate moose lollipops) I brought back from Maine for the grandchildren…blueberry jam for the family.

Eva Cate told me that she squealed when she got the post card from me I sent from Maine…and apparently Eloise did too. I love getting photos of the grandchildren and apparently they still love getting “snail mail” from Boo Boo…so reassuring in this fast-paced technological age.

So until tomorrow…Sweet dreams and hum’s…of pumpkins and mums!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh