Pretty Gulls in Bar Harbor

   

It was a balmy 50 degree day in Bar Harbor this past Monday as we sat in the car eating our lunch on the town pier.

Henri notices the gulls all sit around waiting for hand outs.  Me, I think they are pretty.  But especially so in the sun, when I notice the softly blowing breeze rearranging their feathers.  

One of the Porcupine Islands seen along Bar Harbor's 100 year old Shore Path.  

My camera plays peek-a-boo with the island behind an old dead birch.  

Pretty gull.  

Batting her lashes.  

The ticket office at the Bar Harbor Inn Pier is closed for the season.  

Today snow is falling and the temperature will drop back into the teens later this week, which makes me happy that I picked up this small bouquet of tea roses for our mantel.     

As much as I enjoy the beauty of winter, there is something uplifting about having a pretty burst of color right in the middle of it too.  

It's Been Way Too Long

When a few of you recently checked on me to ask if I was okay, it made me realize how long it had been since I last posted.  And it also made me feel fortunate to know I was missed.  Thank you guys for that!  So in between all the rain we've been having here lately, here are a few shots of the happenings right outside my window.

It's getting awfully green around here. 

Everyone is so hungry! 

Henri found a new use for our raku pottery. 



And from where I sit at my laptop, thanks to Henri I now have some pretty pink flowers planted inside my flower boxes. 

The view as the fog rolled in this morning just before we left for our trip to Bar Harbor. 

So I've been having a food craving ever since I bought these adorable little whoopie pie earrings from Lisa over at Pink Porches.  She hand crafts all sorts of items to look exactly like the real deal over at her Etsy shop, and she does custom orders too!  

The one and only place that has my most favorite edible version of them is Epi's in Bar Harbor.  They are so fresh, individually wrapped in saran wrap.  See it right there on the top of our takeout lunch? 

Objects may appear larger than life when you get to eat the entire whoppie pie all by yourself.  Mmmmm. 

Foggy and misty, it's still a nice day to visit Bar Harbor. 

Gearing up for tourist season there's that certain excitement in the air again around here. 

I just love seeing the old familiar sights and sounds again. 

And belly full we head home, content that all is well in Bar Harbor land.  Let the season begin!  Thanks so much for stopping by to see what's up in our neck of the woods, you really do know how to make a gal feel special, you know! 

Bucket of Truth

Early this evening we made a trip over to Bar Harbor to celebrate a milestone.

We sat at an outside table right next to the entrance to the bar.

Tonight we made a toast to each other

in celebration of 27 wonderful years together!

Henri started off with a beet salad.




And then a lamb burger (with fries.)





My McKay's house salad.

And 2 yummy, crispy crab cakes.

One of the scenes from our table in the garden.

After dinner we took a stroll around Bar Harbor, and ended up at an ice cream place, standing in line behind a couple that we found out were also celebrating their anniversary. They both ordered the same flavor which was called "Bucket of Truth" and then with a wink told us it was their anniversary. When we told them we were celebrating ours too, and then decided to follow suit and order the same flavor, we all had a little laugh together. In case you're wondering, bucket of truth ice cream is chocolate and caramel swirl with pecans. It was sooooo good.

And so very appropriate

For another sweet toast together at the end of our day!

Look What Followed Us Home

Well, besides this guy, who has taken up residence on the dash of our truck.

This nautical gem.

What a lovely patina! And how lucky I was to find this at a second hand shop for just $10!

It will replace this fixture in our basement pottery studio.

Oh, and the guy on the dashboard . . .

that's Henri's purchase...too bad he's not real...shopping makes me hungry.

Thanksgiving Fish

Before you get the wrong idea, I must tell you I really don't make it a habit to print up my Thanksgiving menu, but I've always loved the look of the Edwardian script font and thought it may give me a little inspiration while planning my Thanksgiving table.

Part of my planning is to build the menu around my serving pieces too, like this beautiful piece of pottery that will hold the lobster bisque. I found this several years ago at Alone Moose Gallery in Bar Harbor.

After reading somewhere recently that fish, perhaps even lobster, was served at the very first Thanksgiving back in 1621, I delighted in my already planned choice for this meal. My small round chart table only seats 4, so I had to come up with a table for 6 and the only option was to use my craft table which is a little rustic because I had painted the top aqua last year.

The scallop shells were added at the same time, and yes, of course it was me that highlighted them with a little gold leaf.

I also needed 2 more chairs to go with my white slipcovered set of 4. Here is one of my set of 2 chairs that once belonged to my Great Grandmother. They will be perfect to use at each end of the table.

I can't help but wonder if it was my Grandmother who painted over the wood, if so, seems things like that must run in the family.

A Few Things About Bar Harbor

This is the sand bar that connects Bar Harbor to Bar Island. The "bar" from which Bar Harbor gets it's name. Oh, and it completely disappears at high tide.

At low tide you can walk, or even drive across to Bar Island.

How inconvenient it would be to get stuck here though.





Or to not know what time it was.





Another thing in Bar Harbor is this historic path.








Along the path you'll see the very rock from which The Balance Rock Inn, directly across from it, gets it's name.






And, if you keep following this path, you will eventually end up near all the Bar Harbor shops.

And for all you early birds, on November 21, at 6:00 a.m., the stores will open for this crazy annual event -- Early Bird Pajama Sale and Bed Races.

Ever shop in your pajamas?

This shop even has it advertised in their window display.

What else you gonna do on a Saturday at 6:00a.m.?