The most appreciated parts of my life are not the grand adventures, but the sublime routines. Here is one of the best.
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| We walk down to the harbor, past one of my favorite houses. |
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| (He is always working on something good in the yard.) |
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| We take a look at what the boat builders are doing... |
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| ...and then walk over to the harbor. |
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| We go to Buddy's and order fresh, wonderful steamers (or lobster). |
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| Hot Water/Broth and Butter for Dipping |
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| We watch them load up the day's catch... |
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| ...and then head over to find something for dessert... |
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| ...(but only after we poke around upstairs). |
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| We have a choice: Haven’s Candies from Portland... |
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| ...or Gifford's ice cream. |
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| (Today we go with the Needhams and Buttercrunch.) |
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| Given it is Monday evening, we head up the hill to hear the weekly musical gathering. (Livingston Taylor joins in when he is nearby.) |
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| Past another unique house, we walk.... |
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| ...to a friend's charming cottage for coffee and tea. (This time, we spend the evening talking about antique house restorations and then old New England household items that were once so common and now more rare.) |
See all Maine entries by clicking here.
20 comments:
What a lovely post! While I truly enjoy the posts on sailing and other exciting excursions, it's these quieter posts that first attracted me to The Daily Prep. Posts like this are like the quiet sigh one lets out when one returns home after a busy weekend.
Here's to 40 plus more years Muffy. I couldn't think of a better routine myself. Are those crab or lobster pots stacked on the truck?
Is there a big difference in the taste of the lobster coming out of Maine vs. that coming out of the Pacific ocean? Assuming you've had the latter. We used to go diving for lobster in Mexico and it was fantastic, but then again, I've never met a lobster I didn't like. Love steamers too, but I haven't had them in years.
Dear Muffy,
This is my favorite post of yours. It reminds me of "Morning In Maine" or "A Time Of Wonder"
In fact, I rather think you could make a children's book out of that post. Well done. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
Sincerely,
ACM
Thanks. I loved this blog. Maine is such a lovely place to retreat to.
Muffy,
What a beautiful place is it near Camden?
What a nice counterpoise to the last post, and a great routine. I think steamers might be my favorite food--it's impossible not to pick up a bunch when getting lobsters.
The title of this post says it all. It all looks so serene. I'm especially jealous of the fresh seafood.
Yes, indeed. This is Maine at its best, aside perhaps from doing all that from a boat rather than from a house! I summered in York growing up, and I have such nice memories of eating at Dockside in York Harbor and then driving along Long Sands beach either to Brown's Ice Cream or to The Goldenrod, where they make salt water taffy in the window.
Mmmmm! I love the little "skinny house."
What an elegant document of the simple pleasures in life. Although I have to say, it must be pretty cool to live in a place where somebody like Livingston Taylor can just show up at a jam session unbidden. If James or Carly ever amble through town, let me know! :)
Muffy - I thought you would be amused that someone named xcubbies (self-described 'new to Portland, Maine,' see his dating profile here http://www.pof.com/viewprofile.aspx?profile_id=15764919) is suggesting on the Ask Andy thread that you are not credible because Buddy serves steamers with butter. Check it out here: http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showthread.php?114392-Muffy-and-the-Belt-Factory.../page5.
@Anonymous 8:17 - Ha! That explains the two grumpy comments I opted not to publish, one of which said I should be “banned from Maine” for dipping steamers in butter. I suppose if I had also said “yes” instead of ‘ayuh’ he may have insisted I exhume generations of my Maine ancestors going back to the 1600s. Perhaps even now he is on a campaign to remove references in the history books to one of the first settlers of Portland, my 10th G grandfather who was with George Cleeves there in 1645. Of course, he may need to also “unperson” Buddy, as well who is from a line of Maine fisherman going back many, many generations.
Is there another way to eat steamers BESIDES dipping them in butter? To my knowledge, our clan's been doing it since 1653! ;)
@Greenfield - That's what I'm saying! :)
Thank you for sharing! Missing Maine so, so much right now.
Muffy, when faced with the candy or ice cream decision, the default is always, BOTH!
Posts like these remind me of how much I am looking forward to going to school in Maine this fall. Thanks, as always, Muffy!
Thanks for stopping by the Shore recently. Enjoyed talking up Puritan genealogy with you. Your 10th Great-Grandfather was with George Cleeves in 1645. George Cleeves is an 11th Great-Grandfather of mine.
George Cleeves - I should have known, Buddy! That's Maine royalty. Our GG, George Lewis, who was in Casco Bay (Portland) in 1639, gave depositions with George Cleeves there in 1645. He lived on one hundred acres (George Lewis' Marsh) in Back Cove, not far from what is now Tukey's Bridge.
My friends family have homes on Long Island in Casco Bay. Thank you for sharing some images of a place she spend 6+ weeks a summer at and I have only been lucky enough to come up for 2 trips over the past ten years. I need to go back. Seems as though Maine understands how time stands still in a good way with nature!
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