 |
| All aboard to the fair! |
When we got inside the fairgrounds the first thing we saw was a stand with the most amazing organic veggies. I have to say that these were the largest and most beautiful vegetables I have ever seen!
 |
| Picture perfect cabbages |
 |
| Have you ever seen leeks this grand? |
You can see from the parade of little vegetables that this is not your usual kind of fair. There are no rides or junk food. All the food is organic and really delicious! The closest thing to a ride here is kids sliding down a little hill covered in hay on paper bags! The parade is always my favorite. Kids and adults alike dress in costumes and hold signs that say "grow local", "don't spray me" and the like.
There is the yarn tent that sells all sorts of yarns made from alpaca, llama (see below), cashmere goats, sheep and rabbits. They bring their donors with them to the fair. I usually get some "bunny blend" angora bed socks when I am there since often they inadvertently end up in the washer and come out the size of dolls socks. Last year I managed to refrain from this no no so I didn't need to get more this year!
 |
| These cats have Llama-tude! |
This year I found these little pigs wearing harnesses. They were super cute! I didn't tell them about all the research I have done using pigs. So these guys escaped with only a photo of them.
 |
| Oink oink! |
 |
| Who knew there were this many kinds of pumpkins and squash?? |
 |
| Beautiful gardens nicely labelled |
After the fair we went to Camden to have dinner at our favorite restaurant of all time- Francine Bistro-
http://www.francinebistro.com/ I had the best risotto that I've ever had that night. Dave had his usual steak frites. He hasn't deviated from that in years! Being Maine we also had oysters as an appetizer which is always a treat and these had a smoked haddock crema on top. Really delicious! The theme for Maine this year was Negroni's and butterscotch pudding. Each was great as well!
On Saturday we spent the day antiquing in Belfast, Searsport and Rockland. Always a good time for Dave and I. I found the best little alabaster lamp for the bathroom and really cheap too! It solves the problem of lighting on the vanity. How clever to find something less than $30 and no installation required.
 |
| Alabaster lamp for master bath |
Saturday night we went to Primo in Rockland
primorestaurant.com/ for dinner. Also very very good! More oysters, burnt orange negronis and butterscotch pudding again!
Sunday we were going down to Daramiscotta for the Pemiquid oyster festival (yes, more oysters!) and then to Waldoboro for the night to stay with Dave's aunt. We had rolled our spare change to have enough money for an oyster feast. You would saunter up to the opening dories to pick your favorites. I only like the little oysters. After a certain size they make me want to hurl. I was willing to wait for the perfect dozen!
 |
| Belly up and pick your oysters! |
 |
| Pemiquid perfection! |
After our little oyster feast (we each had 12 oysters which made a good appetizer -I wonder how many make a meal?), we headed to Waldoboro to visit Dave's aunt. We love to visit the farm. This farm was originally Dave's grandfather's farm and then went on to his aunt. We have enjoyed many a visit over the past 12 years and cherish every moment we are there. We hopped into the car and headed out to Round Pond to the lobster pound for a delicious dinner on the water. The lobsters in Maine are so sweet and nice. Much better for some reason than the bugs you get around here. The steamers are also sweet and tender and not full of sand.
 |
| A lesson on the tomalley in the carapace of the lobster. |
Once we got back to the house we enjoyed an evening looking at all the old Smith pictures and getting a narrative about each one. I think Dave's aunt talked from 3:00 pm until we went to bed at 11:45 pm. Not to shabby for someone who is 94!
The next morning we headed down through the field to the Medomak river behind the farm. It was just beautiful! However I was glad that I brought my Wellies since it was pretty muddy there. And unusually warm for the end of September.
 |
| Beautiful Medomak river |
When we got back to the house we had my favorite lunch! We headed to the fish market for fresh picked crab. Pat is a connoisseur of crab and is very particular with when it was picked. Although not picked that day it was less than 24 hours old so that was satisfactory. We headed back to the farm where the awesome sandwiches were constructed. I have no idea what makes these crab sandwiches so delicious but they are absolutely the best sandwich in the world!!! Fresh picked crab, a little mayonnaise (and I hate mayo) on white bread. Oh, and you have to have a few chips as well.
 |
| The worlds best crab sandwich! Is it the crab or Pat and the farm that makes them so special? |
Monday we went back to Lincolnville and the camp for more lobsters and one more night on the lake. Tuesday morning we departed for home.
On Wednesday we went to work as usual and when we came home we were going to take my aunt to visit my aunt and uncle in West Hartford for dinner since it was her birthday. We were getting ready for dinner when I noticed that something was amiss in my bedroom. I looked at my bureau and it was so clean..... I thought hum that's not right- where is all my jewelry? I mentioned to Dave that there were things missing and he checked my jewelry box and that was empty and so were the shelves in my closet where there were boxes of stuff. UGH! We'd been robbed!!!!
I noticed that the bathroom door was closed which is never the case. We decided to not open it ourselves and called 911. I told the 911 operator that we had been robbed and that there could still be someone in the house. Dave walked around with his 18th ce musket with bayonet attached. Like that was going to be a match for a hand gun!!! I went outside to wait until the police came while lieutenant Dave patrolled the house. About 15 minutes later the troopers arrived and took pictures, our statement and made me recall the jewelry that was missing. I of course could not think of the many pieces that were lost but managed about 40 of my favorite things. Needless to say, no one had a fancy dinner that night. My aunt ate at the inn all by herself!
 |
| Jewelry box dusted for fingerprints :-( |
So, the sad story of the jewelry is still open. Nothing has been found as of yet. we feel violated and vulnerable but there isn't anything left for the next guy to take! We are going to get an alarm system installed. Better safe than sorry the next time.
On another front- a little pigeon has come visit us often. He/she must think that we are bird friendly! I named the pigeon Nigel or Nigella depending on if you think it's a boy or girl. Dave says it swooped into the barn and sat of his drill press for a while and actually will eat out of his hand. I like seeing him fly around the barn and then perch on the house. One pigeon is just fine with me. I just hope he does not have a zillion friends!
 |
| Nigel on the look out! |
I am getting my studio all sorted out and have taken one letterpress lesson. I can't wait to really get started! There was a lot of engravings to sort through and decide which to keep and which I plant to sell. Where to put the bins of paper (most just scrap) where it would be out of the way. I didn't want to discard it since I am sure that I will go through a lot just getting the presses set up. No need to waste expensive paper just yet!
I got these great lights at Brimfield for $50 each! I did a fair bit of negotiating to get this price since he wanted $100 each to start. I can't wait to get them installed!
I've managed to get the drawers into the type case. Not an easy feat since I don't think my mom ever had anything that worked quite right or wasn't rigged up from cannibalized parts. I am trying my hardest not to follow in her footsteps in that respect. She was very clever and talented but sometimes you would just have to shake your head- why????
