The Secret is Out

Pop in to Woody's Secret Cone in Rockland, Maine for intense, dense chocolate ice cream. The one catch — the popping in part. This is one tough place to spot. There's no marquee or visible sign, forget a phone or website and you may find a note with instructions posted on his door. Read and follow them. STAY THE COURSE. Woody's is off-the-grid ice cream. And it's worth it.

 

Belfast fans from his days at the Cranberry Tiger won't need any help. For the rest of us, here's a hint: just beyond the Brass Compass and behind Richard Indiana's "LOVE" statue you just might encounter the master —Woody — in action hand-cranking his intense chocolate and locally-inspired flavors like strawberry rhubarb and blueberry.

 

Ask and Woody will tell you what goes into this chocolate frozen goodness. On my trip there was talk of Ambrosia and three types of chocolates, but once the first taste of my cone hit all else was forgotten.

Making Hay

There just isn't time to post lately. Not a complaint, just a happy and grateful fact to be busy with the Birchwood's summer guests. 

last strawberries and first blueberry!

The last garden strawberries are here. Guests have enjoyed this addition to the continental breakfast we serve each morning.  And what's not to like about complimentary homegrown strawberries in a fresh fruit salad along with buttery danish; fresh-squeezed o.j.; tea and our good strong coffee from Rock City Roast (organic, fair trade and locally roasted!)? 

Not far off are blueberries and raspberries and then, finally, luscious blackberries. All the berries are grown right here in the motel gardens. This is quite a feat considering June's weather – long periods of rain and fog coupled with relentless beetle and slug attacks!

Birchwood Motel's first cherry

Maybe next year cherries will make it on the menu. Our dear little cherry tree produced two cherries this year! Also on deck for 2010 are this year's garden additions: cranberries and elderberry. A year or two beyond our apples, pears and peaches should begin to fruit. Gardening and innkeeping sure makes time fly.

Blue Skies are Gonna Clear Up...

Blue skies reign (pun intended!) over Camden once more.

The clear skies continue tonight allowing us to catch from our front porch the distance fireworks from Blue Hill, just across the bay. Not a bad show!

Come back to Maine this summer and stop in at the Birchwood Motel. Midweek discounts, excluding peak festival weeks, are as low as $75/night plus 7% tax. The best of summer awaits.

early June was so promising!

the peony didn't seem to mind all this rain

nor did the strawberries, thank goodness. red all the 

way through and as sweet as they look!

magical luna moths seem to disappear 

before we can notice their arrival