Common Ground Fair

My favorite event of the year approaches – the 33rd Common Ground Country Fair, September 25-27, presented by MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association).

miss e. (recently appointed staff photographer at the Birchwood)

captures this gorgeous fall cabbage in our garden

Read this perfect description off their website:

The Fair allows fairgoers to make connections with a rapidly expanding base of organic farms in the state of Maine. Hundreds of vendors, exhibitors and demonstrators, more than 1,000 volunteers, and tens of thousands of fairgoers will gather to: share knowledge about sustainable living; eat delicious, organic, Maine-grown food; buy and sell beautiful Maine crafts and useful agricultural products; compete in various activities; dance; sing and have a great time.

Birchwood Motel is about an hour drive away from the fairgrounds. But the lovely back country road drive alone makes it well worth the trip.

A few rooms are still available for this year. Or maybe this will be food for thought for a future trip.

Give me a slice

I'm looking for the best slice of pie in Maine. Pie-making is in my genes, so I won't throw my own hat into the ring. But where to send guests looking for the perfect pie around the midcoast is really the question.

Birchwood Motel raspberry pie

adapted from Dan Henry

Guests have mentioned Just Barb's in Stockton Springs. Thomaston Cafe rates high for me. Loyal locals claim Moody's Diner. For carry out Megunticook Market offers a fresh raspberry pie that is a close second to a recipe given to me by Dan Henry, of Ducktrap Kayak fame. Amy's pies from Fresh Off the Farm are always crowd pleasers, too.

Please send me or post your suggestions for best slice of pie.

’Tis a gift...

Identifying with, and feeling terribly upset about, the poor souls swept to sea today at Acadia.

Just this morning there were thoughts of throwing up the "No Vacancy" shingle to observe the waves brought on by an astronomical high tide and Hurricane Bill. Later in the day, I took a moment of quiet contemplation in my beautiful garden to thank the divine for the beautiful gifts of summer and a quiet simple day for my family.

more raspberries...eric's varietal plantings pay off.

our haul starts in july and last through the first frost!

Just a wanderin'

A trip up Beach Road/Rt. 173 is just about a perfect drive in almost any season. This beautiful back country road winds through historic Liberty Village. Stop for a tshirt from Liberty Graphics -- an ecologically and socially responsible business since the 1970s. I nabbed an organic cotton tshirt printed with water-based soy ink for a mere $5 from the seconds bin. Not much more will get you a first-run shirt, priced at an affordable $15. The store's charming interior is reason enough to visit. The high quality Maine-made products are reason enough to shop.

sweet liberty

Great buys can also be had across the street at Liberty Tool/Grandma's attic. Our big scores — wooden clogs, costume jewelry and an old tinted Ball jar for seaglass. Overheard on this recent visit, a tweenage boy declaring to his friend "Dude, I told you this was THE COOLEST store, Dude!"

Head out of town toward Rt. 3, bang a left, and drive on to John's Ice Cream (see previous post). Look for his flag a bit past Lake. St. George (water is COLD but its a pretty spot to sit and eat ice cream). Our fave summer flavors are anything with seasonal berries, Lemon Custard and Peach.

Drive along the opposite side of the lake to hit the Appleton Ridge. This is inland Maine at its most lovely – blueberry barrens, rolling hills, the occasional pond or lake. Drive this especially in the fall for completely spectacular views. Too bad for me the camera battery died. So much to capture on such a beautiful day. Oh well.

Since the day was hot, we walked in to a secluded local swimming hole, picking and eating blueberries along the way. Full of John's and blueberries its a wonder we could still float. Cattails, evergreens and calling birds were our only other companions. Just lovely.

wild Maine blueberries

105 towards Hope returned us home to Camden. We couldn't pass up the Hope General Store and its unbelievable selection of beer (over 100 varieties), like the locally brewed Sheepscot Ale. And just across the way you'll spot Pine Ridge Carpentry – the fellas responsible for Birchwood Motel's gorgeous new main house facade.

home sweet home – thanks, Pine Ridge Carpentry!

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