Our night time visitors include deer, fox, opossums, skunks and raccoons. I put out a bowl of water and critter specific food but they all nibble the bird seed that spills on the ground.
All of them except this fellow.
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Who prefers his straight from the source.
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You wouldn’t think his chunky little butt could shimmy up that pole, but he climbs it with ease.
Maine is a tourist state and while natives understand the economy’s need for visitor’s dollars, it doesn’t mean we enjoy all our favorite spots being too crowded to enjoy while they’re here.
Hence “shoulder season”.
That glorious month after summer but before leaf peeping when there’s not a tourist to be found.
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Case in point?
The Dockside Grill in Falmouth.
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You can’t squeeze your way in here during high season… but right now?
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A raspberry thyme Rickey and ocean view can be savored in peace.
I love a good craft show. People can be incredibly clever and creative and I like coming home with handmade treasure.
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So when I heard there was a show at Laudholm Farms on the Wells Estuary we took a drive down the coast even though it was overcast, drizzling rain and foggy.
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It was an amazing show and all the craftspeople were under cover, be it tents or barns.
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The problem?
I was expecting to find crafts and what I found was art that usually resides in galleries. There was amazing jewelry, fabulous paintings, unique pottery, intricate woodworking and stunning metalwork. Unfortunately I didn’t plan on spending $1,800 on a pair of silver earrings or $6,000 for some stained glass.
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The artists have a very strict no photography rule so these giant outdoor pieces were the only things I could sneak a shot of.
And while the items we saw were beautiful, the cost of the things I wanted reached $15,000 before we were halfway through.
Needless to say I left empty handed.
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No, I didn’t even consider pickle body lotion.
Our next stop was for a late lunch/early dinner at a local landmark, the Bull and Claw.
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This restaurant has been in operation since 1973 and to be honest I don’t think it’s been redecorated since the 1980’s.
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Plastic tablecloths, plastic duck decoys, artificial flowers … I wasn’t holding much hope.
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But my cranberry margarita was decent and cheap and the menu was large.
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Husband attacked the soup and salad bar with good results.
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And we were pleasantly surprised to find our meals flavorful, well prepared and more than amply sized. Medium rare prime rib and stuffed shrimp with baked potato and broccoli for me, turkey dinner with mashed potato, stuffing and broccoli for the husband.
Our bill was well under a hundred dollars and though the atmosphere was dated and more than a little kitschy, I honestly wouldn’t mind going back.
One of our mainstay restaurants when we drive up the coast to Damarriscotta is King Eider’s.
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A favorite of tourists and locals alike, it’s become a landmark.
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Located in an old, small brick building it’s tiny but mighty.
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Like its cocktails.
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I had the top listed selection, but are we really doing the second?
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Apparently, yes.
We are.
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I always order the crab cakes as they’re advertised… and always used to be… the best. This trip? Not so much. Hard, over cooked and over breaded. The husband’s giant mussels were the better choice.
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Husband’s broiled haddock? Huge, plentiful and perfectly prepared.
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My braised duck sandwich (when in Rome) with chopped apples, dried cranberries and melted cheddar? Dry and tasteless with barely a hint of the promised fruit.
Working up an appetite walking around the lighthouse made us more willing than usual to try an unassuming little local spot for lunch.
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Yes, it was called the Happy Clam.
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And to be honest, he did look happy … so we ducked inside.
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The raspberry frozen daiquiri? Awful.
Clearly the clam wasn’t drinking that.
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Seeing the German flag proudly displayed out front and learning that the owner’s wife hailed from there, I took a chance on the schnitzel fingers appetizer.
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And oh my…
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Was I ever glad I did. Perfectly cooked, light and flavorful with the most delicious mushroom and thyme sauce. I haven’t had any this good since my Austrian mother passed away.
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Husband went with a puréed lobster bisque which was equally as good.
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And though I felt like I should have ordered the aforementioned bivalves, I opted for a fabulous crabmeat roll instead.
Totally stuffed, we stepped out of there happy as the namesake clam.
Until my husband spotted a yard sale…
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And bought a fistful of old wooden hangers and rulers.
River's world..... 