Snapshots From My Liberal Bubble

A large part of the allure of New England is its timelessness. The barns, the cedar shake, the rock walls, the colonial architecture. It's an unchanged, idealized, airbrushed snapshot of Americana to bask in while you eat your lobster roll and your blueberry (apple?) pie.

We're in Maine this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, 21st year running. We stayed three nights in Kennebunkport for a little R&R before the family gathering in Bangor. 

There are no awkward dinner conversations across party lines here. It's a retreat to our family bubble. And you know what? For a vacation, for this week, it's fantastic.

Snapshots from Downeast

There are so many places we want to go, but somehow we always find ourselves going back to Maine. Sometimes I think we should mix it up more than we do, but then we have a week like we just did and I think life couldn't get any sweeter.

We visited family in Orono/Bangor, which includes relaxation, good eats, good shopping, long walks, and great conversation. Then we were lucky enough to stay at my cousins' recently converted barn on Mount Desert Island just down the road from Bar Harbor. And it was completely amazing. My watch stopped working, my phone died inexplicably, there were no screens and no wifi. Just the three of us, games, arts and crafts, food, and nature. The weather was obscene: warm fall days, crisp nights, clear skies, no rain, foliage popping.

I'd call it a retreat, only it felt more like paddling out to something very alive and ever present. We are grateful to have a home away from home up North, or Downeast as the case may be, and to return home anew.

Red sailboat seen from a run on Route 3.

The magic barn.

Painting rocks and leaves.

Glad to know the art of the hardcover non-fiction is still alive.

The barn manages to be both austere and completely chic.

Making a wish at waterfront park in Bar Harbor. 

More wishes at the fountain in the Village Green.

"Skipping" stones at Jordan Pond after popovers (and chicken tenders).

From the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia… A third cruise ship joined the next day!

Much needed family bonding and fun.

Starstruck

We're up in Maine on vacation, and we sold our house. The way life should be. 

"Birthsgiving"

I was wished a Happy Birthsgiving, my birthday falling on Thanksgiving weekend as it sometimes does, and I couldn't believe I had never heard that one before. 

It was a great weekend. Cold, but filled with family, food, shopping, and the outdoors. What more do you want?!

Happy Thanksgiving

Greetings from Maine

Running across the river...

And through the University of Maine.

Aunt Rose's infamous Chex Mix.

Peggy's pumpkin pie!

And I started knitting again! An infinity scarf with tassels.