Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Reaping What He Sowed


"Reap what you sow"
"What goes around comes around."
"Your actions all have consequences."
"We sow in one season, we reap in another."
"...And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (One of my personal favorites)
"Sow a thought you reap an act. sow an act, you reap a habit. sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap a consequence."
Yesterday and today were reaping days......for Horseradish.
 It was time.
Time to reap what he sowed.
As previously posted in early May, the Horseradish was planted!(click to view here--> It's Official, Ready, Set, Grow).





























He pulled
He tugged.
He dug. 
Phew, those were hearty roots..... Like digging up the roots of a sunflower!

























Chopping, scraping, cleaning, grinding


Straining, after food processor


Mixing, adding a few ingredients


A tasting before placing in jars.......WOOZER! What a zing!


Filled jars are ready for the freezer.




















The aroma made my eyes water!
All of my sinuses have been officially cleared out!
BTW.... Did you know that horseradish is connected to a wide variety of health benefits? (Weight loss, respiratory, immune system, heart health, cancer)  click here --> HEALTH BENEFITS OF HORSERADISH

So reap away my friends. Just remember:
"What we are today is the result of what we have been thinking and the way we have lived in the past."
"Those who act wisely today will have wisdom in the future to make wise decisions.
"The same is true with finances, personal relationships, and spiritual, physical and mental health.
"Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time......"










Thursday, September 22, 2016

September 12-15, 2016 Mount Desert Island

Schoodic Point



















Sept 12-15, 2016
This concludes the last of my Maine blogs. It is quite lengthy, but WE SAW AND DID A LOT IN 4 DAYS. In case you missed the others, you can read them by going to my blog and searching for any of the 9(nine) Sept 2016 posts (listed by title, on the left).--> www.undertheflaps.blogspot.com
After checking into our motel, getting maps, and brochures, we headed to Somesville, Bass Harbor Light, and Thurston's.
One of the oldest settlements on Mount Desert Island is a small village called SOMESVILLE . Located 'down the road apiece' on route 102, is the Footbridge of Somesville. This quaint setting is probably the most photographed man made structure on Mount Desert Island. Here are 2 of my iphone versions!


























Next, we drove down the  SOUTHWEST HARBOR section(see map below) along the inner coast line.
Each of the places recommended to us was more beautiful than the previous.
BASS HARBOR HEAD LIGHT was INCREDIBLE!
You'd think I liked lighthouses!
We used utmost caution venturing down to the rocks below. There were no guardrails for safety.
Once again, our camera tripods came in handy.



































We had clear skies during the day and night!
















After Bass Harbor, we headed to the highly recommended THURSTON'S LOBSTER POUND for a late lunch. I refuse to tell you what I consumed!, but it also included blueberry pie! After lunch, we included a trip to Seawall, which is also on the Southwest Harbor side of Mount Desert!































Mount Desert is one big island, 'hanging off the coast of Maine like an enormous lobster claw', imagine that! It includes Acadia, Schoodic Peninsula, Ellworth, Jordon Pond, Seal Harbor, Bar Harbor, Sand Beach, Otter Cliff, the Cranberry Islands, just to name a few! (Oh how I wish I had known about Anemone Cave !But, of course, I'm finding out that if you go there any other time than LOW TIDE.........one would be carried out to sea!). I will get that on the next trip! Here is a map!



































The first morning in Mount Desert, we left our motel EARLY..... to view the sunrise.
Cadillac Mountain is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard, and the first place to view sunrise in the United States (depending on the time of year).
***** For most of the rest of the year, Cadillac's sunrise is not the first. That honor goes, from late March through mid-September, to Mars Hill (Maine) (a 1,748-foot mountain) near the Canadian border. That's because in winter, the sun rises farther to the south. Sunrise moves north along the horizon during the warmer months.***** Next trip, we will include that as well as Mount Katahdin , which is at Baxter State Park at the NORTHERN END of the APPALACHIAN TRAIL! *****
Cadaillac Mountain is one of over 20 mountains on Mount Desert Island, which includes Bar Harbor! The HIGHLIGHT of Cadillac Mountain for us was the magnificant view........and of course the hundreds of people who also came to watch the SUNRISE!
















































"Bar Harbor sits in a particular coastal part of the State referred to as DOWN EAST Maine. The term, Down East, has a long history dating back over two hundred years when large schooners, filled with goods on their way back to England or elsewhere in Europe, had to sail down wind to the east - hence, Down East. While visiting, you will often hear the tell-tail sound of a “Mainer” speaking with that special Down East accent. Bar Harbor is pronounced like “Bah-Hah-Bah” and lobster sounds like “lob-stah!” , Acadia is not ARcadia, it's Uh-cadia. And Mount Desert to the Mainer is Mount DESSERT(You may want to begin practicing now.). 
Because Bar Harbor is a port destination for cruise ships, the area is filled with MANY restaurants, shops, and entertainment. It is a high energy day/night spot.
Here are a few photos from Bah-Hah-Bah at night!






































 JORDON POND, Acadia National Park, was our next destination.  (Popovers and tea...a 100 yr old tradition and time to catch our breath) The North and South Bubbles  and the reflection in the pond were stunning!
I had no fear of walking on rocks or in the water!


We had the perfect maps for getting to know Mount Desert
























































*****About those Bridges in Acadia******
Ron was the designated driver.
He swears that we drove under 4 of these bridges 16 times!!!!
All of the 16 majestic stone bridges were designed, financed, and supervised by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Stanley Brook Bridge welcomes drivers from the town of Seal Harbor to Acadia National Park.
Check out Joe's Guide for a list of Rockefeller's "CLASSIC 16" ( we saw at least 8)











PARK LOOP ROAD is a ONE WAY road around Acadia National Park, for most of the road.. If you miss your destination, you will be driving around the loop again. (One night, late, late.... we were actually BACKING UP on the loop, as we missed the turn off for our destination......visual here..... it is VERY DARK!)
Yes, that would be THUNDER HOLE
The clear night skies were calling my name.
The moon was bright.
It was either late at night or early morning (not sure which).
We visited this site several times, as I was in awe!!!!!
*****If you want to 'hear' the thunder, visit Thunder Hole at HIGH TIDE. The roar from the ocean as it gushes in the hole (to the right of the steps in photo below) is pretty incredible.  

Here are 2 daytime iphone photos of Thunder Hole.

We are standing at the bottom of the steps looking at Otter Cliffs

Nighttime photography at Thunder Hole








Moonlit starry night at Thunder Hole















Moonlit starry night at Thunder Hole
















Cold,dark,windy,clear at Thunder Hole. Photo taken with timer and tripod





















































The night skies offer so many possibilities to photographers. After reading, researching flickr, and experimenting on my own, I've concluded that my knowledge of nightphotography is just beginning! My friend Matt Pollock captured this on Long Pond in Acadia! He used the photoshop addin Star Spikes Pro to create the straight line comets in his post processing. Check out the Big Dipper above the dam!




SAND BEACH was lovely... and quiet! (also on the one-way Park Loop Road)















 SCHOODIC POINT was one of our last OH-WOW places to visit! It's located in Winter Harbor, Maine, near Ellsworth.(more granite, pounding surfs, thousands of boulders, beautiful vistas).
We did not get to close to the edge, as there is no warning of rouge waves, and you can be washed out to sea!








































Granite













































Just for kicks, on our way home, we stopped briefly in Bangor Maine.
Stephen King's house practically screams "Boo!"






































Good Bye, Maine..........Until next time. ♥







Wednesday, September 21, 2016

September, 2016 CAMDEN, the Jewel of the Coast

Camden Maine is picturesque! Camden calls itself the "Jewel of the Coast". It is a beautiaful seaport town with a harbor full of sail boats.
Our first  'MUST-DO' excursion was visiting Mount Battie.        
The vistas overlooking Penobscot Bay are breath-taking.
Did you know... The writing of the poem "Renascence" by Edna St Vincent Millay was composed while enjoying the view from the summit of Mount Battie.
                                               All I could see from where I stood
                                               Was three long mountains and a wood;
                                               I turned and looked the other way,
                                               And saw three islands in a bay.
                                               So with my eyes I traced the line
                                              Of the horizon, thin and fine,
                                              Straight around till I was come
                                              Back to where I'd started from;.........
I think I could sit at this place, called Mount Battie, all day, as well, and maybe compose a line or two! The remainder of the poem is listed in this link: RENASCENCE


To the left of the photos (not shown above) is the  CURTIS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE , accessible by boat only! We caught a glimpse of it on our windjammer cruise.
The Angelique schooner shown below, is tucking in behind Curtis Island, just before lifting her dark sails.
photo credit to Dan Dishner. at Coffee on the Porch
Speaking of COFFEE.... yes, please!
If you are reading this blog on facebook, check out Dan's site! COFFEE ON THE PORCH. He is also on Instagram. What a great way to check out Camden, Maine!..... and get your coffee fix as well!

After 3 days on the schooner, I can tell you that I took one VERY LONG HOT shower.  LORD CAMDEN INN fit the bill as our last night in Camden. It is in the heart of downtown Camden. We walked to most of our destinations from the inn. The places that we stayed during our Maine vacation included HEARTY breakfasts!


Downtown Camden is filled with shops and lots of tourist attractions.
The Smiling Cow is a third generation store, with lots of unique gifts.We, however, were on a mission to SEE rather than BUY, so off to our next destination we ran.
Camden has an abundance of B&Bs like the one our friend stayed in, days before we arrived!

Did I mention that I had lob-stah while I was in Maine?

We enjoyed walking around at night, especially the Camden dockside!
Boats of all sizes, shapes, and kinds, filled Penobscot Bay~






CAMDEN, MAINE is an energizing town! 

September, 2016, Pirates and THE MERCANTILE


This post is not about pirates, although the photo below reminds me of  the movie Pirates of the Caribbean.(Before I saw the Mercantile up close and personal, these visions ran through my head.)

It's about the schooner MERCANTILE, in Camden Maine!
She is one of 3 schooners owned and operated by Captain Ray and Ann Williamson of
MAINE WINDJAMMER CRUISES

Captain Ray




Photo taken by Captain Steve
She is beautiful!
.... and OLD....and BIG


The Mercantile is a National Landmark coasting schooner, built in 1916...the REAL DEAL!
Board planked decks, hempen rigging, canvas sails...."but completely rebuilt, restored, and refitted for comfort and safety".
Here is the interior layout:
We were in cabin #9 (Photo credit by Maine Windjammer Cruises)
Described in brochure as spacious and warm.(quite cozy)
The three days that were spent on this 115' historic wooden 2-masted schooner will forever be etched in my memory! I'm not real sure what I thought this experience would be...., but I came away with a deeper appreciation for the crew of years ago and the work that they did...day after day after day after day! IT WAS HARD WORK, my friends! (and I'll never complain EVER AGAIN about small bedroom, bathroom, kitchen quarters.....but I would do this again, in a heart beat!). The passengers were encouraged to be a part of the excursion.... and we did!
Make-up?? hahahaha.
Hairdryer? hahaha.
Shower? hahahahaha 
Captain Steve did an outstanding job of navigating, and directing the trip! Steve could spin that schooner around on a dime! HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING!



The pirate  crewman  gourmet chef, in charge of the scrumptious meals and snacks was Hunter. He left no stone un-turned.(we even had fresh baked bread!). No microwave or Genn-Air, my friends, everything was cooked with WOOD.
We purchased the cookbook, as we were impressed with the items prepared!





The other 2 crew members were OBIE, and DAVID....... they picked up the slack, were multi-talented, smart, and knew how to do EVERYTHING! What a sense of humor!
Thanks OBIE for telling me about the corn! (He grew up on a farm. Did you know that each strand of silk on an ear of corn represents a kernel of corn?) DAVID knew so much about the stars and showed us lots of zodiacs in the crisp clear night sky.














One evening, we anchored and were rowed into shore for a lobster fest! 
Our talented crew knew how to put on a show!
Our destination was at Fort Pownall, built in 1759, to defend the area from the French in Canada. Would you believe there was another light house there? The light house (Fort Point Light) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Our trip, after dinner, back to the schooner was breathtaking!
The stars in the night sky were equally breathtaking.
Several of the passengers slept on the deck in their sleeping bags.


For those of you that may not be sailors, here is a simple diagram with just a few terms!
This is the extent of my sailing knowledge.

If you ARE sailors, here is an A-Z list of terms that we heard on our outing . Click here---> TERMINOLOGY.
Our course for our trip:
(photo courtesy of Maine Windjammer Cruises)
Not all days on the Mercantile were picture-perfect sunny.
One day was filled with mist, fog, and a LOT of WIND.
Postcard courtesy of MWC store.
After 3 days on Mercantile at sea, it's OFFICIAL! I'm ...