Newest Rug Obession: Big & Coral

Posted on | August 14, 2010 | 11 Comments

Today I went to the New Hampshire Antique show in Manchester, NH and saw so many beautiful things. I met some great dealers that I am looking forward to working with once we get to the decorating phase of our project.

I can’t stop thinking about this rug I spotted. Why oh why can’t I afford a new roof and a rug at the same time? I love the colors and it’s the perfect size for my green room. I’ve heard/read corals are really rare. This rug was in mint condition. Ug! I want it. The dealer was really helpful, knowledgeable and lives in Yarmouth, Maine. Check out his store A.E. Runge Jr. Oriental Rugs here. The rug was about 8 x 10 and I believe late 1800’s? He’s asking $4,700.

If you just gasped at the price remember this is a rest of my life kinda rug. When you spend this kind of money you have to really, really, love decorating and willing to spend everyone dime you have on it. This rug was mint, big, and a rare color combo. I’m sure I could find something similar with a little wear and tear for half the price. The search continues but how awesome is it spot beautiful things even if you can’t afford them?

A.E. Runge, Jr. Oriental Rugs
108 Main Street
Yarmouth, Maine
(207) 846-9000

Owls Head General Store

Posted on | August 11, 2010 | 10 Comments

In many of the small towns in Maine general stores and post offices are the only thing in the center of town. Some are regular convenience stores others have hot food and sandwiches. My sister discovered Owls Head General Store last week on her vacation. Food Network named their Seven Napkin Burger the best burger in Maine. I would have to agree it’s pretty darn good—moist, fresh tomatoes, great bun = delicious! I would give it an A for classic burger taste. My all time fav burger is the Chargrilled Burger with Roquefort Cheese & Shoestrings from The Spotted Pig in the West Village of New York; which I should note is 3x’s the price of the Seven Napkin.

The general store is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner serving simple family-friendly fare at reasonable prices. Diners can eat inside or out. The garden out back has picnic tables and a frog pond. The building to the right is the town’s post office but the upstairs is an apartment that can be rented by the night or week.

We went on a Friday night. The girls ran around while the adults enjoyed a six-pack and slices of fresh homemade rhubarb pie. No crowds or lines this place is pretty close to perfect. Take dinner to go and head to Owls Head Lighthouse for a view of the ocean.
p.s. That’s the best photo I could get of the Jones. Classic family portrait, right?

Owls Head General Store
2 South Shore Drive
Owls Head, Maine
(207) 596-6038

Category: maine

Maine Family Weekend

Posted on | August 9, 2010 | 14 Comments

We joined my sister and her family in Maine for a long weekend and little r&r. We ate lobster for breakfast, lunch, dinner and I will confess I’m done. I’m realizing I’m partial to the lobster roll rather then the whole lobster. After dinner we brought the lobster shells down to the beach for the birds. I’m in love with the photo I snapped of Emma 7, above.

We spent the entire day at the beach on Friday. Running in the waves, searching for shells, taking naps, and eating lobster rolls for lunch. None of us could remember spending the whole day at the beach from high tide to low to high since we were kids. My nieces loved the trip. Why is it that kids are not at all bothered by the cold ocean? I was shivering most of the time and Sydney 4, was looking at my goose bumps like, what are those? Below photos and a few clips I made into a short video.

If your interested in renting a house in midcoast Maine (Camden-Port Clyde area) check out Summer Maine. A number of houses are available on the ocean for week long rentals.

Category: maine

Lobster Rolls Delivered From Maine

Posted on | July 16, 2010 | 10 Comments

If you can’t make it to Maine you can get lobster rolls delivered. I chuckled this morning to find a delivery from Bayley’s Lobster Pound at my sister’s doorstep in Westchester at 9 am (I’m in NY this week for work). I had no idea they were coming. Inside the box was fresh whoopie pies, rolls, and lobster meat for six. Amazing and so fancy, right?

I found out she’s having a cocktail party tomorrow night. Who doesn’t love to be treated to real lobster? The roll is the key. I can never find the right roll outside Maine. I know my grandmother is reading this and laughing too–she lives down the street from Bayley’s. If you want to make authentic whoopie pies without paying for overnight delivery check out me and my grandmother making a batch last summer. For more info on lobster delivery contact Bayley’s in Maine here. Have a great weekend!

p.s. I added photos from the party below. It was lobster themed with lobster plates, napkins, and decor. How cute does my sister look in her lobster necklace. Perfect summer party!

Bayley’s Lobster Pound
9 Avenue 6
Scarborough, Maine
(800) 932-6456

Category: maine

Smelt Fishing In Maine

Posted on | February 8, 2010 | 14 Comments

4318632517 23ca99655f Smelt Fishing In Maine

Photos above by Gregg Elliott

On Saturday night Greg and I headed north past Portland, following route 1, and then turning down a long dirt road into pitch darkness. It was a balmy 12 degrees out, we were bundled up, our truck packed with supplies, ready to experience a real Maine tradition, smelt fishing in February. Smelts are found in the salt waters of Maine as they run upstream to spawn. The most common way of fishing for them in Maine is by setting up a shanty on the ice covered tidal estuaries in the winter months. River Bend Smelt Camps in Bowdoinham rents shanties fully equipped with a stove, wood, electricity, lines, and bait. We called ahead and booked a shanty on the outgoing tide; 8pm to 2 am with my brother Gregg and fishing guide Greg. Yes, it was me and three Greggs. Strange I know.

We headed out across the ice seeing about a dozen shanties in the distant. I started to breath heavy as I realized I couldn’t see where the ice began or ended. “We’re on the ocean, right?” I yelled ahead. How could this be safe? Does salt water even freeze? I calmed myself by looking above at the star filled sky. “I won’t die”, I kept telling myself. The boys were already about 20 yards in front of me completely unfazed.

Inside the shanty was a wood floor, wood burning stove, a cord of wood, and several wooden chairs. Along the outer walls of the shanty are long gaps exposing the water below the ice. Above hang a series of lines with hooks mounted on a pole. The pole allowed us to jiggle all the lines at once enticing the fish below. We brought along a small rod to get the full experience.

We caught about 8 fish; 5 smelts and a few perch. We battered them in cajun seasonings and then fried them in a cast iron skillet on a camp stove inside the shanty. The boys cut off the heads and tails and swallow them whole. I was a little pickier. I used the fresh lemon and a fork.

As the night went on the shanties around us got louder. Groups of men were singing and telling stories were the “f-word” was the subject and adjective. The ice around us cracked as the tide went out. After a few beers, my fears were replace by, “did you hear that one?”

Looking for a fishing guide in Maine? Greg Bostater came with us on our trip. Great guy. Check out his site maineriverguides.com.

River Bend Smelt Camps
24 Wallentine Rd (off Route 24)
Bowdoinham, Maine
(207) 666-5945