Coastal getaway, part 2

Next up: our late afternoon and evening on Thursday.  After seeing all that we ate at the clambake, you can easily imagine that we didn't eat any supper!

In case you missed it...

After disembarking from the Bennie Alice, we walked back to the Harbour Towne Inn  and spent some time relaxing.  Mr T. and I had thought time on the dock sounded nice, but it was so hot out!  In addition, the Adirondack-type chairs on the dock were just a bit too relaxed for me.  One couldn't read, or do needlework -- the chair backs were too far back.  They looked as if they should be adjustable, but weren't.  I sat on the bottom step of the stairs for awhile to keep him company,  but eventually got just too warm.

View from the dock

More of the view from the dock

I retreated to the patio where it was much, much cooler.  My friend Lynne joined me there eventually and we spent the time chatting while she did a hand-sewing project and I crocheted (yes, another hot pad).

The ombre yarn is called "Ahoy".  Perfect for this trip!

This charming window filled with sea glass (it is epoxied onto the back) adds privacy to our patio.

This area is the patio for our room.

Our friends' patio had a pepper plant!

This fascinating vine is a passion flower!

The patio where Lynne and I were sitting.  Picture me in the tall chair at left and Lynne in the other chair.

Also on our patio

I just had to share this because the green plant is the exact shade of green as in the pillow.

Later we went for a walk across the iconic footbridge and admired the many beautiful flowers in various plantings along the way.

I don't ordinarily care for hostas, but they are pretty here.

We caught the footbridge at a rare unoccupied moment.

These stone planters are on property on the other end of the footbridge.

I loved the combination of colors!

We tried out lobster trap chairs.

After ice cream at Downeast Ice Cream Factory and a browse through some of the local shops,

we walked back to our bed and breakfast and settled in for a very good night's rest!

Part 3 to follow ...

Coastal getaway, part 1

If I tried to share all the photos from our recent overnight getaway, it would make for a very long post indeed.  So I am planning three posts detailing Thursday's daytime activities, our late afternoon and evening doings, and then breakfast and the trip back on Friday.

Good friends of ours have been celebrating their wedding anniversaries in Boothbay Harbor, ME, for over thirty years.  They like to stay at a bed and breakfast when possible, and always take the boat trip to Cabbage Island for the famous clambake. You can read more about that here: Cabbage Island Clambakes.  This year, as once before,  we joined them and had a wonderful time away.

We left our house around 6:30 a.m.  Of course no road trip is complete for us without these:

so we made a stop on the way and got a dozen to share.

When we arrived at Boothbay Harbor, our first stop was at a thrift shop my friend Lynne loves to visit.   Creature Comforts Thrift Store is operated to benefit the local humane society and is a wonderful place to shop.  I found a great pair of LL Bean pants for only $2!  Lynne found some great deals as well.

Next we proceeded to the Harbour Towne Inn where we would be staying.

We parked the car, got the luggage unloaded and freshened up a bit before heading out to  Pier 6 to board the Bennie Alice for the trip out to Cabbage Island.

The boat was full and we were not able to get upstairs, so the pictures Mr. T got were all taken through the windows of the boat and so not the best quality.  Still, they have a sort of soft, dreamy look that I really like.

 After an hour or so of touring Boothbay Harbor, we headed for Linekin Bay and arrived at Cabbage Island!  It is really like arriving home and being greeted by members of the family.

We could see the clambake steaming as we approached the island.

There are picnic tables all over and people seat themselves.

The clambake in progress

A closer look

Many occupied picnic tables

Waitstaff take drink orders and, in a short time, the fish chowder arrives. Soon the clambake is ready and people get in line to pick up their trays loaded with lobsters, clams, baked potato, corn on the cob, egg, and onion.  Mr. T and I had barely tasted lobster (other than in a lobster roll) prior to our 2014 visit here, but we sure enjoy it in this context, fresh as fresh can be and perfectly cooked.

The foil packet in the bowl contains delicious steamed clams!  The foil at left holds a baked potato.

Excuse the empty iced tea cups (and the tip jar) in this picture.  Refills were soon brought.

As folks finish with the meal, dessert is then brought to the tables -- gigantic squares of  homemade blueberry cake.  I wish that I had gotten a picture of this cake, but I failed to do so.  I enjoyed mine with coffee, although Mr. T ended up finishing my cake for me.  The servings are huge.

After the meal, we walked about and explored the island a bit.  Mr. T got a picture of the osprey nest and I enjoyed the many beautiful plantings around the island.  There are activities like horseshoes, badminton, and volleyball available as well, and visitors are encouraged to explore every inch of the island.

The osprey nest at one end of the island

These are some of the bluest hydrangeas I have ever seen.  So gorgeous with the roses!

Daisies and hydrangeas

Just a relaxing spot!

Another flower bed

Soon it was time to board the Bennie Alice again and return to the mainland.  What a wonderful afternoon it had been!

Part 2 will follow later ...

Just a glimpse

View from a boat

Mr. T and I were able to take a badly needed overnight getaway this past week.  I hope to post more pictures, perhaps tomorrow, but wanted to just put up a glimpse today.  The getaway was short and much of the time was spent with friends, but we felt that God expanded our time and that we packed a lot of refreshment into it.  We are very thankful for the opportunity to get away, even briefly!

View from our B&B

Vintage strawberries

It's been awhile since I shared any photos of my strawberry collection, which seems to just grow and grow.  People very frequently give me strawberry items as gifts.  A few things in my collection could be classified as vintage (and one or two are antiques) so I thought I would share some of those today.  (I'm realizing there are yet more I haven't taken pictures of yet!)  To simplify my post and save time, I will just post pictures and captions.  These are all older photos.

Little vintage dish given me by a friend; vintage doily.

I use this mug, probably from the 1970s or early 1980s, to hold pens and pencils.

There are a few items in this photo, but the antique bowl is what I wish to show you.

Years ago a friend gave me this antique cookie plate that belonged to her mother.

This pretty strawberry crock holds utensils.

This tray is from the 1960s or 1970s

Little vintage sugar bowl with the same red doily

I think this ceramic cookie jar is vintage too.

My sister-in-law found these McCoy items in cleaning out a house.  They match a crock that I already owned!

The back of a hot pad made by my friend J. using a vintage pattern and vintage feedsack fabric.

Front of the same hotpad

This hot pad is not vintage, but the embroidered design may be.  My friend Ruth found the partially stitched design and used it to create a gift for me!

I have several of these linen towels from the 1950s

Hope you've enjoyed these vintage strawberry things as much as I do.  Linking up today with Share Your Cup Thursday andVintage Charm.