The weather Monday was gorgeous so we decided to pay a visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor. A friend suggested we go and i'm sure glad we went, what a treasure! Not too many plants were in bloom but in a few weeks the scenery should be spectacular! The gardens are a must-see for anyone visiting the Boothbay Harbor region. Our visit was followed by lunch at the King Eider's Pub in Damariscotta. I highly reccommend the BLT Wrap with fries!

Maine has more than 60 lighthouses marking its shoreline. West Quoddy
Lighthouse, the eastern most lighthouse in the United States, marks the point where
the sun first rises each day in this country. Cape Neddick Lighthouse, better known
as "Nubble Light," and Portland Head Lighthouse are two of America’s best-known
and most visited lighthouses. Camden has Curtis Island Light, Curtis Island was named for Cyrus Curtis, the publishing tycoon who founded the Saturday Evening Post. The tower was built in 1896, 25 feet of brick with a green fourth-order lens. Today the Coast Guard maintains the light and the town of Camden maintains the rest of the island.

Sometimes a rainy day helps us remember that simple pleasures in life can be the most memorable. Taking your dog for a walk, or spending time with family and friends is often more precious than any material object.

© All rights reserved. 

March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm tens of millions of people in hundreds of cities around the world will come together once again to make a bold statement about their concern about climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour.  Earth Hour symbolizes that by working together, each of us can make a positive impact in the fight against climate change. Here in the U.S., it sends a message that Americans care about this issue and stand with the rest of the world in seeking to find solutions to the escalating climate crisis.

Sunday was a perfect day for a visit to Kinney's Sugar House in the town of Knox. The house was packed with visitors eager to taste the season's first batch of maple syrup. The folks at Kinney's are hoping for a record of close to 2,000 gallons this season.

Large 40 gallon drums were being filled from the evaporator while onlookers tasted samples from the current batch.

Kinney's uses a modern reverse osmosis system to remove 30 percent of the water from the sap before evaporation.

Maple cotton candy attracted the youngsters.

Maple candies were enjoyed by everyone.

We topped off the day with vanilla ice cream and maple syrup, yum!

Maine Maple Sunday is always the fourth Sunday in March. Most
producers participate every year, but when it falls on Easter Sunday,
many producers are open on a different day. Enjoy the first sweet taste
of spring in Maine! For more information, and to find a participating sugar shack near you, visit Maine Maple Sunday.

Photographer Patrisha McLean has published a new book of portraits of Camden residents that I can't wait to see. Posters are up around town announcing a book launch party at Village Restaurant on Saturday, April 4th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Each poster displays a different portrait of a familiar local face, they are really terriffic!

The Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce 2009 Jewel of the Maine Coast magazine is now available. Order your copy here http://www.camdenme.org/information_request/ 

Dirigo (Latin "I direct" or "I lead") is the state motto of Maine, having once been the only state to hold its elections in September. (Politicians kept their eyes on these elections for evidence of a trend. Prior to the New Deal, Republicans claimed "As Maine goes, so goes the nation.")

The resolutions adopting the seal upon which this motto appears, give some insight into the meaning intended by the state motto: "...as the Polar Star has been considered the mariner's guide and director in conducting the ship over the pathless ocean to the desired haven, and as the center of magnetic attraction; as it has been figuratively used to denote the point, to which all affections turn, and as it is here intended to represent the State, it may be considered the citizens' guide, and the object to which the patriot's best exertions should be directed".

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Black Capped Chickadee is a common sight in the woods and at backyard bird feeders throughout the state. The brownish-black bill is short, straight and rounded. The Chickadees glossy head is large with a short neck and dark brown eyes. Its body is thick. The feathers are blended and short. The tail is long, arched, and rounded, with twelve slender feathers. Feet and claws are greyish-blue. The whole upper part of the head and the hind neck is pure black, as is a large patch on the throat and fore-neck. The Chickadee is approximately 5 inches in length. William D. Hall, of Castine,--- wrote a letter to the Legislature in 1927, recommending the chickadee become the state bird of Maine.