Cathedral Ledge

One last thing concerning yesterday's post. Here's the reason for the chuckles: *reason revealed.* I certainly hope my Aunt Ess doesn't see this. She paid $20.00 for hers in that darling sandwich shop I mentioned back along. The sign hung outside...yes, o.u.t.s.i.d.e. the restroom door. I resisted all urges to purchase one and hang it right in the middle of my beautiful Alice blue bathroom with the vintage mirrors. Why even Aunt Ess has decided that it just doesn't match her decor. (I should say not and I only regret ever pointing it out to her in the first place.) Wonder what she's going to do with that thing. Anyway, Dee was laughing because as she and her hubby drove by there was my aunt standing there holding up this ridiculously bawdy sign. (If I have no comments today, I'll have only myself to blame.)

On to more lofty things...

This is Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, New Hampshire. My aunt and uncle live just over a moutain on the other side. They brought John and me up over said mountain and down the other side calling it a "shortcut." 

While in North Conway, we visited this wonderful shop. It's truly interesting and if you ever get a chance to stop and look around, I  know that you'd enjoy it. 

The iron butterflies below now adorning my chippy white fence (whose days are numbered) were purchased there. Believe me, there are many intriguing works of art in the store and on the grounds and paths around the store. It's just a unique, neat place.

Just popping in more Cathedral Ledge photos with a final wave from John.

Thus ends the tour, though I shall be returning off and on throughout the remainder of summer. I have yet to share our thrift shop adventure where my aunt found me ten yards of Irish linen for $5.99 or the fishing hole or the crop dusting or...

Have a lovely weekend!

Spur of the Moment Tour

Where were we?

Oh, yes. Uncle B, John, and I were waiting in the car while Aunt Ess bounded into the house to ask for permission to haul her niece (moi) and her niece's husband (John, but you knew that) in for a spur-of-the-moment tour. Tip: don't ever own a lovely old home with lots of history if you don't want these sorts of things to happen to you.

mosaic will enlarge...click once and when it opens, click again

Because that morning was so foggy, many of my pictures didn't turn out well. The lighting just wasn't right, but I enjoyed my tour very much and I enjoyed meeting my Uncle's cousin and his cousin's wife Dee as well. They are gracious and welcoming folks.

Dee has the reputation for being the local historian so it would've been easy to settle in and listen to stories for a good long spell right there in her large kitchen where there was room for a rocking chair and all manner of vintage and antique objects lined the walls. I love a kitchen where there is room for a rocker!

Aunt Ess most particularly wanted me to see this beautiful crocheted Lord's Prayer you see hung on the wall behind the dining room table in the center of my mosaic. It was created for Dee by her great-grandmother who worked on it for a decade. Her grandmother was quite elderly when it was begun and the story goes that if Dee would memorize the scripture, the piece would be hers. Dee said that she had the piece professionally framed with proper mats and spacers. The price quoted was $200.00; although, the framer ultimately had to charge her a little more for all the work he had done. There are many tiny stitches all around to hold the blocking and keep the work in place.

That's Dee and Aunt Ess in the top center of the mosaic. They're the two gals who married cousins way back in the 60s.

Kitchen Fun is a little book of recipes given to Dee as a child, which she now keeps on display.

The daguerreotype is of a great-great (-great?) grandfather. Perhaps he is the one or else his son who built the exquisite desk seen in the lower left corner. I had to call John in to see the workmanship on it and I'm only sorry that the photographs didn't come out clearer. (I don't think I can blame the blur on the bad lighting; perhaps it was the coffee at Rosie's.)

The dining room table was built by Dee's husband. He used the store counter top that his father and grandfather and who knows how far back had had in the family business. What a great heritage and a wonderful treasure. The table is a beautiful one and this photo does not do it justice.

There's John patting their sweet dog who was such a love she just begged for pats and attention. John appreciates a dog like that.

And that's their sweet, sweet mustang, which we saw them driving with the convertible top down the next morning. I love the look of arms waving out from a convertible and the sound of Dee's laugh was sweet over the breeze. It seemed to me that people are happier and more relaxed in the country.

Hope that you've enjoyed the tour as well.

Now should you return tomorrow, and I certainly invite you to, we'll talk about mountain-top experiences and perhaps I'll share the reason for all the laughter. Hope to find you right here bright and early.

Why? I'd Really Like to Know

There are enough things that are broken that Blogger could fix without fixing the dashboards, which, as far as I know, were not broken. I like my old dashboard soooooooo much better. Do we never have any choices here? It's as if waking one morning to discover a new kitchen has been installed...an inferior one.

Pardon my rant.

Of Shops and Things

Who doesn't love a quaint shop or a sweet little breakfast nook? All the better if adorned with hanging flower pots that match the OPEN sign like the ones hanging here at Rosie's where we ate a leisurely breakfast the first morning. Hot coffee, plenty of cream, perfectly cooked eggs, crispy bacon, crispy hash browns with soft centers, and buttered toast with strawberry jam...hmmmm. Thick fog that morning finally gave over to the most perfect of sunny days. A real corker!

I've tucked posies into my mosaic from other places and out of order with actual daily events. You'll notice a recurring motif. Fortunately, there are only four of us who know the linear progression of activity. Make that three. John doesn't remember yesterday.

This white birch arbor (below) was so fantastic that I had to take a picture. Oh, John! Do you know where to find some white birch?

Taking a drive with my aunt and uncle is fun and funny. This area is my uncle's ancestral home and he has nestled into the bosom of his family with so many in the community around him being relatives. "That's my cousin's house over there," and a short time later and a bit further down the road, "That's my cousin's house." It reminded me of a line from Jan Karon's In the Company of Others: ...no use to look for our ancestors in the cemeteries and church registers—we meet them in the DNA of the folks across the table, in the street, in the pew.

We drove around so much and in so many circles that I really have no clue where we were. We did eventually arrive at the proverbial fork in the road.

*** 

Toward evening, we drove to Cornish where we were treated to a delicious seafood dinner. Most opted for scallops; I had haddock au gratin. Very tasty!

That evening, this doe crossed the road in front of us and, reaching the railroad track, stopped long enough to have her picture taken.The cute fellow in the center is an alpaca we saw on that drive. All the others were taken at my aunt and uncle's home: a hummer on my aunt's clothesline long enough for me to take a picture, the ducks live on a pond behind their house, and there's sleepy Molly (the poodle) in her napping spot.

***

I've already shown you some lovely homes from that first evening's drive; though I have saved two, which just so happen to be my aunt's favorites. My aunt is affected by all things old and rundown and, like so many of you, worries about abandoned homes and barns and what will become of them. Such is the story of this home nestled at the bottom of a hill.

Even though the moving of such a homestead would be a great expense, Aunt Ess is considering putting it in the trunk piece by piece and carrying it home. Think she could?

Some of you have selected your favorite homes from the ones I've already posted. This is my aunt's favorite below.

It is a typical New England cape with an attached barn usually accessed via an attached shed. It is very similar to the home my first husband and I purchased when we were not yet 25 years old. If one stands in the front room and all the doors are open, one can look straight down to the back wall of the barn.

Now, if you'd like to join me tomorrow, I'm going to tell you about arriving uninvited at one of my uncle's cousin's homes. It's an interesting story. Hope to see you then!

Let's Start at the Beginning

Of the road trip last week that is. Actually, some of you have already figured out that everything I've posted since, with the exception of yesterday and Mosaic Monday's post, is from our visit with my aunt and uncle in Western Maine. They are as far west as folks can go and still be called *Mainers (pronounced in the Maine vernacular as Maineahs); one town further west and they'd be New Hampshirites.

Even Sunday's quotes are incorporated because, while not all of us can say that we are related to a president, my uncle can—John Quincy Adams (sixth president).

Guest Room

I'm totally into mosaics these days...lots of pictures...all at once...they enlarge...Blogger doesn't get its knickers all in a knot...doesn't take up too much of my time...win-win all around.

The guest room was cool and comfortable with this lovely color on the walls and coordinating linens and lovely vintage mirrors and plenty of small tables to set things down and hooks and extra pillows. This visit really makes me want to do better in the hospitality department. To have a guest room beautifully yet simply appointed would be a sweet, sweet thing. Do you have a guest room in your home?

Let's see, tomorrow we shall take a look at some shops and posies perhaps some animals, too.

Enjoy this Wednesday that feels like a Tuesday...


*A true, old-time Mainer usually calls himself/herself a Maineiac.

4th of July Mosaics

Allow me to briefly interrupt the Western Maine road trip to introduce the Eastern Maine road trip taken the 4th of July. The mosaics speak for themselves and, if you look closely, you may find a surprise. All pictures for these mosaics were taken at *Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park.*

Along the Casco Bay Trail

At the Shore

Can't see Casco Bay for the Trees

Fun and Games

Osprey

'Twas a busy, fun, lovely, exhausting day. A lovely Tuesday to you...

Edited to Add: I've linked this post to the Adventure Tour Express at A Bit of the Blarney.

Happy 4th of July

Farm in Western Maine

Is this a prophetic word?

The *Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not. ~ John Adams

* Some minor differences of opinion with the founding fathers over when Independence Day would be celebrated, though what an amazing quote! Dare I say prophecy? I do.

Happy 4th of July! Many blessings...


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Yankee Doodle Dandy Shortcake and Posies~Mosaic Monday

Yankee Doodle Dandy Shortcake

Just as I finished my mosaic for this week, the first peal of thunder cracked. The computer was shut down as promptly as possible and I turned my attention to dessert for tomorrow's picnic. You can find out the particulars from Jen at Our Southern Table. I can say this...it's very good.

 My Own Yard

We returned from shopping to find the yard looking great. Our neighbor, bless his heart, had mowed the front lawn for us. It was raining and, for some reason, nothing looked so good to me as my own little home in my own little neighborhood. I am blessed.

Linking to Mary at Little Red House. Thank you, Mary, for all the work you do to host this fun event weekly. If you've never joined us, why not? It's a lot of fun!

One Indissoluble Bond

Church Steeple on Fish Street



Little Country Church

comments are closed...enjoy your Sunday!