Maine, by the Numbers...

Have just had a wonderful vacation in Maine--here's a little report, by the numbers...

Made it 1100 miles from Western Springs out to Maine, all the way safe and sound, and got 0 speeding tickets (with a sincere thank you to the very understanding officer in Ohio).  Brought 2 dogs and an ambitious 7 books to read along with me.  We washed and put up 28 screens on the windows, only to have 4 solid days of wind and rain totaling 5.5 inches.  Blah!

When the sun did finally reappear, I planted 96 pink Impatiens, and assorted other flowers.  We visited our 3 favorite antique markets, including the massive Nobleboro Antique Exchange found here and unearthed many, many treasures for Clever Girl.  {Treasure list includes: 1 amazing crystal chandler, 1 darling, vintage farmhouse light, 2 superb, vintage oil portraits, and 1 unique, folk-art tiny table with great red paint.}  We were tuned in to 106.9 FM non-stop, as it is the best classical music station, and it runs very entertaining, extremely  local commercials--you can listen to it here.

Several 750 ml bottles of our favorite local mead from Portland were consumed: It's like wine, but somehow better.  Read about it here.  On the foggy days, we hit the vintage book shops.  I found 1 vintage Underwood portable typewriter with it's original case, upon which Maine author E. B. White himself might have written Charlotte's Web while on the Atlantic shore.  

3 vintage James Thurber books were obtained for .50 (!) cents each, and they are full of his dry wit, charming illustrations, wry observations and have that delicious vintage book smell.  Is it possible for books to smell interesting?  I think, indeed, it most definitely is...

As for lobster, while technically 0 is the number of lobsters personally consumed, I can report that the Round Pond Lobster Co-Op was doing quite a brisk business.  They are right on the wharf, and you pick your little buddy weighing between 1 & 4 pounds out of the tank as they are unloaded from the boat.  A quick "steam bath" (for the lobster, not you) and dinner is served.

A bag of "steamers", fresh corn, a cup of butter and the ubiquitous bag of Cap Cod Chips round out the feast.  Personally I have the grilled cheese, which isn't half bad either.  It's BYOB, and it's TONS of fun to go!  Bring your binoculars to get a good, close look at the boats in the harbor.  Everything from a dingy  to $1,000,000 + Hinckley's are on display.

All-in-all, a 100% perfect trip, and I can't wait to go back!

PS--As per usual, my grand total of Moose spotted was a whopping 0!
My quest continues...