New Religion ?

Montville, Maine - I see this sign every time I drive through Montville, I still don't know what it means.  There is not even a church the next five miles.  Ideas?

Pies on Parade - 2018 Part 2

Rockland ME - We were intrigued by the offering by Maine Coastal Islands Visitor Center, Seaweed Pie.  We were not sure what to expect, come to find out it was a quiche made with seaweed harvested from the Damariscotta River.  The seaweed is dried and flaked, there are samples in the bowl on the left side if the table. I sampled it and it was not bad, as you would expect it was salty.

In front of the 250 Main Hotel is a pizza oven from the Cafe Miranda.  I think the cafe's size does not lend itself to having hundreds of people streaming through it so they setup in the hotel.  Other businesses do the same.  The pizza served was Greek Italian Chicken and Rock Pizza Pies, also Apple Cheddar Pizza with Maple Drizzle.

My vote for the cutest would be these Cream Puffin Sweetie Pies served by the Project Puffin Center.  They are eclair/cream puffs covered with chocolate and a puffin head to finish the treat.

In addition to the sweetie pies, there is live music by the Puffin Plucker Ukulele Group.  When I was there we joined in singing a rendition of "Sweet Caroline"by Neil Diamond.

Unfortunately, there were two locations that we were not able to sample the pies because they ran out...sad.  I guess some people took more than their share.

When you pick up your ticket they give you a plastic badge to display your ticket and a metal fork.  The ticket is so they know who has paid for the event and the fork is so you can eat the pies, you carry the fork to each location.  When you finish with all the locations or when you are too full to continue, you drop off your fork and plastic badge so they can be used next year.  Every location has a drop off point.

Pies on Parade - 2018

Rockland, ME - Yesterday we went to Pies on Parade in Rockland Maine.  This is our third time going to the event we enjoy it so much.  It is put on by the Historic Inns of Rockland Maine as a fund raiser for Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry. Twenty-four businesses take part in the event.  Each location will give out "pie" samples, from fruit pies, pizza, tortes, quiche, muffins, and even shepards pie.

This is a "piehead" delivering what I think is quiche to the Rockland Talbot House. Note: he is wearing a "Wicked Pissah" sweatshirt(Maine humor)

In addition to the quiche are these Blueberry and Raspberry pies at the Berry Manor Inn/Rockland Talbot House location.

This is Erbazzone Italian Savory Pie served by Penobscot Language School.

Not all locations are restaurants or inns as you can see from the language school and here, Flowers by Hoboken and Hawthorn Inn.  Which was serving Zucchini , Quinoa, and Goat Cheese Tart, and Drunken Pumpkin Bourbon Tart.

More from Pies on Parade tomorrow.

Medomak River Ice

 This is what the ice on the Medomak River looks like after the cold spell that we just had.

Note: the sections of salt water that a river runs into is called a "river".  In this case, the Medomak River, the fresh water section is about 3 or 4 miles away.)

The entire river was frozen, and from high and low tides and the wind, this  happens.

Osteria Bucci

Damariscotta ME - I visited this new restaurant in Damariscotta a few days ago.  It is a "hole in the wall" in one of the alleys.

I was greeted by Bernie who owns this establishment.  He wanted to create a place with a feeling of visiting grandmother's house in Italy.

To create that feeling he has this table for patrons to sit around and talk.  On the walls he has photos of his grandparents. You can almost hear "Nonna" say, "Stay for lunch, I just made some Eggplant Parmesana".

Prices are very reasonable, a cup of coffee is a dollar.  Patrons are encouraged to stay, sit around Grandma's table, and just talk.

Trompe l'oeil in Belfast ME

Belfast ME - This door was painted in the trompe l'oeil style to look like an open door. I thought it was pretty cool. Up close it was a bit confusing to see actually what it was. Not until you step back a few feet you can appriciate the painting,

Piling Face

Belfast, ME, We were in Belfast Maine and I saw this piling that someone had carved a face into. It looks like someone would have to do the carving during low tide.

A close-up of the face.

Miss Piggy Mailbox

While driving down the road in Maine, my wife spotted this mailbox which just begged for a photo.

The World's Largest Lobstertrap Tree

Rockland, ME - This is the World's Largest Lobstertrap tree. It contains 152 traps built by Brooks Trap Mill in Thomaston, ME. Each trap weighs 40 pounds and has a festive red door. The tree is 38 feet high.



The tree is adorned with 480 feet of garland, 125 lobster buoys, and 3000 twinkle lights. The tree has been a tradition since 2003.



Topping the tree is an 8 foot fiberglass lobster. After the Christmas season, 100 of these traps are auctioned off to a lobsterman, the tickets are $50.


Here I am taking it easy on one of the "chairs" surrounding the tree.

Dingy of the Coast of Maine

A dingy off the rocky coast of Maine

LOBSTER aka LUNCH

No stay in Maine is complete without a lobster dinner. Here is a nice 3.3 pounder that made a tasty meal for three of us (with a 1.5 lb lobster as a side dish).

MORNING IN MAINE

Lake Damariscotta, ME - This is the view from the cottage we stayed at in Maine.

MODERN LOBSTER TRAPS

Maine - These modern lobster traps are piled on the dock ready to go. The old lobster "pots" are very nostalgic of the old times but not as practical. These plastic covered wire traps have a lot less maintenance than the wooden ones; but a lot less photogenic.

OLD FORD FROM MAINE

Kittery Point, ME - The old car is parked in a parking lot across from the Frisbee 1828 Market. There are a couple of mannequins inside to give it some realism, they look like they are enjoying the ride.

LOBSTER BOAT

Spruce Creek (Kittery), ME - Here is a lobster boat after a long day.

SAILBOAT ON THE SEA

Off the Coast of Maine - OK, we need to get away from the graveyards for awhile. Nothing like a sailboat on a calm sea to relax after eating all that turkey and fixins. So sit back and relax.