September to Maine - Day 4

We slept in.  The only thing we had to do today was get home - and even that was open to discussion if we found someplace nice to stay at along the way.  There was no set time when you had to be seated for breakfast.  No community dining.  Do what you want, when you want.  So - we slept in.
But as usual, hungry mouths must be fed and we were lulled into action by the smells of breakfast below.   J2 declared the coffee good - which was a resounding accolade.  The coffee service is set up in the main hall and is self-serve:

September to Maine - Day 3

Although I really really really wanted to wake up before sunrise and go on another photo trip, the fact that this was a vacation (and my favorite quilt which J2 had very kindly packed and brought along) made it impossible to rise much before breakfast time.  The second seating is at 8:30 at the Peacock House.  We fixed ourselves coffee and puerh tea and got ready.  This time, I had decided to take a few pictures of the wonderful place that we had called home for the last two nights.  We would be leaving today for Blue Hill and homeward bound.  I went downstairs first to take pictures.  I met Dennis and asked permission to take pictures and he very graciously consented to them ...
This is the dining room.  The door straight ahead leads out to the backyard, and the white retangular window is the service window to the kitchen. Straight ahead is also a floor-to-ceiling hutch with a nice collection of china and service.

September to Maine - Day 2

We woke before sunrise and tiptoed down the steps.  I made puerh tea, Janet made brazilian coffee and we greeted the captain who was waiting to be let out.  We had no idea that he was to be let out so we gently asked him to stay back and off we were to Campobello Island for the sunrise.
It is a very good idea to scout out a place a day or two beforehand, if you are planning to take sunrise pictures.  Easier said than done.  We arrived early and then proceeded to guess our way around Campobello.  Luckily for us, we ended up at Herring Cove which is a beautifully arced pebble beach, well before sunrise.

September to Maine - Day 1

The first night in Portland has been restful  There is a convention of WWII naval veterans from the USS Strong staying with us at Portland's Wyndham Towers.  Unlike the raucous group we encountered the last time we were here, these are pretty quiet and well behaved.  The men open car doors for their women and stand around attentively.  But we have things to eat and places to go.  We pack up and head back into downtown Portland in search of breakfast.

A blog we had read earlier exclaiming the virtues of donuts was a beacon, summoning us to Holy Donuts on Middle Street.  Since it was right next to Duckfat restaurant, we knew exactly how to get there!  According to J2 who is known far and wide for her total and unwavering devotion to extremely good coffee (and that is putting it mildly), they had acceptably good coffee.  One hurdle over, we proceeded to the donut offerings.  Please visit the original blog for excellent pictures of the donut choices. There were four types available that morning: Bacon and Cheddar; Maine Potato; Potato and Ginger; Chocolate; and one with Coconut flakes (which neither of us even considered).  Cheese and Bacon – although not technically a donut but a fritter was delicious (what’s there not to be delicious about fat and more fat fried in fat?) – I scarfed down two.  One each of Chocolate and Maine Potato and we were ready to move on to the next culinary bait in Portland.  Our current assessment of Holy Donuts?  Good – but Portland still needs a donut shop that makes outstanding donuts  - and we can wait. 

September to Maine .... Day 0

After several weeks of planning, plotting, scheduling, negotiating and other related necessary activities, J2 (my better half who wishes to remain anonymous) and I are finally ready.  I will meet her in Portland for dinner from whence we shall explore previously uncharted territory and make it ours - at least in memory.  So dear reader, we share with you our recent escapades in these following pages.

I depart Boston on a clear late-summer evening where the air is crisp and Boston's landmarks are bright.

Wednesday becomes Friday

Heading to South Station bypassing beggars

Hoping to reach Maine in time

Flashy things ...

The price of an ounce of gold became higher today than the price for an ounce of platinum.
Demand is truly for the shinier things rather than for the rarer.

Summer Earth

Summer grass               thrown      into clay

Once brown earth         becomes    bright colors

Understanding Photography .... my story....

“Photography as artistic expression”

Although I have been taking pictures – most probably since I was about 17, when Aunty Em Gorman handed me a Polaroid camera in Burlingame, California – I was like everyone else. My objective was fairly simple and consisted mainly of pointing my camera at interesting things and clicking away without thinking much more than to record a scene for future reference. Some of my pictures received approval and others were kindly noted as “interesting”.

Many years later, working at Polaroid’s ID group, I was exposed to photography as an art