Back at Bailey Island, I watch boats sail by lobster pots. The summer’s heat feels less oppressive with a cool ocean breeze lifting my hair. It’s warm enough to brave the icy Maine waters without a wetsuit.
For a special treat, we’ll have lobster, coleslaw and mudpie parfaits at Cook’s Lobster House. After dinner we watch the sunset. It’s like being on vacation at home. I guess we do live in “Vacationland,” as it says on the license plate.
Rainbow colors reflect in the water. The sky is deeper than the sea.
The pink lavenders after sunset are even more beautiful than the orangey flares that precede them.
The moon shines over the twilight sea. Islands float on the horizon as the boat sails back into the harbor (click images to enlarge.)
At home, we observe the British tradition of “sundowners”on our deck. My English husband prepares a Pimm’s Cocktail for guests. We grow borage in our herb garden for the edible purple flowers that garnish the cocktail. Beware: it is stronger than it tastes.
Recipe for Pimm’s Cocktail:1 part Pimm’s No. 1 Cup to 3 parts Sprite (Lemonade soda in Europe)
thinly sliced cucumber, lemon, orange
garnish: fresh mint leaves and borage flowers
Cheers! Savor these last days of summer….
35 comments:
Sarah
The pink lavender sunset is very calming--how lucky you are to live so close to a beautiful island. Also, the picture of you and Stella is sweet!
Tracy :)
Such wonderful evening light.
Can we ever get enough of it?
Your photos are elegant and very beautiful.
Hope we catch up with one another in person before too very long.
I think your dog and Buster would be fast friends....
The perfect evening - what more could one want. You are blessed.
Lovely photographs and a taste of summer on the East Coast. Thank you.
How peaceful and relaxing. The colors are beautiful!
Vacationland indeed and a wonderful one at that! It is great the sun has finally returned to Maine as showcased in your photos. The picture of you and Stella is awesome. Good job to your friend!
We started summer with some Pimm's nights, but it has really fizzled out in the last six weeks. (It's been blowing rain all day.)
When you are socked in with snow, you can look back on those gorgeous sunset pictures. They are all so DREAMY: summer at its most romantic.
Maine is exquisite as captured by your camera!
I think I will start my own tradition of "sundowners", it will fit nicely in with "foursies" and "fivsies".
Hello Sarah
Well your camera and your eye have really served you well with these great shots. I agree that the soft lavender is far more relaxing than the fiery sunset colours...
I have hair rather like yours, it loves the humidity and heat and takes on a good frizz...most of the year I wear it scraped back because it is very thick and hot...
the only time it has ever really lain flat (other than by the heat iron) is when we went to Palm Springs...the heat sucked all the moisture out of my hair and it went long and smooth...funny...
I keep it your length too so that I can tame it somewhat...
While it is nice to get away for a break I love to be able to sit in a cafe or restaurant and enjoy the river or ocean scene...and still be at home...
Happy days
Hi Sarah
Such fantastic sunset! The colors are so lovely! Stella looks very happy beside you!
I'm now reading Alistair Macleod's "Island" and in it lobster fishing appears. I've wondered what it is like. And what a coincidence, finding your first picture! Thank you for sharing!
What lovely sunsets. And the Pimm's... I'll always have a soft spot for that particular drink. I tried my first one at Bee's one Fourth of July ;-)
Love your photo with beautiful Stella and her summer 'do.
Beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing.
Tracy, I am lucky. Thanks!
Ewix, the light is divine. Stella sends a cyber-wag to Buster.
Bonnie, welcome to my blog and thank you!
Lakeviewer and CM, thanks!
Tina, Jennifer did a great job to catch both of us.
Bee, you do need sun for Pimm’s. I’m trying not to think of rain and snow, but you are right. Blogs are like Frederick’s Fables.
Jennifer, thanks! I loved your portrait of Stella and me.
Les, definitely fits in as long as you are not doing all 3 in one evening!
Delwyn, my camera is great in low light situations. I didn’t take my tripod. I mostly wear my hair down except on hot summer days. Maine is usually cooler than Australia. Fun to hear that we have more in common.
Sapphire, Stella is a happy dog. The sailboat was recreational, just passing the lobster pots. Lobstermen fish from diesel powered boats. They sometimes have a small sail to keep the lobster boat from swinging around when the fisherman stops to haul in traps. Check out my post on lobstering.
JAPRA, I wish I could have met you at Bee’s party – my parents were visiting that week.
Keri, thanks.
Gorgeous photos and such beautiful captions to accompany them!
Wonderful pictures on your blog, congratulations!
*Sigh* I love your front porch!!! So good to visit again after so long...perfect way for me to start my shift to what I am calling a mellow groove...less work related stuff on my plate, more fun and relaxing stuff to look forward to.
Love the photographs. Wonder if I can find Pims in Atlanta?? :-)
Mama Shujaa
Colorful views, good food and a friendly dog topped of with a great nightcap. Life is good!
'Vacationland'. I like the term.
The moon shining over the twilight sea makes it a 'peacefulland' as well.
Aha, talk of serenity, the picture is it.
I'm curious about how a land blessed with such landscapes must make shape the temperment of the folks who live amidst it.
Such beautiful photos on this post and the last, Sarah! You are making me long to visit New England. Maybe I can convince one of my daughters to move East next time instead of West:)
Yes Sarah it is Maine, the "Nubble Light" I have a few more pictures in the blog of that Light House.
Wonderful blog that you have and thank you for the visit and comments.
Kelly, thanks!
Adrian(X2), thanks and welcome to my blog! I thought your lighthouse photo looked familiar. Nice shot.
MS, I am lucky to live here. A mellow groove sounds good – send some my way. If we can find Pimm’s in Maine, I’m sure you can find it in Atlanta. It’s gin based.
Troutbirder, life is good indeed.
Anil, I do find Bailey Island a peaceful place to be. The summers are soft but the winters are harsh here in Maine. It shapes the temperament seasonally.
Rose, there are some fine vistas in the West too.
Yes, yes, you do live in Vacationland! What gorgeous proof in these pictures.
Both you and Stella look the epitome of summer happiness!
Lovely, lovely, Sarah, and especially as the nation turns its attention to New England. Thank you for sharing the beauty that surrounds you. As for the drink: I also began using borage in drinks, though I've learned to pop them into the ice cubes, which is enchanting!
Pamela, thank you. Stella and I may not look much alike but we are sharing the same expression. Funny!
Kathryn, do you mean you freeze the flowers? I love it. Then we could have them year round. Thanks for sharing your delightful idea.
Oh! What I wouldn't give for some fresh lobster. I grew up on the stuff. Enchilado de langosta was my dad's specialty--a tomato based, slow cooked dish with lots of garlic. I'm off to read your other lobster post. Happy summer to you and yours!
I have never had a Pimm's cocktail. Now I feel like I'm missing out!
Hi again. That comment from "Wing Nut" was really from "Curmudgeon." According to WN the PA Dutch are more about meat & potatoes.
Beautiful photos! I am so jealous. I cannot believe this is where you live, as in all the time. Wow.
Curmudgeon, I’d love to get the recipe for your enchilado de langosta – have you posted it on your blog? Happy Summer to you too. It sounds like Wing Nut and you have the culinary extremes well covered. Nice to catch up with you!
Barrie, it’s never too late. I had it the first time watching the Henley Regatta – it’s a fancy crew race in England. I had to wear a hat and a skirt below my knees.
Cynthia, the coast is a couple of miles away from my house. The more scenic coastline is a bit further. Bailey Island is a 25 minute drive. I am lucky to live so close, but I dream of having an island cottage as well as my house in town.
I love coming to your blog for a dose of beauty. It really is soothing coming over here. Hopefully, soon I'll live close enough to the ocean to have daily sights such as these.
Thanks for the encouraging words on my blog. It really is touching and means a lot to me.
Alyson, I’m glad to give a moment of peace and comfort. I hope you do move by the sea and begin a new life there. You deserve happiness.
Those pictures are beautiful, and your comments about them made me feel like I was there. By the way, I sport the summer frizz, too!
Just back from my fantastic holidays in Spain and doing my usual blog round. It's so nice to see that the good quality has not diminished one bit. Many thanks for your fantastic post and for your great feedback.
Greetings from London.
Lazy Writer, welcome to my blog and thank you! Your hair looks lovely in your photo. I’m looking forward to visiting your blog too.
ACIL, welcome home and thank you! I hope you post some photos from your trip.
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