Damariscotta Welcomes Santa Claus

The first Saturday after Thanksgiving is usually a very slow day to have floor duty. I mean verrrrryyyyyy slow. So I was a little surprised when I saw all these people lining up on Main Street in Damariscotta apparently waiting for something.

They were all looking towards the bridge to Newcastle and I soon learned why. 

It seems that Santa Claus was coming to town for a visit to remind people that Christmas is coming. 

Here is the happy old gent out in front of Newcastle Square Realty.

And here are the tap dancing Elf/Rockettes who gave him a little tap dance welcome to town.

So once again you never know what is going to happen in the Greater Damariscotta/Newcastle Metro area.

Tom Field

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest Pictures

I was up north yesterday looking for a "camp" with a friend of mine so I didn't see all of the activity in Greater Damariscotta/Newcastle metro area that happened while I was away. It seems that there has been mass pumpkin hysteria, known as the 3rd Annual Pumpkinfest that has hit our fair towns. If you have never been to Pumpkinfest you owe it to yourself to come take a look. Click on the link for a list of activities. Personally I am trying to get out of the office so I can see the 100' cannon shoot a 10lb. pumpkin about 4000 feet. Don't forget to check out the activities happening in Damariscotta Mills at the fishladder too.

This Pumpkin was on the Mills Road in Newcastle at The Postal Center USA.

These were on Main Street in front of King Eiders and Colby and Gale.

And this Pumpkin is a shamless plug and reminder that the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Damariscotta and Newcastle is next weekend. I will be walking again and I am looking for donations. If you would like to donate please contact me at the office at 207-563-1003 or send me an email for details to tomfield@cheneycompanies.com. I would really appreciate your support.

Tom Field

Launch Your Kayak

    For a while, I've been dreaming of a kayak that can fit into my car and that I can lift by myself.  When the mood struck to get out on the water, I yearned to be able to do so with ease and independence. A few weeks ago my family drove up to Old Town and found the perfect kayak to fit my needs.  Since then I've kayaked all over the area: the Pemaquid River, Damariscotta Lake, Biscay Pond, Pemaquid Pond, Damariscotta Harbor and the other day, Pemaquid Harbor.  My walking buddy, Beth, is also my kayaking buddy and we've had a blast exploring nooks and crannies all over the peninsula early mornings and late afternoons.  I'm in Kayak Heaven!

    We met up last Sunday morning, grabbed a cinnamon bun to go at The Cupboard Cafe and then launched into Pemaquid Harbor right near The Contented Sole restaurant.  Although neither of us has sea kayaks the water was calm so we ventured out into Johns Bay past the rocky shores and around the corner to ride the waves into Pemaquid Beach.

   The tide was low so we pulled our kayaks up and climbed onto the rocks for our outrageously delicious snack and some peaceful rest.  One doesn't realize how quickly the tide changes until you're trying to prevent a kayak from floating away in the changing current.  Our conversations on these trips always includes our fortune at living in such an incredibly beautiful place that has so much to offer.

     After a lovely respite, we headed back out into Johns Bay and pointed our kayaks towards the harbor. The ride back with the waves was fun and we went through dock pilings and moored boats.  We meandered right along the edge of the rocks and watched sailboats and lobster boats coming and going. Others were enjoying a beautiful morning sitting in Adirondack Chairs on the shore, while some children fished from a dinghy.   As I arrived back at the beach and we hauled our kayaks out I ran into one of my clients and her husband with their beach chairs, kayaks, sunday paper and novels...set for a glorious day. I guess this is why they say, "Maine, the way life should be."

 

Debby Schling

Damariscotta Lake at its Best!

    When my family moved to Maine almost a decade ago, we chose this area for many reasons....the coast and salt water, the schools, the distance from Portland and the pace of life to name a few.  We bought a small sailboat and explored Johns Bay and the lower part of the Damariscotta River, when conditions were right for sailing.  several years ago my husband, Wally, found a 1973 boston Whaler and trailer on Craigs list, which he lovingly restored.  since that time, we've had a blast exploring lakes and rivers and estuaries. I get such a thrill when I arrive home after a long day at work to see the Whaler hooked up to the pickup truck!

   We finally had our initial ride of the 2009 summer season this past weekend.  It was a beautiful day and parking spots were hard to come by at the Jefferson Launch on Damariscotta Lake. But everyone was happy to be there and very patient.

   There were sailboats, motor boats of all sizes, kayaks, canoes, waters skiers and tubers.  We've never seen so many floats with so much activity: swimming, relaxing, reading, partying, etc. Damariscotta Lake State Park was packed.  A happy mood was all around and although there was lots of activity, it never feels too busy.

   I love the smell of salt water, but I also love the smell of fresh water. There is so much water in this area, lucky me, I get to smell it every day!

Debby Schling

House and Garden Tour

The Miles Memorial Hospital League put on their annual House and Garden Tour this past Thursday for the benefit of our excellent local hospital.  Here are a few pictures I shot as I enjoyed seeing the wonderful homes and grounds that generous folks opened up to the public for the day.

Tracy Babcock

 

 

 

Maine Lobster Salad - Perfection

    There is a rumor going around mid coast Maine that a certain celebrity TV chef, known for trying to out do local chefs at their particular specialty, has come to our area and left with his tail between his legs after trying to improve on the popular Lobster Salad Roll.

   Im not at all surprised.  You see folks "from away" are always trying to improve on Lobster Salad.  They try to put "things" in it like fancy mayonnaise or celery or worse.  They don't understand that Lobster is perfect just the way it is and that the secret of lobster is to eat it in its simplest form.  If you choose to have a boiled lobster you don't have to put mustard in the water or special spices (as I've, shudder, seen some do)  and if you are having a Lobster Salad Roll you really want as little as possible to come between your tongue and the flavor of the lobster.

   So as a public service, Maine Coast Properties blog will give you the correct way (read: Maine way) to make a Lobster Salad Roll.

    It should go with out saying that you begin with fresh Lobster.  The best way to do this is to go visit your local lobsterman at the docks and purchase those lobsters directly from him. Unless of course during the winter he borrowed your chainsaw and wrecked it, in which case he owes you and no money will be changing hands. If you do not have a favorite lobsterman (hard to believe but it happens) you can go to any one of many fine local sea food markets here in the mid coast region of Maine and get your lobsters there.  Many people will argue passionately that smaller lobsters are more tender than the large ones. Some will argue that the soft shell lobsters (those that have recently shed) have sweeter meat.  I will argue just as passionately that all lobsters as long as they are fresh caught are equally as good, it's more of a function of how you cook them.  Some people have a tendency to over cook the hard shell lobsters or the bigger ones and that will lead to a slight toughening of the meat.  There's no such thing as a bad lobster, only bad lobster cooks.

   Lets assume that you are reasonably intelligent (you are after all reading this blog) and can cook and clean your lobster successfully.  So you now have a bowl of lobster meat cut into bite size pieces and slightly chilled. To this you should add just a small amount of mayonnaise, just enough to get some on all of the meat in the bowl.  This should be regular store bought mayonnaise not anything fancy and with no other flavoring mixed in. Plain mayonnaise. This next part is a little controversial but I have seen it go both ways and it can work.  It's not absolutely necessary.  But, should you so desire you can add just the slightest, smallest drop of lemon juice at this point.  Two drops would be too much. Now, set that all aside and let the taste of the lobster permeate the mayonnaise.  You want to taste lobster not mayonnaise after all. 

   While you're waiting, prepare the rolls. Again, simplicity is the key.  Here in Maine we know that the only permissible roll is a Nissen's brand hot dog roll.  No other will do, just a simple Nissen's hot dog roll. Put a little butter on each side and grill it to a golden brown.  Take it off the grill or out of the frying pan and while it's still warm stuff it with fresh lobster salad.  Nothing else. No lettuce.  Lobster Salad.

   The essence of a Lobster Salad Roll is the chilled lobster salad and the hot buttered roll. That's all. Perfection personified. 

   No celebrity chef or fancy restaurant can improve on that.  Come visit us and see for yourself.

Jim Cosgrove 

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    I have a good friend who keeps a daily calendar of the weather.  She can always tell me how the seasons are unfolding in relationship to several of the previous years.  It's interesting...in the long run, things just aren't that different year to year.

   Although this spring has been cool, we've had some absolutely glorious warm days.  Yesterday was a beauty.  I got my work done in the morning and then escaped with another friend for a few hours to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.  What a treat!  First stop was a delicious lunch overlooking gardens in the cafe.  Then we strolled leisurely through acres and acres of gardens.

   The Lady Slippers and Rhododendrons were magnificent. The entire place was abuzz with activity as they prepare for the Grand Opening of the new Lerner Sensory Garden on June 19th. Instead of keeping track of the weather, I've decided to keep track of blooming seasons.  I can't wait to go back for the roses, hydrangeas and day lilies and watch the gardens grow.

Debby Schling

 

 

The Sap is Running

 

   Spring arrived on the calendar this week and Mainers came outdoors in droves for Maine Maple Sunday yesterday.  My husband Wally and I  headed down the peninsula in the morning towards Rice Farms on Split Rock Road in South Bristol.  There, Adam Rice was holding court in the Sugar House, multi tasking between bottling, explaining and selling. We bought a quart of the warm liquid gold, hot off the presses and walked about keeping our hands warm like it was a hot water bottle.

   Ricki Waltz from Two Sons Alpaca Farm in Damariscotta was there with two of her babies, Flo and Nemo, both less than a year old, along with samples of alpaca fleece.  Some wicked cute!

   There were several antique machines run by steam engines chugging along...a log splitter and ice cream machine.  Inside a barn chefs were flipping blueberry pancakes and smothering them with samples of syrup.  Families and friends patiently waited for Haflinger horse drawn wagon rides.  Even the mud puddles were a thrill for some.  What fun to see folks we hadn't seen for several months out and about on a sunny Spring day having a good old fashioned time.  The way life should be. 

 

Debby Schling  

Winter Fishing in Mid Coast Maine

   There are many things I love about winter in Maine...Early into the new year, it's so much fun to watch villages appear out of nowhere.  Ice fishing villages that is. Over the weekend, I took a walk to Damariscotta Mills with a good friend on a very bright and clear afternoon.  Instead of our usual path along the road, we decided to return via the snow covered ice on Great Salt Bay, curious to see some of the smelt huts up close.  We stopped to chat with 3 gentlemen who had come outside because the sun had warmed their hut so much that they needed a little cooler air.  They gave us a "tour" of their setup...the woodstove, seating arrangement, fishing lines, bait, fishing holes, etc.  We were surprised the smelts were so tiny.  Seems like a lot of brouhaha over an itty bitty fish....Apparently they cook some for themselves and sell the rest...There were two bald eagles soaring above, keeping an "eagle eye" on the village.  I'm getting the sense that it's not very much about the fish...A sunny winter day in Maine, good friends, fresh air, a few beverages, some cribbage and lively conversation.  Sounds perfect to me! 

 

Debby Schling   The Real Estate Broker who walks on water

 

Marking Time in Mid Coast Maine

 

   A "friend" called the other day and asked,"what does a real estate broker do when the market slows down?"   He was trying to bait me into joining him in the gloom and doom whining that so many people seem to want to participate in these days.   But, I'm not rising to that, I've got better things to do.  I live in the greatest place on earth and if my phone's not going to ring (with productive calls) I've got plenty of enjoyable things to do.

    In this particular case my lovely daughter, Natasha and I took Reggie the Wonder Dog to one of the local hills for a hike in the clear fall air.  From the top of the ridge we could look inland to woods and ponds and east to the ocean and the wide horizon.

   We could have gone for a boat ride on the Damariscotta River or a canoe paddle on Pemaquid Lake.  We could have played golf on one of several decidedly uncrowded golf courses.   

   We could have gone hiking at any of about 20 different state maintained areas or conservation land trust spots within about a half hour drive.

   I have no idea what they do down in the city when things get slow.  I guess they just call folks in Maine!

Jim Cosgrove