A Visit From Roger and Carol and More Pie

Tuesday July 24, 2017                                                                                  Most Recent Posts:
Narrows Too Campground                                                Kayaking Lower Hadlock Pond and Walking its Lovely Shore
Trenton, Maine                                                                                Up, Down and Around Dorr Mountain

 

 

Last week, David got a call from his brother Roger who said he and his wife Carol would be in the area today and would like to come by and see us. Sounds great!

With all the berries we’d picked, David decided to bake a second Blueberry pie in two days. Most of the comments on my last post were on the pie so for pie lovers here is some of the preparation.  

It’s the flaky crust that is really the secret of David’s pies.  Notice how MANY of the little wild blueberries you have to pick for a pie.   Not sure how we have enough with all David easts when he’s picking.

 

 

 

He’s rolling it out with a rolling pin Carol gave us for Christmas many years ago.  Best rolling pin ever.

 

Bottom crust is ready

 

In go the berries.

 

Secret ingredient – REAL butter.

 

 

Getting the top crust on is very tricky to keep it from tearing.

 

Crimping the edges to seal in the yummy!

 

Ready for the Oven.

 

 

Somehow I have no pictures of the night they arrived or the dinner we fixed for them.  But David did get this one right before digging into the delicious pie which was the meal’s dessert.  We look a bit impatient.  HA!

 

Where to go with folks who only have a day to spend?  Tough choices to make.

We start out with a visit to the Wild Gardens at Sieur de Monts which we think they will like and they do.

 

Lilies taller than we are.

 

Giant Jack-in-the-pulpit with its huge green seed pod.

 

Brothers are forever!

 

Lovely Paths

 

 

We don’t get to go into the wetlands area to see the pitcher plants.  It’s closed for some sort of work.  That’s a shame since they are so interesting but I get a nice picture of Roger and Carol on the bridge.

 

 

From there, we do a little hiking on the Jessup Path nearby.

 

Not sure there is a wooded trail in this park without lovely mushrooms.

 

I particularly love these colors.

 

 

Can you read the engraving on the stone identifying this as the Strathden Path?  Some of the oldest trails in the park are  marked with these large engraved stones.

 

Through the woods. . . .

 

Along the lovely Great Meadow with the mountains in the background.  What a gorgeous blue sky day.

 

 

And back to the center of Sieur de Monts with the Wikiup in the background.

 

Just before we  leave,  I spy this lovely Indian Maiden in the doorway of her Wikiup.

 

 

From Sieur de Monts,  we make our way to Bar Harbor for Ice cream of course but no pictures.  Too busy licking!

We walk by the fountain in the park on our way to the water front.

 

The lobsters are coming in.  Good thing, since we’re planning on having some.

 

 

On a Wednesday visit to Bar Harbor, I checked out the Bar Harbor Inn’s Lobster Dinner on the Terrace.  It’s a real feast at a price we don’t usually spend but after walking up and checking it out, they all agree that it’s a good idea.

 

 

The Inn doesn’t  start serving until 4:00 so we walk the Shore Path, not to be confused with the Ocean Path beside the loop road that I’ve posted about previously.  This path begins at the Town Pier next to Agamont Park which we walked through, goes a short distance to the East past the Bar Harbor Inn, then wraps around a point before continuing South for about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile along the water.

 

 

Along the way, we have views of the Porcupine Islands and some creative rock stacking.

 

A lone cormorant flaps his wings.

 

A sea kayaking tour comes by.  Good day for it, the water isn’t too rough.

 

Carol tells Roger this is the next house she wants to move to.  I suggest she keep her place in Texas for the winters and buy this as her summer home.  I know her girls would vote yes!

 

When we cross this bridge we turn west  and head back into the town.

 

 

David wants to go in and see Saint Saviour’s Episcopal Church.   Built between 1877-78, the interior of the church is graced by twelve windows designed by the Tiffany Studio, installed between 1886 and 1907, as well as eighteen other stained glass windows by American, English and European artists. The ten-bell carillon was added in 1938, representing the last major addition to the complex.

 

 

 

The Village Graveyard established before 1790 is adjacent to the church and holds unmarked and unnamed graves of the pioneers of Downeast Maine.   The large monument built in 1897 is dedicated to those who fought for the Union.  Doesn’t seem there is any talk of taking down their statues up here as there is now in the South. 

The dedication of the statue was by the town of Eden named after the English Statesman Sir Richard Eden.  And here I thought it was Eden because it was so perfect.  The name was  changed to Bar Harbor in 1918.   Can’t find any explanation for why.  I thought perhaps they wanted, after the revolution, to remove any British names but 1918 is a long time after the revolution.  Should have stopped by the historical society.  They always know these things.

 

 

Inside the lovely church the large round window is one of the Tiffany stained glass.  The others are scattered throughout the church.

 

They are all absolutely exquisite, but difficult to photograph

 

Looking toward the front and then it’s time to head back to the Bar Harbor Inn.

 

We are definitely leading a charmed life when the hostess takes us to one of the best tables on the terrace.  We’re right by the water on the edge.  Everyone seems pleased with their drinks and the view.  Carol does move to the chair beside David so she too can enjoy the view.

 

While we are waiting for our food, the Katie Grace goes by.  She’s the ferry between Winter Harbor on the Schoodic Side of the park and Bar Harbor.   Many people from Bar Harbor come over for the day to visit the land side of Acadia and particularly the famous Schoodic Point.  $25 round trip this year to ride the ferry.

 

 

After our drinks, this dinner extravaganza begins with Clam Chowder.  It’s wonderful!

 

I’m not the only one taking pictures of this delicious food.  Second course is a plate of clams and mussels.  I can atest that the shells of both are all over the shores of the island and the mainland.  Remember the man and his sun raking mussels near our campground until their boat looked  like it would sink.

 

 

 

I know David is anxious to dig into the lobster but in his haste, he puts his bib on backwards.  Too funny.

 

Roger shows the proper bib etiquette.

 

 

This is very serious work as Carol demonstrates.

 

 

Not sure it could get any more perfect when the schooner sails into view over Carol’s shoulder.

 

The Bar Harbor Inn’s Downeast Lobster Bake includes steamed mussels and clams, 1 ¼ pound freshly caught Maine Lobster with roasted red potatoes, corn on the cob and blueberry corn bread followed up with a slice of fresh blueberry pie.  It’s a once in a summer splurge for us all at $38 a head but we thought it was worth it.

 

 

Too soon it comes to an end and  we are walking back along the shore to the car.  This time at low tide.

 

 

We’re so glad we could share Bar Harbor with Roger and Carol.  Thank you both for coming to visit. 
We had a great time.  Wish you were staying longer

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