Sunday, December 5, 2010

THE SHAKERS OF NEW GLOUCESTER

Below.... the welcoming committee for the Shakers of New Gloucester Maine. Ten o'clock....friends of the Shakers were in line with tote bags and ready to shop....This is our fourth year attending this holiday fair. First year.... DH and I stood in line THREE hours to purchase the famous Shaker "ROSEMARY BISCUITS." Tender, soft and flaky they were.... however.... not to our taste....the rosemary DOMINATED the flavor of the biscuit. I was very disappointed and you can bet my DH won't be standing in line for three hours for ANYTHING again. Second year.... FRUITCAKE. There happened to be an article in our local newspaper regarding the DREADED Christmas fruitcake....the paper guaranteed that any fruitcake "nay sayer" would fall for the fruitcake offered by the Shakers. No long line for this baby....Now I am not a huge fan of fruitcake however.... I was willing to spend the fifteen dollars....yes you read that correctly.... for this loaf cake. I had to find out for myself if this cake was everything the newspaper made it out to be... It was good....more cake than fruit....and the fruit was large chunks....my one and only complaint....too dry.....it did get eaten. The Shaker fair also offers quality hand-made goods, herbs and spices, yarn, books, paintings, ornaments, etc. I just realized I can't show you my goodies as I am sending them to friends and family for Christmas. You'll just have to wait till after the holiday for a peek. Next up....on to Lizzie's Rags. A sweet little primitive shop also located in the New Gloucester area.
This is the door prize I won.... a very sweet little woven pillow. I also had a nice chat with the shop owner....who is a very sweet lady herself. You have one more week to visit Lizzie's Rags before the shop closes for the winter....otherwise you will have to wait till spring. Hope everyone had a great weekend....the days are flying by....

8 comments:

Eve said...

Wow what a line Julie! I wish my hubby liked to go shopping like CH does!!! I know you are having fun!!

Farm Girl said...

That is such a nice little woven pillow. So glad I got to see that.
That is a long line. I might stand in that line because I do love when you visit the Shaker Village.
I always love the picture of those cows.
Well, can't wait to see the treasures you bought. :)
Have a great week.

Verde Farm said...

Oh Julie, I love that little pillow. What a day. I would have been so disappointed after standing in line and then not loving the biscuits. Good you got to try them though. I do not do fruit cake. I can’t imagine a fruit cake that I would like. I’m sure there’s one out there somehwere. Looks liek a great holiday weekend.
Amy :)

Rowan said...

How I wish I could have been there! I really like your woven pillow, what a nice door prize.
As for fruit cake - the one I make each year for Christmas would equal anything the Shakers make, it's moist and delicious and the longer it's kept before it's cut the better it is. I've been making the same recipe for many years now, it's a traditional thing in UK at Christmas covered with marzipan and then frosting. It doesn't surprise me that it was $15, it's a very expensive cake to make. It starts with all the dried fruits andwalnut pieces being soaked overnight in orange and lemon juice and 4 fl oz (about half a US cup) of sherry.

Jacque. said...

Sounds like a very interesting day...and you won a prize! YAY! Love the first photo of your welcoming committee.

acorn hollow said...

Well it looks like that is one popular fair. My grandmother made fruit cake every year. the only time she would even thouch a bottle of rum. As a kid I hated it but as an adult it was wonderful. I wish she was around to make it again. Not something My family would eat. Also her mince meat pie yummmmm thanks for letting me walk down memory lane.
cathy

Julia said...

Wow, Dog Trot... Three hours seems like an ordeal to go through for just a taste of anything. The line-up must be a great way of advertising their wares. Taste is so personal, what's is a delicacy to one is not for another...

Congratulation on winning the cute little primitive pillow. Have a good new week. JB

Pondside said...

It sounds like a perfect December outing!
My mum still makes Christmas Fruitcake and I love it. Mine is sitting in a dark cupboard wrapped in a rum-soaked cheesecloth. I can assure you that it won't be dry and that we'll eat every bite. There's nothing like a glass of really good sherry, a slice of fruitcake and a cup of tea a 3 o'clock on a cold December afternoon to revive one's spirits.