Sunday, September 18, 2011

A DAY TO ENJOY

Sunday morning finds my husband out of bed at the crack of dawn and on the road to Denmark, Maine. With days noticeably shorter and evening temperatures now dipping into the thirties it is prudent to get camp "buttoned up" for the winter. The raft is pulled ashore and secured, water pump removed from the well house and most importantly...on this day a new shingled roof for the bunk house...reinforcements are called in... thank you Tristan and Maxwell, along with an SOS to me for lunch..Hello... I am busy here...nevertheless, I pack up Winslow Homer...and pick up a "Maine" lunch...Italian sandwiches...potato chips... and for dessert..what else but the traditional whoopie pie...now if you are not from these parts you probably have never heard of an Italian sandwich...no... it is not a hoagie...gyro...or sub...
the original Italian sandwich... begins with a Botto's Bakery roll...ham..cheese..tomatoes.. dill pickles..green peppers...onions..and black olives..salt..pepper and olive oil...if you ever find yourself in Maine...give this tasty sandwich a try...as we natives tend to say... it is "wicked good." On the return drive home changes in the foliage are becoming more apparent... the familiar scent of woodsmoke hung low in the air...soon it will be time to attend the Fryeburg Fair...the last fair of the season...the one with the huge fowl exibit... and speaking of fowl...the girls are not laying...no eggs...zip..zippo..nada...catapillars have invaded our fruit trees...those ugly nests that appear this time of year... once hatched the caterpillars can devour a tree in no time at all...lucky me... now I am sporting the bright red tell tale sign of this infamous caterpillar...the rash runs along my arms...and itch...oh man does it ever...



finally...you all offered your opinion and I listened...the shrubs are gone...no more...and I like it...their demise has given the exterior of the house a more primitive feel...I am going to live with it for a bit...my dream would be a picket fence enclosing an herb and kitchen garden...I love to dream...especially when I can make my dreams come true...

25 comments:

Kim said...

We are getting ready to close up the cottage too. It is a dreadful chore. It means summer is really over.
Oh, and I'll take my Italian sandwich minus the onions and peppers.

basketsnprims said...

love the exterior of your home without shrubbery. perfect.
pam

Julia said...

Julie, your Italian sandwich looks as yummy as it looks and I'm getting the nibble right now and I've just brushed my teeth and I'm ready for bed. It's just not fair...

Having the cottage all winterized is a great peace of mind. Your house looks beautiful. Now that your shrubs are gone there will be less maintenance. Sorry about those pesky caterpillar, They can leave a nasty skin irritation as they have poison in their spiky hairs.
Take care, JB

Holly Hills Primitives said...

Can't wait to hear if you figured out how to do the wreath. I want to give it a try to (as I bought the one in the header for the shop and it's already gone). Fall is in the air here too, but I just love it! Have fun, Dawn

The Barn Door said...

Oh I LOVE the way the house looks without the shrubs!! I agree, a picket fence is in order.

Jacque. said...

mmmmm, that sandwich looks good enough to...well, to eat, of course. Love the photos...house looks great bare.

Pondside said...

That's quite a sandwich!
I like the new look of the house, but a picket fence and an herb garden would be really good. Go for it!

Anonymous said...

Love the house without the shrubs! It looks great!

The herb and kitchen garden would look terrific. Maybe a primitive twig fence?

acorn hollow said...

now that is a good lunch.
Cathy

Larkrise garden girl said...

Your house looks pretty! What a lovely day and what a yummy sandwich. Woodsmoke is such a nice smell! Have a nice week. Cheri

Ginny said...

Sounds like you had a good day. Love the look of the house!!

Denise said...

Wonderful post, I'm hoping to get to the Fryeburg Fair this year, I know I'll really be paying attention to the poultry exhibit this year! Enjoy your day.

Farm Girl said...

I never knew that the caterpillars did that? Wow, first the noseeims and now these caterpillars. I do like how your house looks without the shrubbery and I think a picket fence would be wonderful. I always love it when you go get the cabin ready for winter. It always looks so pretty. The sandwich looks so yummy too.
I hope you have a very nice week.
Enjoy the cooler weather. It sounds so nice.

Peacemom said...

Hi Julie,
Rash?? What rash?? I have a rash on my arms that ITCHES like crazy. I've got a doctor's appointment for it on Wed, I've never had this kind of rash before. Showed up about 2 weeks ago...could this be what you have, too??

Janice said...

Mmmm. I want a bite of that sandwich!

annie said...

That sandwich looks just wonderful, would love to try one! You have a beautiful home, the picture looks as if it stepped back into time!

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

I worked with a woman from Maine and one day she made these wonderful sandwiches for us for lunch. She said the sub rolls have to be a certain type.

Eve said...

THE 30'S!!!!! NOOOOO!!!
Well the house looks great Julie and I can taste that Italian right now!! The most WICKED GOOD sandwich on the planet!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh sweetie, I can so envision your picket fence and herb garden 'round your home!

It sounds like ya'll had the perfect day and those Italian sandwich. MMmmmmm, I'm suddenly hungry.

God bless ya and have a most beautiful day! :o)

Anonymous said...

LOVE the look of your house without the shrubs....opens it right up! We put in a picket fence out front with perennials on either side...looks nice, but now it is time to cut them back already. Thinking of going to The Common Ground Fair,but not sure if it is worth the drive?? Did not know that those caterpillars give you a rash.....hope it clears up soon. Happy 1st day of autumn tomorrow!
Cindy in ME

doglady said...

Someone told my chickens that summer is gone too. Of the 16 presumably young enough to be good layers, it is taking two days to get a dozen. I guess it is time for the light again.
Can't make the transition from summer to fall without a day at the Common Ground Fair which will happen Friday.
Your house looks great without the shrubbery.

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

julie...we are kindred spirits...we LOVE all the same things....i LOVED reading this post... i LOVE MAINE so much...i went a few years ago and FELL IN LOVE !!! i am "pretending" that i live in Maine...out here in california...as best i can. trying to make my place as Maine as possible...my husband would die for that sandwich...he is a sandwich guy.... i'll try making him one..i am just short on the roll :-)

LOVED my visit here today...looking forward to spending Fall with you...in Maine !!!

hugs to winslow

sending love from callifornia
kary, teddy and all the farmhouse kitchen kittys
xx

Terry and Linda said...

I love my picket fence, but I do not like painting it every so often. Try for a wooden picket that is left unpainted and just oiled. I don't know if it will stand up to a Main winter, but you can always paint it later.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Aren't you a good egg to go and bring lunch to the "boys" - I'm sure they appreciated it very much! Love the look of your home sans the shrubs. I also think a kitchen garden would be fantastic. It's a dream of mine too!

I'd also like to thank you for your kind words about my mom. She will be forever missed and kept in our hearts.

Gina said...

My husband and I visited Maine earlier this month for the first time and Maine is absolutely charming! Loved it!

Blessings,

Mrs Georgina