Upstairs: Old iron Inn

Let's get a sampling of the upstairs at the Old Iron Inn.  We left the living room here. 

At the top of the stairs, there is this nice nook to read.  It is surrounded by books.  Mystery, science fiction, comic strips, histories are lined around this area and in the hallway before the Old Iron Room. 

There are old irons again.

And other interesting pieces.

There are three rooms at the inn.  This is a picture of part of the Rose Room.  This room and the Old Iron Room contain two beds.  The Amoeba Room only has one bed.  All rooms have a private bath.

Each room contains a geode.  Kevin, the proprietor, is a geology professor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.  He and Kate sold geodes and jewelry in the early years of the inn. 

One room is a shared area.  There is wifi throughout the house, but the only tv is here.  There is a fridge and a coffee and tea bar here too. 

I'll leave you with some cool model planes in the shared room. 

Be seeing you.

Tourney Week

Last week was February vacation for the kids.

Which means it was tourney week.

Tourney week is big.  Teams travel to Bangor and Augusta to play for the High School Championships.  If you can't make it to the Auditoriums, our local public broadcasting station runs the semis and the finals.  It can be exciting.

I got my daughter, Maddie to take some pictures of the Class C Semi-Final game.

She was so wrapped up in the game, she did not take many pictures.

Our Penquis Patriots did very well in the tourney this year.  We got to the semi-finals where we lost to Lee in double overtime. 

Lee is a tough competitor.  We won one and lost one to them in regular season play.  So you might say this game was personal. 

The boys played hard and did us proud.  

Be seeing you.

Living Room: Old Iron Inn

I spent the end of my last trip at the Old Iron Inn.  I stayed at the Bed and Breakfast this time.

These mugs they had made to commemmorate twenty years as a B & B, which is this year.  I grabbed some pictures around the inn this trip. 

You see the living room area as you walk in. 

There are antiques displayed.  There is definitely an old-timey feel here.

And, of course, as the name suggests, there are old irons.  Kate and Kevin collect them.  There is an amazing number of them all around the inn. 

For me, this is a nicer option than a hotel.

Be seeing you.

I Should Have Bought It . . .

. . . when I saw it at Marden's.

Sorry . . . I couldn't resist finishing the familiar jingle. 

Mainers love a good deal.  Canadians doubly so.  Especially now that the Canadian dollar is much stronger.

Mardens does this by buying surplus items and selling them at discounted prices.  I have seen coloring books, yarn, furniture, flooring, clothing and tchotchkies.  During bad weather (like the ice storm of '98), people would watch for generators being sold. 

It is a favorite for the locals.  Conversations would crop up on the benefits of certain locations (the stores are scattered around the state and each location develops a distinct personality).  They would share with their friends what gems they found their last trip.  If you have a open mind, you can find some great deals.

The picture above is the sign for the Presque Isle location.  The locations in Aroostook County are Houlton, Presque Isle, and Madawaska.

There are two other discounters, Renys and Millers.  But Mardens touts that it gets its merchandise surplus.

I admit, I don't take advantage like I should.  Pity, because I like a good deal, too.

Be seeing you.

The Center of it All

Welcome to the geographic center of the State of Maine.

Yes, the Milo Public Library is considered the geographic center of Maine.  I think they measure it by drawing a circle from this point.  Maine is such a funny shaped state, it is the only way to do it. 

I don't live far from there.  So you can say I live in the center of it all.

Be seeing you.

The Obligatory Bangor Picture

Okay, let's get this over with.

This, my dear friends and followers, is Stephen King's house.

He lives in Bangor.  His house is on a road full of huge Victorian Era houses.  It is a benefit of Bangor's logging past.  For the most part, he lives a fairly normal life.  People in town just let him live.

Although, I heard him speak at the Bangor Auditorium once.  He related the story how a bus full of Canadians were flashing pictures of him taking out his dog.  He was amazed at how many pictures were being taken of his dog taking a dump. 

Here is the thing.  Love him or hate him.  Love his work or reject it.  Stephen King has been very, very good for Bangor. 

He and his wife Tabitha have put their money where their mouths are when it comes to the city.  They donated money and did fundraisers (the talk at the Auditorium was one of those) for the Bangor Public Library  He donated money to build a ballfield in town.  Both projects were successful.

He also owns a radio station in town. 

I am sure there are other endevors.  Those are just the ones I know offhand.

Let's face it, Bangor has benefitted from having Stephen King reside there.

And you gotta love the detailing on his gate.

Be seeing you.

Reminds Me of My Childhood

 

I had errands to do in Bangor, and we were hungry, so we ducked into Massimos Bakery on Hammond Street.

 

 

It is in downtown Bangor.  Downtown Bangor full of older buildings and nooks and crannies.  Most downtowns are a street or two.  But downtown Bangor encompasses streets both great and small.  Hammond is one of the greater ones. 

 

 

They also have a restaurant which is what we were looking for, but it was closed for the week.  No big, the bakery was welcoming enough.

 

 

We got our lunch and ate in the car.  My husband got a panini.  I got red pepper and onion pizza.  No cheeze on it, but it was delicious. 

 

For dessert, crostatines (little crostata).  They are jam filled pies with a cookie-like crust.  I have had plenty of bad crostata with flavorless, dry crusts.  This was sublime.  The crust was buttery with a hint of almond.

See, I have a confession to make.  I am Italian-American.  I grew up in Southern Connecticut where good Italian food is easy to find.  I don't miss the crunch and hustle of Connecticut, but I miss good Italian food.

I found the Holy Grail.

Real, bubbly, crusty Italian bread.  You bet I brought a loaf home. 

It was just like when I was growing up.

Be seeing you.

 

Header Change

I love this picture because it was a crisp and clear day.  You can truly see for miles.

But I have blogged about this image and more sites along US1 in Aroostook County.  You can read about it here.

Be seeing you.

Storytime: Hobnobbers Pub

I thought I would welcome you the way I was welcomed on Valentine's Day.  Our table had a window cling to mark our reservation and a treat. 

Now are you sitting comfortably?  Then I shall begin.

Hobnobbers Pub took the place of a little bistro at the end of the downtown block in town.  This strip would be straight ahead as you headed up Route 16 into town.  Some of the recipes from the bistro were kept including their Bistro salad.

We opted for the pear-raspberry salad for our dinner.

Unfortunately, disaster struck the pub.  A man robbed the place.  In order to cover his tracks, he set a fire behind the restaurant.  The result: the majority of the downtown strip was destroyed.  It was a big tragedy in town.  We had assistance from surrounding communities. 

Sad thing about a small town, many of us watched the firefight.  My kids asked to go watch.  I said, "Okay, but stay out of their way." 

Thankfully, everyone got out alive.  There were a few apartments above the businesses and the residents got out safely.  Only one business survived the fire intact.  Hobnobbers was destroyed.

As with my dinner (my husband and I both had wonderful prime rib), Hobnobbers story has a happy ending. 

The offender was quickly caught and sentenced for his crime.  The town made a deal with the owner and it now resides at the former site of Milo Community Hospital.  They have pictures of people who were born at that hospital on the walls as well as a floor plan of the former hospital. 

Because of all that, we left fat and happy with leftover beef and potatoes we cooked for breakfast the next day.  We love Hobnobbers!

Be seeing you.

Personal Story: IPA and hot sauce

I tend to be a bit of a hermit when I am on the road.  Most times, I hide in my room when I am not working.

Sometimes, though, I will take myself out for a nice meal.  I will grab a table with a book or my cel or my Dsi.  When I am feeling particularly social, I will sit at the bar.

So one day I decide to sit at the bar in a restaurant in Calais for some prime rib.  India Pale Ale (IPA) has been my least favorite beer.  I like darker, full-bodied beers, but I always found IPA to be too bitter.  So I surprised myself and ordered it.

The bartender asks me if I want hot sauce for my beer.  He explains to me it is a common way to drink IPA.  Feeling adventurous, I say "sure."

Then the heavens opened up, and the angels begin to sing.  The bitter elements that make IPA unpleasant for me mellow out, and the beer takes on a pleasant, rounded flavor.  You can get a real hit of hot sauce in the bottom of your glass, but that can be fun, too.

This is now my new favorite beer. 

This picture is Baxter Brewing Company's IPA from my Valentine's Day dinner at Hobnobbers Pub.  I love the glass they serve it in.  It is a fine brew.

I have explained before about the good food at Hobnobbers.  This restaurant has an interesting tale behind it. 

That story, and more pictures from our romantic meal, next.

Be seeing you.

Dinner Out at Home

I wanted to take my husband out to dinner.  He does so much for the family, I try to get him out for a good dinner he did not have to cook.  We were going to go to Bangor, but we had kids and grandkids later than we expected.

Thankfully we have a nice restaurant in Milo.  Hobknobbers Pub is where we go to get a nice meal.  We have two diner/family style restaurants in town.  This place is a little nicer. 

We had a tasty meal and some beer.

And for dessert a chocolate lava cake.  With good food so close, it can be hard to drive 45 minutes.

We were so happy, we made reservations for Valentine's Day.  On holidays like that, they serve a special fixed-price meal.  It should be a good night.

Be seeing you.

The Blessed Cookie

I am taking a break from my drive because my husband brought home another treat from Bangor.  He bought cookies from the Friars Bakehouse.  As the name suggests, Franciscan Friars run this gem downtown.  They bake all sorts of goods: breads, scones, cookies.  Once Lent starts, you can get excellent hot cross buns.  They use dried, not candied, fruit, and it makes a world of difference.

But there is more.  They make a nice lunch.  I love walking in when they are making Minestrone.  The whole place smells of vegetables and Italian herbs.  You can buy and eat a hearty bowl of soup that warms the soul. 

Speaking of soul food, there is a chapel onsite.  It truly can feed you body and soul.

I love the Franciscans and what they stand for.  I was really glad my husband gave them some business today.  And I was glad my five year old granddaughter got to see the Friars.  I don't think she was sure what to make of them, but that is okay. 

At least she was exposed to the humble order.

Be seeing you.

My Drive: Houlton to Bridgewater

I get off I-95 in Houlton, the County seat.  Route One in Houlton looks more like Route One in other parts of the country.  It is lined with businesses.  Not as built up as in Southern Connecticut where I grew up, but in this part of the country it is a lot.

It doesn't take very long before it starts to look very different.

More homes, more farmland.

There are still businesses.  They are just more spaced out.

When it is the growing season, you can get fresh produce from roadside vegetable stands.

You meander along through smaller towns.  In good weather, at times you can see for miles.

I will leave you today just shy of Mars Hill in a very open space of land.

It sure beats wall to wall shopping mall.

Be seeing you.

Fort Kent Blockhouse

I have been saving this photo because this is one of the major stories I wanted to tell.  I love hanging near the blockhouse when I go to Fort Kent.  It is a very peaceful area, and I love being near history.

The history in this case is the Bloodless Aroostook War.  This is my understanding of the conflict.  The Treaty of Paris in 1783 marked the end of the Revolutionary War, but left the border between Maine (Massachusetts at the time of the signing) and Canada (Nova Scotia at the time).  The Crown wanted the St. John Valley south of the St. John River.  The lush farmland and forests were coveted properties.  Not to be outdone, the young republic thought the border should be north of the St. John River.  Troops were sent to the disputed area from both sides.

This is a by-product of the conflict.  When the snow melts, and I am up there next I will get more complete shots of the area. 

The Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842 resolved the conflict making the northern border the St. John River.  It seems to be the most reasonable resolution to the conflict for me.  Both sides got a piece of the lush farmland.  So it is the reason why the border at Fort Kent spans the St John River.

Some of the conflict still exists today.  Canadian loggers have a time complying with the rules about logging in the State of Maine. 

I guess, in a fashion, some things never change. 

Be seeing you.

Kid in a Candy Shop

Last time I talked about Houlton, I told you about Historic Market Square.  One of my favorite businesses in Market Square is Uncle Willy's Candy Shop. 

It's full of candy.  What is not to love?

What type of candy?  Everything from penny candies to truffles.  I have bought huge rolls of Smarties for the teens, truffles for my husband, and chocolate covered blueberries for myself. 

It is a candy lover's dream.

Be seeing you.

Ice

The weather in Milo, Maine is the worst today.  Snow going to freezing rain going to rain.  In honor of that, I thought I would discuss one of the pitfalls of living in the North where we have a real winter.

That pitfall, in a word is ice.

Snow is pretty and can be dangerous.  The worst thing about snow for me is early in a snowstorm, especially a snowstorm that is putting down snow quickly.  If the snow is coming down fast, and road crews are not talking care of it quickly enough, it can be dangerous driving. 

But much as I hate driving in snow, I hate driving in ice all the more.  There is not much defense against ice.  I have studded tires on my little tank which does help a lot.  Chains on your tires can help, too.  They grip and break up the ice a little.  But where 4-wheel drive can help greatly against snow, it is not so helpful in ice.  You start to slide, good driving habits can help, but, more often than not, you are sunk. 

It is way to easy to slide off the road when it is icy.  And wet ice is the worst.  Wet ice is extra slick making that slide much more likely to happen. 

And ice can be deceiving.  We talk about black ice a lot in Maine.  That is ice that just looks like wet road.  So you don't know you are in trouble until you start to slide. 

So those of you who do real winter driving, be careful out there.  And those of you in more temperate climes, enjoy the fact you don't have to deal with ice.

Be seeing you.

A nice surprise

I got home from Houlton today to find a nice surprise.  My husband and son hit Bagel Central when they went to Bangor yesterday.  They brought home blueberry bagels and knotted rolls.  Of course, I grabbed a knotted roll and ate it with butter.

Bagel Central is an authentic jewish deli in Downtown Bangor.  It is a nice place to hang out and get a good lunch.  It is open and airy with solid wood tables and chairs.  They bake their own breads and supply a few businesses, including Eastern Maine Medical Center, the larger of the two hospitals in Bangor.  They have soups and sandwiches and latkes (potato pancakes) and bagels and fun desserts.  My children love their bagels and knotted rolls.  It is a great treat when we bring some home.

The knotted roll is made from challah, a jewish egg bread.  The egg provides flavor, moisture, and stability to the bread.   Loaves of challah are made by braiding three ropes of dough, so it is an ideal bread to make these rolls. 

These are great for sandwiches, and the bread toasts well.  My kids love to eat them plain or with a little butter.  I agree.

Bagel Central is a thriving business and institution in Bangor.  If your travels bring you to Bangor and you like Jewish delis (or if you just like to people watch) this is a great stop. 

Be seeing you.

Wandering Main St: Houlton

Route 1 in Houlton is the major business district, but Main St. is much more interesting.  In particular, Historic Market Square.  Old buildings line Main St where there are a number of smaller businesses.  This is a town that sports a Wal-Mart.

I say good for Houlton!

I will highlight a number of businesses here.

First, the Temple Theater.

Movie theaters are scarce north of Bangor.  It is nice to see one in Houlton.  I have not gone yet.  One of these days a good movie will be there when I can go see it.

Yorks Books

A little independent bookstore and card shop.  They carry and encourage Maine authors.  My husband loves history and I bought a book on the Maine Civil War regiment there.

There are other businesses including some nice eateries.  Houlton has become a foodie town.

But that is a topic for another day.

Be seeing you.