Winterfest 2009 will be held at the Camden Amphitheatre and Camden Public Library on January 31, 2009, with a Community Ski Race at CHRHS on Sunday, February 1.

Camden’s Winterfest Returns

The Seventh Annual Camden Winterfest will be on Saturday, January 31, in the Camden Amphitheatre and the Camden Public Library. The centerpiece of Winterfest activity remains the Community Ice Carving Event. A dozen teams representing local community organizations will transform ordinary blocks of ice into crystalline ice sculptures using the traditional tools of the ice-carving artisan. Chef Tim Pierce of the Samoset Resort donates his time to teaching the teams the craft of ice sculpting.

Other popular features of Winterfest are the wagon rides, hot food outside, and cool music inside the library. The events start with a march by the teams from the Village Green to the Amphitheatre followed by an opening ceremony and the commencement of ice carving at 12:00 noon. Horse-drawn wagon rides continue throughout the afternoon, from 12:30 to 3:30. This year Winterfest features two “living art sculptures” entitled “Blizzard” and “Glacial” from the Global Warming Series by Meredith Alex.

Winter crafts for children will be available in the library, 12:00 to 2:00, hosted by the children’s librarians, Amy Hand and Susan Lewis. “All That Jazz” and other musicians will be performing under the rotunda in the library from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Family wintertime activities are encouraged throughout the afternoon, including sledding and snowman building. This year’s Winterfest Ice Carving will not be a competition but a celebration of the individual style and spirit. The Awards and Closing Ceremony will be at 4:00 pm.

The “snow day” for Winterfest is Sunday, February 1.

The Winterfest festivities continue on Sunday with an open cross-country ski race. All are welcome, the race will be hosted and organized by the CHRHS cross-country ski team and coach Dave Ridley. The race takes place Sunday morning, February 1, at Camden Hills Regional High School at 10:00 am. The race is a 5 km freestyle format. Registration is from 8:30 to 9:30 am; those interested in participating should call Dave Ridley at 236-8567.

Winterfest is a popular winter event, presented by The First and hosted by the Camden Public Library, with sponsorship by the Camden Downtown Business Group. With or without snow, families are encouraged to come and play. Horse and wagon rides are offered free of charge. A merry band of culinary volunteers serve a variety of delicious hot soups donated by local restaurants, light snacks, and their world famous Arctic Grilled Cheese sandwiches.

Winterfest began six years ago as a modest effort to enliven our parks with community activity, engage and include the teens and youth of the community, and draw attention to the restoration of the parks. The event has its historic roots in the Camden Winter Carnival, a festive winter event celebrated in the Amphitheatre and at the Camden Snow Bowl in the late ’30s, discontinued in 1941. In 2008 an expanded program of outdoor and indoor activities attracted a crowd of more than 800 onlookers.

Maine Noel

There are some perks to being an Innkeeper in Camden Maine. Last night I was treated to a Maine Noel at Natalie's Restaurant in Camden Maine. The dinner was above and beyond what you would expect in Maine.
I had a similar experience to this about 10 years ago when I was in Ireland. I went to Ireland for my honeymoon and was not expecting to eat very well. Maybe some potatoes and hash everyday, didn't matter, I was on my honeymoon. Anyway, I have to tell you the places we did eat at in Ireland were excellent, from the little pubs to the nice restaurants we happen to come upon. In Ireland there was always fresh meat and dairy, wonderful vegetables. The dinner last night was similar - excellent meat, wonderful vegetables, all local fare.
Oscar and Raymond, the owners of Natalie's and Camden Harbor Inn are fine hosts. They make you feel welcome and like a friends daughter said, "like a movie star".
One of the neatest things I like about upscale dining is the attention to detail that most of us do not reward ourselves on a day to day basis. Natalie's Restaurant has a calming atmosphere with lovely comfortable chairs. They also encourage you to linger and enjoy the moment. Something as an Innkeeper I neglect.
I would not by any means call myself a foodie, but I have eaten in some fine restaurants. I went to Alain Ducasse's restaurant in Monte Carlo, I have eaten in many fine restaurants in Manhattan - Peter Luger's Steakhouse (more of a steakhouse than fine dining, but the best one in the world), The Inn at Little Washington in Virginia, just to name a few. The thing that all of these restaurants have in common is the excellent service and Natalie's is right in line with the best.
I wish Natalie's a bright future.
If you are coming to the Mid Coast of Maine - Natalie's Restaurant should be on your todo list. The Concierge at the Camden Windward House Bed and Brealfast would be delighted to make you a reservation.

It is cold outside

Winter has come to Camden Maine. The Camden Windward House is once again tested with the forces of nature. It is awesome to live in a house that is over 150 years old.

We had a man come to the Inn to look at the lack of insulation in the attic. The man said he had only 2 other times in his career seen a house with no insulation in the attic. I personally found it amazing to see the lack of insulation. The man came and went and left an estimate to change the situation. It was funny though, he said that this old house has lasted this long without the insulation, I should just leave it alone. Why go messing with something if it is not broke.

Past innkeepers have put new windows and some insulation in the walls, they have added new rugs and patch some holes. But really this house is the same it was in 1854. You can hear the wind and feel an occasional breeze on your neck. No wonder people believe these houses are haunted.

Windward House still proves itself to be a well built house and I am sure it will make another winter. Winter is a fun time to come to Camden, the town is open but quiet, the locals are all chatty with issues of past and future, the Inns are solid, some cold, but warm by their fireplaces. The Harbor has lots of boats wrapped in plastic and the trees are all bare. The Lake is starting to freeze and the snow is starting to fall.

Year Round Lodging

The 2008 Summer and Fall Season in Camden Maine was excellent. The weather was great and the hiking, swimming, sightseeing were perfect. Every summer the guests of the Camden Windward House Bed and breakfast ask if the Inn is open year round. The Inn is open year round, but people are confused as to what would bring people to Maine in the Winter. I asked myself this when I bought the Inn and to tell you the truth, 3 years ago couldn't figure it out. Now that we have been here for awhile, I know what the locals enjoy and can't understand why more people do not come to Maine in the Winter. It is a fun state in the winter. Camden Maine has a ski lodge that is perfect for families, priced right and the mountain is high enough to actually get a good day of skiing in. The crowds are minimal and the fine dining restaurants are open year round. It is like a hidden jewel in the winter. I personally enjoy ice skating. The Mid Coast Recreation center has open skate on the weekends. $4.00 for 2 hours of skating and great music. When I feel like ruffing it a little, or getting a little more scenery than the Skating Center offers, I go up to Lake Megunticook and shovel of the snow and make my own ice skating rink. This is really fun. You see the Ice fisherman and the cliffs covered in ice and snow. I will try to post a picture of it this winter. I posted a picture of an Ice Goose today because I think it captures the beauty of Winter in Camden Maine. The Winter fest is another asset to Camden in the Winter. January 31st 2009 the 7th annual community celebration of winter will happen at the Camden Public Library. The Camden Windward House Bed and Breakfast is across the street from the Library and a great place to start an Ice weekend. Well, we are open year round-Please come and enjoy Camden Maine in the Winter, you will not be disappointed.
Labels: Winter Fun and Maine year round lodging
Link: http://www.windwardhouse.com/

More Guests

I was telling Jesse about my last blog entry - I do not think he reads them, I mentioned to him that I wrote about some of the great guests we have had from all around the world. He reminded me that I did not brag about the English Mayor we hosted last month. This picture is of the Mayor of Doncaster, England. The Mayor and his wife are very nice people. Since then we ask any English person if they know were Doncaster is and if they know the mayor.

DONCASTER has a new non-Labour civic mayor for only the second time in 34 years.
Liberal Democrat Paul Coddington, who represents Bessacarr and Cantley, takes over as chair of Doncaster Council after being elected to the position at Friday's annual general meeting at the Mansion House.He was first elected to the local authority in 1999 and replaces Labour's Tony Sockett at the helm.After being sworn in last week, a slightly shocked Mr Coddington thanked his colleagues, family and local electorate for handing him the prestigious opportunity."I want to play my part in bringing people together and working for the common good," he said."One of the tasks of chair of council is to encourage fair debate. "I also want to do what I can to encourage people in the voluntary sector and continue working with the young people in the borough."I want to create better relationships and build bridges between communities."

So far this year, knock on wood, we have had some wonderful guests. One day we had a couple from Israel, a couple from Madrid, a couple from Spain, and a couple from Germany all at one time in the dining room. No one could talk to each other. I told Jesse it was like being at the Tower of Babel. It was funny they all ordered the pancakes. Must be an international like of pancakes (Jesse makes exceptional pancakes, blueberry and orange yogurt). In addition to all the international guests, one day we had the Mayor of a town in England. It was a pleasure to speak to him. Today at the Inn we have our first guest from Singapore.

We do get guests from the US and some even from right here in Maine. The state of Maine is launching an ad campaign for Mainers to vacation in Maine (stay cations they call it). One interesting thing I learned from one of our guests last week, they were from New Jersey not Maine, I learned what the brass knob in the middle of the dining room floor was. Let me give you a little background information on the brass knob first. When Jes and I bought the house 3 years ago, there was lots of furniture and rugs that I just did not like. We did not have enough money to refurnish the house, and as Jes says "if its not broke - don't fix it". Well I have lived with alot of stuff, slowly changing things, making the Inn more the way we like it, more our style and reflecting us. There was an old rug in the dining room, covering a beautiful maple strip hardwood floor. I couldn't understand why anyone would cover up a beautiful wood floor. I finally took up the rug and reveled the floor. The floor is in good shape and there is a brass knob in the middle of the room. I could not for the life of me figure out what that knob was for, until the man from NJ, leaned over and said, hey I have one of those in my summer cottage out on LBI. I said, "well, what is it?" I was expecting him to say it was a historic reminant of a slave door that the nice family in the house hid the slaves from the slave hunters and saved them and helped them to freedom. But his story was not as fantastic as the one I conceived in my head. He said there is a key to it and it is where you can turn on and off a gas valve that is under the floor. SO I said to him , so this is not a 1854 historic find, but probably a 1960 thinga ma gig. He said yes, it is not a historic feature. Oh well, I was hoping to have some interesting thing to talk about in the dining room during breakfast. I guess I could still fabricate some little story about my little brass knob, most of guests don't speak English and its all babel anyway.

Flowers Flowers and More Flowers

My husband decided one day to give the children cameras and walk around town with the mission of photographing the flowers of Camden. I recently looked at the pictures and they are beautiful. Finally it is spring in Maine. The winter was very harsh and I can't tell you how much I appreciate seeing flowers. There is this nice picture of a bumble bee and a flower that my daughter took. She is 7 years old.

The gardens at Windward House are starting to fill in. My husband is responsible for the gardens. He loves to garden and learned everything from his father. My father in -law, Jesse's dad, grew up on a farm in Staten Island. My father In law tells stories of how his father preferred him to work on the farm instead of going to school. Jesse learned how to grow all kinds of flowers and vegetables. In addition to our flowers we have a small vegetable garden in the yard. Last year we grew corn, that was pretty neat. This year we have string beans, heirloom tomatoes, banana peppers, eggplants, lettuce, basil, parsley.

The flowers that we have seen so far at Windward House are : early May: Forsythia, late May: Lilacs, Early June: Peonies.

Teaching an old dog new tricks?

When odd things happen in your life, you may need a little time to digest it before you truly understand what happened. Then like a light bulb, you get it and it all makes sense.
I recently joined a women's networking group here in Camden. We meet once a month at a bakery for coffee and discuss women related business topics. The group is fun and a great networking opportunity. Towards the end of the meeting, each member gets about 2 minutes to promote themselves and tell about their services. There was this one lady that was very familiar to me and I could not remember how, until one day I was able to put it all together.
My dad is your traditional jolly, fun going, beer drinking, football watching type of guy. He enjoys going out, being with friends and celebrating life. When out or celebrating my dad's choice beverage is always a beer. In my 34 years, I have never seen my dad drink wine. This is an important part of my story so bare with me.
My parents came up from New Jersey in 2007 and as a fun day trip I invited them to go to the local winery with me. My mom, unlike my dad, loves to drink wine. The winery had just been renovated and under new management. We drove up to the winery and when we got their we enjoyed the atmosphere, my kids loved running around the place, my mom and I were enjoyed the wine tastings and my dad just seemed out of place. He did not want to taste the wine nor was he comfortable with my kids running a muck. The women behind the bar noticed my dad was a little obtuse and invited him to join in the tasting. My father was reluctant but he was flattered that the pretty, well built women had asked him to join us. I say well built in the kindest sense, she was very shapely and womanly if you get what I mean. This part is also important because this is the magic power that I thought was at play. The women asked my father again to taste and he declined, she somehow, without him tasting, got him to actually purchase a bottle of wine. She convinced him that it tasted like beer and he fell for it. My mother and I did not understand his impulse to buy, but were convinced that the women's fine looks were the reason for the purchase. We teased him in the car all the way home.
Back to the networking group. One of the members of the group called out to my familiar women, "hey didn't you used to work at the winery?" She said yes, "yes I created the wine speel and was their best selling agent." I was shocked and remembered her to be the women that sold my father the wine. I asked her what her profession was and - you are not going to believe this - but, she is a clinical hypnotist. She hypnotises people before surgery, if they are fighting with an addiction, or need a new direction in their life. I couldn't stop laughing when I realized that all this time - perhaps my father was hypnotized into buying that bottle of wine. Case solved. Now whether or not the wine tasted like beer, I will never know. But the fact that he broke out of his comfort zone and tried something new was impressive to me. The shapely women no longer works at the winery but I highly encourage all to go and see the winery and experience the wines. Cellardoor winery. A Great Camden Maine Lodging : Camden Windward House is 5 miles from the vineyard and is offering a lodging discount when you sign up for the cooking classes.

Winery Cooking Classes

The local winery has these great cooking classes. The winery itself has been remodeled and the new owners are just fantastic. The new owners put in a test kitchen where local chefs can come in and teach their craft to those of us that like cooking and wine. Bettina is always looking for food to pair with the wines and with the price of the class you are offered several different wines to try with all the foods. The class started at 11:00am and went to 2:00pm. I was not quite ready to start drinking wine at 11:00am, but by the end of the class, I had tried all the samples that were there.The class was full of interesting people and the discussions were fun. My Inn, Camden Windward House would really like to support this winter time activity. We offer our guests, when coming to town for this class, a 5% discount on room rate along with a complimentary bottle of the Local wine upon arrival. The class ticket is $50.o0 and is an additional fee. The next class is at the end of March - check our site for details and reserve a room. It is a nice weekend getaway.

Spring Is Coming

The snow is starting to melt here in Camden Maine. The birds are starting to come out and the sun is rising a lot earlier. Camden Maine is almost the eastern most point of the US and the sun comes up very early. Here at the Inn, we are preparing for another busy summer. We purchased new washers and dryers (LG), put new floors into some of the bathrooms and painted some walls. But much more is needed before you can host over 1,900 people for the summer. Basically a strategic plan is needed to make all go well. Jesse and I have owned the Inn now for 3 years and just starting to understand how this place works. We are evaluating our vendors, considering going "green" for the summer and updating our website so that our guests can use it as a useful tool in planning their trip to Camden.
One of the things that I very excited about to be able to offer our guests this season is an upgrade on our sheets. We have always had nice sheets on beds but now we have upgraded some of our sheets to 500 thread count. I was reading a trip advisor posting about our Inn and they labeled it "I think they iron their sheets". She is right we do iron the sheets. Does anyone do that at home? In fact I complain to the other Innkeepers about how much time we spend ironing sheets - and most just laugh at me and say "you do what? I just hand iron them when they come out of the dryer". Which might be ok for some, but to have a nice ironed sheet is luxury. I can't really complain about the ironing because my husband actually does the ironing. He plugs in his computer, puts a movie in - in front of him, and watches while he irons. He also sometimes puts in a book on CD to help get him through this tedious task. He never complains, I think he finds it meditative. Hope all of you are starting to enjoy the thaw. Get those chores done!

Skowhegan: Maine's maple syrup season begins

One of the things we anxiously wait for here in Camden is the Maple Syrup to start flowing and this morning - we got the news. Stay posted for local events that celebrate March Maple Sunday!

Windward House Bed and Breakfast uses only Maine Maple syrup for breakfast. We also have a great package March in the Mud

The best way to deal with the Mud is to get out and enjoy it. Better yet, hiking in the mud provides that little extra exercise one might need to get that winter weight off. Package includes:

2 night stay in a warm and dry fireplace suite, Mid Coast Maine Hiking book, local hiking trail maps and bubble bath for that bath you will need when you come in from your muddy adventure.

-prices start at 325.00 Package is available the months of March, April and May.

Quoted from http://bangornews.com:

Skowhegan: Maine's maple syrup season begins

SKOWHEGAN, Maine— When conditions are just right — mild days, cool nights — the sap flows and Maine’s maple syrup season begins.

The season can start anytime between mid-February and late March, but whenever the sap is ready this year, producers are hoping for one thing: a season that will break the three-year trend of a downturn in production.

The USDA reported that New England temperatures last year were 60 percent too cool, 21 percent too warm and 19 percent favorable during the season.

Bob Moore of Bob’s Sugar House in Dover-Foxcroft is looking forward to a more productive season this year.

"Last year was bad," he said. "But there is no way to know what will happen this spring. It all depends on Mother Nature."

Moore said many producers, including himself, have already started tapping their trees even though the flow has not started yet.

The good thing about the marketplace is that supply and demand balance each other. Because syrup supplies were down last season, producers got a higher price for their product.

To herald the syrup season and celebrate the millions of dollars it brings to the state’s economy, Maine Maple Sunday is celebrated this year on March 23, with many sugarhouses opening for business and providing entertainment and samples for visitors.

In central Maine, the town of Skowhegan has adopted the maple syrup season as cause for a week full of fun.

Innkeeper Launches Destination Wedding Site

 

Innkeeper Launches Destination Wedding Site

nnkeeper Launches Destination Wedding Site Camden Maine Newest Wedding DestinationContributed by Kristen Bifulco 2008-02-24

Camden — Camden, ME February 24, 2008 -- Kristen Bifulco, owner and innkeeper of the Camden Windward House B&B in mid-coast Maine, has launched a destination wedding website, Mycamdenwedding.com.

The new website assists brides in planning a wedding in Camden, one the most photographed coastal villages in Maine-popularly known as the Jewel of the Maine Coast.

The site features four signature, wedding packages unique to the natural surroundings of Camden: Ocean View Weddings, Mountain Top Weddings, Coastal Garden Weddings and B&B Weddings.

Ocean View Weddings feature ceremonies aboard a schooner, in front of a lighthouse, on the beach or at the yacht club. Bridal parties can choose to dine aboard ship or picnic on an island with a Maine lobster bake.

For a Mountain Top Wedding, couples exchange vows atop 1300 foot, Mt. Battie with views of the harbor and downeast to Cadillac Mountain. The summit is home to the famous "kissing rock" from the classic movie, "Payton Place" and a verse from Camden's romantic poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, carved in the granite. An elopement mountain venue includes Maiden's Cliff overlooking Lake Megunticook or the summit of Ragged Mountain with vistas to Penobscot Bay.

The Coastal Garden Wedding packages feature private gardens, Harbor Park and the Bok Amphitheater at the head of the harbor, and the Vesper Children's Chapel in Rockport overlooking Penobscot Bay. The village foot bridge at Tannery Lane with its cascading waterfall and flowering shrubs is a favorite spot for wedding photos.

A B&B Wedding is for bridal parties desiring privacy after a ceremony at a white-steepled church or backyard garden. Camden is home to twelve premier inns, most of which are listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. The Bifulco's Camden Windward House Inn is an 1854 Victorian home with Greek Revival features. It is nearby the Bok Amphitheater and the trailhead to Mount Battie. A July 7, 2007 wedding at the Windward House was recently mentioned in a New York Times vacation escape article. The bride had reserved the Windward House B&B sight unseen.

. Mycamdenwedding.com offers wedding planning tools and advice, access to local wedding services, wedettiquette, honeymoon and mini-moon packages.

Says mycamdenwedding.com developer, Gen X-er Kristen Bifulco, "When my husband and I got married, this is what we were looking for. We were turned off by big halls. We ended up celebrating our wedding with a tent in my brother-in-law's backyard garden. It would have been great if it were a weekend affair in a charming coastal New England town."

The wedding destination site is on-line at www.mycamdenwedding.com or Kristi at bnb@windwardhouse.com or 1-877-492-9656.

Bare Foot in the Snow

The Windward House is surviving another Maine winter. The 2007- 2008 winter season is intense. We have seen several feet of snow, below freezing temperatures and lots of ice. I am always surprised that not everything in this house does not freeze. The house was built in 1854 and was originally a private residence but then was made a rooming house for lobster men in the area. About 25 years ago the Windward House was finally made into a Bed and breakfast, of course still welcoming lobster man - when they are in the neighborhood. One special boat man comes from Australia every year and stays at Windward House with us for sometimes months on end (mind you never in the winter!!). The past owners have really put a lot of love into this house. The original clap board on the front of the house was taken off and insulated and double windows were put on. The insulation, which I find rather funny, was not for heating purposes, but to soundproof the front of the house from the noise of the street. Jesse and I are sometimes hesitant to tell people this because it may imply that Rt 1 is noisy, which to us, coming from NY, it is far from noisy. But, some might notice the occasional truck or traffic in the front. There is no other Inn on Rt1 that can offer this amenity - that of a quite in-town room.
Anyway, being an Innkeeper in the winter is a job and a half, and has a very high stress level. It is our constant job to clean away snow, make sure ice is not unbearable and unsafe, pray that pipes do not freeze and oh yah, always make sure the 100 year old furnace is working.
Couples have been coming to Windward this winter, some to look for a summer house, some for a private getaway, some for toboggan weekend, some to ski and others looking for the perfect wedding venue. Windward House has stayed warm, thank goodness, for all the great winter guests. I think it is only technically half way through the winter. The Windward House is now offering a great Bare foot in the Winter package - so if you want to come and see how the old house is holding up in the winter, please call and make a reservation. The package is $99.00 room rate and a bottle of Bare foot champagne upon arrival. The package is good for any of the fireplaces rooms, excluding Quarterdeck Room.

Thank you to our guests

I once went to an "Innkeeper Course" and learned little things here and there about Innkeeping. There is a lot to this job, much more than baking cookies and decorating (which I have to say are the fun things). At this course they discussed marketing, networking and the talent of book keeping and reservation organization. There was also a discussion on how to know if you are doing all these things, including the baking and decorating, correct. The woman at the seminar said, if after you give your guest a bill and they say "thank you", then you know you did all things right. Since then I anxiously waited to hear thank you from my guests, kind of a validation to my efforts. Well, everyone has said thank you and I think they always did say thank you. Bed and Breakfasts guests are generally really cool and polite people. But just a couple of weeks ago, I received this really neat thank you in an email. A really nice couple in the state of Washington, whom came back to the Windward House to celebrate their 10 year wedding anniversary (they honeymooned here in 1997) wrote a blog entry about us http://creaturebug.typepad.com/creature_bug/2008/01/a-love-project.html .
I was so happy to read this blog that has been put out into cyberspace. It even has sent us some business. So many of our guests have written nice things about us on Trip Advisor and similar sites. We even enjoy when guests call us to say hello, or ask about the leaky roof problem we had (which by the way Chris with the peacokes, is finally fixed, carpenter put nail through floors radian heat) , or just to check in to see how things are. We also receive a lot of hand written letters from our guests that are always a welcomed surprise. Jesse and I really appreciate all our guests kind words. We have the best job. To our guests, I wish there was a website that I could go and proclaim what great people you are, but to date there isn't, so here it goes - Thank you, Thank you , Thank you, Thank you for making my business a home and happy place - you all are the best.

The Last Leaf Fell

I didn't realize how much I would dread the end of fall before I moved to Maine. The Camden Windward House Bed and Breakfast is an acre in- town property that has lots of trees. I kept asking my husband to go out and rake the leaves but he said - "I'm not doing anything until the last leaf falls." Yesterday November 20th 2007 - the last leaf fell and my husband spent the whole day cleaning up the yard. The yard looks awesome now, everything is dead but it looks so clean.
Now that the leaves are cleaned up it is time to decorate for Christmas. Oddly enough, the town of Camden noticed the last leaf fell yesterday also. The town trucks were out and the work men were busy hanging the Christmas wreaths on the light posts and decorating with twinkle lights. The coastal village looks so quaint this time of year. Almost like a Norman Rockwell picture. The Festival of Lights Celebration is this weekend in Rockland Maine and Christmas By The Sea is the weekend after that, November 30th , December 1st and 2nd. The Inns in Camden have a wonderful Christmas Tea and Inn Tour that weekend here in Camden. The Opera House has a great performance of The Nutcracker and Santa arrives by Lobster Boat.
I wonder if my husband will have a cute answer when I ask my him to clean up all the Christmas and Holiday lights and decorations. I can hear it now, "I'm not going out there until the last snow flake falls. "

Will the Little Old Lady Dance?

I read a review recently that likened Camden Maine to a nicely kept little old lady. Which strangely enough, I agree with. There is a kind of respect for such a person. The title of this blog entry is in reference to Camden Maine and the conversation that I had with a guest today at breakfast. We were discussing the changing face of Camden, which is a common topic around here, and where the future of Camden is. Among many things that were discussed over coffee, one was the upcoming event being sponsored by the Camden Harbour Inn - Weekend with Edie. I think it is fantastic. Weekend with Edie is a dinner and show that features a drag queen (Edie). This is not a typical show to be seen in Camden Maine. It will be interesting to see if the community supports the show (dances) or blushes and turns a polite cheek. The Camden Windward House is doing a special around this weekend, because a dancing old lady is fun and funny.
Spend the evening at the Camden Windward House and we will provide you with discounted tickets to the dinner and show. Saturday November 17th 2007.

The Leaves Are Beautiful - Where is Everybody?

The leaves in Camden Maine are in full peak color this week, October 21 - October 28th. The colors are fantastic. As innkeepers we try to predict when the leaves will peak so that we can help guests make their vacation plans. We predicted the 2nd week in October - I guess we were 1 week off - not too bad, but we don't have any guests to see the leaves. The last 2 weeks in October are usually a slower time here in Camden. The Pop tech conference (which is the 2nd week in October) left and the 600 people that came for it - left also. If you have a minute and want to see some awesome color and have a great Inn and town to yourself, come to the Camden Windward House.

southern Hospitality?

Someone accused me of Southern Hospitality. In our rooms we have a little book that we welcome our guests to write a message about their stay. In one of our rooms at the Camden Windward House, someone wrote "great stay - and thank you for your Southern Hospitality". I do not know if perhaps these people were from Canada, where we would be seen as southern, but I don't think they were. I truly think they meant this as a sincere term of endearment and compliment. When you come to the Inn, it is my pleasure to make your stay as comfortable as possible. I am sorry that Northerners are not seen as hospitable, as I am as northern as they come. I grew up in New York and speak Staten Island-ese, a special dialect of English - that only people in Staten Island speak.
I took this comment as a compliment because just the other day we had a true southern bell at the Inn and believe it or not, she asked to help me with the dishes. I almost fell over because she was so sweet, and her accent was so charming. I did not let her do the dishes but she made me smile because the Southern Hospitality she showed me at my Inn.

The Aussie and the Animal Communicator

We are getting ready for high season, and have very little time. The house painting is behind schedule. Late spring early summer are really special times here, and we have had some absolutely amazing weather. Just look at this picture of the lillacs, and also the baskets that one of our guests helped us pick out.

We had a return guest from last year, a sailor from Australia. He's a sun and wind bleached trim fellow, hard working and fast talking, and immensely practical. He doesn't have too much time for frivolities, mostly while he's here he takes apart and puts back together his entire sail boat for racing season, takes a break now and then for cigarettes, and has a few beers at the end of the day.

I decided to take him to Barley Joe's green house to help me pick out some hanging flower baskets.

I said, why don't we divide and conquer, you go that way, and I will work on these herbs and flowers for the cutting garden.

It wasn't long before I noticed he was intent upon conversation with a well dressed, slender and dignified older woman with neat short hair. I walked over to see what progress he was making.

He was examining a wave petunia basket from underneath, as if inspecting its hull.

"This lady seems to know an awful lot about this stuff and she's been really helpful."

The woman smiled coyly and gave our sailor a look with her very blue eyes.

"Are you his employer?" she asked me. "The plants here are so beautiful, and" she says "the woman is an animal communicator."

"What's that?" says the Aussie sailor.

"My cat had some trouble a little while back, just before my partner and I were planning on a trip to Machu Pichu... I wasn't sure I should go."

"What - had puss been watching too much cat t.v. or something?"

"No." she said, "It wasn't that at all.. you see..." and as the woman began to explain the complexities of her cat's emotional troubles, and their diagnosis and treatment by the animal communicator, -, a treatment that took place over the phone no less (because the animal communicator had actually met the cat in person before) I watched as my guest's face turned from suspended disbelief, like he was waiting for the punch line, to indignation as in "she's having me on" to, "no really, she's serious", to "that lady is f!@#ing nuts!" Which he actually exclaimed aloud, along with a few more saltycomments, both to, before and about the lady, in his brand of english so fast I am pretty sure only I under stood him, and only because I had been talking to him over the last few days.

Camden Maine loves dogs

When I moved to Camden Maine, I felt it imperative to get a dog. Everyone had a dog and and having a dog meant meeting everyone. Last year there were 602 dogs registered in Camden. The town is only 18.5 miles long with 5, 400 residents (probably a little less that half of those residents are not year round). This meaning that there are 33 dogs every mile in Camden. Downtown has 3 stores dedicated to pampering the pooch. Most of the dogs in town are full breed dogs. Really fine animals, nicely groomed and a pleasure to see.

The dog I chose to get was a labadoodle. I own an Inn (Camden Windward House)and it is important to have a good dog as well as a "clean" dog. I certainly chose the right breed for us, because she is a wonderful creature. Her name is Moxie. Most people in town know her name, but still many do not know my name. My children over the winter have been training Moxie to enter her into the Windjammer dog show in September. We have discussed what kind of costume she should wear and which one of the children should be her master at the show. I was hesitant to enter Moxie last year because the sign said "good dogs may apply" at that time Moxie was still a pup and we didn't know what she would do around a big crowd. The children are still debating whether she will be dressed as a belted Galloway cow (belted -doodle) or a lobster. We are working on the tricks of stick'em up and holding a treat on her nose. I certainly think Moxie and her selected child master for the day will steal the show at Windjammer Weekend.