I Love Maine, Especially in September

Very few tourists, moderate temperatures, period houses, galleries, harbors, islands, rocks, lobster rolls, blueberries, and good friends - all of this I experienced last week.  Hence the tardiness of my post.  So, even though Maine is out of my planned sequence, it's my topic today.  Come with me while I enjoy it all over again with you.

The view my friends and I awoke to every morning when the tide was in.  Wish I could remember the names of those distant islands.

Knowing my interest in Andrew Wyeth and all the Wyeths' art, we first visited the Olson house where Andrew Wyeth painted Christina's World.  Here, the docent explained how Christina Olson's slow crippling illness limited her life to this house and its surroundings.

A glimpse of my host on the right.

Rear of the house.  Owned by the Farnsworth Museum, there is discussion concerning how much to renovate the structure which Andrew knew so well and painted so often.

The view from this upstairs window...

before the trees grew and blocked the view, inspired this painting.

The famous Christina's World.  Betsy Wyeth was often the actual model for much of this painting, but it was exactly how Christina Olson actually navigated her limited world.


Andrew's grave just down the road from the Olson house.  The site is peaceful with ocean views through the trees.  The fact that this graveyard is where he wished to be buried speaks to the connectedness he felt with the Olsons.

Moving on, we took in more ocean views and more amazing boulders that make up much of Maine's shoreline.

Years ago, I read of a couple who retired to an island, Swans Island, in Maine.  Here they raised sheep without fences, spun their wool and wove wonderful wool blankets.  Their work won many awards, but when the wife developed Alzheimer's disease, the couple sold the business to an onshore company.   This company still weaves the blankets on hand looms and has kept the original name.  This was a really interesting stop in Northport, Maine.

Part of the showroom.  The insignia above the name is woven onto all their goods.

Looms with organically dyed wool.  Peeping over the loom is the other half of my host couple.

Sample of a Swans Island blanket and assorted pillows.

Just down the road, our next stop was Windsor Chairmakers in Lincolnville, Maine.

Beautiful furniture made to the buyer's specifications.  I took lots of photos here because the furniture was so lovely, but am restraining myself and posting only a few, like this tiger-maple highboy...

or the built-in cupboards and drawers unit custom made to the specifications of your room...

or a tiger-maple chest of drawers...

or just a simple candle or pipe box.  It was all beautiful.

Another day in Camden, Maine we visited Leslie Curtis Designs.   Her shop is full of all things Maine, but her design specializes in wicker.

Here we see Leslie talking about a wicker piece once belonging to Bette Davis.  (I believe Leslie was once married to film star, Tony Curtis.  Not to drop any names.)

Such pretty things.

Of course, everyday required a lobster roll and, for me, cole slaw so crucial to the eating of lobster rolls.

Everyday!

Preferably eaten while overlooking a harbor.  (Thought this photo really came out well.)

Or this one.   My friend says, "Everywhere you look in Maine is a painting."  And it's true.

Knowing I admire the design of Hugh Newell Jacobsen, we drove by one of his designs in Maine.  How great is this - a Hugh Newell Jacobsen house in Maine!

And note the view they have.

So pure, so Maine, so Jacobsen.

Their harbor view at dusk.

A sweet little Maine house we saw at the end of our day all ready for autumn.

While on the subject of Mid-Coastal Maine, I thought now might be an appropriate time to include a house and shop I have always loved in Wiscasset, Maine.  All the photos have come from  the website MarstonHouse.com.  Every time I pass this shop and home, people like me are taking photos of it.  If you have not seen it, enjoy these images.  If you are in Wiscasset, stop in the shop or at least take a photo.  Living room below.  (The painting on the mantel is a Jamie Wyeth; he traded the painting for a Marston House antique.)

Sharon and Paul Mrozinski, owners of the Marston House.

Dining area.

Another view.

Another view of living room.

Their kitchen is one that fits the title of my blog - it is one "I have loved" for years.

Their home which is atop their shop is full of great Maine antiques, like the blue cupboard on the left.  And note the wide plank floors.

Master bedroom.

Master bath on left and bedroom again on right.

Bedroom mantel detail.

Views of shop's antiques.

You can even stay in the Mrozinskis' bed and breakfast, or rent a cottage, or their flat in Paris.  Famous people have been in the Marston House - Jamie Wyeth and his painting and Martha Stewart had lunch with the Mrozinskis in their wonderful dining room.  She said it was like being in a Vermeer painting - high praise indeed.

Well, it's getting to be bedtime for this blogger.  Before I end, I thank my friends for a most delightful visit, and I  leave you, my faithful reader, with two more images of Maine.  Blueberries, of course.

And now, good night.  Till the next time in the Hamptons.

b