Wednesday in Camden, Maine

The ghost did not bother me last night, as I slept like a log! The morning was foggy and misty as I walked down to breakfast (complimentary). There were those complaining about the weather, but I could have cared less as I was happy to have my coffee and catch up on the news.
Front page on The Portland Press Herald tells how the apple season in Maine is a good two weeks early thanks to an early frost last spring. Oh, and the guy who stole Kristen Dunst's designer purse from a NYC hotel suite is going to prison for 4 years. Anyone remember which designer designed the designer purse? Do we feel this sentence is a little excessive? Weigh in girls!


It was 10:00am and taking beautiful photos of the harbor was not an option due to the fog, so I have no alternative than to head into town and check out the shops. News flash - there is no shortage of independent bookstores in Camden Maine. Every other store is a bookstore! How can a little coastal village in rather remote Maine sustain this many bookstores?


I picture everyone curled up on their sofa beginning in November reading a multitude of books for the next 6 months until the snow goes away. I didn't see any movie theaters, although duly noted one bowling alley (did you hear I was the grand prize winner at Mar Vista bowling alley the other night with a score of 160? You did? oh...)


Camden is full of 19th century captains’ homes, now restaurants and B&B's. It is described in the local brochure as "a poor man's yacht haven - open year round - with a thriving fishing industry". Back in 1935 an artist Frank Swift refitted a few fishing schooners to carry passengers around the many island sin Penobscot Bay and thus was born the windjammer industry.

On a clear day this would be a fun thing to do. Another thing would be to hike into the 6500-acre Camden Hills State Park, where you can walk (or drive) up to the summit of Mount Battie (600 feet!!!) for some great views. Maybe tomorrow..


Into the village I discover lots of darling shops and many things one "must have" but I exercise some restraint until it comes to the antique barn where they have a pile of vintage floral tablecloths mismarked (?) at $20...I purchase "a few".


I see an old wooden desk painted a soft color of pink that would be perfect for Lulu's room - it is fully assembled (probably 50 years ago)... I contemplate sticking it in my car for the drive back down to Boston.





Next stop is The Center for Maine Contemporary Art where Maine artists are featured. As I was strolling around the galleries I received a text message from Denni at the office "Have you seen the Galloway cows?" What is she talking about? Could she be confused and talking about the Williams College purple cows? I asked the front desk and they pointed to the right "about a mile down the road".



A few minutes later I was taking a million photos of the Aldemere Farm Belted Galloway Cows (black at both ends with white in the middle)... For those of you murmuring to yourself "Cindy's all excited about a few cows? Clearly that dresser experience in Boston has turned her a little koo-koo...", well take a look at the photos - the cows are gorgeous!!!

Cow viewing worked up an appetite so it was back into town where I relaxed at Cappy's Chower House where I enjoyed a lovely harbor view and a delicious Lobster Caesar Salad ($18.00). Energized.. I take a short drive out to view one of the 65 lighthouses in Maine - the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. It was late in the afternoon and the dappled sunlight on the water was quite special.


The lighthouse is accessed by a mile long walk over huge boulders lined out into the harbor. Due to my knee being a bit wobbly (Dr Volpecelli called in early with the MRI results - it's a "worn" meniscus for which he prescribed Advil, Ice, and a lot of rest...I'll do 2 outa 3 for now!) I just enjoyed the view. Many people were out walking their dogs and taking photos.

I drove into nearby Rockland to see if the Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center was still by chance open at 5:45pm. As luck would have it, on Wednesday evenings the museum is open until 8:00pm! This extraordinary museum was established by Lucy Farnsworth, who "amazed everyone" when upon her death at age 97 in 1935, left $1.3 million to preserve her house and build a library and art gallery to honor the memory of her father. The permanent collection includes many Maine paintings by Winslow, Homer, George Bellow, and a (then) little-known local summer resident Andrew Wyeth. The current special exhibit featured huge paintings by the contemporary artist Alex Katz.



Outside the museum are large contemporary sculptures, one which looks like falling pillars (you will see me in the accompanying photo - I am posing, not knocking them down).


It's late so I head back to the hotel where I review the photos which are provided on this blog FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE! I mulled over some options for tomorrow's outing. One may be to drive by the Knox Woolen Company - better known today as the site of the "Harrington Mill" which was portrayed in the movie Peyton Place (the locals are very proud of this). It is said that tomorrow will be thunderstorms, but I don't believe it for a minute. zzzzzz....