JD Bed & Breakfast

Cozy Bedroom

This week-end Jason and I celebrated our 3rd year of marriage with a stay at The JD B&B (Stomper went to Mimi and Bumpa's house). We were able to stay for free, with conditions. The first condition was that we do a little shopping and the second condition was that we had to do a little gardening.

Upon arrival JD handed us a short list and told us that we need to do a little grocery shopping. We took a lovely drive through the back woods to Kingfield to go to a local grocery store chain, Trantens. We bought a breakfast full of yummy carbs: cheese danish, orange juice donuts, oranges, and cantelope and tasty super: 1/2lb pork chops and coleslaw (there was already some stuff to use at the B&B).

The Plants

After we dropped the items off we were given directions to a local greenhouse and another list. We took the bumpy truck down a bumpy road and arrived at Robin's Flower Pot. We bought broccoli; brussel sprouts; cabbage; tomatoes: cherry, roma, and big-boy; and pepper plants then while Jason was checking out he also picked up seeds for pumpkin, Buttercup squash, Blue Hubbard squash, zucchini, summer squash, spinach, mint, and cucumbers all for the garden.

Robin's Flower Pot is a lovely place to go and wander around. We found many things we wished we had the money for. Mostly some pretty stuff for around our house and a few ornamental trees for our backyard. I could have spent a little time there using their benches if I had my knitting with me and if we hadn't been starving.

We stopped at a local eatery, The Company, for supper and drinks. They have a lot of beer on tap (if that sort of thing interests you) and a full bar. I had Alfredo sauce and it was good, but not great. Jason enjoyed his scallops, I didn't try them. The fried pickles in their spicy dipping sauce were amazing, as to were the french fries. We had to order fries for me so I wouldn't eat all of Jason's. We would go there again, but I would try a burger.

Friday night when we got to JD B&B we were treated with an amazing thundershower! The whole sky lit up! We stood on the porch, snuggled in each others arms, for a little while until the rain started to come down sideways. Then we watched movies from a bed that felt just like home.

Saturday we woke at our leisure, prepared our own breakfast (JD left as a note telling us we were on our own), and went upstairs to watch a movie in bed. When our movie was done we decided it was time to get to work.

Completed Planting!

We spent an hour and a half putting in all the plants and seeds we had bought. Jason tilled up the Squash Garden while I planted tomatoes. We planted quite a bit! The garden is almost overflowing. We checked out other areas of the garden that had been previously planted and there are little shoots of things growing, it is very exciting.

Saturday afternoon after showers and lunch we took siestas for an hour and a half! In the evening we cooked up the pork on the grill along with some potatoes and onions and had a wonderful dinner together. Late in the evening we went to the movies to see the latest installment of Pirates of the Caribbean (very good by the way) at Narrow Gauge Cinema, which for being a theater in an out-of-the-way town is amazing and affordable!

We fell into bed sometime around 1am and slept soundly all night.

I was a little anxious for Sunday to get over. I hadn't been away from Stomper in such a long time. I knew though, that we had to wait. Stomper had gone with his Mimi & Bumpa to a family gathering and wouldn't be back until early evening. Jason took me through a drive around some dirt roads to do a little rubber-necking. We ended up at the family campsite in Carthage to see the improvements before heading to a little girls 1st birthday party.

Then, finally, we went to go pick up Stomper.

We had a really good time. It was nice to "get away" even if we did have to work during some of it. Jason commented to me on Saturday: "You are really silly today." I responded, "It's because I am well rested and stress free. Don't you remember me like this?" He said, "I have no idea what you are talking about." (smart man).

Quick Week-end Escape

Rockland the Reception

We have been planning on attending a wedding in Rockland over the week-end. The plan was to drop Stomper off Saturday morning, drive the 2 or so hours to the town that the wedding was in, walk around for a bit, go to the wedding, stay long enough to eat at the reception, then hightail it home, sleep, and pick Stomper up before church Sunday morning. Jason's parents and several of his co-workers were planning on staying in the Rockland Area Friday night and Saturday night, but we couldn't afford it.

Mount Battie, Camden, Maine

I had Stomper all packed up and ready to go Friday morning before our bi-weekly grocery shopping trip. I didn't want to pack sleepy either that night or the next morning for fear that I'd forget something. We decided that since we were already going to be in town, why not stop by my Mom's and have supper to and why not leave Stomper?

Reception

 Saturday morning I wake up and Jason says "I have a surprise for you."
"What is it?" I ask
"I can't tell you it's a surprise."
"Where is it?"
"I can't tell you that either. Get up and go downstairs and shower."
"Is it downstairs?"
"No. Well. Sort of. It's outside."
Sleep-addled I take a shower.
In the shower I wake up.
"Are we staying down there?"
"Yes!" he says beaming, "And I've already packed!"

Mount Battie
(this is not Stomper)

We went to Rockland for a few days. It was a lot of fun. We went to the breakwater and walked the 7/10ths of a mile to the lighthouse, we attended a very beautiful wedding, got to view the gorgeous Maine coastline. And then collasped into a hotel bed for the night. In the morning we went up Mount Battie (by car), walked around Rockland, and headed for home to see our boy (who we missed very much!).

 It was great to get away, but I am happy to be home!

For More photos check out my Facebook Album (no need for a profile/account to view them)

Lost and Not Yet Found

The epic "Hunt for Size 2 DPN's" occured in my house late Friday night. I searched everywhere for the elusive quintuplet but they were no where to be found. I believe they were out fraternizing with the quintuplet size 0's as they too were missing too. I wonder if they are off to Vegas getting hitched and making babies? When I find all ten of them snuggled together will they each have a size 1 with them snuggled up in a baby blanket?

Friday after my search produced a bag of yarn I lost, a forgotten darning project, a second copy of a doll pattern, but no knitting needles I decided that I needed to organize. Thankfully Papa Bear was off Smelting with Bumpa and Stomper was soundly asleep so my thumping around in the bedroom bothered no one. I put some Dollhouse on the Wii sipped my White Mnt Dew and got to work.

I hoped and prayed and hoped and waited and hunted and put away, no needles. I know that my organizing had hit an all time low these past few months, but I never dreamed I'd loose my needles! Gah! I am moving on to another project and I hope Baby Sister will understand (I was going to start her gauntlets!). Maybe they will pop up suddenly and say "Here I am! I'm a good hider!" At which point I will shake them and say "Silly needles, where were you?" *sigh*

I did however, test out the pattern for the gauntlets because they felt a little daunting. The pattern looked a bit confusing and contorted and I felt intimidated. Not to worry, I made a little mitten thing to test the different patterns and I don't know what I was so worried about. The testing inspired me to make my own pattern and the two pictures is what I came up with. They aren't perfect, but it was fun to find a different stitch or two to try. I hope to maybe make up my own Helm pattern to sell in the fall.

The wonderful lady who bought Teacup ordered a bear in the same size so I have started the bear. I also ordered some yarn today to make the bears clothes. I should have the bear done up in the next few days.

I am still waiting for my size 35 needles to make it from JoAnn's on the moon to my house. It is taking forever! Nothing else I've bought from anywhere else has taken this long. Lesson learned, don't order stuff from JoAnn's online.

I'm not sure how much knitting I'll get done this week-end. Papa Bear and I are going to a wedding on Saturday and since it is in Rockland, about 2hrs away, we are going to make the day of it and see some sites along the way. Stomper is going to stay overnight at Grandma's so we don't have to worry about getting back. I think the wedding is at 4 which seems awfully late to me. I think we will have a good time. I like a few of Papa Bears co-workers and his Mom (who works with him) will be there too.

Also, I am happy to announce that the pattern for the Hunter Plaid Hat (aka Flannel Plaid Hunters Hat) is up and available to purchase.