Meandering Maine: The Bride Growing Up Maine

Annie grew up on Alford Lake in Hope and Waterville, Maine. Ever since her birth on May 27, 1986, she and her family have been exploring secret coves along the coast of Maine in her grandfather’s boat. This formed a deep love for Maine, Maine beaches and this may be why it was so deep in Annie’s heart to have a view of those rocky shores while saying “I do”.

Annie and her grandfather Byron on the boat.

I don't know the name of the specific beaches and islands we frequently visited during my childhood summers but the memories I have from these trips will stay with me forever (I'm also extremely fortunate that my grandfather has hours of video of these trips). Our trips out on the "big" boat (my grandparents yacht, three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, etc.) would typically begin with a trip to the grocery store with my grandmother to stock up on all the necessities for the weekend. Part of the grocery fun was bringing the bags down to the boat via wheelbarrow (if you have ever been to the marina in Rockland you know how tricky this can be during low tide when the ramp to the docks is at a very steep angle - now imagine a six to ten year old pushing/pulling a wheelbarrow down that ramp. Now that I think about, it's a miracle we didn't lose at least one trip of groceries overboard.)

Annie at her mom and stepfather’s wedding.

The weekends out on the big boat were always a new adventure. Without fail Grampy would always wake us up at the crack of dawn (many times before dawn) to bundle up and go clamming. "Got to get up before breakfast" is one of his famous lines. Then we would venture to a secret spot. Later in life we learned that Grampy's secret spots were not truly secret spots and often had evidences that the commercial clammers had beat us there. If you had asked us then, we all believed that we very well could be the first people to be setting foot on these beaches (secret spots, if you will:).

When our clamming expeditions were over, a boat full of tired, wet and often very dirty kids would return to the big boat to be fed and to get ready for our next adventure. Beach combing and a picnic were usually in store. My grampy loves the idea of beach combing. It is fascinating to him the different items that each grandchild treasures - and they always, without fail, differ. We would keep these treasures to do arts and crafts at a later time with my grandmother (we made wreaths, decoration boards, you name it).

I have so many amazing memories from these trips and could go on and on...but I think I'll stop there.

Annie with her brother, mom, stepfather, step-siblings and grandfather.

Crate to Plate will be giving away a lobster dinner for two for this week’s Great Maine Giveaway – live lobsters shipped anywhere in the US.

You take time to go to the farmer's market; you appreciate the quality of organic foods. On occasion you like to treat your family to artisanal cheeses or hand crafted chocolates. You value the principles of the slow food movement and you like to know your purveyor to understand exactly where your food comes from.

Regardless of where you live in the U. S. you can have lobster harvested wild from the Penobscot Bay in midcoast, Maine. Captain Dan Cosby lobsters from his boat the Fisher Girl in Saturday Cove, a small homey indent below historic Bayside, between Belfast and Camden. It is a perfect place to land a kayak and collect sea glass or take advantage of the rope swing on a hot summer's day. Dan is the man who can become your lobsterman. Get to know him and Saturday Cove. Treat your family and friends to Maine lobster harvested from your personal leased lobster trap.

Contact Crate to Plate today for more information about getting the freshest lobster you will ever eat, delivered from your leased lobster trap to your door as desired.

Enter to Win:

Send an email to info@meanderingmaine.com with:

Your Name, Address and Phone Number (this will not be used for any other purpose).
Answer the question: Where did Annie grow up? Hint: this can be found on an earlier blog.

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