New Year’s by the Bay Belfast

The 2010 program of events was jam packed for this chem-free celebration in Belfast.  The driving might have been slick getting there, but the entertainment was well worth it.

The elegant White House Inn on the way into town.

There were several options for food during the evening.

Young people enjoying the night together.

Most of the shops weren’t open but the holiday window displays were fantastic.  Yo Mamma’s Home above and below.

An art gallery window.

There was so much to do and something for everyone – angelic voices, lively fiddles, live bands, fun for kids and much, much more.  

 

New Year’s by the Bay volunteers.

If you are anywhere near Belfast next year or if you just want to plan in advance, this is an event to remember.  We didn’t ring in the new year there – maybe next year.  My date is nine months old. 

Happy 2010!  Great job Belfast!

Happy New Year

We’ll be posting later from New Year’s On the Bay.  Until then, be safe and have a very happy start to a new decade.  Love Maine!

Yea 2010!

Cold Snaps or Cold Slaps

Sometimes I think that cold snaps should be called cold slaps on very frigid windy, day like yesterday and the start of today.  Maybe snaps serves the term better because one is forced to snap along if you are jogging for exercise or just jogging to your car in a snappy fashion.  On the other hand, cold slap seems more appropriate.  Yesterday I felt I was slapped several times by the subarctic wind.  Either way, whether your are in potato country, the western mountains, the lake region or on the coast, nothing compares to waking up to our gorgeous state.  The trees and rugged land are still majestic without leaves and under a blanket of clean white snow.  Ask me again in late March.

 

Don’t Get Ugly at Me Now

 

Most of you might not know that I am a native Mainer and I married someone from away.  Well, I hate to admit this, but I actually lived away for a while and that’s how I met that someone I married who is from away.  The “away” term brings me to my story line.  My husband and I moved here from Maryland and bought a Laundromat/ Dry Cleaner/ Tanning business in the picturesque town of Camden.  Did you notice all of the slashes?  Those of you running a small business in Maine may be very familiar with slashes in what your business offers.  I find Mainers and those from away who start businesses here are very resourceful.  We do what it takes to make a living.  After owning the cleaners for a very short time, my husband learned that he was from “away” – not from Maine.  The folks who came in were of course very nice to him, but he began to develop a problem with them.  He needed a translator.  When customers came in to use our washers because theirs were all stove up (messed up/ broken/ wrecked), he had no idea what they were talking about.  One day a customer came to tan with the last name Thay-yuh.  My husband had to come get me to help him find the tanning card for Thayer.  He was truly confused.  As time went on he understood more and people got less ugly (Maine term for mad) at him for not getting what they were saying.  He continues to learn new Maine terms every year.  This year, after the birth of our son, he learned our baby was right cunnin (very cute) from the ladies at the bank.   He has also learned how to have a rip staving good time ( a lot of fun) in Maine.  So, if you’re Meandering around Maine and find yourself needing a translator, know you are not alone.  As far as we Mainers, we are proud we have our own secret language – always knowing it takes a Mainer to know a Mainer.

 

Picture above by Noah Magro

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We wish all of our members and visitors a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  A special warm greeting to the folks at Little Harbor Technology who worked so hard and did such an excellent job on developing the website for Meandering Maine.  We will be in Maine for Christmas (my son’s first Christmas!) and to usher in 2010 – our official launch year.  We have a lot of new and exciting things to announce from team members to new Meandering Maine products.  Please be safe, enjoy this special time with your family and LOVE MAINE!

Adorable Baby Animals

Check out the live Nativity at Union True Value and Shanie’s Gifts on Saturday.  The animals from a neighboring Union farm were adorable and quite a hit with the customers.  The youth and adults from West Rockport Baptist Church did reenactments of the Christmas story.

My son checking out the adorable calves

       

 

 

This goat has irresistible cuteness.  It’s very easy to take several photos of it.

 

     

      

See, I kept taking photos of it.

The festivities were part of Shanie’s Gifts and Union True Value’s annual Open House with lots of shopping, hot cider, homemade cookies, free gift wrapping and creative entertainment.

Bath Inside

Downtown Bath had its first annual Holiday Open House tonight.  Street luminaries were being lit, window displays were spectacular, and people were beginning to fill the streets.  Downtown is beautiful as we said in a previous post, but on this blustery cold afternoon, we took it inside Bath.  Our first stop was a cookie Bistro.  Who knew there was such a thing?

   

     

There is in Bath.

 

Inside a children’s boutique

Bath firefighters raising money for a good cause

      

Bath has some of the greatest home decorating stores. 

 

This home decorating store mixes the past with the present.  There is an antique table from an old frame shop and some of the latest room decor.

         

What you missed at Downtown Bath tonight – Christmas carolers, a chance to win $100 gift certificate if you voted for the best holiday window display, candlelit streets, unique to Maine shopping and lots of holiday fun. 

Bath

Bath’s downtown is a great place to meander around window shopping.  If you haven’t been there lately, you’ll be pleasantly surprised about the variety Bath has to offer – confections, a cook’s store, children’s boutiques, antiques, bistros and more.  The shops are open late this Friday for a Christmas Open House 5 PM – 8 PM.  Maybe we’ll see you there.

                  

Find out how to list your business with Meandering Maine by going to the Join Page on www.MeanderingMaine.com.