May 14th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
Today at Hodgdon Island Inn, a coastal Maine Bed & Breakfast near Boothbay Harbor, we are under the umbrella of a beautiful soft, delicious and ultra-quiet fog as a result of a tug-a-war between the old cold air and the new warm spring air. It’s heavenly and I just had to share one of my favorite poems with you …
March 30th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
Take advantage of a little spring madness – book your choice of room for a minimum two-night stay anytime during March, April or May and we’ll give you a 20% discount off your entire stay. Rooms at Hodgdon Island Inn have very comfortable beds, private baths, in-room refrigerators, hair dryers, air-conditioners and/or fans and water views. A full gourmet breakfast is served each morning and delicious homemade desserts are offered each evening. The inn offers the best front row seats for beautiful pink sunsets and is minutes from Boothbay Harbor and all its amenities, the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and Porter Preserve.
Exclusions: Special rate does not apply for one-night stays; offer is based on availability and double occupancy. 7% Maine State Lodging Tax is extra. Please mention this package at the time of booking or include in the comments section when booking on line.
Offer applies only to stays from March 1 – May 31, 2012.
March 29th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
A Perfect Mother's Day Getaway!
A Mother’s Day Promise …
A quiet, relaxing weekend away at Hodgdon Island Inn is just the ticket – all our rooms have comfortable beds, private baths and water views.We promise Mom will be pampered each morning with sumptuous gourmet breakfasts and scrumptious homemade desserts each evening …
A breakfast treat just for Mom
… Hodgdon Island Inn also offers the best front row seats around for beautiful pink sunsets.
If shopping is on the agenda, then Boothbay Harbor is just minutes down the road and we promise MOM will find everything her heart desires from hand crafted jewelry to fine art and to the latest in fashions and home furnishings …or if a quiet romantic outing on the water is her preference, there are plenty of cruises to choose from.
Tea and flowers
Mother’s Day wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without flowers and of course, a cup of tea to relax and while the afternoon away with. We promise Mom will find just the ticket at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ Tea & Tulips Spring Tea in the Kitchen Café on Saturday afternoon.
Homemade Lemon Glazed Blueberry Pound Cake
And of course, since Hodgdon Island Inn is the closest Bed and Breakfast to the gardens, we promise Mom will have time to come back, relax, maybe sip a glass of her favorite wine on the front porch overlooking the water before changing for a lovely dinner at any one of the area’s fine restaurants like Jordan’s, Tug Boat Inn , the Boathouse Bistro or the Damariscotta River Grille.
A Mother's Day Promise ...
We promise to help you tell Mom just how much you love her! Call us at 1-800-314-5160 or send an e-mail to stay@boothbaybb.com Richard and I will be more than happy to help you plan your Mother’s Day Gift Weekend for that special lady in your life! And don’t forget to take advantage of our “Come Stay in May in Boothbay” special: book a two-night minimum stay at Hodgdon Island Inn anytime during the month of May and save 21% on the room of your choice.
March 27th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
They searched for years to find it. Pamela and Richard love Boston and they love Acadia National Park and feel that the Boothbay Region allows them easier access to both.
Innkeepers Pamela Byrne Riley and Richard B. Riley are particularly fond of their home on their tiny island in Maine.
Bar Harbor, Maine
For the trip to and/or from Bar Harbor they recommend taking Route 1 as there are so many real Maine places to see and explore along the way. Leaving Bar Harbor, the first recommended stop is in the Searsport area. The Penobscot Narrows Observatory and Fort Knox State Historic Site which is open daily 9-5 May through November. Another not-to-be-missed stop in this area is the Blue Jacket Shipcrafters. Blue Jacket is Maine’s largest selection of classic and contemporary ship models and nautical crafts.
Mt. Battie Round Tower & Overlook
From there Route 1 meanders along to the Greater Camden area and the next recommended sights to see include the 6,000+ acre Camden Hills State Park with Mt. Battie at its summit and can be reached from the road that starts at the park entrance off Route 1 just north of the town of Camden. The views are spectacular. Also in the park is Mount Megunticook (1,380), one of the highest points on the Atlantic seaboard.
Sightseeing can make one hungry and if that’s the case by the time you arrive in Camden a great place to eat is Cappy’s Chowder House. It’s located on Main Street and is open year-round.
Scenic Drive - Belted Galloway Cows at Aldermere Farm
If time allows be sure to take Pamela and Richard’s favorite “scenic drive”. Begin on Chestnut Street in Camden and follow this incredibly peaceful road by a lily pond and by the herd of belted Galloway cows (black on both ends and white in the middle). Take Calder Lane through the woods; continue along Beauchamp Avenue to Rockport Village and harbor, and return to Camden via Union Street.
The next area for sightseeing along Route 1 after Camden is the Rockland area. You will be spoilt for choice here as well. Located in the heart of Rockland is the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Wyeth Center. The museum is incredible! It houses a 6,000 piece collection of 19th and 20th century Maine-related American Art and features works of three generations of the Wyeth Family (Nathaniel, Andrew and Jamie).
Owl's Head Light
Directly outside of town is the Owl’s Head Light State Park – one of Maine’s many dramatically placed lighthouses and the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum. The transportation museum has a reputation for being a “premier facility for celebrating wings and wheels”.
From the Rockland area it’s about another 40 – 45 minute drive to Hodgdon Island Inn. Pamela & Richard like to recommend that the stops along the rest of the way be done via day trips from the inn, but are always willing to work with their guests to personalize their agendas – just let them know your preference.
Follow the signs to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
To get to Hodgdon Island Inn from Rockland follow Route 1 South turning LEFT onto Route 27 to the Boothbay Region. Follow 27 to the Civil War monument on the Boothbay Green. Turn RIGHT at the monument onto Corey Lane. Go straight at the stop sign. After a quarter mile, bear right onto Barters Island Road. The Inn is about 1.2 miles down the road (you will go past the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and cross over a bridge under construction) and the Inn’s driveway will be on the left just before the Trevett Draw Bridge, General Store and Post Office.
March 26th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
LL Bean Store Window Freeport, Maine
Today, Richard and I made a trip into Freeport with some very dear friends from “back home” (Kentucky & Ohio). Freeport is only 45minutes away from our nine room inn on our tiny island here in Boothbay, Maine . Our day started off with grey skies and about an inch of snow giving our friends a taste of winter 2011 in Maine, but by noon it was all gone and Mother Nature had decided to smile. The sun was shining and Freeport was hopping. The huge parking lots behind L.L. Bean were pretty full. It felt like everything and everyone was waking up after a long winter’s nap. As we came around the front of the L.L. Bean home wares building, we were stopped dead in our tracks! People of all shapes, sizes, genders and ages were learning how to cast fly fishing rods.
One of Pamela's favorite haunts - Bridgham And Cook LTD.
It was mesmerizing to watch, but we eventually tore ourselves away and headed for Main Street and some of our other favorite haunts like Jones of New York, Mangy Moose, Cool-as-a-Moose, Brooks Brothers, Clark’s of England, Bridgham & Cook British Importers, Sherman’s Bookstore and of course, all of the L.L. Bean stores.
In the course of all this “exercise” we got thirsty and were in the process of trying to decide how we would quench our thirst when we spotted the sign that read “18 days till ice cream season begins!” Just think – tonight the moon will be the fullest it’s been in 21 years; tomorrow is the first official day of spring and in just two weeks and 4 days (April 1st) ice cream season will be here! How cool is that?!
To celebrate we tried out the new coffee shop/café located on the lower level of the L.L. Bean Flagship store. It was fun and it was good. The coffee shop showcases Coffee by Design from Portland. This was our first time to try their products and I have to say we enjoyed our Cappuccino (Richard) and Mocha (Pamela) Frappes respectively and our friends enjoyed their Roasted Red Pepper Quiche and hot teas.
Then it was down the street to the Georgetown Pottery and Edgecomb Pottery. I’m afraid I could spend hours in each and still not see all the beautiful shapes, glazes, art and giftware there.
We finished our Freeport adventure off with dinner at the Muddy Rudder. There was a brand new menu to choose from and between us we sampled Panko Baked Haddock, Hanger Steak, Baked Haddock and sirloin tips accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes with a side of crisply steamed julienned beets. It was all very good and our waitress was cheerful and attentive. It was, as they say, the perfect ending to a perfect day.
Directions to Freeport from Hodgdon Island Inn: turn RIGHT out of driveway onto Barter’s Island Road; make a slight LEFT onto Corey lane; turn LEFT onto ME-27 to US-1 South; turn LEFT onto US-1 South through Brunswick; take I-295 South to Freeport Exit 20. Follow signs to Freeport and parking lots.
P.S. At the time of this posting the number of days left til ice cream season is now six!
March 15th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
Ingredients:
4 c unsifted regular all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ c sugar (optional)
1/8 tsp cardamom or coriander (optional)
¼ c butter or margarine
1 egg
1¾ c buttermilk
Directions:
Combine in a large bowl the flour, salt, baking powder, soda, sugar and spice (if used).
Add butter or margarine, and cut in with a pastry blender or two knives until crumbly.
Beat egg slightly and mix with buttermilk; add to dry ingredients and stir until well blended. Turn out on a floured board and knead until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
Divide dough in half, and shape each into a round loaf; place each loaf in an 8-inch cake or pie pan. Press down until dough fills pans. With floured knife, cut crosses on tops of loaves, about ½ inch deep in the middle.
Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Makes two loaves. Bread is done when bottom of bread sounds hollow when tapped. Turn the bread out into a basket lined with a towel. Irish soda bread tastes best on the day it is made; it tends to become stale if stored too long. You may be able to revive day old bread with a sprinkling of water and a quick toasting. While butter is a common topping, you can also use clotted cream or preserves.
Currant or Raisin Soda Bread:
Follow basic recipe above, including the sugar; omit cardamom or coriander. Add 2 cups currants or raisins to the flour mixture with 1¼ teaspoons caraway seed (optional). Blend with egg and buttermilk and proceed as directed in above recipe.
Whole Wheat Soda Bread:
Substitute 2 cups whole wheat flour for 2 cups of regular all-purpose flour in the basic recipe above. You might add 1 to 2 cups raisins or chopped dates, if you wish; mix in with the dry ingredients before adding the liquid.
March 14th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
Our westward view over the Sheepscott
All those sayings that we are all too familiar with regards happenings in March just happen to be swirling around in my head today. You know, sayings like: “Beware of the Ides of March” or “March comes in like a Lion and goes out like a Lamb” or “When Irish Eyes are smiling – they’ll steal your heart away” – you know those sayings. It all started this morning as I sat at my desk in the Owner’s Quarters here at Hodgdon Island Inn looking out of the window. The window showcases our westward view over the Sheepscott and it appears that our snow fortress is weakening.
Our snow fortress is weakening!
The walls of snow are melting away before my eyes. I am reminded of that infamous “I’m melting “ scene in the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy douses the Wicked Witch of the West with the bucket of water – only here on our tiny island in Boothbay, Maine, Mother Nature is doing the dousing and our once wicked white world is turning into a pool of spring greens and browns!
OMG! March is a very busy month in the State of Maine! Kicking off the month there was the annual yum-yum fest known as Maine Restaurant Week, March 1-12th, where one can get scrumptious three-course meals at a set price; then we had the 2011 Flower Show in Portland this past weekend, March 10-13th, titled “The Enchanted Earth”. The show is a collaboration of green industry landscapers, growers, gardeners and industry retailers dedicated to the continued success of everything about “Gardening in Maine”.
Beware of the Tides of March!
Higher tides than ususal predicted this weekend
Next up is the Ides of March (March 15th), but the TIDES OF MARCH is much more appropriate. Why you ask? Because at every full moon, when the earth and the sun and the moon are lined up in space, the gravity of the sun and moon reinforce each other and the earth’s tides become particularly high. It is predicted that the tides will be higher than usual, especially on Saturday hence the “Beware of the Tides of March”.
Now we’re counting down to St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th. For many it is a day of partying, parades, eating corned beef and cabbage and drinking green beer (Sarah’s Cafe, fun restaurant on Route 1 in Wiscasset). For others it is a day of prayer and contemplation. For me it is a day filled with many memories, lots of love, much laughter, a few tears, good Irish music and an Irish jig or two. I may have mentioned that I am first generation American-born of Irish ancestry, but I don’t know if I mentioned that I am also an Irish step dancer. My mother, Sheila, was born in a town on the coast outside Dublin, Ireland not too dissimilar from Boothbay Harbor.
Currant soda bread is cut in wedges to serve;whole wheat soda bread is featured.
But most importantly of all: one must eat Soda Bread on this great day! Now I could write an entire blog on Irish Soda Bread because there are as many different recipes for it as there are shades of green on the Emerald Isle, but we stick to the Byrne Family recipe which has been handed down for many generations. I have shared this family heirloom with you in the recipe section of our blog I hope you enjoy it!
And the last of this month’s fun activities here in the Pine Tree State is Maine Maple Sunday set for March 27th . Most sugarhouses offer free maple syrup samples and demonstrations on how pure Maine maple syrup is made. Many farms offer games, activities, treats, sugar bush tours, music, and so much more.
March isn’t the only month with lots of things to do and see here in Maine . Come and see for yourself. And as always, if you need a place to stay, we’ll be here on our tiny island and as is customary in Ireland, Richard and I will bid you “cead mile failte” {Cade (rhyming with “wade”) meala fault cha. Fáilte is said quickly} – a hundred, thousand welcomes!
March 7th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
Follow signs to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
By Air
Fly into Portland International Jet Port (www.portlandjetport.org ); rent a car, call for a limousine service or make arrangements to be met by a Boothbay Harbor Region(www.boothbayharbor.com) taxi. Private planes may fly into Wiscasset Airport; rental cars and taxi services are available.
By Car
From Portland (www.portlandmaine.gov) follow I-295 to Brunswick. Take Exit 28 or Exit 31 to Route 1 North. Follow Route 1 through Wiscasset. Just across the river bear right onto Route 27 out of Edgecomb south to Boothbay (www.boothbay.org). After 9.3 miles, bear right at the Boothbay Civil War monument, across from the town common. Go straight at the stop sign. After a quarter mile, bear right onto Barters Island Road. The Inn (www.boothbaybb.com) is about 1.2 miles down the road (you will go past the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (www.mainegardens.com) and cross over a bridge under construction) and our driveway will be on your left just before the Trevett Swing Bridge (www.youtube.com), General Store and Post Office.
March 2nd, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
The Four Popovers: Pamela, Dad, Mom & Richard
On March 5, 1949, a young couple in Kentucky got married. That was the year that the New York Yankees would beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. It was the year that a horse named Ponder would win the 75th running of the Kentucky Derby. The average price of a new home cost $7,450.00 and the minimum hourly wage rate was 70 cents an hour. Harry S. Truman was President of the United States; Margaret Chase Smith was the Senator from Maine; NATO was established; Newfoundland joined Canada; soap operas debuted on television; the first VW Beetle was sold in the US; the very first automatic street lights were installed in New Milford, CT; the first Polaroid Camera sold for $89.95 and to celebrate the company’s 80th birthday, the first Pillsbury Bake-Off was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Movies that year included Adam’s Rib, Twelve O’clock High, On the Town, and Roger’s and Hammerstein’s South Pacific debuted. Folks were listening to Hank Williams “Lovesick Blues”, Vaughan Moore’s “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and Gene Autry’s “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. William Faulkner received the Nobel Prize for Literature and Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” opened. And some very talented people were born that year: Vera Wang, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Lionel Ritchie and Bruce Springsteen to name a few.
Ben & Pat Riley married on March 5, 1949 - fast forward 62 years
Fast forward 62 years and we know that some things have changed a lot and some hardly at all, but one thing remains steadfastly the same: that young couple is still married and going strong! As the parents of two sons (the eldest of which happens to be my beloved husband, Richard) and one daughter; the grandparents of two; and the favorite companions of a Maine Coon Cat named Bro, they are kept pretty busy. In addition, Dad loves to read and star gaze, Mom loves to cook and bake, they care for all sorts of birds and animals, and they love everything Maine: Maine lobstah, Maine chowdah, Maine blueberries (preferably in the form of yogurt or a crisp), fresh hot popovers, the jagged mountains, the rugged coastline and everything in between from Kittery to Bar Harbor.
They love everything Maine!
Richard and I thank them for their love and support and for their company on all the Maine adventures through all the years. We hope you will join with us in wishing them all the very best on this their 62nd wedding anniversary!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD WITH LOVE!
February 24th, 2011 by richard-pamela-riley
Our "first date" in our new home ...
Last week Richard and I decided it was high time we went out on our “first date” in our new home and what better time to do it than around Valentine’s Day. So we made plans … dinner first, followed by a play. We were both very excited and found ourselves looking forward to our night out! It was a huge success, I am happy to report!
For dinner we chose a restaurant in Bath recommended by a fellow Barter’s Island Community Club member.
Solo Bistro decor is "Maine Modern"
The Solo Bistro (www.solobistro.com) was super! The décor is “Maine Modern” with pale wood tables and brightly colored chairs. The choices were wide ranging and the prices competitive. We opted for the three-course Prix Fixe menu of the evening. We had no regrets as we savored our spinach salad with vanilla white balsamic vinaigrette; Maine Shrimp Risotto with tomato, leek, eggplant and Greek olives; and chocolate chip cookie sandwich with pumpkin marshmallow ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce. Our waitress was friendly and attentive, but not intrusive and we left knowing that we would definitely put the Solo Bistro on the “must do that again” list.
Then it was off to Brunswick and the play. The play was a production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice at the Theater Project adapted by Joe Hanready and J.R. Sullivan and directed by Christopher Price.
The Theater Project (www.theaterproject.com) was founded in 1972 as a non-profit community-based theater in Brunswick, Maine. Its mission is “to change young and old; to enrich and inspire their living, and provide a safe environment for original and dynamic exploration.” If this production of P&P is any indication I would have to say that they wholeheartedly fulfill their mission.
Now I must admit I am a Jane Austen devotee and am pretty fussy about adaptations of her work, but I am happy to say that the performance and staging at the Theater Project was fabulous – just fabulous and did Miss Austen’s work great justice!
The auditorium seats about 75 or so and it was a SOLD OUT performance. The ages of the audience ranged from vivacious and charming college students to low key and charming old timers (like us). But one thing was clear – everyone there was enjoying the play. The set consisted of one small round dining room table, four would-be Chippendale chairs, two upholstered benches, two wooden benches, two topiaries and a crystal chandelier that magically appeared or disappeared as was needed to indicate that we had moved to Pemberly or to the infamous residence of the infamous Lady Catherine de Bourgh. The furniture was moved in and out of position by two young ladies attired as servants who occasionally draped a lace tablecloth over the small round table and topped it off with a vase (pronounced with a short “a” sound of course) of flowers and who always curtsied.
The ensemble cast was very good, especially the actress playing Elizabeth. She was delightful and I would liken her performance to that of Jennifer Ehle’s in the A&E version also starring Colin Firth. But it was the actor playing Mr. Collins, who in our opinion stole the show! He was awkward, self-effacing, slimy, cow-towing … and that smile – Yuk! In short, he was perfect!
Richard and I thoroughly enjoyed it – we discussed it on the way home and again over the next few days. And of course it inspired me to once again drag out my much beloved, dog-eared copy of P&P … you know what they say: once an Austen devotee, always an Austen devotee.
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