Maine~Be Still My Heart~long..

It had been years..too many years..since we had been to Maine..early June suits us.. less crowds..quieter..
our style~
The drive is quite lovely..through Vermont..New Hampshire..and then the destination ..Maine.
In Vermont..we stopped at a rest area on the way and on the way back..Randolph and Williston.
We don't know if every Vermont rest area has this..but the two we went into..had complimentary Vermont Coffee..coffee..if you are not familiar with it..it's delish.I favor the Hazelnut and they had some..as I was about to fill my cup..I noticed a Donations box..I looked to the tall gentleman waiting beside me and I said..:"my purse is in the car"..he said:"Let me do that"..he took extra dollars out of his wallet and paid. He told me his wife would want some too.How nice.. he was from Brattleboro Vermont and Naples Florida.
It just starts a trip across the border in a beautiful ,friendly way.

Kennebunkport,Perkins Cove,Wells,York Beach,Cape Purpoise,Goose Rocks..
all side trips we love..
As much as we love Massachussetts..(next year maybe)..we love the Maine coast also.
The ocean..the waves..the lobster rolls..Stonewall Kitchen;),the Marginal Way..the beautiful homes..the friendly people..

but most of all..I love the quiet areas..when on our own..I can look out and only see..boats:)
or lighthouses..or artists..or cliffs and waves and beach roses.

Stonewall Kitchen..  we had coffee there one morning before setting out..is quite the enterprise..there is the Home Office..Kitchens..Cooking School..and store..the grounds are pristine..the gardens so beautiful..outdoor seating areas..first class operation IMHO.
That was the extent of our shopping until Trader Joe's on our return and The Christmas Tree Shop...in Vermont.
I prefer to see nature than to shop malls when we go to the sea for such a short time.
I brought some paints..my little travel journal..my point and shoot camera.. (thanks again  A)..

I call this one ..lighthouse falling into the sea;)
I sketched it in the car in about 30 seconds..
in the evening I painted it in..
Only once I finished did I notice the leaning..:)


Our weather was half and half..the last day we were there for the full day..it was full sun..everything looks so different.
But both full days had their own beauty.
When we  take car trips..Fl or Maine of QC or Massachusetts ..we pack a snack..either sandwiches..or muffins..  water etc..for this little trip..we had watched an old epi of A La Di Stasio and I was taken by some muffins and their topping..I deviated totally from the muffin recipe..but stuck to the topping.Do try this topping;)

La Recette~
Based on the above link but totally different;)

This made 9 as I halved the recipe.

1 cup blueberries

1 tsp olive oil
1 and  3/8 Cup of all purpose flour
1/8th  tsp salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
2tsps baking powder
1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
5/8  cup softened butter
1/8 cup of sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
 1 tbsp maple syrup
1 1/2 egg (I put the 3 in a bowl and measure out half)
3/4 cup plain yogurt.

Pre heat oven to 325F..I had to increase my temp to 350 for the last 5 minutes..
Next time I may bake convection.

Mix all dry ings in a bowl.
Cream butter, sugars ,add maple syrup..add eggs and mix well..
add dry ings alternating with the yogurt...fold in blueberries..
Place batter in 9 muffin cups..

top with topping..
Bake for ap 35-40 minutes or untl a toothpick comes out clean..

Topping

1 egg white
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1/8 c of pumpkin seeds
1/8cup of sunflower seeds
1/8 cup rolled oats
1/8 cup chopped hazelnuts.

Mix all and put on top of muffins..

So the original recipe calls for squash and prunes..I omitted and put the blueberries.
They are really good..I am keepin the topping in my head for many other muffin recipes..


PS..
This is quintessentially Vermont charm..outside the rest areas..very cute gardens..  their rain barrel..I mean look how cute..took a pic..
I used to love doing folk art on old tins..metal containers..I have so many paints left..who knows?

Love it..

Mini Ipad Photo.Comes in HANDY!


AAACCCKKKKKK..I returned to a rose chafer INFESTATION..I have dealt with them for a few years now..but picked them off..4 days away..Colonies..all stuck to my Irises ..roses..shastas..the huge majority of them in my front side bed:(
No clue how to get rid of them..I just sprayed w/ lavender oil and baking soda.
Hope I don't kill the plants..although they are all so damaged:(
Any ideas?
I am relentlessly squihing them even in mid-air since home.
It really is a bad time to leave..June..everyday the garden needs me.
More than once a day.
System restore is done..hours..in the garden.Apparently it poured while we were away..