The Red Chair Loves Maine!!

The Red Chair has been so busy since it's arrival!!  It is having so much fun!!  Meeting friends at the inn, hanging out on the beach, out lobstering!  This morning Red was at the top of Cadillac Mountain for sunrise!!  I wonder where it will be off to today!  Check back tomorrow!

The Travels of the Famous Red Chair!

Nothing better than a day at the beach!

Where am I?

Dinner with a view!!

The Red Chair Travels started on Cape Cod!  It had a great time!  It traveled from on end to the other! Please visit the Chair's web site, www.RedChairTravels.com to enjoy it's adventure!  The Red Chair will continue it's adventure throughout New England staying at many inns and bed and breakfast and enjoying the beauty of New England!  I wonder if she has ever been on a boat!  We are very excited to have the Red Chair visiting Mount Desert Island and staying with us!  Be sure to follow our blog for the adventures of the Red Chair! Be sure to let us know if you spot the Red Chair!!

Visit the Wild Gardens of Acadia

Located at Sieur de Monts Spring, just off Route 3 on the Loop Road.  Three hundred species of plants and trees are arranged in their natural habitats along easily accessible foot paths.  Explore the gardens and experience a sampler of the flowers, plants and trees of the island.  Visit the Abbe Museum here and in down town Bar Harbor on Mt. Desert Street, and descover the interesting history of the Native American Indians who made the area their home.

Happy Birthday, L.L.Bean!! Thank You For Protecting Our National Parks

The Island Explorer, its many riders and the residents of MDI send a special 100th Anniversary birthday greeting to L.L.Bean.  Since 2002, the Maine outdoor gear and apparel retailer has donated over $3 million to Friends of Acadia to support the Island Explorer and Acadia National Park.  The Bicyle Express, bus service in the fall and free rides for everyone- these all made possible by the generosity of L.L.Bean.  L.L.Bean's generous financial support of the Island Explorer underscores the company's ongoing commitment to responsible recreation, conservation and preservation.  Happy Birthday and Thank You L.L.Bean!

It's Rhubarb Time In Maine!

The sun finally came out today after a week's worth of rain and wind!  The rhubarb is at it's peck of freshness!  Everyone loves rhubarb pie but I have a new favorite to share with you, Rhubarb Muffins!  They are wonderful!
Oven temp.  350       Baking time 25 minutes

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 1/4 cups of brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups diced rhubarb

1 tablespoon melted butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350  Grease two 12 cup muffin pans or line with paper cups
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  In a
separate bowl, beat the brown sugar, oil, egg, vanilla and buttermilk with an electric mixer
until smooth.  Pour in the dry ingredients and mix by hand just until blended.  Spoon batter
into the prepared cups. filling almost to the top.  In a small bowl, stir together the melted
butter, white sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of this mixture on the top
of each muffin.  Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the muffins spring back
when lightly pressed, about 25 minutes.  Cool in the pans for at least 10 minutes before
removing..    

Spring on Mount Desert Island! Come join us!

Spring is everywhere!  I am always amazed at the beauty!   I have had so much fun with my camera!
The Spring Garden Tour is on Saturday, June 2nd, and the Spring Bed and Breakfast Tour on Sunday, June 3rd, noon to 4PM.  Make your plans for the weekend and bring your camera!

Fresh Fruit, Fresh Longer!! Awesome Tip!

Thank you Evie for sharing this great tip!  I am passing it on!
This is an awesome piece of info!  W buy fresh fruit but because we eat a little of each (Banana, Strawberries,
Raspberries, Blueberries, Grapes, Cantaloupe, Pineapple and Watermelon) everyday the berries start to go bad quickly and end up in the garbage. Not anymore, thanks to this great tip!

The key to preventing moldy berries...
Berries are delicious, but they are delicate.  Raspberries in particular seem like they can mold before you even get them home from the market.  It is bad enough to pay $$ for a pint of local raspberries, only to look in the fridge the next day and find that fuzzy mold growing on their insides!!  Fresh berries are just starting to hit the markets, and here is how to keep them fresh!!
Wash them with vinegar!!!

When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar and ten parts water.  Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around.  Drain and rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted you can't taste the vinegar) and pop in the fridge.  The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that maybe on the surface of the fruit. Voila!  Raspberries will last a week or more and strawberries will last almost two weeks without getting moldy or soft.  So go forth and stock up on  the little gems, knowing they'll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them!!  You're so berry welcome!