Wednesday, March 31, 2010

She & Him


She is the actress and singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel.  He is the indie folk artist M. Ward.  They got together and formed the indie pop band She & Him.

Their new album, She & Him Volume Two, is in stores now and we picked up a copy over the weekend.  We are loving it!  The songs are a combination of California 60's pop and classic country.  The influence of the Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas, and Patsy Cline are easy to hear.

With Deschanel's dreamy vocals, it is a great, riding with the top down record for a sunny spring day.

Click HERE to preview the album at Amazon.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Harbor Candy Shop

It's time to fill those Easter baskets with delicious treats. We plan on going to the Harbor Candy Shop in Ogunquit for our sweets.

Harbor Candy Shop has been producing fresh handmade chocolates since 1956.

Truffles, Caramels, Peanut Butter Cups, Turtles, Nut Clusters, Almond Butter Crunch, Raspberry Baskets, Orange Zest Cremes, Fruit in Chocolate and Hazelnut Pralines.  Go ahead - sing along!

Harbor Candy Shop
248 Main Street
Ogunquit, Maine
(800) 331-5856

Click HERE to visit the Harbor Candy Shop web site.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Currier Museum of Art










The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH is exhibiting a magnificent collection of watercolor paintings as it presents From Homer to Hopper: American Watercolor Masterworks.  The special exhibit runs from March 6 - June 7, 2010 and is a highlight of the museum's year-long celebration of their 80th anniversary.

These masterworks have not been exhibited as a group for two decades due to the fragile nature of watercolors and their tendency to fade when exposed to light.  The exhibit features such masters as Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth, Maurice Prendergast, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

With 75 works on display, mostly drawn from the Currier's own collection, there is much too see and marvel at here.  And who knows when they will be brought out into the light again.

Click HERE for more information about the Currier Museum of Art and this event.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Lewis Carroll's Alice

With Tim Burton's film "Alice in Wonderland" setting records at the box office, it got us to thinking about how much we love the classic books by Lewis Carroll.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was published in 1865, followed by the sequel Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There in 1871.

Alice's adventures begin on a lazy summer day when she follows a white rabbit "down the rabbit hole" and finds herself in Wonderland.  The characters she encounters there are among the most enduring in literature including the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts and the White Rabbit.

Carroll's books are pure fantasy, rich with a dream-like narrative, remarkable poetry and one of the most clever heroines in modern literature. An unforgettable read for adults and children.

"In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die.

Ever drifting down the stream-
Lingering in the golden gleam-
Life, what is it but a dream?"

(excerpted from Through the Looking-Glass)

Click HERE to learn more about Lewis Carroll and his work.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Maine Maple Sunday

This weekend we'll be celebrating Maine Maple Sunday!  The long awaited spring day when maple producers around the state open the doors of their sugar houses to the public.


Most sugar houses offer free tastings and live demos of how maple syrups is produced, from tap to table.  Some offer pancake breakfasts, sugarbush tours, sleigh rides, live music and more.


But for us, it's the aromas filling the air that keep us coming back.  There is nothing like the sweet, wood-burning scent of maple sap being boiled down to the dense, rich "liquid gold" we know as Maine maple syrup.  This is the real deal, sorry Mrs. Butterworth's.


This year Maine Maple Sunday is March 28th, with some sugar houses opening their doors on Saturday, March 27th as well.




Click HERE to for more information, sugar house locations and directions.







Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Puddleton Rain Boots by Ranger














We plan on making a splash this spring in these colorful and stylish Puddleton rain boots from Ranger.  Available in a vibrant array of solids, stripes and prints, we may have to sport more than one.

Puddles, mud - no problem.  These charming kickers are 100% waterproof and clean up with just soap and water.   So pick a pair, any pair and get splashing.

Click HERE for a retailer near you.

Buy online at MUCK BOOTS ONLINE.



Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Jack Vettriano




Sweet Bird of Youth
(left)




At From the Maine Coast, we love the Scottish painter Jack Vettriano.

Vettriano took up painting as a hobby in the 70's, but a decision to exhibit his work in the late 80's proved life-changing.  Galleries and collectors showed immediate interest and his original paintings now regularly sell for six figures.

His work has been described as "heavy on atmosphere, evoking the great noir movies and novels of our time".  Though "noir" is associated with black and white images, Vettriano's paintings revel in brilliant color and their intrinsic beauty draws you in. 

Here are some more of our favorites:




The Singing Butler
(left)








Waltzers
(left)









Cafe Days
(left)








Click HERE to learn more about Jack Vettriano and his work.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Stonewall Kitchen

We visited Stonewall Kitchen in York over the weekend.  If you haven't been there, it truly is a wonderful Maine destination.

We began our visit with a quick sampling of their signature jams and dessert sauces. Chocolate Hazelnut, yumm.  A charming lady was busy preparing a delicious pizza made with their product of the month, Roasted Garlic Onion Jam.  Oh we must try this, more yumm.

Before we totally ruined our appetite, we strolled over to the Stonewall Kitchen Cafe for a mug of lobster bisque and a roasted apple chicken salad sandwich.  Fabulous!

After lunch, we headed off to do some shopping.  Stonewall Kitchen boasts a large offering of specialty foods including their jams and jellies, dessert sauces, mustards, salsas and down east crackers. They also have a distinctive offering of kitchenware, and home and garden.

With all our sampling completed, we chose a jar of the Strawberry Apple Rhubarb Jam and the Roasted Garlic Onion Jam, so that we could recreate the pizza at home.

Time to go, but we'll be back.

Click HERE to visit the Stonewall Kitchen web site for store locations, product listings, recipes and more.