Earlier this year I wrote about a terrific wellness weekend I attended at the Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, VT. I’m happy to let you know that this very successful weekend is being repeated April 26-28, 2013 AND there’s an early-bird discount of 10 percent being offered through the end of August. Last spring I arrived in Woodstock in need of a break after several weeks of nonstop deadlines. A couple of days later I returned home refreshed and renewed thanks to the stress-free atmosphere, a relaxing facial in the spa, morning yoga and pilates, and some excellent advice from physicians and health-care providers on how to stay healthy while living a fast-paced life. Of course the inn’s excellent food, prepared with an eye toward healthy choices (which I’m happy to say included the nutritional benefits of chocolate!) added to the weekend’s enjoyment. For more information visit wellnessweekends.net, or book your space at the inn by calling 1-800-448-7900. And do check out my book, Backroads & Byways of New England: Drives, Day Trips & Weekend Excursions for more information about the inn and all the interesting things to do in the Woodstock area. You can find it at most bookstores or at amazon.com and it’s also available for your Kindle.
Month: July 2012
Bringin’ the Blues (Maine wild blueberries, that is)
Much as I hate to see my favorite month of July begin to slide away, I won’t sing the blues because August brings the blues….Maine’s wonderful wild blueberry crop, an important part of the state’s economy. This year’s crop looks to be the largest in more than a decade — perhaps as many as 90 to 95 million pounds– harvested from our 60,000 acres of fields. The first roadside stands are already popping up, so if you are vacationing in Maine, or headed our way, be sure to stop and pick up a pint or two. Blueberries are chock-full of antioxidents and vitamins, so you can indulge all you want. And nothing beats a bowl of fish chowder and a homemade blueberry muffin on the side. Unless it’s a slice of blueberry pie for dessert.
What’s Not to Love About July?
Hot and muggy it may be at times, but to me nothing beats the month of July. If May is a month of promise, and June is a tease of what’s to come, then July is the time when everthing comes to fruition. Gardens are at their best (at least for those who, unlike me, keep up with the weeds), boating season here in Maine is at its peak, ospreys and bald eagles soar overhead, and virtually everyone has a smile on his or her face. It’s hard to be grumpy when the sun is shining and you’re living in a state whose motto is “The Way Life Should Be.”
One of the great sights here in Maine is the Pemaquid Lighthouse on the Pemaquid Peninsula. Of course we have a lot of lovely lighthouses, but this one was chosen for the state quarter—and with good reason. A little park surrounds it where you can eat a picnic, go for a walk, or visit the adjacent art gallery. Climb to the top of the tower for a great view and be sure to visit the museum in the former keeper’s house.
Hot weather. Lighthouses. The first wild Maine blueberries (more on these later). Ocean water warm enough to swim in! Is it any wonder that I dream of July all winter long? And did I mention hot weather??
Let’s Hear it for July in Maine!
July is by far my favorite month of the year–even today when the humidity and temperature are both high. Here in Maine it’s the month when all the tantalizing promises of spring reach fruition. My window boxes are overflowing with flowers, and the hard work — except for keeping after the abundant crop of weeds — is done in the gardens. Time to stretch out in the hammock, watch eagles soaring overhead, keep an eye out for lobstermen coming home with the day’s catch, and just enjoy life on a Maine island.
The last couple of weeks have been very busy with writing deadlines and lots of company (when you live on a Maine island you are very popular at this time of year), but stay tuned for more regular blog posts. And above all, enjoy your own July. Like many of the good things in life, it’s fleeting!