2009

Finally closed on the Danforth in Portland, renovated it and launched it into an incredible future.

Sold my beautiful loft on Congress Street in Portland that was featured in the May 2008 Maine Home+Design and some of the best work I've done, but that's ok.

Sold Brunswick Inn on Park Row after a complete redesign - sad but ok.

Got my first television Treatment on file with the Writer's Guild of America - very cool.

Bought the West End Inn, then leased it out.

For the first time in my adult life I was truly SINGLE for a whole year. Very healthy.

Hosted Blue County at Criterion for perhaps their last concert together, sad but excited for them all and their futures.

Hosted Celebrity Chef Carmen Gonzales at The Danforth for an amazing brunch. Hope to work with her soon again.

Listened to songs that I know will be hits in 2010 for business partner, Aaron and his new band, Dirt Road Hotel.

Completed several substantial real estate sales as a broker for the first time in many years, was fun but fine to let brokers do it.

Enjoyed an amazing year, considering, at The Swan Agency Sotheby's International Realty - led market in all categories.

Saw several beautiful shows at Cygnet Gallery in Portland. And actually had some very good months despite the economy.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT 2009 HAPPENING! The little princess, Miss Ava and I became a family and life will never be the same. How a dog grabs your heart and won't let go is one of life's mysteries. I can say that in 2009 I fell in love :-)

Forgotten Ingredient for Below

I KNEW there was something I forgot. Right before I added the cream and pesto I cut up two strips of precooked bacon and added that. VERY important for flavor I think. Woops. :-)

Chicken with Pesto Cream Sauce on Spinach

OK - before I forget this recipe...

Good olive oil with garlic - hot in pan
Add chicken tenderloins, brown on both sides
Add a big splash of chardonnay
Cook for a few minutes until chicken is getting cooked
Add pesto and heavy cream - heat til bubbly and starts to thicken
Add pepper - ( I don't use salt but now would be time )

In the meantime, wilt some spinach by putting in boiling water just for a minute.

Spinach on plate with chicken and cream sauce on top. YUM!

Mom liked it too and wished she hadn't brought her dinner with her. But, that is always a very smart thing at my house - you never know when the choices will just be diet coke and parmesan.

WAYY overate for the last few months so losing some weight on Atkins which is the only thing that works for me. Over 5 pounds the first 3 days and I can eat like this. :-)

Danforth February

Taking a break from working on plans for Get To Know The Danforth month. We are going to be doing "Fam" tours and special events and making a big deal of the month of February and having people see what The Danforth really offers. Very excited. A lot will be based around food - yummm.... that is the hard part to think about while I have started a very strict diet.

Ava Elizabeth

Note the elevation Miss Kangaroo can get when there is a squirrel on the other side.

Ava barks at falling snow, oh yes she does

Poor reindeer

My poor little reindeer who have been my Christmas pets for years may not make it through Ava's first Christmas. Yikes.

Need to change the name of blog to Ava

Because she has no interest in going to a salon, we are trying to learn ourselves (Ava and Mom) how to do a Yorkie cut. Our cut is an Ava cut, we do a little at a time and after each sitting, a treat is expected.

Ava's New Playroom

We finally made Ava a space outside. She isn't sure yet. The only problem is I realize it is too high and it blocks the view of her friends in the forest so may have to cut it back a bit tomorrow.

Portland

This is good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqL2lgOxMr4

'Tis the season..

Today was the most festive of the season so far. Evelyn and I made Christmas cookies, well... that may be stretching it.. note our snowmen, hers is the one made of very dirty snow :-)

I knew St. Lucia Day was coming soon and that always means a visit from my wonderful neighbors the Rodericks. Evelyn was hoping to get to see them as I have told her about their fun hats and the yummy bread and the fun song they brought to celebrate. Alas, I had JUST taken her home and drove back into my driveway when they arrived. At least Ava got to be a part of it!

Crazy Ava

My silly little girl. She barks at snow - yes snow. So when it snows all day, she barks all day. I have learned how to tune it out, like mother's do and I could never understand how they could. We are going to build her a play area outside so that she can go bark at the snow out in it, which is all she wants to do. I am trying to upload a video of Av in the snow, but no luck yet.

Thanksgiving Done

I made a pecan pie, yes I did. Just couldn't get it out of my mind. So I made it, I ate a piece and I feel over sugared. Still glad I did it though!
It was beautiful today. Ava and I walked 1.2 miles yesterday and it was exhausting and cold, today we went much further and it seemed shorter.
I LOVED having a 4 day weekend. Definitely want to close office again next year on Friday after Thanksgiving.
That ended up being Thanksgiving at Chris' anyway. Very fun. See pic.
So now onto Christmas and 2010 preparations... this is always a crazy busy time and I feel well rested!

Fun video...

OK, I'm not a huge Muppet fan but I am a huge Queen fan and love Bohemian Rhapsody, must admit the Muppets cover is fun.
http://www.popeater.com/2009/11/24/muppets-bohemian-rhapsody-video/?icid=main|main|dl4|link7|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F2009%2F11%2F24%2Fmuppets-bohemian-rhapsody-video%2F

Danforth Tweet Up

Great pics on Candace's blog ~
http://www.candacekaru.com/brunchirl

Ava's Big Day

Yesterday was Ava's birthday, she is 2! It was her day, I let her do anything she wanted. At 4:00 this morning she threw up on the bed... just like any little girl who overdid it :-)

CandaceKaru.com

I am so fortunate to have the coolest friends on the planet!

Read this on my friend Candace's blog about The Danforth Tweet-Up this weekend. She is the greatest!


http://www.candacekaru.com/the-danforth-gourmet-brunch-tweetup

John B's Birthday

Wish I had pics of this but I don't.... Yesterday was the 25th time that I had to think of something cool for John's birthday. Figured out that one of the last things we did before deciding to not be married anymore was a nice birthday for him and then by the next year on his birthday we were friends again :-)

So.... in a quest for originality, I asked Rob and Jeff at Criterion if we could screen the show he was on this summer on the Biography Channel, Psychic Investigators on the big screen About 25 people were at the Theatre at 3:00 and I told him we had to run over to pick something up from Rob. I was SO nervous. He had no idea. We walked in and everyone was up in the balcony so I pretended I was looking for Rob and walked down the aisle and stopped and looked up to see if he was up there and everyone yelled surprise. SHOCKED JB, SOOOO funny and he was so happy. The minute they said surprise, and John probably was still wondering, Jeff started the film and the music etc. and he realized what was going on. We ran up to the balcony and watched.

He was SO amazing in that show. So serious and such a command presence. So articulate. Erica was such a huge help and she loved the show because she didn't know Major John Bennett, Maine Marine Patrol who was a different person that the John Bennett of today. She was really surprised and a little scared she said :-), he was so serious.

A wonderful, wonderful surprise and I am so very thankful to all of our friends and family that came to it. John called me a second time when he got home to say thank you again. He really loved it. Which makes me very, very happy. Mission Accomplished! Thanks everyone. xo

Last hike of the year with Mom

Today was the last carriage road hike of the year with Mom, Ev, Mulligan and Ava - now we're on our own, Ev, me and the dogs for a few months. I hope we can stick to it without Mom pushing us. Its been over 2 months and I haven't felt this good in a very long time. I already know which trails we are starting on in the spring! :-)

Dogs and Deer

OK, one of the worst things ever is dogs chasing deer. It is AWFUL. and it makes me sick and feel so bad.
However..... I have to admit to getting a bit of a laugh just now. Ava is going crazy barking, at what I assumed was a squirrel. Finally I go to look and staring at her is a big, beautiful 6 point buck. I can see that look on his face saying "Would you shut up in there?" Seriously.
So then, I have this image of her getting out and chasing him through the woods, not that he would probably run from her unless he is irritated with her, certainly not scared. Something about the image of a 4.7 pound crazy yorkie chasing this huge beautiful creature cracked me up.
I know, I need a vacation :-)

Thinking....

Tomorrow is a major milestone in my life. I am happy about it in one way but unfortunately the darn stone is still in the middle of my road and I just want to walk by the darn thing.

Trail from Jordan Pond

SO much fun today with Mom, Lily, Ava and Mulligan. One of the best days of the year, so thankful for it.

Vampiress Ava

Dark Harbor House on Islesboro Under Contract

This is one of my favorite houses in Maine. The way the house is sited on the lot, the majesty of the lines - and some wonderful memories of time spent there are all very compelling. Now under contract, this property will make someone a wonderful home with a lot of historic significance to reflect on.

Historic Homes

We had a great time at the marathon Historic Homes division class and meeting in Portland yesterday.

Linda J, Dana, Erica, John and I went to Cinque Terra for dinner the night before and it was absolutely fantastic.

Breakfast at Pomegrante was remarkable for those that stayed there and then we had a two hour walking tour of the West End and then more class at Pom and were served an unbelievable lunch with the yummiest onion soup ever.

Bradley took this picture of Ava who was an absolute angel all day and didn't miss a moment of the tour or class. John, on the other hand....

One down....

Since my life seems to be "as soon as I get this behind me" I can check off a big one.

Maine Harvest Brunch with Chef Carmen was pretty darn amazing. The inn looked great, so many friends were there and so many helped, a really nice experience. Everyone was so kind about what we have done with Danforth.

The absolute best part of the day is that it was BEAUTIFUL weather, perfect and Ava was an absolute angel, dozing in the car for almost three hours in all. I went out to check every 20 minutes or so and she was amazing.

Check out these pictures that Dana Moos took: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dana_moos/sets/72157622661754046/

New Mantra

Back in Bar Harbor and my mantra is, Please Lord, get me through next weekend. Already exhausted for Danforth event NEXT Sunday, this can't be good.....

Here's menu though:

Passed
Maine lobster with key lime mayonnaise and avocado relish on tostones
Sweet plantain and peekytoe crabmeat piononos

Table
Plantain, yucca and sweet potato chips with smoked haddock dip
Apple and mamey fritters

Menu

First Plate
Maine cod eggs benedict with shredded yautia and green banana pancakes

Second Plate
Oyster, sausage and roasted tomato casserole with yuca and roasted garlic mofongo

Third plate
Pulled pork and braised pork belly with sweet plantain hash and fried quail egg

Dessert
Silver dollar pancakes with warm green papaya salad and vanilla bean whipped cream
Crispy churros with hot chocolate
Torrejas with fresh blueberries and requesón (homemade farmers cheese)

The grass is always greener....

I always think I can get more accomplished if I am in the place I am not. When I am in Bar Harbor, I think if I could just get to Portland I could get some things done and visa versa.

Did get a lot done working on job description for new marketing/public relations position and spent some time at all three inns, moving art around, finalizing next weekend's event, talking with chef about restaurant at The Danforth but... have things to do in Bar Harbor and I keep counting how many days before I can tackle those.

And, admittedly, there is no more wonderful house than the Bar Harbor one for when you want to be warm, and in the summer for when you want to be cool. SO! spoiled.

Ava and I have been walking around Portland, West End, so much today people probably think we are planning something but I miss the carriage roads and it is so nice to tire her out, especially here where she isn't as comfortable in her space here.

Biggest mistake of the day was having a pomegranate mimosa with lunch at Front Room, holy moly, ruined me for the afternoon. Went to visit Jimmy and John at Compositions and could hardly focus, ONE little mimosa. Never again.

Tomorrow Ava and I are going to Brunswick to FINALLY see the new home of Provisions. Can't wait - will also pick up some great wine.

The Gift that is the Carriage Roads

Doesn't that sound sappy?

It seems like every time we take a new route I have a new favorite but I don't think anything can be better than the ones today. We parked at the end of Stanley Brook Road, before it joins the Loop Road and did a private loop. We ran into two of the most beautiful carriages with the most gorgeous horses I have ever seen in my life. Obviously they were people that belonged there and are kind enough to let others use these beautiful roads. One part was along the stream that was so magical and peaceful and I LOVE these without bikes. I have nothing against bikes and can't wait to bike them myself, but it is so much less stressful with Ava if we don't have to worry about some bike screaming around every corner.

This is what life should be. (Thought since I started sappy, I should end that way.)

Methodology

Exercise - Water/Food - Sleep. Going to do it the old fashioned way. No matter how much I have to do, I am going to make those three things up top. Ava benefits from every one of them too. Already posted these pics on FB but like them. I was supposed to go to Oktoberfest in Southwest Harbor today and know I would have had a blast but got all messed up trying to deal with an extremely unethical broker who works for another company, shall remain nameless, and took up way too much time. (Need to keep telling myself that any effort we put toward dealing with toxic people only hurts us.) So... didn't get to SWH but Ev, Mom, Ava and I got out for a great walk around Day Mountain.

Break

Last year at this precise time, I was taking a break in Florida. Well, not really a break as we were furnishing and designing two condos but still, away. As much as I would love to do that someday again, I don't see it in the future.
October is nuts. We just finished up Innkeeping Bootcamp, Danforth is very busy with events and weddings, then Harvest on The Harbor and our Harvest Brunch then the Historic Homes specialists class and meeting in Portland..... and that is just Danforth.
I am so tired and really trying to figure out a way not to be. I will exercise, eat right, go to bed early, whatever it takes - so tired of being tired...

Photo

Photo mentioned in post below arrived, thanks Mom :-) Scroll way, way down to see it!

On the subject of Mom, she is now on Facebook and friended Dad and John, didn't even send me a friend request. David Sherman, too bad you aren't on FB, thinking you would have gotten on her list before me. :-)

Timing is everything....

Because of a rainy day, Gam and I took Ava and Mulligan on a walk around Witch Hole earlier than normal. So... Ava wanted her dinner earlier than normal so now, at 8:20, she is staring at me, growling, and barking for more food. Parenting.... :-)

There was the most gorgeous vista at Witch Hole, the water coming down with rain drops between the most beautiful foliage. We went back to Mom and Dad's to get Dad to come take some photos. (My camera dead and can't find the batteries charger...) I would include the pic, but Dad, who has worse ADD than me couldn't figure out how to email to me,, but he will.

Now finishing up outlines and agendas for Innkeeping Bootcamp that starts tomorrow at Danforth.

Press Release

I hadn't seen this press release and then tonight a Realtor that watches all high end stuff in the country tweeted this:
http://www.virtual-coach.com/forums/niche-marketing-examples/7866-swan-launches-historic-homes-group-fenceviewer.html

How cool is that???

YAY October...

The question is, does a great horoscope predict a great month or does reading a great horoscope, predicting a great month bring about a great month.
Either way, I'll take it!
John, Erica, Dana and I had lunch at Geddy's, among the cruise shipees, so that Dana and I could try to finish up the plans for Innkeeping Bootcamp. Really going to be fun, looking forward to it at The Danforth.
I feel that same end of summer exhaustion and I'm convinced that the only way to get over it is to sleep, eat right and exercise. Now to just do it! Ava's game.

Not the lone ranger....

Amazing! how many people I talked to today that said that yesterday was horrible. and not just a regular bad day, but horrible. I know that October is supposed to be better planet wise etc. - certainly hope so.
Mom, Ev, Av and I did a totally different walk today, starting out on Day Mountain Carriage Roads, over to Mr. Rockefeller's roads and then up the loop road for a while. Made Ava so happy.
Then she and I went down to the ocean to watch the Queen Victoria leave Bar Harbor but we waited and waited and it got too dark to see very well so came back up with neighbors.

Bad day...

Sometimes there are bad days, and this was sure one of them. My new associate lost her Dad which made me so sad for her and you always feel so helpless at a time like that, there is nothing you can say to help and you know it.
Everyone is tired and ugly and not being very nice to each other.
Today was a big one for unappreciativeness, I KNOW that isn't a word but heck.
I feel like my mantra is that your time isn't any more precious than mine but in the end I understand that everyone's most important time is their own. I get that.
If people weren't being mean, they didn't feel well which makes me feel bad.
And then on top of all that it was too busy to go out on Carriage Trails and that broke Ava's heart which breaks my heart. So.... I think I am just going to go to bed now so that tomorrow comes sooner and we'll see if it can't be better.
Oh, I just remembered, Queen Victoria in Port tomorrow,,, ugh.... maybe Thursday will be good :-)

StPsychic Investigators: Taken By Storm In the icy waters of the Atlantic off the coast of Maine, a lobster boat fails to return frarring John Bennett

Biography Channel - Look for recast

Psychic Investigators: Taken By Storm In the icy waters of the Atlantic off the coast of Maine, a lobster boat fails to return from a day of setting traps. With no Mayday, no word from the crew, the Coast Guard knows it has to act fact. Within hours they find two of the crew members on a rocky island ten miles out from port. They are alive but the captain is lost at sea. The news grips everyone along the coast, especially those who make their living from the sea. A local resident contacts his psychic sister in NYC. Using what she calls her sixth sense, Helen Churchwell Legotti says she knows where to find the captain and can pinpoint the spot on a map. It's a long shot for the Maine Marine Patrol and rescuers. But when one of its own is swallowed up by the sea, even a psychic's sixth sense seems worth a try.

West End of Portland

Ava and I have decided that we want a house in the West End, not a condo, a house. We just can't decide which one. She loves one on the corner of Vaughn and Carroll and I love Chadwick. We both know we want a fenced in yard that the big giant huge Western Prom squirrels hang out in and we both want a garage. She now likes city crows too.
(Oh, how ironic, a tv commercial just came on about how easy it is to housetrain a puppy if you have the right tools from PetSmart.... hmmm... )
Of course, houses almost never come on the market in this neighborhood, one that is interesting is now at $1,290,000. We like it.... but we both think it is a little big....

Harvest Brunch

Sunday...

SO glad to wake up in Bar Harbor. Good call by Ava to come back last night to get a great night's sleep. We even went back to sleep after our 6AM sentry review of the property, making sure no squirrels DARED get into our trees. We stayed in bed til 930! Wowza!

Long day of work, work, work... got a lot done on Harvest Brunch at the Danforth and other Portland things. Lots of Swan work done to be ready for big week. We'll be launching Historic Homes division soon and need to be all lined up, also starting a brokerage assistant/new broker program...

All built up to a nice walk around Bubble Pond - no Mulligan but Ava still went full blast while Mom, Ev and I tried to keep up. The carriage house map is really starting to fill in, well on our goal to covering them all before snow falls. Dinner at Mom's, yummy fajitas and then got Dad hooked up on Facebook (Don't worry, he isn't going to friend anyone :-) Then delivered Ev home where they conveniently had Hershey bars... :-) I know BAD KIM.

This is SO funny, and SO true

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DIARY
Day number 180
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!
Day number 181
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE!
Day number 182
8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVORITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVORITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
1:00 pm OH BOY! THE YARD! MY FAVORITE!
1:30 pm - ooooooo. bath. bummer.
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVORITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVORITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MOM! MY FAVORITE

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DIARY
DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture...Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.
DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors,I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this On their bed.
DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was... Not working according to plan.
DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid. My only consolation is the piece of thumb still LODGED between my teeth.
DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event, however, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odor of the glass tubes they call "beer." More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and he speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my activities. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...
-Author Unknown

September....

is my favorite month but becoming my least healthy. You can tell when I don't write here for a while that I am absolutely exhausted.
Meetings this morning on our big Event at the end of October at the Danforth, becoming a HUGE thing, which I knew it would.
Our liquor license at Danforth appears that it will be dependent on having a restaurant, love it! but NOT RIGHT NOW....
Excited to get back to 3 milers tomorrow, maybe if my colleagues are into it we'll go further. Ava will be up for it I know.
Trying to focus on the positive stuff and make September a good month. Eliminate negative.

I usually don't forward these but...

Take my Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art..

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son

About a month later, just before Christmas,
There was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly... He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'
The father
Opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence..
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'
Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the
Real bids!'
But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long time gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting...' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.
They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'


The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

Foodie Town

Portland gets even more attention as a great foodie destination. Check out today's New York Times story.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/index.html

Crazy Small World of Twitter

I had to go to Belfast this morning for a showing at our beautiful listing there, a true pleasure to show and a couple I really enjoyed to show it to. Then continued to Boothbay to do a status check on Smuggler's Cove. Absolutely spectacular day. Took a bunch of pictures and after I downloaded them I posted one on Twitter saying, "gorgeous day in East Boothbay".

A guy on Twitter said, "are you at Smuggler's now, we own the boatyard practically next door". So cool - he could have been from Austrailia the way Twitter is but next door. So anyway, we tweeted back and forth and he sent me this incredible aerial shot of Smuggler's - how cool? I just can't get over what a small world it is and then throw in Twitter and Facebook etc. and BAM. :-)

Choices

In an effort to cover every Carriage Road before the snow flies, there are so many choices. This afternoon, the crew (Ava, Mulligan, Gam, Ev and me) parked at Bubble Pond and went up to Eagle Lake. Got rained on but not before hearing about Ev's trip to Ogunquit yesterday to see Singing in the Rain at the Playhouse. She is becoming quite the muscial lover which fits her right in to the family.

Tomorrow starts a long week... Belfast and Boothbay Harbor tomorrow then back to Bar Harbor before finding time to go to Portland on Wednesday or before....

Jordan Pond Gatehouse

Thinking that we'll mix it up a little this afternoon and go out to the JPH parking lot and take the carriage road from the gatehouse there.

Mercury is in retrograde, or something screwy. :-)

What a crazy, hectic day... but the good thing is every single wacky thing seemed to work out for the best.

After a lot of deliberation, we extended two offers today to join The Swan Agency SIR, one brokerage and one administrative. Both were accepted and I could not be more pleased.

Brokers and clients had many challenges today but it seems like we jumped a bunch of hurdles and all ended up well. The market is really getting hot.

Deadlines kept us from going on our nightly carriage road walk but Ava and I went down to our beach to walk a little. She was still scared of the shore from Hurricane Bill experience.

When we got back, more wildlife chaos..For heaven's sake, I'm moving to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Called Mom and Dad because a little hummingbird was up in the skylight on the front porch, throwing himself at the glass. They said they would stop here after their walk with Mulligan but by the time they got here I was getting a little panicky because the little guy was wearing himself out. Finally Dad and I got a ladder up there and we got him with a fishnet for goldfish... I know...... oy.... when Dad went to let him go he was crying and I thought a goner but I guess he just had his little foot caught on a string and when Dad got him free he sailed up over the trees so another happy ending. But seriously, enough already....

I was heading to Portland this weekend but... for some reason, I'm worn out.

Two long walks this weekend on the agenda too.

Walking Photos

OK - Ev made up for no pics last night by sending extras today.

We did 3.2 miles around Eagle Lake, very pretty.

Ava is amazing, she goes full speed all the time and then sees a squirrel and goes crazy. Mulligan is so busy dragging Gam and Ev around, he doesn't even pay attention to her.

NOTE: No Picture

Because my niece forgot to send me the picture for tonight's post, though I reminded her over and over and the last thing she said to me was "I won't forget to send the pic", there is no photo for tonight's post. Evelyn obviously has much better things to do than send her aunt the picture that she promised to send.
So picture this: Witch Hole to Eagle Lake, beautiful night, perfect weather, happy dogs, great exercise. Just please picture it, since I don't have a photo, since my niece "forgot"..... :-)

CMA Nominations Tomorrow

So, the CMA nominations are tomorrow and I'm thinking.... NEXT YEAR there may well be a certain VIDEO mentioned.
So incredibly psyched about everything going on in the video world. Two music videos, one television series treatment and video consideration for real estate applications AND my horoscope has been saying that publishing is going to take off soon!
Fun to do stuff that is fun! with people that are FUN!

Then! on top of that, Mom, Ev, Av, Mulligan and I stayed on our fit committment and did almost three miles tonight - A LOT of up hills. Already have tomorrow night mapped out. Brought home some leftover grilled chicken from Mom's and made a yummy curry sauce for it. Perfect. And no carbs :-)

GET FIT

OK, since Ava and I have been walking so well for the last 10 days in Portland, we decided to recruit Gam, Ev and Mulligan and have Labor Day be the first serious day of Get Fit.

3.2 miles around Witch Hole. The dogs and I jogged a bit, maybe 1/10 of it max :-) so got done a few minutes ahead but Ev timed 1 hour 14 mintues. The dogs had some time that they had to stop to investigate, Ava LOST it over a black squirrel - yeah, not gray or red, black.

We'll see if we can keep this going - we have the Carriage Road maps to plan from.

Job Candidates

I am back in Bar Harbor - long, long week in Portland but it was great.
Going over applications and resumes for the first of the new positions at The Swan Agency SIR. I am SO impressed by the caliber of candidates. I want to hire them all and rule the world. :-) I know, I know, totally politically incorrect.
First we are going to fill the position that will handle the books for all of the different businesses so it has to be someone who is into real estate, food, art, music - maybe another Gemini? She/He will also do assistant work.

BLUE LIKE JAZZ

I just finished one of those books today that you are so glad you read, for a long time, and when someone asks you what books you've read recently, you end up mentioning this for like a year.

I strongly suggest you read it. I can't make you read it, just like I can't make you have faith in anything but a friend asked me to read it and I'm asking you the same. I think you'll be glad you did. I am.

BLUE LIKE JAZZ Nonreligous Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller.

http://www.bluelikejazz.com

Maineville

I think, God willing, things are really getting great in the music business. Aaron had one of his songs, Maineville songs, picked up for a CMT, Country Music Television, series. One step at a time, I am so excited and so proud :-)

Posting a great shot that Earl took of AB at concert.