Carriage Roads

Tonight... we were planning a 1.3 mile trail and then just doubling back but decided to make a big loop instead and do 3.5 miles - we had to trust ourselves that we wouldn't get lost... well--that I wouldn't get us lost.

I love going over on Mr. Rockefeller's Carriage Roads because there are no bikes allowed so we don't have to worry about pancake makers... ask Lily if you need clarification on that.

YouTube

Check it out! Danforth Inn with Aaron Benward song.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgOHsQ6sYlU

Property Visits

I have been doing so many property visits with brokers this spring, talking to clients about the market, and how to position homes and inns to sell. They are all beautiful but this property was a particular treat to view. This was actually a pre-listing visit in our Blue Hill office. Can't wait for our broker there to sign this up so we can stage the property for photography. Stunning.

Maineville Logo

Finally!! may have the perfect bridge shot to use for the Maineville photo logo. One of our missions is to create a bridge between Maine and Nashville....

Destruction......

This is what happens to pens and highlighters at our house that aren't secured out of puppy reach.

Blue Hill Office of SWAN

I am so proud of my crew at our Blue Hill office of The Swan Agency Sotheby's International Realty. They have taken over market share and are the leading office in our market area, even outpacing Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor offices. Rock stars!

Really Cool Building....

Need to figure out how I can consider this building a worthy investment.

Traveling...

We are really getting all over the place these days meeting with clients and potential clients discussing the "new" market. The views today in Greenville were beautiful.

Ava and the flowers...

OK - we are at 9.4 miles so only 90.6 miles to go before Ev's birthday, July 10th. A few days ago we took a wrong turn and ended up going 2 extra miles so Ev and Gam aren't quite as trusting with my sense of direction any more. But we did it right tonight. I love going over to the Carriage Roads in Seal Harbor that don't allow bikes, horses and carriages are fine but no pancake makers.

Evelyn saw this perfect picture venue and we actually got Ava to pay attention.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!

Today's Hike

Not sure this pic came out great with Ev's iphone but it was beautiful. We (Mom, Ev, Ava and me) kind of did take a wrong turn though, my fault, and ended up doing 4 miles instead of the 1.4 I planned because I had twinges in my back today. Our goal is 100 miles by Ev's birthday, July 10th and we are already 7.2 in so we should make it.

Heather's Going Away Party :-)

So glad that I made time to join the Bar Harbor office crew for lunch at Rupununi's to celebrate Heather's last day. She has been with us for 8 years and I'll really miss her. Not only do I just love Heather for her beautiful self but I have always admired her "live life the way you want to" attitude and if somebody doesn't like it, that is their problem not yours. Heather was also one of those special employees that wouldn't ask me a question or pose a problem without having an idea for a solution. LOVE that. We'll miss her but she'll be managing Local Color in Northeast Harbor and pursuing another career so all is good.

Happy Meal to Come

Some good news from Nashville...

It appears that a major retailer wants one of our Maineville songs, written by Aaron and two other writers, for a national advertisement. This is a really lucrative method of "selling" music these days. I don't know the confidentiality rules in this business yet so don't know if I can say who until the contract is signed but it is very exciting.

Pretty soon I am going to be able to attach songs to posts - more exciting.

This is on top of the song that Aaron wrote, himself, for Project Runway. That is available on Itunes for download. Aaron Benward - Try it all again.

Nashville

I can't believe we are not hearing more about this. It is a mini Katrina in Tennessee. This is such a sad picture....... The Ryman full of water - these are landmarks, so so sad.

Inaugeral Carriage Road Hike 2010

Ev's amazing photos from yesterday's hike. Spent the majority of today in Stonington and Blue Hill - OWWWWWWWWW.... Just need to rest.

Good thoughts, prayers and love -

I was just going to post some gorgeous photos that Evelyn took on an idyllic walk this afternoon out on Mr. Rockefeller's Carriage Roads. Absolutely magical - the views AND the fact that we walked a good distance, a lot up hill and KNOCK ON WOOD - so far, back is good.

But...... I just found out that one of my friends in Nashville has had to move everything in his home including himself, his wife and their two dogs to the second floor of their house because the floods are going to come into their house. Most of their neighbors have evacuated and the police are patrolling in small boats. I can't even imagine what it would be like for your home to be full of water.

So, instead of posting the pics tonight, I am going to transfer all those positive and thankful thoughts to Nashville and hope that all is OK.

Take time to smell the coffee....

Or take time to see the view... Either way just do it. Being out of commission for a month has made me really appreciate how blessed I am. I am in awe of the beauty around us and God's creation and love it. I'm not going to get all preachy or anything but.... I am determined not to let go of this appreciation once I am better and back on the treadmill of my life.

This pic is what I have to endure tomorrow at an appointment in Stonington with one of Dana's clients. Sigh....

Views from the Shut Up Loon Lodge

There is going to be a lot of PESTO this year.

Planted almost 72 basil pods. Ran out of two packages of seeds with about 8 pods left so I'll have to borrow some of Lily's sunflower seeds if she'll share. Can't wait for them to sprout. I really appreciate the little things these days :-)

What a spectacular day!

John and I spent a good part of the day "Downeast". We showed an inn in Sullivan to a great couple that I think would do an amazing job. I am so in love with this property. The interior is as cool as the view and take a look at that! It could have a really sophisticated lodgy feel. YES! I WANT IT! I love this property and will be very envious of the lucky people that get it but will also wish them the best. I drool at the though of redesigning.

Culinary Weekend

Working on a great project. A culinary weekend in Portland featuring Chef Carmen Gonzalez. Friday night a tasting menu dinner at Bar Lola then a Maine Foodie Tour on Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon a cooking class with Chef Carmen and then a gourmet dinner prepared by Chef, a finalist in Top Chef Masters. Sunday morning brunch will be a Danforth event featuring Leslie's lobster eggs benedict. This is a lot of work but having a ball.

Sigh.........

My house smells like lobster. Ughh.. Yuck, yuck, yuck. John cooked 20 lbs of lobsters OUTSIDE but picked them out in the kitchen and it smells..... Mom couldn't even smell it when she walked in but I feel like it is going to choke me. I am a wimp about lobster smell, I know.... but YUCK!

We are having an authentic Maine Lobster Pound lobster roll luncheon tomorrow at our Northeast Harbor office for 20. If I had known....

Obsessing....

I must be better - God knows I am doing my back exercises every two hours all day.... - because I am obsessing about a redesign project where I can use this chandelier.

The little things....

WHEN you have known unbelievable pain you come to appreciate the little things. John, Ava and I walked TWICE today down Schooner Head Road. The second time we went a whole mile. Me, with excellent posture :-)))) Between walks, I RODE IN A CAR, for almost 30 minutes - yup I did :) Range Rovers have EXCELLENT lumbar support choices in the seats. I learned that I might be able to fix my disc problem with exercise. Since I can't see a neurosurgeon until July, this is a very good thing. THEN, we had the most amazing dinner - Mom made the ultimate comfort food (as far as I'm concerned, it wasn't Dee's casserole or anything) which is chicken and stuffing in a creamy sauce. Paired it with a fabulous bottle of Napa Pinot Noir and the best meal ever.


A couple things:

If you are going to sneeze, lean back - not forward.

At the end of a run, don't lean forward with your hands on your knees.


Mom and I are going to work on the exercises tomorrow to alleviate back pain from this fabulous book that I love so much I am going to sleep with under my pillow. See above.

Now I just have to remember to appreciate the little things ALL the time. I'm working on it.

One down....

Excited about liquidating some properties and this one is the first. I am excited to see what the buyers are going to do with it too - may just be a new, fun hangout.

Flowers

This is a cool shot of flowers that my friend Oscar sent. I wish I was an artist so that I could paint it.

Mom and Dad Home from Florida means.....

Homemade Chicken Soup.

A winter abused yard cleaned up.

Ava having someone to chase her around couch.

Brown bananas magically turning into banana bread.

A new landscaping plan.

Laundry getting folded and put away.

A fir tree being promised more sun.

Someone to pick up medications when John is out of town.

Homemade macaroni and cheese tonight.

Priceless. :-)

The last two weeks....

Project Runway

Ev and Ava and I spent Easter afternoon watching DVRed episodes of Project Runway. Ev is really getting interested in fashion which I love~! Then we went through my clothes to find trendy things left over from my 2005 days when smalls and mediums were the thing :-) We did her makeup too - subtle, young and gorgeous.

The really cool thing too is that Lifetime Network asked Aaron to write a song to be the theme for talking to designers that are let go to follow their dreams. He did a great job and it should be on Itunes shortly for download since viewers are going to love it so much :-)

Sunbathing in April

I have lost my little girl to the deck, she shows no sign of moving any time soon.

Grace

Wow, so much fun the last two days I can't even remember it all but.. finally got to try Grace in Portland. I had heard about the amazing renovation and can't believe I had never been. Erica and I waited for Oscar and Matt - in town to master their new Sixpence The Richer record with Bob Ludwig - and then headed to Grace. Really good. And the atmosphere was fun. The waiter was great, knew him from 555 and we had a great bottle of Sancerre that was a perfect pairing for everything. Will go back. In fact, headed to a wine tasting there for Danforth's wine bar at the end of the month. Looking forward to tasting some great California Cabs from small wineries, meeting new distributors. Psyched.

On the beach and who flies overhead but the President?

Exhausted....

Ava is such a good sport but at the end of a long day of walks around the West End and the Beach and playing - she is wiped out.

Cocktails and Conversation

OK, NOW my favorite place to have a drink and talk and meet a bunch of fun people is Sonny's - where O'Naturals was and before that remember F Parker Reidy's? Went last night with Oscar and Erica to meet another friend, Bri and knew more people in there than I would know in a bar in Bar Harbor. Great, great time. I really wanted Oscar, Grammy nominee that he is :-), to meet Jason Spooner as I knew they would hit it off and they did, love listening to music pros talk the talk. Snuck out for a while to take Ava for a long walk around the West End then she seemed fine with me going back out for an hour or so. Such a good girl. Back to Bar Harbor today... going to be a gorgeous weekend.