Finn, "swimming"

early morning hours at Neeson's

sad sad sad day

Yup, Anna was on a bus this morning heading back down away from me (so really, who cares where she was going?!! Just kidding momma Clay!)... but what an AMAZING time we had it went by so fast all the cooking, working, hiking, playing, driving, beers at the beach, yoga, chatting, movies, and the list goes on!  She will be sorely missed by not only me but the beast as well.....safe travels!!  We will see each other soon!

oh boy....

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy....yes, I have noticed it has been almost exactly a month since I posted last, yes I realize that some of you have been checking to see what's up....and yes, I am so so so sorry it has taken this long, but look! There is soooo much to share!  First, the job.  Sweets & Meats Market is off and running.  I am baking five days a week...often six for our ever expanding (and sometimes demanding) clientele.  We are constantly expanding our gluten free line of goodies, which keeps me on my toes, learning new flour substitutes and as of late have had some sugar free recommendations.  There is a lot more to come I have a feeling.    Next, Anna and I attended The Kneading Conference which was a three day bread festival basically where we learned about grains:

beautiful shaping techniques:
and a lot about wood-fired ovens (including how to heat and maintain heat, how to build. . . cobb ovens that is, how to get the most out of your oven fire, how to bake everything from pastries to sourdough loaves, and much, much more!)
We also had an opportunity to FINALLY toast the beginning of summer with our first margaritas!! Ohhhhh and were they good!
And let's not forget a good road trip!
It has been busy and in between all the busy - ness, there has been yoga, yoga, and more yoga, also a lot of reading, playing with Finn, walks to the beach and oh, exhaustion...that's been happening on the occasion.  Not much time for anything else at the moment.  But I must say, there has been growth and happiness and there is room for more!  

Hope this little note finds everyone happy and healthy, I would love to hear from you all!

xoxo and om shanti.

a weekend in paradise

Since Anna arrived, there has been no time to just chill, nope, not a single day... well, the day came to just chill on the fourth of July.  Julia (our boss and Sweets & Meats) gave us THREE days off to go and do as we pleased...there was no other option for me.  We packed up the car, loaded Finn and off we went to Deer Isle and OHHHHH, how beautiful it was.  We borrowed Josh's pop up camper, backed 'er in to my mom and dad's spot down there (right on the beach) and just enjoyed!  We had a such a great time following the newest addition to the Shepard family, Norah, around the beach, watching her eat lobster, and mingle with our rowdy crew.  She held her own!

I spent a bit of time on the beach reading (while Finn found the biggest stick possible that would fit in his mouth to be a nuisance with)....
but most of all....the best part was just chillin' with Anna (oh and Jack...he joined the party as well!)
Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as we did!!!

A new spin on the original...

Just a little reminder that I haven't forgotten about baking, in fact, I have been baking more than ever lately. . . things at Sweets & Meats Market are really getting into full swing from 6:30 on I do not stop creating fun treats for people to purchase at the store.  It's such a great space.  Anyone in the area that hasn't been in, it's a must!  I have been often finding myself quite content with my work.  Finding a little balance to life.  Hope you all had a happy and wonderful weekend!

It has been a bit grey here....

However, walks to the beach have not stopped...the weather doesn't seem to be bothering Finn in the least...it is all play as usual!

oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, life is soooooooooooooooooo unpredictable

Along with the opening of Sweets & Meats Market on Thursday, Anna (who should need no introduction) arrived two weeks ago.  That being said, there has been little time to breathe, eat, or sleep...(now, drinking, we have found a little bit of time for...and a lot of time for some good laughs).  Finn...oh poor Finn, has been such a trooper to the new schedule which consisted of 10-14 hour days last week (one minor incident aside).  But, I think we have found our feet and a good schedule that works with my new life (sole responsibility of a dog is MUCH more than I had ever anticipated...I guess it was in the cards).  

As much as I hate to say it Squash Blossom Bakery is on a temporary hold.  There is absolutely NO way I can balance my full plus time job, my yoga teacher training program, and my lovely pooch (who is up at 5am for a walk now and full of energy when I roll in the driveway in the evening).  I hope once I figure things out I can start it all up again, but until then my baked goods can be found at Sweets & Meats Market on the South end of Rockland including pies, cakes, cookies, tarts, gluten free goods, biscotti and anything else I can dream up!  I do hope you stop by.  Until then, I will keep you updated here on how things are and anything new I am trying in the bakery.  Hope everyone is well!  

Rhubarb madness

Rhubarb is coming up everywhere!  Jon told me it would grow faster than I could pick it so use as much as I want (I've sorta taken this as a challenge...just how many Strawberry Rhubarb pies can I bake?!).  Not only do I have it growing in my back yard, but being the resident baker on this isle has led people to just drop it off on my stoop in bundles (which is kinda sweet to come home to a stack of rhubarb on my cottage porch).  There have been no complaints at The Sea Store when I bring in hot pies out of the oven and they are scooped up quickly.  Just so everyone knows...this is only the beginning of pie season so hold onto your hats!

ahhhh spring...

That's right, spring (remember, I am in Maine right now). The sun is shining, birds are singing, there are lady slippers everywhere, and the cool ocean breeze is coming in through my porch windows into the little cottage. Finn has permanently planted himself on the old antique couch on the glassed in porch where he can observe every single person that comes on and off of the island. Barking when he feels it's necessary of course.

My garden is really coming along, my wonderful landlord Jon has created a mini greenhouse for all my little plants to stay warm on the cool evenings and provide a haven for them to grow as quickly as possible. I will have lettuce ready to pick soon believe it or not!

Life out here on the island is quiet and good. There is a peace. . . a stillness out here. My early morning walks have turned into a perfect meditation whether the sun is shining or the mist from the ocean is so thick I can't see past the shore line. . .the beach has become such a part of me. I am content for now and growing and learning. So thankful for spring and space to breathe. So blessed to have the life I have.

my morning walk... I will let the pictures do the talking.

for real....could the day have started any better??!!

a day fit for a queen

My grandmother turned 85 yesterday.  That's right, the lady to the left... 85, never would have guessed.  I must say I have loved being able to celebrate these moments with family since I have been back in Maine.  It has been many years since I have actually been around for my grandmothers birthday, or anyone else's for that matter and I realize how lucky I am to have a grandmother that is 85 and how blessed I am to be able to share a portion of that day with her.  She went out to lunch, she ate lobster for dinner (and some really fabulous rolls I was informed!), and I made her a chocolate butter cake with peanut butter cream cheese frosting - decorated with tempered chocolate cigarettes (made by hand believe it or not) and chocolate boarder.  She was treated like a queen, well.... as close as we could all get, and I can only hope that on my 85th birthday I am surrounded by people that love and care for me as much as we all love and care for her.  We are lucky to have her with us and hope she had a fantastic day.  

Happy Birthday Nanny Jane, you are loved by many!

xo

nan's birthday cake

am I back in Oregon??

My new favorite shoe.

mud season

Oh man is spring beautiful in Maine, everything goes from the neutral brown that winter had left in it's wake to beautiful bright greens, purples, and yellows of blooming and budding flowers.  I walk the beast every morning around 6am and we almost always run into my neighbors walking their little pup Ebony...they were kind enough to point out to me a few patches of Lady Slippers that were poking their little heads up.  Well on my walk yesterday morning, I spotted some new-in-complete-bloom-Lady Slippers! Oh and are they beautiful!!!  My neighbors informed me that they are of the orchid family and from seed to bloom is seven years, which has made every discovery of a new one even more exciting... 

However...with the blooms comes the mud and each day I have the pleasure of encountering the beast AFTER a romp in the woods and each day, I get this look:
Thankfully, he cleans up well and each day has been a new adventure with more laughs.  Looking forward to warmer dryer days!  

One down.

This past weekend was my first weekend of Yoga Teacher Training, so I have been busy bending my body and my mind in ways I thought impossible.  I left stuffed full of information and today (Monday) I am attempting to process.  More later I promise.  Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy.

and then there were two...

well, he's off.....

leaving just the beast and I in our cozy little cottage.
safe travels and we'll see him in the fall!