I mentioned in my comment on this post that I’m in Count-Down-To-Maine mode
right now. Our Maine vacation is always the highpoint of our summer. We usually go in August, so it’s something to look forward to all summer long.
I’ve been going to Maine in August my whole life, and when my husband joined our family he was more than happy to continue the tradition. In fact, he was no stranger to vacationing in Maine. His parents took their family to Maine several times during his childhood, and he always enjoys a chance to go hiking and fishing. And eat lobster. Not that it’s all about the food or anything.
We adults aren’t the only ones counting down the days. My 4-year-old daughter is absolutely OBSESSED with going to Maine. For the last week and a half, her pretend play has consisted almost solely of packing for Maine. She drags her suitcases around and packs and repacks her dolls and toys and blankets and stuffed animals. And she asks at least five times a day in an exasperated voice, “Mom, are we going to Maine yet!???” Two weeks is a lifetime to her.
For the rest of us, Maine means family reunions, lobster, hiking, blueberry pie, trips to the coast, popovers at the Jordan Pond House, s’mores, evening campfires, canoing, fishing, tubing, and waterskiing.
For my daughter, it means two uninterrupted weeks with her favorite person on earth, her “Gwammie”.
When she first heard we were going to Maine in two weeks, she started dancing
around the room, shouting, “Yayyyy! Gwammie! Gwammie! Gwammie! GWAMMIEEEEE!!!” She tells me multiple times a day that she misses “Gwammie”, and she can’t wait to see “Gwammie”, and how many days will we be in Maine with “Gwammie”?
And then comes the Festival of Questions. Are we going to eat dinner there? Are we going to sleep there? Are we going to be there for a long time? And on it goes.
My 7-year-old son loves his Grammie, but he’s not as one-track-minded as his sister. He’s excited to fish, hike, see his cousins, swim in the lake, and eat s’mores by the campfire. Not that it’s all about the food or anything.
My husband is excited to fish off the dock, water ski, hike the Precipice Trail and indulge in my mom’s homemade blueberry pie. Not that it’s all about the food or anything.
I am just happy to sit in the cottage overlooking the lake, sip a mug of hot coffee Dandy Blend, and do NOTHING while my mom and dad and brother play with my kids. Rest and relaxation, that’s what I’m after! That, and a bowl of lobster stew with a side of popovers at the Jordan Pond House. Not that it’s all about the food or anything.
So yeah, we’re all pretty excited about our upcoming vacation. If I could just find a way to avoid the ten-hour drive to get there. Then it would be perfect.
Here is the picture I took on our last morning of vacation last summer. This is our view from the house. You can see why we can’t wait to get to Maine.
Speaking of counting down to Maine, there is a great little book your kids might enjoy. It’s called Counting Our Way To Maine. We read it often in anticipation of our trip. The illustrations are delightful, and it’s full of the nostalgia of family tradition. And of course it holds a special place in our hearts for obvious reasons.
Other great books about Maine that you may be more familiar with are Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine, both by Robert McCloskey of Make Way For Ducklings fame. If by some small chance you haven’t read them, please for the love of all that’s good and literary, take a trip to your local library and get them right away. You won’t regret it.
19 Responses
Enjoy! Perhaps we will see you on the drive up :-). Ah, the car trip. So much fun…
I’m so excited FOR you! And I’m WAY jealous of the food b/c girl, it IS all about the food! You’re the 2nd person to mention Blueberries for Sal this week. I’m going to get it at the library today!
We’re headed to Jordan Pond House today! Yippee!! Popovers and raspberry lemonade! SLURP!! Your uncle is taking the day off for a ‘wife’ day as he has been working a lot lately. (what else is new??!!) We always used to have our date days in the summer and kind of got away from it so I ‘suggested’ we start that tradition again. I’m going to try to put that site on my next post that you had today about the JPH. My mouth is watering already for those popovers!
Nice post about your Maine traditions. Your roots grow REAL deep here in Maine! I remember when you were born and how excited we all were especially your Gramma.
Tell D.C.R. that the ponies are waiting for them to come visit. Doesn’t look like you’ll be riding Buddy this year but he will enjoy some attention and treats. I was hoping to get some pictures of you riding for a post! heehee! I suppose I could put you on Kipper!
Sounds heavenly ! I want to re-marry into a family with a cottage on a shore. Any shore !
BEAUTIFUL!
I can definitely see why you are excited. I have only been to Maine once, but loved every minute of that vaca!!
So are you originally from Maine, then?
Oh – I’m just plain jealous! 🙂
Wow, I have only been to main once, probably 15 years ago. I would love to go again, but it is a pretty long drive.
One day. I hope you have fun. I don’t tell my toddler we are going anywhere until practically an hour before we are going.
I visited Maine once, in August, the first trip to visit my future in-laws. I loved it! Coming from 100 degree days without end, the cool breezes were pure heaven. We talk often of going back. Someday we’ll make it. Of course, we don’t care for seafood much, especially lobster, so we have to make do with the poorly seasoned steak and whatnot. 🙂
I gave you an blogging award, so stop over and see it!
I love Blueberries for Sal. “Kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk” is a hallowed expression around here. We use it often but with extreme reverence. I am jealous of your lovely vacation times each year. I think traveling the world is fine and dandy, but to have one place to return to each year that is “yours” is the most special and memorable way to travel, especially for kids. Even the 10 hour drives will eventually hold their own special brand of nostalgia for you. There is something about the dependability and the sameness that I think is so grounding and character-building for kids. I can imagine your three children blogging about the experience in years to come, waxing nostalgic about that one year Mom drank that weird.. what was it… fake coffee made out of weeds or something?… and napped through most of the day. ha ha ha that crazy Mom! 😉
Your upcoming trip sounds divine, and yummy–not that it’s all about the food or anything. Thanks for mentioning those books. We have Blueberries for Sal (graciously sent to A. from her aunt in Maine), but I’m also going to check out the others since we’ll begin our countdown in a few weeks!
oooooh….so envious! It sounds and looks gorgeous! I keep telling Midlife Mom that I’m going to show up on her doorstep one day!
Please post lots of pics and I want to see you on Kipper or at least in the cart!!!
What a beautiful view! It sounds like you all have (will have) a fabulous time. So unfair that when you are heading to Maine, I am heading back to school!!!
Mel
Sounds like you have your own little storybook vacation every year! Growing up in Texas and vacationing mostly in the south, to me your vacation sounds like those I’ve only read about.
I can’t wait to hear more! Have a wonderful, relaxing holiday.
I’ve always wanted to visit Maine and Vermont. My Dad had a guy who used to work for him that spent the winters in Maine and then commuted to Alaska for the summer work there.
That looks and sounds like a perfect vacation. We just got back from our vacation. I can so relate to the 4-year old festival of questions.
Honeymooned in Maine 10 years ago! Loved it! Can’t wait to hear your adventures. We are also going on a vaca in 2 weeks! We are NC bound – cartrip. Oh my! 🙂
Enjoy!! That is a picture perfect view! What a great shot!
that sounds wonderful!! i’ve always wanted to go to Maine… maybe someday…. those pictures are gorgeous!!
I have Maine envy. I LOVE Jordon Pond House! The last time I was there, my 12yo was 2 but I dream of the day I’ll get to go back. So far I haven’t talked hubby into a summer vacation up there but it would be an awesome break from the FL heat- maybe next year.