We are finally in Maine! It’s been a 2,100-mile journey from Texas, but our feet touched our waterside cottage last night. By the time we unpacked the car, it was dark, so we didn’t have time to explore. Honestly, we were so tired that we were content just putting on our PJs, watching a few episodes of Leanne on Netflix, and going to bed. This morning, I woke up and enjoyed my first cup of coffee with a stunning view of the garden and the water!
Our trip started a week ago, departing from our home in Fort Worth. The first time we drove to Maine was when I was managing a bed and breakfast in Ogunquit. I needed to get there to start work, so we did the drive in THREE DAYS! Can you imagine! It was awful. The following year, we planned it just right with driving a maximum of six hours, staying at quaint places along the way. Here’s our route this year:
This year, we followed the same route, but added a few days to our journey by visiting Mr. Twist’s bestie for a two nights. This proved to be an excellent idea as it gave us a chance to recharge and do a little laundry. And, it gave Mr. Twist the opportunity to spend some quality time with his best friend, David, whom he’s known since they were teenagers. They met as lifeguards at a summer resort in the Poconos. David’s wife, Lori, was the perfect hostess!
We enjoyed evening cocktails and fun snacks. I made notes of her snack stash – Dot’s pretzels, nuts, and the best cheese straws I ever had! The first night, Lori assembled a lovely cheese board and included Mr. Twist’s bourbon peach jam with brie. One night she made us Paper Plane cocktails, and while I am not a big bourbon fan, this was a yummy sip I will make at home. Be sure to use this brand of Amaro Nonino.
After we crossed the Maine border, our first stop was the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. This was so special as it reminded me of times spent with my mother visiting the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens as a child (you can read about it here). Two highlights were the Fairy House Village and the Guardian of the Seeds Troll Exhibit (read about the trolls here).
The Fairy House Village is nestled in a hilly forest clearing overlooking the shoreline. There were a dozen people of all ages sitting among the trees constructing fair houses using Birch bark, stones, sticks, moss, and leaf litter that graced the ground.
This tradition is said to have originated in the woods on nearby Monhegan Island, where structures can only be built from non-living materials found on the forest floor. When I was little, my mother told me so many stories of fairies in our garden – mushrooms for fairy meeting seating, acorn tops as crowns, and ferns for umbrellas from the sun and showers. As I walked around to inspect fairy homes of all shapes and sizes, I felt like my mother was walking alongside me.
Now that I have arrived in Maine, watch for daily posts on my Instagram here, and look for weekly emails on Sundays with updates on our adventures. And, if you’ve requested a postcard from Maine, I am working on sending out the first batch this coming week!
With love from Maine – Melissa
Hospitality is in my DNA. I founded Home with a Twist, a daughter’s twist on her mother’s traditions, in memory of my mother to celebrate her life and the gifts she shared with me. Mother loved to celebrate life’s occasions – big and small.
