Bean and Oyster Heaven

Yesterday, Helen and I set out for Outlet Store Mecca—Freeport. Our mission was to hit L.L. Bean to find snow pants, boots and other winter gear for Madison and Juliana. While there we stumbled on, but not into, the Bean INDOOR trout pond. Wow. Who knew?

Bean’s customer service folk are tremendous—all of them. Before our shopping extravaganza was over we’d consulted no fewer than six of them. They were all friendly, mega helpful and efficient.

• Do you have these in a girls size 12?
• Do you have this shirt, in grey, in a mens/large/tall?
• Do you have these boots in a girls size two? No but you can order directly from here. Here, let me connect you.
• This DownTEK™ coat will keep me warm even if it's just 2º out?
• Where can I find men’s flannel lined jeans?

Yes, we also picked up a few items for the menfolk. How could we not?

Gary, Dawn and yurs truly

LOVE this store.

After making a definite dent in our credit cards (and completing our cold weather prep), Helen and I motored north to the Guzzodome in Boothbay Harbor. The Guzzodome? Hey, I refer to my home as Valhalla, Gary’s got the Guzzodome. Him and me? Two peas/same pod.

Boothbay Harbor’s about 60 miles from Portland. Just after Freeport, we got off the main road and onto winding Route 1. Simply beautiful. If we had more time I would’ve loved to have stopped in Bath, Brunswick and Wiscasset. Maybe a Southern Maine vaca versus weekend’s in the cards, eh?

I love introducing Helen to my cousins/her aunts and uncles—they can’t help but fall for my sweet, wonderful, wise, strong girl AND, of course, she’s wild about them too.

Gary and Dawn took us to the The World is Mine Oyster Restaurant for lunch.  It was magnificent! Here in Fisherman Heaven I had to go off the vegan trail and indulge. The owner, a friend of Gary and Dawn's, sent over a huge tray of oysters and clam chowder. They were, unsurprisingly, fabulous. Afterward, I had the smoked salmon, naan wrap (with Boursin!!!). Just amazing.

I totes understand how G&D ended up here (up from NYC)—it's gorgeous, quiet (off tourist season anyway), the air's clear and clean, there are tons of brill craftspeople around and everyone seems so quietly warm and friendly.

I just wish Boothbay Harbor was easier to get to. Of course, that relative inaccessibility is no small part of it's charm.