Since we've never been able to travel up to Maine in the Wintertime, we had missed-out on experiencing the beauty of snow falling on the property....until now.  While cutting trees to make way for the power poles, in April, we were 'blessed' with a sudden snowfall.  Absolutely gorgeous!  Everything in Milbridge was covered in a fresh blanket of snow, if only for a short while, and it was like discovering an unopened Christmas present in April!

Most of these photos show our little bay with the tide out, but even with the massive volume of water absent, the view is still captivating & peaceful.

​Next month we'll be sharing basement excavation photos *fingers crossed*!!

AKA ~ How I Became a Skilled VooDoo Doll Maker  :/

​To begin, allow me to say that I am not in any way besmirching Maine or its crafters, because I'm sure that the same thing happens in every state in the union, my native Virginia included, but.......honestly....we've had waaayy too many intensely manic days, weeks, months, while trying to construct this beach house!  Sheesh!!

​My hubs and I have been on the fast-track to frustration for the past two years now, and we truly do SO hope that that proverbial 'light at the end of the tunnel' is looming large, creeping ever closer.  HOWEVER!  Never has the cliché term 'caveat emptor' been more apropos than during this home construction process.  

​Most recently, we've been dealing with a local fireplace/stove dealer.  To say that this process has been more than a challenge is a gross understatement.  Point of fact: a couple of months ago, our stove guy sent us an estimate for the cost & installation of a propane stove for our basement.  Looked good ~ we signed it and sent him the deposit. 
Conversely, when we (just) received the estimate to install our antique woodstove (pipe & chimney cap only, as we own the stove) in our great room, we received a ridiculous price quote.  I mean really outrageous.  So I responded via email, stating that the pricing 'seems a bit high' and asked why that was so, only to receive a snide & curt response stating that, if we 'didn't like it' (the high estimate) he would return our (basement LP stove) deposit and we could find someone else to do both jobs.  Huh?  What happened?

From what we've been told (by Maine friends), because we are 'from away' and are constructing a home on Maine's bold coast, it is assumed that we are 'beyond rich' and are, therefore, fair game for price-gouging. 

​But by no means has this fellow been the only one who has offered-up such irritatingly sophomoric behavior however.  We've recently experienced very similar verbal & figurative foot-stomping while dealing with a local bank loan officer, an appraiser (OMGosh, that's a WHOLE 'nuther story right there!), and two other builders/contractors, &c.

Thus, another chapter has officially been added to 'The G Spot' storybook. One day we'll laugh and laugh about it.....but for now, I have found that there is a pressing need to become intimately familiar with the ins & outs of the construction and proper use of voodoo dolls..........

I feel as though I really need to have the Carly Simon song 'Anticipation' playing (loudly) in the background as I'm typing this blog.  Wait.  Excellent idea!​

While my husband & I adore Maine, we've not been fans of new home construction there.  So many things on our 'to do' list and very little time, via long distance, to get them all squared-away expeditiously.  We are the persistent types, however, and have been determined to bring our little piece of paradise to full fruition.

​The road to construction has had its pitfalls and its promise.  Finding a solid builder is key and we, luckily, finally found one.  If you've never experienced the joys & heartache of CONSTRUCTING a home, save yourself the trouble.  Forget the motto 'just do it'....really, just don't.  Ha ha.  It's not for the weak-of-character nor for the faint-of-heart.

​But, if you have stones the size of Maine's granite shoreline, and you're up for a true challenge, then I heartily wish you well.  In the end, you'll have a place that warmly pulls at your heartstrings and urges you to come stay a spell.

Throughout our home-construction journey, we've met some of THE nicest people.  Mainers, while extremely proud & protective of their State (and I don't blame them one little bit) are also extremely hospitable and eager to share the beauty of their heritage & homeland.  We realize, my husband and I, that we will always be 'from away', and, of course, we'd never consider ourselves to be 'Mainers'; however, we are extraordinarily happy to have the good fortune to experience a small taste of what they've been able to enjoy their whole lives.

​Stay tuned as our construction journey continues and I am, once again, able to pull-out my camera and snap photos of our progress towards owning a wee bit of coastal heaven.

My husband and I had heard that, to see Maine in the Fall is truly a life-altering experience.  Well, we finally, fully experienced a Maine Autumn and...wow!...were we impressed!  Yes, seriously.
​Words simply cannot describe what our hearts felt.  Everywhere that we looked, there were bold, rich colours just popping-out from around every corner, emblazoned across every field, reflected in every drop of turquoise water, and urging us onward over every hill.  

These are only a few of the photos that I snapped while there this Fall (2017).  To see more, please visit the 'Photo Tour' page.  Also, please forgive the poor quality of these photos as they were snapped from a moving vehicle.  :/

I suppose that, when you are a bit older (just a bit, mind you!), you begin to realize how relaxing and fulfilling it is to get away from it all.  Not that 'it all' isn't a good thing, but sometimes you simply need to go get lost.  To defrag.  To unplug.  To meld with nature.  Maine does that for me.  If you've never been, then you are truly missing out.
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​I've no doubt that other parts of the USA are also beautiful and relaxing, and I certainly do not mean to diminish their unique qualities.  It's just that Maine......Maine is......well, it's just 'ahhhh' times 1,000.

^ This is a photo of one of the coves on our property.  Sadly, what you cannot fully appreciate from a mere photo is the intense SOUND of silence, the delicious FEEL of the warm sun & cool ocean breeze on your skin, or the SMELL of thousands of tall, stately pines that completely engulf you.

​I am blessed beyond words to be able to call this our 2nd home.  I encourage you to come visit Maine.  It might just change your life, too.  ;)

Who knew?  We don't have such creatures in Virginia, other than in zoos perhaps, so I was pretty darn amazed to discover that Maine has puffins as permanent residents!  Yet another splendor to this fascinating state!

​Located just a few miles from 'The G Spot' is the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge where you may see these little darlings, as well as other species of sea & shorebirds, in abundance during their nesting season. 
​So, seeing that these so-cute-that-you-want-to-pinch-their-little-puffy-cheeks birds are right in our backyard, I began to contemplate the species.  After all, what ARE they?  What do they do?  Well.....they live on cliffs (Maine has lots of those) and they catch fish by diving deeply underwater.  The male puffin is slightly larger than the female, but they are both similarly coloured.  These birds are usually found in the colder climates of Newfoundland, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Maine is the only place within the United States where these beauties nest (lucky us!!).

So, while in Maine, please make a point of visiting our Atlantic puffins!