Tag: a to z 2017

W is for WaldoStone Farm | Elevating brunch with a Bloody Lobster Cocktail.

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I am more of a Mimosa kind of gal when it comes to alcoholic breakfast beverages, but my husband leans towards the heartier Bloody Mary option. Bloody Marys seem to have taken on a life of their own these days with more elaborate and inventive garnishes turning them into full course meals. Trust me. Just do a quick Instagram search for #BloodyMary. I’m amazed some of the glasses don’t tip over.

If you’re looking for a place to head in Maine to get a fun Bloody Mary, check out Where to get the Best, Funky and Fun Bloody Mary in Maine from 103.7 The Peak. The Silly’s With a Twist build your own Bloody Mary opens up some really great possibilities. But, what if you’re not up for heading out for brunch? I find it shocking that anyone would not be up for brunch, but if you do opt to stay in you can still enjoy a signature morning drink.

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V is for Vintage Maine Kitchen | Creatively flavored, all-natural potato chips.

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One of the first snacks I ever made for my Dad was a french fry sandwich which was exactly what you think it would be: french fries slathered in ketchup served between bread. This was not because I was young and creating whimsical food combinations. My Dad had requested it. He liked french fry sandwiches. It may have been an unusual way to eat french fries, but it’s not surprising that potatoes would be on the menu.

One thing Maine has is potatoes. We usually show up somewhere in the top ten for states that grow the most potatoes. We’re never at number one, but are always well represented. It’s something in enough abundance that I can almost always buy local ones during my food shopping excursions and I was happy to discover a local company making something especially delicious out of Maine potatoes. Now I have another fun way to support Maine potato growers.

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U is for U. Smelly Dog | Now my dog is going to smell better than I do.

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There are two types of dog people. Those that let their animals sleep in their bed and those that do not. We don’t share our bed with our dog; he shares it with us. As he’s gotten older, he likes to go to bed earlier these days. He’ll pace around in front of us at night impatient that we’re not ready to head up at the same time as him. Eventually, he’ll give up and head up on his own which inevitably means pushing him off the pillow when we do finally make it upstairs.

It does a number on our sheets. I wash them regularly, but it doesn’t take long before they start to smell like my pup again. It’s a small price to pay for the snuggles we get each night, but it is an ongoing challenge.

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T is for Tree + Vine | Costumes that match a child’s imagination.

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I have owned a sewing machine since I was thirteen. My Mom handed her’s down to me in almost new condition. It was a Singer and came with a cabinet so you could put it away when not in use. It was a workhorse that stayed with me through multiple apartments and homes. It finally died but it was a slow death. My grandmother, who was an amazing seamstress and quilted right up until her death at 93, knew a repair guy who could fix my sewing machine. He did. He fixed it many times. But, he was also in his nineties and eventually passed away. I could never find anyone else able to repair it.

Eventually, someone bought it at one of our yard sales. I hope they know someone with that special touch who might be able to breathe life into it again. I miss that sewing machine. It was the one I learned to sew on. My other grandmother taught me. We made a Gunny Sack dress that I adored and wore for years. We also made pink satin shorts and a matching jacket because I was in love with Shaun Cassidy of Hardy Boys fame and he wore a satin jacket. The shorts were a bonus.

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S is for Stringin’ Along with ME | Giving new life to old guitar strings.

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My daughter went through a Shrinky DinksTM phase. Shrinky Dinks are sheets of plastic that can be drawn and colored on and then put in the oven where they shrink down forming a hard plastic. My daughter made me a pair of domino earrings out of the plastic sheets one year for mother’s day. I think I’m wearing them in my LinkedIn profile picture.  While I love them because they were made by my daughter, they are certainly not an environmentally friendly creation and for my letter S, I’m focusing on the opposite direction in jewelry art.

I am always in awe of recycled art and crafts people who turn discarded items into something beautiful again. I’ve been known to tackle a few recycled craft projects myself, and blogged previously about one of my creations in my post Recycled Magazine Circles Decorative Bowl. I love this stuff!

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