Well hello friends and how are you today? Happy pre-Thanksgiving weekend! We’re headed on a little field trip to Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine. One of my all-time favorite haunts, and hope you’re coming along for the ride. (You in?) Everyone’s busy talking food, menus and pumpkin pie before the big day, so let’s take a little break from all that jazz and talk about… FOOD! ‘Cuz we just can’t talk Stonewall Kitchen without talking good eats!

Before we head to Stonewall, let me fill you in. If you follow along here you know my brother had a serious accident back in September. He’s been in a wheelchair since, but making progress every day and greatly looking forward to the day when he’ll walk again. Last weekend we had the opportunity to take him out for a car ride north. He loves the beach and seafood. Me too, so I thought Ogunquit might be the perfect place to get out in the sunshine.

If you know me at all you know I adore Ogunquit, ME. Jagged coastline, the Marginal Way. Quaint little uppity New England coastal town. Oh. Yeah. We headed north to Ogunquit, stopped at Stonewall Kitchen for lunch and window-shopping along the way. So hey, let’s go!

There are nine New England Stonewall Kitchen locations, but the main company store is located in York. Here’s the view driving in. On the left (with the weathervane) is the cooking school, and on the right is the store/cafe.

Love these unique gourd topiaries by the side door…

First we sat down for lunch in the gorgeous cafe. Such a pleasant place to drop in for a bite .

So many great New England eats on the menu! Also a great coffee bar.

I chose the BLT & Avocado Grilled Sandwich: cherrywood smoked bacon, lettuce, vine-ripened tomatoes and avocado with house-made basil mayonnaise, served on toasted farm-house white bread. (Hungry yet???) The basil mayonnaise really made the sandwich, not to mention the cherrywood smoked bacon…

After lunch it was time for browsing in the store…This raspberry syrup would be yummy on Saturday morning waffles.

Every kind of gourmet jam, jelly or sauce you can imagine…Stonewall Kitchen is famous for their gorgeous gourmet gift baskets.

Plus tasting stations…yup, time for dessert!

I’ve always loved these Maine Sea Bags. Wish I’d snapped a shot of the one with the whale. So darn cute. Made from genuine boat sails…

Here’s the test kitchen…boy would I love the spacious shelving!

Cutest wintry silver-ware holder ever!

So I’d love to be rocking on the veranda, drinking in a sea-side view, my java sloshing in that mug…Yeah, that would about do it for me.

After lunch and window shopping, we drove just a few more minutes to Ogunquit, along the coast into Perkins Cove. The seaside views were absolutely stunning on a gorgeous fall day. If you’ve never visited Stonewall Kitchen or Ogunquit, Maine, put them on your New England bucket list. Great food, shopping and excellent times! Have a beautiful weekend, friends!

You might also like these posts on Ogunquit, Maine:

Inhale Exhale

Engaging Bagpipes

The post Stonewall Kitchen appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.

Feeling a little scattered today. Heading out in a couple hours for a few fun girlfriend days, not sure what to pack, the weather’s iffy. Or which story to write here. I was thinking of telling you about The Time I Played Piano for Mass. And that’s certainly a very interesting story. But since I’m actually headed to Ogunquit, Maine and I’ve got Ogunquit on the brain (poet: me!), I’ll go with Engaging Bagpipes and save the other for a rainy day.

Love Ogunquit, Maine.  Shortly after moving here to New Hampshire in 2004 some of my southern girlfriends came up for a visit. I was told by locals here the places I should take them to visit. Ogunquit was at the very top of the list. Ogunquit, a quaint little upscale coastal town in southern Maine, is right over the border, near Portsmouth, NH. (Also adore Portsmouth, yes I do.)

There are some striking things about Ogunquit. It’s gorgeous. Perkins Cove is where it’s happenin’. Lots of uppity boutiques and fine dining in this delightful little slice of New England. Waterfront dining where you watch the fishermen motor into the cove with their catch of the day. FRESH! Homemade ice cream and gelato. And just off Perkins Cove, a beautiful paved walkway along the jagged, rocky coastline called the Marginal Way. Yes, the Marginal Way, about a mile long. A feast for the eyes, easy on the feet. Incredibly beautiful, I think I’ve walked it in every season except the dead of winter.

So one July 4th it was sweltering and humid around here. The bigger boys were away at camps, but Jon, Hudson and I were looking for relief from the heat. We headed north to Ogunquit and the Marginal Way. Unfortunately it wasn’t much cooler there, even at twilight, but we did walk the Marginal Way. So glad, because a very unique thing happened that evening.

As we strolled along, we heard running feet behind us. We quickly moved aside, and who should race by but a man with bagpipes. We were so curious (read:nosy) what was going on, as was everyone else strolling on the Marginal Way. And because it was a holiday, foot traffic was extra heavy. Out on the water, a lovely sailboat was tacking back and  forth in the harbor.

We continued walking, eyes peeled.

Lo and behold, we saw that bagpiper sit on a bench out on a rocky point. And wait.

Then he quickly jumped up and this is what happened next. (Play the clip above.)

The story trickled out along the Marginal Way. A couple was getting engaged out on the boat. The bagpiper was serenading. The timing was precarious. The boat sailing by the point at just the right moment, the song and the groom popping the big question. So romantic. When the bagpiper finished the song, all the people up and down the Marginal Way clapped and cheered, echoing out over the water. What a magical shared moment, though we didn’t even know the couple on the boat. (Or anyone else for that matter.) Perhaps what being in a flash mob feels like. (Never been in one.)

That’s all she wrote folks! (‘Cuz that’s all she knows!) Off to pack. Who knows what I’ll see on the Marginal Way this time around.

Enjoy your weekend!!!

The post Engaging Bagpipes appeared first on Through Her Looking Glass.