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!

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Inhale Exhale

Engaging Bagpipes

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

Chatted with a friend this morning. Busy friend, a single mom working two jobs.

Asked her this question.

“Do you have anything fun to look forward to this summer?”

She laughed out loud. Said, “Funny you should ask, no.”

I think I asked because I’m just coming down off a glorious day and a half away with girlfriends. And it did me a world of good to get away. I didn’t plan it. They did, already had the trip in the works.

Said, “Why don’t you just come to Ogunquit with us, for as long as you can get away. It’s already planned, paid for.”

You kidding? So gracious, so kind. The precious kind of gift that can’t be repaid. I’m no fool. So I went, made it work. Joined them in Ogunquit, Maine.

Guess what?

The weather was less than optimal. Understatement. It rained, and poured.

For fo-o-o-o-rty daysies daysies. (JK!)

But it did rain the entire time. Howling wind. Crashing surf.

Our umbrellas, they turned inside out. We shivered. Practically froze. Yeah, it’s June. June in Maine. Never did make it to the beach. Never pulled out the sunscreen or shades.

Never walked the Marginal Way.

GUESS WHAT?

Had a fabulous time. Every second.

When was the last time I browsed with girlfriends in uppity little boutiques? Savored seafood on the water? Sat in an old timey theater watching a girlie movie?  (With girlies no less.) Sipped java in a delightfully snobby little coffee shop, droplets coursing down window panes… When was the last time I giggled in a hot tub?

Way too long. Didn’t realize how much I really needed to rest, relax, recharge.

Inhale Exhale.

Saw Woman in Gold at Leavitt Theatre . Highly recommend it, based on the true story of a modern day Jewish woman from Austria who pursued the family art stolen by Nazis during the war. She actually saw them storm in, seize her family’s paintings and jewelry. The most famous painting, Woman in Gold, was of her Aunt Adele. Excellent movie.

Browsed Stonewall Kitchen in York, ME, a favorite haunt of mine. (Salivated for the umpteenth time over these  “School of Fish” dishes I adore.)

Laughter, tears. Conversation. Over fabulous seafood, overlooking the water. Deep stuff. Real stuff. Kid stuff. Family stuff. Hopes. Dreams. Victories, disappointments. Life.

Tiptoed, shivered, raced out in the tundra, 48 degree tundra. Steaming hot tub. Howling, cutting wind. Slipped into the wet. Quick. Warm, cozy to the chin. Faces, eyeballs, sliced and diced by cold, cutting rain. More laughter. Wind, mist swirling over bubbling waters.

Midnight snacks. Gourmet crackers and cheese, almonds. Giggles. Blueberry Basil Mojitos. Magazines….

Each time I slip away for a little rest and relaxation, I return a better wife and mother for it. Boy was it a bear getting out the door. But so worth it.

Thankful for a kind, supportive husband who gets it. Bends over backwards to cover the bases, details. Cares for the boys, Hudson. I love this man. For this and a million other things.

And grateful for kind, gracious friends.

A question for you.

Got anything fun to look forward to this summer?

Now would be a great time to plan, put it on the calendar. Make it happen.

What do you love? Who do you want to spend time with? Plan it! Just this once (or maybe twice), spoil yourself.

You won’t regret it. Life’s hard, short. Give yourself something to anticipate, a little indulgence.

Hope and good memories help get us through the hard times. (I know.) And not to be that glass half-empty kind o’ gal, but not a one of us knows what’s around the corner. So carpe diem.

Sure would be fun to hear what you’re planning… what you’ve got up your sleeve. Do tell.

And whatever you do, keep calm. And Inhale Exhale. Have a beautiful weekend!

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