Back in our cozy cottage by the fire (Last night in Bar Harbor, Maine)

While driving back to Bar Harbor, ME (from Bangor, ME) in the evening, the fog started to roll in. We could barely make out the sign for the place we were staying at.We quickly went inside our cottage and U. made a fire for us.

I took it as a sign of good parenting when Astrid felt the heat of the fire and said, "Oh hot. Careful!"

Another night of sleeping in front of the fire. I will miss that.

It's our last night in Maine. In the morning we're driving back to the airport in Portland, Maine and flying to New York.

Last breakfast in Bar Harbor

We stopped here at the Log Cabin Restaurant in Bar Harbor, ME for breakfast, before heading out to Bangor, ME to see Stephen King's house.

Quite possibly one of the worst breakfasts I've ever had, but the outside of the restaurant was cute with this hand carved, wooden fisherman smoking a pipe (which U. thought was a dog...???), and also a moose.

Dinner and exploring the beach at night

Rather than going back downtown for dinner, we opted to stay closer to home and dine in a restaurant located on the water off Route 3. This trip was the first time we've brought along activities for Astrid to keep her busy while we're waiting. Here she's playing with her flashcards.Astrid coloring in her coloring book.

The restaurant must have lots of kids dining there because they provided Astrid with this high chair (that you'd see at someones house). We also were seated in the ghetto children's section which we didn't mind so much, but still it's strange to be taken to the "other" remote section of the restaurant (where are they taking us?) and seated with other families with kids (some crying and screaming).After Astrid was done with her dinner we went outside and played on the beach.Astrid picking up a rock......and throwing it into the water.

I was surprised by how dark it got. Without lights the beach was pitch black and slippery with the rocks.So we went up onto the pier (which was safer and better lit) to explore and to look out over the water.We saw a lobster trap and this ramp which led down to a floating dock.

Dinner wasn't good enough to mention. Overpriced seafood that wasn't that good. But it was fun for Astrid to throw rocks into the water and explore the beach and pier.

Wine Tasting at Sweet Pea's Winery

Along the side of the road on the way to our cottage, we spotted a winery which had a big sign posted out front about a free wine tasting which caught our eye. So we said today was the day to head over there and check it out before our afternoon nap.The winery is called Sweet Pea's Winery (located 10 minutes from downtown Bar Harbor on Route 3).

They have a selection of red wines, white wines, and fruit wines. I enjoyed a number of them but sadly we were limited on what we could bring back with us, so we settled for a bottle of apple wine and blueberry ale.

I asked if we could have wines shipped to us and was told by the owner that this was something they are working on and hope to have it in place by next year (possibly). I don't know what's so difficult about contacting Fed Ex and setting up a page on their website, but c'est la vie it's Maine and they move at a different pace here.Above are some photos of their "cozy farmhouse gift shop" from their website. The fresh flowers were grown on the farm.

Astrid and I sitting on a rock next to the vineyard.
Astrid's ready to check out the grapes (which she eats daily when we're back at home).
It was fun showing her where grapes come from and how they grow. This is the first time she's walked through a vineyard.
Studying Trauben (grapes).
A whole new appreciation of grapes.
Astrid wants to eat a grape. She's saying, "Grape!"
As you can see from U's expression - they were not edible.Father and daughter surrounded by vines and grapes. "Sour grapes!"

Happy to be running around in the vineyard.

I love this photo with Astrid in the distance running. It's very metaphoric for our life as parents, constantly keeping an eye on, and chasing after our toddler.

My vineyard fairy.

All done exploring the vineyard, and ready for her nap back at the cottage.

Strolling through downtown Bar Harbor & some shopping

It's another beautiful day today. The high is 73 degrees Fahrenheit and the low is 53.

We had breakfast at Jeannie's again, this time trying the oatmeal & walnut pancakes (yummy!). The owner Jeannie and the staff there remembered Astrid.U. had to make some phone calls for work so Astrid and I went back to the place above the harbor where we met this gorgeous white lab and his owners.

I said, "Look Astrid - he has blond hair just like you!"

Astrid loves doggies and was thrilled that this one was so nice and would occasionally lick her face.
Playing in and around the fountain. Good thing I brought another long-sleeved shirt for her because shortly after this photo was taken, she reached into the fountain and soaked her sleeve up to her elbow.We went to a park in the middle of town and let Astrid run around. Here she is playing a quasi hide and seek, tag game with U.We also did some shopping and purchased a Christmas ornament there. It's a tradition we started ever since we went on our honeymoon, to purchase Christmas ornaments from each place we traveled to, to create a collection of keepsake ornaments for our tree. This time we got a shell with a lobster and "Bar Harbor, Maine 2007" painted on the inside.

I have to take a pic of it and post it here.

Cocktails at Inn by the Harbor & Dinner at Galyn's

After we turned in our bikes, we headed over to the Inn by the Harbor for some cocktails before dinner. It's an inn and restaurant perched on a hill with a magnificent ocean view. The obvious lure is the outside seating at the edge of the hill (which closes as soon as it gets dark - which we found out last night).Astrid munched on some crackers and then wanted to feed the pigeons. Unfortunately the pigeons kept flying away, so we walked up by the inn and found some seagulls. One in particular was squawking like crazy. Astrid tried to feed it some of her crackers but either it wasn't hungry, or it didn't understand what she was tossing on the floor was food.

Now Astrid knows the word for "seagull" and she can do a pretty good impersonation of a seagull squawk too. Then she says, "somebody", because she remembers the seagull was probably looking for "somebody" (i.e., another seagull).

When we turned in our bikes, we asked the owner (a local) what restaurant he would recommend for dinner in Bar Harbor. He recommended Galyn's and said it had the same chef for 20 years and was very consistent. He was right. Good food and reasonably priced. The best dinner we've had in Maine.

Galyn's
17 Main Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207-288-9706

Since we were there early with the baby, U. was able to take advantage of the early bird special for their lobster dinner. Fresh delicious lobster dinner for around $16. Can't beat that! It's best to make reservations because they get pretty busy at dinner time.

Maine - Day 4 - Jeannie's Breakfast

Astrid slept in until 10:00 this morning. She must have needed the sleep and/or she loved sleeping in the full sized adult bed all by herself.

When we got to the cabin we saw that the pack n' play was an infant sized one and way too small for Astrid, but they didn't have anything bigger. So as an alternative solution the owner brought over a child's bed rail that we put on the side of the double bed, and then we created a barrier around the bed with a folded table and the pack n' play. Were were worried that Astrid would not want to sleep there by herself and would get out, but she slept soundly all night long. (U. and I discussed starting to shop for a big girl bed for Astrid soon.)We found a great little breakfast place in downtown Bar Harbor called Jeannie's Breakfast. They only serve breakfast and if it's just coffee you want, they'll send you on your way to a coffee shop down the street.

Jeannie's Breakfast
15 Cottage Street (at Bayside Landing)
Bar Harbor, Maine

I read some reviewers saying the restaurant is open until 1 PM, however they were getting ready to close up shop when we got there at noon. When our waitress got the a-okay from the kitchen that the grill was still on, we were able to order and were the last diners that morning. So it pays to get there early as the restaurant closes around noonish depending on the breakfast traffic. Astrid getting a morning kiss from Papa.

If you go to their website, under "about us" you can read all the short stories about Maine that they have on the tables (like the one above about the bears - The Story of Amos and Andrea).

This was the best breakfast we've had in awhile. They serve homemade oatmeal bread and strawberry rhubarb jam (which was so delicious we bought a jar to take home with us). They also have healthy menu items, including vegetarian and vegan selections, and will make your omelets with egg whites only for a small charge.

Our omelets were excellent! U. got the Greek omelet and I got the garden omelet.

Garden Omelet
3 Egg Omelet filled with Sauteed Onions, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and choice of Cheese. Served with Home Fries and Homemade Toast. $8.49

We also shared an order of blueberry pancakes with homemade whipped cream. Oh so yummy.There was no wait either. We were seated promptly, the service was down home and friendly (we saw the owner Jeannie working there), and our food arrived fairly quickly. They're also a kid friendly restaurant (see the kid cup they gave Astrid above).
She doesn't want to drink out of her sippy cup anymore. She'll still drink out of it when she has to, but she'd much rather drink out of a regular cup now (she knows the drill - "both hands"), or out of these kid cups. The kid cups keep her entertained (she loves the straw), and I don't have to keep a hawk eye on her to make sure she doesn't spill her drink.

After breakfast we're going to rent bikes with a child seat to go riding with Astrid.

An evening in Bar Harbor, Maine

Our first evening in Bar Harbor, Maine and we went to the downtown part of town that has cute little shops, restaurants, and bars.We wanted a photo of us with the ships behind us, but the lady who took the photo was only able to get this pic of us. We're on a hill overlooking the harbor.

It can get quite chilly, so bundling up at night with lots of layers is ideal. Bringing the appropriate clothes for either cold or hot temperatures was a bit tricky (ME is chilly while NY is hot this time of year) since I couldn't pack too much in order to keep our luggage to a minimum. But I did come prepared with a vest, scarf, and jacket. Astrid is dressed similarly, except instead of jeans she's wearing sweats.A sunset in Bar Harbor, Maine. It's gorgeous here.

A little hike with Mama (Bar Harbor, Maine)

We stumbled onto some hiking trails located not too far from the playground and decided to check them out while there was still light outside.Astrid coming down the trail.

I also wanted to give U. a break so he could rest after his long drive and get caught up on work e-mails and voice mails.She wants to know what everything is called. "Sat?" "Sat?" Meaning "What's that?" is a question I'm hearing a lot lately.Happy little hiker.She found a branch.Whenever I see photos of her running like this one, she doesn't look like a toddler to me. It must be her long legs and the way she's running like a little girl and not like a little baby.

"Mama and Astrid." That's how Astrid describes this photo.

Whenever she sees a photo of all three of us she describes it as, "Mama, Papa and Astrid."

My sunshine kid.A darker, more difficult trail.Astrid pointing to a stream and bridge that crosses our path.

I need to find more suitable hiking trails for her back in LA. She loves it and it's great to be outdoors in nature.

We've arrived in Bar Harbor, Maine

After lunch Astrid took a 3 hour nap in her car seat for the remainder of the drive to Bar Harbor, Maine.

A little bit about Bar Harbor, Maine:
Bar Harbor is a quaint town located on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. Once upon a time Bar Harbor was a simple fishing and ship building village. The town's original name was "Eden".We're staying in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath cottage with a kitchen and fireplace. Here you can see Astrid standing in the doorway of our cottage. Here you can see the chimney and screened in porch. We also have our own BBQ grill and picnic table outside our cottage.

The owners have tons of firewood for sale which we will be taking full advantage of every evening. There's nothing better than falling asleep in front of a warm fire. It's rustic living, with all the modern conveniences. Feeding the ducks.

The property is on 2.5 acres plus it has a pond (with lots of ducks). Fun fun fun for the little one.Since we go to Echo Park in Los Angeles to feed the ducks, Astrid is familiar with feeding the ducks and as she calls it, "duck bread". She'll be feeding the ducks every chance she gets and so U. and I had better stock up on on bread.Astrid pointing to the playground in the distance.As I mentioned before, the property is huge and the pond is a fairly good sized one as well.
Getting excited as she gets closer to the playground.The property is covered in lush, green grass and it's on a wide open area. All the better for a toddler to run around and play. Checking out the swings first.Then the little slide.Next the big slide.She's off and running to do it all over again.

This place is perfect for children and families.

We also discovered some hiking trails and we'll be exploring those today as well.