Family Visit to Island

My brother and parents are visiting me this weekend! They arrived, with my brother’s dog, Etta, yesterday via water taxi while I was at work at the Inn. When I got home from work after a long day, they had dinner ready! Am I a lucky girl?

I worked again today. Before I went to work, there was some horsing around. Dan got Emma up on the sofa! She never goes on the furniture. She is allowed; it just would never occur to my dog to get up on the furniture. Here she is snuggling up to her Uncle Dan:

I have to work again tomorrow. I haven’t been much of a hostess to my guests as I haven’t been around much, but they seem to be enjoying themselves nonetheless. There have been quite a number of cribbage games played.

I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend!

Yours, Merryweather 

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Thursday, Thursday

Hello, dear readers! I have been busy training for my front desk job at the inn! Ergo, I don’t have anything too fascinating or insightful to write to you about. So sorry!

However, our neighbors’ lilac bloomed!

I reached a Pinterest milestone. Four hundred followers! 

And, finally, here is a photo of a fresh floral arrangement at the front desk!

We were trained today at the inn as Starbucks baristas! That was exciting as I do love Starbucks! I had Monday off from work, but I won’t see another day off until next Friday! Yikes! 

It is raining cats and dogs here on the island and the temperature is hovering in the 40s! It is late May and not feeling very Springlike. More rain in the forecast, too. 

Darling daughter returned to DC today. She is going on a bachelorette weekend in Charleston, SC for her friend, Mandy, who is getting married next month! I hope she has fun!

That is all I have got! Chat soon. 

Yours, Merryweather 

500th Blog Post!

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500th

Dear readers. This is my 500th blog post here on Merryweather Smith! I started blogging almost three years ago, in July 2014, for something creative and non-messy to do while we attempted to sell our home. As the story goes, the hovel in Maryland sold this time last year and now we have relocated ourselves to Diamond Cove on Great Diamond Island in Casco Bay, off of Portland, Maine. Smartest thing I have ever done. 

I wish I had exciting subject matter for my 500th post. I do not. So sorry.  I do have a photo of darling daughter’s phone:

Darling daughter and I did all our errands, banking, and grocery shopping this morning. We had lunch at Andy’s Pub in the Old Port and coffee at Arabica on Commercial. The plan is to take the 245 ferry back to the island. Emma, our lovely English Labrador, will be anxious for our return. 

I am working the rest of the week at the Inn. Darling daughter returns to DC on Thursday. My family will arrive on the island on Friday. Mom, Dad, my brother, Dan, and his dog, Etta, will be joining me for the holiday weekend. I am certain it will be a good time. Our first reunion in Maine since late October. More poker games!

That is all I’ve got, dear readers, for the day. Thank you for taking the time to follow along with me!

Yours, Merryweather 

End of Week

Dear readers, I have missed you these last several days. I have been busy training to be the most fantastic front desk clerk! My head is swimming with details. I hope I am up for the task! Elizabeth and Priscilla have been graciously training me. Both lovely ladies. 

I saw Fred yesterday. We got caught up with each other. He is moving from the island! I am going to miss my island cribbage partner. He is moving to the mainland and won’t be far thankfully. I filled Fred in on what it is like to be an up-and-coming front desk clerk. Fred brought me some lilacs:

Yesterday, a new high temperature record was set in Portland. 93!!! Needless to say, everything is popping open with the heat, including the lilacs and all sorts of flowering trees. This is a mystery type cherry tree on the patio:

Some exciting household news; the windows were professionally washed yesterday for what may have been the first time ever! This was a job best left to the pros. It was a complicated job, involving ladders, squeegees, storm windows, and screens…oh, my. The change from dark and dingy to clean, clear, and sparkly is remarkable. I snapped this photo early this morning:

This is all the news for now.  Talk to you soon! 

Yours, Merryweather

Ferry Ride For the Win

I met Olivia from Cliff Island this morning on the 7am ferry to Portland. She emerged like a beautiful butterfly from a cocoon. Here is her cocoon:

She was asleep in the hammock. It is a long ride from Cliff. Brilliant!

Darling daughter’s bestie, Jordan, is visiting the island this week:

I am on my way to Portland Harbor Hotel to get trained for my new gig, front desk clerk! Wish me luck! 

Yours, Merryweather

New News

Dear readers! I have new news to share with you! I have accepted a position at the front desk of The Inn at Diamond Cove! 

Exciting! I get to share my enthusiasm for the island with visitors from around the world! I hope to be the best ambassador possible for The Inn at Diamond Cove! 

Yours, Merryweather

Emma’s Beach Vacation

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Duxbury Beach

Emma, my English Labrador, has spent this last week with her sister dog, Etta, at my brother’s and Nancy’s house in Braintree, MA. Dan and Nancy have been taking my yellow dog to the Duxbury Beach with their black dog. Apparently, Emma is a beach bully:

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Thanks to Nancy for this informative video! I picked darling daughter up from the airport this morning. The whole family will be meeting up tomorrow at my parent’s house for a Mother’s Day celebration!

Yours, Merryweather  

Brimfield Flea Market Haul

Dear readers! Here it is! The long-awaited, much-anticipated Brimfield Flea Market Haul! Woo-hoo! As an added bonus, I am going to include some photos of items also thrifted, gifted, and retail shopped during the trip to Brimfield. 

First, a quick update: Jane has arrived safely in Washington DC! I dropped her off at the airport in Portland earlier this afternoon for her flight. I was sorry to see her go! We had so much fun!

Now, for the goods! I hardly know where to begin!

Vintage electronics! I paid $5 for this tiny Westinghouse AM transistor radio and earpiece at Brimfield. It wasn’t working when I bought it due to an old, exploded battery, but my dad got it running in no time. Thanks, Dad!

Five floral painted glasses for $5, also at the Flea. I am thinking of perhaps putting tea lights in these lovelies. I love painted flowers. These look like dogwood blossoms to me. 

Five silver tone pendants for $5 at Brimfield. The heart is a locket. The fish are Pisces, like me!

Two dead stock vintage medicine bottles. No medication included. Also for $5 at Brimfield. 

A Haviland bone china teacup with Harvard University’s emblem. A steal at $3 at Brimfield. Darling daughter has a friend at Harvard. This will make a nice gift. The porcelain is translucent!

Three yards of vintage Ralph Lauren decorator fabric. Half price at $20 at the Flea. I am thinking of making pillow shams with this fabric. Less than $7 a yard is a reasonably good deal. 

A small, pink Buddha planter. $2 at Brimfield. I couldn’t leave him behind. 

Six vintage safety deposit keys for $2 at the Flea. I will probably use these in some sort of art project. 

Jane found me this book about the islands of Maine! It covers the islands in Casco Bay, including Great Diamond Island! How cool is that? Just $2 at Brimfield. 

A quilted garment bag. I negotiated this down from $40, to $30 at the Flea. 

An unusual mirrored shelf. It was marked $80. I got it for $30 at Brimfield. 

A wooden table for $20 at Brimfield. I plan to marry this bad boy to the barn vent I bought at Hatch on Maine in Brunswick, Maine last week to make garden art. I will paint the table and vent the same color and then protect them with marine grade varnish. As a reminder, here is the barn vent:

This was a vintage beaded purse. I paid $5 for it at Brimfield. I love the exquisite workmanship and it feels amazing to hold. I bought this just to admire. 

A Gorham silver plated monogrammed teapot and creamer for $12 at the Flea. I might put some little plants in these. 

Two vintage painted wooden stools. $20 for the white one, $25 for the pink stool; both purchased at Brimfield Flea Market. 

A butterfly paperweight for my existing collection. $14 retail at Sadie Green’s Curiosity Shop in Sturbridge. 

A sterling silver seashell pendant. $34 retail, also from Sadie Green’s. 

A tole tray for $6 from Andover Thrift Shop. 

A cute notebook for $1.50 also from Andover Thrift Shop.

A wicker basket for $2.50 and six floral napkin holders for $1 each from The Blessing Barn in Mendon, Massachusetts. 

Six religious medals for $0.75 each from The Blessing Barn in Milford, Massachusetts. Three vintage mirrored compacts for $2 each from Counting Sheep Antiques in Berlin, Massachusetts. 

And, finally, a gift from my parents. A seashell Christmas tree from Florida! I love it! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

How is that for a haul?!?

Yours, Merryweather

Haul Cliffhanger

Hello, dear readers! I promised to reveal to you the Brimfield Flea Market haul once Jane and I got back to the island today. I am happy to report that Jane and I are safely back on the island. However, today turned into a much longer day than I had originally anticipated! 

You see, Jane and I followed up our flea market extravaganza with a thrifting extravaganza! We left my parents house at about 10 am. Our first stop was The Blessing Barn in Mendon, Massachusetts. We thrifted. Second stop was The Blessing Barn in Milford, Massachusetts. We thrifted. Third stop was Counting Sheep Antiques in Berlin, Massachusetts. We antiqued. Fourth stop was Andover Thrift Shop in Andover, Massachusetts. We thrifted. Whew!

Then Jane and I arrived in Portland, Maine at about 5 pm. We dropped our flea market/thrift store/antique shop haul off at Casco Bay Lines to be shipped to the island. Then, it was off to a traditional Maine lobster dinner on the eve of Jane’s return to Maryland!  

We dined at Gilbert’s Chowder House on Commercial Street, just a stone’s throw away from the ferry terminal at Casco Bay Lines. Here is what dinner looked like:

After this delicious dinner, Jane and I went next door to Andy’s Old Port Pub for dessert and coffee. When in Maine, do as the Mainers do! Eat blueberry pie!

Okay.  I know I promised photos of the flea market haul, so here you go:

A cart full of flea market and thrift store loot on the ferry! 

I promise by Saturday, I will post many detailed photos of my flea market and thrifting finds. I promise! However, I am exhausted! Absolutely pooped!  I. Must. Go. To. Bed. Now. Goodnight, dear readers! Please stay tuned for the details!

Yours, Merryweather

Brimfield Flea Market 2017: Part II

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brimfield flea market

Whew! Jane and I have completed our two-day shopping spree at Brimfield Flea Market! I am pooped. My dogs are barking. But I have some photos to share with you all. First, Jane and I were up with the roosters. Not really. We got to the flea at 900 am. This is a really big rooster:

There were more Brimfield mannequins to be found today, bald and unclothed, nice abs (this is for you, Barbara!):

Some Brimfield vendors camp on-site. Vintage Airstream:

A sign that made me think of Fred showing Jane and I his secret fishing hole at Diamond Cove the other day:

I wanted to join this fella for a quick snoozer:

This is Randy, the French Fry Guy! He has a restaurant in Florida that my parents frequent. I passed along their greetings to Randy. He also sells delicious fries at Brimfield. Jane and I shared a large fry. 

This is Randy and his French Fry helper:

A large poster of Robert Kennedy. Darling daughter is a huge Robert Kennedy fan.

We saw quite a few pairs of snowshoes at Brimfield. This is the biggest pair we found:

Then Jane and I found this service for twelve of gorgeous Noritake china, including serving pieces. For only $125. It. Killed. Me. To. Leave. These. Dishes. At. Brimfield. I really wanted them!!!

I saw something that made me think of darling daughter’s best friend, Jordan. He is studying architecture at Yale. 

Around three, Jane and I headed out. Of course, we made some purchases today at Brimfield, but you are going to have to wait until we get back to the island to see the goodies! Again, this is a cliffhanger!

There was quite a bit of traffic this afternoon. Jane and I needed a pick-me-up by the time we got to Sturbridge. We stopped at the Bake Shoppe at the Publick House for a treat and some much needed caffeine. After noshing, we visited Sadie Green’s Curiousity Shop, also on Sturbridge Common. 

My late gramma and I used to visit this gift shop on a fairly regular basis. I like to go back and channel for her. Lots of lovely things in there!

We have some plans in the works for tomorrow, before we head back to Portland. Stay tuned!

Yours, Merryweather 

PS. Emma is enjoying herself!