Keeping Cool Like a Maine-iac in Owls Head

Happy summer, friends! It’s really here!

Last night we returned from our vacation in beautiful Owls Head, Maine. As always it was a wonderful time. In 20+ years of coming to my home-away-from home, though, this is the first time I can remember being unable to escape the heat. There’s normally always a sea breeze in Owls Head.

During the hottest four days we just lazed around, looking longingly at the harbor, hoping to catch a whisper of a breeze that would promise a comfortable night. To stay cool during the day, we essentially time-warped to the 1970’s — cold face cloths brought to bed at night, plenty of ice cream, and crowding around the one and only fan in the house.

We did take a couple of trips up to the Owls Head Light as well, where, if there was to be a breeze to be found, it would be there. Isn’t she the most picturesque lighthouse you’ve ever seen? As the legend goes, Owls Head got its name from a formation in the rock face that resembled the face of an owl. We tried but couldn’t quite see it in this picture (photo props to my sister-in-law). Even more interesting, though, are the stories of hauntings at this lighthouse. SPOO-KEE!! Check out this history of Owls Head Light.

The heat almost made us forget how to have fun. Boy, we were grumpy for a couple of days, which I’m sure has NUTHIN’ to do with the new teenage hormones coursing around 😛 But, we figured it out and dug deep into our Maine roots to come up with ways to stay cool.

How about a soothing wet sand bath?

…or make your own breeze at the local carnival. Only $4 a pop!

…or take terrible advantage of your lobsterman brother-in-law on his only day off and beg a ride on the boat. It’s the perfect way to cool off, especially when you’re perched atop the…cabin? roof? Whatever it’s called, we were essentially sitting on my brother-in-law’s head. Thank you, Cap’n Mark!

And, if that’s not enough to cool a kid off, he can always jump in. Go, Casey!

Cooling off can be exhausting…

If jumping off the top of the lobster boat isn’t exciting/nerve-wracking enough (I live in a perpetual state of mild panic when my kids toy with gravity), there is always the wharf. KERSPLASH! That’s me and my hunny, acting like Maine-iacs 🙂

 Not long after that plunge, the rains finally came in, cooling everything off a bit. Ahhhhh, yes! After which, we managed some whiffleball in the yard…

So, what else did we do? Not a lot of cooking, that is for sure. We threw together my fave broccoli sunshine salad to go with some salmon and sweet potatoes one night, but mostly lived off the generosity and efforts of Mark’s family, for which we are very grateful!

We did manage an early morning hike on Mt. Megunticook, too – about 2.5 miles round trip, which the kids handled with drive, if not enthusiasm 🙂 Oh well, Mark and I enjoyed it, and the view from the top was spectacular!

And, of course we made our traditional pilgrimage to Wasse’s in Rockland, the best little hot dog stand in the world. Bacon, onion, and a dog inside the softest buns around. Don’t judge 🙂

Our final stop was Funtown on the way back to Massachusetts — where the Excalibur roller coaster made me question if I really like roller coasters as much as I think I do?!? Hold-on-to-your-underwear fast, and not all that smooth. I think Disney has made me soft.

We’re happy to be home, where we’ll finish out our vacation. And we have one seriously happy Siamese, who clearly did not enjoy being left alone for 12 days. She communicated this quite clearly to us via meowling nonstop combined with loud and excessive purring, which went well into the wee hours of the morning. We hear you, Zena 🙂

Happy summer to all! There ought to be some new recipes coming your way soon. In the meantime, stay cool 🙂