Lovely day here today, the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds! The gardens are loving this weather. The hostas have almost covered the stone wall and the day lilies are getting ready to bloom. Especially prolific is the Stella d'Oro variety.

The shops are all getting ready for the big sale starting on Saturday morning and going thru Monday.

More events happening over the 4 days...

The Summit – a 2 ½ story Rock Climbing wall will be running starting Saturday all day for all four days. It’s at the Public Safety Building. Climb proceeds benefit the Freeport Public Safety Training Program. In addition, there will be a free “moon bounce” for the kids, tours of the Fire Museum and the Fire Station and food at the same location.

We have outdoor musical entertainment on July 1 and 2 including Music in the Courtyard at the Denney Block on Saturday with Alex Lear, Overboard - A Capella from Boston, Inkas Wasi authentic Peruvian music on both days, and a special July 1st concert in Discovery Park featuring Old School Freight Train at 7:30 pm.

There are classic cars, a dessert tasting, kid’s fun including crafts, games, book readings and more. There are outdoor sporting clinics and kayak, fly-casting, archery and clay-shooting adventures with L.L.Beans Outdoor Discovery Schools all weekend.

There will be horse drawn carriage rides on Saturday, 11am to 4pm and again on the Fourth right after the parade.

The Fourth has the L.L.Bean 10K road race and Family Fun Run, St. Jude’s Blueberry Pancakes and Sausage breakfast, The Great Freeport Fourth of July Parade at 10:00, Miss Maine, and The First Parish Congregational Church has an 8:00 am coffee and a Lobster Roll and Strawberry Shortcake luncheon starting at 11:00.

The L.L.Bean Summer Concert Series kicks-off with the Big Band Sound of The Artie Shaw Orchestra featuring Dick Johnson at 7:30 and there is a spectacular community fireworks display after the concert to top it all off!

Hope you can spend some time with us this weekend!

Slightly overcast here today, still a great day for hiking or biking, cool enough so you can enjoy yourself!

Freeport is gearing up for the 4th...there is a 3-day town-wide sidewalk sale from the 1st - 3rd. LL Bean's annual 10k run is scheduled to start at 7:30 AM. The parade starts at 10 AM and heads down Main Street from Kendall Lane. Meet Miss Maine after the parade.

A climbing wall will be set up on Main Street with proceeds from admittance going to the Freeport Public Safety Training Program.

We still have rooms available for the weekend, make plans to stay over Monday night to be on hand for the parade Tuesday morning.

Fireworks Tuesday evening, great viewing from the ballpark behind LL Bean!

On another note...are you expecting your first baby? Getting ready for an adoption? In the weeks before your little one's arrival you may find yourself stressed, worn out from all the planning, pretty tired of hearing, 'You haven't had that baby YET?' or 'So, just WHEN do you meet your new son or daughter?'

It's time to take a couple of days for yourselves. Sit down with nothing better to do than have a conversation or read a book (NOT a baby book!) or go to a movie or go for a walk on the beach, together, alone (for the last time for the next 18 or so years!).

Check here for our Babymoon Special...2 nights' stay, dinner, chocolates and more...

A wonderful first day of Summer here! Blue, blue skies, cool breezes, perfect temperatures and a freshly mown lawn! So, why aren't you HERE?

Are you going away for the 4th this year? Freeport is having a full schedule of events from July 1-4. A 10k race, fireworks, music at LL Bean, a parade, and lots more. Check the full schedule at www.freeportusa.com. We have front porch seating for the parade!

3 cheers! Rock is back to work in the kitchen! Today was his first day back at the grill. Tomorrow morning it's his 'world-famous' blueberry pancakes and maple bacon. The crowd goes wild!

Seriously, it is good to have him back at his favorite post. He has been missing his morning chats with all the guests. He loves nothing better than to sit down in the comfy chair and listen to everyone's story.

Today we had folks here who both just graduated from college. They are off to teach English in China in a few weeks and this was a first real vacation for them. Rock has really missed these early morning conversations with everyone and it's good to have him ensconced in his chair with his coffee (at least until stomachs start to rumble and he has to 'leap into action'!)

Thanks again to all the family members who pitched in to help!

Just getting around to having a few minutes to write this up...Rock had a motorcycle accident 2 weeks ago. We're calling him 'Skippy' given the way he started out walking with his leg in a cast. Shattered ankle, broken collarbone but otherwise OK.

His words? 'Wear your helmet!'

He's a walking testament to having your life saved by having on your protective gear. He hit the back of a truck and catapaulted over it into oncoming traffic. And he's here to relive the story.

Today was his first day out for walk. And where did he go? Starbucks! Never mind the old, 'I'd walk a mile for a Camel!' He went 4 blocks for a Grande Vanilla Latte!

Lots of family volunteered to come and help out. We've had the oddest assortment of waitstaff these past weeks. And, I've had to learn to cook!

Thanks to all the well-wishers and helpers! We couldn't do it without you!