SUP- Freeport, Maine

So, with 1-3 inches of snow predicted for tomorrow here along the coast, what are Mainers doing to prepare? You got it, they're out on the water paddling!


Stand Up Paddling aka SUP.

Standing up on the hill overlooking the beach in Winslow Park I saw this enterprising and remarkably well-balanced SUP'er paddling along. (LL Bean has a whole line of SUP boards in the Bike & Boat store.) Although folks think it's a little too cold here for this type of activity, this paddler was appropriately dressed and looked quite at ease. Something to think about trying next summer! (Uh, that would be you, not me!)

Lessons offered at: 
Seaspray Kayaking-  will deliver paddleboards to the water as well as kayaks. We also have daily guided tours and instruction out of Brunswick, but would be willing to arrange customized trips, sunset paddles and even paddleboard yoga.
www.seaspraykayaking.com

 
SOPOSUP in South Portland.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Last sail

There will be a few more days like this one coming up before it's just too chilly to be out on the water. Great view from the benches on Staples Point.Go on, put on your hiking boots and get out of the house!

Along the Harraseeket River.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main Street Freeport, Maine 04032

Lemon Cake with Blueberry Sauce

Big hit, easy to make, tastes great when it sits overnight to soak up all the lemony goodness!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 c plain yogurt (I used Greek style, should use whole milk, not fat free)

1 c sugar

3 large eggs

2 tsp grated lemon zest

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c vegetable oil

How to:

Preheat oven to 350. Grease & flour a standard size loaf pan.

Mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, eggs, lemon zest and vanilla. Whisk dry ingredients into the wet. Fold oil into batter with a spatula. (I found I had too much oil, so pour slowly, fold and stop adding oil when it no longer incorporates totally into the batter. Pour off excess if it doesn't incorporate. Yup, just as hard as it sounds!)

Pour batter into pan and bake about 50 minutes. Toothpick inserted into cake should come out clean.

Blueberry sauce:

2 c whole blueberries fresh or frozen, mashed. (Frozen should be thawed first.)

1/3 c sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp lemon juice

Put blueberries, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan to boil. Rolling boil for 1 minute, remove from heat, add vanilla. Reheat to serve or serve immediately poured over lemon cake (or ice cream, or pancakes, or waffles, or...you get the picture!)

We get 15 slices out of this recipe (using a really good knife when the cake was cold). Can be doubled and frozen for later use.

Printable recipe page.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main Street Freeport, Maine 04032 

Fall walks in Freeport, Maine

Took the opportunity today to head out to Winslow Park for a walk with Bre. It's more exercise than you might think as Bre can no longer get in and out of the car by herself. Can you say 'Moose!' Holy cow she weighs a ton. Of course part (all) of that is my fault because she doesn't get out and get enough walks and she does like her buttermilk biscuits for breakfast!

We did the short loop around Winslow Park on Staples Point Rd- just about 5.5 miles from the inn. Great day. It was warm and sunny with a gentle breeze blowing the salty air around. What a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. You can pick up a picnic lunch right on the corner at the Old World Deli. (It must be noted that the park is 'closed' for the season. This means no trash cans, so pack it out with you when you leave. And no restrooms, so go before you leave the house, like your mother always told you to do!)

All of the docks pulled up for the year. It's nice and quiet to walk through the woods trails in October. Relatively few people out midweek and most of them were walking their dogs or having lunch with their little kids at the picnic tables overlooking the water.

Why not recharge your human batteries with a walk in the woods this October! If you head all the way out to the 'Point' on Staples Point Rd, you can still see the marina filled with sailboats. But, not for long. They'll all be put away soon.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main Street Freeport, Maine 04032-1407