Friday Festivites in Maine

Friday was the day the official wedding festivities really kicked into high gear. I begged my friends for just a couple of hours in the sun before we headed out for the day. They obliged, but I had to wake up quite early to take advantage of some time at the lake that morning. I attempted to swim, but was too scared when I could see fish swimming around and couldn't see another human being in the entire lake. I don't like to be in lakes or oceans by myself. So, I just layed out on the dock for a while before getting ready. Tamara, Elizabeth, and I had been put in charge of some wedding errands, so we went to an area of town with lots of shopping and got everything done pretty quickly. We then headed downtown so they could show me Stephen King's house...cool & creepy!

He also owns the huge house next door!

We stayed downtown for lunch at Friars Bakeshop...it's a tiny little church with a restaurant in it - very interesting. The Friars serve the food and Tamara had been there earlier that week and they had promised her to have mac & cheese on Friday. They did not disappoint and the mac & cheese was fantastic. Also, they had whoopie pies and I had to try one - wow, best one I've had!!! SO yummy! They are really big though, so I saved half for another day.

Tamara and her delicious pie!

From there, it was on to Tonya's for the big rehearsal. The first run-through seemed a little chaotic, but by the 2nd time through, it began to come together nicely. It was obvious that this was going to be an awesome wedding! I was doing the scripture reading and talking about Tonya, which seemed easy enough and although I didn't run through it at the rehearsal, I was prepared for what I would say.

Tamara practicing her bridesmaid walk!

Amy, Tonya's childhood friend, pulled out

an umbrella when it showered a bit

Ohara, super cute flower girl!
Aiden, Sean's nephew and dog
walker for Duke, the ring bearer
Tonya's sister, Cim

The lovely bride!

The wedding party receiving instructions

After the rehearsal, we walked up to Sean's neighbors garden for the rehearsal dinner. His neighbors basically have a huge compound with multiple buildings and then a beautiful garden...it's even been featured in "Better Homes & Gardens". All their kids & grandkids visit for a month each summer and it looks like they have a blast!

So pretty!

The owner told me the garden is a ton of work,
but it's also her life-long dream come true.

A "senior portrait" was necessary

in such a pretty garden!

The dinner was under a tent in their garden...it was perfect and it did rain cats & dogs during dinner, so thank goodness for the tent! We had lobster and/or steak for dinner and it was excellent!! Whoopie Pies were dessert...my 3rd and final whoopie pie of the trip. I tried the peanut butter version, which was excellent, and the regular pie I tasted from someone else's was also good, but I've got to give the Friars my #1 spot for best whoopie pie. Dinner included good conversation and lots of laughter over the newbies trying to crack open their lobster followed by gifts for the wedding party.

Tonya in her cute apron watching Sean

and his friends do all the cooking

People mingled under the tent until dinner was ready

Everything you need for a lobster dinner, including

a plate with instructions on how to eat it!

Tamara and Amy with their lobster dinners!

The bride & groom digging in

After dinner, there was a cocktail party under the tent for anyone who wanted to come, so a lot of our other friends and Tonya & Sean's co-workers and Maine friends came out for that. It was a fun night.

Tamara and Tonya's brother, Deek,

gave their toasts during the party

Tamara & Elizabeth

Amy and I

Elizabeth, Vickie, Tamara, Jennifer, and I

I got Tamara and then Jennifer to sneak off with me to explore the mini-cotttages on the property that were built for the grandchildren. There is an adorable life-size "doll house" and a music cottage. So fun for those kids!

Outside of the "doll house"

Kitchen inside the "doll house",

complete with running water

Dining Area

Upstairs...can you imagine the slumber parties

the girl cousins must have up there??

Inside the music cottage, complete with a huge

flat screen TV, instruments, Rock Band, etc....

Thursday Outdoor Adventures in Maine

Thursday brought more adventures in Maine and lots of outdoor sporting activities. All the Texas crew left from Pushaw Lake (the other 6 were staying in another house nearby on the lake) and headed towards Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park. We stopped at a gas station on our way out to pick up some breakfast and I had a PB Whoopie Pie for breakfast....ahhhh, Maine Whoopie Pies are incredible!! Not sure having one for breakfast was the smartest idea though.

Once in Bar Harbor, we grabbed lunch and then most of us rented bikes to bike over to and through the Park.

We had so much fun!! Getting to the park was rough....big hills, but once we were in the park the riding was mostly easy and then it was all downhill back to the bike shop. We enjoyed different views from the Park, riding by several lakes, playing in a river, and picking blueberries. Since I'd been to the Park before, I didn't mind that we missed out on some of the great cliff-top views and beaches you can drive to and thought this was a fun and different way to experience other parts of the Park.

With Toby & Todd at the Park Entrance after

biking up some major hills to get there! With Jennifer & Vickie and our first view

of the harbor in the background Todd & Jennifer!
A HUGE Beaver dam we saw
View of the Harbor & Sailboats

We past a couple of pretty lakes with the
mountains in the background Crazy lake filled with broken tree trunks

Jennifer, Todd, and I climbing around in the forest!

We found a river to climb down to and cool off in

Toby even dunked his head in!

Jennifer & Todd enjoying the refreshing water

I saw an old couple picking blueberries and went over and chatted with them. They've been picking blueberries in the park for years and love to make pies with them! They told us it's okay to pick them as long as they're for your own consumption, but pick the ones further off the paths so you can be sure a dog hasn't peed on them! They were soooo good!

Todd picking & eating

Jennifer & Vickie, home free on the

downhill ride back to the bike shop

After biking, we walked around Bar Harbor - the shore, the beautiful Inn, and the shops! I love it there and would love to spend a whole weekend staying at the Inn some day.

Jennifer & I down on the coast in Bar Harbor The Bar Harbor Inn - love it! Gorgeous flowers & ocean views Typical main restaurant...lobsters & buoys!

Tamara made this entire hat on the way to Bar Harbor and back...impressive. It came compete with braided ties under the chin, a tassel at the tip, and a cute flower on the front. She made it for another friend named, Susan. I couldn't believe she whipped it up so quickly. She knows I would never wear it, but I told her I'm going to find a cute one I would wear that she can make for me and I love the flower she knitted so she can put one of those on my hat for sure! For fun, I wore it into the BBQ at camp that night and got some funny reactions from Sean and then his twin brother! On our way out of Bar Harbor, we stopped by the grocery store to pick up the food for our BBQ dinner back at Camp. Tonya & Sean had invited everyone who was in town over to cookout and enjoy the outdoors. When we got there, it was still light so I wanted to Kayak since I knew it would be our only chance. Todd, Elizabeth, Toby, and Jennifer decided to join me. It was great and I kayaked all over Fields Pond exploring. We also got to see one of the Bald Eagles that lives there!

Dinner was great...I honestly don't even know who cooked the steak that Tamara, Elizabeth and I brought over, but it was good! I also enjoyed my blueberry wine that night. Later, we had a big fire and s'mores...yum!

The owners of the house we rented left us a s'more
making packet that we put to use that night - fun! Tonya & I

Sean had a lot of stuff he wanted to burn up before the

wedding, including his old picnic table. I love fire!

I also love late night boat rides under the stars!

What it takes to get a good picture of a group of Texans in Maine

Tonya and Susan got the memo to pose, the girls in
between did not. Oh, and where are Vickie and Dean? Good job with the excitement, Toby. Too bad the
smoke (or Camp Ghost?) invaded this pic.

Pure chaos. Tonya is apparently ready to dance.

Dean is sure enjoying that cigar. Where'd Sean go??

Ahhh, perfection!