Dogs aren't allowed.

Walking out to the big rock at Popham at low tide is lovely with nice views, but dogs aren't allowed on the beach after today and Reid State Park is closed for construction. If you want to go a bit further, you can go up route 1 to Camden Hills State Park and climb up the Megunticook Trail to Ocean look out- a beautiful view on a huge rock ledge overlooking the ocean. Or you can drive up to the top of Mt. Battie- same beautiful views. Pick a clear day. Dogs are allowed. Camden is a cute town.

Best potato chips ever!

L.L. Bean really does women's plus sizes well. I have been impressed.

Cool mixed with mud and black flies and disbelief that nothing has budded out yet. Waiting for June.

Big Barn Coffee out of Wiscasset. They sell at the Farmer's markets in Bath.

We used LaPlante Electric this summer. They installed 18 Silfab panels on our barn roof. We financed it ourselves and got the federal tax rebate. They were so very professional and pleasant to work with. One panel had a connection issue which they detected remotely ( we had no idea) and they came right out to fix it. They also installed our heat pumps and a generator too. Solar cost was 19K after the rebate. LaPlante is a little more expensive I think, but their service is impeccable and they guarantee everything. Regarding your older windows, instead of replacing them, good honeycomb insulating window shades will make a big difference at a fraction of the cost of replacing windows. I believe some of the Hunter Douglas shades qualify for a rebate now.

That is a great question. It was from my parents. Now that I think about it that gift really did light a fire in me.

A chemistry set with a simple microscope was the best gift I ever got. Went on to get. a Ph.D in plant sciences. You never know.

Maybe not from a local store but how about a microscope or chemistry set?

Since Maine bills itself as Vacationland and tourism generates a lot of revenue for the state, I don't know how you address the AirBnB taking up housing stock and second homes sitting vacant. Maine is all about short term rental housing for the summer.

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So I guess the thing is what is your monthly bill with oil and electric now and is your furnace in good shape or will it need to be replaced soon? There is a good rebate for heat pumps now from Efficiency Maine, but they are not cheap and neither are solar panels. And you would still have a sizable electricity bill in the winter to run the heat pumps. Maybe do a cost analysis?

(We are using heat pumps in the winter and have solar panels which generate our summer/early fall electricity. Wood burning insert for back up. Older farmhouse near Wiscasset with some insulation. )