The Freeport House

During our nearly 3 years of adventure since my retirement in Feb-2012 I have often reflected on the many things in my life I have to be thankful for; family, friends, and unimaginable travel experiences in Europe, including a life in Italy for a year.  This past Thanksgiving seemed the appropriate time to share where this year’s travels landed us; Maine.

We lived in Portland for 6 months before we found and purchased a permanent home in the town of Freeport. After looking at an estimated 150 homes online, in drive-bys, and in showings, we chose our home in Freeport because it is at the end of a quiet street (surrounded by a woods on 3 sides), is walking distance to the middle of a small, fun town, and is a less than 20 minute drive to Portland. 

After removing the chimney on the left and replacing this original black roof with brown architectural shingles, we turned our attention inside. 

The kitchen had been updated a few years ago and included a new stove and micro, so no changes for now.  The previous owner had also expanded the kitchen into an open floor plan with the dining room, providing great views out of large casement windows at either end. 

Off the kitchen is the family room and like the kitchen/ dining room it provides open views of the woods at either end. 




The sliding glass doors out the back open onto a stone patio (this picture was taken with the previous owner's furniture still in the room.)

It was the bedroom where the bulk of our renovations took place.  The room on the left was a very small sitting room, the room on the right an even smaller 1^st floor bedroom. 

Taking down the wall the wall that separated them was the first step to building a master bedroom with bath and walk-in closet.

Once the demolition was complete, including the removal of an unnecessary closet and the chimney that was hidden in it, the room began to take shape.

The large “egress” windows allow a flood of natural light, and bring the wilderness outside our door practically into our bedroom.  

The new bedroom layout is amply sized yet left us enough room to build a walk in closet and full bath. 

Our renovations were completed in time for our first snowfall, which served only to affirm the warm and inviting choices we made.  This winter we will paint the two upstairs bedrooms and complete converting one of them into a reading & TV room, turning the 2^nd floor into a suite where our guests can sleep or just spend some quiet time.  With the onset of winter we look forward to Maine’s offering of snow sports, including cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and downhill skiing at Sugarloaf and Sunday River.  Stay tuned!  

  - Doug

Summer Guests

Now that September has drawn to a close we mark 8 months since Angie and I moved to Maine.  We took possession of our Portland apartment Feb-2, staying there through the end of July before buying and moving into our Freeport home in August (more on that at a future time).   It seems appropriate now to post about those who came and shared our summer with us.

Mike stayed with us at the end of May.  It gave him both a chance to be with us, and a break from work to explore the city of Portland on his own.  During his visit we caught the ferry to Peaks Island.  Peaks is one of the many inhabited islands that lie off the “South Coast”,  and 20 minutes out of Portland harbor we were pulling into a charming little island that is perfect for biking around.  Our exploring led us out onto the traditional rocky coast that surrounds the island.

Alex and Joel came to visit in June and brought with them warm inviting weather.  Maine’s summers are a joy of cool ambient temperatures augmented by brilliant sunshine beaming through bluebird skies – perfect boating weather.  This summer the Ray has plied the island dotted waters of Casco Bay from north to south.  

No visit in Portland is complete without a sampling of what its many restaurants have to offer.  Dinner at David’s is just one example of the many things that makes the city great.

Teresa and Beverly arrived in time to share Independence day with us, enjoying fireworks from the Promenade that overlooks Casco Bay off Portland’s East End.  

The next day we rode the ferry across the bay to Peaks Island.  We saddled up our bikes for a couple of laps around the island, and of course the girls added to the many Cairns (rock monuments) that line the rocky coastline of Peaks.

A tradition we started for all our guests is to serve them a home cooked meal of the best seafood Maine has to offer:  Lobstah – it’s what’s for suppah!!  

There is so much that is happening in our lives right now – traveling, hiking and boating this magnificent state; meeting and making new friends; renovating our new home.  Going forward I’ll try to do a better job of keeping you posted on events as they happen.

See Yah!

Return to Sunday River

On Feb-12 Tuesday morning I was up bright and early for the 1 hour 45 minute drive to the ski mountains of Sunday River, Maine.  It was to be my first (of many I hope!) ski excursion in Maine since our move here on Feb-2.

I had skied Sunday River 18 years ago, in 1996.  I was in my third year of skiing then, after having taken up the sport at the age of 38.  It was the year that, after a rash of yard sale quality equipment, personalized ski lessons, and many head first crashes, my skill set had improved to an advanced level; only a few weeks before I had ventured west for the first time and easily skied Steamboat Colorado.  As I stepped onto the slopes of Sunday River all those years ago, little did I realize that I would go on to ski all over the Rockies of Colorado, all over the Wasatch range of Utah, every mountain at Lake Tahoe, and both the Swiss and Italian Alps. 

As I drove the easy commute from Portland, I reflected on how my skiing has evolved over the years, as has my life.  Back then I was dedicated to expanding my IT career in the financial services industry, a brutal commitment of time and energy that took a heavy toll on me and my family. One of the things that helped me maintain my sanity was my pursuit of outdoor adventure whenever I could, whether skiing, boating, scuba diving, or hiking.  With the toils of corporate life now behind me, I have been free to pursue my commitment to adventure in ways I never could before, many examples of which are highlighted in detail in my blog                                                                                                                                                                                                    about our past year in Italy.

It was -10F below zero when I clicked into my ski bindings and caught the Chondola Express Quad up to North Peak, and I was happy to have brought my artic rated Spyder ski jacket, used only for just these conditions.  Thankfully, the bluebird skies were clear and the sun’s brilliant rays quickly softened Sunday River’s well groomed trails, and it’s calm airs warmed to a balmy +20F.

Sunday River has 8 distinct peaks, and I skipped around the mountains a good bit, enjoying Risky Business on Spruce Peak, Ecstasy (it’s next to Agony) on Barker Mountain, Airglow (one of my favorite black trails) on Aurora Peak, and venturing as far as Jordan Peak for Excalibur and Rouge Angel.  

It was great to see that after 18 years Sunday River has still remained true to its core values; good snow making and excellent trail grooming, and a broad variety of terrain to keep things interesting. 

My return to Sunday River could not have been better; yes, the brilliant sunshine figured largely into having such a good day, but the fun trails, diversity of terrain, and easy drive will draw me back.  Like, tomorrow.

Reflections on our first week in Maine

I wasn't so sure I was actually going to start a blog about our adventures in Maine, but after receiving a lot a encouragement about more stories and especially more pictures, I'll post when it seems appropriate.  It’s been just over a week since our move to Portland Maine on Superbowl Sunday; I’m sure I don’t know where that week went, but here are some initial impressions on the new town we call home:

There is something to be said for living in a seaside town; Portland’s vistas of Casco Bay are magnificent, whether overlooking the Promenade at the East End, or out across the harbor area.

There certainly is plenty to do in Portland, whether going to museums, little art boutiques, browsing all the little shops or dinning out.  Sunday we concluded the second part of a five hour movie entitled, “Generation War”.  Shown at the Portland Museum of Art, Generation War highlights the personal impacts on the lives 5 naive German young adults caught up in horrors of WWII.  

Plus, there are the outdoor activities; Angie has been out snowshoeing, and tomorrow I’m up early to make the 2 hour drive to the ski slopes of Sunday River.

Regarding our digs, our first floor, two bedroom apartment is small by all but Italian standards, but warm and cozy by any standard.

The kitchen is sunny and has a great view of the Back Cove salt water estuary. 

Our living room opens out onto a small porch and our dining room now features pictures and paintings from Italy.  We are starting to personalize our apartment in a way that will make for a nice home for the next 10 months.
Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised to find how easy it is to drive around the city of Portland.  After living and driving in Florence Italy, where the insane traffic will crash into your car if you are driving one, and will run you over if you are not, we have been buzzing all over town this week.  And having a couple of nice, comfortable cars to tour around in has only made it better.

Dinning out in Portland Maine is exactly what you would expect it to be – fabulous sea food.  So far we have had lobster and fish & chips at the Old Port Sea Grill, scallops at the Front Room, and chowder to go.  Plus we have brought fish home for the barbecue grill; it has ALL been outstanding. 

And yes it snows in Maine; if tomorrow nights’ storm pans out as expected, we will have gotten 20 inches of snow in 12 days - normal for this time of year.  That means we will be snow shoeing this weekend, and possibly more skiing for me next week.  As Angie and I settle into our apartment we are working to establish daily and weekly routines of exercise, outdoor activities, and integration into our community.  We are very happy, excited, and energized with the choice of our new home, and will keep you posted as this new adventure in our lives begins.