Aunt Jill, cousin Kyle and Carter enjoying a light moment over pancakes.

And we all jumped right in to the fabulosity of Maine lobster, steamers and corn. A great family reunion.

As the weather started to gray, there were building competitions...

and walks on the beach. We figured the bad weather wouldn't last too long. Hah. Make plans and God laughs.

It reminded me of my all-time favorite children's video, "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day". and the rain
rain
rain
came
down
down
down
and once it did, it did not stop for 4 days. All summer, nary a drop. Our vacation week, a good old-fashioned Nor'Easter barreling it's way up the Maine coast. The older boys trying to stay dry. Hard to amuse teenagers in the rain.

So off we went to eat at the York Beach classic, The Goldenrod, the stalwart of York Beach.

And so happy was I to see the taffy-making machines whirring away giving us something to look at. My friend thought perhaps I was making up a story that the process is totally mesmerizing; the rolling of the taffy, the removal of the taffy, the insertion of the taffy in the roller machine which goes from wide to narrow pushing the little one-inch pieces of taffy down to be cut off and wrapped up in a piece of paper - getting neatly dumped in a bin.

But after 20 minutes or so she had to agree with me. It was a wonderful and fun way for the kids to spend some time on this blustery afternoon.

Wet, soggy, 4 days worth of rain. Damp upon damp. What do to?

To the arcades we went! Skee-ball anyone?

A wet and lonely boardwalk. The kind of sideways rain that makes your umbrella blow inside out!

As George Costanza said: "The sea was angry that day, my friends." A pounding surf, indeed. A little thrilling, actually.

And then on Thursday, something I thought I recognized as the sun. We had some excitement when Taylor Swift was in Kennebunkport to premiere her video "Mine" to the local crowd. All the trucks and catering tents and guys in black led us to believe something very exciting was going on!

She filmed it at various spots around Cape Porpoise and Kennebunkport, Maine. It was shown live on CMT (Country Music Television) and she was right here on the magnificent grounds of St. Ann's Episcopal Church on Ocean Ave. in K'port. If you are ever in the area, don't miss paying a visit. Picnickers welcome.

Back to the beach for some, well, Cheez-its and lemonade. Doesn't the background look fake?

My friend Cindy and I took in a tour of The Wedding Cake House. Beautiful gothic spires and cutwork trim show off this fancy showplace. The house has only been open for a tour one other time in the past 20 years so it was fun to get to take a peek inside.

the closest thing to heaven

the great state of Maine.

Best purchase this summer!

I waited and was patient. I knew what I wanted. I knew what I could spend. I trolled the "outdoor furniture" section of craigslist for a month. So many nice things that 'could' work, but not perfect. And then, voila, there it was. Fulfilling everything on my wish list. Around $100, white wrought iron, armless chairs and small enough so that it didn't gobble up all the room on the deck.

It has turned into the breakfast, lunch and dinner spot, leaving the big table on the deck out back feeling like the girl who wasn't asked to the dance. It's just that this cute little table is right outside the kitchen and the table out back (yes we are spoiled and yes I love outdoor spaces) under the pergola is down 4 steps and well, we're lazy.

Thursday in the Park with...

"We haven't crossed the swan boats off of our summer list yet", I announced this morning. So around noon off we went to check out the Boston Public Gardens. $2.75 for adults, $1.75 for kids, it is the best bargain in this wonderful city.

We came across a performance artist who was still as a statue until someone put a dollar in her jar, then she blew them kisses.

These girls were just getting up from a picnic on the lawn. Green hair, Hello Kitty handbag, adorable dress. I want it all. This is what I think I really look like, well in my mind's eye anyway. My 50th birthday is coming up. Hmm...at THIS point I think I have permission to do whatever the heck I want so perhaps there will be a funky hair color or flouncy dress in store...

We ate lunch at the Lily Pond Cafe right across from the Frog Pond. Well done, Boston. I haven't been to this area in a while and it is perfect in every way. The pond offers children a wonderful spray fountain to run around under. There are restrooms and places to change out of swimmies. The food is affordable and the little tables and planters are so very Paris. If the goal was to have a respite in the middle of the city, mission accomplished. I felt like I was going to trip right over Gisele and baby Benjamin.