Stripping Wallpaper and Fresh Popovers

I can't believe that an entire week has gone by since my last post. I am redecorating one of the guest rooms here at Newcastle Inn and have been busy, some might say consumed, by decorating decisions. Last weekend I made a run down to Portland and found a great rug and that is guiding the color palette of the room.

So, Sunday the fun began with the removal of wallpaper. I have to say that I have had some terrible experiences of removing wallpaper, but happily this hasn't been one of those. It came off pretty easily. The walls have been washed, I have spackled/filled the dozens of holes and patched the ceiling. The next step is to lightly sand the walls which I hope will smooth things out where some of the paint was removed when the paper came and now the plaster wall is exposed. If the sanding doesn't do the job, then everything will have to be skim coated. I'm crossing my fingers that I don't have to do that. My goal is to have everything prepped and ready for primer and paint after this weekend.

In the midst of all this, I have also been trying new recipes. There is something about winter that makes me want to cook and bake up a storm. I LOVE fresh popovers and last week made up a batch using a recipe from King Arthur Flour. I think their recipes are great and they are all tested so they are pretty much foolproof. For a quick simple recipe go to King Arthur Flour. I'm sorry that there isn't a picture of these beautiful puffy delights, but mine are all gone!

Winter Clamming in Newcastle, Maine

Yesterday morning I was shoveling the back deck, after another beautiful snowfall. Every tree branch had a perfect layer of white snow. There was an incredible quiet and stillness and all of the sudden I could hear people talking. The voices were in the distance, but I could hear them as if they were just in the backyard. All of the sudden I realized that what I was hearing was the conversation of two people digging for clams out on the flats of the Damariscotta River! As I looked more closely I saw someone bent over, bucket right next to them, digging for clams. A little while later I looked and the tide was coming in and the clammer was gone...

Happy Birthday Dolce

This morning I woke up to a winter wonderland. I think all together we got about 10". After helping my guests get their cars uncovered and assisting them out of the parking lot, it was time to shovel. Because the Newcastle Inn is a three story building there are fire escapes. So, every time it snows they need to be cleaned off. There are also two parts of the roof that are very flat and they need shoveling, and finally, the lovely expansive deck gets cleared off. On a day like today, with this much snow, it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to get it all finished.

Meanwhile, my dog, Dolce, is outside tearing around the backyard, going down back and visiting the neighbors at the boatyard and on a constant hunt for sticks. Some days, she tries to take the ones that are still attached to the trees and shrubs! She makes me laugh and many guests have threatened to pack her in their suitcases when they leave to go home. Dolce is the birthday girl tomorrow and turns five. She certainly doesn't act her age and I think will be a puppy forever - I hope so!

Valentine's Dinner at Newcastle Inn

Following close behind the successful New Year's Eve Dinner that was held at the Newcastle Inn, the menu for the Valentine's Dinner has been finalized.

The dinner will be served on Saturday, February 13, 2010. Chef David Atwater, a chef here in the Newcastle/Damariscotta area, has planned a delicious five course menu. The evening festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. when hors d'oeurves will be served. Dinner will be served at 8:00 p.m. Here is the menu:

Menu

Crab & Avocado Pate'

Cream of Watercress Soup

Chicken Paprika with Peach & Almond Relish OR

New York Strip Steak

Salad of Baby Greens

Viennese Chocolate Cherry Cake with Homemade Ice Cream

If that menu doesn't make your mouth water I don't know what will! So, if you are looking for a special place to take your sweetie for Valentine's weekend, give me a call. The rest of the details for the weekend can be found at Newcastle Inn Specials

Maine's Newcastle Inn Joins the Blogging World!

With this first entry I can cross one more item off my to do list! Having a blog for the Newcastle Inn is something that I have wanted ever since purchasing the inn in May 2008. It is always exciting, and a little bit intimidating, to start something new, but the beginning of a new year seemed like a good time to get the blog started.

We are having beautiful, sunny, clear and cold days here in Newcastle, Maine. Early this morning I was out with the dog, walking in back of the inn, and was able to observe one of my favorite winter sights - the steam rising off the Damariscotta River. I leave two chairs out on the back deck during the winter, and believe it or not, a few guests have actually sat in them to enjoy the winter views that the Newcastle Inn has to offer.