According to Wikipedia: The "Tales of the Traveling Tote" is a group of 12 well-preserved, dynamic women that bring a MacKenzie-Childs tote bag on a trip and take pictures of it in front of famous (and infamous) landmarks. I just made this up but isn't it the the truth?......OK, I need to discuss this further with Wikipedia.
It's been three months since our last Traveling Totes post, and certainly the weather has progressed to a very hot and humid (but great) summer. On June 23, I attended a fundraiser at Sycamore Hill Farm garden in Marcellus, NY and have posted about these enjoyable garden events for several years now. My goal, when visiting Sycamore Hill Farm gardens is to gather ideas for our future garden.
On June 27, I attended "Rose Day" at Thornden Park in Syracuse with two special friends. Mother Nature was not on our side but we created our own "funshine". My friends and family are such good sports with my interest in "checks".
In July, we attended the Annual Barn Sale at MacKenzie-Childs.
What's the Barn Sale, you ask?
Well it's much more than a sale.
It's a four-day event with deep discounts where friendship and fun come together. The love and passion for MKC is evident, and we are all one happy family at the barn sale :-)
We went to our beloved Maine for my birthday again this year, and hiked every day in Acadia National Park.
"There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mysteries, its melancholy and its charms."
-Teddy Roosevelt
After hitting a few shops in Bar Harbor, this little bridge in Somesville, Maine is where I enjoyed some quiet time on August 14 for my birthday. Doesn't it look so refreshing and peaceful away from the crowds? Thank you for all the birthday wishes and for your continued friendship.
One of the stops we enjoy in Acadia National Park is Jordan Pond. We utilized the park's free-to-all Island Explorer buses to navigate the park. Acadia has 130 miles of hiking trails so there is a path perfect for every ability.
We stayed in Southwest Harbor, and there is nothing like New England in the Summer. We rented a marina side condo from Dysart's on Airbnb, and this is where it's at if you like summer living! We spent our days leisurely watching the lobster boats come and go in a modern marina with some sensational summer yachts. We were a 5 minute walk to galleries, shops and restaurants and only a 5 minute drive to Acadia sites, Bass Harbor Head light, Somes Sound, Seawell and Echo Lake. No visit is complete without Jordan Pond's warm popovers with strawberry jam. You can make popovers that taste just like the ones at Jordan Pond using this recipe.
Enjoying the pristine environment of Mt. Desert Island and the rugged coast and pine forests. Colorful buoys, the smell of pine, summer flowers. That is Maine!!
Seal Harbor (I did not run into Martha Stewart). I've read that she is always there the week of my birthday since her birthday is close to mine.
Waking up in Southwest Harbor.
We sailed on the Friendship Schooner and Miss Aurora got to go along. I also love the seabags that are handcrafted in Maine from recycled sails. Signs of hard sailing make each bag unique :-)
Wonder how many lobstas would fit in that tote?
Joe could not be happier to be retired! Although he has not stopped working since the day he retired in June. He built a deck for my sister, and the neighbors have been at our weekly with their lists. He will fare well with retirement.
There is an ice cream shop in Bar Harbor that has chocolate ice cream with lobster pieces, but the line was extremely long and I was not about to wait. We stopped at the grocery store and bought a half gallon of my favorite black cherry ice cream for $2.99 (on sale) and made our own. Eat the lobster first, and then your dessert. Yum!!
Casino overnight for my extended birthday with family.
That's all folks. I am all partied out for August. Oops one more party. 
"Sunflower" theme birthday party thrown for me by the Scoots. I have not even turned 60 yet and wow what a fabulous birthday month. I feel very blessed when I look at all these photos from August.
Now for the Tales of the Traveling Tote Giveaway!
Linda at Life and Linda is hosting the giveaway for a chance to win a pair of MacKenzie-Childs Elizabethan guest towels. For a chance to win just leave a comment on Linda's blog post.
Well it's much more than a sale.
It's a four-day event with deep discounts where friendship and fun come together. The love and passion for MKC is evident, and we are all one happy family at the barn sale :-)
"There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mysteries, its melancholy and its charms."
-Teddy Roosevelt
After hitting a few shops in Bar Harbor, this little bridge in Somesville, Maine is where I enjoyed some quiet time on August 14 for my birthday. Doesn't it look so refreshing and peaceful away from the crowds? Thank you for all the birthday wishes and for your continued friendship.
We stayed in Southwest Harbor, and there is nothing like New England in the Summer. We rented a marina side condo from Dysart's on Airbnb, and this is where it's at if you like summer living! We spent our days leisurely watching the lobster boats come and go in a modern marina with some sensational summer yachts. We were a 5 minute walk to galleries, shops and restaurants and only a 5 minute drive to Acadia sites, Bass Harbor Head light, Somes Sound, Seawell and Echo Lake. No visit is complete without Jordan Pond's warm popovers with strawberry jam. You can make popovers that taste just like the ones at Jordan Pond using this recipe.
We sailed on the Friendship Schooner and Miss Aurora got to go along. I also love the seabags that are handcrafted in Maine from recycled sails. Signs of hard sailing make each bag unique :-)
$5 Lobsters from the pier, they provide the steamer with water from the ocean.
Casino overnight for my extended birthday with family.
"Sunflower" theme birthday party thrown for me by the Scoots. I have not even turned 60 yet and wow what a fabulous birthday month. I feel very blessed when I look at all these photos from August.
Now for the Tales of the Traveling Tote Giveaway!
Linda at Life and Linda is hosting the giveaway for a chance to win a pair of MacKenzie-Childs Elizabethan guest towels. For a chance to win just leave a comment on Linda's blog post.
Come along and travel with:
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths (you are here)
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Jackie with Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Katie with Miss Daisy @ Preppy Empty Nester
Lia with Miss Scarlett @ Cici's Corner
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda -- don't forget to enter the giveaway :-)
Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ Pandora's Box
Ricki Jill with Countess de Monet @ The Sketchy Reader
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Ciao for now! Enjoy the rest of the summer, and I hope you'll come back on December 1 so I can take you along to Bellissima Northern Italy.
