This vs. That

Today, I reluctantly left that:

The Inn at Ocean's Edge. That's the pool house,
where I had a Swedish massage with lavender oil this morning
before checking out by 11:30 a.m.

And tomorrow, I head home after a 450-mile ride to this:

Darling Punchy took it upon herself to cut her own hair, very short,
when her friend was over for a play date
yesterday and our very good sitter
wasn't aware. This action by Punch annoys me. 

Ah, yes. It's okay. It's all good. That lovable little rascal.

Going to bed soon. Have to rise 6:45 to get a last coffee at the Co-op with Figgy and her friend, Elizabeth, maybe three of H.'s four Belfast-based Hurley brothers and my sister-in-law Therese. Then E. and I take our cups and head for the hills...and Montclair. We should arrive by 5 p.m. My neighbor is getting Punchy off the schoolbus at 4 p.m. and tonight, she is delighting in a sleepover with Nikki.

Seaside treasures today:

• Massage by Amy. Very relaxing. I chose medium vs. deep or gentle pressure. We chatted a bit about how massages are good for you--your nervous system, your circulation, your life.
• Freshly baked blueberry scones and muffins and smoked salmon at the inn. And I liked the charm of the small but lofty hand-cut Maine biscuits, marmalade on the side: 
  
• Ferry to Islesboro. I've been coming to Maine for 29 years and never went to this island, where H.'s brother John Hurley, a house painter with an impeccable reputation, has been painting estates for years. Today, John treated us to lunch at The Dark Harbor Shop [Pat ferried us there]. Figgy bought basics for her Maine summer--including Band-Aids, calamine lotion and candles--while waiting for the veggie/hummus wrap she and Elizabeth shared at the counter. Pat got a coffee frappé in an old-time soda fountain glass. Later, Fig and Eliz peeled down to their swimsuits to swim in a cove.....I loved the old ferry boat, the salty captain who told us to put our phones away and the lovely estate John & Co. were painting at the end of a private Maine lane. Remote and dreamy, with its own dock, cove and swimming pool. 
• Shopping at the Co-op. As a member, I came in right under the wire for the period of time when members get 10 percent off their entire shopping order at the Belfast Co-op. This was my chance to help stock Fig's fridge with vegan delights before I leave tomorrow morning. She got so much: frozen fruits, frozen vegs, tofu sausages, frozen pizza, chips, cookies, pesto Vegenaise [those mayo alternatives are really good], rice milk and a lot more. I got local cornmeal to make corn muffins back home for Punchy; orange walnut oatmeal; a vegan green tea and pistachio Suecakes cupcake; a lavender Bubble Bear for Punchy's baths; pretty hand-dipped tapers; lemon parmesan tortellini from the deli [yum]; a pint of Stone Fox Farm ice cream; and perhaps my favorite find for today, Casco Bay Laundry Soap in lemon scent, $6.99 for a 24-oz. sack and it comes with a little wooden scoop. Check out that website! It's beautiful.
• Dinner at Dave & Sheila's. Fresh crab rolls, turkey burgers, roasted cauliflower, baby kale, wine, candelight...so lovely. Dave is H.'s artist brother.

Well, I'd better get to sleep so I can stay alert at the wheel tomorrow. But once you start blogging, it's a never-ending battle to get all the accents [frappé ] and product names/site links right. 

Sweet and salty dreams.

Good night.