Sunset Cabins Knit & Spa

Ice Boaters

2012-02-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

The members of the Chickawaukee Ice Sailors Club are getting ready to spend the day on Damariscotta Lake. At least a dozen ice boats sail back and forth in front of the cabins and are a delight to watch as they speed across the lake.

ice skating

2012-01-30T07:11:00.000-08:00

Here it is - the perfect day for ice skating!

After some rain and freezing temperatures, the lake is a sheet of ice and looks like glass - we were able to skate across the entire lake.

Lace cowl

2012-01-26T05:52:00.000-08:00

Just finished this cowl, knit from a blend of a baby mohair goat's first shearing, Diane's finnsheep and silk. It is as soft as angora and as lustrious as mink and, oh, so warm, whether wrapped around the neck or worn as a headscarf.

2012-01-09T05:10:00.000-08:00

We have very little snow this winter but were graced with snowfall on Christmas Day

First snow

2011-11-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

This beech tree was surprised by a first snowfall before it completed its fall show.

Photo shoot

2011-11-01T16:15:00.000-07:00

The mohair shrug is fresh off the knitting needles and my model is getting ready to be photographed for the latest pattern.

Connor's first visit

2011-10-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

3-month old Connor came to Maine for the first time. He's a bit sleepy but content in his mother's arms.

Common Ground Fair 2011

2011-10-18T04:20:00.000-07:00

This hoody was a bestseller at the fair this year. I knit one sample with Finnsheep wool from Heron Crossing Farm in Whitefield and one with Llama from Hidden Acres Llama Farm in Jefferson.

Foraging

2011-09-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

After a rainy day I hiked in the Jefferson woods and found the most delectable mushrooms: Chanterelles, Boletes andBears' Head Tooth mushrooms who have the same texture as lobster. They all taste wonderfully in a mushroom soup or a simple sauce with herbs and sour cream.

Sailing

2011-08-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

We spent Sunday afternoon sailing upriver from South Bristol to Damariscotta. A perfect day!

The float

2011-08-26T17:57:00.000-07:00

Two days before hurricane Irene is supposed to hit Maine the kids enjoy diving off our float.

Lobster!!

2011-08-18T05:52:00.000-07:00

Our customers love to go to Muscongus Bay and eat lobster fresh from the sea.

Welcome!

2011-07-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here's the newest family member. Welcome, Connor David!

He looks quite content in his Oma's arms.

Sunset

2011-07-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

A perfect sunset after a few drops of rain.

The lobster feast

2011-07-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

Our friend Allan, a Bremen lobsterman, treated us to this feast of lobster, steamed clams and corn on the cob. We picked fresh lettuce from our own garden. This is the goodness of summer in Maine.

Our garden

2011-07-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

We have a garden and our produce is growing just fine!

July 4th

2011-07-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

A perfect Independence Day afternoon on the lake.

gloaming

2011-07-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

The sun has set and the young people are lining up to embark on the last boatride of the day.

Solstice 2011

2011-06-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

The Jefferson Historical Society enjoyed a cookout at Sunset Cabins. The highlight of the evening was marshmallows roasted over the open fire and assembled into smores. Some of us Jeffersonian old-timers experienced smores for the first time in our lives.

Karen's Christmas present

2011-05-29T04:24:00.000-07:00

Karen's husband gifted her my one-of-a-kind jacket. Karen and I met, decided on a style, colors and design and it was finished for her High-school reunion this June.

20 years of Reflexology in Maine

2011-05-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

Over thirty members and three of the 10 founding members of the Maine Council of Reflexologists (MCR) gathered in Augusta to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of MCR. Here are the 3 founding members: Chrissy Studer, Washington; Aloisia Pollock, Jefferson and Myra Achorn, Augusta. So...when you come to Maine don't forget to treat yourself to a reflexology session!

Spring is here again

2011-04-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

Diane has 24 new baby lambs. Here they are gathered for the feeding. Mom's received their ration of hay and the babies are getting ready to nurse.

The llama in the background is standing guard, keeping predators away from the herd.

Spring Break in SouthEast Asia

2011-03-23T14:09:00.000-07:00

At the border crossing between Vietnam and Cambodia we had to wait for our Visas. I whiled away the time by working on the Baby Blanket. Some Vietnamese and Cambodian ladies were so excited seeing me knit I had to show them up close how to knit and purl.
Everywhere I went women wanted to learn how to knit. Who knows... I may go back and teach them!

skiing yet again!

2011-02-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

Friends from Connecticut planned on skiing at Camden Snowball. When they saw what Sunset Cabins had to offer they decided to ski right here.

Alpine skiing

2011-02-25T13:53:00.000-08:00

Sunset Cabins becomes the alpine skiing capital of Lincoln county.

After yet another snowstorm we built a downhill ski trail and a ski jump. What better way to spend an afternoon when the roads are difficult to navigate!

Winter fun at Sunset

2011-02-21T18:52:00.000-08:00

Some of our friends come North to experience Sunset during winter and enjoy snowshoeing, skiing or ice skating on the lake. Christine braved snow, ice and the treacherous roads around the lake to enjoy winter in all its glory.

View from Bunker Hill

2011-02-21T18:38:00.000-08:00

The lake is covered in ice and snow. Snowmobiles, even trucks, drive across the lake. Ice fishermen tend their fishing holes and enjoy the day inside and around their ice shanties.

"walking on water"

2011-02-16T04:42:00.000-08:00

Winter at Sunset provides us with the opportunity to walk on water.

Snowmobilers

2011-01-30T17:50:00.000-08:00

A group of snowmobilers woke me up at 6:00 in the morning. First it was the sound of their snowmobiles, then the sound of the ice augurs as they dug their ice fishing holes.

I wonder if they got lucky and caught some fish...

X-country skiing

2011-01-30T17:42:00.000-08:00

We made a x-country skiing trail from Glidden Street to the oyster shell middens. The trail follows along the Damariscotta river which boasted some ducks on this sunny day.

Holding on

2011-01-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

Our "Charlotte" rose is sporting green leaves and shows signs of growth during snowstorms at 0 degree F (-15 C) temperatures. We planted the rosebush late last fall, it started blooming in November and now we can't wait to see the splendor of it's bloom next summer.

January Full Moon

2011-01-20T16:39:00.000-08:00

The first full moon of the year! Sun in Capricorn, moon in Cancer. Last night I went for a walk in the moonlight. Night seemed as day. Early this morning the moon set in the West.

My neighbor

2011-01-15T13:24:00.000-08:00

When I went for a walk today my neighbor's horse came over to do say "hello".

Snowstorm

2011-01-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

It was exciting to watch yesterday's snowstorm through the living room window.

Today is shoveling day.

Ice fishing

2011-01-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

The first ice fisherman of the winter and his dog ventured onto the lake today. The fish were biting and at the end of the day he was a happy man.

Lone squirrel

2011-01-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

It's January - and a lone squirrel is looking for leftovers under the birdfeeder.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T04:59:00.000-08:00

All of us - my family, the turkeys, deer, fox, coyotes, crows, eagles and other birds, fish, rodents and cat enjoy Sunset during these quiet months and wish you all Happy Holidays.

Bird watching

2010-12-21T16:34:00.000-08:00

Heidi likes to watch the birds at the feeder. She was as surprised as I was when 60 turkeys showed up this morning looking for extra seeds.

The float

2010-12-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

We got the float out of the lake - and not a day too early!

Turkey medicine

2010-12-09T15:12:00.000-08:00

The turkeys come here every day looking for food - at the same time brightening my day. Turkey is the symbol of Mother Earth and her abundant harvest. All of Earth's blessings and the ability to use them to their greatest advantage are part of Turkey's teachings. - Turkey medicine is about generosity, giving and sharing.

Wild turkeys

2010-11-29T05:30:00.000-08:00

a few days after Thanksgiving wild turkeys are roaming the woods at Sunset Cabins looking for seeds and grubs.

November sunset

2010-11-16T17:21:00.000-08:00

By now we have to look southeast when we watch the sun go down. Even in November the sunset is as spectacular as during the summer.

The Maine Moose sweaters

2010-11-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

Sweaters and patterns of the popular Maine Moose are ready for the holiday season.

The Big E

2010-11-07T18:08:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I spent at the first New England Fiber Fair in Springfield, MA where I sold the patterns I designed for Heron Crossing Farm and Now & Zen Yarns.

November

2010-11-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

two islands in the lake in early November.

The Island

2010-10-26T18:25:00.000-07:00

Many of our renters like to row or kayak to this island which is about a mile from the cabins. Some of them swim across.

My preferred way to reach this island is during the winter months when I ice skate there.

svca hike

2010-10-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

The Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association opened the turquoise trail of the Bass Falls Preserve in Alna. It was a great day for an outing in the woods.

The stowaway

2010-10-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

George the treefrog came into the house with my aloe vera plant. He is very tiny and sounds very big. I fed him live flies for 2 days and then let him go so he can hibernate in his natural environment. I'll be waiting for him next Spring.....

Fall

2010-10-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

Another glorious Fall day at Sunset.

Fall

2010-10-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

The flora around the lake has changed colors. The rowboat is waiting for it's last trip across the lake. The trees' shadows are long...

this is Fall at Sunset.

Common Ground Fair

2010-10-09T18:10:00.000-07:00

Diane and I kept busy in our booth with spinning and knitting. The baby sheep were happy in their corral and many children fed them hay.

Workshop Folly

2010-09-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

The highlight of day #3 at the Fiber College was the Broomstick lace workshop. The participants learned a new crochet technique and we all had a lot to laugh about.

In my element

2010-09-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

That feels like home: being surrounded by my sweaters while knitting a new one.

Fiber College

2010-09-10T17:30:00.000-07:00

Now that business at the cabins has slowed down I can devote myself to my love for knitting again.
Diane and I had a booth at the Fiber College in Searsport and taught classes on Hawaiian quilts and Broomstick lace.

First Sail

2010-09-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

Elliot learned how to sail two days ago. Here he's taking Adri for her first sail.

By next year he'll probably be teaching all the kids who come to Sunset Cabins.

Moose Safari

2010-09-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Matt Tinker, Maine's premier moose caller, took us into the Northern woods in his jeep. First we found a group of four moose with one nursing calf. Then we saw this beauty beside the road. She was ready to leave when Matt "talked" her into staying with us. It was very interesting to see how this cow responded to Matt's call which is much lower and more gentle than anticipated.

The only drawback: we had to head out from Jefferson at 3:00 in the morning to be in Stratton by 5:30. The experience was well worth losing sleep over.

Canoeing

2010-08-31T08:15:00.000-07:00

Our cousin Conny is here from Tirol, Austria. This is her first excursion on a canoe. We canoed to the water lilies. There was one bud left, the remaining lily flowers have gone by.

Getting ready to leave

2010-08-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday morning. The kids had one last swim and are waiting for mom and dad to pack the car.

Dad's evening out

2010-08-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

Charley is sleeping, mom is reading to Nick and dad goes fishing. All is well at Sunset Cabins!

Music Video

2010-08-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

Our Canadian musicians are shooting a video on the lake. There'll be a link later on to u-tube so you all can hear what these guys do with a guitar, a harmonica and singing voices.

Monhegan

2010-08-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

We took our guests from Switzerland on a hike to Monhegan island. The weather was perfect, the vista spectacular.

Hummingbird Rescue

2010-08-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

As I was swimming today I saw a hummingbird stranded on the lake. It's wings were so wet it could not lift off and the waves pounded it to and fro. Ezra, who is here from Providence, got a net and we brought the bird ashore. Here it is resting and at this moment we did not know yet if the right wing needed to be dried off or if it was broken.

I sat with it for 20 minutes. The bird made eye contact, opened and closed its beak and after a while flew to a nearby branch.

Hummingbird medicine: "You find joy in your own heart. You have high energy and a spirit that must be free".

Ben's Birthday

2010-08-03T05:53:00.000-07:00

Ben has been celebrating his birthday for many years now while vacationing at Sunset Cabins.
This year Olivia helped decorate a chocolate train cake to celebrate Ben's special day.

Blueberry Picking

2010-08-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Olivia from New York is here right now and we're celebrating her 6th Birthday.
Today we picked blueberries at the Steep Hill Blueberry Farm in Fayette. These are high-bush berries and the picking is easy and fast.

Around the dock

2010-07-31T05:26:00.000-07:00

It's a perfect summer morning. Sue and Naomi from Providence are swimming while Michael from Cambridge practices his asanas.

Hazelnuts

2010-07-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

The hazelnuts are ripening. The trick in the Fall will be to harvest them just before the squirrel tuck them all away for the winter.

The bee

2010-07-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

The bees are very busy this year at Sunset. Here is one feasting on a zinnia.

Roofing

2010-07-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

Elliot took time out from his studies and organic gardening to help me replace a roof on cabin 3. Here he is preparing it for its new shingles.

Tuning up the float

2010-07-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

Our guests from Cambridge who've been coming to Sunset for the last 15 summers, took time out from swimming and boating to repair our float. It is wonderful to swim to and enjoy on a hot summer day.

Boating

2010-07-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

It is early in the morning and our guests are enjoying breakfast on their porches. A fine mist covers the lake, but soon the blazing sun will evaporate it and boating will be prime.

Strawberry Picking

2010-07-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

We picked the last strawberries at Popp's Farm in Dresden. The field was overgrown with weeds, much loved by the bees. The picking was slow but we harvested enough berries for strawberry cream puffs, breakfast treats and some for freezing.

The cookout

2010-07-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

The grill/smoker gets its first workout just before Independence Day.

The weather is perfect right now to enjoy the cool waters of the lake.

Maine Fiberarts workshop

2010-06-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

A small group of dedicated knitters and crocheters met at the Maine Fiberarts Center in Topsham.

Christine taught the pattern as a knit design, and I taught the crochet version, also called Peacock lace.

We were all pleased with the results.

Summer is here

2010-06-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

This is what the first day of summer 2010 looks like at Sunset Cabins:
A mom is helping her son maneuver and navigate the lake kayak.

The resident bullfrog

2010-06-18T17:52:00.000-07:00

The bullfrog is here and he has a very strong voice. He has been hiding between rocks and last year's grass.

When I made too much noise with the saw he let me know that I intruded in his territory, but he was not intimidated and stayed in the same spot all afternoon.

2010-06-05T04:02:00.001-07:00

Our new dock

2010-06-05T03:47:00.000-07:00

Before making the final adjustments, our dock installers enjoy a small fishing break.

Ready for summer

2010-06-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

I finished this summer top just in time for summer. Adri is modeling it in front of the irises.

The yarn is the beautiful variegated "Koigu" which I love to work with. It looks best in various textures. This shell has two different textures. The bottom half is knit in a slip stitch design, the top half an overall cable pattern.

Fishing

2010-06-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

Last week has been a bit rainy and foggy.

The yellow pollen from the pines is all over the lake and the fish are biting.

One lone fishermen was out on the lake. I watched him on the same spot for hours.

Feathered guests

2010-05-27T19:22:00.000-07:00

Right now we have to tip-toe around cabin 4.

A mother bird built a nest on top of the bathroom window. Today we saw the chicks for the first time; their eyes were closed and their beaks were visible.

Apple Blossoms in Jefferson

2010-05-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

Our Sunset Fall visitors love to pick apples with us at Andy Williams' orchard.

Here are this year's blossoms - they promise a great harvest!

Spring Harvest

2010-05-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Shawn is cutting up some dead trees which
were blown over by winter storms;
wood for our campfires.

Daffodils

2010-04-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

Harbingers of Spring, a couple of daffodils

grace our lawn

in front of the cabins.

2010-04-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

This is Lilli in her new fancy sweater. I found the silk/merino blend yarn at the February Knit and Spa weekend.

800 yds of this wonderful fiber was enough for size 6.

Jefferson Village Cemetery

2010-03-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

The first full day of Spring and another great day for hiking the DLWA trails.

On the way home we found this sign at the Jefferson Village Cemetery with its gentle prompt.

Spring at Heron Crossing Farm

2010-03-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

Spring, Spring is everywhere!
Diane now has 24 baby Finnsheep. Here are three with their mom. Most of the time they stay close to mom and her never-ending supply of yummy milk. Sometimes they lose sight of mother and they start bleaking so forlornly it could break your heart.

The aloof white animal in the background is the mohair goat which will give us her wool this year to blend with the finn. Finn is my favorite wool to work with. It is soft, warm, with a silky sheen and great memory to give every knitting project that special feel; and, as you know, fiber people need to touch the yarn before they commit to working with it.

The Ides of March

2010-03-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Who would want to think of Julius Caesar's assassination when the
most historic moment of a March 15
is the ice-out of Damariscotta Lake?

Saturday we had ice, yesterday it rained
and today we can (could) swim again.

Philippa and Cosby

2010-03-12T19:13:00.000-08:00

Philippa owns Hidden Acres Llama Farm here in Jefferson.
The yarn for the jacket came from last year's shearing and after I finished knitting it we visited Cosby to say "thank you" for keeping Philippa cozy and warm.

Knitting and lunch

2010-03-11T19:02:00.000-08:00

Michelle and Elaine stopped by today
to knit and eat and talk
about knitting and publishing.

The March sun brightened up the day and our spirits.

The Colors of Romney Ridge Farm

2010-03-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the Maine Products Show:

Kelley of Romney Ridge Farm in Woolwich asked me to design a sweater with seven colors of her Romney Ridge wool - and here it is.

Hunting

2010-03-07T17:02:00.000-08:00

I found this old sign on one of my hikes in Jefferson:

"NO OUTER STATER ALLOWED TO HUNT HERE".

Knit, Spin, Spa in Freeport

2010-03-01T06:24:00.000-08:00

As you can see, the Spa providers had time for fun this year. The event was well attended even though we had rain, snow, wind and power outages.
But since the event was moved from Portland to Freeport, it has become more about shopping than about Reflexology, Massage and Reiki.

The ladies enjoyed a Paraffin Wax Treatment to pamper our hands which are always busy.

The Maine Moose

2010-02-24T18:11:00.000-08:00

To celebrate our moose I designed the Maine Moose sweater. Graham received one for Christmas. The wool is from Heron Crossing Farm's finnsheep in Whitefield. My friend Diane owns the farm and it is the softest Maine sheep wool I have worked with.

I sell my patterns at $10.00 each.

2010-02-21T16:21:00.000-08:00

Hiking on one of DLWA's new trails we found several moose tracks and some damage the huge animals had inflicted on small trees. The brook which sports a small bridge is still frozen.
On the trail we found fine fur and some blood, signs of a recent tragedy.

2010-02-18T13:22:00.000-08:00

Here's the link to my website: http://sunsetcabinsmaine.com

The "Cindy Lou Who" Hat

2010-02-18T12:46:00.000-08:00

I knit the "Cindy Lou Who" hat for Olivia to use up my stash of yarn. Everybody who saw it liked it so much that I made up a pattern and knitted a dozen hats in different colors. The hat is in a store in Hallowell and I sell the pattern and kits.

Skating on Damariscotta Lake

2010-02-18T12:22:00.000-08:00

This winter we see little snow but it has been cold enough for he lake to freeze and we enjoy skating at the cabins.