Mermaid See, Mermaid Do.: cool summer nights

The undeniable sent of pine trees and the endless possibilities of sweet summer days and long summer nights greeting me as I exited the airport

Trolling for sea glass, fragments of antique willow china, and tiny, mustard-hued shells on the bathing beach

Using the irredescent, pearl-ish powder on the inside of sun-dried mussel shells as “mermaid make up”

Tennis and golf lessons and ceasar salad lunches at the country club

Toting 10 lbs of books back and forth from my beloved red brick library

Eagerly awaiting the midnight launch of 4 of the 7 Harry Potter books

Searching for fairies amidst tall pines and fallen logs and a mossy carpet underneath my bare feet

Plunging into the ice cold ocean and emerging a new, better version of myself

Fearful sea tempests tempered by rivalrous games of Clue and late-night viewings of Garden State

Hiking Blue Hill Mountain to view the glorious panorama of the Harbor and the extending Atlantic

Blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes, blueberry crisp, and just plain, fresh blueberries recently harvested by yours truly from the aformentioned mountain

The dreaded capsize test: a mild form of torture forced upon child sailors to prove their maritime prowess under pressure

The opaque, velvety nights walking home on Maple Lane, guided simply by celestial light and the voices of dea friends leading the way

Dinners of tomato red lobsters, boiled corn rolled in butter, and organic vegetables bought at the local Farmers Market

These are just a few of my childhood memories of family summers spent in Maine. I was lucky enough to pop up there for a 4th of July weekend mini vacation. Of course I threw a party. And took hundreds of photos. Here are some of my favorite shots from the weekend.

Dad woke up early and made breakfast for all of us (9 people! including 5 teenage boys - that be a lot a food). Banana pancakes, bacon, english muffins, local jam, ham&cheese&egg scramble, and Maine Maple Syrup.