Three Walk thrus

We went back up to Augusta to look at houses.
They were all in the Mayfair neighborhood.
That is where I use to have my previous house.
There were three to walk thru to check out.
I have difficulty doing stairs which meant ...
hubby had to do the initial walk thru.

At the first place Randy came out and got me.
It looked very promising - large master bedroom.
We have been spoiled with a large bedroom in rental.

At the second place there had been a tenant living there.
It was obvious it had not been well maintained as of late.
The third place was listed as needing TLC and it did.
It also had a spider infestation., I believe, is what Randy said.
I believe it was the second place that he said smelled badly.
From the outside I could tell they both needed exterior work.

We are scheduled for a second look at the first place.
Will take my parents to consider personal modifications.
Definately need a ramp built and some bathroom changes.

LL Bean

Cathy sent me down to LL Bean in Freeport to spend some of our wedding gift certificates. I probably spent nearly 4 hours there. It is quite an adventure! I ended up getting a pair of shoes from the Outlet store!

Trueworthy

This week we started looking at houses in Augusta.
The above house on Trueworthy we saw the inside of.
Looks decent enough on the outside but little space inside.
One of the bedrooms did not even have a closet and the
others were tiny - bedrooms all about the same size.
The "family room" was just the breezeway/entrance area.
After our visit we noticed the price went down by 10,000.

Some others we excluded with just a drive by:
South Belfast double wide on hill
Outlet Road double wide on unpaved road
Old Belgrade double wide on hill and multi-leveled
Eight Rod Road ranch on hilly driveway
Tiffany Road ranch on unpaved road and neighbors too close

Home Search

We were out again looking at properties.
We are not actually entering them ...
just looking from afar for the time being.
We are considering everything at this time.
Starting a new blog label for this research.

Some links of interest for
modular and manufactured homes follow:
Apex Modular Homes
Pine Grove Manufactured Homes
HomeSight: Comprehensive Guide to Housing Resources

Nubble Lighthouse

During our Belated Honeymoon Getaway we visited Nubble.

This lighthhouse is located off Cape Neddick in York Harbor.

Read The History of Nubble on their official website.

That site also has a page listing Maine Lighthouses.

For lighthouse enthusiasts: New England Lighthouses.

Even more links to Maine Lighthouse at about.com.

Considered M, R and E of HUMORE

Belated Honeymoon Getaway

We got married in December after Randy moved here.
At that time we decided on an "at home" honeymoon.
Now that spring is here we decided to get away!!!
We headed out Tuesday morning around 10 AM
and got back Thursday afternoon about 2 PM.
We put 210 miles on the car during the trip.

We decided to coordinate it with a shopping trip.
Randy loves shopping (more than me) and bargains.
We headed to the Kittery Maine outlet strip which
is home to over 120 brand name outlet stores.
I had been very eager to replace my old corelle dishes
with a new pattern but wanted to check it out in person.
The Corningware Corelle outlet store was the perfect stop.

I will be blogging on different elements of the trip.
Expected blog titles coming soon: (will add links later)

Getaway Food Finds - from food outlets and Yummies!
Getaway at Coachman Inn - review of hotel we stayed at
Getaway Kitchen Finds - kitchen gadgets and great finds
Getaway Corelle and Pyrex - new dishes purchased

Getaway DVD set find - Randy's classic movies find!
Getaway Day 1 - trip there and initial shopping
Getaway Day 2 - shopping in Maine and NH
Getaway Day 3 - mostly scenic trip home

Getaway Day 1

• We headed to Kittery at 10 AM.
• First stop when we got there was the Corningware Corelle Revere factory outlet. We bought most of the items we wanted at that time. We used my bench so I could spend more time in the store checking out everything. (12:33/101.97)
• We got a quick lunch at McDonalds.
• Checked into the Coachman Inn around 1 AM.
• I stayed at the hotel the rest of the day recuperating from the trip and Corelle shopping.
• Mid to late afternoon Randy went on foot store hopping scouting in the other stores for items we were looking for. The stores included mostly kitchen, houseware and shoe stores: Pfaltzgraff (Farberware), Reebok/Rockport, Big Dog Sports, Super Shoes, Le Gourmet Chef, Russell Stover Candy, CuddleDown, Crate and Barrel, and Kitchen Collection.
• We had brought homemade Tangy Meatloaf for supper but needed something to go with it. Randy went to Hannaford down the road for supplies. He also picked up Cheese Bread Sticks at Wildcat Pizza in York.

Getaway Day 2

• After eating a continental breakfast in the hotel lobby we started the day's journey around 11 AM.
• Stopped by Pfaltzgraff/Farberware (10:47/1.35)
• Returned to Corningware Corelle Revere (11:29/33.75)
• At this point decided to head to New Hampshire's Fox Run Mall in Newington. Randy went in alone to see what was there. He stopped by FYE, two Game Stops, Go! The Game Store and a bookstore.
• Down the road was our main NH objective, Kitchen & Company. (1:05/17.97)
• On the way back to Kittery we saw the downtown of Portsmouth even crossing the smaller bridge back into Maine.
• Had lunch at Burger King before taking a leg break back at the hotel.
• We hit the road again around 2:30 PM.
• Stopped at Pepperidge Farm (3:07/11.46)
• At Kitchen Collection we found numerous items. (3:51/33.31)
• Decided to do some sightseeing at Kittery Point. From Route 1 we took Route 103 between Yummies and Mrs and Me. Randy took some pictures with a couple of lighthouses in the distance.
• Then decided to just ride around - Gerrish Island and Cotts Island. Accidently found a gate to Fort Foster.
• Returned to the hotel for dinner which was the last of the meatloaf.
• In the evening Randy headed out alone to check out the Kittery Trading Post and the Reader's Digest outlet.

Getaway Day 3

• Packed up and left hotel around 10 AM
• Stopped at Yummies which was next door to the hotel.
• Down the road Randy took a picture of "When Pigs Fly" sign.
• We took the scenic route home
including Route 1 and Route 1a and Shore Road(s):
Kittery -> York -> Ogunquit (stopped at main beach)
Wells -> Kennebunk -> Arundel -> Biddeford -> Saco
Scarborough -> South Portland -> Portland -> etc
• We arrived home around 2 PM and took a nap
*** Also checked out Nubble Lighthouse

Getaway Corelle and Pyrex

==> picture will go here <==

The reason we headed to the Kittery outlets was
to replace Corelle Dish Set from Spice of Life design
to the newer Livingware design of Country Cottage.
I did a lot of research comparing Corelle old set
to Corelle new sets and Corningware.

We got a lot of the items at reduced prices.
Awhile back I had signed up to get emails
from either Corelle or World Kitchen site.
We had received notice of the sales going on.
Also before leaving we found a 25% off coupon
over at CorningWareStores.com (World Kitchen).

We originally wanted the 42 piece dish set but
they did not have them at the factory outlet store.
We saved money buying the two 16 piece sets
with the extras ONLY because we used
the two 25% off coupons (one for each of us).

16 piece set (cathy with coupon) orig 26.99 less 6.75 = 20.24
16 piece set (randy with coupon) orig 26.99 less 6.75 = 20.24
lunch plates (had gotten 3 at Walmart) 2.59 x 5 = 12.95
1 qt serving bowl (one "extra" from set) 7.99 x 2 = 15.98
12.25 serving platter ("extra" from set) 7.99 x 1 = 7.98
18 oz bowl covers ("extra" from set) 0.99 x 8 = 7.92
1 qt bowl covers ("extra" from set) 1.99 x 2 = 3.98
5 piece pasta set - orig 19.99 less 10.00 = 9.99
(includes 2 qt serving bowl and 4 20 ounce bowl - in winter frost white)

Except for the pasta set everything else
is in the Livingware Country Cottage design.
We did not pick up any Corningware/Corelle bakeware
because they are all too heavy for daily use (in my book).
The clerk said they were going to be coming out with
a lighter weight line that should be like the older version.

Pyrex purchases - these are see thru glass items
Warning: do NOT use on stove top or under broiler
Picked up two matching Pyrex 13 x 9 oblong baking pans.
Also a new pie/souffle plate for the "Impossible" pie recipes.

Getaway Kitchen Finds

==> picture will go here <==

Kitchen stuff was the prime focus of our shopping.
These are kitchen gadgets and other great finds:

From Corningware Corelle Revere outlet:
• OXO "Good Grips" Dough Blender
• OXO "Good Grips" Stainless Steel Serving Spoon
• OXO "Good Grips" Nylon Flexible Pie Server
• EKCO vegetable brush - amazing find!

From Kitchen Collection outlet:
• set of 3 chrome plated whisks
• Progressive Jumbo Ceramic Tool Crock (GF)
• Kamenstein 3 piece Chrome Value Set(GF)
trivet, napkin holder and upright paper towel holder
• All Natural Spices - 3 for five dollars
Sesame seed, italian herbs and chicken rub seasoning
• Hamilton Beach Professional 14" pizza pan

From Kitchen & Company (NH):
• Sonoma Rose 52x52 vinyl tablecloth (GF)
• Long oven mitts (actually Weber grilling mitts) (GF)

From Pfaltzgraff outlet:
• Farberware measuring cup scoops

* GF stands for Great Find!!!

Getaway at Coachman Inn

For our belated honeymoon getaway we stayed at Coachman Inn. It's not part of a chain just a single discount hotel which easily competes with national chains. I had read a lot of great reviews about this hotel touting its spacious rooms and bathrooms and spectacular continental breakfast. I was concerned as to whether the bed and toilet would be high enough for me (and my arthritic knees). We were given one of the two handicap rooms because the toilet was higher and it had a king sized bed. The bed was 20 inches high and the toilet was 18 inches high. Both ended up working for me just fine.

The room truly was spacious. The bathroom had hand rails around the toilet. However, even though this was suppose to have been for someone in a wheelchair (which I am not) it still only had a tub/shower enclosure which would have been too difficult for me to bend my legs to get into. They had remodeled recently even replacing the carpets and all the bedding. I actually wrote down the specifics on the bedspread and king size blanket to see about purchasing from the same company.

Across from the front checkin desk was a sit down area with small tables and chairs ideal for comfortably partaking of your continental breakfast. They did also provide a complimentary USA Today on weekdays. Coffee and hot water for tea and cocoa was available 24 hours a day. For breakfast there was bagels and pastries, fresh fruit and cereal. It was decent enough - comparable to other hotels. I took the opportunity to eat bagels and cream cheese.

Getaway Food Finds

Pepperidge Farm outlet
I'd been wanting to try some of their crackers
so took this opportuinty to pick up a couple:
Wheat Crisps (baked naturals) and Golden Butter
And who can pass up their creme filled Pirouettes?
NOT us!!! So we each picked a flavor we liked
Cathy's French Vanilla and Randy's Mint Chocolate
Almost forgot - originally went in for cinnamon swirl bread

Russell Stover Candies outlet (going out of business)
Randy was browsing and found left over eggs.
For himself mint creme and coconut and to share
chocolate creme and brownie center (YUMMMY)

Yummies: Candy and Nuts of Maine
We had two coupons - one for each of us.
If we spent ten dollars we saved one dollar.
Cathy's picks: sanded horehound drops,
australian licorice and licorice twists
Randy's picks: white peanut butter cups,
dark chocolate mint wafers and cherry slices

When Pigs Fly: Sourdough Breads
Picked up Multi-Grain Anadama Bread
The crust was too hard - we cut it off

Getaway DVD set find

I found a 20 movie DVD set called Hollywood Classics for only $20 at The Reader's Digest outlet store. Titles were At War with the Army (Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis), The Little Shop of Horrors (1960 with Jack Nicholson), Private Buckaroo, The Flying Deuces (with Laurel & Hardy), And Then There Were None (with Barry Fitzgerald - disappointed me because it didn't do the correct ending as Agatha Christie wrote it), The Outlaw (Jane Russell), The Man from Utah (John Wayne), The Front Page (Adolphe Menjou), Of Human Bondage (Leslie Howard & Bette Davis), Made For Each Other (Carole Lombard & Jimmy Stewart), Indiscreet (Gloria Swanson), The Inspector General (Danny Kaye), A Star is Born (Janet Gaynor & Fredric March), Road to Bali (Bob Hope, Bing Crosby & Dorothy Lamour), The Little Princess (Shirley Temple), My Favorite Brunette (Bob Hope & Dorothy Lamour), Royal Wedding (Fred Astaire & Jane Powell), A Farewell to Arms (Helen Hayes & Gary Cooper), Father's Little Dividend (Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennet & Elizabeth Taylor) and Anna Karenina (Vivien Leigh).

I had seven of these already on DVD, mostly used ones that I picked up cheap. I felt the set was worth picking up for the others plus to have newer copies of the used ones. Though I must admit that trying to watch The Front Page wasn't all that good with its poor audio quality. (We didn't finish watching that one.) But the two discs I've watched so far both had interesting special features with newsreels of the era and bloopers from many different movies. That might really make it a worthwhile find!

Kittery Outlets

We are headed to The Kittery Outlets today.
There are over 100 brand name outlet stores.
The store directory lists them by category.
Our main goal is Corningware Corelle Revere.
Probably Cuddledown and Kitchen Collection.
Maybe Crate and Barrel and Le Gourmet Chef.
Besides kitchen and home furnishing stores ...
Pepperidge Farm and some of the shoe stores
Of note: Special Discounts and Sales and Events

Dentist

I had tooth pain for a couple of weeks now.
Monday I that the tooth was actually wiggling.
I also had trouble with it just a year ago.
The tooth has a cap over a root canal.

I was scheduled to see doc Friday (today).
But there was a cancellation Thursday.
The doc removed the loose cap to find the tooth
beneath it was cracked and rubbing the gumline.

Weird thing is the post was still upright.
The dentist filed it down so not to be irritating.
At this point there is not enough left to save.
I am scheduled to have the rest surgically removed.

That is not scheduled until the end of the month.
The pain has subsided since the cap and tooth removed.
The original root canal keeps there from having pain.
Will have to get use to gap in teeth - bottom back left.

Easter Sunrise

We woke before the 6:37 AM sunrise on purpose.
We headed down to the ocean at Land's End on Bailey Island.
We wanted to see the sunrise across the horizon in honor of Easter.

On the way down we listened to WBCI - 105.9 FM.
It was a wonderful sight to see the sun rise as Christ arose!
We are in the process of watching Easter themed movies today.

Pizza Chopper

We took a little road trip yesterday.
We were looking for a few things for the house.
I had borrowed my mother's Oscar Jr mini chopper.
I needed it for chopping nuts for my recipes.
We found a Prinetti Mini Food Chopper at Family Dollar.

I had an old pizza pan which I wanted to replace.
We had seen many pizza crispers that had many holes.
Randy was able to find a simple 12 inch pizza pan.
It is non stick yet heavyweight from G&S Oven Stuff line.
Also got replacement coffee filters which I will need soon.

Afternoon Ride

It was a nice enough day so I wanted to get out.
We had a few groceries to get for specific recipes.
I was able to get out and help with the shopping.
And even checked out in the 14 items or less aisle.

Picked up apples for apple crisp recipe.
Picked up potatoes and carrots for crockpot roast.
Picked up crushed pineapples for pineapple cheese muffins.
And baking essentials: choco chip, coconut and marshmallows.

I was not ready to go home immediately so we just rode.
I was curious about a church school that people spoke of.
It was a couple of towns over and I wanted to look at it.
Vineyard's small groups remind me of the structure of Xenos.

Upon our arrival home we saw a package outside apartment.
It was a Farberware 12 inch skillet from Bed, Bath and Beyond.
It matches the rest of our Farberware Classic Cookware set.
We used a 20% off coupon to purchase it (available online only).

LCD and stand

We got two more wedding cards from Ohio today. Thanks.
We got up and moving early this morning.
We headed to Augusta's Walmart to get our LCD.
Our local store did not have the one we wanted.

We purchased the Vizio 26 inch LCD HDTV with tuner.
We also purchased a highboy television stand.
We used the money we had gotten for wedding and Christmas.
In the end we only paid $19.00 for the tv itself.

It is our first HDTV and we did much research.
We decided on the smaller screen ...
to aid in watching our VHS collection.
Christening video will be Alien Nation series!