New Year's Eve day started out rather mundane...
We got as far as this place in Skowhegan...yeah, exciting for my hubby...but rather blah-zay for my tastes...to pick up a chainsaw for his portable sawmill. I'm very excited about the possibilities of the sawmill...the photogenic aspects of sawmills and chainsaws are just not exactly a high-ranker!
Turns out, though, that Skowhegan is only about 40 miles from Sugar Loaf Mountain ski resort...which resonates way higher on the enjoyable and interesting spectrum for moi...so we decided to go for a little road trip. We only had about an hour or so before it got dark...so please bear with me on the photo quality here! Low light and cheapo camera don't always make for the greatest mix...but we'll do the best we can!!
We first came across this unusual looking structure. It's really beautiful...if I could only get rid of those electric lines!
Crossing the bridge over the almost-frozen river into Kingfield...the main town we come to before heading for the ski slopes....
Right across the bridge is this lovely historic Inn...
Snow mobilers at the gas pump...ready to ride!
Then we take a right and head into the center of this quaint little town, Kingfield, which heads on up to the resort area. This connected farmhouse has been turned into a real estate office...but I could just take photo after photo of this place...
Directly across the street is this adorable place. It was a wonderful bakery a couple of summers ago when we visited up here...but now it's up for sale. Cute, huh!
We drove up the drive...hoping not to get stuck...to get a better look. We're also in the process of checking out paint styles...and colors...for the girls' dollhouse. Nothing like a car full of interior decorators!! : )
Next to us is the town square...with a lit up Spruce tree...and LOTS of snow! Very idyllic...but I do have to figure out how to get rid of these power lines! My photoshop prowess (ha! ha!) needs to step it up a notch!
On the way up to Sugar Loaf, we passed several of these delightful Scandinavian or Austrian...or Tyrolean...inspired cottages! This one I just had to stop and take a shot!
So we've made it to the resort area on Sugar Loaf Mountain. We're now climbing up the side of it...approaching some new condos that have just been finished. This is the view out across the valley...just as the sun has set...
Get a load of these gorgeous ski-in/ski-out condos up here...with big stone fireplaces...live-edge siding...
and these timber style balconies overlooking this view...
The children wanted to jump out and take in the scenery from way up high. Here's Heather in all her Nordic frippery...and cold hands! Where are your mittens...you silly kitten..??!!
This is a horrid shot of an absolutely lovely old-fashioned winter scene. This painting was hanging in the lobby of the base lodge Sugar Loaf Hotel...
We managed to make it into a couple of the nice ski shops and galleries before they all closed for the evening...being that it was New Year's Eve and all! And speaking of artwork, I discovered a new Maine artist, Claudia Diller, and just had to get her calendar! She's wonderful...as you'll see...as I share her beautiful paintings throughout the rest of 2009!!
And why not start now? Here's January! And here's Claudia Diller for those who find these types of scenes as utterly beguiling as I do!