Winter 2007 Newsletter

Winter 2007 at White Cedar Inn

Once again I'm a bit late with the newsletter, I'm slacking off in my old age. :-)
It's been snow, snow and yes, more snow here lately. Upwards of 30 inches around town over the month of December. How come you're not here skiing or snowshoeing? We've had great weather for both! Even Bre enjoys a day out at Wolfe Neck Woods State Park! We've tried out the trails around the bay area (Casco Bay Trail) as well as the river side trails (Harraseeket River Trail and Old Woods Trail).

The Casco Bay trails are a bit easier if you're a real novice, but even the wooded trails are not difficult. Everything on the bay side was a bit granular after this last snow. It was a very wet snow that stuck to the trees and as it blew off or melted, it created some crunchy terrain.

We're going to try out Pinelands and Bradbury Mountain sometime this weekend.

This being January we are 'on vacation'. What that means is the inn is closed for the month but we are working everyday on projects to make everything a bit nicer for you in the coming year. We can't, of course, top the big reno from last January, so this year it is a lot of 'small stuff' that has been bothering us...chipped paint, dripping faucets, problem wallpaper, the usual stuff everyone has going on.

Right now Rock is replacing a bit of wallpaper in the stairwell for the Crow's Nest. Last April we had, as we call it, a wicked bad storm on Patriot's Day. It caused a small leak in the roof which subsequently made its way down the wallpaper. We've been grimacing at it since then, but no longer! The ceiling has been primed and the bit of stained paper is coming down as I write.

While Rock was waiting for the primer to dry on the ceiling, he stripped the wallpaper out of the Lillian bathroom. (Holy cow! can't leave that guy alone for a moment!) We've picked out a nice, crisp minty green paint for that bathroom. It matches the small flowers from the bedroom wallpaper. The Lillian is getting a new queen bed! For all of you who suffered in the past sleeping in the double bed, fret no more! The new queen bed will be delivered this month. Right after I paint all the trim and put up the new curtains.

Lots of other small projects are in the works. And somewhere in there we may squeeze in a vacation!

I should mention that we were awarded a Certificate in Green Lodging from the State of Maine! We're pretty proud of it, too. White Cedar Inn is the first B&B in Freeport to receive this honor. We are continuing to 'go green' in small, helpful ways that anyone can undertake to do at home. We're not putting in wind generators or solar panels, but keeping things manageable and affordable. We applaud those who have taken steps to generate their own power, it's just not something we're prepared to try just yet!

So, what's new in Freeport?

The Lenox store closed right after Christmas. It looked like all the 'Who' houses after the Grinch got done with them! Not a pegboard or shelf left the day they closed. Even the employee microwave went out the door to some lucky person! Coming in its place is Tommy Hilfiger.

Remember where the British Goods store used to be? That is now an upscale women's clothing store newly relocated from Portland. Betsey's has fresh, modern clothing for the discriminating buyer. It's a little hard to find, but worth a look!

Construction has definitely begun on the first part of the new Freeport Town Center shopping area. The 550-car parking garage should be completed by next fall. After that, construction on the upper level shopping concourse will begin. Hard to see with all of the construction fencing is Petrillos Pizza on Depot St. Dominick is still there so stop in for a pizza or a panino!

The LL Bean Outlet is now on the main campus, just across the way from the flagship store. It is located in what was the Hunting and Fishing store. The Walk-on Adventures are the perfect place to start if you want to get out and try a new winter sport. Also spotted at the Bike, Boat and Ski shop last week were the latest craze in sleds from Mad River Rocket.

If it's January, Valentine's Day can't be far behind. If you find yourself Valentine-less this year, don't fret. Grab a couple of non-romantic friends and make it a weekend away from all the 'old, familiar places' in your town. We promise we won't have any roses, chocolates, candles or other Valentine's Day 'stuff' around the inn. And if I should, by some chance, get a sugary sweet card from dear old hubster, I promise not to share it!

Here's hoping your New Year is a happy one!

See you soon...

White Cedar Inn ~ 178 Main Street ~ Freeport, ME 04032 ~ 207.865.9099 ~ 800.853.1269