Making the most of late summer on the Maine coast with island adventures, blooming hydrangeas, cozy home updates, and meaningful family moments.
Can It Really be Late Summer?
It seems to happen every year. One week I’m writing about how it’s finally summer here on the Maine coast, and the next I’m calling it late summer.
Because, believe it or not, we’ve already had several nights dip into the 40s. Yes, you heard me right. Forty degrees.
So while I’m still soaking up all that summer has to offer, I’m definitely starting to feel…the shift. (Don’t worry—I’m not saying the “F-word” yet!)
My family has come and gone. So has my birthday—and Maddie and Cisco’s too—celebrated on an island in Casco Bay at the home of friends (and their two dogs).
The limelight hydrangeas are finally in full bloom, wrapping the deck in a big floral hug.
And with the cooler temps, I decided it was time to swap in the new bedding I shared a few weeks ago, retiring the set that’s been on since early June.
At the same time, I’m still enjoying summer’s bounty—sunflowers in every hue, tomato sandwiches, and big dinner-sized salads made from the freshest farm produce.
Today, I’m making the most of late summer. Won’t you join me?
Island Adventures & Closed Doors
Maddie, Cisco, and I all share a birthday—my best gifts ever. This year we celebrated with friends on Great Diamond Island, with plans for a day of antiquing.
A Visit to Great Diamond Island
My friends spend part of the year in the Diamond Cove community on Great Diamond Island.
Once home to Fort McKinley, a military base built around 1900 to protect Portland Harbor, the island is now a quiet, car-free community just a short ferry ride from downtown Portland. The old brick barracks, officers’ quarters, and storehouses have been carefully restored and reimagined as private residences, an inn, two restaurants, and a small museum. Today, it’s a place where history and coastal living meet.
My friends’ home is a townhouse-style residence carved out of one of the old quartermaster storehouses. Inside, soaring ceilings, original brick walls, exposed beams, industrial metal supports, and tall arched windows make for truly unique spaces.
I always enjoy visiting this part of Maine, which feels just different enough from my own. The ferry ride alone is an adventure—fresh ocean air, views of Portland and Casco Bay, and glimpses of lighthouses along the way. Maddie and Cisco approve too, with new smells to explore, pets from strangers on the ferry, and my friends’ two dogs as ready playmates.
If you’re curious about an overnight stay or a meal at Diamond Cove, you can find more information here. Or maybe you just want the joy of a ferry ride—you’ll find schedules here.
An Antiquing Trip That Didn’t Go as Planned
One of the reasons for my visit was an antiquing day trip to the small village of Cornish, Maine.
Tucked along Route 25 in the Ossipee Valley, Cornish is home to about half a dozen antiques shops. From Portland, it’s just a 45-minute drive—much easier than the two and a half hours it would take me from home. Time with my friends plus a treasure-hunting outing sounded like the perfect plan!
I was especially excited to visit the Cornish Trading Company, a large multi-dealer antiques shop. We also had plans for lunch at Krista’s, which had come highly recommended.
The day was sunny and cool, and the drive carried us through bucolic countryside and quaint villages. But when we arrived in Cornish, we realized that nearly everything was closed. And then it hit us—it was Tuesday, the day some stores and restaurants in Maine inexplicably like to take off. In this case, it felt like the whole town had shut down!
Yes, I was disappointed. But I wasn’t about to waste a beautiful day with an old friend.
So, back to Portland we went, where we enjoyed delicious mushroom shawarma at Nura Hummus & Falafel Bar (open Tuesday, closed Sunday and Monday, for those keeping score). We browsed a few shops too, though as luck would have it, the one I most wanted to see closed at 3:00. My shopping karma was clearly off that day, ha!
I’ll have to make a return trip to Cornish another time. Just remind me—never on a Tuesday.
Seasonal Changes — Inside and Out
As August winds down, I am feeling the urge to make a few small changes at home. Not full-on fall, just little shifts to echo what’s happening outside, as Mother Nature puts on her final summer show.
Limelight Hydrangeas in Bloom
My limelight hydrangeas are finally in full bloom! They seem a bit late — perhaps due to our relatively cool summer this year. (I know, most of you were sweltering…come to Maine!)
I have 26 bushes planted at the base of the deck. Over the years, they’ve filled in to form a tall hedge that now wraps around the deck and nearly reaches the top of the railing. Right now, they’re smothered in huge blooms—the grand finale of the summer garden.
The limelights along the water side of the house have done so well that this spring I added six more along the stone wall in front. Even in their first season, they’re already providing a bright, cheerful welcome as you approach the house. I can’t wait to see them fill in over the years ahead.
As the season shifts, the blooms will fade to a dusty pink and then to dried brown flower heads, which I enjoy all winter long. They look especially beautiful dusted with snow.
I shared a whole blog post about these beauties if you’d like more tips: How to Grow Limelight Hydrangeas for Beauty All Year.
Cozy Bedding for Cooler Nights
Earlier this month I shared an idea board for a late-summer-into-fall bedding refresh.
The quilt, shams, and throw pillow I ordered have since arrived, and with our cooler nights, it felt like the perfect time to make the switch.
Have I told you before how much I love making a bed? There’s something about smoothing the fabrics and seeing the patterns and colors come together—call me weird!
The quilt and shams are every bit as lovely as I hoped: soft, gauzy fabric with just enough batting to keep me warm when the temperature drops. A throw pillow adds a bold pop of color and coordinates beautifully with sheets I already own. When fall fully arrives, I’ll swap in more saturated tones.
At the foot of the bed, I folded a plaid wool throw I’ve had for years—just the right touch of coziness for our almost-chilly nights.
Shopping links:
Family Moments That Matter
I didn’t join you here on the blog last week because I was soaking up sweet time with visiting kids and grands.
These are the days I look forward to all year—and the reason I built this home in Maine.
You know me here as “MiM,” Molly in Maine. But my truest self is “Mim,” the name my grandchildren call me. (Though Poppy pronounced it more like “Midge” this time. That works too!)
It’s been a tough summer for me personally, so time with the people I love most felt especially meaningful this year. And though their visit was brief, we packed it full of memories I’ll hold close during the long stretches apart.
There was beach time with tide-pool splashing and sand castles. A library visit and a stop at the new playground in our village. An outdoor concert on the waterfront, where Poppy and Jamie—wearing matching lobster pajamas—ended up covered in smelly snail residue after venturing down to the water.
We ate lobster rolls and S’mores.
And of course, there were the small, everyday moments: toy cars and blocks scattered across the floor, running wild in the yard, books before bedtime, baby Mira’s sweet snuggles, laughter and songs. And with two toddlers and a baby in the mix—plenty of tears and shouts of “No!” I’ll take it all.
When the time came for them to head home—back to their busy lives—I stood in the driveway and watched as the cars pulled away. My heart traveled with them, stretching across the country to Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan.
And now it is time for me to turn back to the rhythm of daily life — friends, volunteer work, this blog, hobbies — while still holding tight to the memories we made.
Everyday Joys & Simple Pleasures
Summer’s joys often come in small packages. Here are a few that have brightened my days lately.
The Lighthouse Volunteer Picnic
My first season on the lighthouse committee and volunteering in the shop has been such fun!
This week, we gathered for the annual Lighthouse Volunteer Picnic at the local Odd Fellows Hall. (I love that I just wrote that sentence—it captures small-town coastal life perfectly.)
It was a classic affair: deviled eggs, hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, potato and macaroni salads, and berry pies for dessert.
It was heartwarming to be with all the people who keep our iconic piece of nautical history running. I especially loved hearing the story of how the lighthouse, keeper’s house, summer kitchen, and barn were rescued by the town and restored after the Coast Guard abandoned them in the 1970s.
I certainly have landed in a very special spot.
A Birthday Gift That Will Continue to Bring Joy
With my kids and grands scattered across the country, I spend a lot of time scrolling through photos and videos on my phone—over and over again. I know many of you can relate!
For my birthday, my kids went in together and gifted me an Aura digital frame. I’ve heard setup can be a little tricky, but I plan to tackle it this weekend. Then the only question will be—where do I put it? My bedroom? The living room? Or maybe I’ll just carry it around with me!
Do you have a digital frame?
Farm-Fresh Maine Produce
The fresh-produce party is still going strong at my house.
Blueberries and melon for breakfast.
Heirloom tomato sandwiches for lunch.
And a big farm market salad for dinner—local lettuce mix, corn, marbled purple-and-white beans, cucumbers, radishes, purple peppers, cherry tomatoes, and local feta, all tossed together with a fresh herb dressing.
And for the home — sunflowers in different hues.
I’ll keep it going as long as the farm stands are open!
Simple pleasures like these are what make late summer so sweet. Small joys, savored one by one.
You can get recipes for delicious recipes using farm-stand ingredients in my previous post: Farm to Table | Polenta with Summer Veggies & A Blueberry Tart.
This Week Into Next
My early-week getaway really threw me off—I kept thinking it was the weekend!
For my birthday, a friend baked the Chocolate Mandarin Orange Cake from the back of the Wilbur’s of Maine “Maine Mud L’Orange” dark chocolate/orange sauce jar. Two layers of yellow cake, topped with homemade whipped cream, canned mandarin oranges, and a generous drizzle of warm chocolate sauce. It was truly decadent. But the oranges are healthy, right?
With my summer visitors now gone, it’s my turn to do the traveling. Next weekend I’m headed to Michigan to visit my son and daughter-in-law in their new home. I hear there’s a gallery wall waiting for MiM’s decorating touch!
And on Saturday, I’m off to an outdoor antiques and vintage sale. Here’s hoping I have better luck than I did in Cornish.
Wishing you a wonderful week, friends!
