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Wellness is not a topic that comes up a lot for us around Super Bowl Sunday, even though I hear there is a sporting activity involved!

Do we have more Pats fans or Giants fans in our crowd?

A quick survey around the office nets these results.  Almost all will watch.  Almost all will watch at home though one cable-less person will be out and about, looking for a gathering at a fun restaurant.  Pat’s Pizza, perhaps, or Buffalo Wild Wings.

No big surprise; all here are Patriots fans.  How about you out there?

Among the unhealthy things we will be eating are:

1. turkey chili
2. pizza
3. pigs in blankets
4. deep fried things (friend is bringing a deep fryer!)
5. meatball subs
6. wings, carrots and celery with various dips

Sounds like all the classics to me!  And one family member will be starting the day with the Cape Elizabeth Mid-Winter Classic Run, 10 miles.  This person clearly is entitled to eat whatever he or she wants the rest of the day!

Our great Migis deviled egg recipe from chef John Strain returns, notated by daughter Mallory.  And now, from a New York Strain cousin (probably not a Pats fan) let’s add something hot to serve alongside those cool, mild eggs.  Now if only we had some of that Migis lemonade to go along with it.  Enjoy your day!

Alicia’s Excellent Hot Wing Dip

2 – 8 Ounce cream cheese (melt)

¾ cup Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce

1 cup blue cheese salad dressing

2 cups cooked diced / shredded chicken

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix cream cheese and hot sauce until blended

Mix all in 9×13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes

And now the deviled eggs.  I’ve noticed a typo in step 1, but we will let that go as I think we can all figure it out!

Have fun!

Mary

PS  Please go like us/share us on Facebook.  Maybe during halftime!

Do you have a pair of these?  These are mine!  Outside this morning on my Casco front porch.

Several of us here at Migis Hotels attended the Governor’s Conference on Tourism yesterday at Sunday River in Bethel.  So many parts of the day, not just at the conference, spoke to my heart about this lovely state.  We carpooled, and our ride was challenged a couple of times by enormous, lumbering logging trucks heading in and out of the woods.  We passed dazzlingly beautiful country homes stilled deck out for Christmas, and worn trailers with rabbit ears poking through the snowy roofs.  Shops featuring tourmaline from nearby mines, and diners offering Shepherd’s Pie for lunch.  Night ski trails already illuminated when we were heading home in late afternoon, children creating impromptu skating adventures in their sneakers on slick driveways.

How about this telephone sculpture in Bryant Pond?  I remember the bumper stickers when the last phone of its kind was about to retire; “Don’t Yank the Crank!”

More along the way.  Fabric stores (yes, I’ve taking up quilting since becoming a Mainer), bait and tackle shops. lobster vendors, lumber yards.  Covered bridges.  Scenic turnouts along rivers.

Right here at Migis, we can all celebrate many things that say Maine.  When did your kids last pick their own blueberries?  Wouldn’t you like to see Dave the lobsterman deliver his wiggling catch to the back of the kitchen?  Savor those overnight-baked beans under the pines at lunch cookouts.  During cocktail hour, as the sun sets in the west over Sebago Lake, pause and listen to the cry of the loon.  Watch them dive, then see if you can anticipate where they will emerge.  Walk the Migis trails, shuffling pine needles and bending for a closer look at the woodsy mushrooms.  Go out fishing with a registered Maine Guide for land-locked salmon.  After dinner (and maybe s’mores), walk out on the dock for a clear view of the stars before you go in and enjoy a story (Blueberries for Sal, perhaps?) in front of your fireplace.

Come visit us at Migis Lodge.  Stay for a while, and start to build your own collection of uniquely Maine images and memories.  We have room for you!

migis.com

Mary

207-655-4524

sebagocam

We had a nice call this morning from Mrs. S in Arizona………..Scott caught it.  Mrs. S said her son learned to sail at Migis and now it’s not only his favorite hobby, he’s on his second sailboat.  Robyn had one from a guest in her thirties, planning a return visit, who still counts as her best friend a woman she met at Migis when they were both kids visiting with their parents!

Recently Tim and Joan shared a little book that came in the mail from a woman widowed not long ago.  Her book included tender descriptions of time with her husband at Migis during their 60+ year marriage.  Decorating the office here are many cards we received from you all over the holidays, many including family photos taken while on vacation.  We appreciate how much we all share affection for this special place!

Whether we are answering the phone at Migis, or here at World Headquarters (our Portland winter office, and Amy’s year-round hq) it is always great to hear from you.  Let us help you work through the intricacies of your vacation planning; the child who is between and crib and big kid bed, teenagers working around summer jobs and school athletics, grandparents pulling together schedules for many.  Lodge rooms with air conditioning, large cottages with multiple bedrooms?  We have them all.  Over the river and through the woods, or right in the middle of the Migis campus, let us know what you would like, and when would be ideal, and let us see what we can do for you.  Then we can look forward to getting more real live snail mail from you, like this collection here!

Here are a few snapshots; Scott, Robyn and Sarah and various four-legged office mates, Chef John in for a wedding menu meeting, Amy and myself, and a couple of Portland views from our perch.  If you let your mouse ‘float’ over the tiny pic for a moment, the caption will appear, and click for a larger view.  Give us a call at 207-655-4524 if you haven’t firmed up your 2012 reservation.  And, of course, have you Liked us on Facebook yet?  Then you can send us pictures of your smiling face with your Migis mug, wherever you and it might be!

https://www.facebook.com/MigisLodge

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sebagocam.com

Mary

On this ice and snow filled day, I rub my hands together in quiet anticipation.  I can scan, scan, scan!  I love old (and new) photos, evoking pleasant memories, and today’s technology that lets us safely copy them for daily use!  If I may so indulge, I will show you here a wonderful moment for me from our Migis Hotels meeting last spring….see my name on the bottom of Jed’s slide?  Yes!

Migis has many nooks and crannies where memories are stored, and not all in photos.  When the guys tear into a wall for a renovation, they often find the pride of craftmanship as evidenced by a date and an autograph from a carpenter.  Sometimes, too, a weather report written in the wall (“September, 1930.  Cold as heck today!”).  Occasionally, old newspapers used as insulation, and remarkably preserved.  Portland, and many other cities, published two editions daily of the local paper (the Portland Press Herald and the Evening Express) not so long ago, so papers were plentiful.

We find keys here and there……remember actual keys, with the big tags?  “Return postage guaranteed!  Drop in any mailbox!”  Has anyone actually ever tried that?

Maps and brochures from long ago businesses around the lake.  Twin Pines Gift Shop.  Four digit telephone numbers.   Boxes full of recipes.   Old guest registers, and folios.  The guest histories (yes) that we still keep, on hand lettered card stock.  The hand-stitched Laurie Sieminski quilt that hangs over the living room piano.

If you have family memories and photos, particularly from the 50s through the 80s, we would love to share them.  I will happily scan any prints sent to me at Migis, and return them safely to you.  Many of you have seen some of the beautiful Bill Dodge slides from the 40s until the 70s that his family generously shared with us a couple of years ago.  I particularly love the little period details; the bureau-top radios, the bathing suit styles, the open dining room windows (helping clear the air of cigarette smoke!), the fishing gear, the cars pulled up and unpacking.  Then, too, are the things that happily don’t change; the comfort of a porch rocking chair, the beauty of a Sebago sunset, the fun of dangling bare feet in the water during island cookout, the memorable meals shared with family and friends.

Here is a particular favorite, from 1959.  Love the red hat, and the Andrew lookalike dog on the right.  Maybe I’ll unearth a similar fave from 2009, fifty years later.  Any red hats?

Well, found three elements.  Snow, red garment, black dog!  Winter of 2009.

Feel free to send me your photos, red accents or no!  And if you have none, time to make a reservation for 2012 and make some memories!  Call Robyn and Scott at 207-655-4524.

Mary

migismary@live.com

We have a busy team here today during this quiet January (about time!) snowfall.  Robyn and Scott are sorting through photos for a slideshow, Ian and company are putting the last touches on a new, more portable birch arbor, Marcia is planning floral arrangements, Charity is readying mini-cupcakes…………….sound like a wedding?  Almost!  All preparations for this weekend’s bridal show in Portland.   Migis Lodge and sister properties Inn at Ocean’s Edge and Black Point Inn will be proudly demonstrating and displaying what we believe are the most beautiful venues in all of Maine.  Whether your preference is for Sebago Lake, the mid-coast’s Penobscot Bay, or the incomparable both east and west water views from Prout’s Neck in Scarborough, we can guide you through your ideal day.  Come see us at the show, or call 207-655-4524, and don’t forget to look at previous blogposts for more inspiration.

http://tinyurl.com/82uytlt

Look for Robyn and Landace in the Grand Ballroom!

Mary

The countdown for eating perhaps a little more mindfully will begin soon for many of us.  I have to say I am not tired of party food, holiday food, excess and variety.  I just love it.  Home sweet home tomorrow night for me, and kids of various ages watching the ball drop from our Casco living room television, and this is one treat we’ll enjoy. Not quite as good as my niece Alicia’s, but  it’ll do until she parts with the recipe.  It was next to her equally delectable buffalo chicken dip on this table, and didn’t last long.

Rated: Submitted By: TERRAD Photo By: kt Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In: 1 Hour 15 Minutes Servings: 12

We miss our wonderful Migis Lodge kitchen in the quiet months from November to April, but we see the days getting minutes longer now, so our first function in the spring is a tiny bit closer.  If you are looking for a 2012 lakeside Maine wedding venue, or a productive group meeting in a charming and restful setting, Robyn still has a few dates left.  Give her a call at 207-655-4524 and see if you can work something out!

I will take a brisk walk around the Lodge tomorrow and take a few pix as 2011 comes to an end.  Happy New Year to you all, and we look forward to welcoming you in 2012!

Mary

I am a fortunate woman!  Had breakfast recently with Dave MacVane, Maine lobsterman, at Becky’s Diner on Commercial Street in Portland.  lt was an education!

Yes, he eats lobster.  No, he doesn’t really have to get up at 4:00 am but old habits die hard!

Yes, he loves lobster stew and recommends evaporated milk over cream, and he’s fussy.  No, the protective garb hasn’t changed much over the years.

Yes, his wife wanted to name his most recent lobster boat but he didn’t let her.  No, he didn’t protect his skin and is now paying the price, but the younger lobstermen still don’t.

Yes, that’s his boat, the Empty Pockets.  No, he doesn’t go out lobstering in winter anymore, since he turned 70.

Yes, that lobster you’re eating at Friday night lobster bake was in the ocean that very Friday morning.  No, his children haven’t gone out with him.

Yes, it’s true of many fishermen that they don’t learn to swim.  No, he didn’t either, in that cold water off Cliff Island.

Dave MacVane has been delivering lobster to Migis Lodge for many years.  How many?  He’s not quite sure, but maybe fifty?  Certainly he’s been here through Tim and Joan Porta’s tenure, and Gene and Grace Porta before them, and the Crocketts before them and that goes back to the fifties and sixties.  (He relates that Tim’s dad was much more of a worrier than Tim, calling nervously to make sure he’d appear with the goods.)  He grew up on Cliff Island and didn’t set out to be a lobsterman, though he’s been boating since childhood.  He was, in fact, accepted at Tufts Dental School and was on his way when Uncle Sam called and changed his plans.

He and wife Pat stayed on Cliff Island until their last child was born, then moved to Windham.  He and Pat were fishing for suckers on Raymond Cape one day and Pat saw that the historic Manning House was up for sale and she ‘just had to have it’.  They bought it and lived there for 5o-odd years, building a little market on Route 302 close to home and around the corner from Migis.  “We worked ourselves to death, she tending the store and me hauling then delivering, as far as Bridgton and Lovell.  Used to haul lobster and buy fish off the boat too, come home and filet it to sell, then up the next morning to go back out to lobster.”   Hard work it is, on the waves and on the dock, and sometimes dangerous, too; he lost part of a finger out there on the gear.  They moved just this fall to a smaller, more manageable home back in Windham, close to children, grandchildren and yes, great-grandchildren.

These days he still hauls traps and during our season drives directly to Migis with his catch.  He always has a helper on the water now, in his later years.  Does some fishing, too, and once caught a 246 pound halibut.  Come this time of year, you’ll find him trading stories with his pals at Becky’s early in the morning, and building and repairing some of his 700 traps at home later in the day.  Enjoys himself out on Sebago Lake, too.  He thinks it’s not as cold as it used to be, hasn’t quite frozen up in front of the lodge like the old days when he used to drive his jeep around out there.

Fast Tube by Casper

Think of Dave when you’re enjoying your lobster next time you’re at Migis, and say hello if you see him back of the kitchen with his little truck and its precious load.  And if you’re out on the Atlantic, look for his markers sprinkling the ocean; they’re the white ones with black polka dots.  So is his shack, on Portland’s Widgery Wharf!

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We of Migis Hotel Group had a lovely party at Black Point Inn last Saturday night, where the feasting and the singing lasted long into the night.  In the spirit of the season, we collected boxes and crates of groceries and dry goods for the Preble Street Mission in Portland.  Today was devoted to wrapping some 50 or 60 presents for a Casco family who will be having a very special Christmas morning thanks to some generous elves in our neighborhood.   A festive and charitable few days!

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And do check this less than one minute video!

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSWakHMn-DE]

Mary

I caught up with Wayne “I’m so awesome” the ski man a couple of days ago, on a foggy morning in Naples. As he recounts, it’s a twist of fate that brought him to his intense relationship with our lakes; someone needs time off, another moves on and before you know it you’re the guy in charge.  He’s from a mountaintop home surrounded by three farming ranches, two buffalo, one cattle.  No lake!  His dad runs a garage in Waterford and restores vintage autos.  Wayne even took me for a cruise in one last year, a 1931 Ford Model A.  Wonder how it would look with skis on the back!

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[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eBUcc792]

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7dXFsPzW]

Come join us on the waterfront!

Mary

I know, because he told me so.  My first question when he came down was “are your legs all wobbly now?”

Arborist Frank Kimball told me he was using a 150 foot rope up there and it was all played out, so that gives us an idea of how tall this old friend was.  (Now, how old?  I wonder.) It took five hours aloft to delimb this towering but decaying white pine, carve it into 5 or 6 more or less manageable sections, then cut that last wedge Oh So carefully so the final fall would be precisely targeted.  Wow!  He and his team came to Migis Tuesday for this delicate tree removal job, and those of us who are very fond of Gray Gull (the original main lodge here) can breathe easier now.  There was some thought that they needed to work with a crane to accomplish this task, which would have been very difficult in the space between Gray Gull and Topside.  Frank had other ideas (hence the climbing gear), and here is the result!  Ian, Colby and Adam will now have many beautiful slabs of pine for use in their winter projects, something to keep in mind if you notice new benches, railings, end tables, mantles, etc. next season.

click here to watch it come down!

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Mary

http://www.localedge.com/b19811967/Treeco-Quality-Tree-Svces