Backstory

By popular demand, here is a brief history of what led us to Maine and innkeeping.

We knew we wanted to move somewhere striking with an obvious connection to nature.  And Jed always wanted to run an entire hospitality related business.  Shortly after we got together, the idea of a bed and breakfast came up. Other options were certainly on the table--food truck, brew pub, or café on the moon--but we kept circling back to the B&B.   We decided that one of these days we'd give the lodging industry a try. We started looking into the details of such work, both getting it and performing it.  Then came the whirlwind.

Almost immediately after we started researching, the perfect want ad came up for an Innkeeper/Manager gig in (you guessed it) Maine.  We felt the description of the ideal applicants fit us completely.  Our only thought about the eccentric, nine room, historic home by the coast? I want to go to there! 

We decided to give it our all, including but not limited to sitting on the Wishing Bench in East Lawrence. A while after throwing our hat in the ring we thought we were unsuccessful.  We settled into our then jobs/home a little further, content that we'd at least acted.  Then entered mischievous fate. Jed's father, an acclaimed vocational consultant, taught him to approach the application process in a certain way. Jed sent one last 'thank you for considering us...' follow-up e-mail. We got a response, interview, and job offer within the next three days.  Apparently we passed the sample menu test with the below:

Summer

Local blueberry salad | baby greens | almonds | honey sherry reduction

Citrus madeleines

Buttermilk waffles | caramelized rhubarb | local sausage

Bruschetta | crispy prosciutto | poached egg | mornay sauce

Autumn

Baked apple | cranberry chestnut stuffing | salted caramel drizzle

Homemade sesame bagels | black cerignola olive cream cheese

Pumpkin rabanada | cranberry maple coulis | local bacon

Egg white omelet | local kale | porcini mushrooms | gruyere

Winter

Roasted root vegetables | fig sauce

Ginger cinnamon rolls | coconut icing

Crepes | spiced apple cider chutney | local sausage

Goat cheese quiche | leek | pancetta 

As much fun as we're enjoying playing with food like this, I'll admit that both of us cried when we left Lawrence.  When it comes down to it, we have stopped missing the work and the house we left behind.  We miss the people... the relationships.  We face that a little bit each day, but still believe we made the right decision. Every move has introduced us to amazing individuals we would otherwise never have known.  And even when we stay put, we end up missing our friends who leave to chase family, education, duty, or bliss.  So, I suppose it's just our turn.