Join me for a Boat Ride to Little Cranberry Island!
After spending the day getting things at Skylands into ship-shape order, I was so pleased to receive a dinner invitation from my friends and Seal Harbor neighbors, Ed and Jean Lipkin. They asked me and my guests to join them for a boat ride to Little Cranberry Island.  The town of Cranberry Isles consists of five islands and only two of them are inhabited year round - Great Cranberry and Little Cranberry. They're called "Cranberry" because of the low-bush cranberries that grow right on the dry ground. Little Cranberry is about a thirty-minute trip from Seal Harbor, with most of its small populace concentrated in the charming village of Islesford. Our dining destination was the Islesford Dock Restaurant, a well run and friendly establishment. Upon landing, we strolled around the dock area and visited the very productive Islesford Pottery Shop.   Please enjoy these photos of a very special place.
1 This is beautiful Seal Harbor, which is visible from the terrace at Skylands when there is no fog.
2 Seal Harbor is an especially picturesque marina.
3 Here we are headed down the ramp.
4 Our transportation - The Morgan - a beautifully restored Bunker and Ellis lobster boat
5 Owner of the Morgan - Ed Lipkin talking to his pilot - Jean Lipkin standing
6 Christy, Erin, Ed, Martha, Jean, Kevin, and Sarah
7 Ed and Jean offered a very nice white bordeaux for the ride.
8 Sarah felt quite chic.
9 Through the fog and on the way to Little Cranberry Island
10 A nice contrast of colorful lobster traps against the gray fog
11 All geared up for an early morning at sea
12 You can barely see the Bubble Mountains.
13 The setting sun
14 A view of the rocky and craggy coast
15 The same view with fog
16 The sea was quite calm.
17 More coastline
18 Landing on Little Cranberry
19 This building is referred to as the Blue Duck and is owned by the US Park Service.
20 The Isleford Dock Restaurant
21 Lichens and moss growing on the outside of the restaurant
22 Bicycles are a popular form of transportation on the island.
23 We paid a visit to Islesford Pottery - This is Kaitlyn Duggan.
24 I always like browsing in the colorful shop.
25 I loved these plates.
26 And these are great!
27 Kaitlyn was happy to show her expertise.
28 She threw several tumblers that day.
29 More pots waiting to be fired
30 This is a view from the restaurant.
31 I always have so much fun here - great Maine atmosphere.
32 Drinking Mirambeau white wine and Chateau Montelena Red - two wonderful choices
33 Here I am greeting New Hampshire Senate President Sylvia Larsen.
34 The menu is quite sophisticated.
35 Really good crusty and chewy bread
36 The oysters were stellar! Served on the half-shell with a mignonette and cocktail sauce on a bed of fresh seaweed
37 Great Hill blue cheese salad with romaine, grapes, walnuts, and a maple vinaigrette - wonderful flavor combination!
38 Is Jean dreaming of oysters?
39 The porterhouse steak for two is served with feta salad and roasted potatoes - very yummy!
40 The Gulf of Maine halibut served over white beans, fennel, and spring onions could not have been better!
41 A very content Shaun and Ed
42 Equally content Erin and Christy
Awesome day! I really enjoyed the photos, thanks!!
Posted by: Wendy | July 23rd, 2010 at 12:50 am
Oh Martha, don't you just love islands? And can you share the recipe of that lovely looking salad with us?
Posted by: Brenda Knowlton | July 23rd, 2010 at 3:40 am
What a great way to spend the day in Maine . Just love it. The food looks outstanding.
Bernadette
Posted by: Bernadette | July 23rd, 2010 at 7:22 am
I loved these photos. Maine just looks to be a beautiful place. what a wonderful day. Especially loved your trip to the pottery shop.
Posted by: Jamie | July 23rd, 2010 at 8:04 am
Martha, thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | July 23rd, 2010 at 8:11 am
The photographs taken on the journey to Little Cranberry Island were breathtaking. Did you use the Canon EOS 5D Mark II?
Posted by: Julia | July 23rd, 2010 at 9:34 am
Isn't America great, thanks for sharing a blog on a fun time.
Posted by: Margie | July 23rd, 2010 at 9:52 am
I wish I were Martha Stewart! All I can say is, you have quite a lovely existence. I am envious.
Posted by: Mary Ellen Adams | July 23rd, 2010 at 10:04 am
Hi Martha,
This reminds me of how much I miss Harsens & Mackinac Islands in Michigan - two of my favorite places! Thanks for your photos. Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 23rd, 2010 at 10:18 am
Martha,
I too am a Seal Harbor summer resident! Thank you for taking such beautiful pictures of a place I love so dearly! I was lucky to dine at "Puddles" earlier this month with a group of fabulous friends and I too had the Halibut. I think it is still my favorite dish of the summer, and last evening I ate at The Pearl in Nantucket. They have nothing on "Puddles"!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos!
-Heather Stephens
Posted by: Heather | July 23rd, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Hi Martha, What a fabulous blog! I just love seeing Maine areas like Seal Harbor! These photos are so terrific and I would just love to be there to enjoy all of this trip! These photos remind me of my area in the Puget Sound area. The coastlines, marinas, boats, islands, restaurants, foggy weather, etc. are very much like what I can see every day and I love it! Once in a while, we have orcas swimming through our sound and that's also cool! My favorite photo of this blog is #32 because it shows you very relaxed and having a marvelous time!! Thanks for the 3 links, also. They were great. Fun watching you and your doggies on "The View" yesterday! Have a great weekend, everyone. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 23rd, 2010 at 12:34 pm
These photographs are just so beautiful. It's lovely to get a look at the hidden beauty of Maine. I can't wait for my visit this autumn!
Posted by: Rachael (Tales from the Village) | July 23rd, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Looks like a lot of fun!
A bientot!
Frenchy
Posted by: Le Chateau des Fleurs | July 23rd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
what a great trip... will share it with my blog readers on my friday links post... have a fantastic weekend!
Posted by: Punctuation Mark | July 23rd, 2010 at 2:29 pm
These photos and comments were so much fun to look at. The whole experience took me back to many wonderful trips up the shore of Lake Superior. Thank you so much for sharing.
Posted by: Cheryl | July 23rd, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Thank you for the ride to Little Cranberry Island, Martha! It brings back images from our Island home in the Pacific Northwest.
Posted by: G. | July 23rd, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Great photos! Little Cranberry is a magic spot in summer - glad to see that you discovered the little gem that is Isleford Pottery. Kaitlyn Duggan is my daughter, and you can see more of her gorgeous majolica pottery on her website:
http://www.kaitlynduggan.com
Posted by: martha miller | July 23rd, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Kaitlyn and I went to school for ceramics together at Maine College of Art. Her work is amazing!
Posted by: Cindy | July 23rd, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Oh, these pictures are so lovely...i wish i were right there eating lobster and especially oysters on the half shell. I simply adore the sea...and the boat ride ... you lucky ducks! Thanks Martha & and gang!
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | July 23rd, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Kaitlyn Duggen makes beautiful pottery, I have seen her work and enjoy it very much! Her new necklaces are to die for, I'm wearing one right now!!
Love the pictures.
Posted by: Lucie Scholz | July 24th, 2010 at 9:02 am
Kaitlyn just happens to be wearing one of her younger sister Lisbeth's wonderful tee shirts! Lisbeth has a traumatic brain injury and other challenges including uncontrolled seizures, yet her creativity and strong spirit are intact. You can see more of her remarkable work here!
http://www.brainstormstudio.etsy.com
Posted by: martha miller | July 24th, 2010 at 9:05 am
Fabulous pictures. There is nothing like the gorgeous wonderful islands off of Maine and all New England states. I just love them. I haven't been to Cranberry Island sure would like to though.
While I have this opportunity to write on your blog, I would like to say that with your show moving to the Hallmark channel I won't be able to see it anymore. I am disappointed in this move.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | July 24th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Oh, these pictures are simply charming! I adore the old-fashioned charm of the pottery and the oysters. I've always wanted to live like you, Martha. You must have such a wonderful, fulfilling life.
Posted by: Hamilton | July 24th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
love maine. always wanted to move there, along with savannah. u should have a contest who can spend a weekend with u (or just kevin, safer for u that way) at ur gorgeous estate. did i mention i'm up for adoption????
Posted by: chris | July 24th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
How did you get back from the island? It looks like it was dark at the end of dinner. Did you boat across the harbor in the dark fog? Scary!
Posted by: Furry Leaves | July 24th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
What Beautiful photos. The colors and compositions are just lovely!
Posted by: Laura | July 24th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
hye martha, i wish i can follow you beautiful martha if i have all the money in the world (i have money in the bank, after all people's money deducted what's left is mine...=) ). i really adore u. i wish i could b like u.
when i played farmville, i love to collect all the birds house and its reminds me of you.
thank you martha for all of your knowledge and you share all your creativity with us.
Posted by: ayu | July 24th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Hi Martha, I'm the woman that you delivered the little birthday gift to. We were at the table behind you. The earrings were from my co-workers and were made by Islesford artist, Barbara S. Fernald (barbarasfernald.com). Ms Fernald's jewelery is to die for! Besides receiving a wonderful gift, it was delivered by you! I had the best birthday!
Posted by: Stevie Quinn | July 25th, 2010 at 11:10 am
It looks wonderful! I'd love to go there.
Posted by: Betty | July 25th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Thanks for this lovely group of photos and for including your visit to Islesford Pottery, and the pictures of Kaitlyn working on her wonderful pots. Just to clarify details of the unusual rectangular plates you featured: they are slip-decorated redware, made by a summer resident of Islesford, Lauren Mundy. She is one of the several potters whose work is represented there in my shop. Her email is Lmundy@fairpoint.net. I am happy to say this is my 21st year running the pottery shop on the Islesford Dock, and am lucky to have Dan and Cynthia Lief's superb restaurant as a dock neighbor all summer! More pottery can be seen on my website: marianbakerpottery.com.
Posted by: Marian Baker | July 25th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I enjoyed looking at your beautiful dining experience!! I would love to travel to that lovely little island, hopefuly, one day also. I love looking at the water photos so much they give you such a sence of calmness! Thanks for posting your day with us!!
Posted by: gloria wilson | July 25th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
i live in oldsmar florida, and today to my horror...the martha stewart show was not on...i finally retired and basically plan my day around your show and now it's gone....can anyone tell me what happened???
Posted by: diane s....matha's biggest fan.... | July 26th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Always wanted to see Maine for myself. These pictures prove to me that indeed it is my kind of landscape. I love the sea. Everything about these pictures of yours reminds me that there are so many wonderful places on this earth yet to see. For those of us who cannot travel to all these lovely spots you offer your readers a chance to visit by way of your blog. Keep doing it, Martha. Thanks.
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | July 27th, 2010 at 12:33 am
this is beautiful
Posted by: kevan stewart | July 27th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
I could spend all day on your website. There is so much to learn from you even at my age.
thanks for all your good work.
Posted by: virginia fabale | July 30th, 2010 at 3:18 pm