Pilgrims Inn Log

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2010-03-14T11:32:00.001-04:00

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So what do you do in the off season....?

2010-02-21T12:33:00.020-05:00

Many of our guests at Pilgrim's Inn ask what we do during the months that the inn is closed. Since we work double time during our season, we welcome the chance to experience the many outdoor activities that Maine offers, even in winter. Rather than heading south to warmer climates, we spend the majority of our time on the ski slopes of Western Maine at Sunday River.

Our passion is fueled by the opportunity to work with disabled children, adults and veterans through the Maine Handicapped Ski Program. As an amputee, Tony started as a participant in this program several years ago. He now works as a volunteer, as well as a coach to the adaptive race team, working with racers of all ages, including some Paralympic hopefuls. Tina assists with fundraising and helps out wherever she can, while continuing the marketing, reservation and other business activities that continue for the inn year-round.

This year is the 25th anniversary of this only free adaptive ski program in the country, and we are working on being the top fundraising team for the annual Ski-a-thon, which raises the majority of operating revenue for the year. If you would like to contribute to this fundraising event please go to Tony's Fundraising Page, or to learn more about this remarkable program please visit Maine Handicapped Skiing

This winter we also had the opportunity, along with Bar Manager, Hank Jost and Innkeeper, Susan Huot to visit the Hotel de Glace (Ice Hotel) in Quebec. It was truly magical to experience and sleep in a hotel made entirely of ice and snow. This is one of the best lodging experiences in North American (besides Pilgrim's Inn of course!). If you have ever done any ice camping then consider this an upscale version, complete with hot tubs, a sauna, and a nightclub made entirely of ice.

2010 Events

2010-01-16T16:08:00.010-05:00

Wings Waves & Woods/May 21-23, 2010
An annual birding festival by land, boat and art!
Enjoy the early spring migration with guided walks, presentations, eagle nest-watching with scopes, boat trips to see puffins and pelagics, kayak excursions into quiet, protected coves. Galleries and studios all over the island will be open with new work and demonstrations, starting with a gallery reception.

2010 Lupine Festival Weekend/June 18-20

Celebrate the arrival of the beautiful pink, purple and white Lupine! The Lupine Festival is a variety of events including a craft fair, rummage sale, music concert, art and sculpture show, children’s activities along with boat excursions, walking tours and airplane rides to view the lupine.

Fourth of July

Join us for a one of the best 4th of July celebrations in Maine!
You'll have front row seats to our hometown parade which goes right past the inn and is filled with original artwork, antique vehicles, music and more. Other activities throughout the day include a walking race and 10K road race and fun run; a community band concert; Color Guard Ceremony; the famous fish fry on the pier and fireworks over Stonington Harbor. Book fast for this weekend!

Lobster Boat Races/July TBA
The Kentucky Derby of Maine!
There is nothing more uniquely Maine than the lobster boat races. Watch different categories of boats race across the harbor for prizes and bragging rights. If you want to view this event first hand on a lobster boat, contact the Inn ahead of time to make arrangements. For more information go to www.lobsterboatraces.com

Annual Fisherman’s Day/ July TBA

In Stonington/Deer Isle, there’s no bigger event on the calendar than the Annual Fisherman’s Day. This wonderful event gives visitors a taste of island life, promotes water safety awareness, and raises money for the community. Activities include a blessing of the fleet, seafood served on the pier from grilled shark to lobster dinners; and a boatload of creative events, including a touch tank for kids, crabmeat picking, wacky rowboat races, cod fish relay, baiting pockets, and banding lobsters.

Blue Hill Fair/ Labor Day weekend
If you’ve ever read “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White then you have already read about the Blue Hill Fair. This traditional country fair with rides, games, livestock and farming exhibits and competitions, pie eating contests and more is one of the most well attended country fairs in America. The fair is located at the Blue Hill fairgrounds, a 25 minute drive from Pilgrim’s Inn. For more information go to www.bluehillfair.com

Peninsula Potters Open House Tour/Columbus day weekend

The Peninsula Potters is a loosely knit group of potters and clay artists who have settled and established working studios in the area. They have been drawn here by the beauty of the surrounding landscape and by the creative spirit of its inhabitants. This Columbus Day weekend event is a great opportunity to buy outstanding pottery from the special group of artists. For more information go to www.peninsulapotters.com

Winter Beverage from the Whale's Rib Tavern

2009-12-01T14:05:00.005-05:00

Although the Tavern is closed for the season, it's the perfect time of year to enjoy one of our most requested drinks at the Whale's Rib Tavern -- a "Stormy Night" . This drink is served very cold, but the spicy ginger taste will warm you right up. This is one of our favorite drinks, made by our bartender Hank.

Stormy Night: 2 oz Goslings Rum; 3/4 oz lime juice; 3/4 oz simple syrup; a couple dashes of ginger juice; ginger cube or candied ginger for garnish. Combine the first four ingredients and shake over ice until painfully cold. Strain into a properly chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a skewered ginger cube or candied ginger. Note: you can find ginger juice and ginger cubes at specialty grocery stores. You can also buy the ingredients directly from The Ginger People

Joleen's Apricot Scones

2009-09-21T11:11:00.001-04:00

One of our most requested recipes at the Inn are Joleen's Apricot Scones. These scones are lighter than most and the combination of apricot and nutmeg is a real winner.

Joleen's Apricot Scones

Yield: 24 large scones

Mix together in a large metal bowl
7 ½ c. flour
5 T. baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 ½ tsp. nutmeg

Cut In
15 T. butter
Add
2 1/2 c. cream
1 T. vanilla
3 egg yolks
2 c. milk
6 c. chopped apricots + 1 cup golden raisins

Place dough onto floured counter; then cut into 3 parts, pat each part into 1/2” circles, cut into scone shape or cut out with biscuit cutter. Toss each scone in a sugar/cardamom mixture and bake. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet & bake at 350 F for approx. 25 minutes in confection oven.

Guest Poem

2009-05-31T08:53:00.004-04:00

Pilgrim's Inn Experience
This rustic red home with a cozy barn
Historical remembrance with enduring charm
Brick layered fire place warming chilly nights
Look out the window at wondrous natural sights
Aromatic fragrances waken our morning senses
Listening to soothing sounds breaking through life's fences
If only for a moment, caught in a splendid space
Thank you for providing us an escape from everyday haste

Sunset at Pilgrim's Inn

2009-05-19T17:20:00.027-04:00

After several days of rain, the sun burst forth and turned Pilgrim's Inn into a magical site. The orange glow bathed everything in its warm light, reminding us how beautiful and special Pilgrim's Inn is for both visitors and residents alike. With all the challenges in the world, Pilgrim's Inn offers the opportunity to relax, reflect and enjoy a different pace for a while.

Memorial Day weekend is upon us and we are planting our herbs and putting out the flower boxes hoping that the threat of a frost is behind us. Nasturtiums, cilantro, basil, parsley, and rosemary will be in the ground by the weekend. The chives continue to proliferate and we are wondering if we should start to freeze dry them! The raspberries we planted this year promise to yield their sweet fruit in a few months (we can't wait!).

Environmental Leader

2009-03-04T10:58:00.009-05:00

Because of the growing impact of climate change on our planet, Pilgrim’s Inn and other lodging properties have been changing what have traditionally been very wasteful practices in the lodging and restaurant industries. Because of these efforts, the inn has been certified as an “Environmental Leader” by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and guests who stay with us can be assured that they in turn are doing their part to help reduce their environmental impact while traveling.

Many of the changes made at the inn are also things you can do right at home. For example, the US EPA estimates that if every household in American replaced just one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent it would be the environmental equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the road. We have replaced 90% of our incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s) saving thousands of kilowatt hours every year and reducing our energy costs. You can find CFL’s at most hardware/household stores and many states have programs offering cash rebates.We have also introduced non-toxic plant based cleaning supplies in the inn which are now available at most grocery stores and have cleaning powers equal to traditional, but more harmful cleaners. Below are other actions we have taken to help reduce our environmental impact.

Replaced individual bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion with dispensers -- saving thousands of these bottles from ending up in landfills every year.

Replaced our septic system with highly efficient system that produces very clean water as an effluent

Using Gilchrist & Soames “Bee Kind” bathroom amenities which contain no petroleum derived ingredients and where a portion of revenue is being used to support research honey bee and sustainable pollination research.

Recycle bottles, newspapers. ink cartridges and plastic

Use 100% recycled office paper and we always use both sides of office paper

Install only low flow toilets and faucets

Provide guests with the option not to change their sheets and towels changed every day

Purchase Maine “Wind Watts”, which are renewable energy credits that help replace non-renewable energy with renewable energy in the electric grid.

Replaced styrofoam to go containers with biodegradable containers made from sugar cane

Donate our used cooking oil for use as bio-diesel fuel

Donate our kitchen waste to a local pig farm and compost the remainder

Grow our own herbs using no pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers and landscape without the use of petroleum based fertilizers or pesticides.

There are many ways that you begin to reduce your environmental impact and we hope we have given you some ideas to start you on your way. If you happen to drive a hybrid vehicle, come visit us at the inn and we will give you $40 off your room rate!

Hospitality for Habitat

2009-01-25T15:55:00.005-05:00

Pilgrim’s Inn is proud to announce it will offer 50% discounted rooms rates to guests visiting Maine between May 8th and May 22nd 2009 in support of ‘Hospitality for Habitat’, a program which raises funds for Habitat for Humanity projects across the state. Sponsored by the Maine Innkeepers Association, the program offers guests deeply discounted room rates in exchange for a $35 donation check made out to Habitat for Humanity.

“We are delighted to partner with our guests in support of such a worthy cause,” said Tina Oddleifson, Owner. “ In today’s economy guests truly appreciate the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful vacation at half the regular room rate, while at the same time knowing they are ‘giving back while getting away’ in a meaningful way .”

Pilgrim’s Inn will join participating members of The Maine Innkeepers Association all across the state to help build homes for low income families. In 2008 Hospitality for Habitat was able to complete the interiors of six Habitat homes with the funds raised from the program. Every year since the program began in 2004, The Maine Innkeepers Association has increased its participation and donation to Habitat for Humanity.

To participate in Hospitality for Habitat, and enjoy a 50% reduction in room rates between May 8th and May 22nd 2009, please make reservations in advance. Your tax deductible donation for $35 should be made out to Habitat for Humanity in the form of a check and given to the innkeeper. For more information, or to make a reservation in support of Habitat for Humanity please go to www.pilgrimsinn.com/specials.html or call 207-348-6615.
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