In central Maine, Spring is slowly showing her pretty face. Soon, Spring will rush through May as though to make up for lost time. But right now all is tender and new.
While doing yard work, I came across these little fern heads. While the ferns might not be at their prettiest, they are certainly at their sweetest, and this is how I love them best. New life unfurling.
On Saturday, Dee, Clif, and I headed south of the border to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to meet our daughter Shannon and her husband, Mike, for Shannon’s birthday. Now that they live in Boston (for years, they lived in North Carolina), we can get together regularly at places that are more or less halfway between us. I always enjoy these get-togethers, and when it’s a birthday, I enjoy it even more.
Shannon chose a cute little café called Popovers on the Square that specializes in—you guessed it!—popovers. We arrived just after breakfast and just before lunch, a lull when the café wasn’t busy, and we were able to snag a half-circle booth that gave us some privacy.
The food was tasty and plentiful.
We talked and ate and talked and ate some more. There were presents—Clif and I gave Shannon a gift certificate to Stonewall Kitchen, one of our halfway points in York, Maine. From soap to jam, the Stonewall Kitchen store has many temptations, and Shannon will have a good time poking around the store.
By noon, Popovers was hopping, and people were waiting for a table. Time to go, but not too far, across the street to a coffee shop, where we could talk some more. (We are a chatty family with movies being a big topic of discussion.)
Finally, around 4:00, we hugged and said goodbye.
Next gathering? Mother’s Day in York. First, to a Chinese restaurant, and then, if the weather allows, to a park or beach, where we will set up our chairs and have cookies and tea. (Perhaps Shannon will slide in a visit to Stonewall Kitchen.)
I began this piece with a fern, and I’m going to end with another kind of Fern, surely one of the cutest cats in Winthrop.
We were given a cat bed, and Fern has claimed it as her own. If her brother Kai seems too envious, we will, of course, get another one. Just like human siblings, Kai and Fern sometimes squabble. But for now, so far, so good.
Notes From the Hinterland 
Both ferns are prettily fluffy 🙂
That they are!
Looks you had a wonderful family adventure. That’s great. I was in Portsmouth this morning, but I didn’t have time to stop at Popovers. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. A very good day indeed!
Sounds like a great day out.
A very good day! So much fun.
What a lovely way to celebrate a finest of birthdays Laurie and sweet Fern looks so at home in her new bed 🥰🐈 xxx
A good way to celebrate a birthday.
We had such a good time.
Coffee, conversation, calories, cats and cinema. Quite a day. The ferns are looking lovely too, lots of hope for spring! 🙂
A very good day. Yes, lots of hope for Spring.
🙂
Portsmouth is so cute. Will look for Popovers next time. Looks yummy!
Portsmouth is very cute.
I haven’t thought of popovers in decades. My mother used to make them for us when I was in grade school and junior high, and then suddenly she didn’t. Maybe we tired of them. I’d give anything to have a good one (or two) now. I had no idea that such a thing as a popover restaurant was even possible. That’s worth celebrating, too!
They are delicious!
There used to be a restaurant in Amherst that specialized in popovers, sadly the owner retired and no one picked up the baton. Sounds like you found a good spot. HB to Shannon!
Are Fern and Kai Dee’s cats? Fern is beautiful!
Too bad about that restaurant in Amherst. Popovers are such a treat. Yes, Fern and Kai are Dee’s cats. How she loves them, and they love her, too. A beautiful rescue story of love.
A delightful family story centred around what looks like very yummy food .. . as far as the two pussycats and one bed are concerned doesn’t Kai try and say ‘Mine – I was here first’?
Thanks, Eha! So far, Fern rules the cat bed, and Kai doesn’t seem to mind. If that should change, we will get another bed.
I like ferns early in the season too. So much hope rolled uo in their curled heads.
Yes, so much hope!
This is delightfully uplifting!
A birthday celebration always lifts the spirits.
Fine fiddleheads and family gathering
A finest kind of time!
Hmm….can’t seem to comment…
Of course now I can…anyway, looks like you had a fantastic catch up and I do like the cat bed.
We certainly did! Sometimes WordPress can be wonky. I have had similar problems. Glad you were able to comment.
Sound like you had a lovely trip, Laurie!
Oh, yes! A very good day.
That is a birthday celebration very much in the style of the Homestead. Good food and lots of chat! Fern, surely, has to be the cutest cats in Maine at the very least!
Yes, yes! I have noticed our celebrations are very similar. Fern is certainly a cutie. And she seems to know it. 😉
Spending birthdays with loved family members is always very special, isn’t it. I’m glad you had a great time. Fern is a beautiful cat; hopefully Kai will leave her to enjoy her new bed in peace.
Yes, always a delight to celebrate birthdays with loved ones. So far, Fern rules the cat bad, and Kai seems to be all right with this arrangement. If it seems to bother him that there is only one cat bad, we will get another one.
Ah! Popovers are a cousin of Yorkshire Puddings (I only have experience with the latter). We love them! This is like the biscuit-scone relationship … there is a significant difference but they feel so much the same in vibe.
Yes, let’s celebrate often, celebrate long! On on!
I love your symmetry: the lovely fernling and the elegant Fern!
A-w-w, thanks! Yes, celebrate often, celebrate long, And popovers are absolutely a cousin of Yorkshire Puddings. Both delicious.
I will have to see if I can find a recipe for popovers to try them out!
Awe, everything about this post made me smile. I love fern (the plant) Fern the cat is adorable, the play of word was fun! Your daughter’s birthday seems like a wonderful get-together. It is lovely to be able to meet in the middle.
Thanks so much, Maria. Fern is indeed adorable. My daughter’s birthday was indeed a wonderful get-together. So glad she lives close enough to celebrate.
Popovers! Wow! I need to try that place. I love popovers and haven’t had one in years.
They are very tasty. In my younger days, I used to make them.
Me, too.
Like you, I adore the fiddleheads of emerging ferns, warm popovers slathered in butter, and happy family birthday celebrations! And, oh yes, Stonewall Kitchen’s tart cherry jam, when I can find it… Lovely post.
Thanks so much! As we Mainers might say, we had a finest kind of day. I’ve never had the tart cherry, but it sounds good. I’ll look for it next time I go to Stonewall Kitchen.
I just checked my fridge: it’s “sour cherry jam.” It’s the only way I’ll eat my occasional PB&J sandwiches!
Noted!
The first fiddleheads are always exciting to find, along with new growth and first blossoms in general! Our first German bearded iris bloom opened yesterday.
What a wonderful birthday breakfast meeting with Shannon and Mike!
Fern is a lovely kitty. I suspect you will be buying a second cat bed before long. 🙂
Yes, new growth and first blossoms are always exciting.
We had such a nice time in Portsmouth.
So far, Kai doesn’t seem very interested in the new bed. But that could change, and if it does…
I am so glad you are able to see more of your family – it matters doesn’t it? And I love all the interesting eateries you find.
Your cats are very cute!
It sure does! They are my “best beloveds.” Food is one of our, ahem, obsessions, and we are always on the lookout for eateries that serve good food at decent prices.
Fern definitely specializes in cuteness. 😉
Spring has sprung in our part of the world as well. It’s not warm and we may get some snow soon. We are happy for the warmth and light we get.
Nice family gathering, and the food looks so tempting.
Not too warm here, but the green is growing. A fun family gathering with tasty food.
I’m so glad you were able to spend some solid time with Shannon on her Birthday over food and hot beverages. It sounds like a truly lovely day!
Both ferns are adorable, but your kitty takes the cake! Fern looks just like our oldest kitty, Bo, who just turned 19. Gotta love those fluffy babes.
Hope your week ahead is wonderful, Laurie!
Birthdays are a special time for our family, and we love our simple celebrations.
Yes, gotta love those fluffy babes. Give Bo a pat on the head for me.