Tied

We’ve been back from Italy for about two weeks and things are finally slowing down. Getting back to normalcy will be a nice change of pace after a very eventful September. We are meeting with Christian next week to take a look at the Knot photos. The weather gods were threatening but it turned out to be a spectacular day. In the meantime, I have been sorting through our honeymoon photos. I’ll be posting photos on the Gull periodically for those interested in seeing some snapshots of our Italian excursion.

Pre-Knot Castine Visit

Artisanal Invites

On Saturday, Sarah and I, along with our friends Ian and Natalya, took a field trip to see John Kristensen, owner and operator of Firefly Press. John does what few people take the time to do anymore: he does letterpress printing of announcements, invitations, and other celebratory pieces using movable type he's created on either his linotype or his monotype machines. To the three graphic designers in attendance this was a real treat. We left his shop knowing full well who we wanted to make our invitations. See for yourself:

Gifting Opportunities

Friends and Family have been inquiring about our registry - oops.
Oh yeah. Jeff, the infinitely enthusiastic angler, took charge of
the inventory at REI. Together we parused the floors of our local Crate&Barrel, gleefuly scanning nearly every trinket and serving utensil known to man. See if you can guess who wouldn't leave
the store without registering for the 'cast iron bean-pot'

A Schedule of Activities

Well, with the exception of a few regretters and wafflers, we're delighted to report that lots n' lots of guests have decided to make the trip to Castine for the weekend. There will be lodging for everyone (cross fingers), any spillover guests have graciously been invited to stay in Dr. 45828's tenement on wheels. er, I mean, tour bus. If this thought frightens those of you that haven't made reservations someplace yet - don't worry - there's still time (but not much! so giddy up!)

Jeff and I are going to arrive in Castine early in the week and will be expecting folks to roll into town starting on Wednesday or Thursday. We're working on a little schedule of events for the weekend - here's a peek at the first draft:

Thursday: leisurely 9 holes of golf or tennis, lobster roll at The Breeze, (happy hour), walk in the woods, kayaking, swimming, walk on the shore, possibly a bonfire at the public beach to round out the day.

Friday: competitive 9 holes of championship match-play golf, rest, swimming, (happy hour), rehearsal then rehearsal dinner for the wedding party, raucous carousal at Dennett's Wharf.

Saturday: W E D D I N G

Sunday: sleep late, take an aspirin, yoga, regroup for some brunch and hair of the dog, (happy hour)...

My Best Man and Me

In keeping with the theme of Sarah’s earlier post: photos of Jason and I in our younger days. He was a brain; I was a pain. He was Batman; I was Robin. He wore wrist bands and sweat pants; I matched my shirt with my socks. We fought often but it was brotherly.

Lodging: Update

We've heard back from several groups that are interested in renting houses over the wedding weekend - fantastic! We have good news! Our recent weekend in Castine was spent touring some of the oldest most delightful summer cottages in town. There will be room for everyone that needs a place to stay (so far).

We've also blocked rooms at the two inns in downtown Castine - the Castine Inn, and the Pentagoet Inn - which will be holding rooms until June 1.

If you have any questions, or need help with travel or lodging, we're just an email away.

stammentenney@gmail.com

My Maid of Honor and Me

Here's a little peek at some photos from the Tenney Archive (circa 1982/3?), dusted off and scanned by Dad and Jeff this weekend.

My little sister Leah is still the sweetest gal I know. And quite possibly the cutest. – Sarah

Lodging: Where to Stay

There are two inns in Castine: The Castine Inn {www.castineinn.com} and the Pentagoet {www.pentagoet.com}. We also have quite a few house rentals lined up that can accommodate groups of varying sizes (up to a point). We have blocked rooms at both inns so if you would like to stay at one of these fine establishments then let us know and we can replace our name with yours for the reservation. If you would rather rent a house please contact us and we will find the best place for you. The inns do not have the room to board all of you so consider the rentals as an option. Email us at stammentenney@gmail.com and we'll set you up.

Castine: A Bit of History

Castine is one of the oldest towns in New England, predating the Plymouth Colony by seven years. It is near the site of Fort Pentagouet which many consider to be the oldest permanent settlement in New England. Few places in New England can boast a more tumultuous or varied history than Castine -- which proclaims itself the “battle line of four nations.”

Its commanding position at the mouth of the Penobscot River, a rich source of furs and timber and a major transportation route into the interior, made the peninsula now occupied by the town of Castine of particular interest to European powers in the seventeenth century. The area changed hands numerous times with the shifting tides of imperial politics. At one time or another, it was occupied by the French, Dutch, and England's Plymouth Colony.

The Castine peninsula appears on a 1612 chart submitted to King Henry IV of France by Samuel de Champlain, who called it the Pentagoët (sometimes spelled Pentagöet) Peninsula. As part of Henry's program to defend Acadia, Castine was founded in the winter of 1613, when Sieur Claude de Turgis de la Tour established a small trading post to among the Tarrantine Indians. John Smith charted it in 1614. At some point, some sort of crude defences were erected, and it was called "Fort Penagoët".

After the English seized the post in 1628, it was made an administrative outpost of the Plymouth Colony. William Bradford personally traveled there to claim it. In 1635, it was retaken by the French and again incorporated into Acadia; apparently a more substantial fort, with cannon, was built at this time. In 1667, French authorities dispatched the Baron Jean Vincent de St. Castin to take command of Pentagoët. The Baron married Abenaki, the daughter of the Indian sachem Modockawando, who took the French name Mathilde and bore him 10 children. Castine soon became a force in colonial trade and diplomacy.

Airports: Where to Fly?

For the people coming from afar there are four viable options for flying in. The closest is Bangor, Maine which is a mere 45 minute drive South to Castine. The other 3 options live down the coast with Portland ME being the closest, then Portsmouth NH and lastly, Boston. Bangor Airport is the closest option but also probably the most expensive. There are some reasonable flights into Portland and if you are coming from the great state of Ohio then the Skybus flight to Portsmouth is probably the most affordable option. However, keep in mind that there are only two flights a day and those two flights tend to fill up quickly.