On a Friday afternoon my husband, Greg, and I cut out of work early and headed toward Moosehead Lake for the week end. June weather in Maine is often disappointing, but this day was glorious. Greg emphasized that he would like to stop at a fine dining spot for dinner on the drive up to Greenville. I wondered where there could possibly be elegant dining on the back roads in the middle of Maine, but I didn’t want to spoil his vision. I slipped a couple of beers into a cooler with some crackers and cheese and tucked it in the back seat of the van – just in case we chose to stop during the 3 hour drive.

We passed one restaurant – a log cabin with a Budweiser sign in a window that had probably never been washed. A couple of men drinking beer on the front porch scrutinized us as we slowed down to check it out. At another restaurant there weren’t any cars in the parking lot – just motorcycles and trucks equipped with gun racks. It was too early to stop anyway. Most places we passed were mom & pop stores with sandwiches for sale.

Eventually we came upon a rest area with picnic tables next to a lake and pulled off the road, ready for a stretch. The spring foliage was brand new, all soft yellow-green in color making it hard to tell one shrub from the next. A cabin across the cove surrounded by newly cut grass stood upside down on the glassy surface of the lake. Everything glowed perfection.
Thinking we were alone, I opened the back of the van, grabbed the two beers, and handed one to Greg. “Let’s stay for awhile!” I said.

It felt like stepping into a Monet painting as we walked down to the edge of the lake. When I looked up at Greg he was standing in front of me holding a small, white velvet covered box which he opened to reveal a lovely pair of sparkly blue earrings. It was the month of our 35th wedding anniversary. The moment could not have been lovelier or more romantic! I was touched by his plans to make it so beautiful, and I was sure he could not have imagined how wonderful it would turn out to be.

But we were not alone. Spring in Maine is also Black Fly season! Suddenly a cloud of the tiny infamous little buggers swarmed us and started their fine dining experience!

Our romantic looks turned to let’s get out of here fast expressions. For a half hour, as we drove the winding roads, we squashed black flies that had invited themselves into the open door of the van while we were down by the lake.

We dined on meat loaf, mashed potatoes, and a glass of wine that evening inside The Black Frog restaurant. I wore the lovely earrings as we watched the sparkly water of Moosehead Lake.

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Maine Warmers online store carries microwave heat packs that help relieve sore muscles and warm a bed on a cold winter (or Maine autumn, winter, & spring) night. Their Magnificent Moose Warmer and Black Bear Warmer make comforting gifts for wildlife enthusiasts, be it a birthday, retirement, get well, or hostess gift.