Located a few miles off the mainland, the Cranberry Islands-like most Maine islands, are so close, yet so far.

Christmas, anchored in history:

Maine Islands and art go hand in hand for reasons that are not that clear.

These islands I visit close to home, have little resemblance to each other each other and none at all to islands I've visited outside of Maine. Vacation fantasy for some with real life in the next dooryard.

A window is a view but it doesn't tell you much about the life inside a house(or the life passing by outside).

Gunkholing in the dinghy in the broad bay between the Cranberries felt like being a kid again, exploring your home waters for the first time. Acadia backdrop.

Cranberry Island Grilled Lobster: Buy two 1 1/2 pound new shell lobsters at the Co-op. Steam for 5 minutes-remove and place on cutting board. Slice each in half, the long way(crack each claw, drain lobster).

Brush with butter and added local herbs, grill for 5 minutes shell down - 3 minutes shell up. Serve with chilled Rose'.