Like the rest of New England, Michael & I were slightly less than pleased about this week’s snowstorm, set to hit Maine the day before the first day of spring. Once we came to terms with the fact that we’d have to shovel our driveway for what seemed like the 43rd time this year, we decided to embrace our situation and enjoy what we hoped was the final storm of the year. Late Monday night we decided to head back up to my family’s farm in Wiscasset so we could get snowed in the little cottage there. We packed food for the next day’s meals, our computers, our snowshoes, and of course, our dog, Orvis. We woke up to little more than a dusting on Tuesday morning, which allowed us to take Orvis on plenty of romps through the field sans snowshoes. Luckily the snow kept up through the night on Tuesday so we were able to put our snowshoes to good use one last time this morning.

Snowshoeing with Orvis has to be one of our all-time favorite activities. Whenever there is as much as a single snowflake on the ground, we notice Orvis begin to bounce around like a giant bunny. We love racing with him in the open fields (he always wins) and exploring the nooks & crannies of the woods alongside him. Watching him bound gleefully through the snow, often carrying an extra long stick or branch in his mouth, always makes us laugh uncontrollably. We’re so fortunate that we had the chance to enjoy the wintry weather one last time before spring (truly) arrives.

Last week, Meredith mentioned one of our favorite places to grab a bite to eat in Wiscasset, and this week, I’m delighted to follow that post with quite possibly one of our favorite shops in the entire Midcoast region – Rock Paper Scissors (sorry, no website).

If you’re ever driving through, or staying in Wiscasset, and don’t take the time to get lost in this fantastic shop of cards, stationery, gifts, and just general awesome miscellany, you’re completely missing out. The collection of products that owner Erika Soule has curated is simply fantastic, and every nook and cranny of the shop is covered with it (she consolidated her other store, Smitten, into the space).  Every time we visit the shop, I see Mere’s eyes grow with each item we see, and this past visit, I made-out like a birthday bandit with an excellent Green Moss candle from Izola and a Lamy Scribble pencil.  We even added some matching, recycled glass wine glasses to our collection.  You’ll find everything you didn’t know you needed, and a cooler version of so many things you already have.  I challenge you to drop in and not find something you want to leave with.

Meredith and I are headed up the coast again soon, and I guarantee that we’ll be dropping in to both Rock Paper Scissors and Treats on our way – it’s become a Midcoast tradition.

My family purchased a farm in the charming town of Wiscasset a year or so ago, and since then Michael & I have thoroughly enjoyed using it as a home base to further explore parts of mid-coast Maine we haven’t yet experienced, or are looking to revisit. Wiscasset itself has a couple of darling (and tasty!) establishments that most people visiting the area might not even know about, as it seems as though nearly everyone who passes through Wiscasset as a tourist is intent on solely stopping for a lobster roll at the famous Red’s Eats right in the middle of town.

Just up the block from the seemingly endless line of lobster-seeking tourists at Red’s is the most delightful specialty foods shop and cafe in town, Treats. In the last couple of years, we haven’t been to visit my family’s home without stopping by Treats at least once during our trip. It’s the perfect place in town to pick up a cup of coffee or tea and a pastry or muffin in the morning, but the lunches (and their accompanying desserts!) are definitely my favorite. Treats has a case full of delicious daily sandwiches and various quiches, tarts, and salads. Of course, you simply have to grab a sweet treat while you’re at Treats, and there are a wide variety of cookies, pies, cakes, and other delectable goodies from which you may select!

While our order is being prepared, I always find myself gazing at the jars filled with colorful candies or browsing the selection of kitchen accessories. Michael, on the other hand, makes a beeline for their beer case in the adjacent wine store. According to him, they have a great selection of local craft brews, and what trip to the river would be complete without some adirondack-sitting, beer-sipping relaxation?

As the weather continues to warm up, we’ll be traveling up the coast more often, and look forward to plenty more stops at the aptly-named Treats. If you find yourself passing through town on your mid-coast adventures, you should do the same!