Blog No. 245: No Place Like Maine, About Bees, Crumble Recipe

August 31, 2025

There's No Place Like Maine

Nothing like a family vacation in our favorite vacation spot in the state of Maine, "the way life should be!"  I am not sure all vacation places are like this but Maine seems to attract generation upon generation of summer people who continue to carry on the family tradition...our family included.  Our special spot is mid-coast.  

This year there are sixteen of us in a huge house and you could say it is a bit of a United Nations--we have two Chinese, two Danes, one Brit, a Greek, two Puerto Ricans and the rest of us mundane Americans (although many of us hold multiple European passports)...Feel so lucky to be able to gather and that everyone wants to come time and again...so many beautiful memories over the years.  Blessed...

My nephew Aaron Schoenfelder has documented much of his experiences in the state with these wonderful paintings--creativity does flourish in our breed...

About Bees

click image above to see more animal prints by Pam Smilow and Gert Mathiesen

My friend Regina is one of the foremost beekeepers in Maine and she has mentored many newcomers to the field.  I had the good fortune of suiting up with her one day and going into one of her four hives and having a look.  Totally fascinating!  I was a little nervous at first but realized I was totally protected by the suit and the bees weren't interested in me anyway...

We all love honey.  Here is a crash course on the wonder of bees and that sweet divine nectar they produce:

Click to watch a brief video, courtesy Flow Hive US, honeyflow.com

Click to watch how beeswax is made, courtesy Flow Hive US, honeyflow.com

And on my travels across bee-land, I came across this cool Australian company called Flow who have invented a new kind of beehive, easier on the beekeeper and easier on the bees.

Courtesy honeyflow.com. “With our new invention it was now possible to harvest honey from a beehive quickly and easily, without disturbing the bees and without requiring a honey shed or special extraction equipment. We were convinced that our invention could change beekeeping forever. Now it was time to introduce the Flow Hive to the world.”

Click image to shop all these innovative beehives by Flow Hives

Steve and Maia's Famous Crumble Recipe

My beautiful mom and daughter, many moons ago!

MAIA AND STEVE'S CRUMBLE

Topping: 
mix together 

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

Filling: 
mix together 

3 cups fruit #1

2-3 cups fruit #2

1/4 cup flour
 
2 tbsp brown or white sugar 

Spices (cinnamon or vanilla etc)
Bake at 375 degrees for approx. 40 minutes

Painting of the Week

Painting by my very talented nephew Aaron Schoenfelder. Click image to see more of his work.

Charity of the Week:
Unicef Aid to Gaza

About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.

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