Monhegan Island

I finally got to visit Monhegan Island, a week or so ago (thanks to my sister), even though it's located in the same damn county and I've been here (in Maine) for over 20 years now. Anyway, here's the facts: Monhegan Island is a plantation in Lincoln County, Maine, United States, about 12 nautical miles off the mainland. The plantation comprises its namesake island and the uninhabited neighboring island of Manana.The island is accessible by scheduled boat service from Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor, and Port Clyde.

We left from new harbor as it's only 20 minutes away from my house and as soon as we boarded the Hardy Boat the captain announced there were rough seas ahead (seas of 6-7 feet). Perfectly safe mind you, but for anyone with a queasy stomach, well...they might want to take another trip. Quite a few people got off the boat. We did not, and chose to ride above in the fresh air. And yup, it was bouncy. You needed to hold on to something. Luckily I don't get sea sick (or haven't yet, knock on wood) so I thought it was kinda fun. Like a ride at an amusement park. But there were a few people who got sick, and when we got to shore one poor woman just curled up on the one of the benches.

We hiked along the shore and here are a few pics...

Very few people live there year round but lots of people visit and rent houses for the summer. Artists love the place as do birders. I loved the trails and the views. Talk about dramatic. Those last three pics are just a few I took of the same spot, and when I look at them consecutively I can see the way the ocean moves, the sea rolling in and up against those rocks, spray flying, water crashing...

It was a good day.

Ca' d'Zan

I am happy to report that I'm on to Chapter 21 of RUN, in which there will be a town meeting and the unpleasant person who recently arrived will be touted a hero - much to my main characters' dismay...

If anyone is remotely interested, the first chapter is available to read in my static pages beneath my header.

But I suspect that what you really want to hear about is Ca' d'Zan, which I mentioned on Friday as John and Mable Ringling's winter home. John Ringling, in case you forgot, was part of the Ringling Brothers Circus. He and his wife chose the site of their home because it reminded them of the lagoon of their favorite city. The name of the house is Venetian for House of John.

Inside looking out - God, don't you love the stained glass...

The ice box, I think.

The Range

I wouldn't mind this sink in my kitchen...

The servants' stairs

Sadly there was a chain preventing people from going down (we might be idiots and jump off and drown ourselves, after all), but this was the dock...ayay...

And that's me, enjoying a bit of sun on that fabulous patio.

W is for Woolbridge, Jim

My theme for A- Z is the year my book takes place: 1881. I"ll be posting about people, places, and random facts about the year as it relates - however distantly - to my book, West of Paradise.

Today we have W for Jim Woolbridge, Pinkerton agent and Larry Sweet's partner. In my first draft of West of Paradise, there was a whole chapter devoted to Jim and Larry not to mention a number of scenes. Sadly, a lot was cut. Overall, I think the cutting made for a better, tighter, story, but I was sad to see Jim's character reduced. Ah, but here I have an opportunity to share some of those deleted scenes and in this one I was trying to not only highlight Jim's character but the city of Boston as Jim sees it. Here, Jim has been following someone who entered this door:

Louisburg Square - I took this when I went to Boston a few years back for a research trip.

       Number twelve, he found, committing it to memory and making a leisurely circle around the park. He was about to head back to the Amory-Ticknor House when he heard the sound of a door opening and shutting behind him. Slowly he glanced toward the sound and watched as the same servant emerged from number twelve, along with an exceedingly well-dressed woman whose face was hidden by the large plumed hat she wore. The two of them maneuvered a great pram down the steps and onto the walk where the servant took over pushing. Larry noted the direction they took and followed at a slow pace, down Willow Street, over to Chestnut, then Spruce, and out onto Beacon St.

       It was a fine day for a walk, sunny but not overly warm, with few clouds, and a light breeze ruffling down through the streets and making ripples on the frog pond. The smell of roasted peanuts drifted up from the Commons, making Jim’s stomach rumble and reminding him of his last meal, which had been less than satisfactory. He crossed the street, deciding to purchase a bag of peanuts, but waited until he had noted the destination of the two women and their charge in the pram.

     He hurried down the steps to the commons and found the peanut seller, handing over the appropriate coin in exchange for a small warm bag of peanuts. He popped one into his mouth and chewed.

***

Not exactly a thrilling scene...which may be why it was cut. Editors know these things. 

W is also for West of Paradise - 

 

Sunday Pics - California

I love California. I may have grown up on the East Coast but my heart is in California. I only lived there for two years but I will be forever wanting to go back. Some of you have seen this before but it's still one of my favorite pics. I took it last November while visiting my sister in Oakland.

Enjoy your Sunday :)

Sunday pics - where I'm going

Ok. So I'm not actually going to San Francisco for Thanksgiving, but I am going to Oakland, which is just outside the city and hopefully I'll get into the city at least once during my visit. Of course, this also means I'll be mostly absent so I'll wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving now. Enjoy your day and the time you spend with those you love and have a super Sunday!

The trip home

As promised, a few more pics from the whale watch I went on. These are from the trip home.

Supposedly the sailors used to call seals sea dogs but I think they should be called sea puppies since they're so cute. Don't you agree? Anyway, if you ever get up this way I highly recommend you go on one of these excursions because even if you don't see anything, just being out on the water on a beautiful summer's day is worth every penny. Enjoy your holiday if you've got it and I'll see you all Wednesday with our first first impression for the month. And don't forget, comments get you entered into the great give away which continues through September 26th.

Sunday pics - whale watch

I know I complain about my work sometimes but there are a few good good things and last weekend's whale watch was one of them. We departed out of Boothbay Harbor (my favorite town in the area - reminds me a lot of Chatham, MA, where I grew up) where this cute little boat was tied up next to us. Wouldn't it be fun tooling around the harbor in it?

Then we passed this adorable little cottage which sits on a small island in the harbor. There's a house there, too, and quite a nice one, but I rather liked the cottage.

 

 Or maybe this place would be nice...

 

 Or possibly here, The Cuckolds, a lighthouse just off Cape Newagen.

 

But after that it was the open sea for 18 miles...

Until we came to the whale feeding grounds, where we saw Finbacks and dolphins cavorting - and yes, they were cavorting! Unfortunately I only got pics of the whales and very few good ones. But here they are:

Not the best pics, but we did see a lot of whales and even a cow and her calf, and the day was absolutely gorgeous. Tomorrow, in lieu of a post, I'll have more - including the seals :)

Have a lovely Sunday.

sunday pics - Florida

A few more lovely flowers from Leu Gardens...

and the Datura on my mom's porch

and this lovely Painted Bunting

Isn't he a handsome fellow?


Enjoy your Sunday.

Sierra

In the phonetic alphabet, Sierra represents the letter S. My dictionary defines Sierra as 1. a rugged range of mountains that have an irregular or serrated profile, or 2. any of several mackerellike fishes of the genus Scomberomorus, of tropical seas.

Here's  Sierra de Cordobo, a mountain range in central Argentina

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierras_de_Cordoba

And here's a Sierra Mackerel

But maybe you're interested in The Sierra Club, one of the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots organization in the US. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir. The Sierra Club has hundreds of thousands of members in chapters located throughout the country.

Muir Woods

Sunday pics - friends in faraway places

Okay, it wasn't THAT far away but it was Florida and it was the first time I ever met another blogger friend in person. Who was it you might ask? Who did I meet and actually have lunch with at a sweet little French cafe in Winter Park Florida?

Yep, it was Michael from In Time, who happened to be staying in Coco Beach. When he heard I was visiting the area we found a way to meet up at the Morse Museum which has an incredible collection of works by Louis Tiffany, including the Tiffany Chapel which was designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. I only wish I could've taken pictures to show you how amazingly beautiful it was. More amazing is the fact the chapel resided in crates for many years following a 1957 fire and it wasn't until 1996 that the Museum's trustees resurrected the chapel. The conservation and re-installation in a new wing took nearly three years and while it isn't the same chapel that was first exhibited in 1893 or the one Tiffany brought home to Laurelton Hall, it is a masterpiece nonetheless, "a temple of art."

As for Michael, he was the nicest person ever, actually pushed my mom around in the wheelchair the entire time (she can't walk for long distances) and was as much in admiration of the art work as we were. We all chose our favorite pieces and lamented over the restrictions on our cameras and I bought a little blue bird which I will have to take a proper pic of at some point. But I'll leave you with this one...

enjoy your Sunday.

By the time you read this...

I'll either be in or on my way to sunny Florida...

which means I won't be posting anything until Monday the 26th for the 1000 words blogfest. In the meantime I'll try to get around to everyone else instead, which will be fun for a change :)

sunday pics - vacation

This is where I was a few years back, hanging out with some birds on Sanibel Island *sigh*. And in less than 2 weeks (March 21st to be exact) I'll be heading south again. It won't be quite as awesome as Sanibel (I'll be smack dab in the middle of the state) but it will be warm and I should have access to a computer and maybe I can even beat my mom a few times at Scrabble :)

oh, and I'll get to go barefoot!