Friendly Firepits

    I was going to write about The Orange Scream today, not because I think anyone out there needs one more opinion piece on the subject or that I’ll turn anyone’s thinking  around should your opinion differ from mine… but because personally I find writing therapeutic.   Let me just say this, cause I gotta be me – DJT is mentally ill, I’m convinced of it.  There is no defense for this brand of leadership that encourages violence and the divide of our citizens, using false narratives time and time again.   By ignoring what is right before our eyes, we are selling our souls for monetary gain, trashing the planet and our humanity along the way, awful thing.  I’m sad for all of us. 
 On to the friendly firepits. ….
  We’re in the middle of yet another heat and humidity wave here in Connecticut. I’ve got fans on the horses, a fan on the chickens and bunny too.  I get the barn chores done early before the sun reaches out over the barnyard and the dogs are outdoors only for bathroom breaks. 
   We’ve been visiting the cottage as work and weather permits… The fire burning  below was the evening before the humidity returned. What a gorgeous night it was. 
     There is a tradition on Island called Friendly Firepits – Once a year on a specific day,  fire pits around the community are lit and the host of each firepit serves refreshments. All members of the community are encouraged to join any or all of the firepit gatherings and enjoy conversation and snacks/beverages with the hosts.   I think we need Friendly Firepits installed all around the nation, don’t you? 
   
    This is Stella’s friendly Firepit.  The Pink Flamingo float in the distance lives on….  we learned his name is “Filbert”. 
   The scow below is a neighbors – and I learned it’s story when I posted this pic on our community page.  This beautiful old blue boat is used to ferry people back and forth to a bigger boat now, and was the very first boat of it’s now 60- something owner  back when he was a young lad summering here on the island.  The “boy” and boat have been together for a very long time. 
   Meanwhile… we’ve got a horse show coming up… or not.  Miss Leah currently has a small abscess in a hind hoof wall.  Such is the unpredictabity of horse show life.  Depending on how fast it blows out and heals, we’ll either have a show next weekend.. or not.  Either is OK by me – a healthy rider and horse is my first concern.    
Speaking of that rider – her show jacket has been taken in where needed, she’s ready to rock’n’roll.  How’s that for bling??..

   Two friends introduced me to some fun apps recently –  flightaware24.com – a flight tracker that also tells you where the plane currently flying over your house is headed –  and yeah, we don’t really need to know that, but still, it’s kinda cool. 
The other is skyview… point your cell phone up to the stars, and it tells you what you’re looking at and gives you some descriptive information, even maps out the constellations for you.  So much fun.  That bright red star I had been  looking at out over the fields is actually Mars!  That bright but much smaller white “star” out in the big distance is Saturn!   
That’s all for now – thank you for stopping by
this little “friendly firepit”. 

Vitamin Sea

   We’ve heard sad news about a neighbor down at the shore.  This was the man who rented his cottage to my mom for a few weeks each year until we acquired Stella by the Sea.  Cancer is a cruel disease, and  in this case even a doctor can’t cure himself if the damned thing decides it’s not letting go.  Residents of the island have been known to say the waters and the quiet, simple island life are the reason we’ll all live long.  The Dr. proves us wrong, as he is as fully emersed in the salt of the place and  loves it as much as anyone can. I am so sad for his family, his young grandchildren, his wife and sons.  Just a few weeks ago I was chilling in the now deceased float (unknowningly with 2,000 barnacles and crabs attached just inches below me)  and he and family passed by in their little boat – waving, smiles.. sea spray, sun, salt and happiness. That was the picture I saw, I wish I could tie it to an anchor and buoy so it would hold fast and steady and stay.  
   
     Stella remains a respite for us all – we come and go as time and  weather and schedules allow. 
 

      

  That’s mom out there!  – Having been raised during summer months at a tiny cottage just like Stella on the shores of Staten Island many moon ago, she’s known the healing powers of  salt water too.  Now that the railing is in and the steps painted that lovely blue hue (boat bottom paint)… entry into the water to swim and kayak is much safer for all of us and she’s joined us in the pursuit of refreshment from the sea.

One of my favorite weeds grows along our sea wall. 
Queen Anne’s Lace.

Meanwhile.. up at the show barn… K and Leah continue to bond… 
What a sweet mare, we are blessed.  Their first show in just a few weeks..
😬
 Saw this recipe shared by Hilary of Crazy as a Loom..
made it.. LOVED it. 
Right now native corn and zucchini are abundant..
This is an awesome meal all by itself, or a perfect side. 
Serious YUM. 
Recipe here
 I hope all is well in your world..
Till soon, friends… 

I want to be your friend…

   A friend shared this on her FB and Instagram yesterday… and it struck a certain cord with me.

   When I was a young person I never though of myself as attractive. I was a brunette olive skinned  green eyed athletic kind friendly generous warm 120 lb. person, but I thought I was ugly.    There are very few photos of me smiling because I thought I had an unattractive smile… so I didn’t.  I was not the popular  blonde blue eyed girl dressed in designer clothes and pumps in HS, and we’re programmed by peers and society that those things are important, so I believed.  I tried not to stand out.. .just let me blend in, and that’s what I did.  I had trouble focusing on any subjects in HS and college that I wasn’t interested in and I was busy being “busy” with the things that did intrigue me- like horses, animals, time spent with the boyfriend and g-friends, and a few subjects like English, writing, music (band) that I enjoyed.   So I didn’t think I was particularly smart either.  My experiences since have shown me my truths, but that was then, this is now.  How we talk to ourselves, never mind how others talk to us… our self talk is so very important.  Keeping it positive is key to our well being and we are the only ones in control of that conversation.

   I strongly believe that the relationship a girl has with her father shapes an important part of what she believes of herself , too- and while my father wasn’t evil in any way, his narcissism didn’t make room for him to nurture others, so my sister and I did not have that important corner built into our foundation.   I think what I love most about my husband is that he is such a caring, devoted father – with just enough tough and a whole lot of love for our children.  I see how it helps them believe in themselves and I hope in my efforts as a mother I did the same.

    It took me many years and a lot of living, some big mistakes, some therapy even, and  some caring people, good role models in my life , like my mother,  to get to this place I am now.  I really really like who I am, who I have become. I’m no dope, I’m a decent mom, a good friend,  I’m generous where I can be, and I put in more at work than I’m asked. Heck – even at the age of 53 with 25 extra pounds, wrinkles, age spots, grey hair, tired eyes –  I like the person I see in the mirror. A lot.   The old part of me that is still me thinks what I just typed sounds conceited – don’t I see the fat? the short legs? the small breasts? the imperfect skin? .  The wiser me knows I’ve earned every piece of me and it’s all a beautiful gift.  That’s true of you, too, and I say it’s time to believe.

   So I read that statement up there at the top yesterday and I said .. Yes.  Exactly.  What am I waiting for? Why the hold up?    I’ve been fighting with the same 25 lbs. for years now –    When you’re 5’4, 25 lbs is a lot of extra weight to lug around.  I’ve taken some off, then put it back on. Then took some more off, then put it back on.  I tried the big diets, the little changes. They work and then I fail to follow them.   Food is my stress reliever, I don’t drink much or smoke, etc.  I do work out, but I don’t love it, I’m no gym rat.  Hence – those 25 lbs.   But I have a few health issues, High BP and fibromyalgia, that really demand I take better care of myself.   I woke up this morning – read that statement up there one more time, and said this is it.  Today is the day I figure this out and stick to the plan.  Of course I’ve said that 1,000 times before.  That doesn’t mean this time it won’t work. That’s defeatism and I’m not about defeat.   My life and it’s quality depends on it.  The fibromyalgia tells me daily to pay attention to what I’m putting in my mouth, to keep moving. I walk, muck stalls, garden, kayak, light weight train. That’ what I enjoy, so that’s what I’ll stick with.

   The other pact I’m going to make with myself is to stop following the news daily –  In my opinion, the asshat we currently have in office doesn’t deserve my peace of mind, I will not pay for his ignorance and those of his ilk.  I do feel humankind will be the cause of it’s own demise, but I can’t change humankind. I can only do good in the place I reside right here, right now and hope it has some ripple effect.   The pebbles tossed in the ocean, you know.   I’m also putting the iphone down – not lugging it around everywhere I go – it’s an awful habit I’ve gotten into, almost like pavlov’s dog.

Enough.   Are you with me?  I kinda love me, do you love you?  Feel free to share in the comments below the habits you choose to take care of you, and even what you love about yourself, I want to hear it.  –  There are plenty of excuses any of us can find and hold on to –  If you’ve been stalling, like me… we aren’t a fail, we’re a new jump start.   Ready?   Let’s do it….. and for Heaven’s sake – smile. Every chance you get.

  

Smiles, everyone… Smiles!

   Miss Leah and K are getting to know each other, and it’s looking like a beautiful relationship is taking place… 

   Meanwhile.. down at the cottage… remember that float we just had to have?  And then we popped before it even hit the water, but we patched it?  Well it’s been sitting out in the cove for a good part of the summer – and just the other day I decided to take a peek underneath because someone happened to mention you oughta flip that thing over every ten days or you’ll get barnacles and those suckers can be sharp.  
  Well I heard what he said, but it kinda went in one ear and out the other because… LIFE… and all that.  So the other day, I went out there, hauled it to the dock and flipped it, just to see what maintenance might need doing (scraping).  To say that half the sea life that lives in the Atlantic was living under that raft, attached to it even!… is just slightly an exaggeration.   It was SO FAR GONE, I kid you not, there was no scraping of those 2,000 barnacles gonna happen in this life time, so.. I slashed the thing, let the air out, and allowed the crab hanger-on-ers to scurry back into the water.  Crabs!  We had been sitting on CRABS!   There had to be 2,000 of those too.  I did not take a picture, but I shoulda.  
    So.. the slashed raft remnants are real heavy and sat there for a day or two while we went on to other stuff… and yesterday the Mr. and I decided to go sit down at the cottage for a few hours in the shade and enjoy the water view and breeze.   Well, hell.. that breeze smelled like a dead whale carcas surely washed ashore just upwind of us.  Only it wasn’t a dead whale.. it was the dead raft and all those barnacles that had now baked in the sun.   Our poor neighbors! Who live there during summer and were very gracious… Smell?  We didn’t smell anything…. (lie! but a kind one).

   Back here on the farm, after a torrential rainstorm and returning humidity – I’m cleaning house, restocked the fridge and  am now procrastinating with the catching up on editing for next month’s edition of our local publication (my day job) .  I’m trying not to pay too much attention to the news, because holy wow, what a clusterf*ck no matter what you’re general opinion is on absolutely anything.  

  The Mr. and I are coming up on our 30 year anniversary in September.  No one was ever kidding when they’ve said  *How Time Flies*.   For whatever the reason, mostly work related… my guy is always concerned with the weather, and in particular, rain fall.  Every time it rains, he runs out to that cheap plastic rain gauge and comes back in excitedly announcing the inches fallen.  “Two inches in the past two hours!”….  “just 1/2 inch today”.   Or if I’m closer to the reading of the gauge… “What’s the rain gauge say??”….  
   Recently I was at a friend’s home and saw the most beautiful rain gauge in her garden.  The perfect gift, I thought.. for the guy who has everything except a nice rain gauge, which he practically worships in all it’s cheap plastic expression.  This.. is on the way…  more fitting of the beloved position it holds in our garden, wouldn’t ya say?  I’m not being paid to say it, but if you’d like the same one, it can be found in the Wind & Weather catalog. 
Till soon, friends… 
    

Welcome Leah!

  So I’ve got some happy news to share –  And I’ll take you back a little so you understand my surprise when hearing this good news myself. 
   Taking you way back – I’ve had a horse since I adopted one at the age of 19 (the horse was around 28-ish) . I had no business adopting a horse, as I was still going to college, didn’t have a pot to piss in other than the loving homes of family to live in – and should have been saving money instead of spending what little I made with part time jobs on an old horse.  But wild horses couldn’t drag me away when the opportunity presented itself, and in fact that horse came to Connecticut with me as I began my new life here. 
  
    We’ve had a small horse farm ever since.  Some horses we’ve brought home have come and gone on to another owner once their job with us was complete, some have stayed.  Currently, Max and Opie and Coady and Lacey are living out their senior years here with us.  Max was my daughter K’s show horse on the beginners level of the  American Quarter Horse circuit until his colic surgery and retirement from the show pen at the age of 22.   He had done his job well and we figured he deserved to retire in style after that surgery ordeal.  When that happened, we pretty much decided we were done with showing. K is saving for her own home with her Mr. some day, and so she was contented to ride Max here on the farm and continue occasional lessons at the show barn she used to ride with. 
   I’ve never been big on showing – I’m more of the  love ’em at home kinda girl.  My daughter, however, LOVES to show.  And she missed it.  Her father, who bankrolls the whole endeavor, told her if she gave big Max to another person, he’d buy her a new show horse.  Well, you know how we love our old boys – Max wasn’t going anywhere.  So  It’s been two years, she remained content in the care and keeping of her old boy, Max, and we assumed we were hanging up our show hats.  
  Recently, the husband and I were watching she and Max go round the ring, and I explained how proud I was of the rider she had become.  Always kind, firm with cues, a gentle rider with a natural seat that I envy.   Somehow in that moment of conversation, something clicked in M’s head, and he called our old trainer not long after, of which I was not aware.  
  I got a text a few weeks ago.  
” W  has a horse I want you to go look at.  Don’t say anything to anyone, just go see what you think, and don’t tell K. “. 
what?……. 
 So, a bit stunned, I went to the barn, where W and I briefly discussed our shock at the fact that M contacted her and told her to find K a safe, sound horse so she could get back in the show pen.  We were all under the impression we were done with it.  Afterwards he told me what spurred him on –  
  For those who haven’t been reading here long – my daughter was in a car accident at the age of 16.5 and after weeks of coma and years of recovery, she has lived (and thrived!)  with a traumatic brain injury ever since. Horses were a big part of her recovery.    So M said –   “Our daughter has come a long way – she  loves working with the horses, she’s dedicated, she spends the time and really cares, plus she’s become a good rider. I don’t want to hold her back from following her dream of showing in some of the bigger arenas”.    I think I loved him up another notch just then. 
  So  up at the show barn – W pointed to a stall where a very pretty dark bay mare stood blinking back at us.  She was tacked up and ridden for me, and I could see she had the training, talent and the quiet/kind disposition we’d want if we were really getting back in to the show arena. 
  Then the big test.  We told K the next day that W had a show horse that needed exercise until she was sold, and wondered if K would like to be the person to ride her while she was for sale.  Heck yes, of course!   We set up a time for K to ride the mare with W, and that first ride went really well. It was clear they were a great fit immediately,  and so we broke the good news to her right there and then.  
 So, do you like her? You think you’ll enjoy riding her until a buyer comes along?
 K:  Are you kidding? I love her! She’s so well trained, and friendly too!   So nice of W to let me ride her, this will be fun! 
How MUCH do you love her, though? 
K: What?……. 
And then she knew…. Leah was hers.
Tears and smiles… and here we go again. 
Welcome Leah! 💗
 

Soggy

     Holy humidity, Batman!  We’ve had a long stretch of rainy humid days but thankfully the sun will return shortly –  The ground is soggy, the air feels like – well a friend described it best – a wet dirty sponge.  I’ve got the fans on in the horse barn and the A/C on in the house.  It’s too wet to trust the fan outside the chicken coop so they’ll have to make do with the puddles that have formed in their coop yard.  We haven’t been down to the cottage because the weather is just too yucky.  On occasion the sun peeps out and I take the dogs for a quick walk, only to witness the clouds fold right back in and another shower appears. 
   Our lone bunny, Cloud, she’s not the friendliest – her brother Harley liked people better, but he passed on last year.  She lives next to the chickens  and has her own yard to run around in, when it’s not storming out.  I’ve explained to her multiple times that her life quality would improve if she would only learn to trust us, but she’ll have none of it. So, her hutch and yard are a no cuddle zone. 
      Some of the girls are molting and look like hell right now.  I also discovered mites in their coop and had to treat the whole thing, and them, with diatomaceous earth and I bleached the coop throughly as well.    DE is an all natural way to rid them of the mites that sometimes infest a coop, some people even eat it for digestive health.  It appears to have worked on the mites, two weeks later we are mite free.  I hope. 

 My giving tree – the ancient pear that stands in the mini’s paddock, has more fruit than ever this year.   Considering the tree is half hollow and has lost major limbs in recent storms, that she still bears fruit is simply amazing.   The mini’s love the fruit as it drops, some of which I have to scoop out each morning lest they get sugar overload from eating them all.

1,000’s, I’m telling ya.  

     On days like today, when the weather may call for thunder and lightning,  I leave the horses in their paddocks where they have easy access to their stalls (and fans), shelter from any severe weather.  They prefer to be out on pasture, but I don’t like to leave them out in the fields with potential lightning.  So they are bored as they wander around the smaller paddocks and their stalls, picking at their hay, while the much greener grass is on the other side of the fence.

    Opie peeking in the feed room, asking for a treat, please.

 

   My daughter’s retired show horse, Max, likes his creature comforts.  If the going gets too buggy or hot or soggy  out in the fields, he much prefers the fans and soft shavings and hay offerings in his stall.

     The dogs nap as the rain falls, asking to go out occasionally, and only when it’s not raining.

  Dear old Ben isn’t fond of the rain or humidity either –  He’s now on five heart pills –  living  on borrowed time, but he’s comfortable and with these pills he’s leading a decent life.  So we’ll spoil him until his final day.

  One  good thing about all this rain is the lush gardens outside my doors… 

  I’ve made several batches of pesto from all the happy basil plants, my freezer is now stocked well into fall.    (This picture taken a day before the rains came – what a difference)
  The recipe and card I use was given to me at my wedding shower 30 years ago.   I love that idea.  Each guest to the shower brought a favorite recipe.  I still have most of them! 
 There are several variations of pesto out there, but this one is my favorite.  What’s missing on the card is 2 teaspoons of pine nuts, and 2 cloves of garlic.  I make big batches and use lots of garlic. 

Delish! Fresh from the garden –   If you like pesto,  give it a try – 

Believe me

  Lately I barely skim the headlines, I’m so sad (angry? frightened? horrified?) by what we have become as a nation under our current leadership.  I hate to see the way people talk to each other on social media. I hate the emboldened “hate” groups – who now see the President’s views as their validation.    How awful is that? 
  I’m no snowflake, not a lefty, not even a democrat, I don’t hate the republican party, even agree with some of their positions.  *I am  not affiliated because I think party allegiance clouds some peoples vision.   So this opinion does not come from one of those, if you’re someone  who throws labels around and discredits any and every actual fact if you believe it comes from that territory  –  the territory that is not yours.  What we have now with the republican party is nothing we’ve seen before.    It appears as if the old party is dead, cowtowing to a monster who they fear will attack them, as he has many others,  should they stand up for what they must know is right and decent. Some of them are indeed taking a stand, and being slammed for it repeatedly.  How do you tell a man like John M*Cain he’s no hero because he was captured and ever feel good about it?  How do you slam a man on his deathbed and ever feel good about it?

   Can we call it leadership when the most powerful man in office lies to us regularly,  still looking  out for the big corporations, (wasn’t that what his base was railing against to begin with? are they suddenly blind to it now? )  still placating the 1 percent, while telling us he’s here for us, the every day Joe?  That’s kinda hilarious, if it weren’t so important.  In control, republicans couldn’t fix our health care system after bitching about it for 8 years.  The deficit is bigger than ever –  they screwed up so bad with their new tariffs the farmers who were already struggling had to be given a bail out , (jeez, isn’t that a socialist thing?)  bail out money we are borrowing from CHINA, the people we threw the tariffs on… because the current administration blew our budget through the roof.  Why are we throwing a military parade when we aren’t yet feeding our homeless vets?  Not giving them the mental healthcare they need?  Actually, vets just lost their dental coverage thanks to the new regime.  
  They’re making America great again, believe them, don’t listen to what you are seeing and what you are hearing – believe me, not them.  That’s what he said yesterday.   Those are some scary words right there.  The leader of the free world, of our beloved America – is telling you the press is all fake news (that’s just not true) , our intelligence community is untrustworthy fake news ( also not true) , anyone on the opposing side is all fake news (what a childish take).  The only truths according to the current President are what you see come out of his mouth.  Yet, it’s been proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that what comes out of his mouth  have been many, many  lies, many false accusations … directly to you and me and all his “base”… again and again and again. Big lies, little lies, more than 3,000 lies since taking office.   3,000.   Three Thousand.   Lies.  outright.  Am I clear here?  
  He doesn’t care about our environment, he sides with corporations – which is eroding before our eyes, you don’t have to look anywhere other than your own surroundings to know it.  He has yet to do anything that truly impacts positivily  any of We the People,  although if you believe him, he’s telling you he’s the greatest, ever, and you’re already so much better off.  He’s making enemies all over the world and in this country. North Korea is laughing at him.  He’s in P*tins pocket.  He’s trying to discredit an investigation that has already yielded astonishing results – Russia has indeed been trying to undermine our democracy, our elections, and spies have lived among us doing the dirty work for years.  We are under cyber attack by the Russians, proven, not fake news.   Why would you ever… ever… call that a witch hunt – the protecting and defending of our freedoms, our democracy.  His wife wears a jacket that says  I Really Don’t Care, Do U?    Wow.  I believe her!   It’s bizarre and unhinged.  I just don’t understand how it’s not clear to absolutely ever single person how very toxic this current political environment he has created, is. 

    I love my country, there are so many good things happening out there, and it’s a beautiful, beautiful place.  I have always felt blessed to be an American.  I’ve also been so fortunate to meet some truly good people along the way. I try every day to set my deep concern for the welfare of our country aside and focus on all that is still good and right and decent and worthy of our precious time.   I’m not a religious girl but I’m praying for all of us, to bring us safely out of this unhinged presidency and to find common ground again, to take care of each other and especially those in need, to  be able to live peacefully and prosperously and safely on the world stage and respect each other again, to have faith in the powers that be.  
 It ain’t easy – believe me. 

Martha’s Vineyard 2018

  The Mr. and I took a three day hiatus to the island of Martha’s Vineyard – just a 2.5 hour drive and then 45 minute ferry ride is all it takes to get to one of my favorite places on earth.  It’s also one of the favorite places on earth of some 100, 000  other people.  So,  while there’s still a lot of wild, rugged, natural beauty on island and you can get away from it all if you go to the right places, it’s also extremely peopley in summer months.  We found a mid-week trip is easier to navigate.  There are no traffic lights on island and no fast food joints (imagine that! ) … and people manage to be polite to one another most of the time, and survive on decent food. 
  I love the excited feeling of pulling up to the ferry docks, driving on to the Ferry and sitting on the deck as we make the brief crossing to the island.  Like a kid again, and I wish for all of you that you get that giddy feeling now and then, it’s good for the soul. 
   This is the Island Home ferry – in this photo we’ve just driven off it (cars in bottom level) and are  on the beach nextdoor  at the famous Black Dog restaurant, waiting for the lunch at noon opening.  We’ve made this a tradition, and a better fish and chips dish you’ll be hardpressed to find. 
   Of the six towns on the island, Edgartown is our favorite place to stay.  The Harborside Inn is our go to for short stays – right on the water, amidst all the quaint shops and restaurants, it’s a convenient location in a great walking neighborhood.  The flowers absolutely everywhere are stunning… there is one landscape company on island in charge of all the planters, and most early mornings you’ll see the crews out there deadheading and watering, sweeping up debri. 

In July the hydrangea, roses and daylilies are in full bloom – just glorious. 

     I noticed a white poodle is the accessory most yacht owners carry on and off boat with them. Many of those poodles have strollers if their owner is strolling around town.  The poodle on this boat has a very good life, dining nightly with his/her owners on the upper deck, strolling up main street in the cool morning air, while the crew hoses the decks and squeegees the windows. 

Flowers and american flags everywhere… the island patriotism is clear and present.

 Below is a giant Linden tree – this photo does not do it’s size justice –

Edgartown Light – a favorite spot…. 
So photogenic, a great place to catch the morning sunrise or
evening breezes after a hearty meal. 

 And hearty meals were aplenty (ahem) 

Katama airfield – the Right Fork Diner – fantastic, healthy choice foods… 
If you’re on island, I highly recommend the experience. 
The farm institute is just down the road.. 
We made our traditional trek through… 
admiring the gardens and fields full of cows. 

There are many beaches around the island – our favorites are the  kid friendly
State beach that also includes the Jaws Bridge.. .
(I made the jump in my 51st year) 

Gay Head, Moshup Beach (Aquinnah) … which we didn’t visit this year..
And South Beach, which can be wild at times… 
The water here in the Atlantic Ocean is so clean and powerful.  The hues are navy and sea blue-green.  So refreshing ,too. 
 
 Funny thing – If you’re a jeeper you know all about the Jeep wave (or peace sign).  Most jeepers are wavers.  I’m a waver myself – I believe in upholding the tradition – which started when the original jeepers – GP-ers (general purpose vehicle) army folk used these vehicles in their operations. When they passed each other, they waved as a sign of camaraderie.   For whatever the reason, on Martha’s Vineyard, no one waves.  I mean NO ONE.  Yet once you cross the ferry back to the mainland, the waves begin again.  So bizarre.  I thought about it.  And I’ve come up with this.   There are many many Jeeps available for rent on the island because you can take them offroading on some of the beaches and tourists think that’s way cool.   Perhaps the tourists who don’t normally drive a Jeep aren’t aware of the Jeep tradition, and so they don’t wave or peace out.  Perhaps the real jeepers who live on island have gotten so tired of being snubbed, they don’t bother anymore.   
I waved anyway… I think jeep rental places should put a sign on the dash explaining the tradition. Some thingsshould be upheld, ya know? 
My Jeep still carries the sand from our adventures this week, I think I’ll leave it there.
Heading home on the Governor… a smaller freight ferry. 

More Vineyard posts HERE .
Till soon, Friends –  I hope all is well in your neck of the woods. 

Too Soon

       Earlier this week I got a phone call from my cousin. His brother, my cousin Ralph, had recently been dealing with some health issues but was not at all on his way out.  And yet he was. Suddenly, after complications from a lung condition, he found himself at the end of his journey.  His family gathered and my mom and I drove to Pennsylvania to visit with him one last time, hard to believe.  Hard to believe. 

Ralph with granchildren
Ralph, I always knew you were a mountain of a man, but the magnitude of what fortified that mountain was never more clear to me than just the other day. Since I was a very small girl and on occasion when my life’s path was rocky and I needed to sort things out and to bounce my decisions off someone who would tell it to me straight, it was your number I called. You understood the Amoia (your mother? my father? ) in me like no one else. Because we moved to different states to raise our families, we didn’t see each other as much as we would have liked, but the love and laughs and commiseration were always there, just a phone call away. When we’d gather again, it was as if no time had passed. Sadly it was more often for sad times than not. Jeez, we sure pick the wrong places for family reunions, huh?
We came to see you the other day because almost unbelievably, something was bringing down the mountain. I have never been more in awe of a human being than as I witnessed you… comforting others (supposed to be the other way around!) … saying words of caring and comfort and love, still joking, still that hilarious and sarcastic sense of humor – still you in all the ways that matter. How tender you were with your young grandchildren, so much love in the room. Because of you.

Gone way too soon – You will remain in all of us, near and far, as we carry on without the mountain in the backdrop. My heart breaks for your wife,  Your brother and his family,  your children , their spouses, your beautiful grandchildren and selfishly for myself. I hope you’re not just resting in peace – I hope there was a big party thrown in your honor and you’re raising hell again with those who have gone before us – with that big laugh and some wicked stories.
Love you forever – ðŸ’”  Until we meet again –

Breathe

 

    The humidity finally broke after a good rain storm and we have absolutely perfect weather right now.  The weekend was full of  the bluest skies, sun and surf  at the cottage as we all took a deep breath and exhaled into the loveliness.  Our lives are busy – the youngsters just beginning the building of their adult lives with budding careers and relationships, the prospect of their own homes in the near future, families, etc… and the Mr. and I continue with the care of our farm, the cottage, the family business, my editorial job and all the responsibilities that go along with.  Taking time to smell the roses is so necessary and often overlooked.   
Don’t miss out – take the time. No one ever lies on their death bed saying “I sure wish I hadn’t taken that trip to Bermuda, I sure wish I had spent more time fretting,  Jeez, had I only dusted and vacuumed just a few hours more,  I sure wish I hadn’t spent so much time with my children, my grands, my passion.  
Whatever inspires you, whatever brings you happiness – do more of THAT.
 I managed to get the big guy out on the water yesterday and he actually sat down and relaxed in the shade for a few hours, too.  Must have been a blue moon last night, I forgot to look.   

  Our cove has two very different sides.  Our side is a colony of small seasonal cottages that were established in and around 1930-ish.   In the picture below you see what it looks like from the water.

 Then there’s the end of the cove that nestles into a nature refuge just after the stone jetty – with a few reasonable  year round houses on the end.  (seen below).

    
     Across the cove on the other side are some much larger homes, one of which has been in the construction phase for the last five or so years.  My husband jokes that they pay the high taxes but we have the best view.  They look over at us, we look over at…. well.. this…. 
   Can you imagine rambling around in that house?  And it’s quite possibly just a summer retreat for whomever is building it.   Remarkable construction – note the stone tier at the bottom with wood shutter windows, just amazing.  
    The Giant Pink Flamingo still sits out in the cove, occasionally needing an air refill once it appears he’s taking a drink.  Some people are annoyed by his appearance, I think he ads character.  I’m not bold enough to bring one to the cove myself, our float is standard issue.  My daisies are so happy, must be the salt air and sun. 

Here in New England, Tiger lilies line the roads in early July – it’s truly a beautiful sight. These are my husband’s favorite flower, so I’ve planted daylilies on the farm and at Stella by the Sea, seen here.

  Today I plan to catch up on laundry and dusting and vacuuming here at the house, and I’ll pick fresh basil from the garden to make pesto for dinner.  I might even make the cake I’m going to share with you below , click on the title for the recipe – although we’re both trying to get serious about our weight loss goals so I really.. really shouldn’t. (I hear you, Hilary, from all the way over here).  🙂 

ps.. I hate when that term is used “To Die for”…
 no cake is worth dying for.. just sayin. 

  I hope you’re having a good day, wherever you are –  Don’t forget to smell the roses, eat the cake, stick your toes in the water at the beach, jump in the pool, run under the sprinkler, pick the flowers and set them in a vase just for you.  Next time you wash the sheets for your bedding, hang them outside in the sunshine to dry . Put your quilt out there too – the fresh outdoor scent is intoxicating, lulls one to sleep. 
 Till soon, friends – Thank you for stopping by.