“I go down to the shore in the morning
and depending on the hour the waves
are rolling in or moving out,
and I say, oh, I am miserable,
what shall–
what should I do? And the sea says
in its lovely voice:
Excuse me, I have work to do.”
~ Mary Oliver, I Go Down To The Shore
Swinging at the pond with Bennett on my lap
Playing Nanny’s “Swing Patrol” with Elsie
Low cumulous clouds over the road East
Farm fields, truckers, honey pretzels, luggage, windmills, and vineyards
The Red Lion Inn that Papa and Nanny treasured, with its creaking floors and red, floral carpets and wood furniture and teapots over the fireplace and long, paned windows overlooking Stockbridge, Massachussetts
Common room of Stockbridge Library, regal and airy
New England cottages and gardens
Our own cottage with the knotty pine walls and heavy doors with latches
First visit to the sea, running the path and scrambling up onto the rocks
Dress whipping
Walking the seashore, singing
Rocks and shells
Rhodedendron
Our bedroom that reminded me of a ship’s cabin
Hanging my sunhat on a nail
Sweater and bandana
Sasquatucket Marina in a low fog, darkness, sailboat spires in the silence
Reading The Four Quartets as I waded the shoreline
Hands smelling like moss and cockles
Skipping the waves out into the Atlantic, ten-knot winds, and whales blowing and diving
Emailing Papa Larry each day, his stories of the places I now know
Red fox friends
Street names like Lighthouse Lane and Oyster Pond
Yellow Umbrella Books
Turtle crossing sign
Sunset on the sound, flying a kite with Trent, wrapped in a quilt with Janaya
Meeting the Elderedge Public Library — wooden railings, spiral staircase, green lamps, and nooks of books
Bubble tea in New York City
Grand Central Station
Sunset from a ferry
“Home and I are such good friends” — Anne Shirley
New gardening client, Mrs. Betty, and her lovely English-style home with flower gardens, a stone chimney, and tea sets in the windows
One ttmmh list can’t possibly hold all the good things we found in New England, so this summer, I want to take you to the sea with a project I’m calling, “The Cape Cod Letters.” Read more…
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