Monhegan Island Visit

Off the coast of central Maine is the island of Monhegan. It is well known as an artists enclave, lobster community, and a bird sanctuary. Once owned by the Ford family, it now is home to maybe 500 permanent residents, mostly fishing families and for maybe 8 months a year folks working in the tourism/birding business. While we went primarily for the birds, which are very interesting in that many stop over on the migration south, the whole experience was amazing. Hence a few photo's.


The whole island is only about a mile long and a half mile wide. Lots of great hikes and beautiful vista's. We arrived the day before the annual start of the lobster season. The dock was crowded with pots and other gear. It was really interesting.



The island boasts the home of James Wyeth, the famous American painter, and has views at every turn that would inspire vision.



Our companions were really nice, we were hooked up with Bryan Pfiefer, a bird guide from Vermont. Paula's mom Marilyn, Brig, Chelle, Paula and I birded up a storm.



Course, Paula and Marilyn had to get in the obligatory shell collecting while we were there!


One of the fun experiences was to have the "wedding party" arrive. Since the island has no vehicles other than the lobster folks' trucks, everyone walks everywhere. Here, the bride is coming down the road with her husband to be, carrying her wedding dress with some of the wedding party.

Everywhere you looked was another interesting sight. Whether buildings, trees, sculpture both living and not, and people.

Interesting folks too. Here is the announcement of the annual "Blessing of the Pets".

This pole is actually vertical in at least 8 languages sitting in front of the little school house.

The lobster fishing is a shotgun start from the bay at dawn. I got a video of it.



Interesting crossing coming home included some pretty wild seas. Actually really fun!


Obligatory Bird

Peace.

Great Gatsby 2009

Chelle has been serving on the board of the Windsor based Cornish Colony Museum for the last couple of years. She was very involved this year in putting on the annual fundraiser which has traditionally been called the Great Gatsby. The name has significance in that F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby was one of the author's whom Maxwell Perkins was the editor for. Maxwell Perkins, a Windsor resident lived in the home which is now being converted into an Inn by the Larson clan. (See www. snapdragoninn.blogspot.com) It was a great bash.

Brig played the gangster part well!


The Big Band, Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Ensemble was great.


The women especially were really into the dance.


We had the chance to acquire some art for the Parrish House. Three of the pieces were by Robert Way, an artist from North Carolina who grew up in Keene, NH and is very interested in light and the colors of Parrish.





One other really fun piece was done by a distant relative of Maxfield Parrish who had made a trip with her sisters to Vermont. We have this one now hanging in the living room at Parrish.

Future Stars - Presenting the Larson Brother/Cousins

There is nothing quite like 6 year old soccer. It is much like a great ball of children chasing a smaller ball. But in all modesty, and this is not just Grandpa talking, I think the Larson's of Windsor Vermont may just have a couple of stars in the making.

Both Anders, the son of Brig and Chelle, and Wyatt, the son of Jordan and Katie are playing for the Windsor Green Team. In this first picture, Anders is on a breakaway which resulted in a score. Judge for yourself after looking at these pictures.




Wyatt is a bit older and much larger, but is incredibly fast and smart. He and Anders really work together well as team mates.






Of course Maddie was there to act as a cheerleader when she remembered!



It may be that the only position not be perfect for Anders is Goalie. It seemed that he was a bit bored.

Whirlwind 48

Just spent 3 weeks in beautiful Vermont. The last couple of days were wild. It was particularly fun because Grandpa and Leslie were visiting. Getting this picture of he and Great Grandson Eddie Larson was fun.


Of course New England is beautiful this time of year. This is just out the back door of Chelle's house in Windsor.


On our way to the airport, we stopped by the little house that Thoreau built in Concord, Mass.


And took this picture next to Walden's Pond.


Before we got on the plane, we stopped by to see Mario and Angie in Cambridge. Here is the Harvard Law School.


And the new portion where Mario has most of his classes as Grandpa is quick to point out.


Literally within hours we were back in Portland, and I was headed to Seattle for a conference.


Even there the leaves were beautiful.


Face it. I am the luckiest guy in the world!