Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Rowing Right Along.

Lobsterman and I took advantage of the halted rains and went on a little ride in the row boat. We were the only people out on the water and we spotted some old lady spying on us with binoculars. We gave her a little wave but that didn't seem to stop her from keeping a close eye. Some of these summer people are so paranoid. I'm allowed to make assumptions like that now that I'm an "islander".



I have yet to take a ride on a lobster boat, motor boat, skiff or schooner this summer, but hopefully now that July is fast approaching, I'll be able to check them all off the list.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Ye Old Mill.

This is what heats our house.



It is a wood stove that is essentially large enough to warm up a mill, hence the name. He sits right in the middle of our living room. I've stubbed my toe on him a thousand times. And he makes the house so hot that he's literally melted my entire candle collection. But I love him. Now I just need to learn how to chop wood.

Pizza Parties.

Since there is no pizzeria on the island (hold your gasps), it's very common for someone to host a weekly pizza party. Over the weekend, Lobsterman and I had ten people over and we each made our own pizza. We made margheritas, sausage and peppers, the works - you name it. Everyone on the island is so good at making pizzas that pies from a parlor to me taste, well, subpar. At least in Maine anyways. Don't even get me started on how badly I need a NYC slice...



Stormy Weather.

I don't think we've seen the end of the rains yet. I am craving vitamin D like an alcoholic craves his drink. I've even got the shakes. My fingers are tightly crossed that this weekend will bring some beautiful sunny Maine days since we have visitors coming. Over the weekend Lobsterman and I went to the mainland. For those of you that don't know, it takes an HOUR via FERRY just to get to civilization. And when it's stormy on the seas - the ride is not always for the faint of heart.

Stormy skies over Rockland, Maine





Friday, June 26, 2009

The Sun!

Is finally out! I'm off for a run but I thought I'd leave you with this photo of Lobsterman greeting some friends out on a dock.



My weekend plans consist of a beachside bbq, a potential dance party in honor of MJ and a trip to the mainland! Woot, woot!

In Reality.

This is where I work most days. Now that I've moved to the island - writing is not my only job. I'll be posting about what else I'm up to soon but my other occupations here include coffee shop manager, gift shop employee and newspaper editor. Although I'd like you all to think I usually sit on a deck overlooking the ocean everyday, it's just not the case.



A shared book collection.



Little mementos from the sea and cards from friends and family that I miss oh-so-much.

Lupines.

Before I moved to Maine, I had never heard of lupines. As soon as the warm weather hit, these sprung up all over the island. Fields and fields of wild lupines were everywhere I looked. When I got home one day Lobsterman had left them in vases for me all over the house.



Now that it's been non-stop rainy, the lupines are drooping over. Now it looks like they're waving, but I'll be sad when they all start to fade from the scenery.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Hiking.

On Memorial day weekend, when I first arrived on this island, one of my favorite memories was hiking up Ames Knob. It's one of the highest points on the island and the views are spectacular. I have some great footage of the group that chose to climb the rocks - and the crew that chose the road more traveled. (Ahem - Jeannine and Amanda). Anyways, as soon as this rain and fog disappears, I hope to head up there soon. I can't wait to see the view of the lupines in the fields from up high.






Success!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Working Hard - or Hardly Working?

Hello from the coast of Maine. I'm going to try and immerse you all in what life has been like for me thus far as best I can. We've got lots of catching up to do.

Though it's been raining here for the past two weeks, right before the flood gates burst open, this was how I did work.



Yep. That's me sitting on an islander's deck (alas, not my own) soaking up some sun while I type away. I am aware that this makes me a big brat.

I mean, who gets to work on writing articles when THIS is their view?



Whatever. Life is fair. I had to live in Queens.

Up and Running.

Finally - after a month of back and forth with the local internet provider - I have a land line AND wireless. Hallelujah. It's pretty funny that I moved to a remote locale and complained about being unable to have these things right away, but it's the 21st century so I don't think I was asking for much. 

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

How This All Began.

Last August I took my very first trip to Maine. My best friend had been coming for years. That magical outing brought lots of "firsts" in my life. My first motorcycle ride - my first ride in the back of a pick-up and most importantly - my first taste of life in Maine. As time passed, I came back in the fall to see the trees turn. I returned again at Halloween to see the harvest moon. After the holidays I came to trudge through the snow and I celebrated my birthday here when the snow began to melt. It should also be mentioned that the reason I kept returning (besides the fact that Maine is awesome) was because I fell in love with a lobsterman.

I made a very big decision to leave my friends, family and a job that I loved for a new life on a tiny island off the coast of Maine. Now I'm a big city girl on a very tiny island - trying to settle in to life.

I hope you'll visit this blog often to keep in touch with me - and to see how well I'm dealing with being a permanent resident of "vacationland".