Archives
24/06: Bits and Pieces
Our days our filled with posing design questions, and finding answers. Much of which revolves around this years theme which is "maps" - and so there are various projects going on at one time. When the starts align, when we have a few moments to breath, and when the rain stops I explore. I was drawing in the village today and had a nice chat with a man tending his garden - as his geese made a lot of noise, he was calling and throwing bits of weeds to them and into the water. It turned out he was Robert Indiana, who I had seen yesterday, but didn't recognize bent in the garden.Like everywhere in coastal Maine lichen is quick to cover almost everything, the fog has been lingering for the last couple days. There are a lot of fascinating people here, and we are all connected through this one string of design - of the 21 here only a few are from Maine, the rest are from California, Seattle, Alabama, Brooklyn, even the Netherlands.
Vinalhaven was once famous for its granite - blocks were cut and hauled, building the grand structures on New York's Wall Street, eventually carvers were brought to the island, and the stone was sculpted here - now bits and pieces show up in the gardens and along the woods of Vinal Haven - A huge stone eagle sits in the parking lot of the village - I wonder where it was suppose to go - and why it never made it. Hard time hit the island after the war - people left the island in droves - leaving everything behind. Some, they say left eggs in frying pans on the stoves. The Poor farm was sold for back taxes - $1,200. But times have changed again, and now just 10 percent of the coast is owned my Maine citizens. Lobstermen drive everyday to their boats instead of rowing out - victims of the islands success. The quarries have new lives as swimming holes.
24/06: Meeting -
There was a break in the proceedings yesterday and we went for a ride to the village - I sat with four others in the window of a little Cafe and was watching people go by - Robert Indiana passed carrying a big stuffed lion, and followed by about four other people, I guess he has an affection latley for stuffed animals - hewent into his studio near the cafe - the old "odd fellows" hall. Wooly says she can get us in. After a while, Mrs Engleheart walked by, a founding member of our little fellowship in Plattsburgh,and she was surprised to hear me call out her name. Its raining today, which I associate with Maine anyway.
21/06: The Longest Day
I spent this, the longest day, driving from Plattsburgh to Vinal Haven Maine - It was a glorious day, the sky was blue with white puffy clouds and I drove non stop through Vermont and New Hampshhire, stopping only for a moment when I crossed into Maine. I was worried that I would miss the last ferry - but I need not have worried, I made it with an hour and a half to spare. But i found out that reservations are only taken one month (thats EXACTLY) one month ahead - and that the ferry was slated to be full - I also learned that parking was seven dollars a day - so I unloaded my bike and I wheeled that with my luggae down to the water. I felt a little lost without the comfort of my car to reassure me of a quick get away (from what I don't know). The ride took and hour and a quarter, and I walked off the ferry to find, well no one, topick me up. But just as I picked up the phone someone called out "Norman?" and I turned and was greeted by Nori Gale, who spent the rest of the evening carting me and everyone else around. The first stop was the "Poor House" where many are staying, and where the design Inquiry is being held - It a beautiful old rambling place, and it sits right on the water without another place in sight. We were invited over to dinner (12 of us) by "Wooly" - and her home on the island was amazing - she has a guest house, a barn, a windmill, and a 1720 house taht they moved there (massive fireplace and all) from NE Connecticut. Best of all, her house sits out on a penninsula, with water everywhere you look. Everyone is friendly, and amiable, and it sounds like it will be a good weekend. The house I am staying at is a nice little place, on the opposite side of the water - full of white wainscotting. I arrived here after dark, so I can't senda picture, but its right on the water, and there is a lighthouse across the road to explore in the morning.
19/06: Skunk Dog –
Ahhhh1 The smell of wet skunky dog on a hot humid evening. Our friend Lizzie told us of a recipe for skunk smell removal – hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a little bit of dishwashing soap. With a bucket of the stuff Lizzie and I took on Bodoni, and… well…. She’s still pretty skunky, but she certainly smells better, and she’s nice and shiny. We are still having a lot of rain, in the form of Thunderstorms lately, and Tory an I take a few minute out to sit on the porch swing and watch the dark clouds flash and rumble.Yesterday we celebrated Tory’s birthday, and Father’s day. The afternoon was hot and sticky, and so we traveled up to Parc Safari, a zoo and waterpark perched on the Canadian border. We had a lot of fun, and had quite a few different beast stick their snouts in the car window. The girls took turns driving.
A Tragic Dressing Accident
On a busy morning, Tory set me to dressing Lizzie, which would not seems a hazardous task. But after a bit of playful scrambling lizzie landed on her face on the floor – which lead us later to Lizzie’s first visit to the dentist – we’ve been trying to move it back into place, and with a little luck she won’t lose it.
