CAPTAIN'S BLOG: A Season in Brooklin, Maine

While on the road to a few errands I spotted seasonal portents in the landscape: small mounds of apples dropped beside the road from long forgotten trees; blueberry barrens tending toward red; a maple tree tinged with orange; burnt-sienna bushes; tall tasseled grasses; acres of goldenrod; and the now deserted Blue Hill Fair Grounds. What comes next is a kaleidoscope of increasingly brilliant foliage on the land, haze-free crisp skies, sapphire seas, many fewer cars on the road, sleeping under the electric blanket, and perhaps a shorter wait for coffee at Sandy's.

So, as it slips away, here's a few notes and pictures of the summer.

Recently aboard Tramp with the Briggs

A tenacious Winter and a reluctant Spring put the plant cycle off by a good three weeks and evoked quite a few grumpy comments, especially from those who thought it was time to be sailing.

If you get here in May, this is what the pier at the Center Harbor Yacht Club looked like.

This is what the neighbors looked like

And this is what Katie's Garden looked like.

The Porch Party marks a start to the social season, hosted by the Art & Paul and Karl & Katie Schoettle. The invitation says "5 - 7 PM". The 80 or so guests arrive at seven after five and have consumed 17 pounds of crab dip and departed by five after seven. It's a great way to catch up with a lot people in a very short amount of time.

This summer was much like so many seasons spent at this corner of the peninsula. There were many dinners both as inviters and invitees. There were house guests both returning and new. There was gossip both ongoing and of the moment. There was sailing and there were naps on the front porch glider. There were lobsters and blueberries. There were concerts at Kneisel Hall. There was deliciousness at Arborvine and Aragosta and, if I do say so myself, at 41 Steamboat Road.

The view from the porch included the usual array of wild life, wild storms and wild colors at dawn and dusk, with an occasional unusual and often beautiful sailboat dropping a hook in front of the cottage.

When Chad and Matt were visiting the view was the Eggamoggin Reach through rose colored glasses.....

sorry, I just had to.

There were far too many memorials for those who, as Steve Parson would say, "have gone aloft." I only attended one, for Art's friend from childhood, Sue Drew, at the property where she spent summers. There was a fair amount of churchiness. The Lord's Prayer was spoken by the congregants in a tone I can only call begrudging. There was a very strange homily about one of the Psalms and Jesus, etc. Quite a few people stepped up to the podium as we sat under the big white tent. Some spoke well, at least one spoke too long, but the best by a mile was Bill Fuller, who had worked for Sue for decades, at first taking care of her properties, but by the end of her 81 years helping out in lots of ways. His final statement after a very amusing telling of the tale of their relationship was, I think all would agree, succinct and spot on. "She was a great old broad." There were cocktails and passed snacks afterwards. The bartender obviously had no idea of who this crowd was, the evidence being that he ran out of rocks glasses in the first five minutes.

Other sad news for the summer was the decision Joe & Tom made to sell "The Old Vic". We're just hoping that whoever gets it will continue the Blueberry Martini tradition. Please help find some good owners/neighbors.

On a much more pleasant note, a small gathering took place at the end of Steamboat Road this summer to make official and celebrate the fact that after 40 years together,

ART & PAUL GOT MARRIED

Donald and I were late for the ceremonials but in time for the champagne....to no one's surprise. As with all weddings there were some sweet tears. Betsy Ann was in residence and improvised a quite spectacular cake. Emblematic of the level of sentimentality for this event was Paul's response to the question, "Is there any reason you picked today for the wedding?"
"Yes, because I'm leaving town tomorrow!"
The Honeymoon was about 10 days later when they drove a U-Haul full of furniture from Raleigh to the emerging year-round house on Reach Road.

Other events this summer included a few that would seemingly only take place in Brooklin....

Exhibit A

Art made arrangements for the car that stays here to be out of the garage so we could pick it up in the afternoon. No one was anywhere around when we got there and not only were the keys in it, as is customary around here, but probably because the battery was a bit reluctant after the winter, the engine was left running.

Exhibit B

As we were leaving a re-launching at the Brooklin Boat Yard the conversation naturally fell to the big project they are currently working on at the yard..... a 72' sailboat with marine architecture by German Frers and the rest by Frank Gehry. To think about the expense of something like that and how often it will actually be used sets normal heads to spinning. The story told that morning was that the owner is reported to be a friend of Mr. Gehry and to have said something to the effect of, " Really, I just write the checks. I wanted Frank to have something fun to do." As with most of Mr. Gehry's projects there is titanium ( "unobtainium" as they call it at the boat yard ) everything everywhere and, so as to allow for gracious space, plans are being drawn up for the support boat that will be the galley. Nothing beats money! A current phrase in the local lexicon is, "We're taking our friends to see the boat."

The most important development in social life here for almost everyone I know is the full-flowering of Sandy's Provisions, transplanted to town center and offering, beyond the goods for sale and the perfect coffee, a convivial social environment for a wide variety of people. The daily trip there for coffee and conversation and perhaps a pastry is now referred to as "Church". The scene there is worthy of a separate posting. ( Perhaps something along the lines of Humans of New York. Please don't click through to this site just now as I fear you may not return for the few photos at the end. )

The ability to share all this and more with people is certainly the icing on a very delicious cake.

I'll close this one up with a few photos

Life and death on a flower