"These are a few of my favorite things..."

 

View from Terrace, Elbow Beach

 

End of September

Yes, school has started, Abby is studying, and I'm back to golf, walking group, mah jong, badminton, and art. Abby has discovered that she LOVES windsurfing. We go to Grotto Bay, a nearby resort, where we rent windsurfers. Because Abby has taken two summers of sailing, she can pick up any puff, but I, on the other hand, seem to be pulled toward moored boats and rocky areas.

Abby's New Favorite Sport: Windsurfing

 

Abby's Study Companions

 

Back to School

Abby is very happy to be back at Somersfield Academy. She's interested in perhaps too many activities -- band, dance, netball, swim team, and debate, with Chinese lessons on Saturday -- but we'll see. If her enthusiasm continues to be as high as it is now, she'll be fine.

 

After Hurricane Florence

Thanks to all of you have been keeping tabs on us. Abby and I survived Hurricane Florence quite well with the exception of losing electricity for two days...I guess it only seemed like an eternity. When the line crew came up our road at midnight last night, I was so happy to see them that I went out to thank them and gave them two jars of jam from St. Martin (the only gift-like option I had around) to show my gratitude.

There was much anticipation, lots of warnings, and considerable preparation around the storm, but very little damage was done to buildings. Farmers on the island, however, lost their crops due to the amazingly salty winds. Consequently, our backyard flower garden is dead. I'm hosting the International Women's Club Art Group on Friday. The hostess at these events will often bring in a bouquet from her garden to inspire our creativity, but if I were to do so, I'd have to call it "Mort du Fleur."

Maine

Abby and I went home to Maine for nine days and enjoyed blueberries, lobster, fresh corn, and tomatoes. We also went to Willard Beach in South Portland where the salty, seaweed smell of a Maine beach came back to me in a wave of remembrance. I've included a photo below of a seagull that was very miffed that he didn't score any of our fries. Later in the week, our friend Deb took Abby tubing around Little Sebago Lake. Along the way, we visited friends and relatives, appreciating the ties that we have there.

Old Fishing Shacks, Willard Beach, Maine

 

Scavenging Seagull

 

Leaving Beach

 

Abby and her cousin, Jake, at Maine beach