Vinalhaven and us, then and now.

Our first trip to Vinalhaven was exactly ten years ago. Here's our little girl on the island then...

















and now. Tomorrow she starts 7th grade. Holy Shit!

And here's our family on the island then and now. We've all changed (especially Patrick, who wasn't even born 10 years ago!) more than Vinalhaven, which I guess is why we keep going back there. It's a peaceful place to live by the ocean. There's not too much going on, and you have to take a ferry to get there, which makes it feel like you've really gone somewhere.

We had a beautiful, relaxing week in VH, the second week of our vacation. It drizzled one day, which made for fine blackberry picking on Arey's Neck, and the rest of the time the weather was perfect. We hung out at the beach, went for walks, read our books, ate lobster and good food from the Harbor Gawker, made friends with the neighbors (well, Pat did) and visited with Deb, Nell, Gram, my dad, and, just yesterday, Tommy and Auntie Sally.

One day, Gram and the kids and I went to the quarry to swim. Neil never goes to the quarry because he hates it. When we returned to our rental house, he had bought himself a blueberry pie (homemade, at the Gawker. Sally bought him another one last night!). Neil loves pie. I asked him why he bought a pie and he said, "I was lonely." That lovely simplicity sums up my funny husband, and our sweet, simple and yummy Maine vacation.

After two terrific weeks away, it's great t o be home. I always appreciate where I live, but I was especially happy, after two weeks away, to get back to the Kingdom, Darling Hill, our dogs and our home. It's really great here and we're pretty lucky.


You can walk to Carver's Harbor dressed is Raggedy Anne pajama pants, which is why I love Vinalhaven...