Letters
Letter from Maine
Dear Kay,
I don’t know if you noticed, but I’ve been out of town for the past two weeks.
I’ve been in Maine, where it looks to have averaged about 30 degrees cooler than Nashville. I can hardly express the astonishment of exiting Gate 26 at the Nashville airport on Saturday and schlepping to the taxi line through what can only be described as a Sou’easter: a perfect storm of heat, humidity, wildfire smoke, and a sea of vaguely masked travelers newly arrived in town for a Garth Brooks stadium concert and partying that began right there on Concourse C.
I scanned the Departures screen for the next flight to Anywhere.
My aim for this trip was to try really hard to be On Vacation, to attempt some not-modern, not-daily not-knitting. I turned off Slack. I hid the Gmail icon. I even contemplated stand-up paddleboarding. We did so many things during our sojourn that were fun and memorable and distracting, but I’m not going to lie: I thought about MDK every single day, sometimes for a few minutes, sometimes for the duration of a ramble to Hadlock Pond, sometimes at 5:30 in the morning when a foghorn blasted directly outside our bedroom window. GOOD GOD WHAT WAS THAT? was followed by I wonder if the new yarn has landed yet.
I stared at water a lot. It’s a novelty to us landlocked Tennesseans. The cove across the sound from our rental was apparently a favorite of sailing folk. It backs up to Acadia National Park, so most nights I could see the mast lights of one or two sailboats over there, tiny stars against the pure black of the park. Everybody has their own idea of getting away. To me, getting from Nashville to the coast of Maine was a herculean accomplishment. Adding “Locate, Provision, Operate, And Not Sink A Sailboat” to a vacation list of to dos? Hats off to the dozens of boaters who paraded by. You really know how to fill a day, you boat people.
The boats most fascinating to me were the lobster boats. Dozens of buoys dotted the water, and every morning, a deep-throated grumble woke me as the boats moved, slowing to winch up a trap, then accelerating to the next one. A few years ago, a writer described his incessant scrolling among his social media accounts as “checking my traps.” As I watched these puttering boats, and found myself checking my own traps on my phone, I thought about these people pulling their living from the sea as I pull mine from the air.
By accident, I read a lot of E. B. White’s essays. I found the book stuck sideways on a shelf filled with Time-Life series and ten bound volumes of Life magazine dating from the early 1940s. The book had been left in the rain, in 1978 or last month, who knows? White famously lived part of his life near Brooklin, Maine, about an hour from where we stayed. It was tempting to drive over to Allen Cove, having just read his essays about his life there, but I decided it was best to let the guy rest in peace.
I’m typing this with Kermit draped over my left wrist. I wish he spoke English, so we could talk about how sometimes people disappear, then come back.
Up top are postcards from our trip. As much as I tried to escape thinking about MDK for a bit, I actually loved thinking about MDK from a distance. MDK is my favorite thing, so much so that when I wandered into (the truly) Heavenly Yarns in Belfast, Maine, and saw Field Guide No. 17: Lopi on the counter, I grabbed one and flapped it with joy at the woman at the counter.
“This is me!” I squawked.
“I know,” she replied, laughing. “You’re on vacation now, right?”
Love,
Ann
PS A last-minute addition to my vacation crafts scheme ended up swamping all other projects: a skirt from Alabama Chanin. You can see it up top. It was a fine palate cleanser.
PSS Places shown above include: Acadia National Park, Long Pond Preserve, Thuya Garden and Lodge, Beal’s Lobster Pound, Northeast Harbor, Sand Beach (David and Clif’s Americana album cover, one in an endless series), and two Stellar Dendrite hats by Fatimah Hinds (no. 3 is on the needles).
PSSS My water bottle holder served me well. I know you were wondering.
I love your encounter in the yarn shop! Last week someone from a yarn shop in Kansas called me — I had ordered (and received) yarn from them in April and there was some hiccup in their system so she called me to ensure that I had indeed received my order. After assuring her that the yarn had been received and knit, she said “Can I ask you a question?” to which I replied yes. She then asked “Are you THE Wendy?”
I told my colleagues at the day job that going forward I want to be referred to as THE Wendy. Strangely, they have not complied.
You are now THE Wendy forever!
Awwwwwwww, thanks!
Welcome back!
Trips like THAT provide nourishment for the soul, fill in gaps we don’t know we have and smooth out some of our rough patches. In writing, you actually transferred some of that goodness to me. Thank you.
PS. I am going to find a bit of nature today and “get away” myself!
Thank you for taking me home again. The light in Maine is no where else.. i hope you got to see all the stars in the night sky.
Having lived in Maine for 40 years, EB White essays are a favorite to read every 5 years or so. My favorite is a time at Beals was when I overheard a visitor being amazed by the the fact that all the boats were parked in the same direction!! And, of course, you were recognized at Heavenly Yarns…and during the Maine Yarn Cruise no less.
I love your skirt, your love of MDK, and your pictures. Thank you!
I’ve lived in Maine for 53 years (I’m 70), and it’s always wonderful to see this beautiful state through someone else’s eyes. The “postcards” are excellent, and that skirt is beautiful! Thanks for an excellent Letter.
p.s. Probably nothing better than E.B. White to read on vacation in Maine.
I agree! Except those bound books of Life magazine qualify, too.
Thank you for sharing this, Ann. Looks like an amazing trip (and I love your AC skirt!).
I can’t begin to tell you what a thrill it was to see your lovely photos and recognize places I love so much – my sweetheart and I were married in Bar Harbor 22 years ago this month. My heart leapt at your photos, my pulse quickened at your lovely essay, and then I actually broke into a sweat as I realized that my own sojourn to Maine isn’t in the cards this year. Thank you for bringing us the sights and sounds of coastal Maine. I’m so glad you had a wonderful time.
EB White’s essays/stories about his farm in Maine are sidesplittingly funny at times and poignant at others. And there’s the classic, “Once More to a the Lake.” So glad you had a good time!
That skirt is fabulous? Free hand or a pattern? I want to make one too!!
Reading this as my husband drives us from Maine to Boston for the flight back to Texas. There for my family reunion, a memorial service, a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game and lots of visiting. I bought yarn from a friend with an alpaca farm, but never took my knitting out of the suitcase. Already looking forward to next summer!
Are you THE Pennie? Glad yoo op u had a nice vacation. Will catch up soon.
My favorite things include pollinators and watercolor (sorry/not sorry Kay) so I loved the shot of bees on Culver’s Root. And I kept scrolling till I saw the reason for the Painted Paper Towel…what a beautiful watercolor log cabin block! Gives me ideas…Thx for the lovely slide show and travelogue.
Where is the red and white bag from, please.
What a great postcard from Maine! Makes me want to live there. If it weren’t so cold. Love the lobster boats story. The yarn store story. The…the.. everything. More travel essays, please!
I was in Maine at the same time! We have a camp about three hours north. We were also in Acadia to visit family. It is my favorite place. We are going back in September if you would like to join us!
My home state! I now live in the neighboring state so I get to visit often, but seeing it through a visitor’s eyes is delightful.
Every summer we camp on an island off midcoast Maine, and the books I usually bring are The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett, and To The Lighthouse. I haven’t read EB White’s essays in years, but now I’ve got a hankering. Thank you.
coming up on a Maine trip and making notes of these books to read! thank you.
Ann, thank you for sharing your sojourn with us. Maine has such a special place in my heart, even though I’ve only been there once. I’m very happy that you got to have fantastic family time in an extraordinary location. And I think you need to sell prints of your log cabin watercolor… I could look at that for hours! Hurrah! Now we have THE Ann, THE Kay and THE Wendy!!
Thank you for the lovely photos and an entertaining reminder of what it is like to be on vacation, it sounds idyllic. Other than a pre-pandemic short visit to my Nashville arm of the family I have not been away since early 2019 and I miss it so!
I can relate also to being unable to NOT think about MDK even while away as I, too, am unable to completely disconnect ever but I guess that’s not entirely a bad thing because it means we love our jobs.
I was away recently too and I feel like I spent the first day back with my 2 cats “talking” about how sometimes people disappear and then come back. They don’t speak English either but I know they have opinions on the subject.
Thanks for sharing your vacation with us-pictures were wonderful to see Maine this way.
Did you swim? I love to swim in the Maine ocean – you think it’s going to kill you, but once you’re immersed it is awesome. For 5 minutes.
Also, I know a man who is a fifth generation lobsterman from a Maine costal island. When I see him it always takes a few minutes before my brain can translate his accent into discernible words. One of his favorite expressions is “Well, that’s not too rusty” (for something he likes), which my sister and I now use all the time. And then I ran across that usage while reading Huckleberry Finn a few years back. Being isolated can have some interesting language effects…
What a wonderful time to explore Maine. I spent 18 summers teaching basketweaving and knitting at a summer camp in Maine (Camp Runoia in Belgrade Lakes). E.B. White spent many summers writting on Great Pond. Interesting fact, the camp rescued his little cabin and has “The White House” as one of their dwellings! I urge you to read ONE MANS MEAT as well as a few other delights.
Belgrade Lakes is off the beaten path, but a lovely little village where you can enjoy Giffords Ice Cream, another Maine favorite. There is a fabulous knitting store in Waterville with many surprises!
I could go on and on, but I encourage you to sneak away from the coast and enjoy this area.
I am very intrigued by your skirt! Would love specifics on whether this is a pattern or if you are free styling. I have always wanted to vacation in Maine, it seems like it would be so relaxing. You have reenergized that desire.
It’s a swing skirt from Alabama Chanin and it comes in a kit from their School of Making. They offer a variety of colors and stencils and you might even be able to custom order a specific design ( but don’t hold me to that! ).
http://www.alabamachanin.com
It’s so wonderful to see that there are still places in this country where you can actually wear a jacket in the summertime. It looks like a wonderful trip.
I recognize the skein of Neighborhood Fiber, but what is the sweater pattern?
The Birkin, by Caitlyn Hunter!
Now I’ll start my quest for EB White Essays: thanks, Ann!
What a wonderful letter/postcard. Thank you, Ann! Hope one day to be able to visit the NE, with some good books and an easy lace-knitting project. Sigh……
Thank you for the pictures. Maine is on my wishlist of travel destinations. It looks like everything I hope it to be.
Oh, and those yellow mushrooms!
If you want to get back to Maine without leaving home, you should read the Seaside Knitting Mysteries by Sally Goldenbaum. There are four main characters: one is the owner of a knitting shop, another a lobster fisherwoman. The books are such an enjoyable diversion and a quick read. The characters are women you want to know, knit with at their Thursday night meetings, and eat with. These people do a lot of eating. Patterns and recipes are are included.
Thank you! I’ll want these for my upcoming trip to Maine!
Such a lovely letter to a dear friend, extended to us all. Thank you. The photos are lovely.
You should’ve visited me in Owls Head! And Cashmere Goat in Camden. Next time! I can show you my no progress on the Aperture Shawl and my too tight arms on the Hadley! Ha.
Dear Ann — thank you so much for the lovely letter and beautiful postcards — you are quite the photographer/stylist, as well. I leave for Maine on August 13 — with a quick drive by the Atlas HDQ and a night at the Grand Ole Opry on our way north. I will order a copy of EB White to take with me. Thanks for the suggestion. Glad you had a great time.
As a life-long Mainer, you have had a taste of what we hold dear. I love sitting on my porch in the mountains of Maine knitting and drinking in the scenery.
These postcards are superb! Sounds like a refreshing trip—just what was needed. Thanks for putting a trip to Maine on my To Do list, as well as E.B. White’s essays, and an AC skirt.
Just reading about your time in Maine was a balm to my soul. So lovely! So glad that you were able to get away. What a doozy of a return to the Nashville airport! Welcome Home!
Maine looks lovely. Now that I have moved to the Wilds of Tennessee, Florence, AL is our closest “town.” Alabama Chanin was one of the first places I visited. It’s an oasis of creativity. Fortunately, you can also purchase from them online.
Heavenly Yarns is awesome! I too went on my summer vacation to Maine and enjoyed this as well as a couple of other local yarn shops. Maine is a knitter’s paradise.
Okay, now I want to go to Maine. Living an hour from the Oregon coast, I’ll content myself with a closer destination. I love your postcards!
Refresh!!
I arrived in Maine last night after driving for 9 hours. I get to spend the next two weeks at the family cottage on the coast, the first week and a half all by myself. It really is heaven.
There is a collection of E. B. White’s essays, columns, obituaries, and more — on dogs! His daighter or granddaughter put the collection together. Of course they are about life, the world, and relationships in general. Absolutely delightful
What pattern is the sweater??
Your photo of the cover of E.B. White’s essays reminded me that I own a copy, which I promptly took off the shelf to re-read. One of my favorite books of all time, my comfort food book, is the Letters of E.B. White.
It’s the Birkin Pullover, by Caitlin Hunter! Don’t ask how I got here, just started searching on Ravelry. And, luckily, found it. One note: it is top down, in fingering or sportweight wool, and is designed as a a-line shape, which to me only emphasizes that which I do NOT want highlighted. Fortunately, she does this using increases in needle sizes, which can easily be ignored. I want to do this with handspun shetland in every possible natural shade, and this looks like a winner.
Also, thanks Ann, for reminding me how much I love to read E.B. White, and haven’t done so for quite a long time, which will be remedied soon. Garrison Keillor comes to mind, from a different locale, but similar tone of voice and pleasure in reading.
What a lovely postcard. Thank you for the snaps and 5he reminder that summer vacations feed the soul..
Looks like a wonderful time was had by all! Welcome back!
Oh my, it looks wonderful! Maine must be where the cool kids are vacationing – I’m headed there in a couple of weeks and looking forward to escaping the Dallas heat. Meanwhile, my lad will be enjoying his bass workshop in Boston at Berklee!
I love the idea of “checking my traps” as I live here in Brooklin and stare at lobster boats all season. Glad you had a nice time here and survived the crowds!
Ann, I love your stitching by hand. Your work is so even! The knit caps are lovely, and that log cabin painting–simple lines, yet bold and compelling. When did you have time to paint it? I am so glad to see that you had a wonderful time in a wonderful place with your family.
And it looks like that water bottle holder sure came in handy!
Ah, a vacation. Vacation knitting, souvenir yarn.
I feel like The Dowager Countess – ‘What’s a vacation.’ Surely not the past year at home.
Question – why all the end threads on the skirt appliqué? Curious minds want to know.
Oh, PLEASE return to Maine every Summer until Forever. I love Maine, I adore your writing, and all the comments nearly made me swoon with delight. Maine seems the perfect place to travel to. Always. And cool Maine makes me think of thick wooly socks, a pot of tea, and a warm afghan covering me as I knit happily on a big wool sweater with lots of cables! Who doesn’t love Wool?
We are so excited to be leaving for Maine in 6 weeks, spending a week on MDI and also 5 days near Brooklin and another 5 days not far from Belfast. We’ve been there many times & have our favorite spots & traditions, but feels like the world has been ruptured, was reassuring to see your photos and know some wonderful things have not change. And some even get better – had not known of visited about Heavenly Yarns! Thanks for breaking trail for us!
my friend and blogger wrote a wonderful one a few years ago when she visited EB White’s place…here it is: https://www.katrinakenison.com/2016/08/04/14509/
Log cabin watercolors and The Lads? I’m surprised you came back! Did Foodlady bring Kermit some lobster?
i love how your every day life still invades your vacation. It is wonderful to love what you do. Great advise for young people deciding on a career. Love what you DO.
Thank you for sharing your vacation with us; it looks soul-refreshing.
I love your analogy about checking your traps. Such graceful writing.
And WAIT, HOLD UP: Your log cabin square is going clockwise instead of counter-clockwise…I’m such a log cabin dweeb I notice these things. the watercolor is lovely.
My neck of the woods (literally, I live in Seal Harbor and some of these places are right down the street). It’s great to see you and your family enjoying the area.
Hi Brenda, waving at you from Seal Cove! 🙂
OMG you were on “my” island!! I live here…it is home. I wish I’d known…I could have told you all the “secret” places…but it sounds like you had a wonderful stay…come back soon. I wouldn’t live anywhere else. ❤️
Rats I was trying to paste a picture I painted that is the same as one of your views from Bar Harbor. We were there about the same time. 🙂
Best part of Maine for me this summer: Clementine Fabric Boutique/Knit Shop in Rockland. The mother and daughter owners can tell you all about the local Nash Island sheep they help shear, then transform the wool into beautiful yarn. Bonus: I bought Sonya’s book there(<:
fyi: “boaters” are straw hats. people who go about in/on boats are sailors or boat people or boat crew.
Wonderful letter, thank you. What is the sweater pattern with that beautiful yoke design? Please post a note about that! The colors you chose are lovely together.
Great. Now I’m putting Maine on the list for next year…
As I enjoy a cup of coffee and some knitting on this fine Maine morning that is a but overcast and humid, after picking the haul of beans, peppers, and squash from the garden, I thank my lucky stars that we moved here 30 years ago. It truly is a place for knitting, art, and craft. Think of all the amazing fiber producers and designers who call this state home.
Thank you for your lovely words about this state. But, really, I have NEVER heard anyone say: “I spent a week in Maine once and it was awful.” Most people visit and long to stay.
I relate…I grew up in Nashville and never saw the ocean until I was 12! It still mesmerizes me every time, and Maine, in particular, has some of the most enchanting coastal places I know!
I see you have a Coke product in your bottle holder. This Atlantan approves.
I too was on a 2 week vacation up north, near Buffalo, NY, where my daughter went to learn to sail a boat. Drove through Tennessee on our way there and back. Took some knitting but didn’t do much of it. Vacations are for taking a break from your daily life, even the fun parts like knitting and sewing.
Glad you had a good time and returned safely.
OK, you’ve got me homesick for Maine now. We try to vacation there every summer. and have since our kids were tiny (The oldest is turning 31 this year.). My favorite thing is to wake up to the sound of lobster boats checking their traps. Sigh. We haven’t gone this year or last. Pandemic plus hip surgery. So I’m wishing for Maine big time right now. Thanks for the memories.
That’s because Helen (and Heavenly Yarns) is THE BEST.
A wonderful experience to set a goal to just have a vacation and to learn outsdoorsy skills. E.B. White was a woman:-)
Maine is so beautiful. I’ve been to the coastal area twice but certainly not long enough! Acadia National Park is fascinating.
By the way, it’s PS, PPS, PPPS, etc, meaning post script, post post script, post post post script, etc. I know you really knew that!
Lovely. And thanks for taking the stinking hot weather back with you when you left! It was 58 degrees last night! And it’s noon now, and 67 degrees – thank heavens! Back to knitting with wool!