“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain.
Summertime arrives, and many of us travel near and far, and that’s great. As our world gets smaller and smaller, and seemingly crazier, an escape, an adventure, a mind opening experience, a new path, all seem appropriate.
Find a new table in a new spot
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber
The journey might be five minutes away or 5,000 miles-both count and both matter.
Spread your wings, fly, walk, run, ride (whatever is your pleasure) and discover your destination.
(Note-background is from the series of illustration backgrounds that I am creating for Book #2 – Working Title of Garden Bud – stay tuned!)
I have been thinking about water, waves, the sounds of the waves, the oceans roar, and then back to the stillness that water can have. The ebb and flow of it all. It’s almost magical how the water flows in and out of the sea onto the sand, continually restoring itself, and laps up on the shore again. Continual replenishment! If only it were that easy for us. Maybe it is? The other two big topics on my mind lately are happiness and friendships. The connection to all this is I actually got to go to the beach/ocean, and share three days with three wonderful friends. We laughed a lot, and a few tears were shed as well. Some were caused because we were laughing so hard, and some were of sadness – all were water! All good. All cleansing. All replenishing to the soul. It was truly a respite for us all- the ocean, the warmth, the love of such close friends, the good times, the sounds, the sunshine, even the rain, the whole “ball of wax.” It took us almost 2 years to finally make that weekend happen- it was worth the wait. (Thanks to- you know who you are! ) The above large Horseshoe Crab had washed up to the shore along with about 15 others- I have never seen anything quite like it? All within about 50 feet of each other, and only in that one spot? We were wondering if they were all coming ashore to lay eggs? Again, the cycles of the water, the ocean. How odd that these animals had to bump, jostle and wait for the next wave to make their way to the beach sand. I’m sure their is a life analogy in that somewhere!
Added to the top layer of the above image is another image- this one of a 17th century piece/fountain head- spouting water. The face made me smile for the expression of the eyes, and eyebrows are most amazing. And yet, it fits- it somehow all ties into the fluidity of life, the water that we all need to sustain ourselves. The flow, the rhythm, the cold, the hot, the ocean, the water glass, the shower, the cup of tea/coffee, the waves, the sounds-and back to the oceans roar. An amazing face, a spiky crab, and Moe (Minister of Clean Water in my magical land of Botaniumaus.) All beauties to me…but as we know-Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! I am pretty sure the same is true for sounds. Crashing, jumping, or gentle waves-sounds that truly soothe my soul. What’s your soul soothing sound?
I must go down to the seaS again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seaS again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
– John Masefield
It was last weekend…I was hot, tired frustrated therefore my coping skills were close to zero and so sadness was washing over me… I was in the middle of a 2 day show, and that is just a boat load of work. After a Friday eve set up with a few mishaps, and a full day of show sales, and heat, I was pretty much a dishcloth ready to be wrung out to hung up to dry. Thank goodness for old friends and the sea. I will just call the friends SMG to protect their privacy. I quietly roll (hybrid so it is virtually silent) into their driveway and puddle into their couch. First a wonderful glass of wine meets my hand- already it’s getting better! Then S says, let’s go down to the boat and float , watch the sunset and breathe some restorative sea air. It was perfect! We did not leave the mooring, which was also perfect for it required no extra energy! M happily puttered and played, we contentedly sipped our wine, watched the waters swirl, the sun hide, and the sea healed a tired soul – mine. Thanks to wonderful friends who just “get it”, and wonderfully happen to have an amazing sailboat we could sit upon, and the sea with all her rhythms of sight, sound, and motion. Dinner, a good nights sleep, and Sunday was indeed a new day which went easier than the day before. Keep on trucking….
I Must Go Down to the Sea…. This is MOE, Minister of Clean Water. He is available in cards, prints and note pads if he tickles your fancy.
Last weekend we were in Tiverton and had a great time. Big hello to all our new friends. A bigger hello and shout out to old friends who came out see us and say HELLO. An even BIGGER thanks to our helpers for the day, Eleanor, Judy and Sue! Tiverton is one of the nicest places on earth – I always love going there…Special Thanks to Julie for running the festival. This was the 25th annual Arts and Artisan Festival – we are already looking forward to partaking in the 26th!
Well, that was then, and we are busy with the NOW! This coming weekend we will be in beautiful Charlestown RI with the 2nd annual SeaStar Marketplace!
Arts, fine crafts, and antiques will be front and center on Saturday, July 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p. m. at the Second Annual Sea Star Marketplace in Ninigret Park. The rain date is July 29 (but we are predicting sun).
On July 28, the large, grassy field next to the Frosty Drew Nature Center & Observatory will be filled with exhibitors’ tents as we celebrate the arts. Photographs, paintings, handcrafted jewelry, pottery, cast and blown glass vessels, woodworking, shell creations, garden accessories, tilework, copper ountains, t-shirts, and antique duck decoys are some of the items that will be on display and for sale.
Visitors will be enticed to take a break from their searches to enjoy a tour of the Universe in the Sky Theatre. Entitled “Where Are We? Our Place in the Universe” Dr. Giovanni Fazio, Senior Physicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, will begin at our planet Earth, travel through our Solar System and Galaxy, and end at the edge of the known Universe—a most beautiful and fascinating journey with lots of surprises that will entertain youngsters as well as adults.
Then, did you ever want to learn how to do a fish print? Come to see, and you may be selected to try it. Are you interested in observing the sun? Frosty Drew astronomers will have sunspotters available and will give tours of the Observatory. Children can get their faces painted and participate in other activities.
Do not forget the food. There will be lobster rolls, clams, oysters, shrimp from the Matunuck Oyster Bar, barbecue, and other food, including ice cream and strawberry shortcakes.
Finally, there will be live music with Mike Bussey, Heather Maloney, John Varadian, and others, throughout the day.
