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Saturday, August 31, 2013

I'm Home!!

When I was a child, we had family friends who took a road trip vacation every summer. The trips were not elaborate, five children and two adults stuffed into a station wagon, but they always had a wonderful time and took loads of pictures. Their greatest joy was sharing those pictures once they returned. We would be invited over for an evening of slides and popcorn. My parents thought the evening was extremely boring, but not me, I loved witnessing the stories that each member of the family would remember as a new image would pop up on the screen. 
Although I returned last night, my heart and mind are still in Monhegan....and yes, I took loads of pictures! Sadly, I can't offer you a bowl of popcorn and in this new modern way of sharing "slides," if you are bored, you can just move on to another blog :-) So at the expense of possibly boring you, I will share a few of my pictures and memories of my trip.  
I had sunny days and foggy days while I was on Monhegan Island. I can't say which I like best as both offer a different experience. 
This sign "greets" you as you come off the boat. 
 Monhegan Inn faces the harbor and offers one of the most spectacular views.
Lobster traps. Everything on the island seems to have an air of artistry about it, even a pile of lobster traps.

This is the inn where I stayed. It is called Monhegan House and was built before the turn of the century. The man who owns the inn told me that when he and his wife bought the inn in 2000, it still had some of the original plumbing that had been installed in 1903. 
My little room. When you are here, you feel as though you are staying in a person's home rather than renting a hotel room.
Up on the fourth floor of the inn is a private little area that looks out over the island, perfect for a little morning writing. 
 The only church on the island. It was built sometime in the middle of the 1800's.
It now has electricity(not much though), but you can see that there are still gas lamps. To conserve energy, the gas lamps are used during the winter.
A view of the harbor from Monhegan House. You can see Monhegan Inn through the fog. 
 The island is called "The Artist Island" and it lives up to its name. Sculpture and artwork are everywhere.
Even a lobster buoy tossed up against some rocks takes on the appearance of a piece of sculpture.
I took tons of flower pictures. The light on the island is so incredible and the flowers seem to have an intensity that I have never seen anywhere else.
A bee busy at work in a rose blossom.
 Spectacular sun flowers.
A monarch on a Butterfly Bush.
Sunflowers against the side of a house.
Wild blackberries are plentiful on the trails.
Look at how magnificent the sky is against this house.
There are miles and miles of hiking trails on the island. This photo was taken on a trail called Cathedral Woods.
It's a rather magical trail.
  As you walk along, you'll find "Fairy Houses." I especially loved this grotto.
 Some can be quite elaborate. The folklore is that the fairies build the houses at night ;-)
 The trails open up to the most spectacular views of the ocean.
I especially loved this picture. An artist in her element.
 Even a piece of driftwood along the trail takes on the appearance of a piece of sculpture.
Looking down from the trail.

 I don't know why, but I really like this picture :-) It's as if he posed just for me.

A huge tree had fallen. I thought that the view of the massive root system was so interesting.
What do I look like while on vacation? No makeup and happy!
And finally, a happy face inviting me back.
I had a wonderful time. I'm rested, refreshed and ready to get back to my projects. Thanks for allowing me to share a bit of my vacation with you.
Rhonda



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31 comments:

  1. I can certainly see why you want to vacation there. It is breath taking! Thank you for sharing; not a bit bored with the pictures!

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  2. The beauty of Maine and it's rocky coast are breathtaking. I am so glad you had a retreat there for yourself. Maine is good for the soul.

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  3. I LOVE seeing people's vacation (or any other) photos! Yours are spectacular! I'm so happy you had such a wonderful, restful vacation!

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    1. I too love seeing vacation photos. Sometimes I get ideas of where I might like to go and sometimes it just gives me a few moments to get lost in their pictures as if I too were there.

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  4. Welcome back! Thank you for the photos. I love the fairy houses - did you see any fairies?

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  5. Were all learning lost, all music stilled,
    Man, if these resources still remained to him,
    Could again hear singing in himself,
    And rebuilt anew the habitations of his thought.

    -Ralph Waldo Emerson, if I remember correctly.

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  6. Awe inspiring snapshots of your vacation. Had to look up location. Beautiful.

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    1. Monhegan is really such a lovely place. It's the only place I have even been that I actually unplug, well almost, I did answer emails, but that was it.

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  7. Me ha encantado ver fotos de tus vacaciones, me he sentido como si yo también estuviera en Monhegan Island.
    Besos

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    1. As an artist, you would be in heaven there Maria. So happy that you enjoyed the pictures.

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  8. Oh Rhonda, what gorgeous pictures! I can almost smell the sea breezes... I am always happy to see folks vacation pictures, my imagination takes me places I have little chance of seeing in person.

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    1. That's how I feel about seeing pictures from far away places. They give me the chance to dream :)

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  9. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Thanks so much for sharing. I'm not having a vacation this year but your photos feel like a breath of fresh air on this 100+ degree California day.

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    1. It was really hot in Chicago while I was away. Thankfully, it is beginning to cool down. We even had a rainy, foggy day today for my return. So nice as it has helped me to slowly slip back into my normal routine. I'm so glad that my pictures could give you a bit a mental escape :)

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  11. Welcome back! What a peaceful, inspiring place too. It helps me to get away sometimes so that when I get back I feel thankful for all I have in life.

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  12. What a lovely place. It looks a little like Maine, one of my favorite states. So relaxing, glad you had a wonderful break!

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  13. Thanks for sharing, Rhonda. I feel like I walked along with you!

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  14. Oh, Rhonda, I am so jealous! Lovely, and you really do look rested and refreshed in that picture. You deserved it! I'm glad you are back safe and sound.

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  15. Beautiful pictures!!! Makes me homesick for Maine!

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  16. Lovely pictures; a pretty woman, and such peacefulness. I missed you, but can see what a wonderful time you had.

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  17. I loved the pictures. Such a wonderful, peaceful place. I missed you, but can see what a wonderful time you had.

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    1. What would you think about going with me to the http://www.knittingandyogaadventures.com/ retreat next year?
      I'll be posting your pillowcases later this week :)

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  18. I too remember going to see slide shows of holiday pics with pleasure, though I don't remember where we went for them! I loved the click clack of the slides being changed and the colours of new sights. Technology makes it more immediate now and I wonder if holiday pics are shown like that anymore. Hm perhaps we need to do it more often lol.

    What a wonderful holiday and holiday spot. Glad you relaxed.

    PS I am having trouble posting this comment so my apologies if you get multiples!

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