“Hey Nilla, it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen each other.”
“Certainly has. Did you tell your buddies all about Aruba and Ecuador, or are there exciting stories yet to share?”
“Haven’t, still exploring the Galapagos – they have so many questions and want so much detail that it is taking more time than I had anticipated.”
“Same here with my bear friends.”
“But you know, being back together again means the Ts are traveling some where and want to take us too.”
“Yes, I suspect so. You were right when you said we’d be traveling before our return to Aruba or Ecuador later this year.”
“So I don’t need to say ‘I told you so'”.
“No Jackson you don’t. So mister office guy, do you know where we’re going?”
“Matter of fact I do! I’ve heard some discussion of going to some exotic foreign place, in Asia I believe.”
“Oh my! I doubt that. The Ts haven’t done any heavy packing for such a long journey. What’s the name of this destination?”
“The Down East!!”
“You’re so funny, hilarious indeed! The Down East. You think you know it all!”
“What’s so funny Nilla!?”
“It’s Down East, Jackson. I’ve been there before, many years ago, before we met!”
“So where is this mysterious place?”
“It’s not mysterious at all Jackson, it’s Maine!”
“This is not our usual travel tote either Nilla.”
“Don’t need one, this time we’re traveling by car.”
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“We’ve arrived.”
“Time for introductions to our Maine associates Jackson.”
“We’re the sleep sheep – Yawn, Lullaby and Noir.”
“Nice to meet you, we’re Nilla and Jackson.”
“Could you tell us who they are over there?”
“But of course, the Naughty Knotty bugs on our right
and, hanging around on the left are the Stooges, keeping Percy and Puff company.”
“Are those the naughty, naughty bugs or the knotty, knotty bugs?’
“Funny ha ha!!!”
“We had no idea that we had so many associates in Maine!”
“Do you all get to travel?”
“No, not sure exactly what that is.”
“Well, if we stay here long enough, Jackson and I can tell you all about ours!”
“We sheep, the bugs and the birds all had a very cold winter!”
“Not us! We were nice and toasty, a little too toasty almost if the Ts hadn’t kept us with them – a house fire where we were staying in Crucita!”
“Speaking of Crucita, isn’t Aventurero from Maine?”
“Yes he is! I wonder if we’ll get to see him before we all catch up again in Ecuador.”
“So Nilla and Jackson, tell us all about your adventures, you might not be visiting for too long – maybe the abbreviated version would be best.”
“Nilla, you can begin the story and I’ll join in and fill in anything you leave out.”
“If you do that Jackson, it certainly won’t be abbreviated!”
“So…..”
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The T’s found the gardens on the property, SeaCorn on Fisher Hill, a mess upon their return after the snow melted in April. So much work to be done in order to get ready to welcome guests to the Seahorse.
The winter kill of many well-established perennials was discouraging not to mention Smiley had broken in two pieces, a major salvage project at the very least.
There wasn’t much time for any significant day excursions for the Ts. Nilla and Jackson did manage to head up to Miller’s Lobster Company……
“Remember back in the beginning of February we went to Crucita Village – the Ts took the Millers’ wine glasses and wore Miller hats?”
“Yes I do Nilla. Do you think we might be going to Millers?”
“I think that is exactly the plan Jackson! They opened yesterday on Fathers’ Day.”
“Fathers’ Day? What’s that?”
“Jackson, Father’s Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd. The first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Sonora’s father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis’ Mother’s Day at Central Methodist Episcopal Church in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them and suggested June 5, her father’s birthday. The Spokane pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. It took the efforts of several presidents – Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon (who finally signed the bill into law in 1972, making it a permanent national holiday) to realize the national celebration. It even has a Maine connection!”
“How so Nilla?”
“Well, in 1957 Maine senator Margaret Chase Smith accused Congress of ignoring fathers while honoring mothers, an unfair recognition honoring just one parent and ignoring the importance of fathers, having resisted the efforts of presidents Wilson and Coolidge. And even then it took nine years until the issue was raised again – and Lyndon Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation to honor fathers.”
“So it’s always celebrated the third Sunday in June?”
“That’s right Jackson.”
“Why do you think Millers opens then?”
“I’m not really sure Jackson. It might have something to do with their staff being students – and coinciding with the end of the calendar school year.”
It was lovely weather – perfect for enjoying the fresh sea air and delicious lobsters and catching up with Gail and Mark.
Back in the Harbor lots of goings on. Busy with projects around the property as well as helping out the neighbors, busy, busy. But not too busy to raise a monarch butterfly!
“That’s right Jackson – a boy! Do you know how to tell the difference between a male and a female monarch?”
“Of course I do Nilla! the male has two very visible black spots on the hind wings, these spots are absent on the female, and the male also has thinner black webbing within the wings.”
“The Ts planted butterfly plants along the side front gardens and watched the caterpillars munch and get bigger. They tried to protect two of them but only one remained and was placed in a large jar and formed its chrysalis on a twig placed inside.”
“Did you know that they symbolize rebirth and transformation Nilla?”
“But of course especially after this one emerged! How exciting!”
“It’s too bad that we did not accompany the Ts on their boat trip to Monhegan Island, Nilla.”
“We had anticipated many more day trips, but you know the trip to Monhegan was somewhat unexpected, and a gift.”
“The Ts really enjoyed hiking around the island, and found the small shops delightful. In essence it’s an artist colony.”
“Yes, in 1954 Monhegan Associates was founded to preserve and protect the undeveloped portions of the island. It is an important migratory stop for butterflies and birds, and visitors and naturalists enjoy appreciation of this rocky island retreat walking on the trails.”
“They’re no paved roads or cars there either.”
Overall it was a successful season – fifty percent more bookings over last year – not bad for just a second season listing with VRBO. The beginning of October heralded the last project – replacing the pressure treated front steps with granite steps and replacing the mail box post with a granite one. Mother Nature had to have the last hurrah of the season – good thing the mailboxes had yet to be replaced. Closing up the property, no heat or water, in December.
Highlights in no apparent order of significance:
- Learning to shuck oysters
- Fifty percent increase in Seahorse bookings – and all five star reviews
- Trip to Monhegan
- Thistle Inn voted forth in the country in USA Top Ten Best ‘In Lodging’ restaurant category
- Raising a monarch butterfly
Adventures of Nilla and Jackson 