The Right Place: The Pierced Heart Mystery

Hope and love are associated with this Amaryllis.  The hope starts around Thanksgiving, when we buy its bulb in a little plastic flower pot of dirt. We put the pot near a sunny window, keep the bulb moist, and greenery soon sprouts. Early in the new year, as we see here, one of its elegant flowers is looking out the window marveling at the snow as another bows gracefully to us. Hope fulfilled.

Oh yes, the love: that comes from the purported Greek myth about the flower’s origin. Amaryllis, a nymph, loved Alteo the shepherd, who didn’t return her love. She pierced her heart with a golden arrow and drops of her blood spilled on the path she took to plead with Alteo. After 30 days, each drop grew into a beautiful flower, which made Alteo fall in love with Amaryllis.

In actuality, the Amaryllis originated in South Africa and its bulb cultivation began in the early 1700s. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Turning

When walking on a darkened, snow-sprinkling day, it’s always reassuring to turn around and catch a cute, shy house spying on us from behind its lovely landscape – or, at least, to see a familiar sight in a new way.

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Bombast

Well, as far as our little piece of heaven on earth goes, yesterday’s “Bomb Cyclone” was a bust. It did have its intriguing snow-blown moments and the tide did flood the town dock at Naskeag Harbor, but we expected more after all that media hype. Maybe it’s because we’ve become a bit blasé about bombogenesis, unlike those to the south who see less of it. Here’s the beginning of the flooding of the dock:

The red barn on Flye Point ridge became muted, but nicely so:

Familiar things started to be transformed early:

A very high tide engulfed all of the Naskeag Point sandbar until the Point became a mere nubbin.

It got darker:

And darker:

A black night descended, but this morning the North Field was all light and purity.

Oh, yes, Jerry Gray's crew had to disturb that beauty a bit so that we can get out of our driveway today and go into Town:

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Bombs Away!

The difference between yesterday and today promises to be startling. Sunny yesterday’s reported 29-degree temperature (Fahrenheit) broke the back of a record-long cold spell that never reached 20 degrees.

Small coves and bays – such as Surry’s Patten Bay above and below – had been iced-in for days. Both images were taken yesterday.

As we speak, it's snowing lightly here. This flurry is forecast to turn into a nor’easter blizzard (Winter Storm Grayson) that will sweep in from the sea and swallow us, bringing significant snow accumulation, high winds, coastal flooding, and bitter cold. It’s supposed to be a “Bomb Cyclone” (scientifically, “Bombogenesis” or “Clyclogenesis”) of low pressure and cyclonic (circling) winds. Hang on! (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Seeing the Signs

There’s an old saying that the sight of the first American Robin of the year means that Spring has arrived. Well, if that Robin has a worm in its mouth, maybe; if it’s singing a mating song, probably. But, if that Robin is digging for snow-buried fruit during a seven-degree morning, you might want to repress any impulse to go outside in your Birkenstocks.

Maine and most other states are hosts to some all-year Robins; we also get a few Canadian Robins that take winter vacations here. However, it seems that Robins are ignored by most of us until Spring, when they high-step and drill for food in the grass and sing loudly from trees. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Letting Go

This is last night’s first sunset of the New Year here: The North Field and Great Cove darken as the sun begins to slide behind Deer Isle; it’s reluctant to let go of the tassels on the switchgrass.

(Brooklin, Maine)

December Post Cards From Maine

December of 2017 began relatively balmy and then the snow and cold came, transforming moss-lined streams to ice sculptures and fields to fairylands.

The freezing winds blew across the warmer ocean creating sea smoke from dawn to dusk.

Celestial events included full and crescent moons sailing over the sea and red sunsets, the sailor's delight.

Occasional new snow flurries sugared the waterfront.

There was, however, a calamity involving the Matilda Bay, shown immediately below in one of the flurries. A few days after this image was taken, she sank, apparently having been swamped during heavy night winds. That's a heartbreaking event, but our fishing community takes care of its own. In bitter weather, a group of fishermen recovered the Matilda Bay and she was towed to a repair facility. That recovery was a proud moment and is the subject of a special Journal edition earlier in the month.

In between flurries earlier in the month, the snows would melt and the deer would play. At the time, it was a little early for the red-nosed variety to browse.

In the end, however, December is a month for celebrating religious and secular holidays. Our neighbor Judith Fuller displays road banners to remind us of that and brighten our days. One of the highlights of the entire year is the December concert of festive music by the Bagaduce Chorale, which performed an excellent program with a large orchestra this year in nearby Blue Hill.

For larger versions of the above images, as well as many additional images of special moments in this January, click on the link below. (We recommend that your initial viewing be in full-screen mode, which can be achieved by clicking on the Slideshow [>] icon above the featured image in the gallery to which the link will take you.) Here’s the link for more:

https://leightons.smugmug.com/US-States/Maine/Out/2017-in-Maine/December-Postcards-From-Maine/

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Fake News

Big Foot Found Buried Alive in Small Maine Town! Or, perhaps we found a snowy old stump with a Red-Belted Polypore mushroom hanging on it.

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Expectation

December 30, 2017

Here we see the loneliness of a Maine summer residence in a winter snow flurry. However, when the sun comes out and the sky is blue and the house is reflected in the icy water, the mood changes to one pleasant expectation.

This house is on Harbor Island, one of the islands that shelter our Naskeag Harbor. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Dilemmas

We take a trail that shows no sign of humanity since it snowed; we crunch along for a while, stop, and stand still to join the silence; we turn around and see our alien footprints chasing us; it’s then that we remember that we sometimes need to defile untouched beauty a bit to enjoy it: the eternal dilemma.

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Sea Smoke From Dawn to Dusk

Our first significant sea smoke wafted across local waters early this morning. Here we see Naskeag Harbor as the sun and the smoke rise.

Here we have smoke in Great Cove a little later in the day:

Sea smoke is not fog. Sea smoke is an atmospheric reaction between very cold winds flowing over significantly warmer (albeit also cold) waters. (Fog, basically, is a low-flying cloud.)

As of mid-morning, the recorded temperature increased to 1 degree Fahrenheit, the wind was gusting at 18 miles per hour, and the water temperature at the surface was 46.4 degrees, according to local reports. As of dusk, Great Cove was still smoking:

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Delight

Here we have last night’s red sunset, which signaled that today would be clear. (“Red sky at night, sailors’ delight/Red sky at morning, sailors take warning.”)

The forecast was correct: Today dawned clear, sunny, cold, and windy. As we speak, according to the North Brooklin weather station, it’s 9 measured degrees (F) and the wind is gusting at 17 miles per hour, creating a wind chill of (“feels like”) 1 degree. Great Cove is slate blue, edged with ice, and full of whitecaps. Bracing! (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Alive

We had a small, powdery snowstorm yesterday, the kind that’s good for holiday party-going over a thick, white carpet under coated trees. Even better, the morning dawned sunny blue and white and brisk.

The loud crunching of our boots in the silent, snow-covered woods and marshes seemed profane. But, when we stood still, the silence poured back onto us, almost liquid, freeing us to feel alive without the need to wonder why. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Gifts

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

It's snowing as we speak.

Thanks to neighbor Judith Fuller for this. She displays ever-changing banners with seasonal themes at the entrance to her driveway. It’s a bright spot when driving down Naskeag Road to the Harbor. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Your Morning Weather Report

It’s a sunny 31 degrees as we speak; there are patches of snow in the woods; sea ice is forming along the shore, and snow is predicted for tonight. But, the snow is gone from our North Field, where this doe and her yearling fawn are frequent browsers.

We haven’t seen a red-nosed deer yet, but it’s several hours early for one. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Recovery of the Matilda Bay

The Matilda Bay, a fishing vessel out of nearby Blue Hill, sank in the cold waters of Naskeag Harbor Wednesday night or early Thursday, possibly having been swamped during high winds. Here we see Matilda Bay as she was being brought up off the bottom yesterday afternoon:

For reference, here's an image of her moored picturesquely in the Harbor during a snow flurry four days ago (December 19):

A significant local effort was made to raise her and tow her to shallow waters for pumping and inspection. Hours of bitter cold labor were endured by, among others, the crews of the fishing vessels Captain Morgan, Christopher-Devin II, and Dear Abbie:, as well as Al Hutchins on his derrick barge and professional diver Greg Canders, who braved the 38-degree water.

Above, we see a red float marking the location of the Matilda Bay and Canders surfacing after an inspection and positioning of air bags. Then, as the air is pumped, she begins to rise. Below, Hutchins' derrick gets hold of Matilda Bay's mast and starts the lift:

Part of Matilda Bay's cabin breaks the surface:

Towing lines are attached, and she's brought into shallow water to await a low tide pumping, inspection, and movement to a repair facility

At low tide early this morning, Matilda Bay suffered the further indignity of being caught in this snow and sleet storm:

For larger versions of the above images, as well as a few  additional images of this operation, click on the link below. (We recommend that your initial viewing be in full-screen mode, which can be achieved by clicking on the Slideshow [>] icon above the featured image in the gallery to which the link will take you.) Here’s the link for more:

https://leightons.smugmug.com/US-States/Maine/Windjammers-and-Other-Boats/The-Raising-of-the-Matilda-Bay/i-rSLwb3L

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Shell Games

This is a mobile home lot that won’t open until spring. Now, it’s a cemetery of washed-up shells once owned by Periwinkles that have gone to snail heaven.

In the spring, Hermit Crabs will arise out of their “crab torpor” (hibernation within the ocean bottom) and come into the shallows looking for a place like this. Some of the crabs will need to trade in their tight, old shells for bigger ones. Here's one from the summer:

Periwinkles are non-native sea snails that were introduced here from Europe centuries ago on the rocks used as ballast in the old sailing ships. Now, they occupy rocks along our shore:

Periwinkle shells often are collected and made into jewelry. The snails, themselves, can be cooked and eaten as appetizers. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Illumination

Here we have last night’s Waxing Crescent Moon sailing over Great Cove at dusk. At that time, the whole orb can be seen, but most of it is in shadow. “Waxing” is archaic English for “growing” or “expanding.”

The illuminated part of a waxing moon grows in crescents from the right, getting larger each day until the Moon’s First Quarter, when half the orb will be illuminated by the sun. We’ll see the First Quarter on December 26 of this year and a Full Super Moon on January 1, 2018. By the way, a “waning” (decreasing) moon opens from the left. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Imagination

As you know, we’ve been monitoring some of the old, gnarly, and long-abandoned apple trees that simply won’t let go of some of their apples – despite several snow storms, a fair amount of wind, and the year’s end being near.

Scientifically, it may be an enzyme deficiency that keeps the fruit glued. Imaginatively, it’s Mother Nature getting the Christmas Spirit and creating ornaments for her old trees.

(Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: Snow Bird

It snowed yesterday afternoon, complicating this commuter’s life. Wild Turkeys are big birds that need plenty of food, but the “servings” that they eat often are small. In the winter, they eat nuts, berries, buds, seeds, mosses, fern spores, and peck fallen apples, among other things.

The snow continued through part of the night. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to sugar the trees out back, which always is a nice wake-up sight.

(Brooklin, Maine)