Sunday at the Shore

I woke up mid-allergy attack at 4:00am this morning. Sneezing, coughing, itchy throat, running nose; the whole nine yards. It was then that I decided that I would go to the beach in the morning. I actually contemplated going to the beach right then, but instead turned on the light and read my book for a bit. When I did wake up for reals, I waited for the coffee to brew and then decided to go to Dunkin' Donuts on my way. I realized yesterday that I am struggling to follow-thru on most anything these days. I blame it on being back to work.

It's cold out today. Cold might be an exaggeration, maybe cool is a better word. Regardless, I threw on a hoodie, a scarf, and some socks. This is my weekend uniform each fall, needless to say, I was a little excited. Fall is amazing up here. It's what northern New Englanders live for nine months of the year. The sky seems closer, the air feels cleaner, and the colors are beginning to show. I took my usual route to the coast and enjoyed a little Maine NPR. (As much as I love NH, Maine always seems to do things just a bit better.) So, today I keep my words to a minimum and share with you my morning through pictures.

(See those yellow flowers? I'm not sure what they are, but I am fairly certain that they are the cause of my daily allergy attacks. I curse them.)

(I confess, I actually took this photo post-"hurricane" last weekend, but it was too pretty not to share with you.)

Beach Bum

I've been in a funk over the last few days. Cranky, anxious, and agitated and I am not sure why. But today, much of that lifted after a morning visit to Fort Foster with two of my favorite girls. It could have been the chubby legs, the happy squeals of laughter, the clear blue sky, the salty air, the warm waves, or the sandy skin. But more likely, it was all of it combined. Whatever it might have been left me feeling content and for that I am grateful.

Fingerless Gloves

On a steamy 90+ degreeday last week, I was invited to have dinner with a friend of mine (yogamama) and her family. Yogamama and I became close last year while working at a job that caused us both an immense amount of distress. She became my sanity from 8-3 andwas the only one who made me feel both sane and justified. Initially we bonded over our situation, but our friendship quickly grew beyond that. She is a reader, politically informed, a yogi, and just plain kind. I'm not sure she realizes how much her alliance saved me.

While her husband and two boys and I endlessly complained about the recent heat wave and immense amount of humidity in the air, Yogamama stayed quiet. Turns out, she is one of those folks who is cold all of the time. This is something I can't imagine as I can never get cool enough (with the exception of my feet). We talked about down slippers and how to keep her hands warm while working on her computer and came up with fingerless mittens. Two days later, I had an email request from Yogamama for a pair knit up in warm colors (red, yellow, orange). A perfect weekend project, right? And just what I needed. I'd never knit up gloves before. Mittens, yes; gloves with actual fingers-no. (Don't tell her that though!) I was up for the challenge and ready to learn something new. (On a side note, what did

knitters do before the internet? What did anyone do before the internet??)

I really enjoyed knitting these up because they required just enough brain power while learning some new techniques. I wasn't stuck counting and recounting. I could take it to the beach, knit in front of the tv, and be impressed with myself all at the same time! Highly gratifying. I also love this yarn. It isn't the first time that I have used it. Don't these colors remind you of fall? Just looking at them makes me excited for the cool crisp air! I'm also thinking that these might be a perfect Christmas gift. (Is July too early to start thinking about Christmas? Oh my, am I becoming my mother?) Hopefully, these guys will keep Yogamama's hands warm throughout the winter. I can't wait to give them to her!

Sights

Not much happening here, which is a lovely feeling. Thought that I'd share some recent sights with you instead.

Beach

One of the biggest reasons I moved here from Brooklyn was to be closer to the beach. Which surprised me. For most of my teenaged years, I had looked forward to living in a city. First I moved to Boston, then to NYC. I wanted it to fit me so badly. I wanted to love it. I wanted it to free me. But it didn't. I always felt uneasy, unsettled, uncomfortable. And not for trying. In NY I had amazing friends and was teaching at a school that felt designed for me. But after ten years of giving it a go, I finally made the decision to leave it behind. (I'm a slow learner, ok? And intensely stubborn!)

I have few memories of going to the beach as a kid. As a baby my parents still rented a house on the shore in Connecticut. I vaguely remember it, most of my memories are cobbled together by pictures I have seen and stories I have heard. But I do remember leaving. I remember

crying at the top of my lungs for the entire hour-long trip home, desperate to stay near the ocean. As

a child and tween (not that that word was around when I was 11) I have miserable memories from the beach. Ones that involved stinging sunburns, stale and sandy chips, long, hot car rides in which we always got lost, and, being the youngest of three, having to sit in the back, middle seat.

Then frequent visits to Maine and New Hampshire became my respite from city life and on one trip it dawned on me that this is where I needed to be. Today, I took my first, post-school year trip to the beach. I woke up, had some coffee, filled my water bottle and hopped in the car. Within ten minutes, I was parked and walking down the stone steps on to the sand. I keep a beach bag packed with a towel, two mini quilts, sunblock, and a frisbee in the car, along with my beach chair.(You nev

er know when the spirit is going to move you to have lunch or catch up with an old friend on the beach!) It was crowded, but the energy was lively. I set myself up, read a trashy magazine, listened to a couple of podcasts I had saved, and knit away at my latest baby sweater. It was one of those moments where you just sigh with happiness.