Once more to Maine

Here’s the thing: it is as idyllic as it looks. It’s blue ocean as far as the eye can see, and blue sky as far as the eye can see, and salty-seaweedy air, and cool evenings, and eating blueberries off the bush, and cousins who love each other, and reading all afternoon, and charming shingled cottages with actual lobster buoys hanging on the side.

And here’s something else, something I am becoming increasingly aware of with each passing year: these things don’t just happen, they are made to happen. This place, it takes people making budgets and writing by-laws and picking up brush in the sun and asking after each other’s children to keep humming along so beautifully. These family cottages, they take people agreeing on common rules and doing the dishes even though they’re on vacation and abiding alongside each other even when they couldn’t be more different.

It’s easier to go it alone, but it’s not more beautiful. That kind of beauty is hard to show in photos, but somehow, it seems to be reflected in the scenery of our beloved island in Maine, and that I can show you…

For those who are new: “the island” is a small community off the coast of Maine with 36 cottages and one truck. Two of those cottages belong to my Dad’s side of the family and my Mom’s side of the family (that’s how they met – both have been in their families for generations, and they grew up going to this place each summer, just like I have!). The one truck can be used to help move the big suitcases (and VERY excited kiddos), but everything else gets pushed and pulled in Gardenway carts. Good thing Pop Pop has lots of help :)

Shep had to wait almost a whole year for his first trip to Maine, but I think he’d say it was worth the wait!

The daily reading club :) No, June is not yet reading chapter books – she just wanted to do everything her big cousin was doing!

The view from my Dad’s family’s cottage. How???

We had an early riser in our crew many mornings which, while not my preferred outcome on vacation, was hard to be grumpy about with views like this.

One night we had a fire on the beach and roasted s’mores. It was so nice to wear a sweatshirt after the North Carolina heat!

My stripes guys :)

Even the color and pattern of the rock here is as familiar and comforting to me as the back of my own hand…

I saved a few of my favorite photos for last. They’re not the best lit or perfectly composed, but they capture that beauty I spoke to at the beginning of this post.

Snuggles, hugs, and lots of giggles.

I’ll leave you with this girl gang. So lucky to be together with these gals (and our guys!).

Maine in previous years:
2013
2014 (and a video – one of my favorites!)
2015
2016
2018