Skip to main content

Goose Music






Good morning everyone. Another beautiful day here in Maine. The
wind was quite light for most of the day. We had a chance to get
ashore in Stonington. The Granite Museum was closed for the season
but Jan and Evelyn Kok were in their store, The Sign of the Purple
Fish, making music and custom hand crafted bookmarks and greeting
cards. More delightful people you will be hard pressed to find.

While weighing anchor a flock of Canada geese flew overhead honking
away. My heart leaps when I hear geese. Aldo Leopold, in A Sand
County Almanac, wrote lyrically about "goose music". I have never
been the same since I read his words. Sawyer was asking about the
days getting shorter and the meaning of the equinox. It is
unbelievable to me that the seasons turn as they do. There is plenty
of science to explain all the changes but how does one explain the
emotional changes of seasons to an 8 year old. We have many guests
aboard from southern states that keep telling me how hot the summer
has been back home and how hot it still is. While I find beauty in
all parts of our country I am afraid that my body is not wired for
heat. I welcome the change of the seasons. The kids were telling
guests how excited they are to go sledding in the driveway soon. Soon
it will be. But a few more days of heat are forecasted before the snow
flies and we have more miles to sail yet. And for the present we are
thankful. Good weather, great guests, the beautiful bay. It is all
good.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Comments

Michele B said…
I too eagerly await the changing of the seasons. New England is the best place to be when the leaves change colors. October is on its way. Are you ready for the party?

October's Party
by George Cooper

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly "hands around."
Anonymous said…
In days of 'back remember when'
I galloped on through life and then
would stop at once to wonder why
it all had flown so quickly by.

Now as the Autumn fills the air
and life seems lightened from it's cares
I think of scenes from days gone past
and want those memories to last...

To sweeten life when things seem low
and warm me through the winter's snow.
Like honey hidden in the hive,
those memories keep my dreams alive!
Anonymous said…
Michele, thanks for 'October's Party'. This is my favorite time of the year as well. The colors changing, the air changing.. yummy all around. I am ready for the party!

I don't get to the blog every day, mostly because, when I read the posts, I get teary eyed.. I miss the experience so much, and being there just one month ago, makes me miss it even more each day. I cannot wait to get back on board again, and have yet another amazing and different experience.

Thanks for all who share comments, and Barry and Jen, thanks for your blog..
Unknown said…
Sarah and I arrived back in Alabama yesterday to the heat and humidity. Barry, I know you thought it was hot in Camden Tuesday but it was nothing compared with Birmingham. Today we drove south to the coast. It is hot down here too, but at least I can see the gulf and feel the sea breeze. While standing in the sand with the warm gulf waters washing over my feet, if I squint my eyes just right and tilt my head I can almost see the Mary Day sailing hull down on the horizon. When I open my eyes I realize that what I saw was a drilling rig on the horizon, a sight not nearly as beautiful as the Mary Day (or any other schooner for that matter).

I look forward to hearing the "Goose Music" as soon as the "honkers" make their way south to the wild wetlands of Alabama.

Popular posts from this blog

Hail Mary

My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this particular blog. Since the beginning of August our dear friend and cook for the last 12 years, Mary Barney, had been struggling with cancer. I have intentionally respected Mary’s privacy and I apologize to you for not sharing any news about Mary’s health sooner. On Monday afternoon Mary passed away very peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and “family”. Her departure was as graceful as the rest of her life. Many people, including Jen, have been doing heroic work to support Mary these last few weeks. Oddly enough Mary was never very excited about transitions though this was about the fastest transition she ever made. And as I struggle to let go of Mary I realize I am terrible with transitions as well. We used to joke about how we liked things just the way they are, thank you very much, so why change what is working already even if it might be less labor intensive. Hard works is its own reward. I used to joke about getting Mary a Cui

Fall Maintenance

Good morning everyone. The sun has been kind to us these past few days and the crew has been spending much time aloft prepping and painting the mast heads and tarring the rig as part of our annual fall maintenance schedule. They were a little silly on tar fumes by the end of the day hence the rat board dance moves. Am I the only one who is reminded of Willy Wonka's little friends at the sight of the crew in their tyvek suits? Schoona-loompas? The smell of tar, after all, is what we sailors live for. Extracted from the stumps and roots of pine trees through dry distillation pine tar will cure what ails you especially some skin conditions and any emotional maladies from being too long away from the sea. All we know for sure is that Mary Day’s rigging is kept hail and hearty by coats of tar mixed with boiled linseed oil. Notice that I specified boiled linseed oil and not raw linseed oil. Tar mix with raw linseed oil will not “kick”. Don’t ask me how I know this… just take my wo

Oh Captain, Oh Captain, Please Don't Rumba!

Good morning everyone. Another 6” of snow fell this weekend and we took a few hours to enjoy the wonders of winter here in New England skiing in the woods. The full Wolf Moon on Saturday causing astronomical high tides plus a 1’ tidal surge brought by the low pressure system meant we had tides over the bulkhead in Camden. At low tide just the opposite happens and the tides dip well below normal. I was able to step to the docks from the beach and get aboard the schooner on Friday after work and all was well. I had an interesting email this morning from a wonderful gentleman looking for a vacation to replace a now defunct “windjammer” sailing experience that formerly sailed in the Caribbean. He sent us a very humorous swashbuckling note, complete with colorful pirate party images, wondering if we might be able to fill the void, complete with canons and limbo parties and would the captain be leading the rumba line? I regretted to tell him that we probably did not offer the booty he was