Sunday, June 28, 2009

Small Boats

My husband, my beautiful husband, took this photo last week. We were on a day trip to the coast of Maine. I had an appointment with a doctor and afterwards we just drove. We ended up in Kittery, ME., one bridge length across the open sea from Portsmouth, NH. It's an unexpected and incredible drive. The homes along the shoreline are breathtaking: perfect cottage or New England shake homes with perfectly manicured lawns and gardens and whatnot. On the one hand, there is the New England irreverence for anything perfect, for anything that smacks of being an impostor, a Hollywood version of the truth. On the other hand, the New England version of truth is just as beautiful. It's an awful beauty; a terrible beauty based on hardship, inclement weather, harsh climate and hard rock unsentimentality. I say "unsentimentality" which is not a word, but based on the New England way of looking at things, ought to be. These folk are tough, immovable, granite-like in their approach. They do not sentimentalize things, the past, present or future. They are in the here and now and it is what it is.

17 comments:

Laura Trevey said...

That would be very fun to paint! Great composition ~~

Be sure to enter a comment on Watercolors ~~ for a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate...
Good towards any purchase in my shop, as well as custom work!

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xo Laura

California Girl said...

Laura: Actually, I did enter a comment. Your work is so beautiful it would be hard NOT to comment.

You are welcome. You deserve it.

Sixpence and A Blue Moon said...

A picture that... speaks many words. I so love this photo!!! Some photos just pierce your soul, this one does that. Tell you husband this is an awesome photo. (Though I am NO expert, I just know what I like)

Brian Miller said...

great pic! such colors working together...tying nicely in with your words. think a New England truth is just as beautiful, in an authentic kinda way. nice props to the hubby as well.

will said...

The values you mentioned, "tough, immovable, granite-like in their approach" were once common many folks in many other regions.

Pop and Ice said...

That photo is frameable! Did you have a Lobster Roll while in Kittery?

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

Gorgeous!
I was in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware earlier this year. It's rainy, chilly, and the beach is still quite lovely, and ethereal!
Peace to you.
www.lisananetteallender.blogspot.com

Mrsupole said...

This is one of those photos that could either be enlarged for a large frame or just framed in smaller one to put on a wall. Love the colors in it. Thank you for sharing it. And the whole world should have these values.

God bless.

Diederick Wijmans said...

That works perfectly! Great composition and colours! Brava!!

California Girl said...

6p: very sweet comment. my husband was quite touched.

Brian: he appreciates your kind words. thanks.

Bill: probably true but I've lived in the West, the southern portion of the Mid-Atlantic states and the Mid-West and I've yet to find another region as tough as this one.

Pop: we did not but we should have. picked the wrong restaurant, actually. my fault.

Lisa: I've never been to Reheboth Beach but I've heard it's really nice.

Mrsupole: I agree. I've asked him to print, mat and frame for me. He takes orders too!

Blognote: thank you for visiting my blog and your compliment.

Marguerite said...

Sounds like a wonderful outing. The boat pic is enchanting, as is most of New England. As for "the living in the now", my French Acadian ancestors settled in Nova Scotia in 1603 and endured these hardships way before those in New England.

California Girl said...

Marguerite: every time winter comes, my husband and I look at one another and wonder how the early settlers survived it. It is daunting with central heat and heated cars! I cannot imagine going through that.

Whoistin-tinandsnowy? said...

Hi! again California Girl,
What a very beautiful colourful photograph of boats to share with your reader...at first I thought that it was a beautiful painting of Thanks, for sharing!
DeeDee ;-D

Whoistin-tinandsnowy? said...

...boats!

Nancy said...

That picture is unbelievable - simple and colorful. New England is an area of the country that I have always wanted to visit. Soon, I hope.

Susan said...

A beautiful picture to contrast with the description of hardships on the New England coast. The colors and compostion are perfect.

Tanna said...

Hope your doctor's visit went well. I love to "just drive". It seems to soothe my soul... and, I love the way you describe the New Englanders... Could just as easily have fit West Texans