Looking back - the more I age, the more the rearview mirror can appeal to me in brief spurts - I would count the Denim Days of my life in a small rural oceanside town in Newfoundland to be some of the happiest. I find that one's happiness cannot be tied to any particular person, place or thing. It is organic, internal, an inside job, if you will.
Everywhere I turned around there was this startling blue, it never failed to take my breath away. At times it became Forty Shades of Blue, just like that Irish song Forty Shades of Green. I'd sit on my front porch with a coffee of a morning and look at this.
I'm not one who eliminates the downside of life when looking back, but the home I had there held some great memories of parties and friends staying for a holiday and my beloved dog Ansa and gentleman callers and a community around me always prepared to help out when challenges hit.
So what brought this on? Just going through some old photos today. So many memories stirred up. Not least of which was that lovely old house by the ocean.
I enjoyed the photos this morning. I began reading your blog near the end of your time there...the person who constructed a building blocking your view...when you had guests enjoying your rental...your beautiful dog Ansa. The place that I loved the most here is called Rogue Bluffs Park in Machias, ME. You can see photos online. The ocean was on one side of the road and beach roses with a pond on the other. It was heavenly. At least we are fortunate to have our memories. Thanks for sharing the photos.
ReplyDeleteYou can barely see the wonderful cabin on the upper left, too Regina. The Tigeen. Great spot for artists and writers and totally off the grid.
DeleteI don't feel sad looking back just full of gratitude I had my (mostly) dream life there.
Your place sounds beautiful too, there were a lot of wild roses on the beach in front of my house. The scent was divine.
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A shame you had to give up your lovely house by the water. But it's good that you have such happy memories of being there.
ReplyDeleteYes, to everything there is a season Nick, and with a combination of my health decline and that awful nightmare next door it was time.
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Your forty shades of blue (and the Irish shades of green) are MUCH better than Forty Shades of Grey (which I was unable to read more than two paragraphs of in a bookstore before putting it down and walking away).
ReplyDeleteYours are definitely memories to treasure.
Oh that awful book, I laughed out loud when I read a page in a bookstore and tossed it aside quickly.
DeleteYes, it was a good day to treasure these memories.
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It was such a lovely house (probably still is) and I count myself lucky to have visited you there. Wish I could have met Ansa (in dog-person) too. It is a shame you had to give it up but as you say, happiness is an inside job.
ReplyDeleteIt comes to all of us I believe Annie, and it's good to get ahead of it and think now is the time.
DeleteI have no regrets and yes, it was lovely having you there but sadly without our dogs :( at the time.
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Lovely pictures. Makes me think that Newfoundland is like Ireland on steroids! And you are right of course - happiness comes from within. I can't remember who said it but "Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be."
ReplyDeleteMark Twain. Possibly through one of his characters, I believe. Or maybe Will Rogers. Between them they had a lot of the wise sayings cornered!
DeleteSo true Molly, Ireland on steroids, I just love that!! And Ireland untouched in many ways.
DeleteI am quite content where I live now. I look back on my life and can truly say all the moves were good.
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Very wise, those sayings Boud. And making up our minds to be happy is good, though I admit to reminding myself frequently.
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While some can be critical, I see nothing wrong with sitting, remembering and reminiscing.
ReplyDeleteIt does the spirit some good Andrew. I enjoyed my little half hour this morning.
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I miss the photo books of my mother and grandmother. All my pictures are reviewed on a screen now. Not the same.
ReplyDeleteI have loads on hard copy, Joanne, keep putting off going through them. Grandgirl comes out here with great resolutions and then we fritter away our time doing other fun stuff. I must prioritize.
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Lovely denim memories to look back on. Our ocean here is a different shade, nearer the shores/beaches we have teals and aquas before the deeper blues of the deeper oceans. If I had a house that looked over the ocean I would never leave.
ReplyDeleteI used to say that too but usually ocean homes can be high maintenance and challenging when one has mobility issues and the big factor for me was being so far away from medical stuff, clinics, hospitals, etc. Important concerns when we are older.
DeleteI love seeing the Australian coast and ocean. So different to ours.
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Fabulous blog
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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Didn’t you call it your salt box house? I loved the name. It seemed to suit it completely. x
ReplyDeleteThat's absolutely right, Anne. My lovely old salt box house. I loved it dearly.
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You are a good photographer with many happy memories. I like the color blue, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gigi, I've loved blue and yellow since I was a child.
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What a lovely description. The blues that we get to see here are much lighter. In fact, I have never seen this shade of blue in nature ever.
ReplyDeleteI'm just sorry I never got out there! -Kate
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