July 1-12                   North Kingstown, Rhode Island

The Fourth of July was busy in the marina.  Intermittent rain delayed many boats but the fireworks display on the beach nearby occurred as planned.  We had a hot dog dinner with apple pie on the aft deck.  It was fun to watch on TV  the Tall Ships parade in New York Harbor.  We celebrated our nation’s birthday by continually watching historical movies and documentaries about Revolutionary heroes and events.

We had a special evening with John and Betsie on the aft deck of their beautiful boat.  Betsie served an amazing display of appetizers.  With a cool breeze, we enjoyed the ambiance. the food and the interesting conversation.  Their two small dogs carry on frequent “conversations” with Pretzel.

On July 12, we drove to Westerly to have a reunion with John and Maria Carpenter.  They no longer have their boat, and are absent from the marina.  We miss them  as they were the catalyst for much of our social life in summers past.  Maria had chosen  to meet at The Bistro in The Ocean House on the beach in Westerly.  We went early to avoid the traffic and have time to see the area.

Westerly is a delightful town of lovely, large Victorian and Cape Cod style houses set among spacious lawns adorned with blooming hydrangeas, roses, and lilies.  Taylor Swift’s house is one of the grandest, but others can compete.  It is a gorgeous neighborhood that winds through rocky hills overlooking the sea.

                                              TAYLOR SWIFT HOUSE

                                 

The Ocean House is a magnificent property that commands  an imposing view of the expansive beach and Atlantic Ocean.  We had often passed it as we cruised from the Cape Cod Canal toward Mystic or Essex.  We were impressed with the beautiful yellow and white Victorian structure as well as its renown as a five-star accommodation. 

We were glad we had driven our new car as our old VW with its faded paint would surely have been sent away.  The valets were busy with a new Mercedes, a gorgeous Rolls-Royce and a bright yellow Ferrari.    As we arrived early, we went to the outdoor bar to view the beach scene.  It was crowded with sunbathers and cabanas.

We were delighted to see John and Maria,  Our brunch  was a great occasion to catch up with news of family and friends.  We celebrated John’s birthday (the following day) with champagne toasts and delicious food.   After more than two hours, we reluctantly said goodbye to special friends with promises to meet again soon.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 16-June30                  North Kingstown

We are delighted to receive photos of our great granddaughter, Margot Ruth (note the middle name) who is a beautiful six-month-old addition to the family.  We love having a baby once more to enjoy. Unfortunately, Taft and Kennedy have a busy schedule this summer and will not be coming to the boat.  We always look forward to their visits. Taft is a huge fan of my blueberry pie and  also the oysters and lobster we serve on the aft deck.

We finally found cleaners to get the boat in pristine condition before our guest, Deborah Reed, would arrive on June 23.  They were expensive but did a great job and I planned to have them return weekly.  Unfortunately, they cancelled twice after the initial visit.  I dismissed them and have engaged Cory, the grandson of the owner who is not as proficient but more reliable. 

We were excited to welcome Deborah to Rhode Island and the boat.  A long-time friend and fellow docent at the Kimbell Museum, Deborah is a charming, erudite person whose degrees in interior design and art history make her an exceptional font of knowledge.  I was eager to show her the mansions of Newport and their elaborate architecture and furnishings.

Our first visit was to The Breakers, the magnificent oceanfront hone of the Vanderbilts.  Our three-hour tour gave us a comprehensive view of life in the Golden Age. The following day, we went to Rough Point, the ancestral home of Doris Duke.  Built in English Baronial style at the turn of the twentieth century, it reflected the exquisite taste of its wealthy owners.

 Friday was a long day but a fun day!  We caught an early train at Wickford Station (ten minutes from the boat) and went to South Station in Boston.  We arrived at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum just as it opened.  Our Kimbell credentials granted us free admission.  Deborah had recently read the biography the Mrs. Gardner and was familiar with most of the collection and its provenance.  After a leisurely tour, we had a lovely lunch in the new dining room (part of the recent addition by Renzo Piano). 

We Ubered to the nearby Museum of Fine Arts (again granted free admission) to view the collection of John Singer Sargent’s paintings.  Our time was limited so we Ubered to South Station and returned to Wickford.  I dozed off on the train.  David met us and we immediately went to Caffe Milano for dinner. Both Deborah and I were tired and quickly went to bed.  On Saturday morning, I drove to the airport and said goodbye to a special friend.  We were delighted to have her share time with us  in Rhode Island.