Hello from Rockport. I'm here for ten glorious days of vacation and words fail me when it comes to telling you how incredible it feels. I used to take stretches of days with nothing to do for granted, but now they're a luxury. And I am luxuriating in them.
I have some iPhone photos to share that didn't make it to my Instagram, because if I were to post every post-able moment I would be so annoying that no one would want to follow me. And seeing as you're only as cool as the number of followers you have (duh, everybody knows that), I can't run that risk. Just kidding. But seriously.
So far I've harvested lavender from the garden with my mom, swum in Lake Megunticook for hours, gone to the magical annual pirate party (its tenth anniversary!) and reconnected with friends I haven't seen in years, eaten lots of locally grown produce and fresh-caught fish, and read the newspaper with my dad. So I'd say it's shaping up to be a resounding success of a vacation. AND, even better, my wonderful cousins, aunt and uncle, and beautiful baby-first-cousin-once-removed will be up for the end of the week. More to follow, but for now, here:
My mama's hands picking lavender. We are currently drying it on an old window screen and plan to turn it into delightful bouquets.
The best store. Great beer selection for the evening, great breakfast sandwiches for the morning after. 
The most fun boats are often those of the inflatable variety. 
Pirate party preparations on the ferry from Rockland to Vinalhaven (meaning we ripped up a bunch of clothes from Goodwill and put them on).
The entrance to the party on Greens Island. A place which is, I'm pretty sure, as close to heaven-on-earth as one can get. No electricity, no cars, no cell service; just rocks, dirt, trees, water, sun. And, this weekend, beautiful people dressed as pirates, cold drinks, roasted pigs, face-paint, and funk music late into the night. 
The wonderful Meg Hannan, a dear old friend and incredibly talented jewelry designer, and me on the rocks (in full pirate wench get-ups).
A bunch of pirates watching the sun set. 
Not bad.
The amazing, Portland-based funk band Model Airplane performing on Greens. These guys were so great and soooo much fun to dance to; if you have a chance to catch one of their shows I highly recommend it.
And in the morning we lay on the rocks, swam, and spit lots of cherry pits into the ocean.
