Lobster Boil

I always look forward to lobster season, when I can buy fresh lobsters from fisherman who sell their catch right off the wharf. My quest for lobsters is about more than just food. It's a chance to meet people, and establish new friendships. I try to visit as many communities as I can each summer. It is humbling to talk to some of the older fishermen on those trips and hear their stories.

There is only one thing better than a boiler filled with lobsters cooking on the stove, and that's a boiler filled with lobsters cooking on an open fire on a beach by the ocean, and sharing them with friends. It was a good day for such an outing and with five fresh lobsters to cook, I headed to a friend's cottage. I will always remember what she said when they were building their new summer home. When things were not going well, while still under construction, it was referred to as the "friggin' cabin". When things went well, it was the "cottage". Well, it's definitely a cottage now, set back in a beautiful garden, overlooking the ocean.

It was a short walk down the path to the beach and after a couple of trips, my friend and I had carried down everything we needed. We found the perfect spot to build a fire pit with rocks. We gathered dry wood for the fire and when it was burning just right, we put on the pot. While the lobsters were cooking, I went for a walk.

There was a gentle breeze off the salt water and with the sun hitting it at just the right angle, it looked like the surface had been sprinkled with diamonds. It was positively hypnotic. The sky was clear and the scenery absolutely beautiful, all the way down the bay. If you take time to look down when walking on a beach, you can really appreciate the many beautiful colors in the sand and rocks, as well as a variety of shells and unique pieces of driftwood. I get some interesting shots by pointing the camera straight down, instead of just shooting across the beach.

The smell of the lobsters cooking drew me back to the fire. The wind had picked up by this time so we decided to head back to the cottage to relax and enjoy our meal. We ate our fill of lobster, potato salad and homemade bread, and shared a bottle of wine. A fitting end to a wonderful day.

That experience inspired me and I went back to the same beach on another occasion to cook a pot of mussels in the same fire pit we had built there before. A couple, out walking their dog on the beach, joined us. This time we stayed on the beach, shared some interesting stories, scooped out the delicious, steaming mussels and ate them straight from the shells.

I wonder if that fire pit is still there. I think I have a package of smoked kippers in the freezer....

Wild Iris

(a special tribute to my sister)

Of all the pictures of Irises I have taken over the years, this is my favorite. I was getting a series of shots to show photography students when I saw these flowers growing in the middle of the stream. There were just enough rocks surrounding them to protect them and the soil from erosion.

My sister, Ruby, loved wild Irises. She drew them, had a friend paint them, and displayed pictures of them in her home. I have photographed Irises on many occasions and have grown to love them too, not just because of their strength and beauty, but because they remind me of Ruby's love and passion. She used every occasion and available opportunity to celebrate life.

Ruby would gather family around her whenever possible and host amazing meals in her home. When our family grew, we eventually had to rent a room somewhere so we could all get together. Each family brought food to the pot luck dinner, and the children entertained the adults with a concert or performance of some sort. There was music and games and everyone was happy to set aside their busy daily routines and just spend that time together to catch up on news and have fun.

When my dad was diagnosed with ALS.  we all spent as much time as possible by his side and felt helpless knowing there was no cure for this dreadful condition. Before he passed, Ruby's granddaughter asked him how he would get to Heaven. He told her two angels would come down on a rainbow and go with him. On the day of his funeral, just as we were leaving the cemetery, we looked off in the distance at our house and there was the most beautiful rainbow you ever saw, arched over the roof. Since that day rainbows have had a special meaning for me. I remember Ruby saying she would one day write a book called Rebecca's Rainbow but sadly she did not get the chance.

We were shocked and completely devastated when Ruby passed suddenly a few years later. There are no words to explain the incredible pain and overwhelming sense of loss. It felt like a huge part of my life had been ripped away. There are so many days when I wish I could talk to her. Ruby had a way of putting things in perspective, and helped me get my priorities straight even when I thought they already were, and we would end up laughing about it.

I watched a program on TV since her passing, on Iris gardening, and found out more about these beautiful flowers. It is believed a Greek Goddess came back and forth to earth on a rainbow, and everywhere her foot touched, an Iris grew. They believe the Iris accompanies the soul of women into the afterlife. It is the symbol of monarchy, royalty, power and remembrance.

It's hard not to think about the past and family I have lost, but I draw strength from it. I am so very thankful for all the special people still in my life today, especially my children and grandchildren. I feel incredible joy as each little one comes along and I see their loving personalities, along with the strengths of my parents and Ruby in them.

The Iris will continue to grow, and may show up in the most unusual places. For me, it will always represent a beautiful and everlasting bond between loved ones who have passed and new beginnings.

I miss you.