Mike and I just came back from our morning walk on the beach with our dogs. Lots of dogs around this morning, so lots of play. Getting out of the car we met Buddy from Albany, a jolly black shaggy fellow, very well-behaved, who we later saw going by in a kayak paddled by his owner. Nanuk began swimming along following her new friend, but came back to shore when called.
Nanuk has developed an ear for Mike’s fire pager. For a while she was waking us up in the night if any fire call was heard. Mike would pet her head and tell her it wasn’t West Tisbury, to go back to sleep. She did, but has gradually learned to differentiate West Tisbury’s tone from the others. On a walk the other morning, a call for West Tisbury fire alarm personnel stopped her in her tracks. She looked up at Mike, turned tail, and ran straight back to his truck, ready to go. What a great dog she is.
Lest Talley get her nose out of joint, an accolade for her: She is my perfect companion. She has always walked by my side, even without a leash, stayed close by when I’m out painting or working around the house or garden. She is quietly wherever I am. Playful and silly, as dogs should be, and certainly capable of getting into mischief, but also capable of lying on the sofa when I’m reading or writing. Maybe not on the sofa so much, anymore; her stiffening hips keep her on the floor beside the sofa these days.
Last week, someone told me it was National Dog Day. Whenever it was, it is always Dog Day at our house.
There must be a National Cat Day sometime, too. Nelson is the ruler of the world, at least of the world as he knows it. He is the handsomest orange fellow, totally full of himself; indulged by Mike and me, feared by Talley, played with and loved by Nanuk (he’s really her cat.) He swaggers. He announces his impending arrival by yowling as he crosses the yard and appears at the door. He still bites.
Anyone who has pets accepts them and their foibles into their homes and hearts. I can’t imagine a life without two dogs and a cat, the arrangement Mike and I have had throughout our years together. There were times with three dogs (never again) or two cats (that was OK), but two dogs and a cat feels just right.
Not sure where this is all coming from. It may be from hearing David Crohan at Long Hill Sunday afternoon. One of his songs was written for his, Collette’s, and a friend’s dogs, in their voices, from their points of view. Very poignant. And witty, of course.
Julia Humphreys told me that Lee DeVitt died on August 11. Lee lived on Oak Lane when she was still in town. She moved to Racine, Wis., several years ago to be near her daughter, Patty Blakesley. Lee and Julia were great friends, so kept in touch. I remember Lee as an artist and a wonderful gardener. My condolences to Patty and to all Lee’s family and friends.
Joanne Scott, Mike, and I were invited to dinner with Sue Hruby and Jared Hull last Saturday night for an always delicious dinner and to see pictures of Sue and Jared’s trip to Iceland. I was jealous to see them shivering in parkas as the temperatures and humidity here were horrible. Iceland was surprisingly beautiful. Very green. Even some of the houses’ roofs were grass-covered and seemed to blend into the surrounding landscape. There were some surprisingly modern steel and glass buildings; we saw a commercial on television that showed an iconic structure Mike immediately recognized. There was also a museum built to honor author Thorbergur Thordarson, the structure made up of red-painted wooden “books” representing everything he wrote. There were mountains and icebergs, waterfalls, rock-filled rapids. Sue and Jared both proudly held up the salmon they caught. It looked like they had a pretty good time.
I went into Edgartown last week to look at the Tashtego poster exhibition at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. It was wonderful, small — only a dozen posters — but beautifully displayed and so nostalgic. Many happy times at Tashtego with Jane and Ted Farrow, Blue Cullen, and Nancy Rogers. The show will be up at least through September, so do go.
Also at the museum is the 2015 Island Faces exhibition of portraits by Island artists.
As I walked around, I saw an odd little painting, “Mabel Johnson in Her Garden, 1955” by Stan Murphy. Mabel Johnson was adored by the women in our family; indeed, on one of our car trips to Florida, Janice Hull told me all about Mrs. Johnson’s being sent out west on an orphan train, her very hard childhood, her years on the Vineyard living on the corner of State and Old County Road (where Louise Bessire lives now), her beautiful braided rugs, and the flower gardens that were her greatest pride. Many West Tisbury children remember weeding in Mrs. Johnson’s garden under her watchful eye.
On a somber note, I saw Doug Brush and Emily Fischer at the Artisans Festival this past weekend, and asked how their son, Milo, did with his farm stand this summer. Turns out, Milo (age 5) had put out about $30 worth of produce on his stand, and at the end of the day everything was gone, including all but $2 or $3. Needless to say, he didn’t do it again, but sold his produce to Cronig’s for the rest of the summer, earning a tidy sum. I am outraged, a term I don’t use lightly, that anyone would rip off anyone’s honor system farm stand, but especially that of a 5-year-old boy.
The Artisans Festival was a great place to run into lots of people I hadn’t seen all summer. Andrea Gabel-Jorgensen, Lisa Strachan, Liz Taft, Helayne Cohen, Candy Shweder, Dan Waters; all talented artists. The weekly Artisans Shows continue Sundays through Columbus Day weekend at the Grange Hall.
Valerie Sonnenthal and her son, Sawyer Klebs, were there, and we got into a conversation about feet. Valerie has been trained in MELT method work for hands and feet, and does classes at her Peaked Hill Studio. Sawyer is making shoes. I had never met anyone who makes handmade shoes, customized to the buyer’s own feet. They look so comfortable, and nothing like the bespoke English shoes advertised in the New Yorker or the New York Times.
Annie Cohen-Solal has written a biography of Mark Rothko, one of my favorite artists. She will be speaking about him this Saturday, Sept. 12, 5 pm, at the Chilmark library. I am telling all my friends, and can hardly wait to hear the reading and lecture.
Martha’s Vineyard Democrats will meet Saturday morning, Sept. 12, 9 to 10:30, at the Howes House. Lots to discuss as this presidential election season is underway.
Two one-act plays will be staged at Artspace (State Road across from Tea Lane Associates) next Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Sept. 15 and 16. Jill Jupen is the author of “The 50-Minute Hour,” and Wayne K. Greenwell of “Marth Vader: The Vineyard’s Dark Side.” There are no tickets, and only about 25 seats, so come early for the 7:30 productions. A $10 suggested donation, although more will be gratefully accepted, will help pay the actors a small remuneration.
Joan Smith will be exhibiting a collection of her watercolors at Vineyard Playhouse Artspace. “Playwrights” will be on view from Sept. 18 to Oct. 16 during box office and production hours, and by appointment. A reception for the artist will be Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19, 4 to 6 o’clock.
Currently at Artspace is an interesting show by Paul Brissette, a collection of tools and shelves called “Artifact Shelving.”
At the West Tisbury library this week:
Saturday, Sept. 12, an artist’s reception for Lucy Mitchell, from 4 to 5 o’clock. Her new work, “Books, Albums and Papers” is a collection of accordion-folded books. They are beyond beautiful, based on Lucy’s observations of the natural world, her love of mark making, scripts, illumination, and some of the forms that books can take.
Monday, Sept. 14, Tweed Roosevelt’s 12-week reading club begins at 10 am. The first book is Paul Gallico’s “The Snow Goose.” At 7 pm, the monthly Writers Read group meets.
Wednesday, Sept. 16, meet members of the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council to ask questions and get help writing a grant proposal for their 2016 grant cycle. The workshop meets from 6:30 to 7:30.
I have saved the best for last. If you have always wanted to make your own beer, ACE MV is giving you the opportunity. The three-session class begins this Saturday afternoon, Sept. 12, 3 to 4:30. The $139 fee includes materials. Check out acemv.org or call 508-693-9222 for information.
A dear friend died today, maybe while I was writing this column. Everybody knew Buzzy Blankenship and he knew everybody. He will be greatly missed.
Happy birthday wishes to my mother-in-law, Bobby Hull. We will all be having dinner and birthday cake tonight, Sept. 7, and singing for you.