Well, here we are again. Stay tuned as I start my predictions and my own Riverwatch!

It’s rare that I have a weekday off, but this time of year, I indulge in a day or two before Christmas to appreciate some down time. Living Life Uptown, when I am away from High Water Cottage, I am lucky to have the best of both worlds! Kings Square before the bustle of the day begins.

When we sold our suburban family home, we were unsure whether we would like living in the Saint John core. It seemed, well, a place where nobody really WAS; an area that merely housed a municipal building or two and maybe a restaurant if we needed to meet friends centrally. I could not have been more wrong! Strolling up the street on my way to my destination, I realized just what a quaint and unique city we have… it truly is a treasure! Oh, to be able to peek into the secret spaces behind these beautiful doors! We really DO have the most magnificent architecture!

The Trinity Royal district with details from days gone by – it’s lovely to see homes being restored ( 🎶 if I had a million dollars …🎶)

There is no doubt – restoration in the central core is not for the faint of heart. ‘They just don’t make ’em like they used to” rings true. The expense and effort to which homeowners and developers must go is significant (as we have learned from High Water Cottage, renovation is always more expensive than new construction…but in certain instances, it’s worth it!) The brownstones are my absolute favourite; when I stroll past, I often fancy myself in Boston or New York…in bygone days, at the height of the shipbuilding era, imagine the elaborate parties and social scene in Saint John at this time of year! The sheer size and ornate facades of these residences stand as a testament to that time and it is gratifying to see the value people place upon it as they commit to such restoration. I am sure it is an all-consuming venture, but I am appreciative as I take in the streetscape on my morning stroll.

It’s been a great move to join the ever-growing number of persons, in all demographics, who ‘Live Life Uptown’. Of course we enjoy country living, but when we are here, we stroll to the theatre, take a five-minute walk to meet our friends at a restaurant, or host a pop-up cocktail party before events such as Uptown Sparkles or gallery hops throughout the year. And we continually meet acquaintances who excitedly announce that they, too, have relinquished their homes in the ‘burbs in favour of the new, trendy (dare I say?) freedom of the urban lifestyle.

The rosy pink early-morning sky, as King Street opens and the business district starts up. We have some fantastic boutique stores – shop local!

My destination this morning is special – I have a breakfast date! And so, I head to the City Market, a place that has figured in my memories all my life. I am old enough to remember walking through the market as a young child, when sawdust covered the floor and sides of beef flanked right and left of the aisle. The market was cold inside and it had a particular scent – the scent of years and long ago….I can’t describe it, except to say that anyone who shares my memories knows EXACTLY what I mean. Every spring, a lady would sell May flowers at the top of the market, tucked into a corner just outside the large, swinging double wooden doors. To this day, I can evoke the delicate scent of those tiny flowers (remembering all of these scenes is the most wonderful meditation😃).The restored wrought-iron gates; such a wonderful job done on preserving this treasured building.SO pretty this time of year! The beautiful swags highlighting the ship’s-hull ceiling, the colours and smell of fruits and veggies, the aroma of baking bread and fresh-brewed coffee… we Saint John-ers take this WAY too much for granted!

I happened upon this interesting juxtaposition – childhood memories vs where I live now 😉

My husband and I have found a new treasure in the market – H&S Meats and its proprietor, Scott Scichilone. Being British, my dear husband loves his cheese, and Scott has a wonderful selection, all served with a smile and great service! We definitely recommend that you pay a visit (and ask for the Dragon Cheese….😉)

Of course, everyone has a favourite haunt and Slocum & Ferris is mine! I only have one word to say that explains it all…right-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns (ok…that’s technically more than one word, but you get it. ❤️)

And so, I finally reach my destination, and my date. This morning, dear ol’ dad and I are taking a few moments during the hustle and bustle, just to check in with each other. Although the visit is short, and we will see each other at the family party later this evening, the market is a perfect place to sit and rest a bit, reflect on how blessed we are and to reminisce. All in a place that always has and always will continue to make memories. That’s what our story is all about.

From our family to yours, may you have a Christmas and Chanukah filled with peace and love ❤️ MLC

Well, it’s been some time since we last updated our blog, but the fall has been busy! When we left off, the berm had just been moved into place by Robbie Dean. Loads and loads and LOADS of dirt, sand and gravel sit atop chunks of the old foundation, placed at the base for added stability. After that, it was shaped to form a sloping ‘mesa’ upon which our cottage sits, ten feet wide along the top (for gardens and a walking path) and finished off in a large layer of shot rock to protect against incoming waves.

Front slope of berm

This will all be levelled and tamped with a pea-gravel path and plantings along the foundation walls and top of the rock edge

The berm stretches from one back corner of the house and all the way around the front, almost to the other back corner. The land at the back of the house has been built up 3-4 feet. The plan is to redo gardens around the entire perimeter, dressing up the foundation and creating a garden/seating area on the berm itself. We were able to save and temporarily transplant some of our shrubs and flowers but next spring we have a big project ahead of us (anyone who saw our gardens before realizes what an undertaking that is…) but we are EXCITED for the opportunity to create beautiful new spaces :)!

Let’s think of this as a blank canvas 😉

The house received a bit of a facelift as well. We kept the original vinyl siding but dressed it up with some ‘stone’ to match the berm (replaceable if the wind and waves overtake us, although if it happens at our new height, I suggest we all run for higher ground!)

Meanwhile, inside, there is a new, large dry cellar with a gravel floor, all spray foam insulated, with three large sump pits (total pumping capacity 600gal/min). Ground water has always been an issue close to the river, but with the engineered soil-pack, the new elevation and a moisture mitigation strategy, we hope/expect to stay dry (spring and Mother Nature will tell the tale 😉).

Finally, after removing the former deck, a new one had to be built. And it is solid. Under the skilled hands of Joe Bonnell, a 2-level, 2000 square foot wraparound deck with a verandah is taking shape. The centrepiece is a thirty foot tree rising through the deck floor; no doubt the stress of it all has been hard on the old beauty, but, fingers crossed, she will survive. We hope this great living space becomes a draw for friends and family to enjoy music and movie nights and the East Coast Lifestyle.

Back of house (stairs & ramp access to road)

Main deck & tree (upper & lower level)

Beginnings of the eventual verandah

This has been a huge undertaking (and we are not done yet) but we appreciate the thought and hard work that Chris Ferguson and the JoAt crew have undertaken to make High Water Cottage safe.

As we wind down and head into the winter months, we will keep you updated with stories from life on the river’s edge. For now, happy fall and stay warm (and dry!). 🍁

Week 8 – Aug 19, 2019: Well, today as scheduled, Heneault et Gosselin arrived and lowered High Water Cottage onto its new foundation. The steel beams were removed, one by one, and the house was secured to its knee wall and cement foundation by the crew. When all is said and done, it sits nearly five feet higher than the top of the old foundation and the land has been elevated as well. We hope this is sufficient for subsequent high water, but we have the added security of a gravel crawl-space and 3 large sumps with a pumping capacity of 600 gallons a minute. Take THAT, Mother Nature!

Our fantastique team from Quebec 😃

Removing the steel beams and placing new beams and jack posts

High Water Cottage is back to Terra Firma

Loading up for the trip back home

The rest of the week was spent by the Jo-At crew prepping for the build of the deck and verandah. Before that, though, the berm and protective wall need to be built. Digger Dean used all of the old broken cement as an underpinning and shaped truckloads of dirt into an 8-foot wide berm wrapping around the front and sides of the house. This will allow us to walk across the top to gain access around the cottage with a small seating area in one corner, as well as to plant small bushes, vines and flowers along the top. The slope will be constructed of blasted rock, providing a breakwater against wave action. We face directly northeast, so waves are something we prepare for, especially during spring storms.

And so, we are officially up to 75 tandem loads of rock and dirt. The repurposed cement turned out to be a big bonus to help wall stability. Next week Rob will finish the sloping and shaping, wrap the wall in fabric (to deter weeds) and add the large pieces of blasted rock – we’ll have a look at the finished product in the next blog post as the deck takes shape.

Building the berm. There’s a LOT of room on top!

And we are not done with dirt. For good measure, the ground under the deck has been raised as the freshet can reach the back of the house; this will help to slow it down, and provide stable ground for the Bigfoot deck posts supporting the deck and verandah.

Prepping the ground for the deck. There’s now 3-4 feet of land at the back of the house. The stairs will be hidden by a road-level ramp to the new wrap-around deck

Seeing the berm-breakwater in place is exciting. It feels like the project has really picked up pace again. A big shout-out to all who have worked on this project so far – so much has already been done, and, really, we have been in great hands. And, we think the septic field has come out unscathed! Fingers crossed (every little bit helps 😉).

As we roll into the fall, we start the work that will finish off our property and make it truly spectacular. Still a lot to be done, but it’s really starting to take shape!

Believe it or not, the house used to be at the level of the green lawn in the front of this picture. Almost looks like an optical illusion (but it’s not!)

We started prepping the cottage for raising on July 2; Heneault et Gosselin arrived the following week to perform the work. They are scheduled to return tomorrow, August 19, to lower it back down. A great deal of work has been done during that time. As you read in a previous blog post, Robbie Dean spent many hours excavating and shaping the land – the entire property has come up about 3-4 feet before the new foundation was poured.

A couple of noisy days in our neighbourhood

Kevin Munn poured the foundation and it sat to cure for a couple of weeks (with a well-deserved week’s vacation for the crew after that). Now, the final, one-foot knee-wall has been constructed and the Blue Skin applied and we await the arrival of the Quebec team in the morning.

When lowered, the house will only come down a couple more inches.

The crawl space has been prepared for support posts/beams under the house. Yes, we have had some cracks in our drywall as the process has gone on, and we expect with settling we may have some more, but the house will now be level (for the first time in its life) and the cracks will be easily fixed with a skim of fill and paint.

After the cottage is lowered, phase two begins: the septic must be evaluated, the water and sewer and gas for the generator and fireplace reconnected, the berm and armour stone wall engineered and constructed, the large deck built, the siding replaced and some attempt at landscaping made before the snow flies.

At this point, I have to admit, I feel more than a little overwhelmed. This project is not for the faint of heart. It is complicated, it is costly and it is long. This is the second full summer that we have been disrupted and unable to relax. Although we have had a wonderful summer and have made the most of city living, we want to be here, in the country. I look around and I am simply overcome by the disruption, inside and out – dirt everywhere, piles of debris, overgrown lawns and beach, dying plants and the inside of a house that looks like moving day.

A small ray of hope – our first apple!

Oh Man! Haven’t I done this before?

Sigh. Will we EVER have a garden again?

Despite all this, it has gone well. Maybe it’s just the grey day, or maybe it’s just getting back from a perfect weekend in Charlottetown and deciding to ‘check the house’ that threw it into start contrast with PEI’s rolling green hills, but, right now, dirt is not my friend! I have hit the point of ‘Are we there YET?!’ I can feel the summer winding down and I am ready, yes, so ready to lay sod and call it a day. But there are still many more days to come 😉. Stay tuned.

There’s nothing that celebrates summer more than the local farmers market! It’s a hundred things tied up into one – a place to buy fresh, organic food, sample local cuisine, choose a unique gift made by a local craftsperson, or listen to some live music. But, I think, the best part of the farmers market is how it connects people – young, old, strangers, friends, those ‘from away’ and those just ‘down the way’.

The Kingston Farmers Market in Kingston, NB is such a place.

Established in 1983, the Kingston Farmers Market is a cooperative of over 80 vendors, offering a variety of NB-produced products, “keeping it real by keeping it local”. Open every Saturday from 8am to 1pm, rain or shine from May 4 to October 26 (for the 2019 season), it attracts locals and visitors alike for the food, the atmosphere and the fun!

Https://sites.google.com/view/kingston-farmers-market/home

Check out the links on the KFM home page for their story, the KFM Stage, hall rental and more!

Main entrance to the KFM community hall

What better way to start off the great Saturday ahead by heading to THE place to See and Be Seen! If you’re smart, you’ll get to the market early – if you don’t, you might miss something! The die-hards arrive at opening in order to get the best pick of the fresh veggies or home-made bread; by 9 am it’s bustling with ‘late arrivals’ looking for breakfast or to browse the stalls.

The bountiful harvest is ripe for the choosing; additionally, you can find flowers, crafts, clothing, hand-made soap and even Emu oil for your ‘itchy-scratchy’ bits 😃

Want to know what’s going on in Kingston? Just have a look here or check at ‘Dick’s Corner’

Mackay’s, home of the famous Yip cider

There is a variety for whatever your mood!

Now, everyone who knows me knows I like bright and shiny things. I am especially drawn to silver; Aiden Stanley of Queenstown Goldsmiths has unique and beautiful custom-crafted pieces on offer, for anyone looking for a cherished gift for that special occasion.

Aiden Stanley http://www.queenstowngoldsmiths.com

Likewise, another favourite stop of mine is to visit Tina MacPhee at I Love My Jewellry Too. Stationed inside the main building, Tina’s corner always draws a crowd. She tells me that she loves being part of the supportive market community and having the opportunity to get out and talk with people. Her work with copper, brass and sterling, leather and artful etching results in lovely jewellery with a natural vibe. Just the thing for a lucky person on my Christmas list 😉

Tina MacPhee ilovemyjewelry2@gmail.com

Finally on my list of favourite things this week….introducing Danny Lutes of Reversible Stainglass Studio. Every time I chat with him, I go away happy, taking a little bit of his positive attitude with me, along with yet another stained glass bird to hang in the window of High Water Cottage.

Danny Lutes dannylutes54@gmail.com

Music makes everything more festive, and the KFM Stage doesn’t disappoint! This week we were treated to the upbeat, sing-a-long entertainment provided by the New Kingston Trio, a guitar-wielding, banjo-playing group from Summerville who delighted their audience with a perfect mix of ballads and upbeat tunes, old and new. And, let me tell you, they drew quite a crowd! I have on good authority that the Market Folk are already asking when you’ll be back…

All funds raised were donated to the SPCA

The New Kingston Trio. From left: Randy Wilson, Paul Roach and Andrew Clark

It’s not just people who enjoy the market! This young pup is Kingston, an adorable 6 month old Labradoodle who drew a sizeable crowd along with the band. Such a pleasure to meet him – and I LOVE the name!

Kingston and his owner Steve Titus

Finally, the food….

As I said, there is no shortage! You can find everything from things deep-fried delicious to delightful donuts, ethnic food and organic fare. My husband’s particular favourite is a salmon bun from Benson’s Seafood. Be warned! They are one of the most popular food stalls at the market, so queue up quickly to get your breakfast or buy some for dinner. Their salmon is second-to-none!

Benson’s Seafood

For those who prefer a more traditional breakfast, they can head inside to the dining hall, where a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, pancakes and hot coffee await! The hall is abuzz with happy conversation and “Hi! How are you?s” as volunteer servers shout numbers out for your breakfast order.

Every time I hear my number called, I get excited! It feels like I have won Breakfast Bingo!

It is a lovely space – sunny and warm and particularly inviting in the fall when you come in from the crisp air, in your fall sweater and boots and sit to wait, fresh coffee in hand, for friendly conversation and hearty food. And, if you want to rent this space, it’s available; it’s a perfect spot for a wedding or family event! Just contact market staff for more details. This week, as I lingered over yet another cup of my favourite hot beverage, I was hustled along at market closing time by my friend Jackie, who was busy clearing the hall for a wedding later in the day.

Jackie Fraser, a KFM board member, providing service with a smile

The Kingston Farmers Market is a true Country Treasure, a meeting place for Peninsula residents, those from town and visitors from miles around who gather to enjoy the best that East Coast hospitality has to offer. Sure, there’s an abundance of food and unique gifts, but the best thing you’ll find there is the people – you’re among friends.

Want a happy start to your Saturday? Meet me at the market! 😃

Do you ever feel like getting away from it all? Take a ferry!

When we bought our property on the Kingston Penninsula (or the ‘KP’ as I like to call it), people said ‘are you sure you want to have to take a ferry every time you go home??’ I honestly have to say, after 5 years, it hasn’t got old. Especially during the summer when, just a short cruise away, your best life awaits.

You can get to the Penninsula without using one of the government-run ferries by travelling via Hampton, but our home on the KP’s southern tip is ideally situated between the Gondola Point, Grand Bay-Westfield and Millidgeville ferries, each with a 13-minute ride between our house and the other shore.

For more info on our ferries, see this link:

https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/dti/bridges_ferries/content/ferries.html

Weekday mornings are a scramble; all of the ferries are busy, busy, busy, with commuters heading to town to work. Those headed east take the two Gondola Point cable ferries, with a 24-car capacity, running continuously, all year long, crossing the mid-point of the Kennebecasis River to Quispamsis, Rothesay and East Saint John. Likewise, those headed west travel via Grand-Bay Westfield; two similar cable ferries (15 car) cross the larger Saint John River to deliver you toward West Saint John, Lorneville, Lepreau and all points south.

After a long week at work, EVERYONE is excited to play on the weekend! And, if you don’t know what is going on, you can check the community board on the ferry! The boats are packed with happy people heading home, heading to cottages, heading up to the Kingston Farmers Market….people are smiling and you can feel the party has begun – but beware! One must know ferry etiquette! Always listen to your ferry operators, no delays and never EVER jump the line! 😉

Community Events are often posted on the boats… gossip can be readily found on deck between the cars 🙂

Our ‘home ferry’ is the Penninsula Princess, the ferry closest to Saint John itself (it also allows you to connect to the smaller Kennebecasis Island ferry). From those who know the history of the river, she was preceded ‘back in the day’ by the ‘Romeo and Juliette’. The Princess, as she is affectionately called, is a 24-car, non-cable ferry that traverses a wider section of the Kennebecasis between Summerville (KP) and Millidgeville (SJ). It is very convenient for those who work in Saint John proper and who have business in the city centre. But the Princess is special; she has her own schedule and she likes to go to bed for the night, so you need to know what time she is on ‘shuttle’ and when she starts and ends her runs for the day.

I’m always amazed at the skill with which our ferry operators land the Princess – even in thick fog!

She also takes a break for the winter; as she has no cable and bubble system, she has to wait until the spring thaw opens the Kennebecasis once more (and lo, all the people rejoice!)

Everyone watches the water level during the spring freshet. In 2018, the whole wharf disappeared.

But we love her and her crew. Every time I drive on, I get that friendly wave from the deck hands (standard for travellers on all the ferries, by the way), but I am especially cared for by Ralph and his co-worker Pat, who always have a kind word and a ‘have a great day’ when I leave (probably about time I took them another freshly-baked pie 😉).

They are all great! Today, I’d like you to meet Angie Ring and Buck Raynes, two of the crew who also often see us safely across.

Angie and Buck, taking us over to a night on the town 🙂

I asked Angie what she liked best about working on the Princess. She smiled and said, ‘working outside in the weather’. I asked her what she liked least; you guessed it – ‘working outside in the weather’. But I have to tell you, these people work hard! All shift, they pack cars inches apart, staying exactly on time, keeping us from having to wait too long for the next ride. Shooing the ducks away from the landing when the ferry comes into the wharf, looking out for the travellers, vehicles and the winged hangers-on and even preventing people from missing the ramp and ending up in the drink (thanks Angie😊).

But truly, we are lucky to have our ferry system and we should not take it for granted. Whenever humanly possible, it runs smoothly and everyone works very, very hard to minimize down time. We are grateful to those who, with a smile and a friendly wave, deliver us safely between shores. Yes, once in a while, the wait may seem long, but it’s only because you are anxious to get back to such beautiful country. The ferries are part of the charm; a little ‘sea cruise’ where the unwinding begins as you set sail toward your happy place ❤️.

The work has been constant; hot, heavy work as the crew has hauled, and dumped, and spread, and tamped DIRT. Rocks, pebble, soil, you name it. At the end, we estimate over 75 tandem loads of fill will be under High Water Cottage. Our house now sits on its own little hill!

Rob Dean has been busy crafting the landscape with his excavator while the ground crew has been hard at work below. All of the soil had to be packed down and the three sump pits placed back in at the front corners and the centre of the cellar (now a five-foot crawlspace).However, thanks to the fill, the ground is now considerably higher than it was pre-2018 and packed so tightly that we may not get the ground water that we traditionally got (the extent of which depended on that particular year’s water level).

The footing course is done and the forms have been built for the foundation to be poured in the next few days, along with the 28 or so Big Foot supports that will anchor the new deck and verandah. Earlier this week, the crew noticed the steel support beams holding up the house were starting to bow under the weight and so it was JoAt to the rescue with extra jack posts! All is now well-supported and it’s time once again to move ahead. Once poured, the foundation will set until Heneault Gosselin arrive the week after NB Day to lower the cottage onto its new base 😃.

After all of this, the berm and armour stone wall will be constructed and the deck begun.

And then… the landscaping. I’ll admit that, although it will be beautiful, the sheer amount of work to be completed is daunting. As you wander around the property, you can’t help but realize the massive amount of resources, both human and material, it takes to put everything together. But every day we see change – an exciting new landscape is being born! And so, the plants wait patiently in their pots and the wildlife visit, as curious as all of the other onlookers.

As time and the precious good weather marches on, the work continues. It’s the second year of disruption after back-to-back floods and there is still much to be done. But I remind myself, despite the disarray, to relax and to look forward, not back. After all, it’s still summer out there.☀️

Well, today was the day! Time for our cottage to be lifted!

During the past week, our project manager Chris Ferguson and his crew from JoAt were hard at work preparing the site.

First, the large, two level deck on the side of the house had to be removed. Once that was cleared away, the ground needed to be excavated around the existing foundation so that holes could be cut into it, through which large steel cross beams would be placed, under which the hydraulic jacks would be set. Once the house was up, the beams would rest on 6×6 forms, holding up the house while work occurred underneath.

Next, it was time to disconnect the propane and the water. The question remains as to whether we will be able to save our septic system; heavy equipment working around the house is liable to crush it. We will deal with that later, when we survey the results.

The propane was disconnected and our 16Kw generator was temporarily relocated, to be replaced when the foundation, fill and grading is complete. We were now disconnected from everything but the electricity – it was possible to leave it on, thanks to the length of line from the NB power pole. Good thing; I was wracking my brain as to who could babysit the three, 15-pound turkeys hanging out in my freezer :).

The Quebec company (Heneault Gosselin) arrived in Summerville the next day at 730am sharp, ready to get to work! While I was at work across the river, waiting for news, my friends and neighbours and husband were gathering for the show. We expected it would take the better part of a day to lift a heavy house 5 feet in the air, but my husband, arriving on the 9am ferry, was surprised to find it…..done! The lift took a little over an hour, and the amazing part was that not a dish was disrupted, nor a knickknack knocked over….there was no evidence the cottage had been moved except for two small cracks at the corner of a door sill and, oh yes, the fact that you now had to enter the back door via a fully extended ladder!

The house was now up and resting on forms; once set back down, it will rest only two inches lower than it is right now (at a final level of approx 4 feet, 8 inches).

For the rest of the afternoon, work focussed on the ground beneath the house. The original cottage had been renovated in 2007 and had a footing course around the perimeter which was deemed to be in good shape, but older foundation walls in the middle of the cellar supporting the rest of the structure were crumbling and needed to be dismantled to make room for new footings and jackposts.

After a visit from the engineer, it was decided that the entire foundation should be redone, with the existing hole under the house to be filled with layers of small and large round rock/pea gravel and compacted dirt (our excavator, Digger Dean, could ‘fill’ you in on those details – check him out on Facebook😉). Additionally, a large French drain will be installed, sloping toward the river onto the beach, before a wall of armour stone is placed to protect the front of the house from wave action. We will be left with a 4-5′ crawl space under the house, sloped and designed for drainage, with sump pits installed in the space and on the wall outside to manage the ground water as it rises. Once the house was lifted, we could see what we were dealing with

The engineer decided a whole new foundation was the best idea

After the crew had left, I wandered around the yard, a little dumbstruck. My neighbour and I had broken into the house up top and I marvelled at our castle in the clouds and its new view (a little more expansive than we had before). But standing in front of a house that towered above me, with a giant hole beneath, I admit I was just a little overwhelmed by the scope of the project.

But, it IS exciting! It is amazing to watch this change, and the cottage will be much better protected. Now, if only we can keep the displaced flowers in all those pots watered until we can get them back into the ground when this project is done. Heaven knows, we now have enough dirt to find them a place to live!

Up next: Foundation building. See you next time 😉.

I should have been a farmer. OK, so maybe that’s a stretch, as I’m probably too lazy to keep a barn clean. But I have been an early riser as long as I can remember.

There’s something about the early morning that makes you feel as though you’re getting your money’s worth out of the day. The air is still cool from the night and the avid gardener knows they can get in a quick watering before the heat of the day evaporates the water from the surface of the land. The bugs are still asleep, but the birds and butterflies are busy at work, rewarding you with flutters of colourful wings and happy song as they go about their daily business.

We all have our rituals. For some, it’s a sun salutation as we reflect with gratitude on the gifts in our lives. For others, our active day starts with relaxation; I have a friend who enjoys a gourmet cup of black coffee, perfectly brewed from his French press (when I visit, I’m always invited to indulge as well) :).

High Water Cottage faces east and so, at 530 am, the glowing sky gently announces the promise of a new day. For the next two hours, the sun creeps over the top of Long Island, reflecting brilliant pink over water that’s as still as glass. The only break in the silence is the fish, launching themselves up, up and out of the water, so fast that all one manages to see is the giant ripple they leave behind.

And so, on the days that I’m lucky enough to awaken at the cottage, I’m on the dock, early, clad in jammies with my big comfy mug of coffee in hand.

This day is too precious to lay in bed and I don’t want to miss the show. I’m determined to get my money’s worth 😃