It isn't every day that my sister and I get to share in the most truly incredible experience either of us have had in a long time.
Dear reader, you have to believe me when I say that I have seen the single most amazing thing ever. And that thing is a small building (which itself is, by the way, on a tiny island accessible only by ferry) containing a desk, an accordion, and seven hundred and forty umbrella covers and the truly incredible person who has collected them all.
It's the Umbrella Cover Museum, created and curated by the inimitable Nancy 3 Hoffman. Yes, 3. I was in no position to question it, neither are you. The museum is housed in this building (really a couple of small rooms within said building) and it has to be seen to be believed. Or disbelieved, since so few people will get that you aren't joking about all this when you try to explain it later.
And the Umbrella Cover Museum is no joke. It's the most adorably/eerily sincere attraction in the whole area. Upon entering, Nancy takes you on a whirlwind guided tour through all her umbrella covers and sheaths. She encourages participation, leading your attention to the interactive exhibits lining the walls. And she is mighty proud of the handmade donated umbrella covers, including this one made of some bulletproof material it's creator just happened to have handy:
And then, just when things couldn't get any more amazing, she breaks out her accordion and sings.
Nancy and her amazing collection. The Museum celebrates the mundane and accepts donations from around the world.
As far as other strange Peaks Island things...
Every building on the Island had a name. Some are poignant, some are cute. And some are... like this one.
And while we are on the subject of amusing signage...
Haha, yes.
And good old slightly obnoxious New England humor. Thus concludes our Peaks Island odyssey.
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Art of the Day!
Consider this a teaser for the next trip report.
Hours, just hours after our power and internet/phone/cable was restored in the wake of Hurricane Irene, our relatives from Florida came to visit us. We decided, since they hadn't visited in years, to give them a whirlwind tour of the southeastern Maine coast. Because why not?
Our first stop was Peaks Island. A nice little spot of green atop the big rocks off the coast of Portland, Peaks will be the subject of the first two trip reports I am finally getting a chance to write.
The ferry departed from right next door to Portland's Wyland Whale Wall (more correctly, Whales Off the Coast of Maine"). Turns out that this is one of only four Wyland murals still visible in New England; we had seven at one point. Oh, how I miss "Stellwagen Bank". (And once again I stumble upon something art and nature AND science-art related for which there appears to be zero nostalgia online. And yet if I showed a Wyland piece to anyone who grew up in the late-80's early-90's, guarantee they'd recognize it somehow.)
Anyway, we were off on the shuttle boat. What a terrific place, it turns out, for wildlife watching.
"JAAAAAAAY-MIE!!!"
Big rafts of sea ducks.
Turns out, thanks to this less-fuzzy picture, they were probably Common Eiders.
And the first of many, many, many lighthouses we saw on this vacation.
On Peaks, the main attractions are the remains of fortresses and adorable unique New England architecture. Look at those owl-like shingles!
And the "gingerbread" details on this cute pink cottage.
Oh man. I want to recreate this mural in the backyard...
It's the fact that our heart belongs to the creatures of the sea that makes the people of New England decorate with underwater-y things, like these lobster buoys.
The unusual geology of Peaks inspires temporary art as well. Every visitor is encouraged to create little rock sculptures, and some of them can get pretty elaborate, incorporating driftwood, shells, and other cliffside litter. Here's mine.
Beautiful rocks on the beach.
And honey sold on the honor system!
A sampler of Shipyard beers. Their stout is so smooth!
Next time, we visit the single most AMAZING attraction in the whole upper-right hand corner of the United States.
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Art of the Day!
Chickaderp?
