Late September is often cool and crisp, punctuated by the smell of woodsmoke as people start using their fireplaces to take the chill off rather than fire up the gas-burning boiler.   Grass mowing ends as the cool air ends the growing season and the tomato crop withers on the vine.

Not this year.

It has been hot, like middle-of-summer hot here for a week now.  Research vessels in to prep for peregrinations to southern climes are lingering to enjoy the fine weather.  Even the hard-working scientists are off early to go fishing or ride the bikepath.  I know the locals are into it because I see people sneeking off from work in their bathing suits, and heads bobbing way out in Buzzards Bay on long-distance swims.  In this calm, warm weather, why not?

I got out in my boat over the weekend, trudging across to Great Harbor with my oars, launching my tiny rowboat from the beach on Penzance and rowing out to my slightly bigger boat to go explore the Elizabeth Islands.  I brought a sweatshirt because you never know on the water but, wow, was that unnecessary!  It was so hot I was yearning to jump in by the time I had the engine fired up.

Woods Hole Great Harbor is filled with the most wonderful and eccentric boats.  I love this one, a tiny tug boat all made of well-polished wood from another era.  Not too practical, but adorable.

Clearly, I am a little obsessed with this vessel as I look through my photo-files for other shots of the harbor and find only more of the “Amycita.”  I don’t see her off the mooring often, but I do look forward to meeting her owners. Imagine a cruise over to Oak Bluffs (a great destination on Martha’s Vineyard)  in this stylish vessel!

And this is NOT the only miniature tug in our little harbor.  My friend Kimberly is lucky enough to have this wonderful boat, small as the smallest skiff but ooh, what style.  She was seen leaving work early yesterday madly texting to friends about a sunset tug cruise.  These are the perks of living so close to the water:)

So I guess this is what you would call Indian Summer.  Since my visit to Plimouth Plantation, I may need to re-name that Native People’s Summer.  Whatever you call it, it is something to be relished — summer weather long after is it expected to be gone is like a gift from the Gods (the Wampanoags called him/her “Moshop”).   Something to inspire us and help us prepare for the long winter ahead.

Off to swim!

Here’s some more pictures I took this month.

<3.Melanie.Kristy

PS. foliage is pronounced fole-ee-idge. Not foil-idge like I’ve heard two people say this year…

This is Chance walking around in the bogs. He loves the bogs.

So, you may have heard that I love fall. Part of the reason is because all of the colours, the foliage and the photo opportunities! Let me share with you some pictures I’ve taken this year.

Those are "sugar" pumpkins... my mom plans on cooking them.

What does fall look like where you live?

<3Melanie.Kristy

I appreciate students who ask tons of good questions and I understand that, depending on where they are in the search process, these questions may be general (How big is your school? Tell me about the academic program.) or specific (Can you tell me more about your sailing club? Your electives in science look amazing–how many can I take at once?).
I love answering parents’ questions, whether their child is considering CA as a boarder or a day student:

• What time is lights out in the houses? (From 11 p.m. to midnight, depending on their age).
• Can day students stay for dinner? (Definitely!)
• What do the boarders do on the weekends? (Tons of planned activities, or hop the train to Boston, or hang out on campus and in the town of Concord with friends).
• Can students commute to campus on the T? (Absolutely; about one hundred do every day).
• Can boarders come home on the weekend? (Yes, as long as it’s not one of the five or six Community Weekends each year, but most find they don’t want to leave very often.)

My favorite all-time question cuts to the heart of the matter for many parents: “Will you take care of my baby?”  It fills me with pride to be able to answer: “We absolutely will.”

From whether the dining hall serves good food to students’ college prospects, from what students do for fun on the weekends to which department offers the most courses, answering questions about Concord Academy is one of my favorite fall pastimes.  Fairs provide a perfect venue for those who want more information and those who love to talk, like me.

One of the beautiful dahlia’s from the garden entrance to my studio.

Family Portrait

Megan was out this past week and we went on many a photography stroll in the 48 hours we had together. One of the trips the whole family joined us. We got some great shots. Funny thing was since we were all together I asked Meg to take a family shot of us. We got a couple, one that was pretty good of everyone but then this one that was probably more us. Thanks Meg, I finally got a few shots that I’m part of. The kids will surely know that I was here the whole time… or they had a super cute stand-in for a Mom!

Fall is the time when most New Englanders suddenly have an overwhelming urge to pick apples. If you’re in our area of Little Compton and get a similar urge we suggest:

Old Stone Orchard 33 Colebrook Rd. Little Compton, RI 02837. Phone: (845) 699-9661. Website: www.oldstoneorchard.com

Young Family Farm 260 West Main Road Little Compton, RI 02837. Phone: (401) 635- 0110. Website: www.youngfamilyfarm.com. Open: September – November, 9:00 a.m. to dusk. Description: A picturesque 180 acre working farm producing potatoes, squash, sweet corn vegetables,berries,fresh cut flowers, annuals, perennials for our farm stand, and a PYO apple orchard. Other fruit: Peaches, raspberries.

New Englanders are known to also take many scenic drives during these next couple of months, the peak foliage week seems to be the second week of October. When you choose the Stone House Inn you will be able to spend the day picking apples, the evening in our warm 1854 Tap Room, followed by a night time fire on the lawn. A truly perfect New England day.

Entry by Emily Beauchemin

I was born and raised in New England, under those huge, bright skies, with air so crisp, you could taste it.  I grew up saying things like, “wicked cool” and “New Hampsha.”  We had more months with snow, than without.  The one month out of the year that was actually hot, was so humid you couldn’t walk to your car without a towel to mop up the sweat.  The bugs were bad, the mountains beautiful.  It was a way of life, and I loved it.

In a few weeks I am going to get to return to my beloved home state for a much overdue visit.  I picked the best time to go-fall.  You’ve heard all the rumors about how amazing fall in New England is, right?  Every one of them are true. 

From the blazing colors of the foliage, to the smell of billions of apples in an orchard, to acres and acres of pumpkin patches, it’s no wonder fall is legendary in New England.  I’m going to get the thrill of sharing all that with my son, recall all the years I spent as a child crunching through the leaves, and get the joy of making new memories with people I care about.

Fall in West Virginia is nice too.  It’s  cool, and clean, and the leaves make a valiant effort to rival those in the north.  I hesitate to even make a comparison though, because there really is no topping New England.  Not to say we won’t enjoy the festivals and trick-or-treating.  We’ll drink hot cider and carve pumpkins.  It will be delightful.

I used to long to return to the southwest.   I still love it there.  I left a piece of myself in New Mexico, and every now and then I go visit it.  I hold the memories of my son being born there close, and will always carry them with me.

The longer I live on the eastern side of the country though, the more I realize my heart is still in New England.  It is engrained into every fiber of who I am, and there is no use fighting it. 

I am a New England girl, through and through.

Well, it’s not at the Greenville Inn!

We view “a la carte” as meaning: “Dining Your Way”!

When we go on vacation ourselves, we steer away from  “prix fixe” menus because we rarely get what we want (usually a very limited menu) and not very generous portions.  Some people feel like they are getting a “bargain” when they get a predetermined number of courses…but is it a bargain if you aren’t getting full portions or food you want?

When we offer packages that include a predetermined number of courses, (“Stay & Dine” or  “Shop, Stay & Dine”) you can be guaranteed you can choose from our FULL  (a la carte) menu and the portions are not just a “sampling”.

So, next time you are deciding on any restaurant…don’t let the “Prix Fixe Bargain Factor” dictate your decision…choose a restaurant whose menu has many choices with full portions…life is short…why not have it “your way?”

We are working on our Summer 2010 menu with a chef that some of you might already know…

Check back to see the new menu and who the chef is!

"Dining Your Way"

Delectable Duck!

We have developed 12 packages that give you value and great choices:

Area's Acknowledged Fine Dining Spot

Shop, Stay & Dine: Need an excuse to shop? Let us give you one…Stay three nights in our historic inn, choose one evening for your “3-course dinner for two” and receive a $20.00 gift certificate to be used at one of our unique, local shops.

See a Moose or Go Again for Free! You want to get up close to the largest animal in the north woods? Let us arrange a moose tour with a local Maine guide. You will visit remote ponds and paddle canoes or kayaks right into the prime moose habitat. We are so sure you will see a moose that if you don’t, the guide will take you again for free.

Spring Fling For Repeat Guests! Have you stayed with us before? Come back and stay in the months of May or June for 3 nights…and the 3rd night is on us! Enjoy our warm hospitality and award-winning inn. All rooms include breakfast, private baths, and just too many amenities to list. May and June are the best months to see MOOSE!

Stay 4, Get More! Get more when you stay with us for 4 nights…you get 50% off the 5th night. We are offering this remarkable savings during the “high season” (June-October), so book early to reserve the exact room, cottage or suite you want! Our sumptuous breakfast included each morning. Let us book an excursion for you!

Stay & Dine: 3 night accommodation package with two evenings of fine dining included starting June 28th.  Pick 2 evenings (excluding Sunday) during your 3 night stay, and enjoy a “four-course dinner for 2″(from our full menu) both evenings. Breakfast is included all 3 mornings.

“Exhilarating” White Water Rafting: Do something “exhilarating” with our Registered Maine Guide Service that offers full day white water rafting trips with lunch included or one half day river kayaking trips.

Pamper Yourself Getaway: After a day outdoors, pamper yourself and your partner with a rejuvenating massage, a bottle of champagne and nibble on some chocolate covered fruit…all in the privacy of your room or suite. This 2 night package includes sumptuous breakfast each morning and all our special amenities to make this a special getaway.

Honeymoon Hideaway

Honeymoon Hideaway: Let us make your honeymoon a most memorable one.  Enjoy 4 nights in a room or suite of your choice.  Your stay includes breakfast every morning, fresh flowers, a commemorative CD of romantic music,  a basket of assorted cheeses and crackers and a bottle of champagne or non-alcoholic sparkling juice.

Romantic Getaway: 2 night stay and a basket w/assorted cheese, crackers, candy & nuts, one bottle Brut champagne, fresh flowers, breakfast each morning, commemorative CD of romantic music.

Amazing views year-round

Winter Wonderland: Stay with us for 3 nights and get the 3rd night for free.  Not only are the prices lower during the months of November thru April, but you get a free night!

Mother/Daughter Diva Destination

Mother’s Day isn’t the only time to bond with your mom.  The two of you can escape from all your daily responsibilities and remember some of those special mother/daughter moments from the past.  Your 3 night stay in a room, suite or cottage includes breakfast each morning at a private table in our dining rooms, a 4-course dinner one evening from our full menu,

“Tea for Two”

Tea for Two

served in your room while you reminisce and jot down all those endearing & fond memories in a

personalized (photo) keepsake journal.

You can both just kick-back and relax, have a rejuvenating massage or take an exciting wilderness excursion with one of our local Registered Maine Guides.  We have some quaint shopping areas and lovely spots to go on leisure strolls. Relax on the historic steamship Katahdin as it takes you on a cruise up Moosehead Lake.

For those of you that are more adventurous, we have many outdoor activities such as kayaking, canoeing, fishing, moose safaris, hiking, ATV adventure and seaplane rides.  You can go exploring on your own or we can arrange a guide and rentals.

Prices starting at $685.00 double occupancy,

upgrades subject to availability.

(Must be consecutive nights.)

July 5- Oct. 11

Why not treat yourself and your mom to some quality time? Contact us

Awe-inspiring Sunsets

To order securely online Greenville Inn Gift Certificate

Four Season Inn

Last Hydrangeas of the Season

Late Autumn Light

The Cottage

The Atlantic

The Boys

First Fire in the New Digs

The Bay

Beachfront Property

In other words, life is good.

“Memento Vivere” was tattooed on the arm of a friend who died unexpectedly last month.  Like he was trying to send a posthumous message to the rest of us… And so it was I embraced the carpe diem of it all and wandered off the beaten path this week in Woods Hole.

Ahh, the fall weather on Cape Cod is so unbelievably sweet.  I walked in the full moonlight around on Harbor Hill Road and back into town at School Street.  It was about 10 pm on a quiet Monday night and once I was on Harbor Hill I did not see a person or a car until a got back into town.  The crickets were singing to me, moonlight filtered through the leaves and a soft warm breeze followed.  Magical, zen, very in the moment.

Jon Kabat-Zinn lives in Woods Hole, with his family, and if you have read any of his books (“Full Catastrophe Living” or “Wherever You Go, There You Are”) you will recognize the splendor in a moment like that one.

So I share a few fall photos of Woods Hole.   This is from the Great Harbor where the ferries pass daily to the Vineyard, looking back across the water at our little town.  Windy day, but not cold yet.

The Woods Hole Passage, they call it, and it is one of the most treacherous crossings on the eastern seaboard — currents of 4-5 knots pull industrial sized buoys sideways at peak tides and the narrow channel is peppered with rocks the size of small islands.  A boat a day goes on the rocks here in the summer and there is a Coast Guard station around the corner to service all the rescues needed.  Through these waters pass huge yachts, old wooden racing boats called “Twelve Footers” and “Knockabouts,” Hinckley picnic boats daytripping to Quicks Hole and fishing boats of all shapes and sizes following the striped bass and bluefish.

And this is Hadley Harbor in the off season.  A short boat ride from Woods Hole, through the Woods Hole Passage, any local charter fisherman can take you there.  Empty and undeveloped, it is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Memento Vivere.

There is this bridge over the Connecticut river named the French King Bridge.  Tourists always stop to take photo’s there.  At the peak of the season (which should be next week) the side of the bridge is a line of people with their cameras.  It truly is a beautiful sight. 

We go on some amazing adventures here in New England. Many many Sundays I come home and think that ‘today was the best day.’ Then every week, the next Sunday tops the last. Today was no exception!

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Today we headed in to the mountains like we do almost every weekend… we drove through White Mountain National Forest and then around to Crawford Notch State Park. We did a lot of hiking and leaf peeping and it was incredible. The views were amazing! Overwhelming! I was once again moved to tears. It’s truly a sight to behold. We just feel so lucky to be here for this. Like we’re witnessing what fall is really meant to be… this is it, folks.

(click to enlarge)

The views were best accessed by car and pulling off on the scenic overlooks along the way, but the most amazing part of the day was the hike… the woods have completely changed with the beginning of a fresh blanket of fallen leaves. The forest floor was very damp today and the air was thick with the sweet smell of fall leaves mixed with fir and pine. That smell was my favorite part of the day. All along the hike we kept coming across moose tracks!! Then trees with the bark worn off where moose had scraped their horns. How cool! We just had so much fun.

(click to enlarge)

We’ve been experiencing perfect fall weather…cooler temperatures and sunny, clear days… a perfect combination!

are still around.  Many of our guests are still enjoying moose safaris with our expert guides.

Chef Howard has been getting rave reviews!  The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday evenings until Columbus Day.  We will, however, be open on Sunday, October 11th, which will be our last day for the season.

Jeff will continue to make his delicious breakfasts every morning!

1) The self righteous pro-shop girl- yes she was wearing Carhartt pants cuffed to her calf’s with some fancy strappy Keen sandal’s. And yes, she was pretty darn sure this made her better than us, she may have even been right. But really, out right laughing at us when we asked about a local restaurant was slightly unnecessary. I’m sorry, I’m a tourist. I am here spending my money in your town off season to pay your salary so you can buy trendy “I am so un-trendy” clothes and look down on others, I don’t live here. I don’t have the open and close dates of every joint memorized and no, I don’t think I am being a total jack off for asking.

2) The un supervised children- I understand children are people too, and I understand that just because you have children does not mean you are no longer entitled to a vacation but please, please for my sanity….supervise them! On the floor in the middle of a restaurant with people moving trays of hot coffee and not-so-hot eggs is not a great place to sit and play with trucks. It is actually not a great place to sit and play with anything unless you think a third degree burn will look good on your 5 year old.

3) The early risers- I would just love to know what event someone was getting up for at 5 am on a Saturday that required an hour of blow drying. Because, if I find out I am missing really fun formal events before dawn, I am going to be totally bummed. Not bummed enough to get up before 8:00 but still bummed.

4) The bowling team on the floor above us- there is no other possible explanation for the noises coming from the ceiling. None.

5) The food service Staff – Things that are acceptable at a restaurant : slow service, mediocre food. Things that are not acceptable at a restaurant: large pieces of unidentifiable rubber baked into the bread pudding which sort of smelled like garlic. Having the chef identify the foreign rubber like object really does not make it better. No, we don’t want another garlic smelling bread pudding on the house. Thanks though.

* Regardless of the nut jobs around us, we really did have an amazing weekend. The weather was perfect, the foliage was spectacular and the company could not have been better. As Cat Food and Cabernet so eloquently wrote about earlier this week, fall in New England can not be beat.