Jonathan Fisher House

An earlier photo in deep snow, taken 3 March, 2009.

The yellow house is a well known landmark in Blue Hill, Maine. The home, which is now a museum, belonged to the town's first Congregational minister and was, in fact, built by Parson Jonathan Fisher with the help of his neighbors. The frame went up in a day in 1812 and the house was completed in 1814.

The parson was a stern shepherd who preached a rigid code of behavior and unquestioning devotion to God to his flock, but he demanded far more of himself than he did of his parishioners. Jonathan Fisher was a builder, architect, draftsman, artist, inventor, writer, scholar and more. One can still see the imprint of his personality in his home today.

I have wanted to photograph the interior of the Parson Fisher House on a winter's day for a long time. The project I envisioned was a study of the natural light, to capture the essence of the rooms as they were long ago. I imagined the parson and his wife, Dolly, looking through the same windows feeling just as anxious for spring as I am now. New president, Amey Dodge, kindly gave up a morning to let me in with my camera.

The house will not open until mid July so many artifacts are still packed away for safekeeping. Pink insulation board covers the fireplaces and green rug pads are scattered across the floors. I touched nothing and simply set up my camera, shutter release cable and tripod. The conditions were challenging and, by mid morning, the sun was already higher than I would have liked. To complicate things further, fast moving clouds obscured sunlight and I had to rapidly change settings throughout the shoot.

The following photos are from my project. Clicking on the photos will take you to Flickr, once there, please click on the photo again to see in Lightbox and once more on Fullscreen to experience a March morning at the Jonathan Fisher House.

Jonathan Fisher's self portrait.

Jonathan Fisher's study.

Upstairs hall with partial view of Jonathan Fisher's bedroom.

Looking into the children's bedroom.

Desk made by Jonathan Fisher.

Stairs to the attic, a space that was often used for visitors while Jonathan Fisher lived in the house. Rustic and unfinished, there is little to see today apart from a collection of shoe forms in many sizes.

The Fisher House Journal provides additional views and more information on past projects at the museum.

Before it Melts Away

I really liked our recent cozy snowstorm with very little wind that didn't knock the power out.

A 24 second exposure, taken using a tripod and shutter release cable. The streak of red is from the lights of a passing snow plow.

The only available light in this shot was from the windows across the street and a lamp post further down the road. You can't see it, but the snow was coming down quite hard. A 20 second exposure...I cut it a little shorter to emphasize the utter quiet and peace of that beautiful snowy night.

We woke up to a foot of snow the next morning! These photos are much better if you click through to Flickr and click again on the image to view in light box!

The Land

This is the time of year we see patches of old snow by the roads and in the shady recesses of our yards. Plumes of sand and salt, left by the plows, billow in the air and our eyes are red and watery. In another month trucks with huge brushes will come by to clean up. Signs of spring!

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson is a fantasy series I read too many years ago to count. Covenant discovers an alternate universe called The Land, a place that is alive and beautiful, but the land is threatened by Lord Foul who wants to destroy it. Much has already been laid waste and the seasons are out of kilter. It is a scenario that sounds all too familiar today. What remains with me now are Donaldson's descriptions of the land and its sheer loveliness. I always think of The Thomas Covenant Chronicles at this time of the year when there is a stirring of rebirth.

It begins with the sound of melting ice, the slow plop of water drops, rushing water in a stream, cheery birdsong and that magical night when we hear tree frogs at last. We happily greet the first dandelion...only to do battle with them later in the summer. But I'm racing ahead of myself, this is only the beginning...

The signs of spring, as I used to know them, are often hidden in Maine.

Slowly melting ice in the firepond, fed by the millstream above.

A Mallard pair happily swim toward the reflection of my small village while disgruntled drakes go their own way. An image titled I Only Have Eyes for You taken 26 March, 2009.

A Belted Galloway mom gives her young calf a loving nudge at Aldermere Farm in Rockport, Maine. Photo taken 14 March, 2009.

Gardens will soon be raided by hungry deer. Photo taken on Mount Desert Island 28 March, 2009

We will wait another month for this bit of sunshine brightening the landscape and roadsides.

Photo of an abandoned house in Brooklin, Maine, taken 28, April, 2012.

We're Out of Basmati Rice!

I used to despair over winter's paltry offerings in our local markets when we moved to rural Maine. The selection has improved over time. Perhaps it is the result of a blossoming, and very welcome, new foodie culture that celebrates our delicious home grown produce. Creative chefs are also adding ethnic twists to old favorites and Mainers with adventurous tastes are responding enthusiastically, trying out new restaurants and searching for new herbs and spices not seen in our stores in earlier times. Even so, Peter and I are hopeless rice snobs and we could not find our Bombay Original brand of Basmati rice anywhere. Our dilemma required a trip to the bounteous Co-op in Belfast.

I love Belfast and have written about and photographed this seaside town before. I decided to bring just a small 50 mm prime lens which easily fits in my handbag. I love this lens for its portability, clarity and the way it makes me think about my shots. The following photos show some of the exceptional details in Belfast's lovely brick work.

Peering into the windows of the Lost Kitchen which unfortunately won't be open until dinner. You can read more about this remarkable bright spot in Maine's culinary offerings here.

Lunch at Chase's Daily with its airy space, excellent vegetarian dishes and sculpture exhibition provided a haven from the damp March sea air.

...and finally, not so lingering views of the waterfront on that cold raw day, wind whipping up surf and freezing my fingers!

At last we head home with two huge bags of rice not unlike the tubes of sand we carry around in the trunk when mud season is upon us!

January Thaw

It was a somber Holiday season for many of us. Every carol seemed a rebuke and the lights were dimmer in the wake of the Newtown killings. Here at home we dug out from under two snowstorms while our hearts and attention were focused on family matters. January invites a winter state of mind, one of reflection and observation of the piercing beauty that comes with the cold.

...and we wait for the sun and signs of a thaw.

Inside

The angle of the sun is lower now. Light pours inside illuminating the interior of the cottage in a way that always brings an ache to my heart. The old walls, beams and mullioned windows are never so beautiful as they are at this time of the year. I've been experimenting with a variety of camera settings in an effort to capture the atmosphere. Please click on the images to view in a larger size.

These days feel like stolen time, nearly everyone has left and soon, we too, will retreat to thicker walls.