Dear Nancy.....

Dear Nancy,
     I'm not very good with remembering time, but I think it has been about two years since you've been gone. I know we weren't really friends, more like acquaintances, but I wanted to let you know how much I miss you and your amazing photos. We had a lot in common, you and I. To this day, I am still touched that you used my pattern for Scottish Hose to knit for one of your family member's soon-to-be husband.  Thank you for sending me the picture of him wearing the hose with his kilt on his wedding day. 
     We friended each other on Facebook from the few times you would stop in at The Stitching Mantis when you were down this way. Your posts were something I looked forward to every day. I have always been a firm believer that Islesford is one of the most beautiful places in my world. I have to admit, when I saw pictures of your island, Beal Island and Ketchup's Find, it was the first time I started to doubt my belief. I fell in love with the beautiful spot of heaven you had found. I have SO MANY of your photos saved to my phone, in folders on my laptop or printed off and around my studio to paint in the future. The sunsets over the islands across from your house rivaled the ones I see over the mountains of Acadia from Islesford. The families of deer in your front lawn, the seagulls flying at dusk, and that sweet little building in a field all by itself. I have a love for that kind of stuff. I loved your garden with those really cool granite posts sticking out of the ground and the way the fog would come in and make the whole world seen to glow a soft orange. 
     I loved the pictures of your big black Newfie sitting on your deck or in your yard, covered in snow. The lobster boats motoring by or your cats napping in flowers, I saved them all. Many of my paintings have been inspired by your photographs and I thank you for allowing me to save so many. I miss you and am so sorry I never found the time to visit. I have a Bucket List, though, which is to visit every square of Maine as pictured on the back of the Maine Gazetteer. Some day I will get there and some day I will see the beauty of Kethcup's Find for myself.