Salty's Got Game

Sometimes when you see your parents or grandparents in their mature ages, you forget that at one point in their lives, they were young, vivacious, athletically ambitious and fierce. They were, to a degree, versions of your current self in what might feel like a distant lifetime ago. Living in the Newport area, it's no surprise when you visit friends' and neighbors' homes that they are dusted with some sort of silver dish or plaque from a sailing regatta in our local waters. My house is no different. Silver, pewter and various shades of mahogany and teak are scattered around our house that remind us of my Father's triumphs on the water. From champagne buckets to punch bowls, to catch-alls and odd figures and frames, they truly come in all forms. I've even smuggled a few of these out to San Francisco with me.

Over the holiday, my Father and I pulled out boxes upon boxes of his sailing trophies to reminisce on his glory days. As my Dad enthusiastically rattled on about the time his J-24 was on the cover of Sail Magazine in '79 and the week he spent with Dennis Connor and the Freedom team tuning up before the America's Cup in '74, I was reminded that my Father had it all happening. In my opinion, the best part of his adventures on the race course back in the day, was his ability to reflect on them in the present, 30 years later with his daughter he taught how to sail.

Above: A quick snapshot of some of Salty's trophies in all shapes and sizes, including signature beer cans from the 1974 America's Cup in Newport, Rhode Island.

For the Love of Birds!

Our beloved Norman Bird Sanctuary was featured in the NY Times on Wednesday, highlighting the restoration of the 18th century farmhouse on the property. The farmhouse will play host to a variety of visitors going forward, from yoga retreats, artists' residencies and serve as a weekend hideaway for families looking to nestle among the pastoral landscape. The bird sanctuary encompasses 325 acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Sakonnet River in Middletown, Rhode Island. For any one that is familiar with the Bird Sanctuary, it truly is a special place, a landmark among the beauty of our community. (I have fond memories of summer camp expeditions on the grounds catching frogs, hiking to Hanging Rock and frolicking among the tall trees). It was the wish of Mabel Norman Cerio, a local artist who actually lived in the farmhouse during the 19th century, to bestow the property “for the propagation, preservation, and protection of birds, and where birds and bird life may be observed, studied, taught, and enjoyed by lovers of nature and by the public generally so interested in a spirit of humanity and mercy.” In 1949, Mabel's wish was granted through the gift of her trust and today, the Bird Sanctuary remains to be an iconic organization enriching the lives of all who value the power of nature.

Currently, the Bird Sanctuary is offering Farmhouse Lunch Tours every Friday so you may get a glimpse of the completed project. Visit here for more details.

Images via.