Dear Nantucket

Over the past semester, I traveled quite a bit and was exposed to many different cultures. I was blown away by so many places and loved every minute of exploring the world around me. However, when I arrived in Nantucket last night, I realized that, in my opinion, no other place compares to Nantucket. And since I’ve dedicated many blog posts to the many cities and countries I traveled to this semester…I felt like I needed to dedicate one to my favorite place in the world. So, here’s to you, Nantucket!

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Dear Nantucket,

When I first met you, I was just a little bitty baby in my Mom’s arms. We took a big green ferryboat over to see you. And I knew, even then, that it was love at first sight.

And each time I return, I seem to fall more and more in love with you. Because…

You are the place where I spend every birthday, where I spend every Christmas.

You are the place where I learned to play tennis and to swim and to sail. You are the place where I got my first real job.

You are the place filled with blue hydrangeas, rose covered cottages, grey-shingled houses, white picket fences, and cobblestoned streets.

My family and I may live on opposite sides of the country and even opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but it is you who brings us back together time and time again.

You have the most beautiful 82 miles of beaches I have ever seen. You let me drive on the sand with my car packed with family and friends, towels, beach chairs, a mini grill, food and drinks so I can have picnics and watch the sunsets. You even let me stay late to roast marshmallows for my s’mores.

You are the home to the best restaurants, best homemade ice cream, and best homemade fudge I have ever tasted.

You have a festival for just about everything and anything – film, comedy, wine, yoga, birding, daffodils, books, arts, dance, cranberries, etc. – showing your appreciation for the little things in life and reminding me to do the same.

You not only celebrate the little things, but the big things as well. You celebrate the Fourth of July like no one else. With water fights between the towns people and the firefighters, watermelon eating contests, pie eating contests, face painting, dunk tanks, beach volleyball games, barbeques, and of course fireworks. And you dedicate and entire weekend to kicking off the Christmas season. You stop all the traffic on your Main Street where everyone gathers on the first of December with hot cider in hand to hear the Town Crier ring in Christmas and watch over 100 Christmas trees come alive with color and light. Community caroling follows filling the air with sounds of an old-fashioned Christmas as they walk down your street to welcome Santa off of the boat.

Nineteen years I have spent visiting you. But, your time goes back way longer than that. You are older and wiser and full of history.

You were the number one whaling industry in the world. Ship captains and sailors set out to sea from your shores and their houses still stand strong on you to this day. Herman Melville was inspired by your mystique and beauty when he wrote the famous novel, Moby Dick.

You are home to a house older than the United States. You were home to the famous women’s right activist, Lucretia Mott. And your library has served as a gathering place for abolitionist meetings and suffrage conventions and hosted an impressive list of speakers throughout the years, including Frederick Douglass, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.

You are the place where the first comet was discovered. And the place where the idea of Macy’s the Department store came from.

There isn’t one thing I don’t love about you. They call you the Grey Lady, but not even your grey skies and fog make me love you any less.

You are only 30 miles out to sea, but I feel like I’m light years away from the rest of the world when I am with you. You radiate an exquisite quality of calm. And you are unique in every way.

And it is for all those reasons and many more that you are who I want to call home after college. You are where I want to get married. You are where I want to raise a family. You are where I want to spend the rest of my life continuing to fall in love with you more and more each day.

I love you, Nantucket, I truly do.

Loyally yours, Caroline McKenzie Ott

‘Twas the month before Christmas

Tim came up with the cutest poem about Milly & Grace and it’s a twist on a Christmas classic.  It was featured on the Nantucket BlACKbook earlier this week, but I wanted to share it with our readers.

‘Twas the Month before Christmas

by, Tim Ehrenberg

‘Twas the month before Christmas and all through the store
Emily Hollister has out all her Christmas decor.

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Nantucket Island, 2 Washington Street is the place
Where there’s a women’s boutique called Milly & Grace 

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Known for their vintage inspired and signature brand
At Christmas time, it’s like a winter wonderland.
 
First, there is glitter and sparkle galore
Look a little closer and you will see more.
 
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Decorative wreaths, cabins and trees: How will you decide?
But wait! What is on the other side?
 
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Candles, snowmen and tinsel in red
Ornaments and note pads; Gee what a spread!
 
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Colorful bulbs and glitter houses sparkle with ease
Hang some glitter deer on all your Christmas trees
 
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Mark your Karen Adams Calendar for Nantucket’s Christmas Stroll
December 6th-8th: more festive than Santa’s North Pole
 
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If you won’t be on island, have peace of mind
Milly & Grace’s boutique sells online
 
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www.millyandgrace.com is the site
We’ll keep your Christmas shopping merry and bright
 
Clothing, Cashmere, Jewelry and more
Free Shipping from Nantucket to your front door
 
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The perfect holiday gifts wrapped up just right
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
 
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We hope to see you for Nantucket’s Christmas Stroll this weekend! 

Puppy Update – What Ivy Wore!

Puppy update:  I can’t believe there was a life without her.  She’s such a lover and super rascally all at the same time.  She cracks me up – she is such a well behaved puppy but she also likes to test me and see what she can get away with.  Good thing is that she’ll do anything for a treat… at least I’ve got that going for me!!  Here is my most favorite picture of her taken by our very dear friend Tom Olcott of T. G. Oclott Photography.
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  Now I would like to do a little segment called:  What Ivy wore!  Don’t act like you didn’t see it coming!!  We all knew it would happen one day or another.  Ivy is a Milly & Grace Girl for goodness sake!!  She’s my fashionable little pup and tends to go for a more Ralph Lauren look.  My saving grace is that Steve actually thinks it’s cute.

Here she is in her shawl collar sweater.  This is perfect for staying in on windy nights and cozying up by the fire.

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Next up is her buffalo plaid fleece.  Perfect for brisk walks down at the Boat Basin.  Ivy and I walk the docks a couple time a week.  Being a water dog and all she insists on checking in with the Harbor Master and making sure everything’s in ship shape.

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Finally we have her in her neon orange brush walking jacket. Deer hunting is big on Nantucket and so we can never be too safe!  Plus it keeps her looking very sporty. (Steve bought this for her all on his own.  Yep.) ivyhunterivyhunter2Thanks for tuning in to What Ivy Wore!  Until next time!