The Emilie Loring Collection

Heat up those teakettles, and grab your copies of Happy Landings and Emilie Loring’s novels. It’s time for our annual Emilie Loring Tea!

Whether you go solo or have a little party, send photos, tell me about your event, and I’ll do the rest. Send to me at:

contact@pattibender.com

All day Monday and into Tuesday, I’ll post everyone’s Emilie Loring Tea. This is not a competition; it is a chance to “get together” and enjoy each other’s ideas. If you’re wavering, just go for it. The more people we have, the more fun it is!

“I read somewhere, ‘By Audacity Alone are high things accomplished.’ The words work like magic. If I begin to wobble, I flash them on the screen of my mind, grip determination with both hands, and shoot ahead.”

Emilie Loring

I used our tea as an excuse to shop at Handworks Gallery in Blue Hill. I have at least two places in mind for my tea, and one of them is on the rocks by Blue Hill’s inner bay. Tomorrow promises blue skies, and I can’t wait to see it then.

I picked up a short mug by Lowell Hill Pottery (“heir” to Rowantrees Pottery of Emilie’s time) and a woven tea towel by local weaver Jo Hewett. A little further up Main Street, at The Meadow, I found a small tray and pretty paper napkins. The cottage I’m renting has dishes I could use, but just in case the rocks are slippery, I’d better use my own. You’ll see my purchases tomorrow. 🙂

My presentation at the Blue Hill Public Library went well. I wish I had snapped a couple of photos at the time.

Next up, on Tuesday at 4:00, I’ll be at the Friend Memorial Library in Brooklin, Maine. I’m emphasizing different aspects of Emilie’s life and career at each stop, so if you’re local, there’s a reason to come to all of them!

This afternoon, I had a special treat, as a friend invited me to join her for a chamber music concert at Blue Hill’s Kneisel Hall. Today, we heard music composed by Mozart, Enescu, and Fauré, played by the faculty of Kneisel Hall, all of whom are acclaimed performers.

Franz Kneisel built his Blue Hill cottage in 1901 and taught private classes. In 1922, when that group grew too large, he built the present Kneisel Hall. During the winter months, he was head of the string department at the new institute that became Juilliard. What a special resource to have in a town of 2700!

Between preps and shopping, I’ve enjoyed coastal foods that we don’t have at home in Kansas–lobster roll, scallop roll, haddock chowder–and at the end of a day, when I’ve rushed around, met people, promoted the book, and worked on the next presentation, I have found time to simply sit on a rock by the water. Ahhhh… It’s so nice.

Happy Landings, everyone! I’ll see you at our tea tomorrow!