A Befitting Honor

Recently, one of my listings was selected to appear in an upcoming issue of Country Living Magazine. Because of the beauty of the grounds, the editors decided it would be better to have the photo shoot in the summer – otherwise, they would have done it right away. All they had to do was look at a couple of photos and they said “Yes, we want this house!”

This is a house that really captures the imagination. I’ve written about it before – the icing on the cake is that it is adjacent to acres of conservation land owned by the South Kingstown Land Trust.

Do you like to wake to the sound of birds?

Waterfront on Perch Cove, which opens up to Potter Pond and open ocean, (it takes 20 minutes via motor boat to get from the house to the open ocean) the 2.7 acres is heavenly. There is a lovely inground pool on the property - Labs are particularly fond of jumping in and swimming around in the pool on a hot summer day.

The basic design was roughed out about 25 years ago by a landscape architect from Harvard who owned the house at that time – designed for low maintenance and sheer beauty. Since then, another architect and now an architect and interior designer own it. Quite a pedigree and little wonder that the house is gorgeous.

Anyone looking for the classic archetype of a New England cottage should take a look at this house. Anyone weary of the mediocrity that we are forced to live with should take a look at this house. It is so beautiful! Please mark your calendar and come to our Open House the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 29, 12 noon - 3 pm.

Come and Be Inspired

If you have never had the pleasure of an afternoon spent at Blithewold Mansion on Bristol Harbor, you are really missing one of the loveliest places on earth.

Brown University graduate Augustus Van Winckle (there are Van Winckle gates at Brown and Princeton!) built the original mansion for his wife, Bessie. He had apparently given her a 72’ Herreshoff yacht earlier and she needed a place to moor the boat!

The mansion (actually the first one burned down and the one standing today was rebuilt in 1907) is set on 32 acres of westerly-facing waterfront on Bristol Harbor. It is built in the style of a 17th century manor house. The house is filled with beautiful antiques from all over the world. The oldest pieces are oak and leather armchairs dating back to the early 1600s. There are several beautiful Tiffany lamps. Every room but two still has the original wallpaper and all the furnishings are as the original owner, Bessie, had arranged them. This has been verified through photographs.

The third floor of the mansion is filled with personal diaries, garden plans, family letters and correspondence of all kinds. It is a wonderful glimpse into the past.

Set on 32 acres, to say the gardens are inspiring is an understatement. There are 50 varieties of specimen trees including the largest Sequoia east of the Rockies – right in our backyard. The original greenhouse was restored a few years ago and it is magnificent.



The website for Blithewold is wonderful – they will tell you of all the upcoming events including teas, concerts, and garden workshops. I especially love their garden blog.

Morning Glory in Wickford

One of the loveliest things to do in the morning is take a Yoga class in the Studio at Wickford Cove.

This charming and light-filled yoga studio is located right on Wickford Harbor in the waterfront room of the little shop, The Herb Wyfe.


Teachers Belle, Linda, Gail, Diane, and Christine offer classes for beginners to advanced. One recent morning I was the only one who showed up and I had a private class with Belle. What luxury! This is Belle – she is a wonderful instructor.


You really could easily miss this studio as hidden and tucked away as it is. It is really sweet and perfect. The sun shining off the water reflects the most beautiful patterns on the ceiling.


After the class, stay awhile and enjoy a cup of chai. You’ll feel a little calmer, think a little more clearly and be just a little bit happier. Can you ask for anything more?

A Wonderful Place In A Calming Location

A real center of the community in Wickford is the library.



The statistics say it is one of the busiest in the state and from what I can see, that is very true.


I’m there at least 2 or 3 times a week and the place is always a beehive of activity. Patrons range from toddlers to seniors and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.

Not only do they have any book, movie or music CD you could desire but they have so many wonderful programs and activities for all ages. Art exhibits, French practice, music performances, guest speakers, knitting for kids, walking tours through Wickford by local historian Tim Cranston, poetry reading and discussion and book discussion groups. There is also internet access and a quiet study room.




The setting is wonderful, relaxing and contemplative. Waterfront on Academy Cove, you can sit in the meditation garden or walk down to the footbridge to see what the ducks are up to. I’m sure your local library is just as wonderful (I also LOVE Narragansett Library) but if you would like to explore a bit, try Wickford. Then you can go into town and have a sandwich and do some shopping.

Happy Birthday, Lina

I wanted to wish someone very special an Extra Happy Birthday. It is not everyday that you turn 8 years old.


This is an extraordinary child. She is so great at finding sea ice that she discovered an entire little beach on Wild Goose Point and we are always sure to add to our collection whenever we can. We like to keep it around the house – inside and out. It must be those big, blue eyes.


She also is very, very good at taking care of little dogs. She makes them feel safe, loved and comfy in their little beds. I don’t know what I would do without her help sometimes.


When Halloween rolls around, Lina is sure to come up with a great costume. She usually has 2 or 3 different looks up her sleeve and we never know until the big night which look she will choose. This past year she was an unbelievably convincing Senorita. Don’t you agree?


Lina has an artistic nature and she loves arts and crafts. Who else (besides Mia!) could make a huge, walking puppet of a dwarf hamster (named Daisy) out of an oversized leaf bag? She is also on the cutting edge of sidewalk art. She has a knack.



She is a great soccer player, swimmer, gymnast, fantastic reader and an all around excellent student. She is very hard to beat when we play the memory game. We have 2 – one is of old fashioned French tools and the other is of toys. You would think it is easy but believe me, it is not. She always beats me fair and square.


But most of all, she is my darling and I want to wish her an Extra Happy Birthday!

Captivating the Heir Apparent

There are certain houses that seem to attract just the right buyers. They started out their lives looking beautiful and somehow have remained so and even grown more lovely. They may have been around for a long time and no one has ruined them with well-intentioned but bad remodels.

While I do not know the entire history of this house but hope to find out more, I do know that the past 4 owners have included 2 architects, 1 interior designer and 1 landscape architect. Pretty impressive if you are looking for a house with a pedigree of good taste. It definitely shows with this house where less is more.


The landscape mastermind for these 2.7 acres was a professor at Harvard and designed the land to be beautiful but trouble-free. Very low maintenance. And the man who mows the lawn has been doing so for the past 25 or 30 years. He knows every square inch of the parcel which includes an in ground pool surrounded by hydrangeas and sea grass and fenced garden beds for growing vegetables. There is even room for a proper clothesline.


It is adjacent to South Kingstown Land Trust land and is waterfront on Perch Cove which opens up into Potter Pond - which means there are some wonderful opportunities for bird watching and enjoying the beauty of nature. It is also in the vicinity of Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge (640 acres), Matunuck Management Area (145 acres), Moonstone Beach and more pristine spots conserved for us to enjoy.

I have no doubt that the next owner of this beautiful house will appreciate it for what it is and will bless the day they found this treasure.

Little Known and Liking It

While doing some research recently, I came across this great article in the New York Times Escapes section all about Tiverton.




Tiverton is one of those towns that is easy to miss or dismiss because it is not on the 'island' and often takes a backseat to its neighbor, Little Compton. Yet it has the same rolling meadows, historic stone walls, sparkling salt water beaches and thousands of acres of conserved land like the Pardon Gray Farm,
Ruekers Audubon Preserve, and Weetamoe Woods.




There are only 4 stoplights in all of Tiverton! You can spend a whole day just browsing the shops and art galleries in Four Corners. Then get an ice cream cone at Gray's. You won't be sorry.

Tiverton is less than 30 minutes to both Newport and Providence. And highway access to Boston is right off Main Road and you can be in Boston in an hour or less.



You can find houses in all price ranges. Even if you are not thinking of buying a house, I would recommend you spend a day in Four Corners and see what a treasure it is.

A Rising Tide

One of my favorite truisms is the phrase 'A rising tide raises all boats'.



Just think about it - if your neighbor has good fortune, be happy! because in the great scheme of things,
his good fortune will eventually reflect on you. Did your neighbor sell her house and yours is still on the market, how great! Our economy is getting better! Did your neighbor get a great job, and you are still unemployed, wonderful! Your turn will be up very soon.



There are many examples all around us of positive things happening in the world. Babies are being born, people are getting married,
people are buying houses they love, and life goes on. Spring is coming and if you look under the snow, like in my yard, you will see
the daffodils and tulips already making their way into the world just like they do every spring. How beautiful!






Don't give up - and a rising tide does raise all boats - because we really are all in this together.

Instant Karma

This is just a little story but it is absolutely true. Sometimes things happen in life that reinforce what you already know to be true.

When I was a young woman living on the East Side and putting myself through college, taking classes at RISD and URI, I spent a lot of summer days at the beach. Although I am a Narragansett Beach person through and through, when I lived in Providence I used to go to Horseneck Beach 3 or 4 times a week. At the time, there was a $5 fee - worth it for such a pristine, beautiful spot.



I was living paycheck to paycheck, I had no money saved and was down to my last $5 bill. What to do? Go to the beach and have no money until payday or save the fin and buy food and be responsible.


Back and forth I argued with myself and in the end, I decided one glorious day at the beach meant more to me than 3 or 4 days of mediocrity.

This is the part that always amazes me when I think of it – I got to the beach and waded in to the waves, and I swear to you a five dollar bill came towards me on a wave! My mouth dropped open, I grabbed the fin and KNEW I had made the right decision. Always follow your heart.



This image is always top of mind with me but I was thinking of it in particular because during these somewhat difficult economic times, it is easy to forget that we have to give back to the less fortunate. Don’t forget to feed the birds, donate to the needy and share whatever you can.

I promise, it will all come back to you!

Gifts from the Sea

Every once in a while, when we have a big storm like we had last night, the waters of Narragansett Bay creep up into my neighborhood. The sea water climbs up the beaches and spills into the streets. We wake up to find seashells littering the lawns. What a treat!



Most of the houses where I live are set high on a 10 or 12 foot bank. So they are not in any danger of flooding. And the lower lying houses, across the street from the beach, have gently sloping lawns. Sometimes the water gets pretty close to those houses.

Bits of seaweed, rocks, sand and shells leave their mark on the streets and lawns. They leave a high water mark that is unmistakable.

On gray days like this, nature has a way of making the sea, the sky, even the trees, all the same tone and the world seems very soft. A silvery gray color.


My neighbor, John, was walking his dog, Zoe, this morning and called to me, “Did you find any quahogs yet?”

I do live in a zany neighborhood. Wild Goose Point just outside of Wickford. I love it there.

Don't Miss This!

I live just outside the Village of Wickford, along the shore. It really has a lot going for it in all seasons. In the summer, we have the art festival, the air show, and fireworks just to name a few things.

But during the holidays, there are also a couple of outstanding events. One is the Festival of Lights. Santa arrives on a sailboat surrounded by kayakers, television crews are there to show the holiday windows and the winner of the best window is announced live on Channel 10, carolers stroll the streets, and you can even get a hay ride and some hot chocolate. Santa arrives Friday evening at 5:30 at the town dock. There are other activities all weekend.



The other thing not to miss, is the annual Little Picture Show at the Wickford Art Association on Beach Street. The members offer their smaller-sized art at very affordable prices. What a great gift! Original art is always appreciated. I make a point of buying myself something there every year along with a couple of gifts. The show runs through December 24.

Sunrises and Sunsets over Narragansett Bay

Some prefer sunrises as they evoke the start of a new day and all the possibilities this brings. Being more of a night owl than an earlier riser, I prefer sunsets.

For me, a spectacular sunset can be the highlight of my whole day. I like to think of a sunset as God’s spectacular light show celebrating the end of a day and giving one time to enjoy the beauty of this natural phenomenon as well as reflect on one’s day. A friend recently asked me where I saw my favourite sunset. It’s a tie between two sunsets of the many I vividly recall.

One being a spectacular sunset I experienced whilst sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. After a wonderful day sailing in moderate winds and filled with warming sunshine, we sat at the bow of the yacht and watched the sun disappear on the horizon. As we out in the middle of the ocean with absolutely nothing around us except miles and miles of ocean, the entire horizon was illuminated with oranges, yellows, and reds. We actually clapped when the sunset show was over!

My other all time favourite sunset was this summer at Castle Hill Inn with friends from Connecticut, England, and Germany. I had proudly hosted my guests and showed them some of the highlights of our little slice of heaven all day. We were tired and sought a place to relax and enjoy the end of the day. We went to Castle Hill Inn and enjoyed a fabulous sunset over Narragansett Bay whilst sipping cocktails from our comfortable Adirondack chairs on the lawn.

If you want the luxury of watching the sunset over Narragansett Bay from your home, consider Puesta del Sol – which means sunset in Spanish – at the exclusive Carnegie Abbey Club. This custom designed home offers a gallery-style great room anchored by the two-story stone fireplace.

The cathedral ceilings provide a wealth of openness and light throughout the home. Facing west, you could enjoy endless glorious sunsets!

Alternatively if you want to create your own dream home to watch the sunset over the Bay, there is a west facing lot of vacant land on Seashore Drive in Jamestown where you could build your ideal home complete with a dock to moor your yacht. Sound appealing?

Where are some of your favourite places to watch the sunset?

Home Sweet Home

The life of a realtor is a busy one. My calendar is filled up with showings, client appointments, meeting appraisers, inspectors, the fire department, pick up a radon test. Office duty. A buyer’s parents are in town, can we show them the house? Can you meet me so I can measure for my furniture? My client would appreciate it if I could meet the furnace maintenance guy. Can I find a landscaper who can come do some work right away? Lots of things you would never even think of.


But every once in awhile, I look at my calendar, and there is a blank day. Open and all mine. This is so very rare. Even though people think the real estate market is quiet right now, it is exactly the opposite for most of us. Every deal takes more time, and people are understandably more anxious, so there are more steps involved to get to the final closing.


Today was one of those open days for me! I could work in the garden, finally, and get it cleaned up and ready for winter. My family is away – some at a lake house in Maine with friends, some in California. My friends have gone off on a weekend junket. I was pleased to have the luxury of an open day, all to myself.


Don’t get me wrong – I am so very grateful for being busy and having opportunities to work and make a living. But we all need some down time and today was going to be my day at home.

Then the phone calls start to come – a buyer who was coming in on Sunday wants to come today. Of course, I said ‘Yes.’ I must! It is my responsibility and I do want to sell this house. Then another – my out of state seller wants to know if I can meet her sister and give her the house keys so she can do some painting. ‘Sure thing’! Then I am blessed to get another offer on another property – go to the office, pick it up, meet with my seller.

All in all, I consider myself very lucky to be so busy, I must say. Thank you very much.

So when my day is finally done, I will come back to my sweet home and maybe read a book after finally getting some time in the garden. And then it will be time to make some snacks for my friends so we can watch the game together.


I sincerely hope that my clients and customers will all find much happiness in their homes, too. That’s what it’s all about!

Meadows

While visiting one of my favorite houses recently, I was struck by the sheer beauty of the adjacent meadow, and I realized that it had been awhile since I had seen a true meadow. Unfortunately, they are disappearing.

This house sits on the site of a former farm. Part of the land is still used to gather hay for horses by a neighborhood farmer.

Not simply a field, I have learned that a meadow is a small, flower-rich, grassland that is most likely bordered by stone walls or hedges, remnants from the original farm. Undisturbed areas with grasses, wildflowers, like buttercups and thistle, attracting butterflies and bees, are allowed to grow tall before mowing and baling.

Many meadows have disapppeared over the years and have been replaced with housing developments or if the land is still farmed, with higher yield cash crops. But in Tiverton and Little Compton, you can still come across them. Lots of open space.

If you do happen to be driving about on your busy days, and come across a meadow, please take a moment to appreciate the simple beauty. I did, and I keep thinking about it.

Ode to the Bicycle

Something really good is going on here.

A few years ago, I got a new bicycle and rode around the block and down to the sea. I must have looked like I was having fun because the next thing you know, a man in the neighborhood had taken out his old clunker and was touring around, too! Then, another and now it is a regular sight. We don't go far. One man sings cantatas at the top of his lungs. It gives my spirit a little boost whenver he glides by.

Here's what it is not - the 25-mile bike ride with the skid-lid, or ergonomically correct helmet, Italian racing shirt, lycra shorts, hard, bike shoes, toe clips, 2 water bottles, skinny little tires that keep blowing out, and handle bars that are horizontal to the pavement. I did all that stuff years ago and it was great fun but now I am into more leisurely rides where I can take in the scenery.

You can see the looks of recognition peoples' faces - they remember the fun and freedom of riding a bike while the wheels turn on the pavement beneath, occsionally sending little rocks and stones flying out from the tires. Even the sound is wonderful. It is very liberating and really fun. It's being a kid again and just riding for the fun of it. No particular place to go - just the ride itself and living in the moment.

My daughter calls my bike an "old lady bike". Well, OK, maybe it is. But it is not an age thing, it is a state of mind thing. It is not a racing bike. My bicycle has upright handle bars, wide tires for exploring unpaved paths, and a wicker basket for collecting seashells, special rocks I may find along the shore, and maybe a wildflower or two for the vase on the front porch.

Works for me!

Smith's Castle

Talk about a treasure, hidden away and out of sight, and mostly out of mind. You may have seen as small sign along Post Road, on the outskirts of Wickford that reads "Smith's Castle"

Richard Smith built this home, the first so called "English house", in the area at the same time that Roger Williams came ashore and bought a parcel of land from the Narragansetts. A grand and gabled house, heavily fortified, soon enough it earned the nickname "Smith's Castle".

Eventually Smith purchased more land, including the land that Roger Williams originally purchased, and farmed the land as Cocumcussoc Plantation. Burned to the ground during King Philip's War in 1676, Richard Smith rebuilt 2 years later on the original foundation. This is the home, a saltbox, that still stands and is now a museum and open to the public.

Roger Williams preached to the Indians here. One of the first military burial grounds in the country is located here. A mass grave holding 40 colonists killed during the Great Swamp Battle of 1675 is located here. A tragic event of epic proportions, the Great Swamp Battle nearly annihiliated the Narragansetts and ended King Philip's War.

This truly Colonial home is remarkable for its location on the Wickford Cove, its recreated gardens using only plants that were originally grown and native to the area, and the volunteers who recreate life there in authentic, period dress. (Do not call them 'costumes' - I made that mistake once!) It is a wonderful place to take children. They will even show you how to make butter!

On Saturday, June 21 (rain date is Sunday, June 22) the annual Smith's Castle Strawberry Festival will take place from

12 noon - 4 pm.

Why not visit this treasure in your own back yard?

And don't forget the Wickford Art Festival on the weekend of July 12 & 13. I love living here - maybe you would like it, too!

Cave Paintings and such

With a degree in Fine Arts, I have had my share of art history classes. They were some of my favorites. One of the subjects that touched me greatly was the study of the cave paintings at Lascaux.

The purposes of these paintings is not known. How could it be? There are no eyewitnesses! However, scholars agree that the paintings were probably for ceremonial purposes; others were religious, and some perhaps were decorative.

Ever since I became a Realtor, I have felt it was an honor and a privilege that people invite buyers and me into the privacy of their homes to have alook around.

I find it fascinating that we all have the same tendencies toward making our homes unique. We try to make them comfortable, put things up on the walls, make little tableaus on tabletops. Some of us add religious icons, ceremonial diplomas, certificates, paintings, photographs of those we love, flowers. Books. People become house-proud and I find it endearing. Did it all start with the cave paintings?

People do have different tastes in decor, but I tend to concentrate on the similarities. There are not too many homes with completely bare and unadorned walls. Fascinating.

By the way, one of my favorite modern artists is Susan Rothenberg. Hmmm........

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.

The Bee Whisperer

I am blessed with a delightful child in my life (one of 3 delights) who told me that she has a special talent - she is a bee whisperer! Her name is Mia and she is 8 years old.

Big, fat, fuzzy bumble bees, skinny little yellow jackets. "Don't touch! You'll get stung!" No matter. She goes up to the little bees on the flowers and pets them. You have to see it to appreciate the finesse involved. I guess they know she means them no harm and they return the favor.

A child who loves nature so much is a treasure - so caring and kind to all living creatures. She has learned a lot about life in only 8 years. Here she is with a praying mantis.

We spend a lot of time in the garden. A bee, an ant, a bird, a snake - everything is an experience and a sweet joy to be discovered anew with Mia.