Sunset, May 31.
Another long near-solstice day. When you’re this far north, sunset takes a long time. Which gives the photographer many views and angles to choose from, lots of photos to take, and abiding gratitude that she no longer has to pay for film.
7pm
8pm
The other night I couldn’t get to sleep. I had been writing, or thinking about writing, and a scene between two of my characters was simmering in my mind, spiced with some emotional component that had me alert and deeply engaged. So after maybe an hour of lying in bed, I got up to take an acetaminophen, hoping to relax enough to sleep.
The moon was shining in through the skylight, surrounded by clouds in dizzying patterns. There would be no sleep for me while this remained unphotographed.
This is the part where a camera with more pixel-depth would have helped. Or at least a tripod. But perhaps this photo will give you a small idea of the magic of that moonlight.
I love these long days near the summer solstice. We sleep less. “Late afternoon” means 6pm, and the light is spun silver; the water is shining mercury.
May 27th. We wrap up a day of work around the house and go for a quick ride into town. Silver light turns the Great Salt Pond into magic.
Roses!
The island is swimming in rosa rugosa. Mounds and masses of them line Corn Neck Road near Crescent Beach. Each flower is a gem.
The breeze blowing up the island past our house smells like heaven. Like a room full of roses, but it’s the outside air. We throw open all the windows.
May 18, 2012. After a day of hard work (by Dan; me, I’m still writing) we get to play mojitos-on-the-deck redux. Another clear day, another gorgeous sunset. Today, though, there are fewer clouds, so the sun sails out of the sky round and even and glittering in the water.
May 17, 2012. We get to spend our 32nd anniversary on the island. Mojitos on the deck watching the sun shimmer out of the clouds and set full and red. It’s north of the lighthouse now. Official sunset time: 8:01. Official reservation time at the Spring House: 8:15. Great location, great drinks, great sunset, great meal.
Happy anniversary, Dan, my partner, my friend, my love!
After four months, we’re back on the island again. This is always a wonderful occasion. We regretted not bringing champagne to celebrate–but a surprise fireworks display at 1:15am more than made up for that.
God, meanwhile, or celestial mechanics, was providing our normal and much loved fireworks.
After sunset, the sky continued blazing red for some time.
The full moon rose so bright that we could see colors by moonlight.
Goodbye, Block Island, beautiful even on a winter’s morning!
Be safe! We’ll see you again in the spring.
A clear-sky sunset has an undeniable Apollonian beauty, but I think I prefer the unsettled, moody sunsets amid turbulent clouds.
With a hey, ho, the wind and the rain…
The storm moved onto the island a little before noon today. It’s blowing and pouring, battering at windows and roof. The US Weather Service is predicting sixty-mile-per-hour gusts. All the ferries today are canceled. We are snug inside and enjoying the show. But it does seem appropriate to post last night’s breathtaking sunset, unsettled and intimating a change in the weather.
5:40 pm
5:50pm