News from Camp Brunonia
During the month of July, I didn’t write, I swam. The weather wasn’t all that cooperative, but it didn’t matter. When I got to the cottage, I was on crutches. A stupid move (very stupid) on the first day of vacation wrenched my knee, and I ended up in the ER, unable to walk. Just trying to make it to the lake was painful. But after a few days swimming, dragging my hurt knee through the water as I swam, I was able to leave the crutches behind. Water has always been a miracle cure for me, as much for the spirit as for the body.
Last summer, life interfered in both wonderful and terribly sad ways, and we only got to the lake for a day and a half. So having a month up in New Hampshire this summer fulfilled a dream for me. Every few days, I checked emails at the Country Bookseller in Wolfeboro, one of my favorite places. And every few days I bought a new book. So far, my summer favorites have been Olive Kitteredge and Netherland. Next up: The Help. We also rediscovered a wonderful place on Route 16 in Ossipee called Windy Fields Farm. We’ve been dropping by for years to buy our blueberries and tomatoes, but this year Chris and James, who are both talented chefs, started a little restaurant, and we stopped by just about every day to pick up dinner to go. Everything is local and wonderful and hard to resist. They make the best roasted corn salsa I’ve every tried, actually it may be the only roasted corn salsa I’ve ever tried, but it is amazing. If you are passing by on your way north, make sure you stop.
We saw both the sunrise and sunset almost every day in July. We listened to the frogs and loons at night, and last Sunday, while we were drinking our morning coffee, we watched a bald eagle land in the tree with the rope swing just feet away from where we sat.
Tomorrow, my editor sends my new book back with her notes. On August 18th, the paperback of The Lace Reader is released, and I will start a new book tour. And the House of the Seven Gables and The Salem Trolley just began their Lace Reader tour. If any of you are coming to Salem with a group, it is a great way to see the sites from the book. You can learn more about the tour here.
August 4th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
For those of you who don’t already know, the cottage is not named after me, I am named after the cottage.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Hi there,
I can’t wait to read The Lace Reader. I am going to print out your blog and post it at the Farm. Thanks for mentioning us here at Windy Fields. See you soon.
September 10th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
What is the connection to Camp Brunonia? Were you a camper there? When?
September 10th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Camp Brunonia was built by my great grandfather. It was named by my grandfather who went to Brown University which is nicknamed Brunonia (“brown” in Latin). I sent every summer of my childhood at the camp and it remains in our family to this day.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:40 am
The camp was sold in the early 70′s to Steve Fienstein. He sold it in 1989 to the Savages
September 14th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Must be a different Camp Brunonia. Ours is a private residence that is still owned by my family to this day after 100 years. What are the chances of two Camp Brunonia’s?
September 15th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Windy Fields Farm. A great find. Nice people and seriously nice food and produce.
August 19th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
There ARE (or were) two Camp Brunonias ! My Dad -Dave Mishel- started Camp Brunonia in Casco , Maine in the summer of 1928 ! He ran it for forty-two years until 1969 when it was sold to Steve Feinstein and Steve Shatkin who kept it going as Camp Samoset. Where is your “Camp Brunonia”? And h ow did you get the name. Ours was named for Brown University where my dad played football as one of the Brown Iron Men in 1926!
October 28th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I was named for Brown University as well. My grandfather went there and loved everything to do with it. He names our summerhouse Brunonia, and his cat, and his canoe. And me.