my favorite place on earth...

my favorite place on earth is easily kennebunk, maine. i have been going there ever since i was 6 months old. my grandparents have had the house there since the early 60s. when i was younger my family and i would spend a couple weeks there over the course of the summer often going twice - once in june and once in august.



me and my brother in front of the house:

when i turned six years old, my parents let me fly by myself and my trips to maine became much longer. i would usually arrive with my family and they would then leave me behind and i would get to stay an extra week or two all by myself. my nana was amazing and i am so fortunate to have been able to spend all that quality time with her. she would very patiently play chutes and ladders or the box game or read me bedtime stories. during the day we would play on the beach or go to kbia (kennebunk beach improvement association) classes. through the kbia i took all sorts of classes: swimming, sailing, arts and crafts, photography, wood working, golf, tennis, marine biology (yes, i did a science course!) and probably a few other things.

my cohort was always my nana or my oldest friend in the world, heidi. heidi's grandparents live across the street from mine and she used to spend her summers there too. we met when we were like two. not far from our houses and the beach, there is a big tourist trap full of shops called the port. it was a lot better when we were younger. we used to ride our ancient bikes with baskets on the front to the port and go shopping. we loved the penny candy store which literally had loads of penny candies. that's no longer there. it's been replaced by a ben and jerry's... not quite penny candy. heidi and i would spend countless hours playing with my aunt's old barbies from her childhood. they were fabulous old barbies from the 50s and my aunt had all of them and the best clothes for them too!

my nana's been gone for 14 years and we still continue to visit my grandad and his wife, linda. it's pretty much the same old house, except for the changes linda's made like updating the master bedroom which is now a master suite and the kitchen has been updated as well. the house was built in 1911 and bought in the 60s by my grandparents. it was furnished when they bought it and it's obvious that things like the carpet have never been changed and i hope they never are! there is this great shag carpet all over the place! but my room is still the same and i hope it never changes. the mattress is a rock, but i sleep so well there. i think it has something to do with the house and the sound of the waves and yes, even my nana's spirit. the house in kennebunk is my favorite place for that very reason... all of the wonderful memories from growing up. it's my place to get away and just relax.

my room:
the view from my window: