Most everyone stayed at Wooster Farm which used to be owned by the famous artist Frank Benson. This is significant only in that the barn that he painted in became our play house. It was a huge space with plenty of room for many to play ping pong, read, step outside and play tennis, or just enjoy the even floors...Lili loved to walk on her own in the barn. The main house was lovely. It felt like home and everyone found a bed and plenty of space to unpack. There was a huge chimney in the center of the house that had three fire places: one in the dining room, one in the piano room (oh yes, a grand piano and in tune!, and one in the sitting room. The sitting room became the cozy room for Grammy Jac to hold court as we solved puzzle after puzzle. Or, Dara did her school assignments, naps were delicious in this room, some just read. The room looked out onto the water and such wild flowers as we have never seen before. There was another house called the "Captains House" in which Michael and Maggie, Peter and Erin and Grace slept. The beach was a short walk and it was glorious. A walk in the opposite direction from the beach was another beach and very long dock which eventually became the mooring for the 20 foot Boston Whaler that Susan and Winnie had trailed to the island.
Now, Judy and Nancy had a place down the road. It was quite a bit more rustic than Wooster Farm. But it suited the babies. Their Mom's and one Dad (Heurise, Lindsay's husband was not there because he hasn't gotten his visa yet...we really missed him) set up routines for the babies that kept them well through the excitement of going to the big house and seeing everyone. As the babies arrived in their strollers there was a chant that quickly moved through the house "The babies are coming". Then what a scene! Everyone got their turn to hold the babies or play with them. Grammy Jac seemed to have the most baby time (maybe Maggie) but the babies enjoyed it. All in all, our houses were beyond our wildest dream.
