To the New Owners by Madeleine Blais

Author:Madeleine Blais
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grove Atlantic
Published: 2017-06-13T19:22:44+00:00

Chapter Seven

Operating

Instructions

We never rented the house formally, but we often gave away time in it to family friends and even virtual strangers. One summer one of John’s sisters chose to give her two weeks as a gift to a contractor and his family who had helped her remodel a house.

John and I drafted this note to give him and his family a basic sense of the lay of the land, and the water:

We hope you and yours are getting psyched. We suspect you will have a fine time on the island.

Here are a few details you should be aware of.

Directions:

Not sure whether you’re coming into Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs. Regardless, you want to head over to the south side of the island and . . .

In the interests of not revealing the precise address, let’s just say the rest of the directions include such landmarks as the aforementioned dips in the road, mailboxes, forks, etc. We also included a pep talk:

You are going to travel a total of 2.2 miles on this dirt road. It meanders around. Be persistent. Be confident . . . At the top of the hill BEAR LEFT. Continue past other houses. Watch for sandy spots. The house will either be open, or there will be a key on the shelf of the outdoor shower (facing the house, on the extreme right). That key will open all doors.

It might make sense to invest in an island map. It’s very easy to get turned around and have trouble finding the right dirt road, especially at night . . . I think there’s a map on the bookshelf in the LR. Poke around.

A word to the wise: Take a load of groceries out there if possible. There is a Stop & Shop in Edgartown (cheapest . . . except nothing is cheap on the island). In Vineyard Haven and in West Tisbury there are Cronig’s (significantly more expensive, but very popular with the people who don’t like chain stores). There’s a Stop & Shop by the Vineyard Haven ferry also.

Fish: Go to John’s Fish Market in Vineyard Haven. If Sandy is there, say you’re staying out at our place. She’s an original. Take her advice as to what is best. Some people swear by Poole’s down in Menemsha, but we prefer John’s and not because of the name.

Vegetables: Many locations. Morning Glory Farm just outside of Edgartown seems the best.

Eat island pies: There is a kiosk just outside West Tisbury called Eileen Blake’s [since closed down]. Not cheap, but absolutely primo. There are many other bakeries on the island, all with unique character and specialties, but her pies are by far the best. But you can get a good chocolate chip cookie all over the place.

At the house: Three kayaks and one motorboat. The fuel for the motorboat will either be in it, or up in the storeroom (just past the outdoor shower). It’s a four-stroke, so NO oil mixed in with the fuel. Everyone wears life

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