MASSACHUSETTS PICS

Hello from Massachusetts! I am currently guest writer at Bay Path College in leafy Longmeadow and I am loving it here. This is day 7 of a 10 day trip and I spent the first 4 days in Amherst, exploring Emily Dickinson's place and also meeting with my dear friend, writer and artist Marcella Brown.

Marcella Brown at her Colraine farm

I am enjoying the students very much - talking to their classes and yapping with them in general. I did a reading last night and tomorrow is Writers' Day, where I give a seminar on the short story. I've had such a warm welcome here from everyone - Massachusettsians (?) are extremely nice.

Marcella with one of her pastels

Marcella lives on a wooded hill in Colraine, near Shelburne Falls. Her place - all these places - have to be seen to be believed; they are idylllic, time-warpy, and autumnally beautiful just now.

Hills and woods near Colraine

Homegrown produce at Marcella's. We ate that marbled tomato for lunch.

It was a joy for me to visit Emily Dickinson's home and West Cemetery, where she is buried. The museum - her home and her brother's - are fascinating and moving and I had an ace guide, all to myself. Score.

Emily's Homestead - I walked past it every day as my B&B was on the same street

Emily's grave - 'Called Back'

Artefacts atop Emily's grave, including a pic of my Juno

In West Cemetery, Amherst, the lovely spot where Emily rests

And here in Longmeadow I have my own house, the college guesthouse - a wooden, porched, vast house that dates from 1799.

My Longmeadow home

The writer Anita Shreve lived in the house and she sold it to the college. It is huge, a warren of prettily decorated rooms, including a spooky basement that won't lock...

Guesthouse sitting room (one of them...)

Guesthouse pantry - the smallest of its 15 or so rooms

Colraine cornstalk

Between the people, the house, the libraries, the scenery and the experiences, I feel utterly spoilt. Thanks to Suzanne Strempek Shea for inviting me; Briana Sitler for minding me; Leanna James-Blackwell for lunch and chats. And Marcella for laughs, talks and expert tour-guiding. Great women all.

Marcella's Rosa - her parents were Cowboy and Nelly - names fans of 'Nude' will recognise :)