The Story of Artist Judy and the Ice Cream

One day last August on Monhegan Island with my dad, we met a friendly outgoing woman—an artist named Judy—who struck up a conversation with us as we walked down the lane and she walked up. She invited me to visit her where she was staying. The following day I ventured back along the route to Lobster Cove to find Alison Hill Studios and reconnect with Judy. We had a grand time talking art for about 45 minutes. Fascinating woman, about 75 y.o. She and I nurtured an ongoing email friendship during the year. At one point this spring she asked if we’d be returning to Monhegan and I told her that if we did it was my fantasy that she and I’d arrange to paint together. She immediately said yes. My dad and I did decide to go to Monhegan again, and Judy and I made plans to spend some time each day painting together.

She stays for three weeks on the island, traveling up from Philly, and ships all her considerable art materials to and from the island. I wrote to ask her what she'd recommend I bring by way of supplies since I'd be carrying them by hand on the ferry with the rest of my luggage. She wrote back, suggested a particular brand, size, and type of paper, said please use any and all supplies I will have, and went on to enumerate all her supplies. 

Whoa! 

In response, I thanked her for her open heart and generosity and asked how I could honor her generosity in return: cold hard cash? a gift of some supplies to greet her when she returns home? some other wish I might fulfill?

She replied immediately: 

cheers, indeed. yes i do have a wish list. and you are going to laugh out loud. i would like you to carry a freezer filled with as much as possible gifford’s peppermint ice cream with chocolate jimmies. it has to be gifford’s or nothing at all. that would so make me happy if you could bring me my most favorite childhood treat. thanks and thanks again.

 

Holy moly! 

She named a few suggested places to try but they weren't on the route we take! So I did a bunch of crazy research, leading to phone numbers no longer in service, stores that have closed, stores that used to carry Gifford's but switched to Hershey, stores that sell Gifford's but not peppermint, etc. My search took me farther and farther away from our Port Clyde ferry slip, meaning more and more hours to keep ice cream from melting. 

Yikes. 

In the end, I connected with Michelle at Sugar Shack in Bethel where my dad lives, and I knew Michelle was my gal. She totally got the mission and became my partner in crime. When I went to Sugar Shack once in Bethel, my order was right there waiting for me. Michelle had frozen it hard for 24 hours at Sugar Shack and even supplied me with freezer packs. I tucked it in my dad's freezer overnight, packed it last minute in a cooler surrounded by ice packs, duct-taped the cooler shut so it wouldn't open when tossed around by those loading the ferry, and crossed my fingers that it would weather the nearly six-hour trip ahead.

Judy met us at the dock on Monhegan and I delivered the goods.

The next morning Judy and I met to paint. Results of ice cream mission: SUCCESS! Judy reported that:

(a) the Gifford's peppermint stick confection was just slightly soft at the very outer edges, and

(b) she indulged in her first serving of delight almost immediately, holding it right under her chin so as to minimize the amount of time and effort needed for each spoonful to get from bowl to mouth!

Judy's painting space and works in progress

Judy's painting space and works in progress

my own work in progress #1, responding to first marks

WIP #2, responding to first marks

WIP #3, responding to first marks