WELCOMING 2024 WAY DOWNEAST

The Christmas morning waters are as beautiful as the sunrise in this stunning photo captured by Jim Hessick of East Machias.

THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR 12.31.23

A short postcard from Washington County to send you gratitude for being a part of my 2023, and to wish you a bright and hopeful beginning to 2024.

It’s 11 a.m. on December 31st and despite the late hour, I’m the only one stirring in the Dedmon household, something I’m unaccustomed to as the lone morning person in a family of night owls. I enjoy the sunrise, but they will likely be awake to ring in 2024, and I’ll be long asleep.

Tradeoffs.

I can’t remember a rainier December or, come to think of it, a rainier year. I have no data to back up these impressions, but I do have a soggy front yard, and a soggy basement, and the memory of two stunning rain and windstorms that knocked down so many trees, and so many power lines across Washington County and the entire state of Maine.

Thank heaven the rains broke for Christmas Eve, and Angela Hessick’s husband was able to capture that spectacular sunrise photo the next morning in East Machias.

Thank you to real-life postcard photographer Ken Tudor for loaning me his images of snowy East Machias and Machias, and to the St. Croix Historical Society for their seasonal image from Calais.

I was delighted with the response to this year’s Christmas Postcards from Washington County, and thank everyone who requested one and also — what a delight! — everyone who sent me a Christmas card, too. 

I love mail. You can read just how much by clicking the photo above.

If you didn’t get in on this year’s Christmas postcards, I’m happy to send you something belated, just send me your information here. And stay tuned for more towns on more postcards in 2024!

I’ve begun several new projects this year, but this website and my podcast, Way Downeast, are two of my most exciting additions for 2023. Thank you so much for your support, and I look forward to getting to know you and sharing more of this extraordinary place in 2024.

Listen to learn how Beth Wright is fulfilling the Washington County dream of its founder, and learn the name of our advertising supporter! Once you do, you can visit their shop to enter to win a $50 gift certificate. Click the link above to be taken to this episode’s website.

Thank you to Beth C. Wright Executive Director Angela Fochesato for coming onto this most recent episode of the podcast to talk about her organization’s biggest move yet — a brand new resource center in Washington County.

It’s an encouraging move for cancer patients Way Downeast, and the fulfillment of a dream for the Beth C. Wright family. You can listen by clicking the link above, no subscriptions required, or listen wherever fine podcasts are sold! If you enjoy it, please consider giving us a great rating or review.

May 2024 bring us all new hopes and new friends.

Happy New Year.