When I was young, I couldn’t say “Granny” – it always came out as “Annie”. And so, my grandmother, Jeanne, was affectionally known as Annie within my family. Jeanne (Annie) passed away peacefully on October 28, 2020 at the age of 96. Thankfully I was able to see her a week before she passed and showed her photos of the cottage. After her passing, I decided to honour her and her love of nature by naming the cottage after her. She lived in Water Mill, New York, for 55 years. She spent her last days surrounded by her books, looking out on the skies over Meyer’s Pond — a scene that filled her heart every day of every season.
Annie loved the East End and her life was a reminder for us left behind of all that was good about the place she chose to live. She spent hours fishing at the water’s edge, not caring really if she caught anything, just at peace with sea and sky. She left her land along the bay grow wild as natural shelter for waterfowl and wildlife—to the dismay of neighbors with manicured lawns. And to her delight at their dismay. A competitive horsewoman when she was young, her great joy, before arthritis and injury kept her out of the saddle, was riding along the surf at Flying Point beach.
Her Hamptons were quiet villages, where friends and shopkeepers alike were greeted by name. She treated everyone with equal respect and courtesy. And she received it in return. Her era was a time when artists and writers could afford to live in the East End and many had a place at her dinner table, where laughter and ease set the tone.
In later years, deafness set in, but conversation and laughter continued in a flurry of handwritten notes. The real measure of character is how we deal with adversity. Her inner strength, her humane values and her straight-shooting honesty are a legacy that inspire all who knew her.
Many of the bits in the cottage, from the artwork to the blankets, are a part of my growing up in my “second home” in Water Mill. I hope you enjoy.
❤️ Blair
I’d like to acknowledge my uncle John who wrote portions of this for Jeanne’s obituary.