Monday, August 31

A nice cool day. Brenda and Margie finished the puzzle they were working on and then they weeded the garden. Dennis and I installed all the first floor window grates in preparation for the off season. We also replaced and glazed the glass that broke.

Dennis finally had success in logging on to his company website and he spent a few hours at work. I got a call from the Coast Guard in the morning saying they were coming out later in the day. They showed up about 1400 and spent some time replacing a pc board, however that did not fix the problem and they will have to come out again. It was neat watching the helicopter fly in and out.

We are slowly moving things down the hill in preparation for our departure. Ethan will take some of our stuff on Wednesday and arrangements have been made to leave Seguin on Saturday morning.

Sunday, August 30

Tropical Storm Danny has moved on. Today was partly cloudy and we walked the eastern beach trail. Waves were still high (eight to ten feet) from the storm and provided us with a nice backdrop. Dennis found some buoys along the way and even took a dip in a tide pool. We all enjoyed a nice walk at the water’s edge.

We had a few visitors during the day. These were sailors that were passing through. Margie and Brenda continued work on their jigsaw puzzle while Dennis and I tackled the toilets. We cleaned them out and bedded them again with the custom compost mix I made up. Next year’s caretakers should be all set.

We will be leaving Seguin within the week. We have enjoyed our time here. We have met super people, learned a lot, saw a different part of the country and shared our adventure with family and friends. We are, however, ready to return home. Back to our family and our jobs. Brenda and I will be looking at other opportunities in the future.

Saturday, August 29

Tropical Storm Danny has arrived. We spent the day inside watching movies. Danny hit us with 44 knot winds and seven tenths of an inch or rain. Waves were eight to ten feet. Brenda and Margie cooked brownies and we grilled the rest of the sirloin tips that our friends had left behind. Brenda and Margie also started another jigsaw puzzle. Meanwhile Dennis and I traced down a circuit and wired a receptacle for the small refrigerator in the guest quarters.

Throughout the day we were checking on the windows to see how much rain was coming in. One window pane on the northeast side blew out and I put a piece of plywood in to hold us over. The downspout on the same side blew off.

Like I said, we didn’t venture out today. It was just plain nasty, wet and cold. But it was also interesting to watch the waves and the storm as it made its’ way north and east. Tomorrow Danny will be gone and the sun will most likely shine.

Friday, August 28

Happy thirty-eighth anniversary Dennis and Margie! What a great place to celebrate your special day and we are glad they decided to share it with us on Seguin. Brenda and Margie put together a great breakfast of blueberry pancakes with hot blueberry syrup.

After breakfast Sam, Betty, Rick, Dennis and I walked the cove trail and around the east end of the island. There are many interesting rock formations here with some large veins of quartz. A lot of the rocks look like petrified wood. The others stayed around the lighthouse and gave numerous tours.

For lunch we decided to eat light and munch on whatever we had since we had an early dinner. Sam, Betty, Rick and Jennifer had to leave at 1800 to beat the rain that was forecast from Tropical Storm Danny. We cooked sirloin tips on the grill with baked potatoes, peas and pasta salad and ate outside on the picnic table. The day was cool and comfortable. Clouds started moving in later in the day.

We saw our friends off and then returned to the house to listen to the latest on “Danny”. It has been downgraded and the local concern is focused on rain amount rather than wind damage. Danny is scheduled to be here tomorrow.

We were concerned about Dennis’ eyesight after the farewell gift from Jennifer, but not to worry, it is improving.

Thursday, August 27

I was attacked last night! We changed bedrooms and moved into the one with the double bed. At night the cover and I had it out. It wouldn’t stay on! Two in the morning and I’m fighting with the damn cover. While discussing the bed allow me to explain. This is a double bed that is glued together, has duct tape holding things in place and is probably quite old. The bed has three mattresses on it making it about four feet high to climb into. I call it Mount Mattress. You need an oxygen mask to sleep in it! And if there was any hope of mounting something other than the mattress I would need a football helmet to protect my head. Because Mount Mattress is only about eight inches away from the rapidly sloping ceiling. Get the picture?

To make matters worse the bed is short. I am six feet two inches tall and the bed is five feet eight inches long. I have six inches of something that is going to hang over. Usually that is my feet; however Mount Mattress has a large wood frame at the bottom of the bed. Normally feet would go under the frame but because of the height of the mattresses my feet hit the frame.

Now a sane and reasonable person would just take one of the mattresses off. Brenda says “no”, so that’s that. Grin and bear it.

I put Dennis to work weed whacking the north trail and I cut the grass around the lighthouse. Brenda hosted quite a few visitors. Margie and Brenda cleaned the lighthouse and the museum. Connie from FOSI arrived with some friends. They walked some trails, had lunch and enjoyed the afternoon. Friends Sam and Betty West and Rick and Jennifer Johnson from Berlin, Md arrived a little later with enough food for three weeks. They came a day earlier than expected because of Tropical Storm Danny. Everyone was impressed with the island. The girls all worked together and we enjoyed a feast of lobsters and each other’s company. Everyone had a long day and we turned in around 2100.

Wednesday, August 26

A day ashore. Ethan picked us up extra early, 0615, today. There was some concern about the tide and wave conditions. That was OK since it gave us an early start and we were meeting our long time friends Dennis and Margie Phillips.

So, off to the post office and laundromat and then I get a call from Dennis. He was right across the street at the Holiday Inn. I told him to look out the window and look for me, and there I was, waving my hat. Brenda and I made a quick trip to Roger’s Hardware and met Dennis and Margie a short while later.

Then it was on to Bath and the FOSI office. We met with Connie and stopped to see our new friends Joan and Paul Fraser at the Bath Sweet Shoppe. These are the folks that treated us like long lost family and took care of Mister Wesley. They don’t get any better than Joan and Paul.

Normal routine followed. Burger King for lunch, check out Big Lots and then Walmart. We had everything done by 1430 and made our way back to Popham to meet the boat at 1600. The tide was still running strong and we had some seas and spray on our way out.

Once ashore we moved everything up to the house and settled in. It is really nice to have some company and good friends around. Dennis and Margie plan to stay until we leave and we will follow each other home.

Although today was hot the weather is supposed to change. A new tropical storm is working its way toward us. Danny is predicted to affect this area over the weekend. We have more friends from Ocean City coming this weekend and the storm will definitely play a part in their plans.

Tuesday, August 25

Hot and muggy again. A few visitors stopped by in the afternoon. The cove is clearing up but to land on the beach takes skill. It is full of rocks and you will get your feet wet. Brenda thoroughly cleaned both residences and I went to the cove to mow grass in the camping area. Then I cleaned up the dingy and the boathouse.

About 1330 Steve Pelletier, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Principal Scientist at Stantec Consulting in Topsham, Maine, and a colleague, showed up to install boxes for a pilot avian/bat migration study. The information they hope to obtain is pertinent to wind energy concerns. It is a fully self-funded study by Stantec, with the study results to be completed in late fall/early winter and made available to the public. They installed two detectors on the south side of the lighthouse upper walkway at the base of the ladder leading to the catwalk. These detectors listen for and keep a record of the high frequency noise that bats emit. There is some correlation to bats, wind patterns, etc that should prove helpful in the future.

Later in the evening I noticed a group of young adults walking around. They were from the schooner Virginia. The Virginia is a near replica of the 1915 pilot schooner Virginia. She is 122 feet long and 160 tons and is owned by the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation. She is actively involved in youth sailing and educational programs. Many of the young adults on board were from Virginia and they were on a one week sail that originated in Portland.

I gave them a tour of the lighthouse and they were very appreciative. They were also treated to a great sunset. The schooner spent the night off the northern tip of the island.

Monday, August 24

Hot and sticky today. I went to the cove to check things out. It is a mess. There is still a large area of flotsam and we no longer have a sandy beach. The waves have washed out tons of sand and exposed tons of rocks. It would be senseless to try and clear thing up at this point in time. I guess that some sand will be washed back in over the winter months and things will change many times. Next spring will be the time to do it all over again.

Nature has a way of balancing things out and our efforts are only temporary. We have to learn to live in harmony and acceptance.

Brenda spent most of the day in the bathroom again. Now that’s not as bad as it sounds. The walls needed a final coat of paint and she had to clean things up. Finally at 1700 I had to pry the paintbrush out of her cold, dead hands. Well, not really. The hands weren’t dead thank God. But as soon as I had the opportunity I put all the paint stuff, cans, brushes, rollers, pans, etc in the wheelbarrow and scooted off to the shop. Hopefully never to be seen again.

I cut grass around the lighthouse and the mosquitoes and flies are really bad. It seems like they know they only get ten days of hot and humid weather and they are using every minute. It is supposed to cool off by Thursday and I hope they will go away.

I ran into Lawrence today. He was sitting on the bench while I was cutting grass. I thanked him for playing along with me while Wesley was here and he said it was his pleasure. Lawrence was happy and said he was really enjoying things now. He asked me if we would be leaving soon like the others do. I told him yes, that we will be leaving the island around Labor Day. Lawrence said he would be sad to see us go but maybe he could make friends and talk with the new caretakers that show up next year. He said there are many more stories of things that happened on the island and he would like to share them with someone. I encouraged him to make friends and I challenge future caretakers to continue the story of Larry the Lighthouse Mouse. (Larry is residing in the middle drawer of the green table in the living room)

A rain squaw came through at 1900 and left a half inch of rain. Then the sun came out just in time to provide a glorious sunset and a rainbow that ended on Damariscove. I wonder if there is a pot of gold over there. A mist formed over the mainland that looked like mountains.

Sunday, August 23

“Bill” is passing by today, but well out to sea. The only effects we have are the waves. The day is hot and humid and mostly sunny. Brenda and I took a walk from Cove to Cobblestone along the rocks. Waves were fifteen feet or so and it was impressive. I took a lot of pictures but I can not recreate the experience. Like I mentioned yesterday, this is a sensual experience.

The cove is a mess. A large area of flotsam has been created consisting of tree limbs, logs, Styrofoam, plastic containers, pallets and all kinds of stuff that floats. This has washed in during the high surf and I hope most of it washes out. Otherwise you know what I’ll be doing for the next few days.

Brenda put a coat of paint on the ceiling and also painted the woodwork. Like everything else she has done, it looks great.

After dinner we watched the guy try to win a million dollars on “Millionaire”. I believe we have been winners this summer as well. How many people get the opportunity to do what we have done? Worth a million bucks?

You bet!

Saturday, August 22

Hurricane Bill is staying well offshore. We may get some wind and the waves are definitely on the rise. We’ll check that out later. Most of the day we were shrouded in fog. It was humid and muggy.

Brenda got back to work on the bathroom ceiling. She finished caulking and put the second coat of spackle on. After it dried she sanded and painted a prime coat. Tomorrow she will put the finish coat on and this project should be done.

Wonder what she will find next?

Me, you ask about ME? Well I headed to the cove to cut the grass again. It never stopped growing this year. While down there I cleaned the bathroom and put everything moveable away in preparation for Bill. I walked out to the beach and the waves were building but not spectacular…yet.

Later in the day Brenda and I walked to the south end of the island. Although the fog was thick at times there was no doubt that things were happening far below. All of your senses are awakened by the sea. You could smell and taste the salt air. We could see the fog, the spray and the white foam. At times we could feel the reverberation of the waves hitting the rock, but the massive assault was to your ears. Continual roar, crashing of water on the rocks and what frequently sounded like gun shots as the waves rolled in.

Amazing.

During our walk one of Seguin's finest decided to christen me, right on my head! As usual I was wearing a hat, but this one was just a visor, you know, the kind with no middle. Well, the seagull just used it as a target. Brenda said I should be thankful that it is a sign of good luck. Don't know about that. It just felt like a pile of crap to me!

Damn flying rats.

Tomorrow should be better as Bill moves closer. I estimate the waves today at ten feet. Doesn’t sound like much, but seeing is believing. I saw only a few boats today and that was early in the morning. These were lobster boats working their traps before the waves got really bad. No pleasure boats in sight. As darkness fell we could hear the waves build. It elicits thoughts of days gone by, of storms and wrecks and rescues. Of men in the water screaming for help and swimming for their lives as their vessel is smashed against the rocks. I have often thought of what it must have been like but I never considered the sound. Awesome. Powerful. Deadly.

Friday, August 21

We had a big breakfast this morning of French toast, scrambled eggs and all the fixins. This is Scott’s favorite breakfast, affectionately known as the Christmas breakfast. Then the crew began packing up for the trip home. By ten o’clock we had everything loaded on the tram and they were resting up for the ride home. Mister Wesley and I spent some alone time on the bench overlooking the ocean with Gwenivere lying underneath eating some grass.

It was foggy this morning. Air temp was high and water temp in the upper sixties making for a good fog bank. Ethan called around 1030 and asked if they were ready to go. After running the stuff down the tram it was into the dingy to transport everything out. The tide was high and this was the safest way to get the transfer done. Everything and everyone made the transfer just fine and they headed out the cove in the fog.

Needless to say we were sorry to see them go. But, we will be home soon. I believe everyone had a good time and enjoyed the island. They had hot weather, a clear day and experienced some fog. They plan to drive all the way back to the eastern shore today.

Meanwhile Brenda and I started securing things for the upcoming storm. Prediction for tonight is for thunder storms and rain. This is associated with a front coming through, not hurricane Bill. We should start feeling the effects of Bill tomorrow through Monday and that forecast has it tracking east of our location, but we will have high surf, waves and wind. I’ve got the camera ready.

It is now 2030 and there have been tornado warnings for many areas around us. Reports of lines down, roofs blown off and high winds abound. I am looking out the window now and see lightning and the wind is gusting to over thirty knots.

Cool!

We heard from Scott. They stopped in Portland for lunch and to wait a little while for traffic to clear in New York. They did not want to go through there at rush hour. Tomorrow should be a fun day.

Oh wow...I almost forgot. WESLEY FOUND LAWRENCE!
Lawrence was sitting on a windowsill right in plain sight. He didn't say anything to Wesley but he did keep his word and allowed himself to be found. Wesley was ecstatic!

Thursday, August 20

Everyone had a great day today. The weather was beautiful. Humidity was low and temperature around seventy five degrees. There was not much wind and all of us spent the day outside. Scott took the kayak out for a spin around the island. Brenda and I gave some tours. Brenda, Bernie and Mike played cards and Angela read a book. Angela got too much sun yesterday and was paying for it today. Gwenivere was the favorite of all the guests and got lots of attention.

After lunch Angela, Scott, Wesley, Gwenivere and I went to the beach and played around a while. Gwen found a stick and was very content. Wesley was talking to the other kids on the beach while Scott was climbing rocks and Angela went beachcombing.

Meanwhile Brenda and Bernie were preparing dinner. Spaghetti, garlic bread and salad were on the menu and we all enjoyed it. Wesley wanted to see “Bolt” again so I sat with him in the living room. He will be gone tomorrow and I really enjoy being with this little guy.

I am closely monitoring Hurricane “Bill”. Tonight it is near Bermuda and is forecast to be here Saturday as a category three. All of our company will be leaving tomorrow around noon. Ocean swells will be building and conditions will worsen toward evening. Don’t know how close “Bill” will come to Seguin but it will be an interesting weekend. I’m looking forward to some high wind and waves. Watching a major storm from this vantage point should be awesome.

Wednesday, August 19

It was great to hear some new voices from inside the house this morning. Mike and Angela were up early for their coffee. Gwenivere was waking up and Wesley was getting dressed. After a big pancake breakfast everyone but Brenda and Bernie took off on the north trail. The two “B’s” stayed behind to man the store and host any visitors. Meanwhile we trekked up the trail and all was good for a while. About half way through I had to coerce them to keep going. The trail is closing in again and we had to work through some higher grass. There was also a concern over poison ivy. We eventually made it to the north end and turned around for the hike back. It was hot on the trail and we were glad to get back and hose off.

In the afternoon Scott, Angela, Wesley, Gwenivere and I walked to the cove and played around in the water. This was Gweniveres’ first introduction to salt water and swimming. She did fine. Wesley and his dad rowed around in the boat for a while and Angela looked for treasures on the beach. The water is warming up and felt pretty good.

I broke out the electric George Foreman grill and cooked burgers for dinner. Not bad. Wesley finally ate some broccoli and mac and cheese. After dinner they played around outside. Wesley and Gwenivere ran around again and we are all worn out. This will be another early evening.

Tuesday, August 18

They’re here!

At noon today we met our son Scott and his wife Angela in Bath. With them were Bernie and Mike Mannone, Angela’s mom and dad. Mr. Wesley was there and Gwenivere, the newest addition to the household. Gwen is an eleven week old Saint Bernard. I wish you could have seen the huge smile on Wesley’s face when we saw each other. I guess mine was just as big. He has grown! What a difference three months has made!

Brenda took them up to see Connie and then we walked around Bath for a short time. It was hot and they were tired from the eleven hour drive. Brenda had promised the owners of the candy store in Bath that we would stop in so we took Wesley there and were greeted with open arms. Wesley was the proverbial kid in a candy shop. Whatever he wanted the put in a basket and gave him. He scrounged everything from a chocolate lobster, gummie lobsters, lollipops, a toy stingray and even dog treats for Gwennie. Meanwhile Bernie and Mike got to talking to a man on the street and come to find out it was the minister that married JT and Katherine a few weeks ago on the island. We all got together in the candy shop and it was like old home week.

These Mainers are a good bunch of people!

After lunch we did our thing at Walmart and then off to meet Ethan at Popham. The state park was busy and cars were parked all along the road. Everyone was looking for a way out of the heat. Everything was loaded in the boat and off we went. We stopped by the holding trap and picked up a dozen lobsters.

Since the tide was running hard we had a spirited ride back to the island. Angela was a little worried and Wesley said “It’s OK, mom, I’ll protect you”. He was laughing all the way out. There were a couple of porpoises swimming around and it was a wet ride. We weren’t hot anymore!

Ethan let us off on the beach and then we made our way to the top. Everyone got settled in and we had a big lobster dinner. Gwennie stretched her legs and met some visitors. Wesley ran around and wanted to see the lighthouse, so I took him up. Mom had a cow when she saw him up there so his dad came and got him. We’ll all go up and do some exploring tomorrow.

Everyone was beat and we turned in by nine o’clock.

Monday, August 17

Lawrence revealed!

Today I come clean on the story of Lawrence. But first a report of the days activities.

It was hot and humid today. The haze kept visibility low. We had some visitors, but nothing like the weekend. Three paddled kayaks over from Small Point and Ken Young brought out some friends. The water is pretty nice now and I’m sure we will be playing around in it during the next few days.

I went to the cove to help Ken in with his guests and Brenda stayed at the lighthouse. I spackled the bathroom ceiling and ran a temporary electric service to the small refrigerator on the guest side of the house. At least they will have somewhere to keep drinks cold.

During the hottest part of the day, humidity reached the point where advection fog formed along the shore of the island. From our vantage point it appears as a cloud close to shore and seems to be about fifteen feet thick. Eerie.

On one of my trips to the shop I saw Lawrence. He was sitting on the workbench. He seemed happy, even ebullient. He was a happy camper. He said that a puddle of water was hard to find because we haven’t had rain in a while. But since we cleared a path to that old dump area, and there was water in there, that is what he used to see himself. So I asked if he was surprised and he replied “no, why would I be surprised”. I said “You do realize you are a mouse don’t you? That’s why you disappear and scurry off so quickly. I don’t know how you can talk to me but it’s not the first time I’ve heard of a talking mouse. After all there is Mighty Mouse, Minnie Mouse and, of course the most famous Mickey Mouse.” He said “Of course I know I am a mouse! It’s even in my name dummy. My last name Esuom is mouse spelled backwards. I am Lawrence de MOUSE. Lawrence THE MOUSE, LARRY THE LIGHTHOUSE MOUSE!” I said “OK, OK I get it, but the way you were talking I wasn’t sure if you knew that or not”. He said “oh yeah, I come from a long line of meese. My great, great grandpappy told a story of when some old relative got washed ashore in a boat wreck. He said the name of the boat was the “Lavinia Belle”. I said “That name rings a bell with me, I’m going to look that up” (below is the story of the “Lavinia Belle”). I asked him if there were more mice around and said that is why he is so happy and that thanks to our talk he is now able to see the lady meese that are all around and he was having the best time of his life. I said that was great and told him to enjoy himself but not to wear himself out because I have a special request. My grandson, Mr. Wesley, is arriving tomorrow and one of his favorite things to do is go mouse hunting. Lawrence looked at me funny and said “hunting?” Quickly I qualified that by explaining that Mr. Wesley is only three years old and likes to run around with a flashlight looking for mice. This all started at his Uncle Brooks’ house and has developed into his favorite game.

A while back when we first arrived at the lighthouse I made the mistake of telling Mr. Wesley about the ghosts on the island. His dad told me to lay off the ghost stories because he was saying he did not want to visit here. So I told Wesley that Lawrence was a mouse and it was a secret between him and me and that when he came he could go mouse hunting. That is how and why Lawrence was “born”.

OK, back to the conversation. I asked Lawrence to go along with Wesley’s mouse hunting. To run and hide and have fun with him. Lawrence said he would be happy to do so and he asked if his relatives could join in the fun. I told him not to invite them, that too many meese would not be a good thing.

Close to the laundromat that we use on shore is a Goodwill store that we frequent every week. You never know what is in there. Brenda has bought curtains, puzzles, etc. One thing we recently found is a headband with goggles and two lights, one on each side. Brenda bought it and I got it working. We will surprise Mr. Wesley with it tomorrow. Of course we are going to have to find some toy mice at Walmart tomorrow. We are also working on creating Lawrence.

Hey, we’re all kids at heart. Or we should be. There is nothing better than seeing a kids eyes lite up with excitement and laughing like hell over something this stupid. Stay tuned.

The Wreck of the Lavinia Belle

The 154 ton, two masted, schooner Lavinia Belle of Bangor set sail from the Kennebec in the middle of June 1898 on a routine trip to Boston. On board was a full cargo of 120 cords of edging loaded upriver at the Berlin Mills in Farmingdale. The lumber would not all fit in the hold and the excess was carried on deck, as was the custom on coasting vessels.

The passage was uneventful until the night of June 17^th, when a heavy gale was encountered off Boon Island and the schooner began to leak badly. During the following day the leaking continued unabated, and Captain Harry Olsen, became increasingly concerned for the safety of his 52 year old vessel. Unable to make progress against the storm he decided to change course and head for the protection of Portland Harbor. Darkness intervened before Lavinia Belle reached Portland and Captain Olsen, uncomfortable with a night approach, elected instead to try for Boothbay further to the east.

While eight miles southwest of Seguin Island disaster struck the now thoroughly waterlogged and dangerously unstable vessel. At 4:00 AM on Sunday morning of the 19^th, Lavinia Belle rolled over on her beam ends spilling her deck load of edging into the sea and leaving Olsen and five others marooned on the small portion of hull remaining above water.

Apparently the schooner’s yawl boat had been launched previous to the capsize and towed astern as a safety precaution. As a result of the accident it had become inaccessible, probably still attached to a submerged section of rail, but floating beyond reach.

Things looked bleak for the crew, now being constantly drenched by the spray. After two hours spent braving the storm in their precarious position, they finally had a change in luck. The yawl boat drifted near enough so that it could be secured, and the six men scrambled aboard. Undaunted by the fact that they possessed only a single oar, the cold and hungry survivors were able to make it to Popham Beach. A hard trip they later recalled, which none cared ever to experience again.

The schooner, kept afloat by her cargo of lumber, subsequently drifted ashore on the southeast side of Seguin Island where it was initially believed the vessel would become a total loss. After providing succor for the shipwrecked crew, the Popham Beach lifesaving crews went out to Seguin to assess the situation. It was soon reported that they were at work trying to save the wreck.

In the meantime, Captain Olsen engaged the Morse & Company tug Adelia to salvage the schooner. That evening the Adelia towed the Lavinia Belle, still on its beam ends, up the Kennebec to Bath where it arrived early Monday morning of June 20th, the ordeal finally over.

We are looking forward to seeing family tomorrow. We know that Wesley has grown and he will probably surprise us. They plan to leave around midnight tonight and meet us tomorrow at 1000. The weather man says that we will have another hot day or two and then it should cool off some.

Sunday, August 16

Busy, busy day. Well over two hundred visitors today. They started at 0900 and continued until 1800. Many sailors passing by and a lot of day trippers as well. This was the hottest day yet and there was no breeze this morning. The water temperature is approaching seventy and many were swimming. We can see people on the beach at Popham State Park, they look like ants and the beach was crawling.

Brenda gave up on scraping and sanding the bathroom ceiling. It seemed that every time she scraped, more was flaking off. There was no end to it. So she came up with the idea of just putting a new ceiling up. That’s where I came in. I was coerced in to hanging a new drywall ceiling. That’s what I did most of the day. Brenda took care of the majority of the visitors and did a splendid job.

As the sun went down so did the temperature. It is now in the mid seventies with humidity seventy percent. It is comfortable and will be a good sleeping night.

Oh yeah, I was just outside and the stars are magnificent. The lights on shore are shining and I just saw two shooting stars within five minutes. Fantastic!

Saturday, August 15

Another warm one. Summer has definitely arrived in Maine. There was a nice breeze at the top but once you left that area it got hot quick. Many visitors showed up. A lot of visitors live all across the US but have ties to this area. Usually old family cottages that have been passed down through the generations and families return to spend some time in Maine. Quite a few young children showed up and all seemed to have a good time. I put a sign up in the store that shows the link to this blog. One guy logged on with his blackberry and left comments while they were here. Hits on the blog site are steadily increasing. I believe there are now over one thousand hits from twelve countries, and I just added the counter three weeks ago.

One of our visitors was sailing west from Penobscot Bay to his place on Chebeague in Casco Bay. Others we going east to Acadia and points down east. This area is truly one of the best places to sail in the US, maybe the world. Many places to go, deep water and friendly people. A winning combination.

About 1700 most visitors had left and Brenda continued her work in the bathroom. She is still scraping off old paint so she can put on a fresh coat. I gave another tour or two and then we had dinner.

We are both a little sad today because we missed our youngest grandson’s birthday party. Wesley Frank Simmons celebrated his third birthday today. Brenda usually makes the birthday cakes and a lot of family and friends join in the fun. BUT, Mr. Wesley and family are joining us next week, and we can’t wait.

Friday, August 14

CONGRATULATIONS ANGELA!!

Our daughter in law Angela passed her boards for Nurse Practitioner today. She has worked hard for many years to reach this goal, and we are very proud of her. To tell the truth we are blessed with the choices our children have made. Both our son in law, Brooks and Angela are like an additional son and daughter. They have provided us with three fantastic grandchildren and we miss them all.

Today was a hot one for Maine. Temperatures in the eighties and humidity in the seventies. I met with Ethan early in the day and we hacked a trail to the hole where the big flywheel is. We are trying to clear things out a little so we can see what needs to be done to get it out. We have determined that the flywheel is definitely connected to something larger and there is at least one more piece of equipment in the hole. Problem is that it is covered in water. Our next step is to find a pump and pump the water out. Ethan is working on that.

Ethan had brought Joe and Betty Chambers out for a visit. They are caretaker applicants for 2011. Brenda showed them around while Ethan and I were playing in the hole. We wish them luck in the selection process.

A large group showed up from the Southport Yacht Club. They brought a lot of kids with them, played games and toured the lighthouse. They didn’t stay long. Meanwhile other visitors were arriving. Kids big and small from all over. Everyone loves the bench I placed in the newly cut area on the west hill. It is a prime picture location.

Meanwhile I went to the cove and cut the grass. I was able to get it all done, cove, trail, and camping area and around the restroom. Looks good again. It was much warmer down there and I cooled off in the water twice. Water is getting pretty nice now…or maybe I’m just getting use to Maine.

Forecast for the weekend is more of the same and I guess this will be one of our busiest times.

Thursday, August 13

We woke to the sound of the foghorn. It was noticeable since we haven’t heard it in a while. Most of the day was overcast and cool. We didn’t expect many visitors.

We were wrong.

This was one of our busier days. Visitors began showing up at 1000 and did not stop until 1700. They were from all over. One group from Connecticut that has a cottage here in mid coast. Another from Colorado that also summers here. Kids of all ages and one dog. One older man came with his daughter and grandkids. He was the fourth generation of a keeper that was here in the 1800’s. He was surprised to find the family name on our caretaker list and even some written documentation.

Brenda and I split up the lighthouse tours and in the meantime I cut grass. Cyndy surprised us when she showed up in the afternoon with some old high school friends. Apparently they have not seen each other for almost thirty years. Cyndy suggested they visit the island and here they are.

By evening the sun was out and we had a nice sunset. The weather guy is predicting a heat wave for the next few days. Temps are supposed to be in the nineties with low humidity. That will be something new for us.