Monday August 31, 2015

68 degrees w/ 4 mph winds

Day 109

This morning is exactly like yesterdays….calm, hazy, quiet, and warm….for you Texans the sun feels closer and it’s already getting hot even though the temp is 68!

 

Looking out to the East from our doorway

The Lobstermen are out doing their trade this morning…Larry and I had some English muffins w/ plum jelly out on the porch and as we looked out we began to wonder if those guys have a pattern of how they run their traps.  Guessing it depends on the weather, the movement of the ocean, and other factors we hadn’t thought of. 

Our time here is drawing close to an end…it’s only when I write my blogs that I truly realize that.  It forces me to look at the date, day, etc…  So everyday I try to “take in” a little more of life out here…going out in the middle of the night to view the tower and its awesome light….to touch each building and look at it a little more in depth… to sit at the cove and imagine all the lives that called this home…and so much more.

Let's take a tour of the Museum...

This is what you see when you enter the Museum front entry

Turning to our right we see the old living room, now the "History Room"... 1795 

entering the "History room" turning left to go to the "Coast Guard Room"

USCG Room.... 1939-1985...used to be the dining room

I’ve had a little difficulty with the internet the last week…all my equipment says I’ve got internet, but it won’t let me do anything, so some of my blogs have been a day late….seems to work better in the mornings.

 

left side of USCG Room

Corner of USCG room...Children of the Light

Children of the Light....Photo's of Millie Irvine, Beverly Stephens Ramsey and myself on the right

Looking from the USCG room into the old kitchen...My gift shop

Sue Patton, a friend, showed up with her sister who had never been here, as well as another gentleman who had been in the cove all night, Sue gave them the tour of the tower since I thought the group from the ferry from Popham would soon be coming up the hill.  Ethan’s group never arrived, but we had visitors one right after the other all day.  

 

My gift shop...the old kitchen

Just a little more of the gift shop wall and all the Seguin Light Keepers since 1990

Lunch…ham and cheese sandwiches…sliced tomatoes and chips…                                                                

Looking out the gift shop door...now that is a site!

 It's kind of like a picnic here…the food just taste better.

Around 5:40, we lost power and the fog horn started…at first we thought the USCG might be working on the fog horn and had maybe done something with our electricity, but when we went to check, no one was there.  Contacted Anne and she said the power was out in Phippsburg…that’s a relief knowing it’s elsewhere and not just out here.  Around 6:35 lights came back on and the fog horn stopped.  Guessing the horn has a backup…just in case!

We are officially on the wall at Seguin

Looked out and saw a ?House being pulled by a tug boat…not sure if it was an actual house or what, but it sure did look like a house sitting on a barge.  They were headed West toward Portland and then turned SW further out to sea.

 

Looks like a house to me

6:45 Looking at all the electronic devices I noticed it was 79 degrees w/ 1 mph winds right now.  The weather has been “Baby Bear” great, not too hot, not too cold…just right!

The sun seems to be setting a little earlier every day.  We used to see it set around 8:20, now it’s more like 7:30. 

Haven’t had much problems with the creatures out here….the flies bite…and they have been getting worse daily.  The snakes are showing up more now than they did all summer.  I saw two side by side today…naturally I never have my camera…or they are so quick to hide I don’t get the shot.  Thankfully Bandit hasn’t tried to mess with them, they are just little garter snakes, but I still wouldn’t want him to.

 

Loving the cloud art

Sat outside as long as we could, it’s so peaceful and calm, the water below are gently coming in, only a few sea gulls out and they aren’t making too much noise…but the sky, the clouds, they are a piece of art…changing every few moments only to display another magnificent display.  Can you tell I’m not wanting to leave this place.  

Sunday August 30, 2015

68 degrees w/ 2 mph winds

Day 108

The island was quiet this morning, the sea is calm, the waves weren’t crashing big, the birds were quiet, the flag was drooping, no boats to be seen….very serene this morning.

We thought we could hear something off to the south, like thunder, not sure, but we couldn’t see anything….but with no boats out, thought there might be storms…we will see as the day goes on.

Tower stairs....ornate

Later we did see a few boats, I guess people are just sleeping in today…. 8:30 Bandit told us we had visitors!  Guess we should have eaten breakfast instead of sitting out on the porch this morning.

Tower stairs

Our first visitors were from LONDON.  They keep a boat here in Maine, and every summer they come to the states and sail the coast.  Wow!  They were a very neat group to talk with. 

 

London visitors in USCG room of our Museum

Grabbed a quick bite of oatmeal, then Larry went headed down to meet the ferry and to also gather a coffee can of cove sand for me to take home.

London visitors

One of our visitors came here not only to visit, but to also leave some of his son’s ashes.  The dad left some in the cove and dropped some off the top of the tower, while the sister left some on the heliport.  The boy hadn’t been gone long, and they were still in pain from their loss…so he was choking up and shedding a tear or two and I had just done the same telling him about the little plaque for my father to be put on the USCG board.  People are drawn to this island, they general love it, I know the F.O.S.I.L. group dearly loves it!  So again I want to tell then Thank You for all you do, for allowing us to be a part of this great group of folks, and most importantly to allow us to live on this island, to call it home for the summer.

 

Visitors

Late lunch…we weren’t hungry….some cheese, summer sausage and crackers…also a little hummus that the WW had left on Wednesday.

Many more folks came throughout the day….one young lady came to have her “Senior” photos made here on Seguin.

Young lady having her "Senior" moments...I mean photos!

Around 4 pm we had a young couple arrive…they got married last night! Our first Newlyweds….Congratulations Ed and Abby!  What a way to start their new life together...with a trip to Seguin Island! 

Ed and Abby

It was good to see Nat Hicks, one of the F.O.S.I.L. Board members and in charge of the memorabilia came out today and looked at my little gift shop, he said they had some more merchandise coming out next Wednesday for the holiday weekends…Labor Day!

Went down to the Whistle House/Engine Room…straightened it up and then finished putting up the board around the Pump House…Went ahead and did a little painting on the Pump House since we were there.

 

Larry and the Pump House

It’s quiet on our little island….moments to stop and take in everything around us….what a beautiful place.  Boats have all gone into port, so the sea seems to be resting

Saturday August 29, 2015

67 degrees w/ 3 mph winds

Day 107

Woke to a hazy day, the sea is different shades of gray, the sky is bright, but it’s one of those foggy type bright with white clouds and light blue skies.  The sea looks so very calm, the lobsterman are out putt-ing around the island…their boats have that puttputt sound as they hurry to their next set of lobster pods. 

View to the East, from our front porch

Breakfast…Oatmeal with those fresh blueberries!  One more morning of oatmeal and then we will hit the cereal, there is enough for one morning.  Then we will start the Blueberry Pancakes again!!!

 

Hazy day, but still a beautiful one...from our front porch

Around 9 am we already had our first visitors, several groups one right after each other….one group had been here two weeks ago and they brought some friends who had never been here.  Sue Patton and her husband and two grandchildren came up.  One gentleman who said he slept in the cove came up for a visit. 

Patton family with their grandchildren

 

Two young visitors who just got a finger puppet from the gift shop

Folks running, walking and enjoying the island

Visitors were constant all day, we would have two groups and then as one would be leaving as another came up.   During one time we had two yellow labs, one eleven yr old small wire hair terrier and one young energetic labordoodle….

And we are marching.....

We allowed the dogs to run free, they had all been cooped up on boats for many days, so the romping began and the dogs acted as though they had been friends for years. 

One group had a lady that had her wedding here on Seguin in 2002.  She told us about how the keepers made it a special day for them. 

Another couple came with their two children and the ladies mother, she was from Germany.  The family would interpret during our tour and she had lots of good questions.  They almost didn’t get to go up the tower, they were in a hurry to get down to the cove, but I convinced them to hustle up to the top…they had to see the 360 view…they were thrilled and were so glad they did. 

Larry giving his tower tour

It was about 3 and we decided it was time for lunch…Ham and cheese sandwich with sliced tomatoes and chips.

Then later, about 4:00 had a BIG group of about 30 visitors…come to find out one of the couples were the ones who got married here last year about this same time…they had come out with lots of family and friends and the brides two children, ages 10 and 16 yrs old, who were Baptized down in our cove!  AMEN how wonderful!  Seguin is near and dear to this family and they stayed till 6… having a picnic, laying around, talking, running, taking photos, taking tours, and having a blessed time.  Some had never been here, so naturally they got the full tour.

Big group...they were scattered everywhere...having a blast

Same big group

More of the same group

Dinner…had bought some Alfredo sauce, so we are making Chicken Alfredo tonight.

We didn’t get much done today, had put the last coat of paint on the boards for the Pump house and was hoping to have them up today.

Not much of a sunset, but you should see the moon coming up…it’s the third night in a row…it’s chilly outside….66 degrees w/ 11 mph winds, we had to close the windows….Wow…won’t be like this when we get back to Texas!

Here are the photo's I wanted to go with my blog last night...enjoy!

The moon was out 

Trying to "capture" a night shot with the moon

Same photo as above, I kept moving the dial on the camera to "get" the best photo

Same photo as the two above, still moving that dial on the camera to get a good shot

Beautiful day to sail

Larry looking for whales...he know I want to see one from the island before we go

Friday August 28, 2015

67 degrees w/ 2 mph winds

Day 106

Sorry, I have tried for two hours to get my computer to let me on the internet and then when it did, it was supper slow...so no photos...will try again in the morning on a separate blog.

Beautiful morning again, boats are already out and about…making up for that week of fog we had.  Coffee on the front porch enjoying the view!

Breakfast…we are now looking at our pantry and it’s time to start using food up that we have brought to the island…so Oatmeal it is, with some fresh blueberries from Anne and a piece of toast with strawberry jelly.

Grass is dry so it is time to mow, maybe for the last time…and I put another coat of paint of the pump house boards.  We started the mowing and was hurrying so we would be able to clean up and be ready for the first group of visitors.  Simply because it’s Friday and beautiful I figure we will have a bunch of folks today.  Since it was still high tide, Larry went down to help Brook with helping the visitors out of the dingy.  Usually they arrive at 11:30, it was 12:15 and no one was coming up under the tram.  Finally a man and his two kids came.  I’ve learned to ask if they are in their own boat or if they arrived on the ferry.  They had come in their own boat….we went up the tower and finished the tour and still no other visitors.  About fifteen minutes later another older couple arrived…in their own boat.  Larry finally came back up to the top….guess Ethan isn’t coming.  We continued to have groups of four to six groups in their own boats. 

One of our visitors heard Larry say we had taken several sunset photo’s of Mount Washington…she is involved with some organization and wants me to send her one so that they have the view from Seguin…I think this was pretty neat.

Continued mowing between visitors.  Grabbed some cheese and summer sausage about 3:00.  Larry was looking out while eating and yelled at me to come outside, I was washing dishes…anyway, he saw a flock of birds out at sea, hovering and diving…we were told if there isn’t a lobster boat around that meant there were whales….I grabbed my camera and we stood waiting for about fifteen minutes…I really think there was one, but they never surfaced…the birds continued and at the same time they were traveling sideways…as though they were following a moving whale.  Then we heard voices…they were reading our “Population” sign….more visitors..5 total. I need to finish the Helipad and I will be finished.

I found some time to sit….just sit on the porch and look out…read alittle, drink ice tea, look out, read alittle more (I do know that the word “alittle” should be separated, but that’s not how I say it, so I told folks early in my blog that I was going to write like I talk).

The book I was reading was, “Lighthouse In My Life”, by Philmore B. Wass.  At the end of the book it said: The era of manned lighthouse stations in Maine, which began in 1791, the first lighthouse station was established at Portland Head, will soon end.  Within the next 100 years, sixty more were added and by 1907, the last station was built, total was eighty-five.  By the 1930’s fewer than seventy Maine stations remained in operation.  In 1986 sixty-two were still operating and by 1987 nine light stations remained manned…all to be automated by 1990.  A story that began in 1791 with the construction of Portland Head, then Seguin in 1795, will end 199 years later.  There will no longer be lightkeepers dedicating their lives to the safety of those who travel on the sea.

Thankful that “my family” were one of those who were lightkeepers…and that I was able to come back to this island, Seguin, and walk in the footsteps of my father and mother, that I had the privilege to close my eyes at night as my “little nightlight” shone over the sea to guide those out on the water.  That I was able to wake daily and take in the views, sounds, and do my part to help this great group of volunteers who give so much to keep this treasure standing tall and proud… Thank you “Friends of Seguin Island Lightstation”!

7 pm….Since we had such a late lunch decided we didn’t need or want dinner.  Shower and get comfortable!

FULL MOON tonight, bigger and brighter than last night, the reflection on the sea is grand.  Fireworks were going off over to our East…somewhere near Southport or Boothbay Harbor…beautiful.

Thursday August 27, 2015

65 degrees w/ 7 mph winds

Day 105

Woke to something odd this morning…there is a bright object coming in the windows, so when I looked out there was more oddities…lots of blue wet stuff below and ….yes I’m being silly…the sun was bright and the fog was gone.  Being able to wake to this beautiful site in the mornings is so fabulous. 

Beautiful isn't it!

Breakfast… Blueberry pancakes,  using those delicious blueberries that Anne had so graciously given me yesterday….handpicked blueberries…Thinking about one of my wonderful doctors back home…in the nurses lounge he would fix himself a healthy breakfast/snack of blueberries, oatmeal and yogurt…Morning Dr. Tom Purgett!

 

View from our window

It was alittle before 9 and I could hear voices…Bandit hadn’t moved from the front porch, looked around and couldn’t find anyone, then we finally spotted a couple, They have been sailing for a year and they are from Brazil….WOW!  They loved the island.

Couple from Brazil

  A gentleman Buz, who brought his daughter and her family…he’s a charter member of F.O.S.I.L., and his daughter was first on the island 40 yrs ago…before she was born, her mother was expecting her.  The kids loved Bandit, and I think he felt mutual.

 

Kids loving on Bandit

A young man came up today, he’s eleven years older than me…he said that we probably met back when I was a toddler here on Seguin…he said they visited several time during my stay, pretty neat. 

Visitors enjoying the shade and lunch

Had lots of new folks out today, which means I get to share ALL of Seguin’s information.  I did find out that schools here in Maine don’t start till next Tuesday or Wednesday…so people are still out with their kids vacationing before the kids start back to school.  Another older gentleman, John Veasey, told me some wonderful stories, he told me he had come to Seguin in 1949…he told me about the submarine Squalis, which sank in 1939 off the shore of Isle of Sholes (sp?).

The young lady on the far right was the one who came before she was born

                                                                                                          

Saw that Ken had brought out the “Keepers” board…Larry and my name.  It hangs in the Gift Shop…..I’m proud to have been a part of Seguin this summer. Daddy’s name is going to be put up next week and my name is now up on the wall…yes my eyes are wet. 

Surprise….Ethan made a second trip, must be making up for Tuesday when he didn’t get to come because of the weather.  I was up in the tower with some visitors, so I stayed up there to continue giving the tower tours with this next group.   One gentleman came just to see the Fresnel Lens.  He was very fascinated with ours and loved seeing it!   Another lady was very scared of heights, but she wanted to go out on the catwalk so much…I told her my fears of heights and told her how I hold on to the rail, etc…she came out and was so impressed with the sight from the tower…she was so glad she had come up.

Knew since Ethan and Brook had come out again that they were probably hungry…I made them a ham and cheese sandwich with fresh lettuce from my garden and grabbed a bag of chips, some cookies in a ziplock and had a jug of sweet tea….I hurried down the ramp as soon as I finished the tower tours and Brook came back to shore with Pepper, Ethan’s puppy.  Pepper had some energy to release and had a blast on shore with Bandit.  Brook took the food back to the boat…Hope they enjoyed it!  Now I need to get back up and fix Larry some lunch…it’s 5:30, guess I could call it dinner and be finished with cooking.

Sunset was nice, not the best I’ve seen, but it was a good ending to the day…then I turned around and the moon was out, it wasn’t very big, but it was full…I walked around the house trying to get the best photo of it…hope you like it.

Texas flag flying over Seguin...yes it's the clothes line and a napkin...but it's TEXAS....see the full moon

See the full moon to the left?