Saturday May 30, 2015
56 degrees w/6 mph winds….foggy and wet outside!
Day 16

It was too wet to mow or be outside, so we did inside work of cleaning.  Love seeing a man with a broom!  I worked on doing a little stitch repair to our flag.  When the sun came out Larry raised the flag.  I scrubbed the kitchen floor and after letting the rugs hang on the clothes line, then chasing them around the island, I made a few repairs to a handmade one and back on the floor they went.  Larry put some felt around the screen doors to both front doors…wow, didn’t realize the screens were slamming so bad.
We received some CD’s from our daughter-in -law, Sherri in the mail yesterday, so we are listening to one of our favorites….Wade Hawthorne!  Yes we are singing with him!  {It’s my island I can sing if I want too}
The sun has finally come out and it is beautiful, the wind has picked up some, 22 mph, but beautiful!
 
Larry raising the flag
A group of five, Rebecca and her soon to be husband, David came ashore to take a look over the island to “plan” for their wedding day on June 20th.  Not sure how long it has been, but David had come by kayak and brought a giant wooden heart and hung it from the tower and then brought Rebecca out later…and purposed…guess she said yes! So they wanted to make Seguin the place they said their vows, rain or shine….I’m praying for sunshine!

Larry mowed a little around the top of the island.
Larry mowing....look at that view!
I’ve found that at the end of the day, I go to download my photo’s to my computer and think…oh no, I didn’t take hardly any photo’s…then the computer says I have over a hundred….wow, I didn’t even realize I took that many.  Now I have to figure out which ones to share…talk about tough decisions.
 
bottom of steps that I'm leveling...just a few more to go
 










Historical Facts
Trip to the top of the island…Originally oxen and mules were used to bring supplies to the top.  In 1895 a tramway system was installed for the quarter mile climb. 1006’ with 2 iron rails, similar to a railroad track, it carried a flat 4’ x 6’ cart.  Its primary use was to haul coal to feed the fog signals steam engine.  1926 – 1930 condemned as unsafe and new one built.  A new one is needed now, but it’s about $600,000.00.  Did I mention this is a wonderful group of volunteers who depend on donations to keep this beautiful historic place going!! With that said, check out www.seguinisland.org for Friends of Seguin Island Lighthouse also known as F.O.S.I.L.


My History
While coming ashore yesterday, the top of the island was covered in fog.  Wish I had my camera.  Momma said that there was a time when the girls, (wives of the keepers), looked out and saw fog everywhere.  They ran to the fog horn and turned it on.  After a few minutes the men, who had been working down below came running up….out of breath, asking what was wrong?  Come to find out it was only foggy on top of the island and nowhere else.  I got to witness that, and have to get you a photo!
 
I brought this from Texas,
I was hoping to use it in the gift shop,
but its in our hallway now...
it's got kind of a seaweed look to it,
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder


Yes there was a Friday May 29, 2015….Day 15
It was our “go ashore” day!  So much todo…in what feels like so little time.  I’ve got the day routed out on paper, so we won’t forget anything we need.  It almost feels like we are a treasure hunt, we are constantly looking at the “map” aka my list. 
Captain Ethan came for us on the guppy and we got to meet his lovely bride Lindsay.  Our puppy, Bandit, got to go with us since we would be in town all day and no one would be on the island. 

On the road to Bath, we stopped at Winnegance café/general store to have breakfast.  We met some of the nicest people, Sean is the owner.  While waiting for our breakfast I saw behind the glass a tub of little green coils, “fiddle heads”.  I asked what they were and how they are cooked.  Within a few seconds here comes the cook out and gets us some to try.  She sautéed them with some garlic, they were pretty good.  They are only available for about two weeks a year.  They are the beginning buds of a type of fern before they spring open to the big long leaf.  So with breakfast checked off the list….yes it was really on the list…now to the Friends of Seguin office…Catherine came in special for us since we couldn’t come off the island till today, Friday, instead of the normal Wednesday.  Picked up more merchandise for the gift shop, a new flag, fix-a-flat stuff, and some other items needed to keep the island running.  Bandit and I stayed at the laundrymat while Larry ran to the hardware store, Rodgers.  I’m wanting to restain the front porch’s.  We have only a couple of colors that can be used on any of the buildings, they have to be Coast Guard approved.  Check and check…now to the Walgreens and Dollar store, then to Staples to get a computer cord.  Ck, ck and ck!!  Groceries then back to Fort Popham to try to eat a bite at Spinneys, then load everything and back to the island.  It’s making me tired just typing this…sure do wish the tram was working!  We went to bed early!  
Thursday May 28, 2015
Day 14
53 degrees w/16 mph winds

Woke early this morning, Larry already had the coffee going so I didn’t get to slip the decaf in place of the reg that we ran out of.  No problem, we can adapt!

The fog is still present, but not too thick.  The fog signal was on all night and it is so faint that it doesn’t bother us.  Guessing the sound carries over the water for the boats. 

I learned that each lighthouse has its own particular kind of light.  Some blink, some rotate, some have a different color light.  This way the sailors know where they are by the lighthouse they can see.  I love learning new things about my lighthouse.


If and when I can get my photos off my camera I have a great shot at night of Seguin’s light in the fog.  The beams of dark and light that come out are breathtaking.

Didn’t put the flag out because of the high winds, they tried to tear it up yesterday.  I have to pick up some thread and do a little repairs to.

Pancakes with walnuts and coffee to start the morning!

We had a group of wonderful young men and woman, 12 total.  They had come out with their professor John from a  College in New York.  John is originally from Georgetown so this was not his first time to visit our island.  Bandit had a blast with the visitors and they seemed to be enjoying him. 
 
More of our young friends
Our young NY College visitors today







Bandit checking on one of the students!











Bandit making our visitors welcome




Historical Facts:
Seguin Lighthouse has a First Order Fresnel Lens.  This is the only one in Maine. It has 282 glass prisms, 9’ tall and 6’ wide using a 1000 watt light bulb.  There are only a few currently in operation with an estimated value of up to 8 Million dollars.
Top of the Fresnel lens












My History:
My parents and I originally lived on Pond Island, which you have to pass on your way to Seguin.  We were the last family to live there.  The house has been torn down and all that remain is the lighthouse which is now automated.  I got to see it for the first time tonight as we climb to the top of the tower to watch the storm.


 
A little dragonfly trying to avoid the storm

Storm warning were coming across the radio, for small crafts to take safety.  We could see it coming in from all directions, like it was going to meet in the middle…right where we were.  The waves almost looked calmer.  We went up into the lighthouse to see the storm from that height.   Winds, dark clouds, thunder and lightning, and a down pour of rain.  As quickly as it came, it was gone.


Look at those clouds….WOW!







Larry watching the clouds roll in
Watching the storm from up in the tower


Larry got the first shelf made for the kitchen. This used to be where the chimney for the kitchen stove used to be.  The weather has been too bad for us to go into town, but Ethan thinks tomorrow will be a good day...yeah: Laundry, Groceries, Mail, Hardware Store, Pharmacy, etc....
Kitchen shelf



Wednesday May 27, 2015
Day 13
56 degrees w/4 mph winds

What a beautiful morning, just enough wind in your face, 
I can hear the wave hit the shore below, 
the sun is shining bright and warm through the windows of this beautiful old
158 year old dwelling, which is our home this summer.
Last nights sunset


clouds were wild today

Historical Facts:
1794 - (1st) Wooden tower…George Washington approved the building of the original wooden tower, 50’ high with 16 Oil lamps.
1819 - (2nd) New stone tower
1842 - 15 Argand lamps were added
1857 - (3rd) Granite tower, 53’ high, extremely rare First Order Fresnel lens, and new keeper’s quarters which still stand today.
  

My History:
The flying Santa Plane.  At during the Christmas season he would fly over the islands and drop gifts down for the children.  I was one of those children.  My gift that fell from the sky was a rag doll and mittens.  To honor and remember this act of kindness, I have a Christmas tree that I hang all my lighthouse ornaments.  I also have a small plane with a Santa.  Thank you Mr. Santa. 


I’m still working on the keeper’s brick landing.  I’m raising it an inch and trying to level it.  It will take many trips down to the cove to get the sand needed. Larry cut, sanded, stained, and varnished one of about three shelves to put in the empty space where the stove chimney used to be.  He’s going to put new rope around the “main” museum sign that goes in front of the house.  I’ll repaint the letters when he’s finished.  Winds gotten higher sometimes reaching gust of winds at 38 mph.  We didn’t stay out to much.

Lunch of SOS: grilled onions, hamburger browned, and cream gravy over toast.

I spent the afternoon cleaning inside the house and museum while Larry worked away in the Whistle house (workshop).

This afternoon it got foggy and the fog horn began!
 
Foggy, this is the normal view to our sunset

Ethan called and said it would be Friday early when we would get off the island.





Here's a few photo's of the interior of the keepers quarters.
Stairs going up to the 2 bedrooms
(flag drying in hall)
up towards landing



bathroom -far left and 2 bedrooms
Our bedroom