Tuesday June 23, 2015
54 degrees w/8 mph winds
Day 40

Wow…40 days, it seems like it’s only been a week.  The clouds are thick, but it’s bright outside this morning with some drizzle.  Stayed up late last night trying to get my blog to post, but everything was running in super slow mode.  I finally got it to post this morning, but it wasn’t much faster.  Praying my computer wakes and does its job for the rest of the time we are out here.

Tuesday mornings are usually the time we drink coffee and get out our list of what needs to be done while we are ashore.  Listing to the weather station on the radio we aren’t sure if tomorrow will be a good day for Ethan to come get us.
Noon photo from keepers porch looking SW
 
This is what it looked like around noon
This is what it looked like at 9 pm...still so bright
One of our list is for food…trying to plan a menu and get all those little items that are usually in your pantry or you could borrow from a neighbor have made us better meal planners.  Another thing we have learned on this island is to make smaller meals.  I still tend to make enough for our entire family…cooking for two is different.  We want to find a local fish market…we find all kinds of places for lobster and that kind of seafood, I’m wanting some fish! Our second list is everything we need to do besides the grocery store.  If we need any prescription filled and picked up, paint supplies or repair items from Rodgers or shampoo, etc…  We also have a list for the Friends of Seguin office where we turn in our sales and pick up new items to stock the gift shop.  We get our mail from the office and talk with Catherine about anything we might need to know.  And of course we have to plan where we want to eat breakfast and lunch!  We also have to do laundry…I miss my washer and dryer!  Washer and dryer or island living?  I choose the island!

We had about two hours of thunderstorms today with thick fog around the island.  A day to sit inside and rest, take a nap, watch a movie on the computer, play card games or all the above!

Spaghetti sounded good for a late lunch and early dinner with garlic toast. 

The sun has since come out and the fog slowly faded away.  I haven’t had to water my vegetable garden since I planted it.  It rains every couple of days and does the work for me.  Not too many photo’s I can take during the rain.

Ethan thinks it will be ok to go ashore tomorrow.


Another view out the front at 9 pm
The rain let up but just for a little while.  Around 8 pm the thunderstorms started.  I’ve got a few photos of what it looked like at 9 pm. 
Looking out my kitchen window at noon
I had two seagulls out on the lawn, one flew away when I came out on the porch, but the other one must have something wrong with him…he’s been out there for most of the day and didn’t fly off anytime I went out to look at the weather.  
The seagull is just to the right of the bell...9 pm
Monday June 22, 2015
59 degrees w/3 mph winds
Day 39

This is a day late because I tried several times last night to post, but my computer wasn't working correctly....its still not working the best this morning, but its going to let me send it.


Last night about midnight Larry called me outside.  I have never seen something so breathtaking as the night sky last night.  It was as though the rain yesterday had washed the air.  There were no clouds, just dark sky with the brightest stars I’ve ever seen.  The lighthouse was shining its light, but it is like an umbrella and shoots out and down, so it didn’t interfere with the night sky.  The sky was darker and yet bright.  The stars seemed so close that I felt closer than I ever had to them.  There weren’t just a few stars either, the sky was filled…and it wasn’t the little twinkly things we are used to seeing…these were like a 4 ct diamond compared to a speck of glass.  I would have loved to just lay out all night and look at them.

Today was a little hazy to start with, the sun was shining, but still behind some clouds.  The air was chilly. 

Breakfast of warmed Banana Bread with butter and coffee, then off to work.  Larry was going to go down to the cove and do a little work, so I grabbed my sand buckets and we headed down.  There was a sailboat moored in the cove.  It wasn’t until much later that they came ashore and took a tour and bought some tshirts!

I think we saw Burton come into the cove also.  He was having difficulty trying to “long board” a friend (girl) to shore.  After a while of trying to fight the wave they gave up and left.  I was looking forward to hearing more info his father had told him about living here as a bachelor in the early ‘70’s.   He will be back I hope…with Abbi!

Larry giving tours
I looked for sea glass and Bandit ran like a puppy chasing the waves and running around the rocks on the beach.  I gathered my three buckets of sand and up the stairs we all went from the cove to the beginning of the tram.  I wasn’t ready to go up yet, so I went out to the end of the Boat House and sat.  Just sitting there watching the water, ducks, seagulls and the sailboats, I would have thought the water was too rough, but what do I know!

I saw the collection of Lobster Buoys and began to think about using them.  I decided to finish “decorating” the railings of the tram, the outhouse, and the boathouse deck.  I ran out of rope, but I have about three more and a Lobster cage that I want to do something with.

I came on back up to the top with my sand and Bandit and I began lunch….Chicken strips and mashed potatoes!

Larry and the only visitors we had today, the two gentlemen from the sailboat came up shortly afterwards.

Visitors

It seems to be getting colder.  We both finished our lunch and rested out of the cold.  I worked some on my inventory from sales from the gift shop.  Started planning what we will do on our next “shore” day.  Read some and just relaxed.

I never get tired of my views...looking out the porch towards the NE

Dinner….Breakfast!  I love breakfast for dinner!

Larry received several “Happy Fathers Day” wishes from the kids and other family members.  We don’t get on the internet but a few moments every night to send out my blog. 
Wish you could see what this really looks like...photos just don't do it justice

Goodnight!


Sunday June 21, 2015
56 degrees w/5 mph winds
Day 38

It has rained all night with a steady drizzle.  The fog has socked us in and the fog horn has done its job and sounded all night and day.  The sound is not intrusive at all, soft and gentle calling out over the ocean, talking to the sailors.
 
Foggy
It’s Sunday and here is my verse…
The Lord is my Light and my Salvation; Psalms 27:1

Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful men in my life.  To my Daddy, Ronald David Howard who is in Glory now, to my grandfather, Joe Alan Pittman who is in Glory, to my husband the father of our children, Larry, to our sons, to my Brothers, Kevin and Kris, and to all the uncles, cousins, neighbors, friends and coworkers.  Being a father is such a honorable job that you have been blessed with.  For a child to love their father, their daddy, the man who raising them to become great men of God…..Thank you!
My Daddy

We aren’t sure if we will still be seeing our overnight guest tonight.  The waves are high and rough.  Not sure if the fog  is just up around the top of this rock, or if it covers the water.  Makes me think of those who are out at sea and look for the light to guide them to safety. 

Today was a lazy day of sleeping in, then breakfast….yes blueberry pancakes!!  Some Bible reading and then relaxing.  Larry has received many text and calls wishing him a Happy Fathers day!!

Lunch of leftover chicken potpie and a nap.  What a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  No not because the sun isn’t shining or anything like that, but because I am here on the beautiful rock, off the coast of Maine, which I have come to find so breathtaking.  I know I talk a lot about the sights and sounds, but they are surreal…the waves crashing, the winds blowing, the birds calling, the clouds as they make their marks across the sky.  As I look to the East….Spain is 3000 miles away…Texas is only 2000 from here.  The vastness of what we see daily is a blessing.

I’ve promised Larry I would make banana bread out of the bananas that are left before they go bad.  He’s going to make fried chicken tonight for dinner…he loves to cook and I love for him to cook!
Fried Chicken for dinner and chef Larry
Banana Bread

Last night as I was sitting on the couch I saw a bright star falling, it lasted long enough that I was able to realize what it was and then get Larry’s attention to see it.  I’ve seen falling stars before but this one was so bright, I guess since it was so dark out to sea. 
Gas Grill that is now part of the islands toys

About 7:30 pm the sun tried to break through and it did break up the dark clouds some.  Not much of a sunset but it is a beautiful sight to our day.  The seas seemed to settle a little, so we could get our overnight guest, but I doubt it.  The sea dictates what you do and don’t do on them.
The sun is trying to come out


Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law…John!  Also he and my sister, Penny just celebrated their 26th Anniversary!