Tuesday July 14, 2015

Day 61

62 degrees w/ 2 mph winds and FOGGY

Woke this morning to something we hadn’t heard in a while…the fog horn.  The fog is thick and the air is moist with 98% humidity. 

Found two of these beautiful creatures this morning

Larry has a Dr’s appointment tomorrow in Brunswick…he’s had an issue with one of his eyes.  Thought he might have gotten something in it…its red, swollen and just plain yucky.  It’s not pinkeye!  Me…guess who forgot to put sunscreen on her lips…I covered everywhere else and didn’t get burned, but my lips…swollen and yucky…looks like between the two of us that we’ve been in a fight…wonder who won?

While waiting on my blog to populate last night…guess I’m going to have to do it earlier in the day because at night my computer is ready to go to sleep and everything takes longer than it should.  I totally swept and vacuumed the house while it was uploading 8 photo’s last night…so sad.

We finished off our son Matthew’s birthday cake last night.  Our daughter in law Sherri made a rainbow pound cake for him.  He said that was all he wanted for his birthday!!  We got to enjoy the rest of it after they left.

Didn’t think anyone would come out today in the fog, so we started doing odd jobs around the place.  Next thing I know, Ethan texted me…were here!  Oh no and Yeah at the same time…I was still working around the house in my P.J.’s so the only thing to be ready for my visitors was to get dressed.

 

Visitors

Large group this morning of about 20..only a few have ever been here and what surprises me still is the fact that some have lived in the area for years.  One gentleman, who bought a cap! Told me that he has been in the waters around here but never stopped.  He really enjoyed the tours and the island.

 

I'm sure he's taking a photo of me!!

Snacked on some cheese and crackers then we heard some voices…visitors!!  A group of the women and about 11 teenagers came up.  They arrived on a 48 ft sailboat and had been traveling for about four days, I think this was some kind of school.  They were gracious and seemed to enjoy the place.  Fog was trying to come back in so they decided to get back on their boat.  The ladies said they would be back in a couple of weeks with a new group of kids!

more of our visitors...caught them leaving...there are sad!

We went down to the Whistle House to finished some painting on a new sign I’ve been working on.  Had to put on a jacket because it had gotten cold...temp says 63, but it feels more like 53.   Picked some flowers for my momma's room for tomorrow.

Beautiful wild flowers found on Seguin for my Momma

We now have to start planning our list of things to do for tomorrow.  Enjoy my photo’s!

Monday July 13, 2015

Day 60

Time flies when you’re having fun…and we are!

Felt good to sleep in a little longer than usual….8:30. I guess we have finally gotten use to the sun coming up so early and shining so bright.

Coffee!!  After breakfast of Blueberry/Walnut pancakes..this has become a norm now!

Working on our “go ashore” list of things to do on Wed….one of the things is that I’m going to go get my momma from the Portland airport.  She’s bringing three more wonderful ladies with her…my aunt Jo Nell, and two of her best friends (and my other mothers) Mary and Darlene.  We are going to have a blast.

Just the idea of us being back here, sleeping under the same roof that we did back fifty some years ago….wow!  I’m ready to hear stories that she might have forgotten and by being here will “jog” her memory!

Larry worked down in the cove a little while before our first set of visitors arrived.  We had about 4 individual boat loads of people….one boat was yacht.  He first attempted to park in our cove, but found he was too big.  So they moved out further and anchored….when they came up, they were running….what???...really????...they asked if there was a flat area that they could work out.  I showed them a good spot and they went to work.  Then after their workout they RAN the North Trail….out and back!  I’m tired just writing about it.   

Visitors

Ethan arrived around 11:30 with his boat full.  So many great guest and only a few had ever been here before, which is always fun to introduce them to EVERYTHING!  We had about 55 guests today.  One set of guest was a Firefighter from Kentucky…he and Larry had a good visit.

It got quiet around 2:30, so we ate a sandwich for lunch and rested.

 

After lunch Larry went back down to the cove area to mow and weed eat, deal with the toilet down there, and worked on the trails.  Guest really like going on our trails and when they ask which one we like best, usually that’s all they have time for, I always suggest the south trail.  The high black cliffs and the giant waves crashing onto them is so majestic.   If they have a chance to come back to see me…you know they need a t-shirt….they say they loved it.  A young lady was so thrilled at the chance to be a keeper in the future…you could see she was serious, so I gave her information about the application process…maybe I will see her blogs in about 5 to 10 years!

Bye...come back soon!

Several sales and donations today!

I went down to the Whistle House to paint on the signs that I’m making.  I want them to be like an “old fashioned” shingle type sign, something that will catch people’s attention as they come up the hill.

 Dinner….Larry took some odds and ends vegetables and sautéed them together, added some sausage and put it over rice, then added some of my cousins special sauce…wow!

Bandit checking things out...seeing if we have any more visitors coming

Sunday July 12, 2015

Day 59

65 degrees w/ 6 mph winds

Boy is it quiet here this morning….I miss my babies though.  I went outside with my cup of coffee and just sat and looked over the water.  Boats were already out sailing. I closed my eyes at one point and just listened…it’s become one of my favorite things to do here on Seguin.  The flag flipping in the wind, the waves crashing onto the rocks below, the birds fluttering around and chirping and the winds blowing past my face.  Today is Gods day…and I am Thankful!

Breakfast….oatmeal with crasins and pecans with toast.

 

This is the first info that is seen as our visitors arrive

A few minutes to catch up on my Bible reading before the day starts to get away from me.  Reading in Numbers about Aaron budding rod, and Balaam and his talking ass.  I tend to rely on those moments that Balaam tried to dismiss.  The angel was standing in front of him and his ride with a sword drawn to kill them, the animal could see the angel and would turn to go another way.  I’ve tried to teach my kids that when something doesn’t seem to go right, to know God is in control.  We might not need to be in certain places, etc…so maybe we get a flat so that we detained.  I may not like the flat, but I always try to thank God for every situation I am in.

 

Visitors

Then we started the morning, cleaning the museum and gift shop.  Larry went down to the cove to help Ethan’s group come ashore.  We also had several independent boaters come up to visit.  One family that came with Ethan was from Switzerland…the Busser Family.

We continue to get the “Why are Texans up here in Maine being the Lighthouse Keepers”?  Then we get to tell our story.

A gentleman noticed that the extra light on the outside of the tower needs to have the CG look at it….wow…thanks for seeing that and it will be reported!

Today between groups I pulled one of our folders from the library area and began reading a letter from Maxine DeShon Chamberlain.  She was a child on the island around 1934-39.  She would spend the summers out here and then go on shore and live with her aunt during school months.  Her father was here with the Lighthouse service before it became part of the CG.  I wanted to share a poem she wrote:

Seguin Island

Seguin Island such a beautiful place,

Memories of you bring a smile to my face.

For me it was Paradise, all the

Joys my heart could hold.

To live out on this beautiful place,

Oh it stirred my soul.

With its unique and stately Light,

That kept the boats on course at night.

Your rippling cove so clear and deep,

Made a safe haven for starfish to sleep.

I couldn’t wait for summer to begin,

Because I knew that I’d be out on Seguin.

Never to be forgotten, the joy that was mine,

Forever in my heart Seguin will always shine.

She also told the story of a young man who’s parents were keepers here at the same time.  Royal Cheney was about 20 and had gone out to get lobster.  The seas got rough and his boat returned, but he never did.  She said things never were the same.  His mother would go to the edge of the water and look for him months later. 

The sea is powerful and those we have met that sail upon it, respect it. I’m not always happy with what the sea tells us about what we can and can’t do, but I’m very grateful to our captain Ethan who takes care of us coming and going from the island, I trust his judgment!

Lunch was later than normal, but that is ok…we will be able to eat later…now we take care of our guest.

Summerfest is a time for the F.O.S.I.L. group to get together with food and fun.  I will be getting to meet so many more members that I’ve only talked to or texted.  I will also be giving a Power point presentation of our time here on the island…..I’d better get started, I only have two weeks.

It was quiet on the island and I was able to spend some much needed time in the other side of the duplex.  I’m always afraid I will miss someone coming up to visit when I am vacuuming the floors and window seals….so I rush! It got very warm on the top floor and I was sweating when I finished about 8.  

Now for a shower, dinner and sit down for a moment.

Dinner….Blueberry pancakes!!

The sun is setting, the waters are still, no boats to be seen…it is and was a Blessed Day!

This is a photo taken by my friend Benjamin Williamson

Sunset Bench

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:5