Saturday August 1, 2015

66 degrees w/9 mph winds

Day 79

Last night’s skies were breathtaking.  I tried to take a photo, but no matter what I did to the camera (which I really didn’t know what to do) it wouldn’t show what I was looking at….I’m going to try and “borrow” a photo from a Mainer and put it on here today. I tried to find someones photo, but nothing...sorry!

Beautiful morning, sea is smooth, wind is still and at the same time it is just enough to wrap a circle you and run like a kid playing chase, then it’s still again.  Seagulls are sleeping in I guess.  Guess we wore them out weed eating yesterday. 

 

Another beautiful day!

By 9 we already had a three generation family come up for a visit. Two more families were close behind.  We could all see this gigantic boat/ship (this Texan does not know the difference…sorry) headed straight for our island at a fast speed, but they slowly went around us on the North side of the island….and I mean around us and came back on the South side and headed back towards Boothbay Harbor area.  They were still in high speed, guess they were just enjoying what they had and enjoying the sea!

Three generations of lighthouse lovers

Steady stream of visitors, some had been here before and they had brought their families to see Seguin. 

Family enjoying their lunch my lawn rock

I love when we ask if they would like to go up in the lighthouse and the look on their faces is like a kid in a candy store.  Thought we were going to get a little rain today, but it ended up just being a few drops.

Love our four legged visitors too....I keep water available for them

A couple of gentlemen came by later and they have been sailing the coast of Maine and are on their way back to Boston now.  They wanted to stop and see us, Hank had been by here before and was wearing one of our t-shirts.  Serge had never been here so he got the grand tour.  Since the winds were so strong, they were going to spend the night on their boat in the cove, but they were going to do the North Trail first.

Hank and Serge 

With the mowing finished we came and sat on the front porch just enjoying the 180 view.  We later saw a rainbow to our south.  I took a photo, but it didn’t come out as well as I had wanted.

Rainbow

  The rainbow was slowly disappearing. 

The clouds were so "fluffy"

The clouds are amazing...see the rain in the back of them?

Watching the rain come our way....Larry's going to get wet

Ethan, Lindsay and Pepper came out with a great bunch of their friends to see Seguin.  It was good to see these young people relaxing, laughing and just having a good time. 

 

Last visitors of the day

Too many clouds tonight for a good sunset photo, but it was still beautiful.  Red at night, Sailors delight!

The newspaper that I brought to add to the museum is dated August 1, 1961.....54 yrs ago today!

Friday July 31, 2015

64 degrees w/6 mph

Day 78

Could a day be any more beautiful!!

Beverly's Forget-me-nots she planted for her father three yrs ago

Last couple of nights the moon shone so bright.  You could see Cobble Stone Beach in the moonlight!  Wish my camera could take a picture…it probably can, I just don’t know how. 

Fog horn went off about midnight, but no fog this morning.  

The lobstermen are taking their time this morning, usually we hear them out bright and early, but there are only a couple of boats out this morning.

Coffee and English muffins w/eggs….sitting on the front porch soaking up the sun and surf.  Larry said we could see about 25 miles out to see “before” the curvature of the earth, due to our elevation.  If we are on the beach it is about 17 miles.

A little computer work with my inventory and sales, take up the guest sheets and towels and then get ready for Ethan’s boat load of visitors. 

I grabbed a couple of short sleeved shirts the last time we went ashore…it’s starting to get HOT and I’m fixin to take a pair of scissors to a few of these long sleeve shirts.  I even thought about Larry giving me a haircut…it can grow back!

A group came up before Ethan got here so we started our tours, Larry wasn’t able to get down and help this morning.  This group was from McKinney, Texas.  They come up here every summer…I can definitely see why!  More visitors arrived, sometimes a little overwhelming.  I want to talk to each one and give them a great tour and at the same time be in the gift shop helping them find just perfect item to purchase. 

Visitors from Texas

We did have our first little one of the year…Aiden is 6 mths old, he’s my youngest visitor and such a cutie!   Some folks were having picnics, other lounging in the sun with their wine, other walking trails.  Larry went down and helped them get off. 

Aiden our youngest visitor so far

A young man, a teenager was going through the museum, he asked, "what is that", I turned to look, he was looking on the desk....I asked him what he was referring to...he pointed to the typewriter!!!!!!!!  Ok do you feel old now!!!

Now what do you call this ancient machine...the kids love it!

Later a boy about 10 was looking at the typewriter and asked me where he could get one, he was so in-thrilled with it.

Later a couple, a Dr and his wife, they were just out sailing and had never been here!  Then a mother and her little 2 yr old, Jacksanna, came and did the tour.  The mother had been in our cove before and had come up before, but had never gone through the museum or lighthouse. Everyone is always so very thankful.  The mom and daughter had a husband down in the cove, she said he wasn’t able to walk up and they are going to stay the night in the cove….this is the first of a 10 day sailing vacation….wow!  Jackanna said I could take her picture!  She was carrying a rock she had gotten off the cove beach.

Jacksanna and her momma

More weedeatting to do!  Seagulls aren’t happy!

Around 6 it was 75 degrees with a 10 mph wind, not complaining any!

Hamburger Taco noodles for dinner with cornbread!

As I was cleaning, I noticed a book, there are so many out here to keep someone busy for a long time and I did think that I might read some…but have only read one book, except for my Bible which I’m still working on reading through.  Anyway, the name of this book: Lighthouse in my Life, by Philmore B.Wass.  He was a child at Libby Island Light Station. I want to share what he writes at the beginning of his Foreword…

...physical presence speaks of absolute service to mankind, and their lights, beaming across a dark wilderness of sea, are widely recognized as beacons of care, integrity , and perseverance.  And no wonder: the number of lives saved and the amount of property protected can never be known.  How often has a glance at their white glimmer corrected a course or reassured a weary mariner?  

WOW this speaks volumes and is deep.  At the end of the same beginning of his book he is talking about the lighthouses disappearing because of the new technology and the building disappearing from the islands…he then writes….Surely we could find a way to utilize these still habitable buildings, providing opportunities for interested people to experience today the unique lifeways that he describes.  The F.O.S.I.L. does exactly this!  Not only for the caretakers each year, but for all the visitors to the island!  Thank You F.O.S.I.L.!!  The full moon is spectacular tonight!

Beautiful sunset...Mount Washington in the distance....86 miles away

Thursday July 30, 2015

63 degrees w/ 9 mph winds

Day 77

I started to document the time we have left, but when I counted it out and actually wrote it down, it was a little depressing.  I’m trying to soak up as much as possible because I’m not sure if or when we will be able to come again. 

It’s early, the lobstermen are out on the ocean, the seagulls are squawking, the waves are hitting the cliffs below, then we hear a bird we hadn’t heard before.   Just the idea that we are hearing a “different” bird and that we realize its different is wonderful.

I slept in a little longer than norm.  Larry was already up, flag out, coffee made!  I love this man!  He asked how I felt…better, a lot better!

He had been reading the newspaper article and having his coffee out on the porch.  I wonder if I could “bottle” some porch time.  Then when I get home, I could take a swig once in a while and for a moment be back here!!  Seguin in a bottle! With technology this is probably something not too far off.

Taking photos of kids taking photos!!!

I measured the plate today so they could add my dad's name to the USCG board of keepers

Breakfast…not for me today, but I fixed Larry some banana bread warmed…ok, yes I made it yesterday and yes I just cut it and warmed it in the microwave!  

Heard voices and it was Larry, two men and two precious little girls.  One of the men had helped Larry bring up our water…I began my welcoming and info and he said, “just a minute, I’ve got to catch my breath”…..It actually made me feel good, come to find out later he was a Navy guy…so this old, fluffy woman doesn’t feel so bad at being out of breath, when a younger, stronger, Navy guy was too…he made my day!

This group was from Damoras Cove Island…he, Chub, owned the lighthouse station.  He purchased it back about 30 yrs ago and they spend their summers there.  He had come to Seguin to show his two girls and his Navy friend our island.  This was a first for the Navy guy…sorry, I wish I remembered his name, but he had never been in a lighthouse…they had just picked him up and were headed back to Damoras Cove.

Went through my new inventory, checking, folding, putting them out on the shelves.  Larry was headed back down to greet Ethan’s boat of visitors. It is a beautiful, cool day, but it is a little foggy off the island.

Ethan had a boat load today, I love the look on their faces as they arrive at the top are able to see the lighthouse.  You can see the lighthouse from offshore, but when you arrive in the cove, you can’t see it till you are at the top.  So it’s always the “cake topper”, that beautiful thing on top of the wedding cake!  One young lady turned 10 today and this is what she wanted to do was to come to Seguin.  Had more folks interested in contacting the office and renting out the guest quarters.

We didn’t have any more visitors today.  We did a few chores finished unpacking yesterdays supplies and putting away the clothes. The weather was changing and eventually the winds got stronger.  At one point they were 25 mph with some rain.  The rain was more like it was being blown in and not raining down on us.  They skies were dark with some fog.  The wind had some of the doors rattling and it pulled the screen out of the bathroom window.  We got the flag down and hung it in the hall to dry.  

Dinner…we went simple, ham sandwich with lettuce from our garden, and sliced tomatoes fresh from the store, chips and tea completed it.  Cookies and milk for dessert while watching a movie….Iron Man 3.