On a clear day, I can see Mount Washington

October 6, 2011October 6, 2011 / one2travelfar / Leave a comment

And I think it’s about 80 miles away from Maine. The skies finally cleared, after five days of rain and fog, and it was worth the wait. The air was so clear we could see straight to Mount Washington.

Mount Washington

We were watching the sunset from the catwalk of the lighthouse and then got too cold because the clear air is associated with cold air. Last night was in the 40’s and it didn’t get warmer than mid-50’s all day. We are very aware of the temperature since there is only one space heater in the keeper’s quarters.

We decided to watch the sunset from the lantern room, which is always toasty with the light burning, and then the optics were almost more interesting than the sunset itself. The original fresnel lens is incredible. It’s delicate and powerful. It takes a 1000 watt light bulb and amplifies and transmits its rays about 70 miles. It also turns a sunset upside down.

Optical sunset

Light and sunset

This last sunset photo is actually looking east! It’s a reflection of a reflection of a reflection. And so on and so on and so on.

Reflections

Low flying rainbow

October 5, 2011October 5, 2011 / one2travelfar / 3 Comments

High pressure arrives

A cold, high pressure system blew the fog away today. The wind was dry and from the north, so Tim headed out to one trail to work and I went to another with our respective weed whackers, more delicately called whipper snippers in Australia. He had the good sense to get back to the house when a rain squall blew by. I saw it and thought it would just pass. Well it did pass but not before it soaked me and with cold, wind-driven rain and hail. Back at the house, I caught a rainbow in the storm’s wake, which had hardly any arch and was almost flat along the water.

Low flying rainbow

Fog horn and fog light

October 4, 2011October 4, 2011 / one2travelfar / 2 Comments

I remember the first time I noticed the lighthouse’s unique effect in the fog at night. The vertical bars in the windows project out as shadows and it looks as if there is a huge umbrella originating from the light, providing protection for those under it. There’s even a lot of bird activity at night as they get distracted by the light during their fall migration. A hawk family of four stays around the island and one definitely buzzed me today when I ventured outside. The fog horn has been on more than it has been off over the past couple of days. We’re debating whether the sound would be different if it blew during clear, dry weather as opposed to damp, wet weather. The jury is still out on that one.

Seguin at night

Fog light

We are not alone here

October 3, 2011October 3, 2011 / one2travelfar / 2 Comments

Well of course not. We have the cats with us. But even during the storm last night, a boat was tucked in behind the lee of the island. They must have been waiting for the tide to change because the weather didn’t really get better until later today and they were gone by early morning. We had several hours of sun today, which was very nice and brightened our moods. Even the cats were a little stir crazy. We were all happy to be out for a while today. Lobsterman were back out and a tanker went by about 3 miles south of the island this afternoon. There’s a hawk, which circles the east and south sides of the island and a few seagulls about. There’s an assortment of migrating birds passing by and attracted to the light.

Enterprise

I accomplished a lot of knitting yesterday and now find I like to have several projects going at once. I used to be almost exclusively a serial, monogamous knitter but there are so many projects. Some I have to focus on and others are more mindless. I’m knitting a “one stitch lace scarf” for patients who receive chemotherapy at the hospital, in a teal, machine washable blend. It’s simple garter stitch, with a dropped stitch lace pattern, and great to knit while we catch up on old episodes of Dexter.

Knitting trio

The gray and pink lace scarf was a mistake but now I’m so far along, there’s no stopping me. The stripes, combined with the lace, are too busy but I’m six feet into it so there you are. The pattern is Traveling roses, a pretty pattern but 43 stitches by 43 stitches for one repeat and this old mind just hasn’t been able to memorize it. I have it on my Kindle and insert a note to remind of the last row knit.

Monkey socks

The third project is a pair of socks for me with knitpicks stroll in a heather. Very pretty yarn and I have made myself a pair of socks each time we have been here (I’m wearing my pair from 2008 now). So I want to keep up the tradition. It’s a nice reminder all year of the wonderful time we have on Seguin.

One stitch lace scarf

Traveling roses scarf

Seguin 2011

Outhouse bound

October 2, 2011 / one2travelfar / 2 Comments

Outhouse outfit We’re in the middle of a four day storm. Hurricane Ophelia is passing offshore tonight stirring up the wind and water. There’s no way on or off the island for a few days, which is always interesting. It makes me just a little more cautious. No power tools, careful walking the quarter mile or so (in full foul weather gear) to the outhouse and spend way too much time indoors.

At least I have several knitting projects underway and lots of food to cook. Yesterday I made a couple of loaves of bread, chile and chicken soup. Tonight I’ll bake an apple pie. What could be more cozy.

What a difference a day makes

October 1, 2011October 1, 2011 / one2travelfar / 1 Comment

24 little hours. During which we have had rain, fog, rain, fog, wind, thunder and lightening, some more rain and fog. Perfect lighthouse weather

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Microwave mystery

September 30, 2011September 30, 2011 / one2travelfar / 1 Comment

Microwave mystery
Getting to know an old home again has it’s benefits and disadvantages. I can’t figure out one of the icons on the microwave. I’m not sure if I ever knew what it meant but now I am curious. Middle row, right.

I understand the cup with wavy lines over it will heat my coffee. Defrost and clock are fairly self-explanatory although I would never trust top-brown. So what does it mean? I tried baking a potato with it to no avail. It looks too smooth for popcorn but I will give it a shot. The only thing it reminds me of is the Rolling Stones image but what would I cook with that?

Acorn soup fog

September 29, 2011 / one2travelfar / 2 Comments

Seguin oil house
It’s great to be back on Seguin. Today the fog rolled in and so the foghorn is blowing. I made a curried apple and acorn squash soup and worked forever to replace a broken window pane. All’s cozy now.

The weather report said we had “uncharacteristically high astronomical tides” today. Something must be up with the moon and the sun.

A long way to go

September 28, 2011 / one2travelfar / Leave a comment

Distance traveled
After a six hour drive to Popham Beach, ME, our stuff still had a long way to go. Naturally we arrived at dead low tide and we had to lower everything by boat hook, including two cats, off the fixed pier to the Seguin Ferry below. On the other hand, low tide exposed the beach so offloading was easy – with the help of friends.

Our Aldo Leopold bench continues to stand watch over glorious sunsets.

To the Lighthouse

September 27, 2011 / one2travelfar / 2 Comments

Crown Point Bridge
We are bound for Maine to finish the season at Seguin Island Lighthouse and close up the island and buildings for the winter. We will take 2 ferries and a dinghy and hope to keep our stuff (and cats) dry.