Seas calmed and the group of students and teachers arrived under sail in the harbor this morning. They did some trail work, took a tour of the lighthouse and hosted us for dinner aboard their wooden boat.

They were delighted to be here on land because they have been sleeping on the boat; last night at a mosquito ridden anchorage. 7 bodies arranged on an open deck!

Tim and a former caretaker erected (no snickering, Tim) staging in preparation for this weekend. A group of Navy people from the Zumwalt have volunteered to scrape and paint the precarious side of the boathouse.

After our dinner out, we returned home to this.

Aah!

Tim had a phone call today inviting us aboard a boat for dinner. Alas the crew became seasick and they took shelter elsewhere so it’s just the two of us and island critters.

I rely way too much on my iphone for photos. My memory was full and I wanted to delete old photos. I found last year’s photos on Seguin, which look a lot like this year’s.

The fog rolled in, surf was up, we glazed windows, painted windows repaired and painted picnic tables and worked on lawnmowers.

The only thing new is I’m trying to develop a panda pattern and worked on the first prototype. More work is needed.

I knit a test hat and am working on a beret.

Fall is just around the corner. Purple asters are in bloom all over the island. These berries are in various shades of orange; wonder if I can use them for dye.

The caretaker’s garden has a big pumpkin, overgrown green beans and basil but it’s also writhing with plump garter snakes. I may leave it for them.

Monarch butterflies are migrating and can be seen all over the island. I thought this one had problems but it was merely resting in the clover.

We’ve explored all the trails, Tim cleared his favorite North trail, while I cleared the amazing South trail.

We’re used to scant trail markers in the Adirondacks. Someone went overboard here.

The donkey engine and tram need some love.

Today a team came out to the island to oil 600 feet of cable. I manned (womanned) a radio and relayed messages (stop and go) to the intrepid engine operator (Major Tim) while running in place to stay warm.

I took at least 6 trips down (and up) the hill to the cove today. I estimate it to be at least 1000′ elevation gain. No need or energy for additional exercise.

I awoke to a seagull shuffle on the whistle house roof. The island seems to be overtaken by black backed gulls.

We had a group volunteers from Idex visit and scrape old paint off the tower railing. They are encouraged (and paid) by their employer to take a day to volunteer in the community. What a great idea and the lighthouse benefitted, although they had a pretty nice view while they worked.

Tim tackled an annual project – he repaired two picnic tables – while I glazed a couple of windows.

Towards the end of the day, a rain cloud drifted overhead followed by the suggestion of a rainbow.

Another great day and I’m comfortably exhausted.

With the first of four Aldo Leopold benches we have built before we knew there were plans readily available. I had copied a comfortable bench we found on Seguin in 2008 and drew up my own plans.

Today Wednesday Warriors arrived and worked on the tram, sumac, windows and museum. It was a whirlwind, sprinkled with several boatloads of visitors.

By sunset, we were on our own. And what a sunset it was!

We arrived on Seguin Island with all our possessions dry and intact for a 12 day tour. Weather forecast looks good, sunny but rising seas. May give us a few days to ourselves.

The Island has been well cared for. We have to search for projects. What a treat!