Sunsets seem more stunning after bad weather. I’m not sure if this is simply my perception or reality.
Could be a long walk
This photo highlights our bathroom situation. We sleep in the quarters at the top of the hill and use the outhouse at the bottom of the hill near the cove. It’s all about planning.
There is a crisp north breeze today. It’s great sleeping weather. Fruit or birch wood smoke is drifting from the mainland and I could hear the ringing of the bell buoy to the north.
I am calling the rider mower repair a small victory. After it ran for 20+ minutes two days ago, yesterday it wouldn’t start. I had moved a ‘kill’ wire and adjusted my favorite idle screw on the carburetor. The battery sounded weak so I charged it. Then the mower started right up and I gingerly mowed the upper 40 while I waited for it to stall. Never happened. The only time it conked out was when it ran out of gas.
And I finished knitting a sock made of possum, wool and silk from New Zealand. At least one foot is warm.
Welcome sunshine
Glorious morning. Wind shifted to the north, crisp air so why is the fog horn still sounding? Hmmm.
We spent time in the whistle house yesteday working on lawnmowers. I ran the rider mower 30 minutes. Today’s test will be to mow with it.
I used the rowing machine for the first time this trip. I started with it outside on the deck of the boat house. Then the rain began and I hauled it inside and continued, on a 30° downhill slant. When I finished, I walked to the beach to check out the surf.
Michael, Susanne and Eleanor managed to hike the south trail during a brief moment of sunshine yesterday and shared chili and stories with us last night. Blueberry muffins were delicious.
Home bound (of sorts)
Sunrise today
No red sky this morning. Just grey fog and lots of wind. Gale warning still in effect and the fog horn continues. Our weather station only recorded max wind speed of 25 knots but I have to lean into the wind. Time to recheck the Beaufort Scale.
Where we will be
The living room in the keeper’s quarters is very cosy for reading, knitting and napping. That faux leather chair on the right is literally an antique and feels it. There is a photo of a keeper’s wife, Dorothy Hart, sitting in it dated 1955.
Baking and eating
The kitchen has all that is needed to churn out delicous meals and snacks. Michael, this summer’s caretaker, is back for a visit with his sister and friend and is baking blueberry muffins!
Do skies lie?
Yesterday was laundry day and it’s a good thing I did it. The wind whipped clothes dry in no time. It’s unlikely we’ll see the sun the next few days and a gale is predicted. Time to put away potential flying objects.
I’ll never get meteorology. This morning’s sky looked as pretty and benign as last night’s.
This morning
Last night
Fog goggles
It was so foggy this morning that I realized I was squinting to try to see more clearly.
It’s burning off now and we’ll be able to paint the picnic tables and fascia repair.
The fall colors here are exquisite. Reds, golds, green, purple and lots of greys. We hear different song birds migrate through each week. What a place!
This morning’s calm
We had a brief break in the fog today and could see the sun on the distant horizon. Then the wind picked up from the south and the fog lifted for a couple of hous before settling in again. Now it’s windy and foggy at the same time.
Yesterday was mower repair and jury rig day. I adjusted the valves on the rider mower(.004 is thinner than a piece of paper, right?), adjusted the carburetor, repaired a faulty switch and got it running. I chose not to go any further and went to sleep feeling pretty good.
This morning, with a few minor adjustments, it ran and mowed the lawn for 30-40 minutes before it died again. Hmmm. Right back where we started.
Tim took advantage of a break in rainy weather and mowed the upper 40 with a push mower, which is riding very rough. I scoured the house and museum for a spring we needed for the governor with no luck. I used a piece of wire instead so we could throttle the governor.
My goal is to get the equipment in running condition for next year’s caretakers.
In the whistle house, I used every power saw we have ( chop, rip and portable) to replace a small piece of fascia board that had to be a mitered and cut into trapezoid. All fingers and toes intact.
Sent fom my Palm
This was not yesterday’s weather
Yesterday we had a small unpredicted(?) nor’easter. Winds averaged 20 knots from the northeast and the seas built over the day. Around midday, a small craft advisory was declared. Visitors hiked the island and left.
Jim made it out late morning with lumber to repair the fascia but we were worried about his trip home. After the fasclaia was installed, we followed him, like worried parents, with binoculars, to the mouth of the Kennebec. He radioed that all was well and that was that.
The wind continued to howl and rumble and I cooked delicious scallops in wine and cream sauce. Tim poo pooed my Newman’s Own wine but I’m a sucker.
My mittens are done and I have moved onto socks made of wool, possum and silk. But first, I have to try to adjust the valves on the rider mower – hoo boy. Can you say TDC?
Sent fom my Palm
May need my new mittens today
It’s cold and blustery this morning, northeast wind at 20 knots and 55 °f. I’m not sure of the wind chill but I call it nippy.
Yesterday, despite small craft warnings, we had workers and visitors. Jim and Cyndy do the work of many. Jim and I puzzled over the rider mower and got greasy, to no avail. Today, we’ll check compression and adjust valves-well Jim will and I’ll assist. Yesterday, I had fun while we took apart the carburetor, valve cover and tried to open the head but couldn’t do it without damaging the gasket. We don’t have spare parts o we took it easy. Did you know a dime=a spark plug gap of .30?
We are motivated to fix this because if we can’t, we have to get this huge tractor down the tram, down the beach stairs and onto a boat. We are seriously discussing using goats for ground maintenance!
Meanwhile, Tim and Cyndy cleared sumac around the helipad, finished painting fascia boards and built a new cover for the cistern behind the whistle house.
Today, more mower repair and we have to replace fascia boards that blew off the house during Friday’s winds. I think I’ll bake scones.
Sent from my Palm
Fog light
Yesterday was damp and I had a hard time warming up. I finished my mittens, now I have to work on more socks.
The afternoon brought fog that ebbed and flowed. One side of the island would clear and the other became misty. Sunset was pink fog. After dinner, it wafted over the house like smoke. I could feel it move past me in waves of warm, moist air. The fog horn was on most of the afternoon and all night. Two muffled blasts every twenty seconds. This morning, my clothes were damp inside the house.
The light’s umbrella opened up and the fog rolled over and through it.
This pic may not do it justice.
Sent fom my Palm
Island and North Country Life 