The Sweet Taste of Summer

Good morning everyone. Sunrise at Isle Au Haut was nothing short of inspirational today. A low, thin cloud shield to the east was crimson at dawn as Katie and I rowed ashore for a run. When the sun broke the horizon there were just not enough eyeballs in my head to take it all in. And of course my camera was aboard. Katie and I agreed that mental photographs keep longest, or at least until the mindful hard drive crashes.

This entire week has been filled with sunrises and sunsets that fill my heart with joy and my hard drive with images to carry me through the winter. After several weeks of heat and humidity and great swim calls fall temperatures are at the door. A frost warning was posted for northern Maine yesterday morning.

We picnicked earlier this week in one of my favorite coves with the hills of Acadia as our backdrop. We had the place to ourselves, unusual for this time of year. I cherished that night with all my soul. The previous night anchored off the busy summer anchorage at Little Cranberry Island reminded me that mosquitoes and summer folks at play are making their last stand. August is a peculiar month here on the Maine coast; everybody comes here to get away from it all. The balance strains for those of us working and living here. Already I am craving more than I can fit in to what remains of our short summer season. I am guessing the mosquitoes and summer visitors might feel the same.

On Tuesday we had a delightful sail offshore to Mt Desert Rock. I was curious to see the boathouse and barn in some state of repair…or is it disrepair after Bill blew through the coast last week? The lighthouse looks as stout as ever. Mary Day enjoyed stretching her legs a little and getting off shore to where a light swell rolls and gannets soar inches above the waves. Danny is making its way to New England as we speak.

If you haven’t made it to Maine yet this summer you better hurry up. This sweet taste of summer won’t last forever. Life is short and summer is shorter.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Hail Mary

My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this particular blog. Since the beginning of August our dear friend and cook for the last 12 years, Mary Barney, had been struggling with cancer. I have intentionally respected Mary’s privacy and I apologize to you for not sharing any news about Mary’s health sooner. On Monday afternoon Mary passed away very peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and “family”. Her departure was as graceful as the rest of her life. Many people, including Jen, have been doing heroic work to support Mary these last few weeks. Oddly enough Mary was never very excited about transitions though this was about the fastest transition she ever made. And as I struggle to let go of Mary I realize I am terrible with transitions as well. We used to joke about how we liked things just the way they are, thank you very much, so why change what is working already even if it might be less labor intensive. Hard works is its own reward. I used to joke about getting Mary a Cui...

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