Island Update Ending July 16, 2006

Hello again from the relatively cool northeast. Monday we were up early to walk with Denise, but she somehow missed the boat so the group walked by itself and we covered a distance equivalent to half way around the island. Two of the walkers have lived on the island all their lives so they know the place inside and out. Besides walking this provides an educational experience so to speak. We got home about 1000 for breakfast and Dong was already working on the house. Then it was off to the Senior Lunch at the 5th Maine. Later we chatted with Dong for a while, Mom worked in the garden and Dad started trimming a hedge. By dark, like 2130, these two tired puppies were off to bed.

Tuesday started out as a cloudy day followed by darkening skies, thunder and lightening and finally rain heavy at times. Interesting! Dong showed up early to work on the shingling before the rain started. Mom managed to get the garden watered before the rain started and Dad finished the hedge he started yesterday. We ate lunch with Dong and learned all sorts of misc. things. We would probably learn more if we could understand more. Mom is really doing quite well, but Dad misses a lot. Normal for him anyway. Leftovers for supper so the frig is getting cleaned out of our Wednesday trip to town.

Wednesday we were off to town on the 0815 for our Wednesday ritual. We hit the Farmer's Market, the Public Market (soon to close forever) for bread, hardware store, Coast Guard Exchange, Broadway Gardens (nursery), Staples, KFC for lunch (Mom had a KFC Bowl attack), BJ's, Hannifords, Rite Aide and finally the 1515 ferry. We got home just before it started to sprinkle. At night it was off to the 5th Maine for a presentation "Blueberries, Lobsters and Whoopie Pies." A great and funny presentation. We came home in pretty much a pouring, steady rain, but didn't get too soaked in the golf cart. (Mom says we got soaking wet.)

Thursday we woke up to the same rain we went to bed with last night. By mid morning it had stopped and then it got warm and humid. Mom got the curtains on the right side of the living room ironed and up. She washed them a couple days ago. Dad did some work at the 5th (2 trips) and started fixing some of the things that are giving out here in the house. Yes, Paul, that included the bare wire lamp cord in the pineapple room, Popular Mechanics chicken for supper and then it was off to bed.

Friday started out nice, but by nightfall it turned out to be our first fan night. Dong showed up around 1100 or so and had lunch with us. Then it was off to the 5th Maine to study on some more projects I want him to do there. There was a slight breeze in the evening, but not enough.

Island living has some benefits. We were supposed to have days of super hot weather, but Saturday turned out to be a perfectly delightful cool day. Not so inland. Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Dick had invited us up the lake, but Dad said no because of the potential heat. Smart move! Dong came down in the mid morning with Pad Tai, both shrimp and pork, from his sister. It made for a delightful breakfast. Then he and I went up to the 5th and worked on rebuilding a door which we or at least he completed. The first of 6 or 7 tasks. Dad is not sure who is working for whom.

We of course started with the 0815 Mass on Sunday. Chatting afterwards we discovered Millie had run out of gas on her way to church so Diana dropped her off at our house while we walked home. The plan being to pick up some gas and go fuel up Millie's golf cart. We eventually did that, but first we invited her to our usual Sunday morning breakfast after which we would take care of the cart. As it turned out she had not run out of gas, the cart just quit so Dad hooked his trusty rope up and towed her home. The rest of the day was rather uneventful. It was rather warm and very humid in the afternoon, but there was always a breeze. Later on the sea breeze set in and it is now delightful. We did manage to get Mom's boat hung, complete with flowers, this afternoon so something did get accomplished.

And that completes another week here on Peaks Island.

Love, Mom and Dad