Island Update Ending August 14, 2005

The week started, as Mondays often do, with a half hour walk with Denise. Then the Sullivan crew, less Shamus, decided to go to LL Been, a real factory outlet for blankets and stuff places. They evidently had a good time and all came back on the 2015 boat loaded down with stuff. As for Mom and Dad, they went to a seniors lunch after which Mom and the ladies visited Marge (normal Monday) and Dad started working on fixing things at the 5th Maine. Supper was miscellaneous for us topped off with popcorn.

Tuesday was laundry day for Mom and Dad continued his repairs to the 5th Maine kitchen screen door. A complete repair job takes 4 or 5 days including painting. This morning Shamus was at the beach swimming etc. and after coming back up the ladder to the stairs, but still on the flat part at the bottom of the stairs, decided to take a flying leap into the bamboo and muck down by the seawall. Pete had to go in a rescue him which turned out not to be a simple job. His, Shamus, reward for confusing bamboo with the bay was a cleaning by hose which I gather he is not fond of. Later the Sullivan clan went out in kayaks which included going over to Fort Gorges. Tonight we all went to the 56th annual talent show at the Lions Club. By and large it was quite good.

By now, regular readers should know Wednesday is market day and we all were off on the 1045 boat. The Sullivan crew were off to Portland Headlight and the Lobster Shack on the ocean in Cape Elizabeth. Pete had never been to either one. It sounded as though they had a very good time. Mom and Dad did the market thing, very hot, and then had a hot dog for lunch on a bench in the shade. About then the sea breeze started so it did get a bit more comfortable. We caught the 1415 ferry back and the rest came on the 1515. Mom and Dad carried a heavy load back which included 3 loaves of real bakery bread which weighed a ton. Mom and Dad also went to a lecture by an actor who played General Benjamin Butler (civil war). We gathered he was a guy that people either liked or dislike, nothing in between.

Per usual, Thursday started off with Denise. Then we were off to the Cumberland County Craft Fair at the Fair Grounds, we being Mom, Dad and Lauren. Not a bad trip, but boy was it hot. Mom did manage to buy a new lamp for the living room, very neat, particularly the painting and cuttings on the shade. As for those left on the island, who knows what they may have been up to. We did have Timothy's birthday dinner of roast chicken, gravy and mashed potatoes (a standing order for each year) and corn on the cob. Cake and ice cream topped it all off. Peter did some fishing with his new rod and managed to catch a muscle. How? We have no idea.

Friday: busy morning of laundry and gardening (Mom and Diane) and painting (Dad and Pete) of the white around the dining room windows. Since we had Dong's ladder Pete did the Pineapple Room windows and fixed the gutter over the front stairs that had come apart. Mom and Dad caught the 1445 boat to buy supplies for the next group arriving Monday. Then we met the 1700 boat from Peaks to take Pete and Peter to the airport. This was followed by getting more supplies, then it was back to the island on the 1915 boat. Diane had dinner waiting for us.

Saturday turned out to be a rather warm day even on the island. Mom, Diane and Lauren wandered here and there in the golf cart while Dad and Timothy hung out at the house. Dad did finish the window sills in the dining room and worked some more on the 5th's kitchen screen door. Later in the afternoon Lauren and Dad hauled BBQs up to the 5th getting ready for the craft fair on Sunday. Later, Timothy and Dad went up to put soda in the frig at the 5th, again for tomorrow. Busy day on the island with 3 wedding receptions and the Plante's annual family reunion. We thought for a while the island would sink. This turned out to be fan night number 3 since it was a very still night.

What a shock, Sunday started out with a 5 minute downpour which turned out not to be repeated until after the craft fair at the 5th. 0815 Mass followed by a quick breakfast, although not our usual Sunday morning breakfast. Then it was off to the 5th to set up for cooking hot dogs and hamburgers. In place of Peter today's helpers were Lauren and Timothy and a great job they did. Dad can't set up the day before because the craft people would use his tables. Consequently he hides them until set up time. All of us were up there all day long. After putting everything away, like tables, left overs, trash and BBQs we finally got home and we all proceeded to go get ice cream Down Front. We had the golf cart loaded with 5 of us plus a very large dog. We must have been a sight driving down the street.

With that it is time to sign off again from the wilds of Peaks Island.

Love, Mom and Dad