July 16, 2004

• TYPICAL MAINE WEATHER

  This past week DownEast reminds me of our second summer here at the lake (1972). It drizzled, then it rained, then it drizzled with fog, then it poured then it..... you get the idea.
  We were pretty primitive in those days; an outhouse that overflowed in the downpour, kerosene lights and a wood stove, a trudge uphill to get to the car (An early Toyota Landcruiser - a hostile vehicle) wet wood for the stove, cold, wet, etc. etc.
  Nowadays, we are somewhat more comfortable and it is kind of nice to look out at the islands coming out of the fog and watch the loons parading by. The heavy cloud cover hasn't even knocked out our satellite.
  We have one of only 34 pairs of nesting eagles in Maine raising a chick about a mile or so across the lake. We can't see ther nest from here, but we do see them coming and going - and hear the loons loudly warbling their alarms and complaints. Actually they aren't in much danger from the eagles, the're a large aggressive bird with a wicked beak but apparently they have chicks also and the eagle might get one of those. Most loon chicks are in more danger from their siblings or snapping turtles. The annual loon count is tomorrow, so I suppose they will all hide until it's over.
  I took some digital photos of the foggy islands yesterday, I think I'll try to work up some foggy sketches and see if a painting develops

  • 9:44 am
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