Luring 'em in and Fireworks

I feel my blog is crippled since I am unable to add the pictures. A few things worth memorializing have occured since my last entry. UPDATED: Al's computer reads one of my memory cards but not the other (?!) so here are some pics, but not the ones from the days described below. Argh!

Paige and Graham and Bevie and I went on a fishing expedition on the boat ALBACORE. We cruised out of the harbor past the eleven buoys to Great Point lighthouse where a colony of seals have made their home. They are now protected by the parks and wildlife, so trucks flanked their presence there. We could see the big black bulls swimming very nearby our boat and the first mate, Nick, pointed out the white speckled pups lounging on the sand who were just born this June.

The result of the seal's protection is that the bluefish near the point are feeding on worm-infested feces. No bueno for human consumption of the fish. As my dad would say, "Nuf said about that Tip". Okay, I'm thinking, so now we've monkeyed with the balance of the ecosystem, so I wonder if they couldn't throw some deworming pills out of those trucks that sit "protecting" them all day!? Needless to say, we were a catch-and-release crew.

The moment Nick dropped Graham's line in the water he hooked a fish. It was thrilling and little man was beaming. Paige and Bevie caught their share, too, and I helped reel 'em in for the little ones. Bevie caught the most fish -- must have been karma since she doesn't eat fish. They knew they were safe with her?

Al stayed home with Evie while we were out at sea. They bonded and have developed quite the relationship. Al can just tell her, "Time to sleep" and she will put her head down and rest. He volunteered to have her in a separate room from me last night and I was able to sleep the whole night through. It was a gift more precious than rubies! I feel like a new person. Weening is in full force, everyone is on board with that idea, and we are down to a few feeds per day. She loves food so much I think it is time. But it does come in handy. Yesterday, for instance...

We headed into town mid-morning with our bikes decorated with red white and blue balloons and streamers. Main Street was closed to traffic and packed with tikes. Long lines had already formed for face painting, sand art, balloons and watermelon eating contests. We did it all except for the face painting, and we were all a bit grumpy in the heat (Most of all, ME!) It was humid and the air wasn't moving. I forced liquids down us all, and gave Ev her supply right in the middle of the crowd to avoid dehydration. Midday finally came, and, with our hands wrapped around a 1927 firetruck's hose, we joined in the revalry for the annual firetruck waterfight. Gloriously cold water sprayed from about seven hoses in all directions, dousing the entire crowd. We screamed and squealed with delight.

As the day ended we were joined by our island buddy Ken and his girlfriend Trisha and her sister. They brought mountains of clambake goodies from Sayle's. Steamers, mussels, giant lobsters, tatoes, corn, chowder -- the works! We stuffed ourselves like little piggies with giant chunks of luscious white lobster meat dipped in clarified butter. mmmmmm...and after a little rest, I brought out Bartlett's farm plums, nectarines, blueberries and raspberries with cream and poundcake squares which evaporated under a star-spangled sky. A barge (pronounced "bahh-je" by Graham, since that's how Mr. Ken says it) one mile out in the Sound fired off a grand show, pausing when low-lying clouds obscured our view.

We were all pooped by 10 and snuggled in for a good lie-in until 8:15 this morning. THat's something considering the sun rises at 4:50 a.m.

Today is Al and Bevie's last full day with us, and we'll head over to Topper's at the Wauwinet for lunch. It's cloudy and drizzly but sweetly cool. Just right for indulging in more of the fantastic fare this island provides.