LOBSTER BUOYS, CRAB SURVIVOR AND WIND..........I begin with this display seen over on Carrying Place wharf a few days ago. The owner's grandson made this board to identify the owners of the various buoys we see while out on the water. You will notice the predominance of the name Wallace. West Point abounds with Wallaces, in fact we have a house on Wallace Circle! I have a feeling that most of these lobstermen bring their catches into Carrying Place. It also is the place where, in other years, we would see the tuna fish being weighed and sold, primarily to the Japanese. Now, the tuna are few and far between, but the lobsters are holding their own.

The sea seems to have settled down again, and tides are back to normal. Rain continues and everything is saturated. The beavers are happy. I hope they don't swim into Iris Downs and chew its trees. I've seen the beaver again, and this time it treated me to a tail splash! The deer hunting season is half over, but you still see orange clad people everywhere, and cars parked along the road to gain access to wooded areas. These animals are weighed and recorded at the Center Store, and I mean to stop and see how many have been taken so far. On the island beaches, I always feel more comfortable when deer tracks lead ON TO THE ISLAND in stead of off.

I did get down to the Lobster Pound and hoped to show some of the enclosed lobsters walking around in the dammed up cove. I saw the lobsters, but they weren't in a position to photograph. Sadly, I saw one immobile with a crab dining underneath. There are hazards in this activity of trying to keep the crustaceans alive and well. I checked the Havahart traps, and they were empty. I continued down to check the northern beaches. I was surprised at the erosion from recent storms and rain. Seaweeds were thrown up on the beach grass, and sand had been sucked away. I found an upside down crab with only the pinching claws! It has eight more walking legs to grow in order to function properly. Maybe this is a survivor. Here it is with a small Lion's Maine Sea Jelly nearby.

I checked out Bounty Cove and hiked over to Sailboat Beach, again finding beach erosion at every turn. There was a nice assortment of shells amid the sandy coves beyond Sailboat Beach. I couldn't resist picking up dozens of yellow Smooth Periwinkles that looked like eyes blinking at me! The waves sucked at the shoreline, and sea ducks chortled a funny tune. My footprints were the only ones on these beaches. I stopped on the way back to take a picture of one of the largest oaks on the island that succumbed to recent winds. This was near the water pump. Perhaps you have admired it standing tall. Now, work awaits to cleanup the multitude of branches and trunks.

Today has dawned again with wind and rain. We've had a week of off again, on again, rain. The ground is mush. The only positive in all of this is our wells are full, almost to overflowing. And then again, the frogs may be enjoying a late season hop or two. Last year, on a mild day, I remember seeing a Wood Frog hopping across the road in mid December. I may have to dodge one or two in the days ahead, though I think we are due for a temperature change come Thanksgiving. That holiday is on our doorstep. I've also made my first wreathes of the season! Happy Holidays. 11/17/06 Drenched Ronnie