Come Fourth

So the 4th was fun. Nate and I saw an amazing fireworks show the weekend before. From the island you could see about 10-15 shows going on at the same time. To see the fireworks over the still ocean water was incredible. Nate commented that it looked as if the east coast was under attack! So on the actual weekend we went inland to Chandra's house. That is my niece Sophia in the pic. No, it was not raining when she was wearing those boots. But Aunty Candy fixed her cute hair, didn't last long. Soon her hair ended up into a third pony tail in her bangs to keep it out of her face, giving her the look of a triceratops. Chandra had an amazing spread for us to eat and drink. She had friends over and we stayed up late socializing while we sat in her bug free tent. I added photos of her home in Storrs, CT. It is gorgeous here.

Nate and Falkner's Day-Of-Fun!!

Back out at Falkner, hopefully for the last time.  It was my turn (no pun intended) to spend some quality time with our winged banal brethren.  The first chick to fledge was witnessed while I was there and it is now a brief matter of time before the great colony will depart for warmer winter climes.  The terns fledging time span is a scant few weeks, where they transform from a dripping helpless mass to maven of the skies.  Though the fecal bombardment is quite annoying, these creatures are something to behold.  Though once is enough.

Nate's a Blog Hog

At your request, this is a little about the goings on with Cas. Nate is gone at Falkner banding chicks so now's my chance. Had my friend Jaime over last weekend to the island from NYC. We fished and ate the fish, tanned, talked, watched fireworks and sailboats, painted on driftwood, had a bonfire, and all kinds of super fun. We plan to visit her in NYC soon. My sis Chandra lives an hour from here so I get see her and the kiddos often which is great. My bro Chad keeps winning money in singing competitions and now he is playing a 40 min. set in Polk City at the summer festival, so go give him support and hire him to play your wedding. My friend Katie is about to pop with an Independence Day baby which is exciting. I'm painting and sanding and plastering, not in that order, the Outer Island kitchen this week, so check back for before and after pics. Jaime really loved the new guest room. Come and try it out. Love!

Who Says YOU Have Intrinsic Value

    Terns are very important creatures.  They have to be right?  I mean that must be why I'm out here dragging 2x4 frames and sheets of plywood across slippery shit covered rocks to rebuild a blind that will be used to observe their wily ways.  The blind got itself blowed away the other day in a storm, so here we are.
    Now, it is possible to become confused when working on a project such as this.  You see, on our island we have signs posted to let visitors know what areas are off limits to protect nesting birds.  The bird that is exampled on the signs is a Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax).  However, if one was to visit Falkner Island a scant three miles to the East, (which you can't) you would find decaying Night Heron corpses littering the shore.
    What, you gasp?  Nycticorax nycticorax, you see, is mortal foe of Sternidae and is therefore persecuted most grievously by the guardians of  "The Falk."  The other primary use of said blind is to conceal oneself for ambush of the credulous "quarks."  Thereby rendering the diversity of our little templum greatly reduced, homing itself to little more then Dumetella carolinensis and Quiscalus quiscula.  Damn you Quiscalus quiscula...damn you.

Do They Call Me Nate the Barn Builder?

No, they don't call me Nate the barn builder. But that's just what I did. (Ok, not a barn but it's going to be used for school kids so is it so different?)  The pavilion was designed and, for the most part, built by Vermont Frames.  Why they built this beautiful structure only to tie it onto a dumpy little cottage, I couldn't tell you.  But it was an interesting experience putting it up with few power tools and no crane.  It will be an outdoor area where classes can come to study marine life and high school kids can throw parties when no one is looking.

My Turn!

I done catched me a fish!  Paralichthys dentatus to be precise.  I am fairly certain that any success I have fishing is purely a product of God ordained intervention.  Every time I cast I have absolutely no idea what I am doing and have given up on the delusion that I might ever be able to consider myself an angler.  It was tasty none the less and I'm going to head out here in a bit to try again.

What to do, what to do

    I'm trying to come up with stuff to post but when it comes down to it, there's really only so much to do on an island.  Candice has been plastering the walls that have a lot of moisture damage, and I'm doing some plumbing inside and at the outdoor composting toilet.  There's yard work to do, and visitors to greet.  But over all not a lot to report.  So, if there is anything you folks would like to hear about go ahead and post a comment.  I'm sure a lot of what we do I am taking for granted and will be more interesting to you.  It's weird how that works.  You talk to people with incredible lives and to them it's just a job.  Don't get me wrong, we love it here and are totally grateful for God's blessings, I just don't know what to write about.