Remember the bees' nest picture we posted a while back? Here's a closeup. While walking down to Sandy Beach Road to pick up a prototype of the newsletter from Evelyn (yes, it'll be out soon!), I saw an unusual number of caterpillars, both squashed and alive, with, I think, a larger than usual brown band between their two black ends - which I think has meaning regarding our weather. We heard another bit of weather-lore while in Maine: The number of the day on which the first snow comes will indicate the amount of snow you can expect during the winter. I guess in Maine that would be in inches; here, I'm not sure. There are lots of those weather-related sayings on the coast. "Rain before 7 stops by 11."
"If with your nose you smell the day, stormy wether is on the way." "Swallows fly high, clear blue sky; swallows fly low, rain we'll know." "Half your wood and half your hay should be remaining on Candlemas Day (Feb. 2.)"

Anyway, this week we spotted a female partridge racing across our lawn into the garden area, and then this young male came roaring out of the bushes, tail fanned, neck ruffed, in hot pursuit, dashing up our walkway to intercept her. His spring fever was not only misplaced, but definitely not appreciated by the little hen, and the last we saw of them, he still hadn't caught up to her.

We've been watching all the building going on - things are progressing at the Noyes cottage where a well was drilled this week; everything is put back in place at the Byrd's and it looks very nice; Butch and Sue Bouchard told me yesterday they are finished with their remodeling and expect to have a family Thanksgiving at camp this year; and at the Richer's I was amazed at how fast they have come along with the new garage/workshop. It's going to have room to store not only their vehicles, but other equipment as well, and Ray's woodworking shop is to be located on the second story.

Another spot everyone has been watching is in the big field at the north end of West Shore Road. We've seen campers, trailer trucks, horses, and an assortment of containers and vehicles there for a couple of years, and in addition footings of an unusual design were in place high on the hill, but no structure seemed to get built. Now all that has changed. Here is a picture we took Saturday morning. There were four horses grazing nearby, and we noticed they have a nice newly enclosed shelter this year, so they may be here longer than in the past.

We've noticed more lights around the pond this year than ever before. I think that has to do with gaining more year 'rounders. Sam and Judy Lewis are now here year around, and next door to them, Rachel Lewis will be here year around, we've been told. Also, Bill Dimick will be at the Dimick/Brown cottage this winter. Fred and I lived there for 18 years until we moved to our present home in 1996, so it is nice to have the place fully utilized again. Homer and Elsie (Fitts) across the bay told us how much they missed our lights after we moved; now Homer will see lights again and he and Bill will no doubt get together for a beer or two during the long winter. Some of the old Joe's Pond gang (Jackie LaGue, Tony Stewart, Patty Nichols, Paul Fitzgerald) have already found out Bill's back and have stopped in. Bill has done some renovating, too, to make the place snug for winter - and the whole family is pitching in to help where we can. We're thinking Christmas at Camp this year! It's been a long time!