Month: July 2008
-
Yellow bird in the mulberry tree
I carried a heavy load on my shoulder up the ramp from the dock when an older gentleman asked me a question: “What’s that yellow bird in the tree around back?” Without seeing the tree, I answered: “Yesterday, I saw a cedar wax-wing in that tree.” “No,” he replied, “It’s something else. Yellow like a…
-
Sailboat captain rescues kayakers in distress
This afternoon, I returned home and noticed a couple of kayakers near the lighthouse. They were in and out of their kayaks so often I assumed they were practicing Eskimo rolls and wet exits. Later, a visitor at the lighthouse asked me whether I thought the kayakers needed help or not. We concluded that if…
-
rare wildflower on Lighthouse Trail
Virginia, local horticulturalist and author of Village Encounters, emailed the following message: I was delighted to spot a Canada Lily along the trail yesterday. Haven’t seen one in these parts for 20+ years. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LICAC The Canada Lily is listed by the State of New York as “Exploitably vulnerable.” Species listed as “exploitably vulnerable” are likely…
-
Party barge
The workhorse of the lighthouse, the maintenance barge dubbed the Yuck Finn, is normally used for hauling fuel and other supplies to/from the mainland. On the 4th of July, instead of the usual workload, the Yuck Finn buoyed a contingent of Independence Day revelers. At sunset, I motored the barge across the river channel and…
-
River rescue
Rainy afternoon. I was making a sandwich when the phone rang. It was Michelle. “Are you doing anything right now?” she asked. “Not really.” “Could you give us a tow?” She explained that she was on the river sailing with Jerome, and he couldn’t get the motor started, and she was going to be late…