Good Byes and Hellos.

We said good bye today to Diane, Tim, Jamie and Neil.  Diane and Tim have been with us since we first came out a week ago.  they started the Beach Trail when they were here last year and with lots of help from folks passing through they easily doubled the length of the trail this year.

Jamie and Neil have only been St. Helena keepers since Wednesday but as Neil said this morning he thinks he has taken a picture or movie of just about everything on the island.  As Susie and I road out in the Zodiac this morning to meet Cake and Ice Cream, we could see Jamie brooming off the spider webs on the boat house.  Last night we had a great time ghost writing with our head lamps as Neil lit up the lighthouse behind us and Tim personned the camera.  

It seems like we have known them all of our lives.  I guess it is the stories we shared and created over meals, work and around the camp fire.  

As Cake and Ice Cream took our new friends home, some old friends were arriving.  Several of the teachers and staff for the teacher workshop that happens in a couple of weeks came out for the Fourth on the Island.   We will spend some time reviewing the schedule for the workshop and just enjoying the improved weather.  Yes, it has finally gotten warm in the north country.

This is our greeter goose.  She waits at the top of the dock to greet visitors.  Since it is the weekend of the Fourth our visitor numbers have gone up.  There is more then one way to get out to the light station on St. Helena.  You have been reading about our Cake and Ice Cream, an old Army boat that our Captain Dick uses to bring out our reservation keepers.  But folks also come to see the lighthouse in their own boats.  This weekend is usually one of the biggest for "come in your own boat" visitors.  We have even had two dogs visit today.  FeeBee slept through both visits.

If you look hard in this picture you can see the cotton wood fluff floating through the air.  Yesterday, we saw the first of the fluff and today it is everywhere, in your hair and your dinner.

It almost looks like the first snow fall.

Along with the cotton wood fluff the mosquitos also arrived last night.  We have had gnats, little white things but no biters until last night and it seems as the sun goes down today they are back out.

I am babysitting FeeBee as the booms from premature fireworks have her shaking like a leaf.  It is just getting dark so I only fear it will get worse.  So until tomorrow, the keepers of St. Helena say good night.
Have a fun and safe Fourth!