Greetings from the island everyone. Hope all of you are doing well and trying your best to stay cool and not melt in this even hotter than normal south Texas sauna.

I honestly do not know if it will ever rain a decent amount again. Having gotten a mere 2.7 inches out here since January is hard to even imagine, and I know that other places have it worse than I do. The difference is, I rely entirely on rain water to fill my tanks and replenish the underground well water supply. And given that my well is only eleven feet deep, if rain doesn’t begin to fall very soon, I know the level will eventually drop low enough that I will not be able pull water up. Once a week or so I slowly pump well water into my rain tanks to have a water supply inside the house. Oh well, the Lord will send rain when He deems necessary I guess.

I’m always so hesitant during extended dry summers out here to mention the “H” word as a source of abundant moisture. I’d much rather prefer the “TS” words (Tropical Storm), as I’m confident that my damage would be minimal. It appeared that TS Don was going to provide that needed rain for us, but we ended up getting squat out of him.

Dealing with the threat and anxiety of a hurricane along our coast, especially when living on a barrier island, is simply a way of life out here. I’ll admit that for three months out of the year I remain a little on edge and in close watch of tropical activity. I don’t really worry those months, not to the point of being paranoid or getting ulcers, if that were the case I’d have no business even being out here.

I’ve always maintained a level of preparedness for hurricane season, having pre-cut and labeled coverings for every door and window. Cabled ground augers secure the stairs and landing on the house, as well as the storage building. I made certain to go the extra steps and expense in the beginning to build the house and all structures as strong as possible. A direct hit from Claudette in 2003 gave me needed confidence that the house itself can withstand at least a low end hurricane. Of course all docks and fences are the first to go in a big storm, but those are easy rebuilds to me. And I’ll occasionally have water in the downstairs kitchen/bathroom, including three feet with Claudette, one foot with Ike and several inches with Rita, but I can deal with that.

The bottom line is that hurricanes always have been and always will be a source of concern for us along the coast. You basically just have to deal with it, pick up the debris, rebuild if needed and continue on with your life.

Well I’m finding that the two things that will thrive in this heat and dry conditions are my watermelons and cantaloupes. I’m still watering them every few days, but their moisture requirements are much less than most garden vegetables and fruits. I’m excited about several new melon varieties I’m trying this season. You know you’re getting old when a plant in the ground causes an emotional reaction. Such is my life. . . but with no regrets. I have fifteen tiny tomato plants I started from seed, and these will go into the ground for my Fall crop in about four more weeks. I have a semi shaded raised bed area for these.

I tore myself away from the island two weeks ago and attended my 31 year Calhoun High School, Class of 1980, reunion. I surprised myself and truly enjoyed it, seeing classmates for the first time in many, many years, including hometown Seadrifters. It’s hard to explain why, but there are a handful of us that started first grade together nearly forty five years ago, that have maintained a close group bond. I say good for us.

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and eat some cold sweet watermelon.