Clint & Corky
The Island Years Keep Adding Up
Greetings from the island everyone, on this beautiful and sunny Friday, February 11th, island morning. Well, I’ll be turning six decades old in two more days (Social Security is getting closer!), having spent more than a third of those years on the island. . and praying for a few decades more. NOT that I’m old by any stretch, but in aging, I find myself enjoying the nice morning sunrises, while sipping hot black Folgers Colombian coffee, and late evening sunsets, more and more. It truly is the simple things in life that can bring the most happiness.
With that being said, I’ll admit that my every 7-10 days across the bay supply run trips, are becoming a tad more physical and slow moving. After multiple times every trip, of handling, loading and unloading 45 lb. propane tanks and gas cans, and 50 lb. bags of chicken feed and dog food, along with the many bags of groceries and laundry, and miscellaneous other items, I’m worn out and sore later that evening. And occasionally having to pole or walk the boat through the narrow shallow cut in the winter when the tide is very low, adds to the physicality.
I refer to supply runs as “6 Aleve days”, taking three in the morning before I head in, and three more after unloading everything from the boat upon returning that evening. But that’s OK, I’ll continue with the journey, enduring the supply runs, hot summer (no air conditioner) days, along with the cold and windy winter nights, and keep graciously feeling blessed and thankful to live the life that I do. Will I occasionally complain about it?. . probably, but I’ll still love it!
Well it was nothing like last February, but we endured a few days and nights of pretty doggone cold weather several weeks ago. The island saw 28 degree air temps, and 16 degrees wind chill with the 25-30 mph winds. Luckily the sub-freezing temps did not last several days this time, and there was no drizzly rain to cause excessive ice accumulation. I’m glad that several days prior, I had gotten extra propane tanks filled, because my little bedside heater and downstairs kitchen stovetop burners were working overtime. Corky and I and the cat, Jetty, just pretty much stayed inside for those few days, venturing outside in my loungy pants and jacket only to feed the chickens, ducks and guineas, which all fared just fine.
With the first day of Spring about one month away, I’m beginning to see a few early season calves being born. It’s fun and refreshing to watch them closely follow their moms around, and then later to see all the calves playing with one another and taking naps. They are always beautiful and healthy calves.
The seashells have not been as plentiful to find as they were a month or so ago, but that is normal. You just never know what or when the beach treasures and seashells will wash ashore. There might be several months go by that no collectible shells will make their way in, and then the next morning there will be a trash line containing hundreds of them. It’s just a hit and miss thing with finding seashells and other little beach treasures. I have been able to pick up a few sand dollars and lettered olive shells lately, when the tides were very low on the beach and the first gut was dry.
Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a wonderful day.
