The sign is finished thanks to a Sharpie that I found in the Whistle House that was the perfect size for the small lettering I’d outlined in pencil.  It would have taken a long while to paint with a tiny brush.  I hope they mean what they say when they identify it as a permanent marker.  And the only two colors I found in the Whistle House in small cans for the big letters where Lobster Buoy Orange (appropriate for the welcome) and Regal Blue although I wish it had been Periwinkle or Marine Maine Blue.  The Regal is beautiful though, and bright, and works fine.

France continues to feed Ollie J with any protein we can find from raw eggs to dog food and he welcomes it.  Now we’re into the canned soups we haven’t touched.  He’s almost eating out of her hand.  I’m hoping it will really be possible to put him in a cardboard box on Wednesday morning and take him to the mainland for a mend.  The woman France spoke with on the phone says when they are young, the bones fuse easily.  John said they hardly weigh anything because their bones are hollow.  France is always with a shawl now that she hopes to use to capture him for the box transport, so that he won’t be surprised by it when we use it to pick him up.  Fingers crossed.  How could I ever have thought to let nature takes its course when there is this we can try to do.  If he’s not ready for the wild by the time we leave, we’ll have to convince Ethan to bring him back to Seguin.  The locals may be laughing at us but the wildlife people we’ve contacted certainly aren’t.

Alex sent some more photos of their trip.  The night shot shows the canopy of light that spreads out over the island from the beacon created by the lens.  He took some great ones!  I really need a new camera.

Monday, August 23, 2010

A strong wind continues from the north which is unusual and brings cold air and a chop to the sea.  The lobster boats are out regardless and I watch the men through binoculars and admire the lifestyle and courage of these guys hauling traps in all kinds of situations.  They have no choice.  I doubt we’ll see visitors today and in a way I’m glad because I can’t put down the book a visitor sent me called “Pocketful of Names.”  It gives me a modern conception of island life in Maine year round without trying to imagine the families so long ago here on Seguin.  I’m cold enough today wearing many layers, my watchman’s cap and hoodie sitting on the front porch of the museum, where I get reception, just trying to keep my fingers moving across the keyboard, and it’s late August.  I haven’t see Ollie J this morning but the other gulls seem to have shifted their air ballet to the eastern side of the island and more are landing on the lawn then before.  Some try to get what France is feeding Ollie J but not seriously.  I wonder if we can really get him off the island on Wednesday and take him to Wiscasette to a woman who can set his broken wing.  It’s a wild bird and it’s big.  I have no idea how he’ll react to someone trying to pick him up and put him in a box.