Tuesday -- August 1, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.9     Water Temperature: 89

Insects are everywhere. We have cicada killers hovering above the field, they look like some kind of dangerous wasp but I haven't been bitten yet. There are wasps trying to build nest all around the clubhouse so be careful. This is the first year when the mosquitos have bothered me. Usually I have no problem sitting and watching the sunset after a swim but recently I was driven in by pesky bites. I had to exterminate a large nest of ground dwelling yellow jackets.

Wednesday -- August 2, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.9     Water Temperature: 89

Those darn geese pooped all over the swim float again. I was hoping they would stay away until next breeding season but no such luck.

I saw a red shouldered hawk today, I had walked to the head of the island when I heard the sound of beating wings. I looked and saw this agile forest predator flap out of site.

I've been busy getting all the grass cut before I leave town for a week. I also raked up around he canoe dock and shed. It's amazing how much debris falls from that big sycamore. Not only are there leaves, which fall year round by the way, there is also all that bark and the multiples mini branches.

I watched two large birds soaring around the dam. Maybe our young eagle, but probably ospreys.

Gerry Barton helped me to fix the ferry today. One of the pulleys on the safety chains had worn out and was making it difficult to pull the ferry. This was the third pulley I've replaced so I know the drill(knowledge passed on to me by John Matthews). The trick is to get the pulley close enough to the tree that can support a ladder. Then all we had to do was reach out over the river and grab the pulley. Unfortunately, I had to let go of the ladder as it took two hands to remove the cotter-pin. Gerry teased me for being so nervous but we got it done. It works great.

Friday -- August 4, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.8     Water Temperature: 89

I think I have everything in order, relatively, for my relief caretakers. Cut the grass, fixed the ferry and printed out plenty of sign-in sheets. David and Sea Sitomer will be here while I'm gone, they've watched the island for us before, so some of you may know them. They are here to run the ferry, but I'm expecting all of you to help them by picking up after yourselves and putting things back where you found them. I'm also counting on all you members to help them if they need help. As a precaution, I've already moved my canoes to higher ground and I've moved some of my more precious items up to the top floor. I'm so worried that the next big flood is going to happen while I'm out of town.

We lost a tree during last night's thunderstorm. It was an old box elder, about forty feet tall that was leaning far out over the river toward the towpath. You can see it as you cross on the ferry, it now blocks the view of the upper island. The tree was deeply undercut by erosion which is interesting because it seems like the island is gaining soil on the Virginia side. This is the first year that I remember having to cross such long mud flats to reach the docks on that southern shore

It's been hot but the island is still beautiful. I hope I don't have to remind you of all the summer flowers and the hazy red sunsets over the water. See you in a week.

Thursday -- August 17, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.6     Water Temperature: 81

I'm back from Michigan and it looks like the cool weather of Michigan has followed me home, blue skies and low humidity.

The WSSC changed the filter in our sewer vent yesterday. It's not a perfect solution but it does smell a little better around here now.

There is a project going on at the top of the hill. They are putting in a new fence, complete with barbed wire, to keep people off the old trolly trestle.

I trimmed the mulberry tree way back and I put up the badminton net.

Monday -- August 28, 2006
Water Level at Little Falls: 2.5     Water Temperature: 82

We saw a beaver this morning. I thought we might since we were up early(first day back to school)and pulling the ferry across the river at 6:30 AM. The beaver are busy cleaning all the branches off the box elder tree that fell in the river.

I don't see the eagles but I do see the osprey everyday.

I changed the pull rope for the ferry on Friday. I don't now how often that rope gets changed but I'm guessing that the old rope had been there for about twenty years. I've also been busy cleaning out the kids room and getting rid of anything we don't need anymore. It's good policy not to have a lot of excess junk to move once flood season comes. I decided to store all of our board games in the club house so please feel free to use them.