Closing up the cottage is bittersweet: we get to spend the last time there with our family and say good-bye to our beloved island for another winter.

We had quite a crew with four generations of closers: Aunt Peggy (Senior Member of the Group, A.K.A. SMOG), MOGs Rob, Sarah, Alison, Heidi, Carrol (for the first time!), Debbie, Scott and myself. MOGettes included Jared and Caelin, Matt, Amanda, Max and Xantha. Let’s not forget the MOGlets: Micaela and Xoe. Throw in some friends - Amanda, Donald and Payson Bowling, and you get a lot of trees thinned, laundry done, refrigerators emptied, boats hauled, porch furniture in and new rock steps. Now Kim and Scott can do the draining and winterizing … for us and everyone else!

While the weather was nice and the colors gorgeous, we saw a few walkers out and about. Dee and Pat Smith were up to close their cottage as well. I saw Bruce and his dog Otis, but though I saw Nan’s car, I didn’t see her. Joan Faccenda was expecting newlyweds Julianna and Ethan and Lea and Nick Aeschliman welcomed son Chris and his wife Sue to help close up.

On Sunday night, in the pouring rain, we celebrated Nancy Norton’s birthday at the Norton Cottage. Nancy and Greg’s friends, Holly and Keith, were there as well as Keith and Deb MacGilvra. We sampled MustGo Buffalo Chicken Dip and other goodies, as we are all emptying our larders.

Kim and Scott were tending to emergencies, one after another! Poor George Sylvestri slipped and “did in” his knee. After a trip to Mid Coast Hospital, we hear he damaged his ACL and his MCL…oops. Here’s to a quick recovery, George! Richard Phillips had a bit of boat trouble, but was rescued by the ferry. The rain was coming down and the wind was blowing like crazy, so Kim and Scott rushed around pulling plugs in boats and turning them stern in to avoid taking on more water. Thanks, guys!

By the time Deb and I left on Monday around noon, the sun was out again and Kim was going across in the ferry with Joanne and Richard and their guests. Our luggage hitched a ride, thankfully, while I drove the whaler across. Still windy! On Sawyer’s we found Brad and Betsy Hastings.

The time has come for me to beg for news again. Send me an email if you’re up to something special or want to keep us in the loop.

Niki Patterson sent me this bird watching tidbit: “I brought my bird feeder home, and the local birds rejected my "bargain" Walmart bird food!  So, I returned it and bought the same stuff I used at the island from Hannaford and now my porch is busy!  Funny thing is, I get different birds here than I did on the island … other than chickadees and blue jays, of course.  Wondering if you have found that being at home vs off shore? I exclusively get white breasted nuthatches, rather than the red-breasted that I got exclusively at my cottage.  I'm seeing tufted titmice, and I have both male and female cardinals and downy woodpeckers who show up a couple times a day. So far, no juncos.

“So Andrew and Hayley are in Kona, Hawaii, and her Ironman Championship is on Saturday. Her parents and sister are going over today, as are Jon and his wife. I can follow her progress online, and with the time difference the race will start at noon ET.”

We wish you well, Haley!