What beautiful days we have had at the end of August. It was a low tide week at the beach. The cooler temperatures and long afternoon shadows of the trees made it sweatshirt weather, reminding us of the fall to come. 

Summer reading in Sprucewold has included: “Frozen River” by Ariel Lawton, a story about Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th century midwife who lived in Hallowell on the Kennebec River in Maine. This novel comes from the non fiction “A Midwife’s Tale” by Lauren Thatcher Ulrich, which was made into a PBS documentary film. “The First Ladies” by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is about the friendship of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune through the turbulent times of the 1900s including the KKK, the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II, integration of the armed services, and the founding of the UN. Next reading was “Guncle” by Steven Rowley, winner of the Thurber Prize for American Humor. I enjoyed it so much, I also read “Guncle Abroad,” the sequel! Now reading “Spying for the South, An Odyssey Across the American Divide” by Tony Horwitz, it was his last book. He also wrote, “Confederates in the Attic.”

Speaking of reading, Caroline Thompson, age 5, the granddaughter of Tom and Pat Thompson, completed her summer reading program at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and was Librarian of the Day at the BHML Children’s Room on Wednesday. Congratulations to Caroline for achieving her goal!

An afternoon of mah jongg was recently played on Crooked Pine Road with beginners and seasoned players. Kathy Moulaison, Carole Ortlip, Leigh Pumilia, Joan Mayfield, Liz Fasulo, Janet Hughes, Joy Larrabee, and Elaine Rittershaus all enjoyed the hospitality of Liz and Joan. How often do you have the opportunity to play a game relaxing with friends on a porch overlooking the beautiful Linekin Bay on a summer day? Another group of Sprucewolders play mah jongg at the Senior Center two days a week: Carol Ostermann, Karen Iliades, Debbie Watson, Sherry Labelle, and Kathy Moulaison. We’ll have to organize a series of games in Sprucewold next year with all these players, it will be fun.

On Wednesday evening, the BHML continued celebrations of its 100th year by hosting an author talk at the Opera House of Boothbay Harbor by Paul Doiron. He is the writer of the successful series of fifteen mystery books about Maine Game Warden, Mike Bowditch. It was an interesting and humorous talk. Mr. Doiron joked with the audience that Stephen King was coming next week because of the number of enthusiastic fans at the OH. He took a photo of the gathering to prove it! Fellow Sprucewolders Joanne and George Carlisle also attended. I have already read his newest book, “Pitch Dark,” and look forward to his collection of more stories in the spring. 

A few weeks ago, Gretchen Murray visited Sprucewold. It was so nice to see her smiling face, she has been missed. Gretchen and her late husband, Bob, were two of the many Sprucewold residents that helped make Nahanada Park a reality.

The social committee of the Sprucewold Association continues to grow, with volunteers Suzie Roche and Jody Lorence joining. We will certainly have many hands to make light work for the 2025 season.