August 16-22                                  Southwest Harbor, Maine

With the exception of one day, in our final week of summer in Maine we experienced exceptionally beautiful weather.  It was delightful to feel the cool breezes waft through the salon and watch the water in the harbor glisten in the sunshine.  The osprey babies were finally visible as they teetered on the nest carefully watching their parents come and go.  Ospreys mate for life, separate in the fall with males going off alone and females doing the same.  They reunite each spring on the same nest and begin anew the process of breeding.  Apparently, the babies abandon the parents and establish their own families.  It’s fascinating to think of them reuniting after lengthy separations.

Jill came with to the boat to show us her wonderful needlepoint project.  It is a large wall hanging based on the intricate and colorful tile designs of Gaudi in Barcelona.  It will be a masterpiece and she guesses it will take several years to complete.  She promised to keep me posted on her progress.

We were ready for some company on the boat and invited Jill and Jerry to join us for dinner.  We served barbequed ribs (made from a recipe of Joe Usher’s) which were tender and delicious.  I made macaroni and a four-cheeses sauce dish that turned out well.  It was fun to have them with us again.

 

Jill grew up in Portland and her mother, an actress, often accepted roles outside of the state.  In 1974, she was a bit player, with several speaking parts, in the classic summer thriller, Jaws.  Jill, as her mother’s heir, is the recipient of residuals from the showing of the movie.  We were impressed! 

Mary and Ed Dysart, owners of the marina, are fans of the movie and planned a special showing on Sunday evening inviting many of the boaters to their lovely residence.  Situated high above the marina, their summer home is a renovated former cannery which was later converted to a dinner-theater.  From a broad deck overlooking the harbor, it opens to a spacious main room with a kitchen area at the rear.  Former dressing rooms are now lovely small bedrooms.  The theater bathrooms remain with stalls and showers.  With a predominant nautical theme, it is absolutely charming and can accommodate many guests.

For the movie showing, sofas had been elevated as if in a theater and a popcorn machine provided additional atmosphere as did a large selection of giant-size candy bars and bags.  Most of us had seen Jaws more than once but still reacted in horror when the iconic music played or the beast suddenly came into view.  Jill pointed out her mother (lovely slim brunette who looked and sounded much like her daughter today) in various scenes.  It was a fun evening.

Before leaving for the boat, we were presented with a small cake with the numerals 63 on top to mark the occasion of our sixty-third wedding anniversary.  It was a thoughtful and generous gesture of special friends and a total surprise!  

Now the packing and cleaning have begun as we prepare to leave the boat and return home.  We have loved spending the summer in Maine and fervently hope we will be able to return here next year to enjoy again marina life and reunite with good friends.