 What's New... Winter, 2010 Weather and wildlife The lengthening days and increasingly robust rays of the sun help mitigate the treachery of ice and the bitter winds which Canada visits upon us this time of year. I have fallen once and Peter twice. Not really hurt, but chastened in some way that seems more to do with our age than the calamity of poor footing. (Yes, we’ve got those creeper things---don’t ask). It was a lovely day for the annual Audubon bird count: cold, sunny, still. Four of us covered the Sunshine side of the island from French Camp out, using spotting scopes to identify and count wintering waterfowl on the water, the most prevalent species this time of year. We saw about half of the 52 total species spotted on the island, including the slightly unusual red-throated loon, cruising majestically up Greenlaw Cove. That is, the others informed me what it was. Thus, the gap between seeing a bird and accurately identifying it was authoritatively filled, providing me with an unearned, but nevertheless satisfying, sense of accomplishment. This loon, whose throat was grey not red (so much for that clue. . .), occasionally winters in our waters, heading north to breed in the spring and summer at which time the plumage and name match. Our easternmost sighting was a bald eagle perched on the top of a spruce on Crow Island, and recognizable from nearly a mile off. That’s my kind of bird. Wind Power Angus King, our former Independent governor, now wind energy consultant, calls the Gulf of Maine, the “Saudi Arabia of wind energy.” That rings true to the Paolo Soleri windbell we have clanging in a spruce tree. On November 17, school children were let out on neighboring Vinalhaven and North Haven for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the installation of 3 turbines cooperatively owned by and serving nearly all of the islands’ 2,000 households. Quite visible (they are over 300’ tall) from the western side of Deer Isle, we also have an eye on this project. Alas, the initial and fully-warranted excitement of community-based wind power, has been offset by noise and vibration complaints by residents up to a mile and a half from the turbines. Oh, dear. Fortunately, everyone involved is working hard to mitigate these problems, and the good news, of course, is that the islands are generating their own power. We watch with interest to see which way the wind blows. Christmas I was nervous, I admit. Even as late as the second week of December our numbers seemed down, but in the end we shipped a respectable 1,300 or so packages. On October 31st we had 1,252 cases of jam on hand. By the end of December we were down to 435 cases. Over 9,800 jars went out the door in that two-month period! It always amazes me. Not only the volume, but the small handful of people who accomplish all this. Three of us took turns staffing two phones and 2 computers, while Patty and Jackie made the up the gift boxes and packaged them for shipping. Our business seems durable in the buffeting forces that put several island businesses under in the past year and brought hardship to many neighbors. We are grateful. Patty and I are back in the kitchen now, cooking 4 days a week, pouring nearly 1,200 jars a week. Continuing at about that rate we will, again, have sufficient supplies to ensure that we have enough of all flavors to get us through the 2010 holidays. We call it “job security” and we appreciate your support of a tiny island business that provides a few jobs, helps support a handful of Maine berry farmers and allows us to live in a place so idyllic that many visitors yearn to swap places with us. Valentine’s Day Peter and I don’t usually go out for Valentine’s Day, but we couldn’t resist helping Graham and Sue Bolton celebrate the opening of their new restaurant in downtown Stonington, formerly known as the Maritime Café. This cozy perch overlooking the harbor is now The Seasons of Stonington, a companion to the wine shop up the street. Compatible, indeed. Graham has assured me that a vegetarian option will be on the menu, though he did mention that he wasn’t sure that all of the cutlery would arrive in time. . . If you can’t make it down to Stonington, you might try www.nervousnellies.com for something sweet or hot or red. Hot Tomato Chutney does all three and there’s nothing better spread between a fried egg and an English muffin on a winter morn. February You would think that February would be a poor time to open a restaurant in a seasonal community. Actually, it is brilliant. Having waved good-bye this fall to the hurly burly of summer guests and visitors, we year-rounders reclaim the island as it gradually settles into the stillness of winter. The early darkness, the falling snow, the shuttered summer cottages. Sometimes you can drive from Deer Isle to Stonington without passing a single vehicle. Well, we’ve been on that social diet for several months now and the prospect of a festive night out is darned appealing. So discovered Michael Daugherty last year when he put up a Red show for Valentine’s Day at Isalos Fine Art in miniscule downtown Stonington. The place was packed! An exuberant crowd, most sporting a splash of red somewhere among the 7 or 8 layers necessary to winter survival, reveled in the festive company and red dots began appearing next to red art. This year, you can enjoy fine art and fine food just by stepping across the snowy street. That's all for now--- Anne |
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Email:jam@nervousnellies.com
