Misty Morning...

Woke up to heavy fog this morning and even before putting the coffee on, I was down on the dock trying to capture the mood of fog..which for me seems to be a real challenge. It became somewhat easier once the sun started to break through..so that became my blip of the day. It was such a quiet morning, with no sounds other than birdsong and an occasional fish jumping. Eventually the day cleared, the wind came up, but from the north for a change, and it eventually got hot enough for swimming. 

The quiet, however, was temporarily disturbed by a float plane pilot in training practising several landings and take-offs out in front of the cottage, a frequent occurrence here because there is a long straight open space and less boat traffic on this part of the channel for that. It is a bit noisy, but still fun to sit and watch..

And just so this place doesn't sound TOO idyllic, I need to point out that we have our problems here too. This year we have yet another severe infestation of the gypsy moth caterpillars that totally defoliate our oak  and other trees. When one caterpillar can eat up to a square metre of  foliage, it is devastating how much damage an infestation can do!  Right now it is a constant chore to sweep the walls, eaves and decks of the cottage to remove the caterpillars and the detritus of their dining!   On top of that, we have just had a hatching of mayflies. They have filled the air and cling to the exterior walls and windows, especially in the evening, drawn there by the interior lights. We need to get the broom out for them too!  At least these insects have not yet grounded any aircraft as the cicadas did today in Washington DC!  We can be grateful for that...

Still despite these seasonal challenges, life IS pretty idyllic here...