This is the first day the shop is open after the storms. Tourists were sent
off and then let back on the island...shop keepers, home owners...have worked
non stop hauling, repairing, shingling, gardening, assessing damage since the
storm on Tuesday. We faired well. The biggest loss to Philip was the duct
work under the shop for the air conditioning...but we hauled in window air
conditioners from other places yesterday until it is all repaired.
It is amazing to me that just a few days ago folks were kayaking down Howard
Street. Today it is just the two of us keeping shop..tomorrow everyone
returns.

The week was full of events with Philip's birthday...I had planned a surprise
party for him that was changed and canceled four times. I ended up taking
the cakes to the Salvation Army lunch wagon on Thursday where everyone gathered
for food and information....so we still had a great way to share the cakes
with the village!! It was quite fun having just the residents here for a few
days!

Amy and David arrived home with the new baby on Friday night. It is also the
talk of the island. Tonight we have a dessert pot luck planned in their honor
(as well as the case of champagne left over from Philip's non-birthday
party!) It will be a great gathering of folks wishing them well...an island
tradition.

The week promises to be busy with things getting back to normal, ghost tours,
the opry, cooking dinner one night for Amy and David and family...just normal
living. Oh yes, and ironing...I have let that go the past few days. Yes,
some things don't change, evening ironing habits!!

August is here. Deep hot August. Mosquitos...sweet corn...buzzing hot
days..skin as tan as it is ever going to be August...sneakers that were new in June
are now broken in and lying by the back door...white sheets on the
clothesline...peach tarts and blueberry cobbler...summer night walks holding
hands....sand...waves over your shoulder...counting the days before school.

When we were kids August was hot in Indiana. We would get early baths, Mom
would put the girl's hair up in pincurls and we would drive to the reservoir to
watch the lights change colors. It would fascinate us by the hour...then off
the the A & W root beer stand for frosty mugs of root beer delivered to our
car door. August was feet that were black from being barefoot all
summer...outdoor plays under the clothesline...hide and seek til all the parents had
called us in...screen doors that slam...moms that stayed home...counting the days
before school.

With the boys on the farm, August was fishing and swimming in the
pond..butterfly collecting, watching the shooting stars late, late into the night on
sleeping bags...watching the sunset on Doc Headley's farm fields..counting the
days before school.

In family news, Kristin writes that they had a wonderful time in Hawaii.
(Today is their one year anniversary!!) So, Happy Anniversary to both of you! My
cousin Rick just turned 50 (and is the father of three small sons, triplets,
remember?) My Uncle Dean is loving his family around him at St. Regis. Mom
and Dad feel at home at the House at White Picket Gardens. Adam and Aaron
celebrate their birthdays this week and will have an Indiana celebration. My
friend, Allison, is in Honduras fulfilling her dreams and helping others find
theirs.

I love all your notes that come my way...thank you for sending them, even
though my responses are few and far between. (I do call my parents now and
then.) I love knowing what all of you are also doing!! Don't forget the blog
sites for our daily journals.

My recommended book is Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. A classic. A
wonderful book to read deep in the heart of August.

Love to all, Lou Ann