A floating dock for my rowboat

Of all the projects that have been thought up around here during the past three years, this one is up there for amount of figuring required. First came the idea of a haul-up that I would use to slide my rowboat in and out of the water. It sounded good, but actually didn't work out so well.

Then came various ideas involving pulleys and winches and skids and boathouses. The ideas got more and more complicated, like something out of Dr. Seuss. None of them ever got past the thinking stage, though. They just swam around in Greg's mind until they gradually, slowly, sank.

But now: a floating dock. Some fine summer day, I will stroll down the hill and onto the wharf, step lightly down a ladder to a floating dock, untie Roseneath bobbing there, and glide away. The main idea is that Roseneath will not suffer so much in the way of crashing and dashing against rocks or wharf if she is tied to something that gives, and has lots of rubber fenders attached to it. And of course that I will continue my princess-like existence.But how to make a floating dock? Well, you could start with something you found that looks sort of like a dock so could maybe turn into one, with some tinkering.
Add as much styrofoam as you can scavenge from along the shore. It's still good for something! You are going to stuff it underneath the decking, then enclose it with more wood.
Don't forget to re-use those huge spikes that you've been saving for a special project. The whole thing may turn out to be too heavy. It could sink, like the famous Louis Clodette.* But we won't know that until it's in the water.

* If you want to know about the Louis Clodette you'll just have to read Greg's book.

Full moon rising

A full moon glimmered just below the tops of the spruce forest last night. Slowly it appeared.Maybe it's a good night to plant potatoes. Or have babies, or make them.
Maybe on this night the creatures of the sea feel an irresistible alluring, and turn and swim through watery silver light toward the nets of the fishermen.

A provincial heritage property, definitely

Here's the link to the page about our house that's now on the Nova Scotia Historic Places site.

I wonder what the Perrys -- who built the house and lived here for fifty years or so -- and the Gouldens -- who lived in it for the next forty years or so -- would think about all this.
Here's a picture of Bertha Snow Goulden and her son Martin. They are standing outside the kitchen, near the breezeway door. Bertha Snow Goulden was born on McNutt's Island and lived her entire life here. Her children were -- of course -- island children as well. One of her daughters still lives across the harbour from this house.
These daffodils are blooming in the spot where Bertha and Martin stood decades ago to have their picture taken. In a sense the Perrys and the Gouldens still inhabit this house. In a sense, it still belongs to them.

Thanks to Dan Goulden for sharing this family photo.