SAVE THOSE EGG SHELLS.

      Crushed egg shells are good for your kitchen garden because of the high amount of calcium they contain.  Just rinse the shells to prevent odor and when dry store them in a large zip log baggie.  After collecting a sufficient amount, crush them up and sprinkle them in your garden.        The shells will discourage snails and slugs.  Deer tend to avoid the area also because they do not like the odor of albumin.
      When planting new seedlings, put a bit of finely ground up egg shell into the hole before planting.  You can use a bullet or a food processor to grind the shells finely.  You will be amazed at the improvement of your produce.

SHORT DAY TRIP.

      Last week we had to go to Machais for some minor testing at the hospital there.  It is about 40 miles from Eastport so it is an quick drive.  We took Dylan Thomas along because he loves car trips.  While David was busy with his exam, Dylan and I went to Bad Little Falls and poked about.
      It is a picturesque and beautiful place and the sound of the rushing waterfall is very tranquil.     The word Machias roughly translates in Passamaquoddy as "bad little falls", a reference to the Machias River. Machias is best known as the site of the first naval battle in the American Revolution.
      The Machais River was also a timber transporting route in days gone by.  The logs came tumbling over the falls and drifted on down to Bangor.  It's a nice place to spend a quiet contemplative few minutes and Dylan likes to sniff out all the little critters.
     

 BACK TO THE EARTH.

      I love the summer when I can spend most of my time outside working in our gardens and tending to the lawn and flowers  It is a kind of Zen experience for me.  No frets, no worries - just the earth and the growing things; the bees, the birds and the butterflies.
     Over the years our raised gardens have increased to three and I manage to get a good crop out of them along with some beautiful flowers.  Our peas do very well and always look so green, lush and healthy.  I like to mix flowers and herbs in with the veggies so there is a pleasant scent in the air.
      Last year we lost out second crop of peas to the deer which now over-run the island.  So - this season David put in an electric fence and so far our produce has not been molested.
      I accidentally touched the fence once when it was on and I am convinced that a deer needs only one jolt to learn this is a no trespass zone.

FIRE IN THE SKY.

      Another Fourth of July spent on Moose Island watching the Eastport fireworks.  We have a pretty spectacular display and it just seems to get better each year.
      Independence Day is celebrated along with Old Home Week here.  People who have moved away try to get back to spend the holiday with their families.  As the years go by more and more people seem to seek out Eastport for our famous festivities.
      This year there didn't seem to be as many people in town.  It may have been due to the lack of positive patriotic feelings because of our horrid and corrupt national politics which is a downer for everyone.
     Also we had no navy ship in port.  Usually each year we have a large navy ship at the dock for the celebration.  Of course, since the Breakwater is still under reconstruction, it would have been difficult to have the ship anchored downtown as in the past.
     Never-the-less there was a nice turn out and everyone seemed to have a great time.