Working Waterfront

Island autumn has dazzling, magical quality

By Barbara Fernald The islands are so beautiful in the late fall. Most of the red is gone, but the last leaves on the birch trees are golden and the angle of the early afternoon sun causes them to glow before they blow away in the next storm. Migrating water… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Tacking toward the positive

By Barbara Fernald To ease myself through the weird transition that happens to me every year for at least a week on either side of Labor Day, I came up with a small thought pattern to help me fall asleep. With the light off, as I adjust my body to… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Free end-of-summer food no simple transaction

By Barbara Fernald“Do you have any interest in this food from my refrigerator?” It’s a common question for those of us who live here, or haven’t left for the season yet. The answer to that depends. Most late season offerings are very usable and sometimes a real treat. There is always… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Summer on a Maine island creates ‘fomo’

By Barbara Fernald It is 10 a.m. on Aug. 1. The temperature is 78 degrees with 54 percent humidity. A gorgeous summer day on the coast of Maine. No wonder people want to be here. I hear it’s crowded in Acadia and I see that’s true by the many cars… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Mosquito plague has me thinking about the options

By Barbara Fernald On the first of July, activity on the islands is rolling along at a pace that rivals August. After a rainy, cold May and a rainy, cold June, any day with sun and warmth draws us all outside to catch up with gardening, boating, the beach, or… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Islanders and the shame of baggage

By Barbara Fernald It starts at the grocery store on the mainland. I hand my cooler and canvas bags to the cashier, who passes them to the bagger, and I start to unload a full grocery cart. I have an itching need to get the cart unloaded quickly so I… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Bird-friendly island has unintended consequences

By Barbara Fernald As the birds return to the islands, I have to admit that some birds are a little more special to me than others. Nothing beats that incredibly sweet moment when I hear my first hermit thrush of the season. Cardinals, with their variety of calls, used to… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

When appliances fail on islands

By Barbara Fernald Just before we were to leave for a family trip to Baltimore, the cooling fan broke in our oven. A call to Brown’s Appliance in Ellsworth confirmed that the whole back of the stove would have to come off to replace the broken part; not a DIY… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

In praise of wood heat

By Barbara Fernald In the middle of winter, on a tiny island off the coast of Maine, I don’t think there’s a much better feeling than standing next to a wood stove, absorbing all the warmth I want. I love our stove, even with all the mess that accompanies wood… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

One winter day in January

By Barbara Fernald Summer visitors often ask what it’s like to live here in the winter. For many of us, this is a much slower and quieter time of year, affording us the time to travel, to catch up on some projects or take a class. I dedicate the month… SEE MORE