Just a Heads Up

I swapped routers this week as the one I had in place was two generations old.  I upgraded and the signal all around the house is markedly improved.  The downside is that I have yet to match the cameras with the new router.  I have worked on it all week and have yet to put together the formula that will make this mess the delicious frappe I want it to be.

Lots of wind this week and plenty of noise but no water or debris over the revetment.  While other parts of Sand Hills and Humarock (I was there today) took a hit with seaweed and stone, we were as clean as a hound's tooth here.  Next time someone tells you government doesn't get anything done, remind them about the wall here.

Had to put the heat on for a bit as the wind tore around and I am pleased to say the new windows seem to have made a difference.  It was great to be able to sit on the couch and not have the curtains blow around your head.

I had visitors last Saturday scouting the site for an independent film.  This is a project that was first brought to my attention three years ago.  I had a very nice visit with one of the film makers and her friend. The plan is for shooting to take place here next July.

Lots of feedback from an article marking our five year anniversary here at the Light in the Scituate Mariner.  The link to the article is here. http://scituate.wickedlocal.com/article/20141018/News/141017183  Thanks to Chris Bernstein and his son Abel for getting us in the right light.  I shared this article on Facebook and had more than 5000 see it in a few days.  Students were telling me I was Facebook famous.

Since the last blog post we also had a part in the Army of Two 200th anniversary dinner. More than 100 people enjoyed the hospitality of the Barker Tavern.  Honoree Sis Dowd stole the show when she led the crowd in an impromptu sing along.  Thanks go out to all the volunteers at the Schoolhouse for their work, to Carol Miles for helping me so much with my research, and to Carolyn Bearce who donated several wonderful prizes for the raffle.

A Gift from the Town

Guests to Scituate Harbor will find a gift from the Town of Scituate upon their arrival. Check your hip pocket.

A WiFi network has been established in the last few weeks covering the inner and outer harbor and the Lighthouse park.  We got to play a small part in the occasion.  A few pictures tell the story.

 

These cobwebs are from a trip under the kitchen to help run the new ethernet line from the Cottage to the Tower.

A second line was run from under the house to an access point by the main door.  It is the gadget that looks a great deal like a light but is instead a path to the Internet.

Things got tied together in the office by my desk.  I think I understood every second word.  There are parts of the process that continue to mystify me.





The network connection is called Scituate WIFI.  No password is required.  I expect a lot of Instagrams of Scituate Light to make their way onto the World Wide Web.

A Couple of Things to Share

We will begin and end with an unusual photograph:

The camera apps that come with cell phones continue to offer us new ways to look at familiar places.  This one was shot with something called Photosynth. (Remember to click on it for a full view)

We had several guests here over the course of the summer that I failed to acknowledge here.  Cousins Kellie and MacKenzie stopped by out of the blue and, as I am crazy for my cousins, I was thrilled that they took a page from my old playbook and dropped by.  The next generation of cousins is in good hands by all indications.

Susan and Mike Ahearn visited but I missed them as I was in the attic at the Little Red Schoolhouse counting up the way too many books that we have up there in inventory.  I offer Susan A Sorry I missed You and a Glad I was Able to Connect Later.

September is a week in and that has school back in session.  Portrait photographers are out in force and over Labor Day weekend there were at least seven weddings that arrived for ceremonies and for pictures.  It was as full a time here as I can remember.  The beach, the jetty, the parking lot, the wall, and all the benches were jammed to capacity.  There was a big time buzz in the air.

The Scituate High School Class of 64 spent two hours here yesterday.  I had a great time and I will go on the record to note that not one of them looked like the years had been unkind.  You would scarcely believe any of them got out of school when John, Paul, George, and Ringo were lighting up the charts.  

Bill Wronski of ayacht technology solutions spent parts of two days here installing the essentials for public wireless access in the harbor and the parking lot.  It is not turned on yet but the bones are there and in the near future the switch will get thrown.  I thank him for letting me pick his brain while he programmed and wired.

Improvements to the web cams has been an ongoing project.  The Arecont company sent out two representatives to demonstrate a couple of cameras and some amazing software.  I hope to see that project through before too much longer.

I wrap with the second promised photograph.  Our Hannah took this one with an app on her Iphone:

How cool is that!

Super Moon

Remarkable crowds here tonight to a full moon rising.  A quick estimate would put the group between 750 and 1500 across the past few hours. Another well behaved group too.  The flashbulbs were as many as at the Red Carpet before the Oscars. Julie took to the Tower for this shot.  

A perfect day for the beach and I have no doubt that there was a long line for ice cream all across town. August is the best of the summer.

2014 Luminaria

I have fallen behind on blogging.  I will try to catch up more regularly.  I want to share that we are working on a significant upgrade to the web cams.  I hope that will be in place soon.  I have had some trouble getting on the cameras in place now unless I use the Firefox browser.  Give that a try if you are getting held up.

There hasn't been much in the way of news here.  No bad behavior that I can share in this setting without being subject to a libel charge. The biggest topic of discussion is the McDonald's Ad that features shots of the light in the open and the close.  I was filmed but not featured.  I hammed it up too much I guess.

Some wonderful guests on private tours, from as far away as California. The Open House days have been fast and fine.  Lots of great questions from kids and adults.  As always I learn a lot.

A water line project has come off without too many hangups and thanks go out to Dan Smith of the Department of Public Works who, as he did with the seawall project, has kept the arrow pointed in the right direction without a touch of ego or histrionics.

The gardens are lush and only two people have walked into the house believing it a public place.  Win some and lose some is the rule.

There is a terrific interview done by the Scituate Mariner at this link. Tour of the Lighthouse  They somehow overcame the fact that I am in it.

Here are some photos from last night's Luminaria. The tiniest nudge of the tripod brings out some cool colors. Remember to click on them to see them in full screen. I am going to get good at this again. Check back.

Memorial Day 2014

We cleaned up around the grounds this weekend.  The neighborhood gathered yesterday morning to work on the island gardens.  I had been out there over the past few weeks trying to clean up in the corners and along the worst of the sand and stone.  Screens are in. Most windows, washed.  There are several that will be replaced soon and I let them go.  In the early afternoon,  Julie and I took a ride to R&C Farms for some annuals and perennials for around the house.  That work I will show you this way. (It is better to watch with the sound muted and in full screen.  I am working on improving the quality of the picture.)

I love getting out there and my watering routine will be quickly established.  Hoses have been patched. The shed is sorted.  Bike tires are pumped up.  Rafts are repaired.  The damned cat tries to escape every 10 minutes. In the next few weeks there may be a few more tricks to pull out of the sleeve.

Last weekend saw the first open house.  Roughly 220 men, women and children trucked through. Excellent day. Our thanks go out to first time volunteer JoAnn Evans for pitching in.  She mastered the call for $2.00 like a carnival barker.  Thanks to go out to Carly Longman who helped Hales in the Tower.

Technical Difficulties

For the moment the web cams are down.

The company that has been hosting the web cams (giving them a phone number you can dial up) has changed a few policies in the last month.  I am looking for a company with better terms.  My apologies to those who have made it a habit to check out Scituate Harbor from the Light.  I hope to resolve this in the next couple of weeks.

The gardens are looking good.  The parking lot has been cleaned up from the staging done during the rebuild of the wall.  Lots of sweeping and scooping, but very satisfying to see it looking so good again.  The next project on deck is the installation of new water lines.  This should slow people down a bit during the week but not present much of a problem during next Sunday's 1:00 to 4:00 Open House.

I will be posting some pictures later on today. Check back.