Life abounds even in December

Beach Lady has been on patrol throughout this Post Christmas/Pre New Year’s week off. Every day I go for a four mile trek on the beach (still looking for that suitcase full of money) and take in all that’s new, changed or unusual. Yesterday Beach Lady was almost blown off her feet by the stiff winds blowing from off the Sound. (No small feat since I have never been referred to as “petite”). I found several crabs that had been stranded by the high tide and I saved all of them, telling them how lucky they were to be found by me, a vegetarian, and not by some famished sea gull. Today I found four horse shoe crabs STILL ALIVE on the beach. This is very unusual at this time of year. I threw them back into the water and instructed them to “do whatever you guys do during the winter.” This evening I watched the sunset and got more than I hoped for when four deer walked right in front of me. Only the largest deer knew I was there spying on them. The other smaller ones were oblivious.

Usually the deer have a deal that they don't come come out until sunset, but they were early this evening.

You just have to look for it

There is beauty every where here, even on a rainy day. Sometimes you just have to look a little harder for it. The Smithtown Bay is calm as a lake today and ducks are hanging out waiting for the fog to lift or hunters' guns to stop going off. I'd keep my head down, too. These bittersweet were still holding tight

to some raindrops.

Winter blows in

Okay, okay enough with the cold wind. I am still chilly from not having any heat two weeks ago. After yesterday's warm, sunny day, today felt bone chilling, although I am sure it probably did not even reach freezing. I still have flash backs to those cold nights without power and it felt colder. The waves on Smithtown Bay were four feet high this morning. They were crashing on the shore and waves usually "lap" onto the shore here, not crash! The sunset tonight took on the look of a religious painting right before the second coming. The sun hid behind the clouds and sent out streaks of light into the sky. I think I heard a choir singing, too and someone call my name.

Stairway to Heaven Grand Re-Opening

Like a pit bull that wouldn’t give up, I envisioned, wished, waded, dragged, carried, sawed, nailed, and even broke down and asked for help from my son. But here it is: The new staircase for the beach! The best part about the whole story? It was FREE and I did it without having to date a carpenter. (Not that this idea would have been a bad thing! But they are quite busy since the hurricane) My son Alex helped to hoist it into place and saw the extra footage off at the ends. I installed stakes and rope to hold it in place near the top and I added a last step to it needed. (Did I mention that Home Depot ADORES me?) I want to dedicate that last step to my friend Kathy, who when I told her last week to watch that last step because it didn’t exist, she said, “It’s always something.” So now she doesn’t have to “watch out” for anything. Did I buy any wood? Com’on, you already know the answer to that! I asked the universe and Smithtown Bay to send me one last step landing and I got it this week. Just needed a little trimming. I am so excited that I think I will decorate the whole thing with some Christmas lights.

Tonight I sat and watched the cormorants glide on the glass-like surface of the bay, diving down for as long as one minute! I try holding my breath when they dive to see if I can last as long as they do, but I always give out. Then they pop up 30 yards from where they started out. What the heck are they DOING under there? The sunset was awesome with intense oranges and some weird clouds that looked like “Something Wicked this Way Comes.”

Sandy update 11:30 a.m.

I just watched as my old, trusty stair case washed away out to sea. I was kind of glad I was there to say goodbye. It's been a good friend. The water is already higher than I have ever seen it. I am going back down there to move my double kayak to even higher ground. I am pretty sure that the water will crest higher than ever tonight at the next high tide. YIKES! I know this is small stuff compared to what my friends in Long Beach must be experiencing. I will update this blog throughout the day as long as I

have power.

Glimmer Glass before the storm

The Smithtown Bay looked like glimmer glass today. It was so calm and quiet I sat on a rock for 15 minutes and did NOT HEAR A SOUND. How is this possible on Long Island? It's a miracle! You would think there would have been some noise as people prepare for Sandy. In other news...

my boat is gone. My new stair case is in danger of washing away even before I can put it in place unless the Hulk shows up tomorrow to help me lift it to safety. Otherwise, I plan to just tie it to a tree as best I can. Damn! I would have been a great partner for Tom Hanks when he was a castaway on that island, don't you think?

My new boat…well not yet

Just a week after I wrote about the “ask and you shall receive” phenomenon surrounding the Universe and Smithtown Bay, I have received a new boat! Well, not really. Well, maybe. I found this boat (see photo) washed ashore on Sunday. I immediately called the non emergency number for the Suffolk County Police, but after being on hold for 15 minutes I just called my favorite Suffolk County Marine Patrol Police Officer and reported it, just in case someone was looking for a missing boat. Turns out the boat is from Connecticut. No one had been aboard when it drifted across the Sound. I don’t know yet if the rightful owner will be coming to pick it up. But if the owner fails to retrieve the boat, it can be salvaged by a private party (me) who can make a claim against the owner under Admiralty Law.

My guess is that by the time that guy gets here, the motor will be missing and anything that is not nailed down will be gone and on EBay. But it’s cool to just day dream that I may be in the running to adopt this boat. I went to check on it again today and encourage it to hang around and wait for me. I said things like “Aye, you’re a sturdy ship.” And “Don’t fret, I’ll get your bilge pump working again.” I figure this will give me an edge if I have to present my case in court as to why I should be the boat’s new owner. Maybe instead of that suitcase full of money I have been waiting for, my ship has come in.