The weather continues on its very dry pattern, which has most of Maine in a drought. We are hearing of wells going dry and seeing the well-drilling rigs set up. But many are being water-conservation-conscious, which is a good thing to practice any time of year as water is a precious commodity.

The moon is full this week; the days slip by and suddenly the increasing moon is shining above us – round and beautiful – again. Life here in Jefferson goes forward each day with an increasing certainty. We celebrate the last full moon of the summer of 2016 and at the same time we are aware that life is a wide range of changing circumstances for many of us.

What a weekend – weather-wise and energy-wise! The Westport Island Shore Run started off a little overcast, with 31 runners, but everyone finished under a bright blue sky and that darned sun! Whew, was it warm! Didn’t seem to slow down the first-place runner, Dan Bradford (son of Dave, nephew of Dan), nor the second, Chase Hughes. Both these fellas are from Westport. Dan doesn’t run in many road races, so he said he put it all out there for this one. Chase, about to begin his fourth year at Maine Maritime Academy, runs cross-country up at Castine. Two other Westport runners, Maryanne Seredynski and Paul Arthur, also finished in good form! Look for more info and pics in the paper.

The other day, we looked out the living room window toward Monhegan Island and saw a large pleasure craft. It was headed in the direction of Boothbay Harbor, but we have no idea where they were going.

Part of the joy of being a business owner is that we get to follow our own hearts and create a business philosophy that works for us. We knew when we started The Animal House that we would never sell live animals. We felt that there were so many good rescues and reputable breeders out there that there wasn’t a need to sell animals. Instead, we focused on hosting rescue groups and partnered with area shelters to help adopt dogs and cats looking for forever homes.

Anyone that knows Sheala Jackovich recognizes her driving around in her little 25-year-old Ford wagon. After all of these years, Sheala’s car finally gave up the good fight. Sheala would like to thank Anne Bourne, Jennie Cleaves, and Sarah Herndon for all of their help in her quest for some new wheels. Sheala finally found a cute little navy blue Subaru but did not feel comfortable driving home from Bath in a car that she wasn’t used to. Jenny and Sarah came to the rescue, picking her up and driving her new ride home. Sheala stresses how lucky she is to have such wonderful neighbors and friends. May this car last as long as your old one!

A couple of readers have asked me to explain the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Today we lay some groundwork for that.

We have set a date for the replacement of our scale. We are hoping that most of the work will be completed by Monday, Sept. 26; however, we will have the scale closed on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Please plan accordingly. As always, we can estimate small loads of demolition debris.

Some medical people in the know claim that if one keeps one’s mind active in older age, and keeps on learning, this should decrease the chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

“Most of us have a place apart that is very special to us, a place where we go literally, or virtually in our imaginations, whenever life begins to close in on us and we feel the need for physical and spiritual renewal. For some, that may be a mountain vista somewhere; for others, a lake or seashore, and for some, perhaps, just a favorite room in your house.” — Neil Weatherhogg

Together and alone. That pretty much sums up the week. Like the Perseid meteor shower, all those bits drifting through space together to drop and blaze off in separate directions.

Attention, all lobster lovers! Mark your calendars for our annual lobster feed on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. This annual community supper is sure to help stretch the summer season as we ease into fall.

I would wager one of the premier finds of a summer season, by either a birder or a naturalist, is a ruby-throated hummingbird nest.