More heat and humidity, but at least it cools off at night! On Sunday afternoon, the Sprucewold Beach Club Member Social was held at the beach, with over 45 members in attendance. President Elisa Goldsmith welcomed attendees to the first social event we have had in a long time. It was great to meet new members and reconnect with old friends like Hobby Trefrey and see the next generation of granddaughters in the Thompson family and the Rittershauses/Haggetts. Elisa and vice president Carole Gonzales set the tables with beautiful flowers and refreshments, which were enjoyed by all. It was so nice to have a relaxing get together at the beach, late afternoon in the shade at low tide, nothing better on a hot day. Next stop – annual meeting at Our Lady Queen of Peace hall at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Speaking of annual meetings, mark your calendars for the Saturday, Aug. 3 Linekins Heights annual meeting on Linekin Green at 9 a.m. followed by the Sprucewold Association at 10 a.m. The annual Sprucewold Association Potluck supper is at 5 p.m.. Beverages and paper goods are provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own dishes to cut down on waste. A dish to share, main meal or dessert is your entry ticket. All Sprucewold residents are welcome, come one, come all!

If you are looking for ways to get out on the water, a trip to Monhegan is the thing. You can go for a day trip, leave at 9:30 a.m. reach the island at 11, bring a bag lunch or get sandwiches at a local shop. Swim Beach or Fish House Beach are near the ferry dock for a relaxing swim or sunning, or you can head to one of the many hiking trails for all abilities. Art galleries abound, and the 1822 Monhegan Lighthouse, the second highest lighthouse after Seguin in Maine, is a good hill climb with 360-degree breathtaking views when you climb the tower. There is a state of the art gallery on the first floor, and across the way in the keeper’s house is the fascinating Monhegan History Museum and more Monhegan artists are represented upstairs. There is a Balmy Days boat trip around the island at 2 p.m. offered only in calm seas and then the Balmy Days departs for Boothbay Harbor at 2:45 p.m. If you choose to spend the night on Monhegan Island, early reservations are a must. Try the Cracked Mug BnB and other BnBs, or rental cottages, the Island Inn, the Monhegan House, or the Trailing Yew.

Recently, Kathy Moulaison and I went to Kingfield to stay with my college friend. We attended a two-day Maine Barn Quilt workshop sponsored by Dark Star Fabrics in Phillips, Maine. It was fun and a lot of hard work. Kathy painted a quilt pattern border with a stenciled moose in the center. I painted a stenciled pine cone wreath with a chickadee in the center. A local friend recently created a beautiful loon barn quilt in the same workshop and has it up on her house. I also saw one on a house on King Philip's Trail. Dark Star Fabrics offer classes every few months. In the western mountains of Maine, in Somerset and Franklin counties, there is a Maine Barn Quilt Trail that you can follow to see over 70, http://highpeaksmaine.org/the-barn-quilt-trail/ Creator Saskia Reinholt will offer a workshop in October in East Boothbay, places are going fast. Swing by to see ours mounted at the peak of the cabin and Kathy’s will be on the Bayberry side of hers.

Next week, follow up on the annual Firewise chipping program held on July 23.