Calm before the storm

I was out on the Islands again on Tuesday. I saw these green hairy rocks by the boardwalk, then blundered around in the woods and surprised a little flock of swans in a quiet inlet. It was so shady there, and the swans were so white, that in this photo they look like they're glowing. At first I thought the bit of beach they were sitting on was covered in litter, then I realized it was swan feathers.



There's not much time left for bumming around on the Islands. It'll get chilly soon, and school starts next week. All the people I know whose lives are tied to the academic calendar have been as twitchy lately as cats and dogs before a tornado hits. You never really feel ready to let summer go. I'm going to try to head out to the beach at Hanlan's Point one more time tomorrow.