Kagawong River not flooded but very lively.

The Trope getting antsy for a wet bottom.

Nice morning rain—slowing things down, and requiring half a chapter or so in two different books, and, of course, several second cups of coffee. Then, beautiful, sunny, and warm. Then, about 4 in the p.m. a tempestuous west wind (making us thankful to be tucked under the bluff) and rapidly falling temperatures.

In the interval between rain and sun, installed a new upstairs toilet to replace last year's replacement (installed because previous good toilet cracked due to incompetent winterizing). Needed to replace the replacement because the replacement was designed for Munchkins or Hobbits or other diminutive creatures, with a seat opening about the size of a grapefruit sliced sideways, and a height off the floor of one of those stubby, plastic grade-school rulers. The replaced replacement will soon be on prominent display at the Kagawong mall.

This new toilet is much more forgiving. The only problem is that I failed to sufficiently secure the tank to the bowl. Sue was the first to notice a surprising new puddle in the downstairs powder-room, and, then. thinking back, she remembered the time Maddie missed while using the upstairs toity and how the result ended up making a damp spot exactly in the same place as the new puddle. Fortunately, a little judicious wiggling and tightening, and all became dry. And, now, we have a new, and appropriately commodious, commode.

To Gore Bay in the afternoon to place the new, self-tailing winches up in Heliotrope's cockpit so that Todd (the CYC maintenance guru) can replace the old ones. Also, got in Pax's favorite along-shore walk, and then some more grocery shopping (catchup, mayo, mustard, etc. not taking too well to winter temperatures when left behind in a closed-down cottage).

Saw four female mergansers hunting as a pack, back and forth, out in front. Also five white-suited males hanging around, doing something. Then a flock, of perhaps a dozen small birds working their way south to north, up in the highest tree-tops. Gray undersides, white throat, yellow upper parts or wing bands, black head with white stripe (I think), slightly forked tail. Warbler? If so, which?

Buds are breaking in the tops of the poplars, and I expect there will soon be a pale greening up on the bluff all around the bay.

It seems we might have been working too much, or at least I have been working too carelessly. I have worn my thumb down to the point that the iPhone no longer recognizes my fingerprint.

Lastly, the internet connection here, while fine, is slower than what I am used to. So doing a blog, especially with photos, takes time. What this means is that my current modus operandi consists of sending some stuff up and then going to do something else while it tries to do so, coming back later to finish. All of which means the final blog might not get finalized until well after dark.