Geese, like red squirrels, are either loved or hated. Sometimes loved and tolerated, depending upon the circumstances. It’s one of those, “not in my back yard” situations. Geese may be more enjoyed when they frequent the empty lot next door instead of the freshly mowed grass of the front yard. They float nicely too in area waters.

Geese, unlike reds, are not inclined to breech an attic vent or burrow into a foundation. Red squirrels inside a house go completely bonkers, setting off motion detectors, chewing up wires and furniture, and in general, camping out wherever they please. Geese don't do that.

This time of year always reminds me of “Miss Rumphius.”

We read “Miss Rumphius” to the girls when they were little, and to ourselves when we wanted. For those who may not know “Miss Rumphius,” you should.

So, most people who live here or visit regularly know the “rules of the road.” But, every now and then, there is what I call a “flummox” - you know, a crossed wires situation. In the words of some famous movie person, “A failure to communicate.”

Grover's Alley (my name for it) presents “flummox” opportunity.

Calm. Empty. Peculiar. For a mid-week day, the quiet was unusual.

It’s not what I’ve come to expect in Wiscasset, especially with discussions about traffic along Route 1, bypasses, crosswalks, economic impact and other general concerns. The stillness was nice for the moment, but certain to change.

The reflective image I have chosen for this week is quite different from last week’s photo. I guess that’s obvious.

This photo was made on the longest day of the year in June. The beauty of the longest day is that light gets to places not lit at other times of the year. In this case, I found myself under the Newagen Town Landing pier during a pretty low tide.

Last week’s attempt at abstract expressionism didn’t work out too well.

I think the folks who print the paper may have wondered if Old Mitch got into the mushrooms again.

I actually received a phone call from a “friend” who asked me if I had any more of those photos of spilled coffee .... And if I did, to please keep them safely filed!

Isn't this owl's expression just a little intimidating?

The wise old owl, or younger owl, in this case. To me, the look we are getting suggests, “Nothing to see here, just move along.”

These are some really serious birds. I'd never seen one except in a Harry Potter movie or in famous photographer photos from Yellowstone or National Geographic. Why would they come to Maine, anyway?