Betsy Wing has written a new book.

This is not a review. I haven't had time to read the whole book — it’s just out. I'm a very slow reader.

Betsy lives in East Boothbay, near the end of a long road that ends in the woods, just back from the edge of Linekin Bay. A perfect place to write.

When my mother toned, “James Robert Mitchell! “YOU know better than that!” I knew.

Like the time my sister's pony ate a box of prunes I accidentally spilled into the feed box. I was sorry it happened the day before her cart driving competition. Mother found my behavior reprehensible. I think that's what she called it.

Admittedly, I have behavior issues. Even today, things happen. It’s sort of fun to be 12 years old, especially when you become 65!

I wasn't ready for the storm.

No snow tires on anything. Leaves in all the gutters. Grass that needs a final mowing. Storm doors to install. Painting.

I didn't intend to practice procrastination so efficiently

If my grandmother were alive today she would be 120 years old.

Although I'm sure she'd still like to be making oatmeal for me in a double boiler, cooked overnight with swollen up raisins and brown sugar, she can't. So, my choice for a new grandmother is Jean Thompson, our next door neighbor on Southport.

Neil Jones worked at Hodgdon Yachts for a long time. He and Chip Haggett (pictured) were good friends. They often worked together on complicated projects that required unique approaches and imaginative solutions.

I spent a bunch of time with Neil and Chip during the construction of the extraordinarily beautiful yacht Antonisa. They were building the yacht's working fireplace with all its elaborate and intricate enclosures. It was going to be the central focal point of the main salon, or downstairs living room, as I used to call it! There was no room for error — a piece of fine art fitted perfectly into curves and sections of unimaginable precision. And I have photos to prove it.

One of the nice things about the Rite Aid parking lot this time of year is the view. There are some very colorful trees on the front lawn of the high school, and generally less traffic to obstruct. It's easy to see why Rite Aid chose their location.

But, be careful, traffic varies. School dismissal traffic can be challenging. Sometimes it’s smarter to stay parked and enjoy the view or return to the pharmacy for more of what you came for. Alternatively, avoiding the area during school traffic is easier.

This summer I photographed a wedding atop a high knoll overlooking Penobscot Bay at a location called Point Lookout, in Northport.

Oddly, Point Lookout was the name of an area near the central Pennsylvania coal town where I grew up. That is where the similarity ends. There's no coal being dug at or near Point Lookout, Maine.

Our two ducks came from Walmart, but we bought them at a yard sale. They didn't cost much and they are nice to have around. They are always there for us.

This time of year other ducks come to visit our two ducks. They are always there for them, too.

A great blue heron stopped by once this past summer (it may have visited before, but I never saw it).

You can't not drive by this tree on your way around the Harbor.

It’s at the very sharp curve just beyond Tugboat Inn opposite what is called “Pagoda Point.” It’s a hardwood that sits on the water side of Commercial Street. It’s a significant presence there along that stretch.

Danilo Konvalinka, Douglas Henderson and Lois Ernst Konvalinka opened the Musical Wonder House, located at 16-18 High Street in Wiscasset, in 1963 and started what would become a one-of-a-kind collection of mechanical musical machines, automata, and specialized, ultra precise hand-crafted instruments.

For anyone who has ever visited the “museum” as it came to be known, there was little doubting its unique identity. Entering seven magnificent rooms overflowing with music history was overpowering and emotional.

Glenn-Geary sounds like a good Scotch whiskey to me.

The Jacob Pike and Kelani & Donna, two similar boats, visited Goudy & Stevens’ docks during my early photo days.

It has been nice to see Glenn-Geary in the Harbor, at anchor out toward Tumbler Island on one of the old Sample (now Boothbay Harbor Shipyard) moorings. Glenn-Geary’s unique shape harkens back to a different period in coastal fishing and netted-off-coves nearby.

Ebenezer and Diddy Decker once lived at Decker Cove on Southport.

Rumor has it that one of their buildings was floated in from Cape Newagen. It’s a rumor worth sharing.

Seems that buildings were moved pretty regularly around here. You never know where the old homestead might end up. Eb and Diddy picked a nice spot, especially if the house landed before the bridge was built. Not sure about that. I will need to submit that question to the Southport Historical Society for clarification.

Aren't the sunsets wonderful this time of year?

Sorry if I'm overdoing it, especially after sharing the moonless super moon photo from Monhegan. It’s difficult for me to resist the night sky's lighting up.

Bob Dey from East Boothbay doesn't photograph much anymore, but he continues to see in a special way. His photographic skills, along with an ability to describe what he sees, have been enhanced and refined by a lifetime of keen observation.

He worked as a photojournalist in the military, recording what he encountered through his travels and assignments.

Barna Beal Norton was the first Beal I met in Maine. He lived in Jonesport, but I'm not sure he was related to Danny. However, there are many Beals in the Jonesport-Beals Island area — there's a good chance Danny Beal was kin.

I think Captain Beal Norton was sort of the area's majordomo back in the early ‘80s when I met him.

The puffins were coming back along the Maine coast and I was quite excited to discover Machias Seal Island, a substantial “home base” for the little migrating buggers.

If you had been on Monhegan last week hoping to see the “supermoon” rising from the sea, it would have looked a lot like the photo above.

It wasn't our primary reason for visiting the “magic island” so we had no idea where or when the moon would rise. But, as we intentionally overheard conversations among the smartphone set, a plan began to take shape.

If I had a nickel for my every Barrett’s Park photograph — weddings, senior pictures, family reunions, birthday parties, scenes of Lobster Cove, boats on Linekin Bay, Sprucewold shorelines, after glowing sunsets over Cabbage Island — we could buy a nice big whopping cheeseburger meal with all the fixins at the Bath Heartstopper's drive-thru and chase it with a large DQ chocolate soft serve.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s that good!

Lots of boats have been launched from the Washburn & Doughty East Boothbay facility.

But my first boatyard experience with the company was on the banks of the Kennebec River in Woolwich.

A commercial fishing vessel, Jacqueline Robin, was being built outdoors. It was a pretty bare bones operation, and in the winter, really cold.

It seems that around Labor Day, people from all over the country collect in their favorite spots to spend quality time together. In the last couple of weeks I have photographed five different family gatherings from Texas alone. Groups from Houston, Sugarland, Austin, Dallas and Abilene have all arranged their lives to visit Maine and coincidentally escape incredible temperatures that exceed 100 F on a daily basis. I'd want to come to Maine too!

It’s been fun. For some of the families, it was their first Maine visit. Others were veteran Maine visitors with intentions to return until they were incapacitated. And what great weather! Nice breezes, occasional rain (which apparently is rare in many Southwest regions right now), cool nights and the ocean!

Summer doesn't seem quite summer until the phlox ignites. A wonderful blast of color that seems to wait until just the right moment, then it’s everywhere.

During a recent visit to the Rittall Farm (home of the Community Garden) I was drawn to an old barn sided with natural shakes. The east side of the barn, up to almost window-height on one end, overflowed with phlox. The plants held a remarkable aroma and contrasted perfectly with the graying shingles.