Summer is remains mostly, hot and sticky, but getting a rare--wonderful cool night as this iis being written.  Again, this posting will be short, it's almost feeding time at the zoo again.
Relatively quiet on the rehab front at the moment. We have the two squirrels shown at left, a duck with a neck injury, a robin almost ready for release. and two pigeons. Many things have been released in the last few weeks.

The picture below that shows what Sue-Ryn found when she turned over the lid from a plastic tub. A Monarch chrysalis. We will treat it as an orphan and keep it safe until it hatches. Produce coming in from the gardens, we're getting hot peppers, some tomatoes. yellow squash, 8 ball zucchini, yellow and green beans, carrots, various greens. The bulge that will require serious canning over the horizon. For example, at left are the squash plants n Steve's late mother's garden. Looks like a couple three bushels of butternut are headed our way.

From Sue-Ryn:
It has been a really busy spring & summer here.
The artisans' co-op I helped establish six seasons ago decided to purchase a building this year. After a late season closing, many hands pitched in and 8 days after closing the front room of the former “Brass Tacks” restaurant and bar was transformed into a gallery space. The kitchen took a few weeks more–there was a lot of machinery to sell off and move, and then a lot of serious deep cleaning to do.  So, the calendar on the paper order form isn't entirely accurate. I am unable to be a part of the Pagan Pride Equinox Festival this year. I will be set up at a small MetaFaire at Sandalwood & Stone Gallery in Marietta  on Saturday September 8th .
  In October I will be set up at the MAC Nature Center at Wellesley Island State Park on Saturday October 6, and in Cortland at the Ramada Inn on the 13th & 14th. November is still open for invitations.
 My 77 year old disabled brother needed a new location before winter and the stars aligned for a placement at Samaritan Summit Village in Watertown. He's settling in well. It's a big change for both of us. His cat also needed a new home and moved to Maryland with the folks from Art of Fire. He is also adapting well to his new family.
            Meanwhile as of this post we have been involved with rehabbing more than 150 animals so far this year. Mostly birds.        

And a note if you called and left a message and we haven't gotten back to you.  We are sorry. Please call again. Our phone has been ringing like crazy with animal calls, our answering machine clogged with calls. We may have tried to call back and gotten no answer of a busy signal, and the chaos level rendered the mental note to try again moot. We've been just keeping it together.

Bay House Artisans is up and running again in its new location, 27 James Street, just three doors down from their old location. Hours are: 10 -9 daily. If you're in the Alex Bay area check it out--and find some Hill Woman goodies there. Sales of Hill Woman stuff have been good--another thing that has us stretched a bit thin.

-From Sue-Ryn:
A while back we had  to raise the price of incense.  The pure essential oils I use to make incense continue to rise in price, and after the last order I felt like I had two choices: raise prices or go to cheaper oils.  Going cheap was not an option. I know my customers have come to expect a certain level of quality and consistency in the scents I blend, and that includes the incense. I'm hoping to hold my price at 40 cents per stick. That means folks who order a dozen on an old or unadjusted  order form will be getting 9 sticks for $3.60 instead of twelve. The order form here has been changed to reflect the rise in price to $4.80 per dozen. I apologize for the sudden change, but this is the only way I can continue to produce the incense so many of you love.  I appreciate your understanding and support. Also up in price are Catnip Mousies and a couple oils. Some things like books, spritz kits, Bath Salts, and Soaps have been dropped--though some may end up at shows. But if you go to the Body and Bath page now you will find instructions on how to make your own bath salts!

You can get more timely wildlife updates by visiting the Wellesley Island Wildlife page on Facebook.

Our Bug Repellent Oil and Spray now contain Geranium and Lemon Eucalyptus to help repel ticks. These oils have not been added to Bug Stix.

Blame it on the animals....
        The testimonial contest that started some time last winter took off like a lead balloon. Then, baby season hit with a vengeance. Between feeding, cleaning, transporting and releasing critters, doing elder care and trying to keep Bay House Artisans stocked, things got a bit chaotic. The One and only testimonial we received was a friend of Corbie Mitleid who lives in England and raises main coon cats...so she is the winner
One thing of note. A few years ago we were called on to ship corn warmers to Antarctica. Yes, Antarctica. Well, earlier this month we heard from one of the recipients of those warmers. Here's what she had to say: