It’s very windy this evening on Skinny Island; out of the south at 15-20 mph, which means it’s a relatively warm wind; enjoyable, even caressing.  When there a north wind, even this time of year, when the ambient temperature is comfortable, the wind can be biting, forcing you to sweater-up.  This is shirt-sleeve stuff, to be enjoyed.  Out in front of The Little Hacienda the ocean is roiling with whitecaps, moving north like a great river, but behind the house, on our deck overlooking our little hammock, it is a rollicking visual and tactile feast, the new growth on the trees dancing in buffeting bursts.

We are very attuned to wind here, and every sustained wind has its moods.  An east wind almost always cools the house, and usually arises in late afternoon; the sea breeze.  Opening all the windows and doors, the cross-ventilation means we rarely need air-conditioning.  A west wind brings in warm air from the mainland, and many dragonflies and other insects from the spoil islands in the intracoastal to our west.  It smooths the ocean and makes for great surfing conditions, if there is low pressure offshore making waves.  We have our share of nor’easters, too, at all times of the year, when you batten down the hatches and stay inside.

This is the front end of a front that is supposed to bring us rain tonight and tomorrow.  The wind will cycle through all the compass points with the front, and we will adjust to all the different moods that brings.  It’s living on the coast, the edge of the continent.  Right now we are just appreciating the dance.