Summer, with its wonderful August "drought," is coming to an end.

Here are some things that I would do if it were starting now:

I'd take a plane ride over the wilderness of western Maine, in a lake-jumper like the one above. Maine is almost 90 percent forest (they say), and I'd like to see the state from the air.

I would travel to Jackman, in search of moose. It has been more than decade since I have seen the huge, loveable animals and based on the number of car-moose collisions, Jackman could be the spot. There were none to be seen when I was at Moosehead Lake this summer.

I would plant more annuals. I keep telling myself that I have a camp, not a cabin in the suburbs. Still, I miss the color that annuals will bring. I am planting bulbs this fall.

I would go to a few more SeaDog games. I went to one, and it was great. Certainly it is cheaper and more manageable than a trek to Fenway.

I would make better use of a chainsaw. I keep complaining that the local woodsmen don't fulfill their contracts but there's nothing to say that I can't go out and knock down a few trees.

I would begin looking into solar power. Granted, I need to remove trees but this might be a better option than a generator or Central Maine Power.

I would put up the bluebird house. It has been sitting on the porch for three years, and I really must get that out onto a post at the edge of a clearing.

I would spend evenings watching lightning bugs. After a big rain in May or June, there are hundreds of fireflies on my porch and in the front driveway. I would revel in their presence, because they are not around for long.

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