Phototelegrapher 206

Over the several years that I have been visiting the D&R Canal State Park, a change in water flow has been noticed around the old red mill at Kingston. The dam that creates Carnegie Lake, plus the dam next to the mill, enclose a large pond that once provided energy for the gristmill. That dynamic can easily be seen in an earlier photograph.

Repeated, recent flooding has now breached the bank around the bend in the left half of that earlier image, and you can see a small spit of land near where the break occurred. Now, water from the pond flows around the mill dam and re-enters the Millstone River downstream, as below.

During high flooding, the overflow also joins the tributary shown in my Autumn Branch picture. What is relatively new is that there is now an occasional flow even during times of low water. Last week, it was particularly brisk. Because the gristmill long ago ceased its operation (the upper floors are now a home), this change is merely part of the morphology of the Millstone River, and one that has been fascinating to observe and record.

Near Rocky Hill

Meet Sir Calvin

Calvin was discovered by a friend, as a just-born kitten abandonded in the window well of a home owned by Westerly Road Church. Kristin agreed to help, and, for the next month, she bottle-fed the young kitten every hour until he gained strength and feedings could be less frequent.

Because of his ecclesiastical source, a theological name seemed appropriate, and Calvin it became. He quickly grew strong and sturdy and is now our largest cat, and the most friendly of the group. He is the climber, and what he lacks in gracefulness he makes up for in agility. No piece of furniture is too high to conquer.

Whereas our other cats have never paid much attention to personal possesions, Calvin collects plastic spoons and plastic drinking straws, which are usually given to him as birthday or Christmas presents. He has a basket of his own on top of a kitchen cabinet, and all his spoons and straws are stored there. Whenever he wants another toy, he jumps up and paws through the inventory until he finds the correct item, then grabs it in his mouth and throws it down to floor level to play with.

Calvin has never bothered much with Polly or Heidi, and it is said that an only child develops his own interests, which he has done. Little did any of us know that, within a year, he would have a younger sister, and that will be next week's story.

Curio Cat

Calvin, get down.