Thursday, September 13, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A Day of Projects
5 red doors and an exterior paint test
Droopy gutter removed
Mildewy Sheetrock removed
Discovered the access panel for guest quarters plumbing
Old one - kitchen bricks painted
Droopy gutter removed
Mildewy Sheetrock removed
Discovered the access panel for guest quarters plumbing
Old one - kitchen bricks painted
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Today
Green tags for the meters mean maybe power this week.
The Twinkie has a nice pad.
A hole for the fuel oil pipes - and what Max took out of the hole.
And, "squeezably soft".
Everything else is a work in progress!
The Twinkie has a nice pad.
A hole for the fuel oil pipes - and what Max took out of the hole.
And, "squeezably soft".
Everything else is a work in progress!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Friends with Mustaches
The day after Max shaved his mustache we arrived at a party only to discover that mustaches are the latest thing!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Rainy Night
It rained most of the night. The Ausable River (east branch) changed from a un-boatable rocky stream (see chair photo yesterday) to this muddy torrent. It is easy to see why it flooded so badly during Irene. This is a covered bridge in Jay.
PS - The river chair disappeared.
PS - The river chair disappeared.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Sugar House Farm
Max and I woke up this morning at camp and were feeling a little trepidation at another project - especially one with so many unknowns. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves was our self pitying plaint.
Max drove the Airstream - where we are staying tonight - and I drove the boat. As soon as we turned into the driveway we were grinning, though, and happily set about the work.
Max and I dragged the gorgeous ladder that belongs in the Sugar House from the barn and I set about cleaning it.
It was Water Day for Max. The town of Jay obliged by sending a nice fellow named Mark to turn it on. The first task was finding the town valve. Fortunately Alex called in time to tell us where it was. But, of course that was only the first problem. There are about 10 exterior turn off valves (not to mention the inside ones). The guy explained to Alex that he wasn't going to let the house flood while waiting around for some $&@ town employee to show up to turn off the water.
So, Mark helped Max turn on the exterior valves, and Max turned on the shutoff in the basement. Nothing.
About that time our wonderful realtor Amy showed up, and was very upset we didn't have water. Meanwhile, Max checked the basement again and discovered it had a couple inches of water in it. Water, even in the wrong place is progress, but a dubious sort. I should mention that it is pitch dark down there. Now, every one was flummoxed. But Amy tried a tap and heard some air hissing, and a person who shall remain nameless because town employees are not supposed to go into homes, went down in the basement and discovered the bleeder caps had all been removed, including a 3/4 one from the pressure control valves. When the water was turned on, it was pouring from the pipes into the basement.
ySo, Mark was off with a hand shake, Amy went home to raid her plumber husband's supply of bleeder caps, and when she couldn't find any ran to the local lumber yard. That didn't work either. So Max took a flashlight and searched the basement and found the caps!!! Whew!
Well, much searching around for turn off valves and even discovering that one valve was backward, left us with water in the Sugar House and Farm House but not the guest apartment, plus 2 badly leaking kitchen faucets whose shut off valves don't work.
So, tomorrow is Water Day No. 2.
The Hamlet of Upper Jay has a population of 202. One of the business is a reupholstery place, which doubles as an entertainment venue - the Recovery Lounge. Behind it, in the Ausable River, is this piece of art.
Lastly, I include a photo of Rosa because we are so glad to be reunited with her and one of the cute little library across the street.
Max drove the Airstream - where we are staying tonight - and I drove the boat. As soon as we turned into the driveway we were grinning, though, and happily set about the work.
Max and I dragged the gorgeous ladder that belongs in the Sugar House from the barn and I set about cleaning it.
It was Water Day for Max. The town of Jay obliged by sending a nice fellow named Mark to turn it on. The first task was finding the town valve. Fortunately Alex called in time to tell us where it was. But, of course that was only the first problem. There are about 10 exterior turn off valves (not to mention the inside ones). The guy explained to Alex that he wasn't going to let the house flood while waiting around for some $&@ town employee to show up to turn off the water.
So, Mark helped Max turn on the exterior valves, and Max turned on the shutoff in the basement. Nothing.
About that time our wonderful realtor Amy showed up, and was very upset we didn't have water. Meanwhile, Max checked the basement again and discovered it had a couple inches of water in it. Water, even in the wrong place is progress, but a dubious sort. I should mention that it is pitch dark down there. Now, every one was flummoxed. But Amy tried a tap and heard some air hissing, and a person who shall remain nameless because town employees are not supposed to go into homes, went down in the basement and discovered the bleeder caps had all been removed, including a 3/4 one from the pressure control valves. When the water was turned on, it was pouring from the pipes into the basement.
ySo, Mark was off with a hand shake, Amy went home to raid her plumber husband's supply of bleeder caps, and when she couldn't find any ran to the local lumber yard. That didn't work either. So Max took a flashlight and searched the basement and found the caps!!! Whew!
Well, much searching around for turn off valves and even discovering that one valve was backward, left us with water in the Sugar House and Farm House but not the guest apartment, plus 2 badly leaking kitchen faucets whose shut off valves don't work.
So, tomorrow is Water Day No. 2.
The Hamlet of Upper Jay has a population of 202. One of the business is a reupholstery place, which doubles as an entertainment venue - the Recovery Lounge. Behind it, in the Ausable River, is this piece of art.
Lastly, I include a photo of Rosa because we are so glad to be reunited with her and one of the cute little library across the street.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Road Trip
A few photos.
First, the rest area in the Chiricahuas in AZ
Route 70 in NM, high plains
Kansas road - like those perspective drawings in 7th grade art
We meet Isaac in Kansas
First, the rest area in the Chiricahuas in AZ
Route 70 in NM, high plains
Kansas road - like those perspective drawings in 7th grade art
We meet Isaac in Kansas
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
History
From atop Mt. Defiance where the cannons are aimed at Ft. Ticonderoga.
The Americans deemed it too steep to fortify, so the British general Burgoyne dragged cannon to the top, causing abandonment of Fort Ticonderoga below and Ft. Independence on the Vermont side. The two forts were connected by a pier bridge with floating wooden pontoons. Needless to say, it was a messy retreat to Castleton, VT.
Update: Did a little more research. Mt. Defiance was later stormed and captured by Ebenezer Allen and his Rangers, although re-capturing Ft. Ti took a little longer. But, never fear - we all know who eventually won the war.
The Americans deemed it too steep to fortify, so the British general Burgoyne dragged cannon to the top, causing abandonment of Fort Ticonderoga below and Ft. Independence on the Vermont side. The two forts were connected by a pier bridge with floating wooden pontoons. Needless to say, it was a messy retreat to Castleton, VT.
Update: Did a little more research. Mt. Defiance was later stormed and captured by Ebenezer Allen and his Rangers, although re-capturing Ft. Ti took a little longer. But, never fear - we all know who eventually won the war.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
It's a Bug's Life
If I slow down and look around, there is micro world of interesting insects. Tucson's are unequaled by our tame Eastern varieties - a tarantula out-does a daddy-long-legs any day - but I've seen some fun bugs on this trip.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Kayaking
Lake Champlain can have rollers and whitecaps or be calm and clear. Kayaking is fun in either weather, but Rosa is a fair weather passenger. She did venture out to the front of the kayak and then jumped in a la Spiff.
Monday, August 6, 2012
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
A few days of dog-sitting resulted in a project - of course. Max painted the barn and milkhouse at Wayward Goose Farm. We were rewarded (Max for painting, me for ???) with a lovely farm dinner with home-grown chicken, fresh from the garden green beans and tomatoes and basil, locally grown potatoes for potato salad, fresh cheese from Consider Bardwell, and Laurie's mixed berry pie. 
Friday, July 27, 2012
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