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
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Lost Pond
Not quite sure how you lose a pond, but we found it just fine. Nice hike near Ticonderoga. About 3 miles total, nice and flat, with gigantic boulders around the pond and in the woods. Saw some interesting new vegetation and learned what "a seepy place" is - see photo below. Rosa had a lot of fun.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
The Perfect Hiking Companion
Rosa loves hiking. As a desert dog,Rosa Maria Serafina Guadalupe has seldom had any freedom. So, when we let her off the leash on a trail she first runs about 30 yards ahead as fast as she can (she's like a white bullet), then turns around and races back to us. Her joy at freedom brings us so much delight. After her first burst of energy, she runs ahead, though never quite out of sight. When one of us lags for some reason, she runs back to check on the lagger. When there are switchbacks or turns, she will go back to the turn to make sure we are with her. Once in a while, she will leap off into the woods, jumping over brush and logs, sniffing at things, but always come when we call her. She will never go over a bridge, but takes the long route through the stream, scrabbling from rock to rock. She is the perfect hiking companion. And when the hike is over, she curls up tight and dreams
of all her adventures.
of all her adventures.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Hike
We are in the gorgeous Adirondacks where hiking trails are everywhere and the forests are lush and green. After outfitting ourselves with some new hiking boots at the mountaineer - our Tucson hiking had left our boots in tatters - we set out on a 2.2 mile trek to test out the new footwear. The helpful guy at The Mountaineer in Keene Valley recommended Baxter Mountain. You can only take dogs - and there is no leaving Rosa behind - at elevations under 4000 feet (or at least that's my excuse). Nice hike with views of Mt. Marcy (the highest of the 46 High Peaks) and Giant Mountain.
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