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.