JK

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Just kidding and just “K”

Tim and I tackled a home project today. We had to replace the hardware on a twenty year old casement window. Its last straw was when a windstorm ripped it right off its track.

It is a large heavy window, nice to look through but not to hold from the second story. We had our troubles. I installed the hardware backwards and Tim struggled with a track. We were saved when a strapping young man gave us a helping hand.

They got the new hardware started in the tracks and left me to finish the job. I did but left this note for Tim.

“Gone swimming to drown my sorrows”. This was followed inside by another note which said simply, “JK”.

And here’s just “K”.

I’m pretty happy with it. I only swam one letter because thunderstorms were predicted and the sky was getting dark.

Here’s the raw form.

I’m hopeful we will have enough days left for open water swimming to fill in the rest of the alphabet before we are relegated back to 25 meter swim lanes.

Shaking it up

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The water is starting to warm up again. I swam without getting hypothermia and there were even a few other people splashing in the lake.

“KLM” Is next but there are issues.

I don’t know what happened with this “K”. The bottom leg is way too close to the start.

But if I flip it over, I’m ahead of the game and have a “T”.

“M” needed a little tweaking.

Not sure what I was thinking when I started it sideways.

Next up is controversial. I took a short run for the first time in quite a while.

And ran an “L”. I’ll have to think about this one.

In the meantime, the wildlife is getting very comfortable in our front yard. The other day, I woke a fawn up when I went to check on my bees.

It was a dark and foggy swim

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And it was perfect. It looked intimidating when I arrived, rain and thunderstorms were predicted for later.

I had the pond to myself and it was a good thing because I have to get busy. Water temperature is dropping as nights get cooler. I heard it was 30 f degrees last night on Goodnow Mountain.

All I know is my fingers go numb from Raynaud’s phenomenon at about 45 minutes. Today, I brought a dry change of clothes, wool hat and fleece jacket, so I was better prepared. Then I cranked the car heater up to 85 and took a long, hot shower when I got home.

It was a three letter day. As I try to draw more letters, their connections clog things up. I cleaned it up a bit in anticipation of my upcoming alphabet book.

I have decided order is not important because I will separate them into individual letters. May I introduce “J”, “I” and H”, better known as “HIJ”.

How do you spell golf

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Begin with a “G” and end with an “F”. After I played a quick round today, I headed to Chapel Pond to swim and continue my gps alphabet. It was only a short swim with a tiny “G”. I was on my own and forgot my float.

Yesterday we rode the new section of the rail trail from Saranac Lake to Floodwood, 18 miles round trip. It was lovely: great surface, pretty flat with views of Lake Clear, Little Clear Pond and Hoel Pond. This is a terrific use of the old rail bed.

Another snake.

On the home front, we have a couple of cheeky fawns. They are not at all impressed with us but left my crop of 3 tomatoes alone.

Time to get a move on

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Summer is flying by. Nights are cooler and “tropical” Storm Debby dumped some very cold water in the Adirondacks.

I hoped to swim 3 letters today but my fingers were numb somewhere in the middle of the second letter.

I tried to sneak in a tiny “f” At the end but it doesn’t count it because it’s not legible.

Tim shivered the whole ride home with the car heat set at 80! My fingers were so cold, I couldn’t button my flannel shirt! (I got some help with that task).

B.C.

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My swim quest continues. We camped with family and friends on Halfway Island in Lower Saranac Lake. The open water swim from site 16-18 inscribed a sideways “C”. I didn’t feel compelled to go in strict letter order.

We were pretty busy, lots of swimming, crafts, boat trips. The grand kids took a canoe to scout for blueberries on an adjacent island.

We had tarps set up beautifully so did not mind one night’s train. Lightning in a nearby cloud kept us entertained as if it were a fireworks show.

Today I had time for a quick swim before supper. I question my gps’ accuracy since it showed me swimming over land. No wonder I am so slow.

New beginnings

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They can’t all be winners. Today’s swimming goal was the letter “A”. I had a good plan. However, I swam back to the wrong starting point, because someone parked to the side of my stuff, with a bag that looked like mine from across the lake.

If I had aimed correctly, I would have achieved this.

Too many conditionals in that last sentence. I’m sticking with the original and calling it an “A” even if it could pass for an “M” and maybe even a “W”.

I spent yesterday afternoon tuning a vintage Singer 20 toy sewing machine. It was made sometime between 1920 and 1950. My father had cleaned it and got it moving before he died several years ago. Then it sat. I may have the need for a truly portable sewing machine soon and decided to get it running.

Thank you Youtube and Alex from England who clearly explained the parts and adjustments. By dinner time it sewed beautifully.

I might have to skip around the alphabet the next few days because we will be island camping and may not have the same blank canvas to draw on. So many options. “B” could be a challenge.

Can you confidently draw a “Z”?

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I can’t. My alphabet gps track continues. We had several days of strong wind and took a hike instead of swimming. I guess this could be an “I” but i feel like it would be cheating.

Smiley worm

No problem retracing my lines up and down Debar Mountain. The worm’s tail is red because my pace slowed near the summit. Sweet pic.

Back home in our favorite pond, I was ready for a “Z”. Except I couldn’t remember which way it slanted. Try it yourself without cheating.

Anyway, I swam this:

I missed the diagonal on my return and did the whole thing backwards. While I don’t intend to edit my gps tracks, I flipped the photo and don’t feel guilty.

Voila, a pretty good “Z”.

I might just head to the beginning of the alphabet now, or randomly select letters to draw. I’m thinking of swimming an “O” around a small island.

Perspectives

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Today Tim ticked Lake Clear off his list and I swam a “Y”. The lake was gorgeous and large, with a nice sandy beach.

Seen another way, my gps track drew a soaring bird.

I find it hard to retrace a leg of the letter. I may have to tuck a compass in my swimsuit. Notice the corkscrew finish!

Is this a twister?!

No, it is Osgood Pond, upside down. The water was still this morning and reflections, very clear. Stand on your head and you may be convinced.

We scouted out Upper St. Regis Lake and came upon this lavish boathouse! An Idem class boat was seen on the water as well.

Next up – “Z”.

Swimming the alphabet

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It’s summer and we have been swimming in lakes and ponds since mid -May. I wore a shortie wet suit (an old scuba diving suit I cut the legs and sleeves from) for the first two weeks until Memorial Day.

Tim is on a quest to swim the largest lakes in the Adirondacks and I come along for the fun.

I’ve decided to draw with the gps map of my swim track. Today I made an “x” or even better, a bow tie.

I had a little trouble retracing my lines to extend my swim.

This adds a whole new challenge to swimming. I have to plot my course and pivot points in the water. I think “Y” or “L” is in my future.