We took advantage of nice weather and rode our bikes and then walked to the local lean-to. We enjoyed spectacular views but the leaf colors may be just passing their prime. I had fun reading the log book. Seems a lot people simply go there to get drunk. At least not at mid day. Since we didn’t use our GPS, I didn’t think I could swap anything in the geocache box with good conscience.
photo courtesy of Bethany
Back in the wilderness with hiking options galore. Yesterday was Wednesday, hiking day with a wonderful group of women. They hike, snowshoe and ski through all weather, with the exception of pouring rain or flooded trails. We hiked to Indian Head, a trip I had taken with Tim in the winter and posted about here. It was much more fun this time and I can hardly believe I did it on showshoes. We walked the road to the Gill Brook trail and followed the river with several waterfalls. Then we made a right and headed uphill. As a general rule, I don’t like hikes with ladders. This one had at least five. I don’t think we ever saw them when we did it in the snow. The view of Lower Ausable Lake, flanked by the mountains, was stupendous. We met a group of revelers at the top enjoying lunch and libations. I don’t think I would have like the ladders after that.
I finished my socks made from possum and wool yarn that I bought in New Zealand last year and am very happy with them. Now it’s onto a scarf made from beautiful kettle dyed yarn that Ramblinroo brought to Seguin for me from Nezinscot Farm Yarns and Woolens . Maybe Chelsea will like it.
So much for endless summer. My winter clothes are packed away and there’s frost on the ground. It’s friggin’ freezin’ here. Time to get out more long johns. There’s about a 20 degree daily swing in the temperature.
We just received information about our Tasmania trip from the present caretakers and from a cookbook published by the Friends of Deal Island, which Cooper’s girlfriend, Elizabeth, sent us. It is full of information about the island and even includes a suggested shopping list if you find yourself without a store for three months!
I have to start thinking celsius. High summer temperature is 20.5° C and low is 12.6°. I guess that decimal point adds heat. It wouldn’t make much of a difference in fahrenheit and will make my rounded off conversions a little complicated. Ah but I just found a way to estimate. Double the C, subtract 10% and add 32. Simple, eh? So 55° f to 69° f. Why do we have different systems anyway.
Celsius, meters and kilos make much more sense. I have to think of clothes for 12.6° C, plant a 10 meter square garden and buy 10 kg of 50 kg of flour. Will that fit in a shopping cart. I’ve been working out our food needs in lbs. I knew this was going to get complicated.
It’s great to visit our home.
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We’ll be here for 4 weeks and I’ve already scheduled trips to visit Chelsea and Cooper. The mountains are red, gold and yellow. We cleaned indoors yesterday and today, Tim stacked a cord of wood from our neighbor, felled a couple of dead trees, weeded, got rid of cluster flies, filled the hot tub and rowed. I was less ambitious but stocked the kitchen, ran and plan to soak in the hot tub. We marvel at our views
I woke up yesterday and made Tim french toast for breakfast. Then I presented him with this plaque for the house and a handmade card for father’s day. Next it was lunch of his choice. Later in the day, I called my brother to wish him a happy father’s day. He said thanks but it’s not for a few weeks!! Oops, I guess I don’t live by the calendar enough anymore. I know I have to go to traffic court tomorrow though.
Here is our bumper crop, the first strawberry. It measures about a half inch long but is a real, tasty strawberry. We have lots of them growing but we will need thousands to even consider a pie.
On the other hand, the spiders are ginormous. This one visited me on the front porch – while Tim is sailing to Annapolis so I had to contend with it myself. It filled the bottom of the 4 inch glass I trapped it in.
I was hoping the photo made it appear that it was as big as Jay Mountain. It was
It was really hot the other day and the cats were hiding in the shade of cool plants and lying in the dirt. The temperature improved after a thunderstorm rolled through with winds that blew the screens right off the windows. Here’s Loki looking very cool.
Tim ordered and installed a hummingbird feeder recommended by his brother, Lee, and within hours he had attracted hummingbirds. They flit around even though the cats are perched on the windowsills inside watching closely. They are so fast, neither cat has a chance of catching them.
I wonder what would happen if we built a leanto?
When I moved to the Adirondacks, I thought I might have a hard time being off island and away from the water. Instead, I thoroughly enjoy our view of the mountains. I love to look at them from afar, while Tim likes to”do” them.
We went for a hike up the closest hill near our house with a marked trail, Blueberry Cobbles. Wildflowers were out and we saw trillium, columbine, ferns, violets, strawberry plants and lots of blueberry bushes.
We could see our house nestled in the woods from one of the viewpoints. A good time was had by all.
Then I stumbled upon a geocache treasure.
Island and North Country Life 