They are both a bit of a stretch but autumn is coming. It was 49 degrees at home this morning! I swam with a brave friend who let out such a whoop when she got in the water, it echoed for minutes off the cliffs around Chapel Pond.
Not sure what I triangulated. Or how it happened. I split the letters into 2 swims to keep it neat. It’s hard enough retracing one letter. I had to quit early because a few fingers went numb.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Glorious weather has arrived in the Adirondacks. It’s time to play outdoors. We took two ferries to ride our bikes on the causeway in Lake Champlain. It’s a great ride spanning several miles on a narrow strip of roadway that was an old railroad line. A bike ferry takes you across a small gap in the path. We made it a 30 mile round trip ride by starting at the Plattsburgh ferry.
Tim is on a “Swim 47 Adk Lakes” quest and we headed down to Blue Mountain Lake, where we also visited the oddly named, Adirondack Experience. They have a great boat exhibit with a fully restored Idem class boat.
One of my favorite exhibits was found in an outdoor gazebo. It was an empty picture frame with a view of the lush scenery.
After the museum we swam in Blue Mountain Lake, where the water temp was 70 degrees. I’m still wearing a wetsuit and the swim was lovely. We had dinner in reverse. First, ice cream at Hosses in Long Lake, then pizza and a beer at Paradox brewery. So much for burning off calories!
During a fairly big rainstorm, the beaver dam on the mountain next to our house failed. Tim thought he heard an engine running and went to check it out. This is usually a small stream. It became a raging river. We did not swim in it.
I keep trying to grow peonies to no avail.
I did not grow this one. My sister in law gave me a cutting. I forgot I had left it in my 88 degrees car, while I worked all day. I put it in a little water and it has been in full bloom for over a week. I transplanted my patch of peonies because Tim always threatened to mow them down. Time will tell if they like their new spot.
We were tempted into believing it was really Spring. The bees are out and about, the birds are returning, two bluebirds chose a house on the lawn.
I drove to Middlebury, Vermont to meet a friend from New Hampshire. Trees have buds but no blooms yet.
Many are shaped by the southerly winds.
And then, just like that, we got another 10 inches of snow and lots of fallen branches. Tonight, Tim coached me as I rebuilt the fire pit. Tomorrow, I’ll be wielding the chain saw. Vroom, vroom.
We returned home and were greeted by the trees just starting to change color. We peep while going about our regular activities, often at high speed.
Used to be an iconic red barn here herePretty even at 55 mphHeaded downhill to Cascade MountainMy “fishing hole” where I have never caught a fishFire Island Lighthouse
And finally, a lighthouse. I joined my daughter on Long Island and we walked the barrier beach to this beauty. Tim and I spent one winter on Fire Island (heaven) and this was our backyard view!
Island and North Country Life 