Scene outdoors

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.

I like my spot.

The little things

We are caught up at home and settled back into civilization. Back to work, banking, shopping and consuming. Hmmm. Memories of Deal Island arrive every day.

There are simple pleasures at home. We have sandy soil and partial sun due to a mountain to our east. Nothing grows very well. This peony limps along but it has at least 3 blooms this year. Pretty pathetic in comparison to some but beautiful nonetheless.

Tim found this little hummingbird trapped in our garage. It spent the night there. He nudged it outside and I made a batch of nectar. I dripped some into its beak with my finger. I couldn’t even see her swallow. After a while at least she started to look around. I went indoors and watched with my binoculars. It was like watching a newborn take its first steps. I saw her flutter her wings and perch up on the dish of nectar. Some time later she was gone and off with her pals to do hummingbird things. I will never know if it is her at the feeders but will imagine it is.

Strawberries are finally in season and delicious. Both Tim and I brought a quart home. Too many strawberries. So I made a batch of strawberry jam in my instant pot. Good on toast, in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and on vanilla ice cream.