Thursday night

Here is the story friends. I sent back my air card from Verizon. You know the one I have been complaining about since I got it. It was a costly thing and half the time I didn't have any internet service. Now I must find the WiFi iin the area. I go up to Gloria's, over to the Crandall Library and up to Panera Bread in Queensbury. I know there are others, I just haven't located them yet. It is kind of a nuisance not to be able to sit down in the early morning with my coffee but it was very frustratiing when it didn't work.

I just took two days off from job hunting to go to the horse show in East Dorset with my daughter and granddaughters. The weather has been hot and beautiful here. The mountains are spectacular with the sharp contrasts brought about by clouds and their shadows. Today it was hazy so the sun didn't really feel as hot as it was. We did have over 10" of rain not quite a week ago. Two of my three cellars were wet. They are finally drying out again. I have a dehumidifier in the one that has the most tendency to gather water. The garden is produciing beans now as well as cukes, peppers, cabbages, brocolli and onions. Carrots too. I am disappointed in my zuchinni and yellow squashes. Usually they produce like crazy but this year not so. Still picking the jap. beetles off the beans a couple times a day. They should be disappearing soon.

Sebastian has lyme in his blood test. Poor guy is taking the antibiotic for it. Upsetting to his stomach. Hopefully, he will be ok. He has lived 12 years in the south, been bitten many times and had to come to NY to pick up the lyme tick.

I am posting this at Pete's on his computer so I cannot upload photos. Stay in touch dear friends. It is important in these times that we link up with one another.

Hazy, Hot and Humid Friday

Sittin' in air conditioned Panera Bread waiting for Sebastian to complete his coiffure. I left him off at noon. He was not happy about it but will feel much better with his summer butch cut.

I moved Bearfoot back down by the barn this morning. I set it up differently with more room on the curb side for my awning should I decide to put it out. I may be staying in the coach off and on for the rest of the summer and early fall. I hope to rent my house as a B & B type of vacation retreat. Brent and Sharon, my friends from Tampa, gave me the idea. I am still in the process of putting the ad on the web. vacationrentals.com

I planned on uploading all the photos today here but I guess I have to put them on in smaller batches. The upload didn't take. The title of the house is Locust Grove Cottage if you look. You have to go in under NYS and then to Glens Falls or Adirondacks.

Pete and I picked 12 qts. of blueberries yesterday a.m. It was easy picking since the bushes are large and loaded with ripe berries. In fact, it was a challenge not to lose some as you picked. They came off easily. Very large berries too. Tonight we are freezing them. We did the same thing last year and I paid pies from all of them.

Last night we drove to Florence, VT for my grandson's 18th b'day celebration. They carry on our family tradition of serving what the b'day person wants including the cake. Therefore, we had chinese food from the Panda Pavillion and Reeses Pieces choc. cake with ice cream. Everything was yummy! Sebastian went too and was exhausted on the way home from fending off their young boxer/lab mix, Denzel. The young dog thinks it is a big game to hear Bashey bark and growl. Pete and I yawned all the way home. He drove, thank God. I can't see well at night. But it was after 10 p.m. when we got home. It is a fair distance up there. We walked across the road to see if Miss Louise had any of her free range chicken eggs. They are like Easter eggs, all different colors. She makes wonderful jams, jellies and relishes too.

Tomorrow Pete and I are going with some of his family to Burlington, VT for a brew tasting at a microbrewery. I have never been to one before. Should be fun.

Let's see if I can load some pics on here.

Tuesday, July 15th

My wireless connection seems to be working today but I don't know if I can upload some photos. I hope so. I took some good shots of my garden in the last rays of the sun. I had my first meal of fresh peas, brocolli and baby summer squash last night. The gardens look wonderful. We have had just the right amount of rain and sunshine. I have been picking the Jap. beetles off by hand for about 2 weeks. I hope I can continue to control them without using the traps. The traps attract all the neighbors' beetles. I pick off approx. 10 or so a day. It doesn't take them long to decimate a garden. I like the peas and the beans.

I am still searching everywhere for a job. My financial situation is on a downward slide. I depended on income that has dried up. One of my dear friends called and suggested I rent my house on a vacation weekly basis. Not a bad idea since I still have the motor home to live in. I am seriously thinking of listing it on vacationrentals.com Most of the houses online are on lakes; mine is not but is centrally located for several lakes, rivers and mountains. When I started listing what we have to offer in this area, I was surprised at the quantity of activities within a short drive.

My daughter has asked me to join her and three friends for a polo match at Saratoga tomorrow evening. I am quite excited about packing a fancy picnic and dining alfresco on the polo field. My contribution will be my Kick Ass Peanut Butter cookies, sun tea and the picnic plates etc.

I attended a sunday service at the Yoked Church just down the road - this is a combined church of baptist, congregational and united church of Christ. The church was built over a 100 yrs. ago. The woodwork and craftsmanship is exquisite. The service was lightly attended but that is the case with most churches in the north. In the south, the churches are overflowing. I wonder why so many have withdrawn their energy from the local churches.

Have a wonderful summer day. Note: the shot of the marsh was taken near Glen Lake on the Adirondack Bikeway. I rode from Hudson Falls to Lake George on the trail last week. Great!

Early July 2008

I sound like a heavy smoker when I cough. I am recovering from sort of strain of pneumonia. Started out a couple of weeks ago as a cough and then my chest tightened. My daughter Theresa called on the phone and suggested after hearing my voice that perhaps a visit to the doctor would be a good idea. I am always reluctant to go to the doctor and she knows that. But a week's worth of antibiotics and an inhalor and I am on the mend.

It is very hot here now. I bought a small AC window unit which is helping to keep my house bareable. Everything must be watered with the heat and warm winds. But my garden just keeps growing and growing. I have peas nearly ready, spectacular lettuce, green onions and numerous herbs. There are green tomatoes, pepper blossoms, potato blossoms, cabbages heading up and some nice looking brocolli heads. The summer squash is nearly ready to eat too.

We had a wonderful 4th of July celebration. Pete and I went to Argyle to a parade in the morning and picnic at a relative's home. It was nostalgic for me since my family always used to have a large family picnic on the 4th. I went next door to the annual library used book sale. I picked up numerous books at a quarter a piece. I took lots of photos of the flowers too. I will post some. In the late afternoon, we went to a theme wedding here in town. They were married outside in the yard in Hawaiian garb and Luau theme. The reception was held at the firehouse. There was a DJ and huge buffet. Fireworks completed the day.

I had a young male neighbor stop by to bring me a large bowl full of fresh blackberries. He knew I was a baker and wanted to share the berries. I have frozen them but will make a couple of pies as soon as the weather cools. I promised him a batch of donuts too. I have had no luck finding a job as a personal chef but I have applied for a teller's position. Coming from branch management 22 years ago to being a teller again is a bit of a come down but there shouldn't be much stress. Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts as I attempt to rejoin the workforce. It is an entirely different place than it was when I left.

Enjoy the shots.