Happy New Year

Must be I'm happiest that I survived the election year past. Though I'm pleased with results the TV ad campaign just grind me down to the point of giving up to whoever will end it all. On the up side Carol prepared us a nice salmon pasta for supper this evening which we enjoyed with a bottle of Pinot Grigio, shortly we'll sit down and watch a DVD from Netflix, Maleficent. If I haven't fallen asleep by the end of it I may catch the Ball drop in in Times Square or check in on FOX TV's version in Miami I think hosted by Pit Bull - break out the homemade confetti.

Closing 2014 on a high note

The last days of 2014 are upon us and Christmas is a still fresh memory. Carol and I are essentially finished with our bathroom renovation with only a couple of ticky-tack things remaining to be done. Otherwise one of the biggest things to do will be returning all the tools that we dragged up to the hallway back to the garage Then there is trash to be sorted for recyclables, excess building materials to be stored and a pile of the old building materials to be loaded up and taken to the transfer station in the next town north of us. These last tasks will be a pleasure as we've been dancing around all this stuff for six months now. That's just the span of time the effort has encompassed, the vast amount of labor was on weekends so there were  four or five day periods of just living with the project around us. But we've done it and are very pleased with the outcome. If time is available I'll post up a few photos.

How time meanders along

Not much of a title but I wanted to post something since it has been awhile. I have a lot to keep me busy and it seems by the time I sit down at the computer producing a post just isn't happening. I end up going down that Facebook rabbit hole, shutdown the computer and catch a glass of wine, a bit of TV then hit the sack. A lot has happened in the last couple of months that I hope to summarize here so check back now and then. Thanks for stopping by.

Summer reading

Summertime is my favorite time of year to read, granted that when hunkered down for the winter delving into a good story can offer expanded horizons while dealing with issues of snow, ice and cold. Summer offers a much wider variety of venues to settle in for a good read. This is a particularly good year for this fan of SciFi Space Opera. This year three of my favorite SciFi authors released new books which I collected in the spring for summer reading. For July I read Alastair Reynolds' "On the Steel Breeze", the second of his Poseidon's Children series. During vacation week for the second year in a row Neal Asher has this spot with the last of his "The Owner" trilogy, "Jupiter War". Half way through it and my vacation as well, setting a good reading pace while generally enjoying the time off. Both books hit the mark for what I like to read and now that I've read most of the SciFi novels they have written patience is the watch word between their next releases. On deck for after I return to the real world is "Cibola Burn" The Expanse, Book 4 by James S.A. Corey (pen name used by collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck). The first book of the series "Leviathan Wakes" from what I understand is in pre-production for a TV series on the revamped SciFi (SYFY??) channel. While reading the first three books I couldn't help but think what a great TV series this could be so it was exciting to hear that the thought may come to fruition. Another of my favorite authors, Iain Banks' last novel before he died of cancer last year, "The Quarry" I finished reading last weekend. This was a fiction but not SciFi. Banks has a large collection of writings though all my other readings of his were the science fiction ones and I'd read most of those. It's time for a morning jog along the lake, then back to lakeside for more reading.

Worth remembering, thank you Lauren Bacall

“You just learn to cope with whatever you have to cope with. I spent my childhood in New York, riding on subways and buses. And you know what you learn if you’re a New Yorker? The world doesn’t owe you a damn thing.”

Vacation Time

My annual Madawaska Lake vacation has rolled around again, none too soon for my mental state though none the less the summer is passing too quickly. Relaxing and enjoying the time here is the goal. Unfortunately Carol was not able to come as the contract work she is doing has not provided vacation though with a recent switch to a different firm she may be eligible for time next year. Patches was able to join me, he’s practically stone deaf now as his 15th birthday approaches this week. I still talk at him for my own benefit and have established a couple of hand signals he seems to understand if he is interested in complying too.

Nothing earth shaking for my activities this week, I haven’t scheduled an adventure day as I usually do. Yesterday my first full day here I spent at the camp reading, gave Patches a once over in the grooming department, a jog/walk along the shore road I’m on, grilling lunch and dinner. Trying to grill vegetables but they need some seasonings that I didn’t think of bringing. I do bring what seems like a ton of stuff with me with the goal to be sure to utilize while here to make it worthwhile, still missed a few food items that would have traveled well but a stop at Shop’n Save in Caribou on the way here provided all the basics I need. I left the bike home and did bring the kayak and went out on the lake late yesterday afternoon for a bit of a paddle. Of course there is the plethora of sunset pictures to take and I took a fairly decent photo of the “super” moon Sunday night. There have been more recreational activities taking place on the lake during this period than usual at this point in the summer. People are boating, waterskiing, tubing, paddle boarding, canoeing, jet skis, kayaking, plus the sounds of kids at other camps along the shore enjoying swimming and other water activities. Here and there with all this going on the occasional Loon seems totally not bothered by it all, suits me fine.

First evening, things are looking good.

 Here's our "super" moon, a FB friend calls it the sturgeon moon.

My futures so bright I have to where shades

Had our semi-annual retirement plan checkup today - we're right on track. Looks like we'll be able afford a thing or two into the golden years.

Click here.

Taking a break

Yup, day off tomorrow, holiday on Friday then the weekend - going up to the County and staying at the camp on Madawaska Lake. After how the last two days at the office went I'd walk there to get away!

In the midst of sunshine

Managed to work on a few things today - mowing, trimming low branches, a little bit of trail making through the tree growth between the house and the road. Grilled up some sausages for lunch. Strawberry season is getting underway so Carol was up for picking and I decided to make my debut at picking strawberries - turned out alright. We picked 14 lbs in about 15 minutes.

Decided to pickup some whipped cream for future strawberry enjoyment so took a roundabout drive in search of a grocery store. Managed to come upon a Tim Horton's and decided a cup of coffee and a donut was in order then relaxed at one of the outside tables before continuing our journey.

Once home Carol cleaned and cut up the strawberries while I did bit more yardwork and after grilling a steak eaten with potato salad and a beer we'll be settling down with  a movie in the DVD player - The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. I'm pretty sure there's a Guinness in the fridge, that will set the mood.

Another fine weekend

Another of a series of fine weather weekends has begun. The screen room has been up for several weeks, bird feeders are keeping the feathered ones coming and going and there is plenty of yardwork things to maintain with side projects to dabble in. This is the first weekend warm enough to eat breakfast on the deck so it bodes to be the warmest weekend yet. Savoring every moment of it.

Early nightcap

I have a blood work appointment at 7:30 am so I'm fasting for 12 hours, wine for supper instead of the usual weekday glass over the last hour before bedtime. Had my physical two weeks ago, that went well as it was the first one I've had since getting a diagnosis of mild emphysema after last year's physical. I'd been experiencing an increasing shortness of breath for a couple or three years. Hadn't smoked in 30 years but the damage had been done. I'm dealing with it and expect to be around for a good long time yet. Already been doing the recommended treatment, no smoking (duh), eating right (more or less), getting plenty of exercise, keeping the weight down - some others things as well. I now keep an inhaler handy for when I get a little breathless feeling which can bring on some anxiety. Still keeping up with yard work, the occasional day hike, lunchtime walks. For the time being don't expect "just a little is enough" to become a medical diary, I've got other things on my mind.

Father's Day

First of all, Happy Father's Day to any Dads reading this blog.

Though today is Father's Day mine was yesterday. My son Ian came up for a day visit as he was working today. We drove over to Bradbury State Park for the brief hike up Bradbury Mountain then took the park's Boundary Trail back to the parking lot. Beautiful day for a hike in the woods and though short, maybe 45 minutes, it was nice to be out on a trail and talking about whatever came to mind.

The view from the summit.

Nicely kept trails throughout the park, some large puddles to navigate as we had received about 2 inches of rain the day before.

Vermont weekend wrap up

Saturday put us on the road to check out the scenery and some attractions of interest. Also of interest were the scattered rain showers of varying intensities most of which we managed to avoid, seeing several cruise throughout the regions we were traveling in.

Our first stop was Caledonia Spirits in Harwick, VT purveyors of several types of spirits though focusing mainly on gin. We were shown the distiller and participated in a tasting of there line of gins. I'd never tasted gin so I enjoyed the opportunity to do so and purchased a bottle of their Tom Cat barrel aged gin. Tastings are nice but I realized it wasn't enough to make a judgement whether to keep a bottle around in my liquor cabinet.

Afterwards we hit a little local grid lock as the town we wanted to pass through were holding there annual spring festival and fair parade before we made our way to our next destination.

Here left to right is your blog host (me), wife Carol, wife's sister Lois and driving us around her husband Jim.

Now an example of weather to be dodged though not this time as we were caught in the rain when we arrived at our next stop - the Cabot Creamery. Product tasting ensued then a short but interesting tour of the creamery operation.

After enduring a fair amount of tasting at Cabot we still were ready for some sit down food. As we passed by an interesting building with a cafe and bakery sign then noticed lunch and dinner mentioned below we turned around to check it out. It turned out to be the high light of the day.

Rainbow Sweets is a small operation in floor space and staff but big on quality of the food and the person preparing, suggesting and presenting the food at our table with quips, short stories and explanations of the origins of the lunch and deserts that were prepared for us.

Both Carol and I chose the same - above, "B'stilla: Moroccan shredded chicken in filo pastry with almonds, cinnamon, saffron. Light, aromatic, fluffy, with a Greek salad." ($12)

Below, "St. Honore - 'Johnny Depps on a plate' Profiteroles (eclair balls) filled with custard, dipped in hot caramel on top of fresh whipped cream on top of puffed pastry with pate a chou." ($6)

Add in a couple of cups of coffee, what a lunch!

Well fed and caffeinated - must be time for wine

Here we are at Grand View Winery...

and what a grand view it is.

A enjoyable wine tasting with the owner and a good size group of people who had come together. Carol and I walked away with a Riesling and a Cranberry wine.

Now onto our next stop. 

Views along the way.

Now at Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory where we hoped to take the tour and indulge in a serving, alas it wasn't going to happen. Over an hour for the next tour and a line of a couple hundred people waiting to buy a serving. Being it was late into the afternoon we settled on a visit to B and J's Flavor Graveyard where Jim was able to pay homage to a past flavor favorite of his own.

So it wasn't so bad to miss out on the tour when we were able to enjoy a short hike into the woods on the way back to the campground to visit the Moss Glen Falls. A few people were on the way out as we arrived and we had the entire trail and views to ourselves.

 Ah, the romance of it all ;-)

Sunday Carol and I decided to take a drive to the northeast see a bit of Lake Champlain, cross over to loop through Grand Isle and the islands north of it, then back to the mainland. Lois and Jim headed to the Shelburne area to do some sightseeing and visit with Jim's niece.

We stopped in St. Albans, VT to stretch the legs, then grabbed a cup of coffee from The Traveled Cup.

Carol took this picture of a couple of the signs inside The Traveled Cup

Back to the camp site with plenty of time to do some serious reading.

I had been enjoying a LaBatts while reading when I realized I'd forgotten to pick up a couple of  extra brews for the evening. I did have a Guinness but wanted to save it for later in the evening, after a short time Lois and Jim returned with a 32oz growlette of IPA from the Fiddlehead Brewery in Shelburne that his niece sent back for me. What great timing. With a heady whiff of hops it carried me right through a supper of steak and chicken I'd grilled up and string beans and fried rice Lois prepared. Great meal!

Fine finish to the weekend.

Good Morning Vermont

Waking up today at Mountainview Campground in Morrisville, VT. The Memorial Day Weekend began with rainy drive away from the highways up through western Maine, across New Hampshire and into the Green Mountains of Vermont. The rain itself varied from misty running the gauntlet to the occasional downpour. The initial camper setup was performed in a steady rain then tapered down to nothing and Carol and I were able to finish up without soaking up more water. While just getting started on the setup Lois and Jim arrived pulling into the neighboring campsite. Today is forecasted for occasional showers, our plans are to tour around the region then over to the Burlington area. We hope to visit at least a couple of wineries and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, plus some other sites. We’ll figure it out as we go.

Good day to stay in

Cold, damp and raw with a steady rain - so we go to a rugby match. Of course with Ian playing that was a no brainer. This time Carol and I were accompanied by my brother David, his wife Carolyn and their son Daniel. I definitely wasn't jealous that I wasn't playing. Unfortunately Ian didn't play as much has he would have liked as he either dislocated or broke his left ring finger at the end joint. He'll have it checked out but at the least it's going to be tender for awhile. His team played a higher division team that after having fallen behind earlier gradually controlled the remainder of the match for a victory.

The high winds scare me but I need the breeze.

The wind was (and is now) blowing very strongly today. Left the office for a lunchtime walk via the a stairwell door onto the loading dock where the wind barreled over the adjoining retaining wall. I had to push the door open while it felt as though it would crush me if I didn't slip through quick enough. From there on the air was roaring about seemingly everywhere. I managed to get about a quarter mile while mostly hanging onto my hat with one hand as the other hand regularly guarded my glasses from flying off my face. Finally I had enough, peeled back from my original destination, cut down a couple of streets toward and into the Old Port, ducked into a corner Starbucks for a grande dark and settled onto a stool at a window bar-top to people watch before rejoining the battle at the cube farm.

Cuts like a knife

A south to north swath of mixed weather sliced through the region last night and left 2 inches of snow and about a 25 degree drop in temperature overnight. The local roads were crap, I believe the plow/sanders had been prematurely put away for the season. The whole thing sucked the life out of me. I've never trusted April weather and that has bared out again.

Spring is finally in the air and none too soon

Snow around the yard and the back fields is close to totally gone. Areas with any amount of snow were where the snowbeast targeted the auger chute. Yesterday was so nice with temps in the 60s and plenty of sunshine. It was a gorgeous day for our plans to drive over to New Hampshire to watch Ian and his rugby team play a match there. Today the weather swung the other way to mostly cool, cloudy and mid-day showers. That was fine, plenty to do inside though if there's good weather for the Easter weekend I may have to break out a rake.

computer to the grindstone

Running later than I should be to start desktop publishing of my town's annual warrant for budgets and elective positions. It's a good day to get up to speed as the weather is in a word "horrible". Heavy rain arrived over night, temps dropped to just a little over the freezing point, heavy winds from the north and forecast to bring in some sleet and snow later in the day, all coming to an end tomorrow morning. Now a little procrastination to put off the task at a hand a little further. Doing what comes naturally.

Bracket Fever

The NCAA men's collage basketball tournament has been in full swing over the weekend. Near the end of the first two rounds I'm close to having all four brackets in play for the office pool I'm in. The last game of the weekend has one of the teams I've chosen to be in the final four, I'll be asleep when that is settled. Been a couple or three years since the last time I participated giving away $5 and I'm not much of a follower of collage basketball but it sure does racket up my interest when I have a stake in the results.

Cooler than necessary

With winter continuing to keep us in it's icy grip I haven't minded spending the weekend indoors though with dogs, tasks and such I did have to venture out and about the yard. Yesterday was a treat, temps were close to 50 degrees so snow that needed to be cleared out of the dog pen was taken care of in shirtsleeves. Today it was back to cold with a stiff breeze and mid 20 degrees. At least it was sunny. The great accomplishment for the weekend was that I finally finished cleaning up and organizing my new desk space. after three weekends everything is filed, trashed or recycled, neater than it's been for ten years. We also managed to go out for breakfast yesterday (no eggs in the house) and later in the day

accompanied Carol to do the grocery shopping. Included was a corn beef and fixings for our St. Paddy's Day supper - there will be Guinness consumed.

Do the math

Snow + rain + sleet + road salt/sand + fast drop in temperature = ice rocks. Who knew!?! I didn't until a busted shear pin from the snowbeast's auger briefly halted tonight's clean up operation of the disappointing Winter Armageddon I'd been lead to believe was going to happen. About 3 inches total but it didn't help that the slush part and tire ruts once frozen complicated what should have been a simple task at the end of the driveway.

Ho-hum here comes Winter Armageddon again

I guess we can never get enough of a good thing or winter for that matter. Snow arriving tomorrow afternoon/evening maybe mixing with sleet and continuing through the night, winding down late  Thursday morning. Might get around 10 inches here on Ledge Hill. Gear is ready as usual, right through to April - and then some.

Late winter blossums

Well into pothole season, city streets and secondary rural roads are the worst for wear. Even the roads with or without potholes have their dips and heaves. Tonight's ride home from work brought visions of riding a roller coaster. In heavy bumper to bumper traffic the only warning you might get for an up coming shock to the suspension is a sudden swerve by the driver ahead. Conditions worthy of Mad Max.

Let the light shine

First day of Daylight Savings Time arrived and a splendid one it's been. Sunny, mid 30s, it will only be a memory though for the next few days we'll be getting some snowy reminders of what we had throughout the winter. For today Carol and I went to another RV dealer's open house. This one carried models from the manufacturer of our own trailer and except for  peeking in a couple of "Retro" mini lite travel trailers we stuck to looking at the Cougar 5th wheels made by Keystone. We then  looked through the parts department, checking out accessories we might be interested adding to the gear we already have and  managed to leave with a couple of freebies as open house prizes. Otherwise spent a good afternoon home working on some ongoing projects and Ian checked in from his apartment after returning from a week around Exeter, England, visiting Ali between her classes.

A good Saturday

Not surprising the forecast of a mild sunny Saturday was a wonderful change after the colder days earlier in the week and made for a good day to travel up the highway to meet my newest grand nephew. Born Wednesday morning to the son of one of my brothers and his wonderful wife. Looking forward to watching him grow up. It was a brief visit after which my mother, my sister Kathy with her son Jim and his wife Kelly and I adjourned to the Olive Garden for lunch. A Chicken Caesar Salad with a beer for me, keeping it light as I've consumed a few extra calories lately - not really much of a diet meal but at the OG it would be easy to go way over the top. Followed up lunch by giving my mother a ride home where I worked out some computer issues for her before heading home myself.

More than a grain of salt

I'm willing to go all in with the recent weather forecasts of a traditional early March weather and a continuing trend beyond that. The cold in the air has been so consistent that I'm always overdressed in lined pants or a set of long underwear, my heavy ski jacket and lined leather boots. My toes still bother me from the frostbite I suffered, it's not a winter I'll soon forget though I will try my best.

Swedish invasion

The activities of the last three weekends including this one have been in heavily influenced by the Swedish phenomenon of Ikea. Two weeks ago I chauffeured Carol and her sisters down to the Stoughton, Massachusetts store, its been a couple of years or more since I've been there - the sisters seem to make the trip about every 5 or 6 months which includes a stock up stop at the Portsmouth liquor store and lunch with Ian who lives nearby. This time I went to look over bathroom sinks and cabinets for a renovation project we're planning, by bringing the truck the trio were able to cart more stuff home. I hadn't grasped that Carol had planned to refurnish our den/office, tables, shelves this trip - sometimes I'm just not paying much attention. So that brings me to last weekend, We dismantled the existing desk shelving combo units, trucked it out to the transfer station for disposal, popped in to Cole Farms for lunch then back home to begin assembling the new arrangement. In the process we generated a large mess from displacing things in draws, cabinets files, etc from the previous arrangements. Once the shelving and desktops were in place Carol began setting up her workspace, I began the overall clean up that I finished up this weekend and began setting up on my own workspace.

Near finished but there is still plenty of things to sort through, throw out or recycle, repackage so the adventure will continue as I have time - gör det roliga någonsin att upphöra?

Chillin'

Presently in the midst of a quiet week after a weekend of temperatures in the 40s we're back to the cold side. I'd say we're about 15 degrees or more colder than average for this time of year. Upside has been no new snow to cleanup or drive through. The truck and car appear to be garaged in a salt mine, maybe a drive to the car wash is in order for the weekend.

In the rearview mirror

Nice to have the relentless winter battering behind me for the time being. From wicked cold to snowstorm after snowstorm and finished off with some heavy rain turning roadway snow into slippery slush with winter thunder and lightening. Today and tomorrow mild and sunny, temps in the 40s, can step outside without a jacket, just put a sweatshirt on to keep the breeze at bay. I rolled out the snowbeast to check the auger and drive cables and adjusted the skidplates so I'm ready for the next storm that thankfully isn't yet in the 5 day forecast. By Monday there will be a steady drop in temperatures but having the weekend that is I won't think much about what's to come.

S-O-S, different day

I know how tomorrow starts and there is a forecast for an afternooner for when I finally get back home from work.

Me and snow, we go way back

When I was a kid the only time I put a shovel to snow was to dig a snow cave or tunnel. As an homeowner the shovel is a given but I've also used a lawn tractor with a blower attachment, for a number of years we had our driveway done by a snow plow guy and now for the last 10 - 15 years it's been the walk behind snowthrower - I'm on my second, a Troy-Bilt 28 inch wide. Thursday's 9 - 10 inches of snow and last night's 4" additional snow have kept me quite busy though at this point I'm open to other forms of winter recreation like moving to a warmer winter climate.

Winter wiggles

Picked up a bit of frostbite during snow removal operations after last week's storm. I had my boots packed too tight to allow air to help insulate inside the boots. I've been out clearing snow for a long time, had cold feet often but nothing that ever ended up as a medical condition. Finally visited the doc today, the discomfort didn't seem to be improving. He looked over my toes particularly the big left toe which had the largest sore, about the size of a quarter. He went through what I should do in the future, stuff I know just never bothered with or thought what I have was and usually is enough. Recommended the toe/foot warmer pads, better socks and boots. For treatment of the present condition keep my toes warm and 600 mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day for two weeks. There I thought my toes were going fall off. I get to put to practice what I've been told, snowing now with projections of 10 inches or more by morning. Will the fun ever stop.

Into this life a little (more) snow must fall

Dang, all in for the night when I remember that I hadn't gassed up the snowblowerbeast. Just brought home a fresh gallon of gas last night. Had filled up the truck and was about finished filling the gas can when a Japanese woman from the other side of the pumps said to me "a lot of the animals are dying". Concerned I was about to get an earful of anti-hunter spiel I asked "what animals?" "The ones in the woods" she replied, "from all the snow and the cold weather, there must be a lot of them dying". Well I tried to assure her that most animals will hunker down during the worst of it. She didn't seem convinced as I capped the can, loaded into the back and made for the warmth of the front seat to get home. It had been a long day as I'd gone to workout first thing so I stayed at the office until 6pm. It's been a long cold streak and it's finally catching up to me dragging my attitude and energy down and now we're expecting snow to come in midday tomorrow, ending Friday morning after leaving about 10 inches in it's wake. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm.

Dead Cat Walking

Not actually, more of a sight for sore eyes. It all started like a normal weekday morning - I get up at 4:45am, one or both dogs comes down stairs with me to go out for the morning's business, if one goes the other one appears after I close the door on the first. Then Scotia shows up for her own personal exit. Then I fill the food bowls and a fresh bowl of water, let the dogs back in and maybe the cat comes back in, maybe not. Didn't remember either way this morning. We received a wee bit more snow overnight than had been forecast, enough that I wanted to clean the driveway after eating my breakfast. Still dark out when I open the garage door where I see cat paw prints heading away along the driveway to about where under the snow there is piled lumber that Scotia frequents in search of chipmunks but as I approach that location with the snowthrower the tracks end in a little circle of disturbed snow no paw prints going away from there in any direction. Damn I think, a fricking Snowy Owl nabbed my cat!

Those things can grab 12lbs of cat and hell she's barely 7 years old, I'm too close to retirement to break in a new cat (that's another story for another day). So I lament her loss over the day, not a good way to go being hauled off suddenly by a bird of prey the day after she was trying to prey on birds in the backyard. I wondered if she might have managed to escape the talons and survive to find her way home. Once home

from work on a drive where I anticipated having to inform Carol of the tragic end of our feline family member I was met by the dogs and as we entered the house there's the cat in the kitchen watching our entrance, normal as can be. I picked her, looked her over, healthy as ever. Told Carol my story, she says that Scotia had been in all day. Idiot cat!! But how did she get from where her tracks ended in the snow covered driveway and am I going to lose sleep over it tonight?!?