The Years To Remember

 The weather has been quite lovely, so it's hard to stay home and tend to the house, and it needs a lot of tending to! Friday I felt like a long bike ride, so I headed to the Electric Rail Trail for 28 miles with a stop at mile 14 for a Greek chicken wrap for dinner. There were quite a few animals along the trail including a bobcat which was too fast for me to get a picture. There were too many rabbits and woodchucks to count, along with the usual deer and hawks. Dinner break at Samascott Orchard Farm Store - a favorite destination on the trail. Basil and sunflowers are in the planter. The horses were heading into the barn as it was the evening when I was heading back. Hawk The deer was completely unfazed as I stopped for a photo and a chat. Saturday I joined a group of friends to hike up Bromley Mountain in Vermont. Seven miles and 1400 ft of elevation was fairly moderate, but it left me with no energy for anything else once I got home.  The view from close to the summit. The...

  I rarely like to go on activities on the weekends because - people - but I was talked into a kayak on South West Bay of Lake Champlain. It was a nice day out with AJ, Susan, Ann Marie, Lyne, and Patty B. We had some good laughs and fine weather. It was three and a half hours of hard paddling so my arms and core got a great workout. The lake scenery was a bit lacking although some cliffs appeared at the south end of the lake. This was the best we could find for a rest break and snack. I guess a standing break was fine since we were sitting in the kayaks so long. On Sunday, I cut slits in a sunhat I don't wear too much to make a biking  helmet brim to keep the sun off my face. I know I'm spending way too much time in the sun, so between hats and SPF 50 sunscreen I'm trying to mitigate the harm.  I wore it on the quick ride into town and it worked beautifully. Mystery solved! I planted 24 seeds in the spring which I thought were marigolds, but as soon as their leaves appea...

Zinnia's being visited by a Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.  Saturday's bike event, Ride The Hudson Valley, was a well marked, beautifully executed event put on by the Bike New York organization. Even though it was another 90+ day, the heat didn't bother me at all during the 33 mile ride. I think I've acclimated to the high temps and humidity. As I've been telling myself when I balk at the heat - just do it hot. 😎 Gearing up for the ride with 2 new friends, Patty and Sue Ellen. I love my hiking group as I've made more friends in the past 8 years than I did in the previous 30. This was taken from the Walkway Over The Hudson looking south. Taking a little break. I think I've been covered in sunscreen for weeks. Much of this ride was on the back roads, rather than the bike trails. It was beautiful scenery. I think that's Sue Ellen behind me. Patty took a wrong turn and ended up doing 55 miles. She is a beast. Back at the party. Monday was Susan's birt...

My new-ish neighbors are loud (sometimes). I'm a fairly tolerant person so the loud parties can mostly be ignored. However, the police visits are new, as is the parade of visitors to the house. I can't wait to see how this all plays out. 😳 Earlier this spring, I made arrangements for a new patio and hot tub to be installed in my back yard, but I've since decided a (tall) privacy fence is definitely going to be part of the project. I discussed details with my builder yesterday as to the color and pattern of stone (grey) as well as the fence (also grey). The town Building Inspector will be by on Friday to discuss how far my 6 ft fence can extend. I hope a dog will be in my future which is another reason for the fence. By the end of August I should have a backyard retreat to enjoy all winter.  Or at least the part of the winter I'm not travelling. The other day, I went on the most challenging hike in a couple of years. Hurricane Mtn which has an elevation gain of 2100 ft ...

A decent view on a warm day. Thursday - Potash Mtn hike was just a short little butt kicker in the foothills of the Adirondacks. The pace was a bit too slow for some of us, so we set up another hike for Monday. The weather was beautiful and there was plenty of time to chat about our upcoming adventures. Large groups like this don't move very fast! Friday - Susan and I made a plan to kayak on Lake Abanakee, for the views, the exercise, but mostly to see loons. We were successful before we even crossed under the bridge.   A little loon family with the male diving, then feeding the chick.  It's almost a 2 hour drive to get here, but quite a beautiful long lake. Susan was able to get this shot with her very large telephoto lens. Saturday - The rains came on the weekend which suits me fine. I try to stay home on weekends as all the working folk are out there clogging up the roads. I did pop over to the Farmer's Market with Annette to get some more garlic scapes and beets. On S...