Crazy Weather

I have just boarded the train in Westerly on my way to Trenton.  I got the only seat left and because it is pouring rain I am sitting in the 'drip' seat where water is dripping on my arm like a water torture.  Lucky me.  If I hold my arm behind me it drips on the seat but I don't think I can hold that position for 4 hours!

Nancy and her daughter Abby came up to CT this weekend.  We found a fabulous cider mill where they press cider using a steam engine.

Then we went to lunch in Noank at an old general store that has a 1950's ice cream counter where Abby ordered a strawberry milkshake done the old fashioned way with just ice cream and milk.

After everyone left on Monday I was able to crank up the radio with some serious rock and roll.  I finished painting the room Irv calls the library.  Thank goodness Nancy was here on Monday to help us put together 2 Ikea bookcases-I don't ever want to do that again.  Bad Hemnes!  

In the end, though, the room (and my newly painted shabby chic mantle) look good.

It is Very Quiet Here

It is 7 am and so quiet here except for the sound of an occasional gun shot (it is prime hunting season) and Lewis banging on the door because he wants to go out (again!). Yesterday was a warm day and while Irv was at Home Depot (another again!!) I took the dogs to venture a bit on the Barn Island Trail.  I love this outcropping of rocks on our neighbors yard.

It feels like Vermont yet you can feel the ocean breezes and hear the fog horns.  

The trail is beautiful.  This really is why we are here-funky house, on again, off again heat, quirky tradesmen, and a farm near the ocean

The Heat Is On...Then Off...Then On...Then Off

Irv spent another 'men only' weekend addressing the various heating issues-furnace and fireplaces-as well as feverishly painting.  This time moving into the final unpainted room on the first floor which we call 'the fireplace room' or 'the library' or 'that other room'.

Good news.  The heat was on when Irv arrived.  Bad news.  The heat stopped when he left (out of propane).  Oh dear.  Luckily the chimney sweep showed up Friday and Irv was able to spend his evenings in front of a fire with a book.  

For a nice change of pace,  he was able to take a walk on the hiking trails behind the house that are part of the 995 acre Barn Island Wildlife Management Area.  Here is a link to the hiking map (the hippie house is located near the entrance). www.theday.com/assets/pdf/NL80928210.PDF

No show Weekend

We seem to be having a problem getting any heat source in this house.  No show on the furnace guy who perhaps is having some personal problems. No show on the chimney guy because it was too windy on Friday.  The brand new oven needs a replacement fan.  Can't get no heat!  Thank goodness it was a warm weekend.

Mighty dog Lewis had his struggles this weekend starting with throwing up in the car 10 minutes from the house then 3 times after that-then he was starving and wanted to eat (how do they do that?).  Then he hurt his foot somehow and could barely walk all Saturday but recovered in time to bark his fool head off at 4 am this Sunday morning and insisted on being walked (with no limp).  Twice.  He said he didn't know it was daylight savings time.  Thank goodness the coffee maker works. 

The kitchen at 5:30 am.