Packing Up

Marcia is heading for a week-long quilting workshop with Nancy Crow at her Barn (www.nancycrow.com) near Columbus, OH.

This involves packing many boxes of fabric, sewing machine, iron, ironing board, cutting mats, and other sewing supplies.

Inspector Suki is on the job making sure all items are secured.

Watch for workshop pictures next weekend...

Fall CleanUp

On our little farm there are never-ending seasonal rhythms that repeat each year. Here Dr. Scoville, our long-time vet, uses a power rasp and lighted head gear to file down the sharp points on the horse's teeth. In this elaborate procedure the horse is tranquilized, haltered and tethered. Both horses recovered in good fashion, and we agree with Dr. Scoville's secretary, who told us that the owners mind the process more than the horses.



The garden harvest continues. Surely these peppers, raspberries, and statice flowers must be near the end of the growing season. We'll see....














In these pictures Marcia cleans up the fall debris in the deck pond. First she removes and cleans the sleeve covering the pump which controls the waterfall. The pump was also cleaned.








Marcia skims the leaves floating on the surface of the pond after falling from the overhanging marine locust tree. You can see the legs of the garden chair which has provided a safe haven for our fish to hide from the area blue heron.

Fall Colors

Late afternoon finds the horses munching away in their pasture. The recent rain has helped promote some grass growth, and Fella and Crystal take advantage of the new feed.

The bush maple in the gazebo garden bursts into color. This plant is a profuse grower, and it is time to do some serious pruning prior to next year's growth. We will miss this fall display until the current shape returns in a few years.


The two-tiered pond off the deck is about ready for winter. We'll turn off the pump and let the upper pond freeze. A spot in the lower pond will be kept open with a stock tank heater to let the fish breathe in the requisite oxygen for survival.








The unusual colors and textures of the peeling bark of the river birch add interest all year. This tree has become popular as it survives the insects that bedevil its cousin, the white birch. We have this 20-year old version and have seen no signs of damage on trunk, limbs or leaves.

Penn Yan and Keuka Lake

When traveling into Yates County, all roads seem to go by the Edgewood Country Store. (Actually it is on Voak Road.) The offerings include clothing, kitchenware of all types, a bookstore, sewing supplies, and of course, yards and yards of quilting fabric.








We just happened to arrive during the 14th anniversary sale. Although we don't need a lot of incentive, the 10% discount on fabric led to a hearty purchase.









A nice view of Keuka Lake from the overlook outside of Branchport. The temperature in the low 80's seemed summer-like, and there were both power and sail boats visible on the water.










A pretty typical stand of color on the way to the Esperanza Mansion for lunch. We were disappointed with the poor service and left after 30 minutes of being seated at a table and never having a waitress stop by. It is a beautiful spot, and the service there is usually adequate, though never outstanding. The lack of organization and good management practices today were all too evident. We motored on to Canandaigua and had an excellent lunch and service at Koozina's!

Window Treatments

We ordered wooden blinds from and installed by a store here in Palmyra. We always try to support local business where possible. The windows are a Fruitwood color which does a good job of matching the surrounding woodwork.















The double doors presented a more formidable challenge. Parallel hanging slats on a track that pulls open and closed proved to be the proper remedy.


The window blinds allow many varieties of settings to range from completely open status to totally closed, or any position in between. We had considered a pergola on the exterior to shield from the autumn and winter sun as it traverses the lower angles of the southern sky.









The main door covering pulled and folded to the completely open position. We decided the interior treatment for the windows was a better option to the lattice work or awnings on the outside. We like the clean, linear look of the exterior and the way it matches the original house in form.

Another Finishing Day

Tad prepares the styrofoam to insulate the entrance to the crawl space in the new bathroom. He had hoped to deliver the replacement screen door today too, but it had not reached the vendor as scheduled. So he'll have to make a return trip to install the new screen.







The opening to the "attic" above the bathroom in the studio. The opening was required by building codes as the space is a couple of inches taller than the minimum. We all agree that the access to the space was easily available with the panel in case of fire, but such are the rules.....








Tad replaced a couple of light fixtures in the laundry room on the main floor. He also repaired the door chime function from the front door on the first floor to the new studio. In addition he added a new roller to the track on one of the closet doors in the new studio. Our list of remaining jobs on the punch list is down to very few.







Beth Brandkamp and Marcia had a sewing day with the main goal being to get started on projects they had on their schedules. They are both happy to report that it was a successful day! Here's Beth with her beginning design.

From India & Nepal

Priscilla Kibbee returned from her trip to India and Nepal with some treasures to show and many to share with her friends at the RAFA meeting. Here she's showing a wonderful hand-embroidered shawl.

There was a bit of a frenzy while we all went through the treasures to select the ones we wanted.




These came home with me.......

Turquoise is about my most favorite color, and this terrific little purse has mirrors inside each embroidered eyelet.

The little wooden horse is for stamping.



This is a hand-woven cotton shawl from Nepal.

















And this hand-woven cotten scarf is also from Nepal.

Closing the Cottage - III

With the arrival of cold weather, Inspector Suki prepares for winter by shortening her outdoor schedule. She prefers to spend the evenings curled up on a warm lap. A covering to provide a semi-tent is always appreciated.


The Chase Lake cottage property overlooks an island. If you left click on the picture, you can see the outlines of a cottage that was built there several years ago. The inhabitants arrive and leave by boat at the dock on the right side of the picture. All the property in the area, including the lake, was owned by one man who sold off building lots over the years. An underwater cable delivers electricity to the island. We have never asked about the septic system.







All this property lies just within the western boundaries of the Adirondack State Park. The extended drought of this year has limited the intensity of fall colors and will lead to a ranking of slightly below average conditions for the 2007 "leaf peepers." The display, such as it is, nears peak and baring heavy rain or strong winds will last another week or so. A lot of the trees shed their leaves early due to stressful growing conditions. But the wonderful rhythms of Mother Nature promise better futures. Wait until next year!

More finishing

The file drawer spacing in the new cabinets needed some tweaking. Eric from New Energy came by to add vertical space to the four drawers. It required some precise measurements and realignment. He also reset some of the knobs on the drawers and cabinets.



Painter Jim Deacon joined Eric as he applied touch-up paint to several spots on the walls in the new studio. Both of them were able to remedy any problems, and the list of remaining jobs continues to diminish.








Plumber Jim Burgio returned to complete repairs on the hydrant in the horse pasture. He also installed the doors for the new shower, and here he and Bill prepare to add handles to the glass doors.









The final step in the process. The doors have 3/8-inch glass, are 80 inches tall, and are very heavy. Jim and Bill jockey them into the proper tracks. Both doors fit well, and Jim's initial measurements were accurate and faithfully translated into the final product by the vendor. Another job well done!

Closing - Part II

Marcia's Dad remodeled the cottage in the 80's and added a new addition. Pictured is the master bedroom wich features more wide-board pine. It is a large room with plenty of space for a king-sized bed and a walk-in closet.






The lakeside as seen from the dock. There is a nice cove here with a sandy bottom only a foot or so below the surface. As there are no power boats allowed on the lake, waves are not a problem and the area makes a good wading spot for both kids and adults.

The winding driveway to the cottage from the north road. All transit areas are owned by the homeowners and are not open to public use. Marcia is pulling in with the Jeep, which was picked up at the nearby private airport where her brother parks his plane. The grounds are always covered in pine needles as 40-foot red and white pines populate all the property.







Marcia climbs into the "Rubicon" as we prepare to head home. We ran into serious thunderstorms driving across the Tug Hill plateau and can see why they routinely get four-foot snowfalls in winter as the elevation squeezes out the moisture from the air's trip across Lake Ontario. Marcia indicated that the Jeep, with its extra wide tires, wanted to hydroplane through the puddles and streams of water on the road. She had lots of fun!!

Closing the Cottage

Marcia and her brother inherited this wonderful log cabin on Chase Lake (near Lowville, NY) from their parents. You can see the old stone fireplace and the walls constructed of real pine logs and concrete layering.









The ceiling rises at a high pitch with "lodge pole" supports. The window is new and is at the peak facing the lake.











The opposite end of the room holds a loft. The red steps of the ladder are shown. The portable stairway can be pulled down for access. Note also the wide plank boards as part of the partition and railing.








The outside of the cabin as seen from the lakeside. It was built in the 1950's and has been upgraded and refurbished several times. The roof was added in the '80s and the stone work on the front porch was recently rebuilt.