July 10, 2005, Florence, VT

Photo of Bearfoot at Lake Robertson, VA in May.

Wow! It seems forever since I have been able to post here. I have encountered all kinds of problems with online availability. I was using a very slow dial-up modem for short periods of time in this busy household. Then my grandson got their cable dial up running and I was able to use my wireless high speed but only for a short time. It wouldn't let me on again after that and it wasn't until just a short time ago I was told that the very same grandson had installed a firewall on the system. No wonder I couldn't get on. Now I am on dial-up again until he gives me the codes to over ride the firewall. Computers!! Or is it grandsons? It is always busy here, teens coming and going plus two little ones. I am still riding my bike 12 miles every other day. I feel much better when I am actively engaged in a vigorous type of exercise. Tomorrow I have an appt to have my broken tooth fixed in Castleton, VT where I lived a long while ago. My appt is in the afternoon so since the kayak is still loaded on the car, I plan to go over early and launch on Lake Bomoseen for a couple of hours. Lake Bomoseen is actually the largest lake in Vermont totally within the bounds of the State. There are others but most of them are on borders with other states. As I recall it is about 12 miles long and a mile wide at the widest point. It is a bit busy on weekends with motorboat traffic but during the week, it isn't too bad. Used to be good fishing there esp for large mouth bass.

I still haven't managed to get back to Chittenden Reservoir to spy on the nesting loon's but I will toward the end of this week. The farmer across the road here puts out fresh veggies, jams, relishes, pickles and eggs in a cooler each day by the road side with a tupper ware container for the money. Today we picked up some fresh beets with lovely greens attached. I picked up a dozen eggs, all different colors, for the different chickens that chase each other around the garden. Totally wonderful! Also a lot of fun choosing which color egg I want to cook.

All the hurricane hype on the media always reminds me of the years I spent in NC on the Neuse River estuary of Broad Creek in Oriental and Whortonville. There were 6 bad storms during the time I was there. The storms were one of the reasons I moved to VA in 2001. I found the storm season to be too stressful. I feel for the folks who are being hit repeatedly again this year. We went through that weather pattern too.

Got to start thinking about moving Bearfoot soon to empty the holding tanks. Will keep you all posted.