July 6, 2007

Bash and I are hunkered down in Bearfoot since we are under a severe T-storm warning and it is raining again. I just put my awning back up this morning. It was sunny, warm and lovely. Bash and I took a long walk down to Rt. 40 and back up the hills. I am glad to have done that since the black clouds came in behind us. Cool temps and frequent showers seem to be the summer so far in this part of the world.

Went to another concert last night in Granville, NY at the park there. Heard the Sundowners. Good old fashioned R & R. These concerts are held free of charge in all the little communities here in Washington County as well as Vermont. Lots of good music and fun.

As I was walking and gawking at the scenery this morning, I thought about how I am always trying to recreate what I see with my eyes through the camera lens or with a brush. It can't be done! No matter how one tries, the textures, the depth, the colours and the smells cannot be duplicated. God has the patent on all this beauty. But I keep trying anyway. I hope you all enjoy the pics. The corn is as "High As a Normal Knee Cap" and it is a couple of days after the fourth of July so all is on track as it should be. I started taking pictures when I was a small girl with an old Kodak brownie. I have been through several cameras in my lifetime and am now back to an inexpensive digital Kodak with a malfunctioning zoom lens. It quit shortly after I photographed my three wonderful daughters competing in the Freihofer Race for the Cure last summer in Albany, NY in the rain. I haven't replaced the camera because I like it, it's paid for and it works, well kinda. The question is, what would I do with this one if I bought a new one?

Have you seen Ratatoulle? I would like to do so. I like some of the new animated films. The theme song from An Inconvenient Truth by Melissa Etheridge, I Need To Wake Up, is another great from a fabulous artist. If you haven't heard it and her other great one, I Run For Life, do so. You won't forget those special songs.

Gotta go do some laundry. More later......

July 4, 2007

These pictures were taken last night at a concert in the park at Moreau, NY. The Irish band, the Macleads were entertaining us. This park is a well-maintained historical site along the Hudson River. The grinding wheels seen in the photos are from the 1700's Grist Mills located on the river here. A nice evening. I find though that I need a blanket later in the evening this year. The weather reminds one of late August or Sept. Today, the parades and fireworks displays will be dampened by the rains predicted. Right now as I type, the wind has picked up and it is overcast. I just brought in my awning and outdoor things. I learned long ago from my sailing days not to put off battening down the sails for a storm. Mid-storm firedrills are no fun. We are having a quiet day at home. Steak on the grill and other good eats on the menu.

I went biking yesterday over the hills and the dales again. Only made 8 miles before I had to quit. My heart and lungs find these hills most challenging. Also, my derailer is not working forcing me to ride in 2nd gear all the time. The limitations put more strain on my cardiovasular system. But I do walk some of the hills which is actually good for me. My sis went into the pool but I couldn't bring myself to do so since the cold nights have finally reduced the temp from a balmy 86 degrees. I have been playing with My Space. If any of you wish to check it out, please ask me.

I also painted yesterday outside under the awning. Did a sketch for a granddaughter and completed a couple of unfinished ones from last year. I started a series of animals done in oil a few years ago and I now feel it is time to continue with them. On My Space I have an album of some paintings as I do on this site. I will be adding more.

Happy Independance Day!

July 1, 2007

Wow, the month has gone by fast. I have been busy since the last posting. I went to a birthday party for one of my granddaughter's in Florence, Vermont. Stayed overnight since I don't drive after dark. They are in the middle of a mound system project for the waste. What a challenge that is. I remember having to replace a leach field years ago but this mound system is something else entirely. We went to see Evan Almighty. It was a fun movie. We also went to their local rec center and while my daughter and I sat in the sun near a babbling brook, the children swam. We shared a picnic lunch too.

I picked up one of my older granddaughter's at basketball camp at Castleton State college and she spent the last 3 days with me. What fun we have had! She has a great sense of humor and I have found myself laughing a lot. We climbed Haystack Mt. in Pawlet's Mettawee Valley. I have included some of the photos. It was our Everest! Tough climb but well worth it. She created a My Space blog site for me. It is lots of fun and I can post personal stuff on it along with many family photos. You do have to have a My Space page in order to share. If any of my readers wish to do so, let me know.

Today we went to an art show nearby with my sister and her husband. The paintings were of local animals and children from the community. Some of them were done with their County fair show animals. The building was an old dairy barn, the gallery upstairs in the hay loft. Downstairs is a huge gift shoppe with lots of unique and fun things. The countryside in this area is incredibly beautiful and very rural.

It is chilly here at night but in the 70's during the day. We have had occasional showers too. Last week, it was warm here and there were few bugs so I had left the door to Bearfoot open while I did something outside. The 120 lb. retriever from next door apparently came into the coach and stole two of Bashey's toys. The next day Bash went down there and brought back one of the toys. The next day, I mentioned that his Tiki toy (a new gift from Wendy) was missing. There was a report that a blue toy had been spotted two houses away. Bash went out and disappeared. I called and called but no Bash. Finally, he came to the door and asked to come in. He had Tiki in his mouth albiet a very dirty Tiki. We washed it and he put it back in his toy bag. He just understands everything I say. Amazing dog!