and, sadly, Irene visits New York

Well - by Saturday we knew that "Irene" was heading our way. A few precautions paid off. The wind forcast of 40-70 mph didn't pan out - and that was FINE, but we did get at least 6" of rain in less than 12 hours. This was devistating to our region. Thankfully - we're on really high ground. We suffered NO water in in appropriate places, no power loss (not sure how we lucked out there - we usually loose it for awhile), and no downed trees. Really LUCKY. Here are two of Davids Water DIVERSION PIPES - on all the downspouts. The basement stayed DRY!
The back yard did not. Here is a huge puddle forming over the septic area. It is all dry today. We had a beautiful dry 65F day - and are forecast for more of the same all week.

We even brought our little Silver Spangled Hamburgs into the garage for Sunday. We never opend the coop - and these little beauties tend to be at the bottom of the pecking order. So - we saved them the abuse by "crating" them for the day. We also brought the canoes into the garage, lots of potted plants, and patio furniture from the decks.

Now the aftermath. This is Route 2 just East of Brunswick. This is a mile from the girls school. This section is a total wash out. Friends live along this creek and have businesses here. We're not in touch with them (loss of their power) and don't know how they are faring.

The girls and I went up to the Schaghticoke Fair grounds to make their 4H Fair entries today. See www.tandskill.blogspot.com for all that "news". On the way home I stopped to take a few pictures of the Hoosic River. THis is usually a "small" tributary to the Hudson. OMG - it was just devistating to see. Made my stomach turn over.

Another shot of the Hoosic River.

Then we headed to Lansingburg - along the Hudson. The river, at 4pm, was starting to crest. Realize - this is 24 hours after Irene had departed this region. Just a mess. David's plant is just a few miles up-river from here. They have been shutdown since Saturday - no flooding - the river crested just short of really making a mess of this facility. Local towns, Waterford, Troy, Lansingburg -not so lucky. Lots of homes underwater, lots of roads washed out, lots of homes GONE - even an historic covered bridge in Vermont which took a huge hit from this storm.

New York State Fair

Ingrid and Grace start the long trek from the parking lot, over I-690 and other roads, to the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse. A LONG walk.
Grace needs a bit of a break after the walk was done. HEre she is with her poster and frame pack - all set for her demonstration - one at 10:30 and another at 2:30.

Really - it wasn't child abuse - she INSISTED to carry this 32 Pound pack from the FAR ORANGE LOT to the 4H building. We need to talk to our COUNTY EDUCATOR about the parking arrangements! She carried it all the way back at the end of the day too. We were tired - and actually, left a bit earlier than planned due to IRENE - we wanted to be sure to get home ahead of the rain and help David put some of the heavier stuff away. Canoes- grills - What would a fair be without suckling piglets! 12 on 1! WOWIE! It was cute - they wagged their little stumpie tails.

Fun Fun Fun Sugar - looking for Donna (her pet duck from, well - 50 years ago!). Sugar LOVES ducks!

Grace on the stage during her 1st presentation on the main stage.

Jack's quest was complete - he found the Gianelli stand - sausage and peppers. We parted from them around 2pm - I wonder if he had a SECOND HELPING before hitting the road! Sugar and the girls - walking about! While Jack was "feasting"!

Grace - checking the time to see if it's time to start her 2nd presentation!

Grace -doing her 2nd presentation!

OMG - Grace petting Wick - amazing - and a BEAUTIFUL horse.

Many thanks to Jack & Sugar for sharing Grace's presentations with us and this fun day at the New York State Fair!

Big Moose Lake - NY

This unique display near the fire station announces ones arrival to BIG MOOSE!
and a few miles down the road - we come to the Orvis camp. It was once part of the Glenmore Hotel - an historic sort of place from 100 years ago. Neat stuff.

The girls found the basement and launched the two kayaks within an hour of our arrival. It was as if they SMELLED them out! Grace LOVES being out on the water .......... and Ingrid thinks the porch swing is pretty neat!

Ingrid and this loon (just behind her shoulder) had a nice cruize around the lake until he took a dive! We have seen and heard loons on EVERY lake we've been on this summer. Wonderful to experience. Just relaxing...

No - there is no dishwasher and YES - you will DO ther dishes.....

Saturday there was a Water Ski Show - so cool to spill down onto our borrowed dock and spectate. Very nice - relaxing even!

Give a teenager a stereo - with a BIG MIRROR over - and she'll "get to work"! Big Moose Lake just before sunset with fog starting to spill onto the water. Our Camp Owners will have a fit - - - we "BORROWED" the canoe and one Kayak to go explore a nearby lake - Twitchell - just a few miles away. This camp has been here a long leanin' time! Love the accidental shot with the unusual paddle!

David was enchanged with this little lake. So quiet. No big boats. Now - here is an ideal camp.

After reading Woodswoman (I and II and III and IV) it was clear thatAnne LaBastille led an interesting life. Some knew where her 12'x12' self-built cabin was - but most not until she passed away last month. It was very nostalgic to be here the weekend of her memorial. Whatt a life - read the books!

The water off the Twitchell Dock was deep enough for some good jumping!

The outflow just charming. A WWI memorial marks the spot. Tranquil.

St. Rose Music Camp

BLOGSPOT will NOT let me post a link to another BLOG. Nice ehh? So - go to youtube.com and search on: Saint Rose Summer Youth Music Op. 3

to find videos. Ingrid is in the front row of the wind ensemble with her flute - singing in the BIG all-camp choir and in a piano duet. The Wind Ensemble is wonderful - there were 3 concerts over 2 weeks. It was a wonderful experience. She is in the pieces RUMBLE ON THE HIGH PLAINS and GREAT GATE OF KIEV!

Camping in the St. Regis Canoe Area - NYS

We're just back this afternoon from 4 days camping up in the Saranacs. Beautiful canoing - we had great weather. Here Grace finds the "beach" on our campsite at Rollins Pond. Sweet.
David and Ingrid enjoy a lazier moment back at camp between canoe trips!

This is on Floodwood Pond where another channel takes you into the Fish creek. Given ambition and all day -this is a loop. We didn't have quite that much ambition, and took several in and out trips instead.

Along the channel between Rollins Pond and Floodwood Pond. This is a really neat way to "portage" between bodies of water. VERY VERY COOL.

Grace tries her hand at the Sven-Saw! nice job! While we were REALLY reluctant to stay at Rollins Pond - there are 250 campsites right next door to another 350 at Fish Creek - we were at site 229 a long way in. Rollins was more open and spacious than Fish Creek - so we lucked out. Originally we wanted to canoe in to a free camping spot on Follensby Clear Pond - but the weather didn't look too promising and it was too risky with the kids. Another time. Our site was nice tho - local vendors come thru with ice, firewood, treats, ice-cream in the evenings and canoe rentals in the morning!

These "services" are is VERY handy. It takes 25 mintues at 15 mph and lots of stop and go around campers and kids on bikes, etc.... to get from where we camped to the road - past about 350 of these campsites! It was much quieter than we expected as sites are strung in a single line. Everyone has "lakefront" and the noise isn't what we expected. What teenagers do while camping. $#&**$(&#*( TEXT on their cells!

At a swimming hole near our campsite - the girls try out some new hairdos!

....and cartwheels

Gretchen and the girls decided that they needed ONE MORE canoe excursion before calling it a weekend! The girls finally decided swimming here was COOL - and decked themselves out. Grace said she wanted to SWIM back from the swimming hole!

At Follensby Clear Pond Ingrid decides that stroking backwards is easier than getting "power" from her forward stroke - so paddles backwards for awhile. Fun. Well - until the wind camp up out on the open lake anyway!

Um - they are a bit serious about bears at Rollins Pond Campground!

A Trip to Hulett's Landing - Lake George, NY

The Johnsons are pretty much our best friends. EVERYONE is friendly -the Dad's, the Mom's and all the kids. We LOVE doing just about anything with them. They have a beautiful little camp up North. We get to visit once or so a summer. Last weekend we spent Thurs/Fri with them and another weekend, Sat/Sun at home. PERFECTO!

Here we are letting the kids launch themselves off a big rock. I think Ingrid is mid-air. I for one - was glad when we were done with this part of the adventure. Lake George is crystal clear. The QUEEN of American Lakes - this spot was 30-80' deep - clear to the bottom - and amazing. site to be seen by all at least once.
Just a shot of Eliza - such a sweet girl!

And here is everyone (exept the photographer of course) enjoying dinner on the beautiful porch overlooking the lake. Just a beautiful spot

The Morton Kids and the Johnson kids EVEN have fun brushing their teeth together in a 5'x5' (MAX!) bathroom! Face it - EVERYTHING is fun at camp!

It has to be said that GRETCHEN is NOT a lake girl. I do OK - but it is Cindy that is the LAKE GIRL. Here she is way out in Indian Bay with all four kids. This spot is relatively shallow - one can stand in some places and everyone moves rocks around on the bottom to spell things. Maybe next year I'll get brave enough to swim out with all the kids too!

BFF's

All for of 'um. Grace really made strides with her swimming this month. She was jumping off the dock WITHOUT a live preserver - and loving every minute of it! S welling with pride here - I, despite David's nada-swimming-persona, have SWIMMERS. THANK GOD!

Grace didn't even freak TOO much when Jackson - the neighbors rather large canine - jumped in fetching sticks. It was a great day at the dock. .....and when I write LAUNCH - I mean LAUNCH! He is something!

And of course - chores when we got home. David mows around the flat areas a few times - and then puts Ingrid to the charge. Soon - she'll be doing 1/2 the yard. If only David was a beer drinker It'd really be worth it - he could DO SOMETHING in the lawn chair while he's out stupid-vising! :-)

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer - keep in touch! g