Hi Everyone,
We had a snowstorm last Saturday. It snowed about six inches at our house, and we lost power for two days. Really fun stuff! Saturday night and Sunday weren't too bad - we stayed under blankets on the couch and read books until it got dark and cooked dinner by candlelight/flashlight. (Finally, I actually used some of those those darn decorative candles I got as wedding gifts!) By Monday morning, we were ready for hot showers, so we took ourselves, and all the stuff in our freezer, to Emily's house. The power was on again before we got back from work on Monday.
We're feeling pretty lucky, because there are still a few people in western Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut who don't have their power back, and some of my friends at work didn't get their power back until Wednesday or Thursday last week.
That's all for now!
Love,
Amanda
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Two Head Injuries and a Hangover
“Ooh, biker chick!” was the elderly man's reaction to our appearance in the grocery aisle. We had reached the mid-point of our adventure and were gathering supplies at the nearby Martin's Supermarket. At home we'd go out of our way to walk for groceries, but we had decided that the wind and impending rain were enough of an obstacle to render moot discussion of the fifteen-mile roundtrip.
Thus, there we stood, searching for canned tomatoes (why are they never next to canned tomato sauce?) decked out in full gear. I lean toward the ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) persuasion, so even for our quick trip we had donned boots, pants, and jackets (I was carrying the helmets and gloves so Amanda could manage the shopping). So the fact that we were in full safety attire made of modern ballistic fabric, combined with Amanda's … general lack of all qualities traditionally associated with “biker chicks” made us nearly have to leave the store to keep from making a scene laughing ourselves silly.
The journey leading us to this encounter was an awesome ride suggested by Amanda as a gift for my thirtieth birthday. She had watched me suffer an agonizing motorcycling summer as the bike spent day after day in the shop with uncertain timelines for repair. Knowing that I longed for more miles this season, she riffed on my birthday gift to her last year (a trip to Austria), and hatched a plan for a tour on my Triumph.
We sketched out several possible waypoints and destinations. Amanda's aunt, Mary, was kind enough to offer us her lakehouse for several days' relaxation. We had been mulling over a ride through the Addirondacks ever since enjoying the White Mountains last spring. And so, the final plan coagulated as a ride northwest, through Canada, to the shores of Lake Michigan. We'd take our time wandering windy backroads on the way out, rest up, and then zip back to make other commitments (and to squeeze a few days of home-project time into the same vacation).
Of course, plotting courses and reserving dates doesn't guarantee equipment will be ready. With just over a week to go, the bike returned to the shop. The carburetor was overflowing into the airbox, just as it had earlier in the summer. This time, though, the solution was straitforward: just clean the carburetor. The only item to wait on was a new airfilter, and it was confirmed for delivery on Monday.
The rear luggage rack wasn't so lucky. Our experience during our springtime trip led us to believe we'd need a little more storage for this trip, so we ordered a small rack that we could tie a bag to. Three days before our departure, though, we were notified that the rack was on backorder from England. Luckily, wood scraps are plentiful in my shop, and hoseclamps and sheet rubber are readily available at Ace Hardware. At 5% the cost of the OEM rack and a small bit of tinkering, I had a working solution attached with hours to spare.
We set out Saturday morning westbound along Interstate 90. True, this was contrary to our “wandering out” plan on the surface, but it meant that we spent only one morning getting to the really beautiful part of the ride. Just before noon, we left the interstate at Schenectedy, NY and headed north into Addirondack State Park.
The weather was gorgeous: 75°F, sunny skies, trees just beginning to turn. In short, our waving arms tired from all the bikes passing us. Large groups, small groups, singles, all shapes, all amounts of gear, lone riders, and pillions – everyone was out cruising.
Each stop that day set the tone for the rest of the trip: everyone loves a Triumph. Some bike brands sell an image, convincing buyers that people will notice them by owning one of their models. It seems that if you actually want people to engage you in conversation about your bike, you ride a Triumph. I think we can count on one hand the number of stops we made where no one asked about our Bonneville. We heard many stories of old 650s, questions about alternate side shifting, jokes about great fuel economy (fifty miles per gallon and no more than three gallons per fill makes the combustables seem free), and just general well wishes.
We stopped for the night in Canton, NY on the north side of the park. Being Columbus Day weekend, all lodging within the park was either already closed for the season or otherwise filled with leaf peepers. The Comfort Suites served us well, though, despite being the cause of the first bloodshed of the trip (a cabinet corner, an imbalance during boot removal … it's really just embarassing).
Sunday morning, we were up early, refreshed and ready for more beautiful scenery. The weather was gorgeous again, as it would be for our entire outbound trip. I had scouted a few backroads on the map that proved to be mostly well-maintained two-laners, with plenty of bends and beautiful little one-lane bridges.
Late morning we reached the one site where we knew we'd have to stop for pictures: Wellesley Island. We know of no relation between the island and the college, but we couldn't resist the kitsch of a photo of our Wellesley woman next to the state park sign. (Look closely: the bike is in the background!)
At the top edge of Wellesley Island is the border of Canada. As we crossed, Amanda hammered on my back and shouted, “Remember it's kilometers per hour!” In truth, remembering that measurements were metric was easier than either following navigational signs (road names, not numbers, despite what maps label them) or paying for things (chip & pin, different routing networks, etc.).
Our basic path followed the north shore of Lake Ontario, alternating between backroads and highway, as usual. We overnighted in Oshawa, just before reaching Toronto.
Monday was Thanksgiving Day in Cananda, so Toronto was filled with families seeing sights. Having never visited the city before, we elected to drive straight through on Lake Shore Boulevard. The view is pretty on the way in, but ugly in the middle while sitting underneath the Gardiner Expressway. Souvlaki-filled crepes by the water for brunch lifted our spirits, though, and we made our way on through the rest of Ontario.
We finally reached Port Huron just as the sun was setting. We crossed the border, and turned north. Browsing the map over dinner, we had noticed that just a few miles up the Lake Huron coast was a town called Lexington. Unable to pass up another bit of kitcsh (visiting a town sharing the name of our home), we decided we had to visit. This became one of our better choices of the day, since the country club on the edge of town was the only lodging open for miles.
In daylight, it was more obvious that Lexington, Michigan was just barely more than a one-horse town. After a mug of hotel room coffee, and bit of Cliff bar, we rolled back onto the road and followed the coast up to the tip of the peninsula at Port Austin, and then back down to Bay City. Yes, the Bay City that the Rollers were named for, though no one there has heard of them. The city also held a tasty brunch spot, and a funky chocolate and pastry shop. As we strolled the streets, we even found a little reminder of home: someone else had quilted the same table runner Jackie had given us years ago, and was selling it in the local craft shop.
From Bay City, it was on to Lansing, where we stayed overnight near the college campus. Spartan pride was out in force, as was the worst two-wheeled vehicle safety we encountered on the trip. Students everwhere riding scooters, but not a single helmet, everyone in shorts, mostly flip flops for footwear, and even one texting in the middle of the road. The texter was rather freaked out to have two full-gear riders pull up next to him to warn him he had left his turn signal on.
Wednesday morning, we opted for a similar plan of hotel coffee with brunch later on. We were to be at the lakehouse later in the day to get the keys, but Kalamazoo looked like a good halfway point for the morning. As we pulled into town, wondering where brunch might happen, we knew we were correct: Bell's Brewery and the Eccentric Cafe lay right across the stoplight. We ate the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever, on brewers' bread with asparagus, onions, and two types of cheese. Sadly, the most beer we could handle was a small taste of their Cream Stout. T-shirts from the gift store will remind us to try again another time.
To make our lakehouse rendevous, we buzzed down the interstate to Bridgman, and then had lots of fun on a mile and a half of hilly, curvy, medium-packed gravel. Nothing too dangerous, but very different from the fast, straight concrete we had left a few minutes before. All of the clutch control practice from last year's motorcycling class was put to good use, as were the few tips I had read about dirt safety.
At the lakehouse for four days, we just rested. The weather turned to high winds and rain, so we mostly read books, and shot pool. Occasional runs on the beach or walks down the dirt road got us outside. And, of course, we practiced one of our other favorite activities: cooking, the cause of both the aforementioned grocery trip, and the second head injury (an unseen rotisseree spit to the sideburn while reaching for something in the back of a cupboard).
Amanda's aunt visited on Saturday and showed us around Bridgman: local artists, the Round Barn Brewery, and two wineries (got a lead on the last bit of this story's title now?). Saturday was also the best weather of our stay, so it was great to be out and about.
On Monday we began our trip back. We had decided to stay as long as we could at the lakehouse by saving return time zipping back directly on the interstate. I-94 to Detroit, then Canada's 401 and QEW back to I-90 through New York and Massachusetts. It was a completely different kind of riding, focused much more on staying aware of other drivers and attempting to maintain a constant speed to keep from irritating them more than necessary. Not really the usual kind of fun on two wheels (banking, accelerating, etc.), but an interesting technical challenge.
Two fun events happened along the “slab” in any case. The first was the Triumph's odometer rolling over 10,000 miles. Despite being ten years old, I've ridden most of the bike's miles myself, since the first owner stored it in a barn after its first, short season. Despite the summer's shop troubles, it has been a great bike to learn on, and a pleasure to own.
The second was fun event on the slab was dining at the Old Erie Restaurant in Weedsport, NY. We stopped for lunch at that point for no reason other than hunger, but found ourselves presented with the best traditional German food we've ever had at a restaurant in the U.S. Schnitzel and Rouladen stuffed with pickles, onions, and breading, served with German potato salad, red cabage, and spätzle were all delicious. When we bit into a dessert of Linzer torte, we thought maybe we had been transported back to last year's trip to Austria. Weedsport may just make it on to the list of places to stop on cross-country travel from now on.
The weather held out for us, sunny but cold. We had planned for the chill, though, and wore long underwear and sweaters. Amanda also appreciated the heated gloves I'd purchased for commuting on March's 35°F mornings. When we heard of the impending rain on Wednesday, though, we decided to skip a stay in Albany Tuesday night and just push on home.
We clicked off the engine in the driveway about 8pm on Tuesday, with the odometer advanced 2264 miles from when we had set out. The bike and I had reconnected, and made up for the lost hours earlier in the summer. Amanda even found the trip so enjoyable she said she'd do it again. The question will be whether she puts her training to use and rides her own bike next time.
Thus, there we stood, searching for canned tomatoes (why are they never next to canned tomato sauce?) decked out in full gear. I lean toward the ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) persuasion, so even for our quick trip we had donned boots, pants, and jackets (I was carrying the helmets and gloves so Amanda could manage the shopping). So the fact that we were in full safety attire made of modern ballistic fabric, combined with Amanda's … general lack of all qualities traditionally associated with “biker chicks” made us nearly have to leave the store to keep from making a scene laughing ourselves silly.
The journey leading us to this encounter was an awesome ride suggested by Amanda as a gift for my thirtieth birthday. She had watched me suffer an agonizing motorcycling summer as the bike spent day after day in the shop with uncertain timelines for repair. Knowing that I longed for more miles this season, she riffed on my birthday gift to her last year (a trip to Austria), and hatched a plan for a tour on my Triumph.
We sketched out several possible waypoints and destinations. Amanda's aunt, Mary, was kind enough to offer us her lakehouse for several days' relaxation. We had been mulling over a ride through the Addirondacks ever since enjoying the White Mountains last spring. And so, the final plan coagulated as a ride northwest, through Canada, to the shores of Lake Michigan. We'd take our time wandering windy backroads on the way out, rest up, and then zip back to make other commitments (and to squeeze a few days of home-project time into the same vacation).
Of course, plotting courses and reserving dates doesn't guarantee equipment will be ready. With just over a week to go, the bike returned to the shop. The carburetor was overflowing into the airbox, just as it had earlier in the summer. This time, though, the solution was straitforward: just clean the carburetor. The only item to wait on was a new airfilter, and it was confirmed for delivery on Monday.
The rear luggage rack wasn't so lucky. Our experience during our springtime trip led us to believe we'd need a little more storage for this trip, so we ordered a small rack that we could tie a bag to. Three days before our departure, though, we were notified that the rack was on backorder from England. Luckily, wood scraps are plentiful in my shop, and hoseclamps and sheet rubber are readily available at Ace Hardware. At 5% the cost of the OEM rack and a small bit of tinkering, I had a working solution attached with hours to spare.
We set out Saturday morning westbound along Interstate 90. True, this was contrary to our “wandering out” plan on the surface, but it meant that we spent only one morning getting to the really beautiful part of the ride. Just before noon, we left the interstate at Schenectedy, NY and headed north into Addirondack State Park.
The weather was gorgeous: 75°F, sunny skies, trees just beginning to turn. In short, our waving arms tired from all the bikes passing us. Large groups, small groups, singles, all shapes, all amounts of gear, lone riders, and pillions – everyone was out cruising.
Each stop that day set the tone for the rest of the trip: everyone loves a Triumph. Some bike brands sell an image, convincing buyers that people will notice them by owning one of their models. It seems that if you actually want people to engage you in conversation about your bike, you ride a Triumph. I think we can count on one hand the number of stops we made where no one asked about our Bonneville. We heard many stories of old 650s, questions about alternate side shifting, jokes about great fuel economy (fifty miles per gallon and no more than three gallons per fill makes the combustables seem free), and just general well wishes.
We stopped for the night in Canton, NY on the north side of the park. Being Columbus Day weekend, all lodging within the park was either already closed for the season or otherwise filled with leaf peepers. The Comfort Suites served us well, though, despite being the cause of the first bloodshed of the trip (a cabinet corner, an imbalance during boot removal … it's really just embarassing).
Sunday morning, we were up early, refreshed and ready for more beautiful scenery. The weather was gorgeous again, as it would be for our entire outbound trip. I had scouted a few backroads on the map that proved to be mostly well-maintained two-laners, with plenty of bends and beautiful little one-lane bridges.
Late morning we reached the one site where we knew we'd have to stop for pictures: Wellesley Island. We know of no relation between the island and the college, but we couldn't resist the kitsch of a photo of our Wellesley woman next to the state park sign. (Look closely: the bike is in the background!)
At the top edge of Wellesley Island is the border of Canada. As we crossed, Amanda hammered on my back and shouted, “Remember it's kilometers per hour!” In truth, remembering that measurements were metric was easier than either following navigational signs (road names, not numbers, despite what maps label them) or paying for things (chip & pin, different routing networks, etc.).
Our basic path followed the north shore of Lake Ontario, alternating between backroads and highway, as usual. We overnighted in Oshawa, just before reaching Toronto.
Monday was Thanksgiving Day in Cananda, so Toronto was filled with families seeing sights. Having never visited the city before, we elected to drive straight through on Lake Shore Boulevard. The view is pretty on the way in, but ugly in the middle while sitting underneath the Gardiner Expressway. Souvlaki-filled crepes by the water for brunch lifted our spirits, though, and we made our way on through the rest of Ontario.
We finally reached Port Huron just as the sun was setting. We crossed the border, and turned north. Browsing the map over dinner, we had noticed that just a few miles up the Lake Huron coast was a town called Lexington. Unable to pass up another bit of kitcsh (visiting a town sharing the name of our home), we decided we had to visit. This became one of our better choices of the day, since the country club on the edge of town was the only lodging open for miles.
In daylight, it was more obvious that Lexington, Michigan was just barely more than a one-horse town. After a mug of hotel room coffee, and bit of Cliff bar, we rolled back onto the road and followed the coast up to the tip of the peninsula at Port Austin, and then back down to Bay City. Yes, the Bay City that the Rollers were named for, though no one there has heard of them. The city also held a tasty brunch spot, and a funky chocolate and pastry shop. As we strolled the streets, we even found a little reminder of home: someone else had quilted the same table runner Jackie had given us years ago, and was selling it in the local craft shop.
From Bay City, it was on to Lansing, where we stayed overnight near the college campus. Spartan pride was out in force, as was the worst two-wheeled vehicle safety we encountered on the trip. Students everwhere riding scooters, but not a single helmet, everyone in shorts, mostly flip flops for footwear, and even one texting in the middle of the road. The texter was rather freaked out to have two full-gear riders pull up next to him to warn him he had left his turn signal on.
Wednesday morning, we opted for a similar plan of hotel coffee with brunch later on. We were to be at the lakehouse later in the day to get the keys, but Kalamazoo looked like a good halfway point for the morning. As we pulled into town, wondering where brunch might happen, we knew we were correct: Bell's Brewery and the Eccentric Cafe lay right across the stoplight. We ate the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever, on brewers' bread with asparagus, onions, and two types of cheese. Sadly, the most beer we could handle was a small taste of their Cream Stout. T-shirts from the gift store will remind us to try again another time.
To make our lakehouse rendevous, we buzzed down the interstate to Bridgman, and then had lots of fun on a mile and a half of hilly, curvy, medium-packed gravel. Nothing too dangerous, but very different from the fast, straight concrete we had left a few minutes before. All of the clutch control practice from last year's motorcycling class was put to good use, as were the few tips I had read about dirt safety.
At the lakehouse for four days, we just rested. The weather turned to high winds and rain, so we mostly read books, and shot pool. Occasional runs on the beach or walks down the dirt road got us outside. And, of course, we practiced one of our other favorite activities: cooking, the cause of both the aforementioned grocery trip, and the second head injury (an unseen rotisseree spit to the sideburn while reaching for something in the back of a cupboard).
Amanda's aunt visited on Saturday and showed us around Bridgman: local artists, the Round Barn Brewery, and two wineries (got a lead on the last bit of this story's title now?). Saturday was also the best weather of our stay, so it was great to be out and about.
On Monday we began our trip back. We had decided to stay as long as we could at the lakehouse by saving return time zipping back directly on the interstate. I-94 to Detroit, then Canada's 401 and QEW back to I-90 through New York and Massachusetts. It was a completely different kind of riding, focused much more on staying aware of other drivers and attempting to maintain a constant speed to keep from irritating them more than necessary. Not really the usual kind of fun on two wheels (banking, accelerating, etc.), but an interesting technical challenge.
Two fun events happened along the “slab” in any case. The first was the Triumph's odometer rolling over 10,000 miles. Despite being ten years old, I've ridden most of the bike's miles myself, since the first owner stored it in a barn after its first, short season. Despite the summer's shop troubles, it has been a great bike to learn on, and a pleasure to own.
The second was fun event on the slab was dining at the Old Erie Restaurant in Weedsport, NY. We stopped for lunch at that point for no reason other than hunger, but found ourselves presented with the best traditional German food we've ever had at a restaurant in the U.S. Schnitzel and Rouladen stuffed with pickles, onions, and breading, served with German potato salad, red cabage, and spätzle were all delicious. When we bit into a dessert of Linzer torte, we thought maybe we had been transported back to last year's trip to Austria. Weedsport may just make it on to the list of places to stop on cross-country travel from now on.
The weather held out for us, sunny but cold. We had planned for the chill, though, and wore long underwear and sweaters. Amanda also appreciated the heated gloves I'd purchased for commuting on March's 35°F mornings. When we heard of the impending rain on Wednesday, though, we decided to skip a stay in Albany Tuesday night and just push on home.
We clicked off the engine in the driveway about 8pm on Tuesday, with the odometer advanced 2264 miles from when we had set out. The bike and I had reconnected, and made up for the lost hours earlier in the summer. Amanda even found the trip so enjoyable she said she'd do it again. The question will be whether she puts her training to use and rides her own bike next time.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Update All the Things!
Hi Everyone,
It's been a busy month!
We went to a wedding in California.
Then, we hung out with Emily through Tropical Storm Irene. We played dominoes and drank tea until the power came back.
Last weekend, I learned to ride a motorcycle. It was hard, but I passed the test, and now I need to practice a lot before I ride on any roads.
The thing I do most on the internet is look at pictures of cats and other cute animals. My friend Alisha told me about this website, which has pictures of lots of pretty things. You might like it too. http://pinterest.com/
And, last but not least, if you've missed the "All the Things" internet trend referenced in the title of this post, here's the original: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html
That's all for now. Someone else should post something!
Amanda
It's been a busy month!
We went to a wedding in California.
Then, we hung out with Emily through Tropical Storm Irene. We played dominoes and drank tea until the power came back.
Last weekend, I learned to ride a motorcycle. It was hard, but I passed the test, and now I need to practice a lot before I ride on any roads.
The thing I do most on the internet is look at pictures of cats and other cute animals. My friend Alisha told me about this website, which has pictures of lots of pretty things. You might like it too. http://pinterest.com/
And, last but not least, if you've missed the "All the Things" internet trend referenced in the title of this post, here's the original: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html
That's all for now. Someone else should post something!
Amanda
Sunday, August 7, 2011
New Tea Set
My mother always says that one can never have too many tea pots. When we moved into our apartment seven years ago, there was a large cardboard box that was left sitting in the middle of the dining room. It didn't belong to us, so we put it in the laundry room, and it sat there, undisturbed, until yesterday.
We cleaned a bunch of closets and shelves and got rid of a bunch of junk. We were looking for a new storage space for something, and I said that I thought we'd have room in the laundry room if we finally threw away the box. A few minutes later, Bryan called me to come to the laundry room - there had been a bunch of dishes wrapped in paper in the bottom of the box, including a matching serving bowl, tea pot, creamer, and sugar bowl. The pattern is a light blue fleur de lis, and there's a gold rim around the edge. The mark on the bottom says "Porcelana Quinta Nova, Portugal".
Everything else in the box is going to Goodwill.
We cleaned a bunch of closets and shelves and got rid of a bunch of junk. We were looking for a new storage space for something, and I said that I thought we'd have room in the laundry room if we finally threw away the box. A few minutes later, Bryan called me to come to the laundry room - there had been a bunch of dishes wrapped in paper in the bottom of the box, including a matching serving bowl, tea pot, creamer, and sugar bowl. The pattern is a light blue fleur de lis, and there's a gold rim around the edge. The mark on the bottom says "Porcelana Quinta Nova, Portugal".
Everything else in the box is going to Goodwill.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
645 Miles of MA, NH, ME … via Motorcycle
Amanda knew that I had been itching to take a multi-day trip on my motorcycle for some time. What she didn't expect was that I'd bring her along on my first!
If you'd like to follow the story geographically, have a look at my Google map of the trip.
We started our journey on Friday afternoon. Expecting a large rush north for the holiday weekend, we got packed and on the road by 3:30. As we crossed I-95, we knew we had made the right decision to take backroads: the place was gridlock. Even if we rolled more slowly up sidestreets, at least we'd be moving.
And moving was the important part. Friday was our hottest day yet this year, topping 90ºF in some spots. Since I'm an All The Gear, All The Time kind of rider, we planned to be quite sweaty during the ride.
Our plans payed off as we rolled steadily along 35-45mph speed limit roads, enjoying the breeze. As we pushed farther north, we also gained altitude, and the temperature dropped slightly. Finally, the cool air flowing down the mountains following the streams began to refresh us around beautiful bends.
By dinner time we were in Hopkinton, NH, and decided to pull over for food. We found a restaurant right by the river, and enjoyed a burger and quesadilla with cold lemonade and soda.
From dinner to just outside of Plymouth, NH, we gained more altitude, but found the humidity rising. As dusk settled, the air grew thick … with bugs. Never yet have I been so happy to have chosen a full-face helmet!
 |
| Better the visor than my teeth. |
We spent the night at the Federal House Inn in Rumney, NH. We arrived after the checkin desk had closed, but they left instructions for us on the door. Inside we also found a picture of ice water, and the air conditioner running. Refreshment achieved!
In the morning, we ate breakfast downstairs: yogurt with granola and eggs benedict, with fruit on the side. It was all very tasty, and came in huge portions that sustained us through the morning's ride.
This section of the ride was most of the reason for doing the trip on the motorcycle. As we headed north of Plymouth, we dove into the White Mountain National Forest. Spectacularly goreous scenery. Twisty roads with constant change in elevation. A little bumpy at times, but so much fun otherwise that the aching rear ends were worth it.
 |  |  |
| White Mountain National Forest, along the Kangamagus highway | ||
Coming out of the mountains, we found ourselves in Conway, NH … and also in our first traffic backup of the trip. It seems that Conway is tourist central, and we just happened to pick the prime route through. Luckily the day's weather was cool and cloudy, so a bit of standing still was not uncomfortable.
In any case, a few minutes later we were on our way down curvy roads again. Across the border into Maine, and I soon found myself interested in the odometer. A quick check of the log confirmed it: I was about to cross my 5000th mile on this motorcycle! I pulled over and had Amanda take a picture of me, causing curious looks from all passers by.
 |
| My 5000th mile on the Bonnie |
Another short piece down the road, we found a cute town called Norway. It was midafternoon and time for a break, so we dismounted at the local coffee shop. A latte, a cookie, a little stroll up and down mainstreet. Many places seemed closed, in prepartion for the holiday, but it seemed like a town that could be quite cozy, and maybe worth revisiting.
From Norway, it was on to Augusta. Or rather, Hallowell. You see, both of the people we knew who had spent time living in Augusta warned us off from it. “Augusta, will disappoint you, but Hallowell …” Well, we don't really know if Augusta would have been all that bad, but Hallowell was definitely nice. We ate delicious clam and seafood chowders at Hattie's Chowder House.
We also began to hear that we'd soon find the rest of that traffic we had worried about. The owner of Hattie's said a friend of his had just returned from the coast. “It's getting pretty busy down there.” With chowder powering us, it was off to face the music.
Except no music ever came to be faced. As we rumbled down route 17 toward Rockland, the only adversity we encountered was increasing fog and cold. We pulled over to add warm layers and kept on trucking.
The Granite Inn was right where we had left it three years ago, when Jackie and Deanna came to visit. Same dog, same owner, same tricky one-way streets. We checked in about 5:30 and relaxed with our books for a bit before calling Emily.
Emily, being anxious for a break in packing for her move, came to town and suggested we all trek up to Belfast for dinner at a brewery she liked. We did so, and found that there was good reason to she liked it: they made delicious things. Rauchbier with fantastic smoke smell and flavor. Coffee beer with very spicy coffee notes. Belgian IPA with bright, potent Sirachi Ace hops. The food was equally enjoyable. Hard boiled eggs, dill and sour pickles, crab meat quesadilla, stuffed mushrooms, goat cheese salad. At the end of the meal, we understood why it was that we had to wait a while for a table. (And for the mothers reading: we took four wheels, not two, to dinner, and indulged responsibly.)
 |
| Emily and Amanda enjoying the fire in Belfast |
Sunday began with the most over-the-top breakfast of the trip. Three amazing dishes: crepes filled with lemon creme and topped with bluberry sauce, whole-wheat apple pancakes, and crab-corb fritters topped with spicy mayo. Too many rich flavors to be able to stuff yourself, but that doesn't mean seconds weren't still tempting.
We mostly stayed off the bike for the day, except for the short trip down to Emily's place … and except for a quick ride with an alternate pillion. Emily said she felt very safe.
 |
| That's not Amanda! |
The rest of the day we spent walking around sightseeing. Emily's new place and old place (both awesome, in different ways). The Marshal Point lighthouse, and downtown Rockland. We even found time for a nap (because when, other than vacation, does one find time for a nap?).
Dinner was at a fun place called Conté. Orders are taken at the door, from a giant chalkboard covered with the day's catch. Just about any fish you'd want, cooked in olive oil and garlic, or covered with marinara (spicy or not), served over spaghetti. Grab your drink from the cooler on the way in, and get there early to claim a table if you want salad. Wow, though, was it some of the best fish I've had! The scallops had no grit at all. The swordfish was tender and juicy (and well-balanced by some spicy marinara). The haddock was light and flaky.
After dinner, and after failing to find a table at the new fancy place south of town, we settled on dessert at a place downtown. Delicious gelato, creme bruleé, and rubarb crisp. We pushed the dishes toward mutually reachable locations and attacked at will with our spoons.
Monday morning we decided to skip the parade, and just head for home. It's a good thing we did, too, because it turned out to be our longest day of riding yet. Some of that was due to the twenty or more minutes we spent waiting for a parade to finish. Some of it was due to a wrong turn. But mostly it was due to the 260 mile length. The bench seat on the Bonnie isn't really made for day-long sitting, so each leg caps itself between an hour and ninety minutes. That is to say, we hopped on a little after nine in the morning, and (including a stop for dinner) finally hopped off at home at six in the evening.
Despite the hard end, it was a fantastic and successful trip. The bike ran great. All of the luggage and gear worked. We marked 50 miles to the gallon in fuel efficiency. I think Amanda's even willing to do it again sometime. Perhaps Vermont or New York next.
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| Happy, Relaxed, and planning the next route |
Monday, May 9, 2011
Pants!
More crafts to share from the East Coast: I found myself in the mood to try sewing again, after fixing Amanda's Husqvarna machine, and the pictures below show off what turned out.
Grey corduroy, with lining and pocket piping in a pattern called "oil slick" that reminded us of a Turkish marbling class we took a couple of years ago. They needed a bit of alteration after their initial assembly, and the front pockets still aren't quite right (internally), but they pants wear nicely otherwise.
Next up is the matching jacket. :)
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| The whole picture |
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| Detail on the pockets |
Grey corduroy, with lining and pocket piping in a pattern called "oil slick" that reminded us of a Turkish marbling class we took a couple of years ago. They needed a bit of alteration after their initial assembly, and the front pockets still aren't quite right (internally), but they pants wear nicely otherwise.
Next up is the matching jacket. :)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
I'm Lucky
In 2002 I had two surgeries and Jeff had a few little sun damage things done. It was enough that I could actually take some of it off on our itemized deductions.
Well, this year my heart advanced us into the big leagues--Last week I got the bill for the catheterization to check my valves and heart pressures. That was just over $23,000. I didn't think too much about it. It is a delicate amazing procedure and our insurance covered about $20,000 of it. It is about the cost of a moderate car. I expected the 2nd cath to be slightly more but about the same price.
Today I got the bill for the cath for the ASD closure. $64,903.95 WOW It is not that I don't think it is worth it or that I feel it is too expensive BUT I just have never had personal health bills this high! It just boggles my mind that it is just soooo much money for one day! If I add $96.05 to the bill, it is what we paid for our house in 1989!
We have met our family deductible the year. Thank goodness we have health insurance. I feel very lucky that Jeff has a good job and can pay our portion of all the bills. I am pretty sure that I will be able to itemize some medical deductions on next years taxes. I am just lucky. But at the same time I can't get over the fact that now my heart has had repairs costing the same as a house and a car.
Well, this year my heart advanced us into the big leagues--Last week I got the bill for the catheterization to check my valves and heart pressures. That was just over $23,000. I didn't think too much about it. It is a delicate amazing procedure and our insurance covered about $20,000 of it. It is about the cost of a moderate car. I expected the 2nd cath to be slightly more but about the same price.
Today I got the bill for the cath for the ASD closure. $64,903.95 WOW It is not that I don't think it is worth it or that I feel it is too expensive BUT I just have never had personal health bills this high! It just boggles my mind that it is just soooo much money for one day! If I add $96.05 to the bill, it is what we paid for our house in 1989!
We have met our family deductible the year. Thank goodness we have health insurance. I feel very lucky that Jeff has a good job and can pay our portion of all the bills. I am pretty sure that I will be able to itemize some medical deductions on next years taxes. I am just lucky. But at the same time I can't get over the fact that now my heart has had repairs costing the same as a house and a car.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Trip to St. Lukes
Had my first visit back to St. Luke's this morning since the ASD closure. I had three tests, all in different hospital locations! ( I felt like all I did was ride up and down in the elevator all morning and take off and put my clothes over and over again)
I was to meet with my doctor at 11:30 but due to some emergency he was running over an hour behind. Since Jeff needed to get to work I rescheduled for next week BUT IN THE MEANTIME his nurse has emailed me several times. The tests taken this morning show no shunt of blood across the septum! Hurrah! If you recall I still had a small shunt immediately after the closure, so the heart tissue must be growing just dandy over the occluder device.
I also picked up my first payment of $100 for being in the test study of the occluder device. ( I think after this I only get $25 a visit) Will come in handy as the bills are arriving by the mailbox full.
I was to meet with my doctor at 11:30 but due to some emergency he was running over an hour behind. Since Jeff needed to get to work I rescheduled for next week BUT IN THE MEANTIME his nurse has emailed me several times. The tests taken this morning show no shunt of blood across the septum! Hurrah! If you recall I still had a small shunt immediately after the closure, so the heart tissue must be growing just dandy over the occluder device.
I also picked up my first payment of $100 for being in the test study of the occluder device. ( I think after this I only get $25 a visit) Will come in handy as the bills are arriving by the mailbox full.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
News from St. John
Emily arrived in St. Thomas several hours before Jeff and Rachel. The hotel Jeff chose for the one night stay was a bit sketchy but Emily said the owner was VERY nice and recommended a bar down the street (with a female bartender) that would be a good choice for dinner as the other close choice was a very expensive restaurant. Emily phoned me both walking to and from the bar. Going, she was apprehensive, on her way back she told me she was never going to a bar alone again. The bar was filled with about 8 men but the bartender told her not to worry about them, " They would protect her". Of course Emily wanted to know WHAT there WAS that she needed protecting FROM.
Then when she got back to the room some kind of lizard was right by the door sill. When she approached the door, it went under the door sill. Emily waited and rattled the door hoping it would run away but it didn't . So when she opened the door it ran into the hotel room. She ignored my suggestion of picking it up and throwing it out the door....
I guess the first lizard was good practice as Rachel called on Tuesday to say they have a lizard living in their tent. I don't know the details but I guess they had quite the time on the ferry ride to St. John. Jeff reports the roads are in terrible condition; narrow, unpaved, steep with hairpin turns. I worry about Jeff learning to drive on the left.
Emily and Rachel took a batik class this morning. Emily said it was kind of hard but she thinks her fabrics will look nice.
Jeff loves it there and seems to have regressed into a 8 year old boy. He saw his first iguana today and Rachel reported that he chased it a long distance trying to get a photo. (that is also what he did in Montana when he saw his first herd of mountain goats). Rachel found a hermit crab in a shell the size of a tennis ball.
Short version of St. John impressions: VERY beautiful, VERY hot. They were getting ready to go snorkeling when I said goodbye.
Then when she got back to the room some kind of lizard was right by the door sill. When she approached the door, it went under the door sill. Emily waited and rattled the door hoping it would run away but it didn't . So when she opened the door it ran into the hotel room. She ignored my suggestion of picking it up and throwing it out the door....
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| Outside view of tent cottage ( I grabbed the photos from Moho Bay's website) |
Emily and Rachel took a batik class this morning. Emily said it was kind of hard but she thinks her fabrics will look nice.
Jeff loves it there and seems to have regressed into a 8 year old boy. He saw his first iguana today and Rachel reported that he chased it a long distance trying to get a photo. (that is also what he did in Montana when he saw his first herd of mountain goats). Rachel found a hermit crab in a shell the size of a tennis ball.
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| Inside of Tent Cottage |
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Cute Idea
This is very old news but I thought a very clever idea and I finally got the photo on the computer today. Rachel and I arrived home about a month ago to find a very large white box on our back porch addressed to Rachel. It was so light when I picked it up I was slightly suspicious.
When Rachel opened it out floated a bright blue Marian University balloon attached to a large bag of yummy "penny candy". By the time I took this photo Rachel had already taken out about half of the candy. (I am so pleased Rachel is allergic to peanuts as I was able to help her dispose of the candy containing nuts) Anyway I thought the whole thing was pretty fun and we now know what scholarship committees REALLY do - bag up candy, attach the bag to helium balloons and ship them out!
When Rachel opened it out floated a bright blue Marian University balloon attached to a large bag of yummy "penny candy". By the time I took this photo Rachel had already taken out about half of the candy. (I am so pleased Rachel is allergic to peanuts as I was able to help her dispose of the candy containing nuts) Anyway I thought the whole thing was pretty fun and we now know what scholarship committees REALLY do - bag up candy, attach the bag to helium balloons and ship them out!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Andrew's New Job
I'm sure most of you know by now, but I was recently hired full-time as the Assistant Editor at American Craft magazine, the official publication of the American Craft Council. This is a different magazine than American Woodworker; American Craft focuses on Craft as a whole, whereas American Woodworker is wood-based craft. Confusing, right?
The American Craft Council moved their headquarters to Minneapolis about six months ago from New York. As a result, the magazine got a brand-new staff, including yours truly.
The job involves a lot of administrative tasks (sending out contracts, managing contacts, collecting images), but I also get to do my fair share of writing and editing. And, the magazine is very dedicated to expanding their online presence and exploring other media opportunities, including audio and video. I'm working on a podcast right now, and helping them get up to speed on basic video production. All in all, it's a very exciting time to be part of the magazine.
The American Craft Council also puts on a handful of craft shows. The first one of the year was in Baltimore this past weekend. And there's another one coming up in April in St. Paul. If you like crafty things as much as I think you do, perhaps you should consider going. In addition to getting the print magazine every two months, American Craft Council members get into the shows for free. That's right, you get six issues of a high-quality magazine with great pictures and excellent writing, and you get access to some of the biggest Craft shows in the country. How's that for a pitch?
The other really cool thing about this job is that the American Craft Council is a non-profit organization. That means my parent company isn't a profit-driven media conglomerate. I don't want to say we're immune from the job insecurity that most journalists face, but we're definitely insulated. First and foremost, the quality of the magazine takes precedence over increasing profits. With that said, the magazine is thriving right now, due to a reinvigorated staff and new dialogue about the future of craft.
All of the new articles will be available on the website, but if you're one of those people who loves holding a high-quality print publication in their hands, you might want to think about becoming a member.
And, if any of you crafty people have any hot tips or interesting things you've noticed about any crafts, be sure to drop me line.
The American Craft Council moved their headquarters to Minneapolis about six months ago from New York. As a result, the magazine got a brand-new staff, including yours truly.
The job involves a lot of administrative tasks (sending out contracts, managing contacts, collecting images), but I also get to do my fair share of writing and editing. And, the magazine is very dedicated to expanding their online presence and exploring other media opportunities, including audio and video. I'm working on a podcast right now, and helping them get up to speed on basic video production. All in all, it's a very exciting time to be part of the magazine.
The American Craft Council also puts on a handful of craft shows. The first one of the year was in Baltimore this past weekend. And there's another one coming up in April in St. Paul. If you like crafty things as much as I think you do, perhaps you should consider going. In addition to getting the print magazine every two months, American Craft Council members get into the shows for free. That's right, you get six issues of a high-quality magazine with great pictures and excellent writing, and you get access to some of the biggest Craft shows in the country. How's that for a pitch?
The other really cool thing about this job is that the American Craft Council is a non-profit organization. That means my parent company isn't a profit-driven media conglomerate. I don't want to say we're immune from the job insecurity that most journalists face, but we're definitely insulated. First and foremost, the quality of the magazine takes precedence over increasing profits. With that said, the magazine is thriving right now, due to a reinvigorated staff and new dialogue about the future of craft.
All of the new articles will be available on the website, but if you're one of those people who loves holding a high-quality print publication in their hands, you might want to think about becoming a member.
And, if any of you crafty people have any hot tips or interesting things you've noticed about any crafts, be sure to drop me line.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Project!
A while ago, my parents gave us a gift certificate to the Shaker Workshop as a Christmas present. Last weekend, we decided we were finally ready for a project. We got the kit for a No. 5 Shawl-back Shaker side chair, sanded and finished all the pieces over the last week, glued them together on Friday, and today, wove the seat - the chair is done!
It was pretty easy skills-wise, but we did learn a few things along the way. The humidity in our house is fairly low; all the tenons got smaller between the time we sanded and test-fit all the pieces (the day we brought the kit home), and the day we glued everything. Next time, we won't test-fit until the kit has been in the house a few days. We used the "Shaker Oil" finish with beeswax; it contains turpentine and smells awful. Next time, we'll use just the beeswax and some mineral oil.
The biggest lesson was in the weaving. The directions say to warp the middle of the seat, weave about halfway toward the front, and then go back and add pieces of warp to fill in the triangles at the edges of the seat. I weave very tightly, so this is really hard. For us, it would have been better to add the additional warp pieces as we were weaving each row - much easier to tack the ends that way.
You'll notice I did say "next time". I think the plan is that we'll just keep making chairs until we have enough for eight (or more?) dinner guests. We're also thinking about a bench for the foot of the bed - that would be really easy weaving!
We're planning to put this chair in the bedroom for the time being, so Bryan has a place to sit when he puts on his socks.
It was pretty easy skills-wise, but we did learn a few things along the way. The humidity in our house is fairly low; all the tenons got smaller between the time we sanded and test-fit all the pieces (the day we brought the kit home), and the day we glued everything. Next time, we won't test-fit until the kit has been in the house a few days. We used the "Shaker Oil" finish with beeswax; it contains turpentine and smells awful. Next time, we'll use just the beeswax and some mineral oil.
The biggest lesson was in the weaving. The directions say to warp the middle of the seat, weave about halfway toward the front, and then go back and add pieces of warp to fill in the triangles at the edges of the seat. I weave very tightly, so this is really hard. For us, it would have been better to add the additional warp pieces as we were weaving each row - much easier to tack the ends that way.
You'll notice I did say "next time". I think the plan is that we'll just keep making chairs until we have enough for eight (or more?) dinner guests. We're also thinking about a bench for the foot of the bed - that would be really easy weaving!
We're planning to put this chair in the bedroom for the time being, so Bryan has a place to sit when he puts on his socks.
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| From Other Crafts |
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| From Other Crafts |
Friday, February 11, 2011
Personal Mobiltiy Device
Click HERE for the link. If the ad doesn't start on its own, click the arrow.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Darleen Whines Again
I got a pneumonia shot on Tuesday in my right arm and the nurse warned me it would be sore. Although I was and continue to be diligent to keep that arm moving, "Sore" is a HUGE understatement. I was unable to pull up the blankets to cover myself last night with the "sore" arm. That's Nuts!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Blog Post!
Hi Everyone!
It was a very exciting weekend because Emily came to visit. She brought a lot of tasty Maine shrimp with her, so we made lots of tasty food. On Saturday night, we made paella (delicious), and then we made abelskiver. No raisins, so we used fresh cranberries. They were also delicious. Since I have two pans, we did a side-by-side comparison: we used canola oil in one pan, and butter in the other. The butter was better. (Is anyone surprised by this?) I recommend it for the next time you make some. We did make just 2/5 of a batch, and that was plenty for the three of us, for dessert, bedtime snack, and breakfast.
On Sunday morning, we made shrimp scramble, with a bunch of eggs and veggies and cajun spices. Then, we went cross-country skiing. It was Bryan's second time skiing, and Emily's fourth (?). They both did very well and have way more energy than I do. We all had afternoon naps. For dinner, we made shrimp chowder (delicious again), and some pumpkin bread for dessert.
Emily left after we went to work this morning, so I assume she is safely back in Maine at this point, since she didn't call to say otherwise.
Here are some pictures from the weekend:
It was a very exciting weekend because Emily came to visit. She brought a lot of tasty Maine shrimp with her, so we made lots of tasty food. On Saturday night, we made paella (delicious), and then we made abelskiver. No raisins, so we used fresh cranberries. They were also delicious. Since I have two pans, we did a side-by-side comparison: we used canola oil in one pan, and butter in the other. The butter was better. (Is anyone surprised by this?) I recommend it for the next time you make some. We did make just 2/5 of a batch, and that was plenty for the three of us, for dessert, bedtime snack, and breakfast.
On Sunday morning, we made shrimp scramble, with a bunch of eggs and veggies and cajun spices. Then, we went cross-country skiing. It was Bryan's second time skiing, and Emily's fourth (?). They both did very well and have way more energy than I do. We all had afternoon naps. For dinner, we made shrimp chowder (delicious again), and some pumpkin bread for dessert.
Emily left after we went to work this morning, so I assume she is safely back in Maine at this point, since she didn't call to say otherwise.
Here are some pictures from the weekend:
Nothing in Particular
Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow.
GO PACK GO!!!!
They better win, I need a new sweatshirt.
I really need to post some pictures of something.
GO PACK GO!!!!
They better win, I need a new sweatshirt.
I really need to post some pictures of something.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Christmas stuff
I also made a few sheep by felting roving around styrofoam for the fireplace mantle. Their little legs are cinnamon sticks with black painted on hoofs. I broke 2 felting needles putting on heads and tails. I found it very difficult to make them sleeping as then they tend to look a bit like rabbits. Several have eyes. I added eyes until the girls told me they then looked like cartoon characters. I am trying to raise a flock so look for more next year or changes to the current flock.
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| The sheep on the far right has eyes and I think quite a personality. |
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Andrew's Christmas Present
I now have confirmation that Andrew received the gift I made him for the Worm Christmas Exchange, so I thought I'd take the time to show it to everyone else (since I shipped it straight to Minneapolis).
This is a new take on a theme you've seen before. It's a crate for carrying six bottles, though this time they're 22 oz. “bomber”-size bottles. I included bottles of home-brewed Milk Chocolate Stout for demonstration purposes. ;)
The components are:
One of the big departures from earlier takes on this theme is that there are no nails, screws, or other assembly hardware. All joints are hand-cut mortise and tenon (through-tenons for the side rails, and blind tenons for the bottom rails and dividers), secured by snug-fit and glue (though the dividers are free-floating). Lots of chisel work … I need to re-true my sharpening stone.
The other experiment was the finish. Instead of leaving it unfinished, or resorting to my usual varnish/sealer, I mixed beeswax and mineral-oil (1:5 by volume). A small amount of heat to dissolve, a small amount of time for it to cool to a paste, and then a small amount of rubbing to spread it on. I'm very happy with the results; it just makes the wood look very healthy, and really pics out the oak grain. Many thanks to Andrew for clueing me in to the fact that old American Woodworker issues are available for free on Google Books, where I found hints for the mixture.
No burned designs this time. I couldn't decide on Andrew's style (and I ran out of time!).
Use it in good health, Andrew. Click any of the see more links for a couple more pictures.
Anyone else planning to post pictures of their work? We're bummed that we missed seeing all of the creativity this year.
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| See more |
This is a new take on a theme you've seen before. It's a crate for carrying six bottles, though this time they're 22 oz. “bomber”-size bottles. I included bottles of home-brewed Milk Chocolate Stout for demonstration purposes. ;)
The components are:
- solid white oak ends and rails
- birch plywood dividers
- hemp rope handle
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| See more | ||
One of the big departures from earlier takes on this theme is that there are no nails, screws, or other assembly hardware. All joints are hand-cut mortise and tenon (through-tenons for the side rails, and blind tenons for the bottom rails and dividers), secured by snug-fit and glue (though the dividers are free-floating). Lots of chisel work … I need to re-true my sharpening stone.
 |  |
| See more | |
The other experiment was the finish. Instead of leaving it unfinished, or resorting to my usual varnish/sealer, I mixed beeswax and mineral-oil (1:5 by volume). A small amount of heat to dissolve, a small amount of time for it to cool to a paste, and then a small amount of rubbing to spread it on. I'm very happy with the results; it just makes the wood look very healthy, and really pics out the oak grain. Many thanks to Andrew for clueing me in to the fact that old American Woodworker issues are available for free on Google Books, where I found hints for the mixture.
No burned designs this time. I couldn't decide on Andrew's style (and I ran out of time!).
Use it in good health, Andrew. Click any of the see more links for a couple more pictures.
Anyone else planning to post pictures of their work? We're bummed that we missed seeing all of the creativity this year.
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