Today, sadly, my cousin Antoinette and her boyfriend, Heath, had to leave to return to Albany. Heath works at the racetrack and Friday was opening day at Saratoga. He had to pick up his press pass and get ready for the big day. I hope they enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed them and I was very happy to see that Heath and Antoinette could relax a little while they were with us.
We went kayaking for a couple of hours and then returned to the cottage to clean up, fix some dinner, and do some relaxing ourselves. I didn't realize how exhausted I was (and Bob was), but I had some MH work to do. I spent a while doing that and we went to bed a bit early (though both of us were up late reading)
Thursday
Again, a lot of relaxing, some kayaking, a walk on the road to the cottage, and more work for MH.
Bob went to the laudromat while I was working but returned because all washers were in use and four people were waiting to get started.
For dinner, we had leftovers--since there were plenty to choose from, Bob had one thing and I had another--all heated in the microwave. (boy--is this boring stuff I'm writing).
Friday
Today, I spent far too much time working--rather trying to get answers to my questions since I could begin the work and work all weekend. However, both of my bosses were busy all day, and even though we did have a 4:00 web conference, I had more questions later, that would not be answered until Monday. I was bummed because I did want to get those questions answered so I could work all weekend. Bryn is coming on Thursday and I don't want to have to be working while she is here. I just want to enjoy my intelligent, beautiful, talented, kind daughter while she's here.
So we had another lazy day. Understand, that while we're lazing around, Bob and I are watching the birds, squirrels, chipmunks (and at night we're smelling the skunk and listening to the racket being made by the raccoon (or raccoons). Tonight at around midnight (I had just fallen asleep after finishing another book by Diane Mott Davidson) I heard a lot of noise and banging around outside. I deduced that it must be the raccoon playing or searching within the Coleman cooler we had drying out near the picnic table not far from my bedroom window. It had taken me a while to fall asleep, so I wasn't really interested in getting up and trying to get a glimpse of her or him or them. The next morning we discovered the cooler and the top of the cooler had been dragged into the woods nearby. Funny.
While I spoke with my MH NY bosses and did some work, Bob went back to the laundromat, which was empty, and did the bed linens and some clothes.
Saturday
Today, I worked almost all day, but near the end of the day, I had a panic attack. My questions had not been answered, more had arisen as I worked today, none would be answered this weekend because my MH bosses have their priorities straight (I wish I did) and don't work unless they absolutely have to on weekends. My hats go off to them.
Bob and I took a break and did about three hours of kayaking. The weather was perfect, though the breezes were more like wind and paddling was a little more challenging. We were watching the terns diving, kerplunk, into the water and coming out with little fish (terns are pretty little) which Bob thought were alewives (the fish). We paddled quite a bit out from the cottage between two islands and then it was time to return. Our tired arms told us so as did the outgoing tide. On our way in, we saw a golden eagle flying over the trees. As I pulled my kayak ashore, I felt a pop in my calf and suddenly experienced a sharp pain. I could barely walk up the stairs to the cottage. Oh no! What the heck. I'm in better shape than I've been in a long time--why are all these things happening to my body? We spent some time on the Adirondack chairs listening to the wind through the trees and then went in because it was a bit chilly (3 PM).
I, however, was in a quandary about whether to continue working. If I am right in my guesses to the answers to my questions, I'd be in good shape and might only have to work Monday after they told me I was right. If I am wrong, however, I would have to undo everything I had done and start over. So I decided to send an email to Area9, the company that is doing the program I am working on. I also decided to stop working and I would find out tomorrow that that was a very good decision.
I gave up working and read as many magazines I could. I brought a huge plastic storage container of magazines with me, so it's good that I can read all the magazines and not have to cart them back in the van cross country. We've been donating them to the laundromat and Bob has found a number of ladies reading them when he has returned to do laundry. I'm down to about ten (I think I brought about 40 or more with me).
I finally set up my easel. This was a challenge because one of the screws for one of the legs was missing. I searched in my tool kit and found something that would do in a pinch, but I'm not sure how stable the easel will be. it's set up now, so all I have to do is get my paints and brushes out. Maybe tomorrow.
Sunday
We woke up, had coffee, and watched the tide come in. it was a beautiful sunrise and another beautiful day. High tide would not be until noon, so we lazed around and watched.
When I checked my email, I discovered, to my pleasant surprise, that Asger, from Area9, had answered my questions clearly.
That would mean, of course, that I could do all the work today. And this is exactly what I did. I spent about 8 hours and finished just in time for dinner (hot dogs and popcorn).
I was a bit disappointed because I wanted to go kayaking, but the wind had really picked up, and there were actually white-capped waves lapping the shore. The sound of the wind through the trees, however, was mesmerizing. I wish I could have these sounds on a loop that I could listen to when I couldn't go to sleep, because I was getting very sleepy. it was also quite chilly out--just the type of weather that makes me want to go to sleep all bundled up.
The temperature dipped, the wind continued dancing through the trees, the sunlight filtered through the clouds and Bob and I went to bed at 7:30 PM. Giggle, giggle.
I was reading in bed while Bob was asleep, but I decided that it was now or never to fill in the missing days of my blog, as boring as they might seem to my readers, though there wasn't one second that I was bored. We have a spectacular view; we're in the perfect location, and, God knows, we've brought enough craft, art stuff, musical instruments, and reading materials to keep us occupied for the next three seasons. And then--there's always eating.
Tomorrow, we will actually leave the cottage and do some more exploring. One place we are heading for tomorrow will be the Wass Wildlife Refuge. I'll make sure to take a lot of pictures.
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