I had some library errands to run today – not least of which was retrieving the travel mug I left there yesterday! There was a knitting book I wanted, and I wanted something for general reading. A volunteer keeps the gardens blooming most of the year, and I got distracted by blooms as I headed in.
I was looking for Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitting Without Tears, because one of my knitting group friends told me that the Baby Surprise Jacket was in it. My library didn’t have it, but the one in the next town did, so I drove up there.They also have gardens – but (and no, I’m not biased!) I think ours are better!
(And yes, I found the book – and no, that pattern isn’t in it. Oh, well.)
Today was the first day of the Outdoor Recreation for Seniors kayaking season. I had trouble getting the kayak on the roof of the car, and then there was a rolling roadblock on the interstate, so I got there an hour late, as the first people were coming in. I still put the kayak on the water – doesn’t it look like a perfect day?? and paddled over to join people for lunch, then paddled back to the launch. There is now an adaptive seat thing to help those who need it enter and exit their boats; it certainly made the exit much drier for me!
I wasn’t in a hurry, and the last person had left when I found that my starter had died. Sigh. The locals suggested who I should call; hefty tow guy showed up; he pushed me enough to pop the clutch and get it started. Don’t know what the answer is with an automatic transmission! So into the shop it goes on Thursday. Grumble. Oh, well…
The American Toads have returned – this one lives on the path out to the driveway and the car. I have to watch where I’m putting my feet, and have faith that it hides somewhere where I won’t step on it at night!
This weekend was the memorial for one of my fellow former teachers. There were two columbines freshly planted in the flower bed of the Weathersfield Center Church, where the community gathered to remember her life; among other things she was noted for her love of gardening. She taught in our school, was a poll worker at elections, was active in the Historical Society, serving as president for a number of years, participated in Green-up Day, and that only scratches the surface! She lived long enough to welcome a great-grandchild into her life with joy, so there were four generations at the service.
Then today, at the same venue, we had a baby shower for a young couple in town – with a lot of the same people attending, although not nearly as many. One of the activities was potato printing or painting onesies for the impending infant – this child will start their life well dressed!
So while it is with sadness that I recognize the departure of someone so important in our community, it is with joy I await the arrival of another of the next generation.
This has been an amazing year for forsythia in New England! Usually this far north, the buds freeze, and only those protected under snow give blooms. This year, everything is blooming! The above photos were taken while I was in New Hampshire last Tuesday; the ones below are from Vermont.
I’m not a huge fan of pruning forsythia this harshly; I love the flow and grace of a more wild plant. Clipping to increase bloom or keep it out of the way is fine, but don’t go too far!
I completed the above sweater (to go with the hat previously done), sewing on the button Monday morning and then hopping in the car to drive the set, along with a couple of other items, over to Portland, Maine, for the Friends School auction. Hopping in the car was all well and good – but the battery wouldn’t start it! So I transferred what I’d planned to take to Portland to the camper, and drove that instead.
I was also able to visit one of the Quaker Knitting Goddesses; we drove around together, and ate ice cream, and stopped to visit another couple of friends and hear about their trip to Ireland. Then I headed to New Hampshire, and another Knitting Goddess; we went out to dinner, then spent some time in the house where she’s staying – on a farm, full of artwork; we conversed later than we should have, but it was a good visit.
In the morning we went to where the house she’s hoping to buy is, on a lake, to meet with her realtor and an electrician. It’s a cute house, small but with a large screened porch facing the lake; I was going to take photos but the heavens opened, and thunder crashed, and lightning flashed – but as long as nothing awful happens to stop the sale, I’m sure I’ll be back there! After that, we went to brunch with yet another Knitting Goddess; I’ve not really visited with her since before Covid, and it was great to compare notes and catch up. Back to the temporary house, and I headed for home in the early afternoon.
Daffodils are blooming, and forsythia; I don’t have a photo because the one I’m currently looking at is also in pouring rain! Again.
At the end of a trip I like to wrap up the numbers – this year (not counting the eclipse part) saw the Roadtrek driven 4,897 miles, through parts of 18 states, over 33 days – although many of those the camper didn’t move. Longest day: 696 miles. (There were many days when the camper didn’t move, as I was focused on visiting.) Five of my driving days I was able to keep it under my ideal of 300 – 350 miles a day, but four days were well over 500. $1148.65 spent on fuel. $0.00 spent on lodging – the one time I stayed in a campground where one is supposed to pay (a whopping $10) the employee waved away my money, saying I couldn’t have used that much electricity!! Well, no, I didn’t even plug in – but I was willing to pay that modest amount for a quiet, level and safe place to park for the night. Mostly I was moochdocking – parked with friends and relations. MPG: only 13.7, not as well as I traditionally have done with the Roadtrek, but probably trying to push it and make time hurt the fuel efficiency. I spent too much time going 65 this trip; it’s happier at 55 – 60. I often track what I spend on food, but didn’t this time. I ate a few meals out – and took some of my hosts out for dinner – but mostly I ate food from the refrigerator and cabinets.
If there is anything else you want to know, feel free to ask!
Does it count as the end of the trip, when I only spend one night in my own bed? No, I guess not! I got home Saturday, went to Quaker worship Sunday morning, then left for Jericho, Vermont where my sister and brother-in-law live – and which was on the path of totality for the eclipse. I was not the first to arrive, or the last. The table was set for twelve for dinner.
I think my aunt will be pleased to note that the tablecloth was hers, as were the beautiful oil lamps. And when I arrived, one of her sons and his wife were there; another, with wife and son arrived shortly after I did. And then a family of four, parents from California and son and wife from Montreal. Ahhh – the advantage of carrying my house with me! The cousins took the spare bedrooms and the couch, the old friends stayed in a nearby motel, and I had my own bed in the Roadtrek.
Then April 8 – and the eclipse. Bruce, from California, is an eclipse follower; this was his third. We had a delicious breakfast of blueberry (from the yard) pancakes with maple syrup and jams, also produced here, and fruit salad. People visited, and early in the afternoon we went to a neighbor’s house where the party was happening. They have a large field, for excellent viewing – and the only clouds were high cirrus, so the view was unobstructed. Our hosts had decorated t-shirts for all of their family – I wish I’d gotten a photo of one of them! There were lots of pot-luck nibbles, and lots of pairs of eclipse glasses, and lots of friendly and mooching dogs. (Mooch pooches?) In addition to our group, there were probably 25 others – all in a celebratory mood. Only one couple miscalculated – they got stuck in traffic about 30 miles short, and went and found a bar with outdoor deck from which to watch, before coming on to the house.
I don’t have good enough camera equipment to actually get a photo of the event, but here is what it looked like otherwise.
These were taken during totality:
And then the sun returned!
That rock was the viewing platform for several people.
And someone had made eclipse cupcakes, too –
Then it was back to the house, and more visiting, and a light supper of a wonderful mushroom soup and bread, and four flavors of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. One family was planning to leave right after the eclipse – but watching all the red on all the route planners, and seeing that it was going to take at least half again as long, they opted to leave early this morning, instead. Wise choice! By late morning all the visitors had left, and now I’m about to.
A Year of Kayaking 