A Change of Plans

Our neighborhood hosts are sick, so the big get-together was cancelled. But since Larry had already started his lasagne when we got the word, we went there for dinner and helped him and Carol eat it. We had a very nice visit. It is wonderful to have such great neighbors.

Walking on Water

Temps got into the 20's today and we went out for a walk on the lake - love being able to say that. We stay close to shore since there is a river running through the middle, even if it looks frozen all the way across. Then this evening we went to a reception and presentation at the Wild Center. One of the naturalists previewed a neat new program using some of their live animals. Tomorrow there is a neighborhood potluck dinner.


The news from NJ is that snow removal is progressing very slowly. They didn't even start the work at the condo complex until this morning. Sure hope we can get into our garage when we go back.

At Camp

We made a hasty decision yesterday that if we were to get out of NJ this week, we'd better leave before the snow hit. So we quickly packed and got out before the storm. It's a good thing since it dumped about 2 feet of blowing snow yesterday, leading to a state of emergency being declared. There are at least 8 inches of snow here and very cold temperatures, but they are due to moderate later in the week. And no more snow is forecast, so it looks as though Big Tupper won't be open while we are here. We'll enjoy our New Year's festivities with neighbors and friends and probably head back to NJ next weekend.

Basement Organization

Here is a sample of our handiwork of the last few days.

Back to NJ tomorrow for a different set of chores.

Trick or Treat

Here we are getting ready for our Halloween progressive dinner in Saranac Lake. About 30 of us participated. It was great seeing all our paddling friends.

Today we should finish organizing the basement . Then tomorrow we drive back to NJ.

The weather has been cold and drizzly/snowy most of the time we've been here. So it will be nice to get back to the sunshine.

At Camp

We drove to camp yesterday, arriving to beautiful weather in the 60's. Today was cooler and the temperature is forecast to go down the next few days. We were supposed to spend W's birthday organizing his workshop in the basement, but we decided to spend the nicer weather outside and got the tarp on the woodshed replaced finally. We hope to get some relaxing done too. It has been a crazy month.

Kushaqua Chapel

Apparently I am not the only person intrigued by the church on Lake Kushaqua - see the previous post. I googled it and found the following information. Much of it is from responses to a Flicker posting of a photo of the church very similar to the one I took. There is lots of information on a site on the history of Saranac Lake and surrounding areas. That is the source of the photos shown here. There is also information on a site maintained by the current owners, a small group of friends.

The area was once known as Stony Wold and was the site of a TB Sanitarium built in 1900 to treat working girls in the initial stages of tuberculosis.The chapel building was the community hall, chapel, and movie theater for the complex. The sanitorium closed in 1955 and was bought by the Ogdensburg Diocese of the Catholic Church to be administered by the “White Fathers”, medical missionaries to the Middle East (they originated in France and were known for their white robes). They ran a boys camp known as Camp Lavigerie. In 1962 the Camp was closed and the Franciscan Friars used it as a seminary while their facility in Saranac Lake was being built. The main building and out-buildings were finally razed in the 1970's,leaving the chapel as the only remaining building.

The chapel had beautiful Tiffany windows behind the altar. The windows are now installed at the New-York Historical Society Museum at Central Park West and 77th Street, on the stair landing outside the third floor.

We Finished the Basement Room!!!!

Well, almost. We can't attach most of the floor molding until Jack installs the baseboard heating, hopefully by the end of the month. But the entrance to the room at the base of the stairs is doneand the closet and room doors are hung.We even installed the handrail for the new steps.Now hopefully the weather will improve so we can do lots of paddling to make up for lost time.

Another Milestone

W picked up his Rapidfire from Placid Boatworks today and took his maiden paddle on the flow. Too bad I didn't get a photo. Tomorrow would be an ideal time to take a longer paddle since I'm waiting for the stain to dry before doing the last round of urethaning. But it is supposed to be 90 degrees again. Too hot to be out midday.

Raquette Lake

Today we took a boat ride on the WW Durant on Raquette Lake. It included a yummy buffet lunch and lots of nice scenery.

A Day in Glens Falls

A group of us drove to Glens Falls today to see the Andrew Wyeth exhibit in the Hyde Museum. Then we had lunch at Davidson's Brew Pub - a great place to eat if we ever need a spot farther up the northway (between exits 18 and 19) as we're driving back from NJ.

A Beautiful Fall Day

Yes, I realize it is still August, but there are hints of fall in the air here in the Adirondacks. This morning we woke to fog hanging over the lake, a sure sign of cool nights over the warmer water.The sun later came out and along with it the crisp clean air we love so much.

Basement Progress

We have made a lot of progress on the basement. The "end wall" at the base of the stairs is done, minus the molding, as is the floor. The molding, and there is lots of it, comes next. But first it must be stained and urethaned.

A Day Off

After our building blitz yesterday we decided we needed a day off. We drove to the western end of the trail through Bloomingdale Bog and walked about 3 miles round trip. That is not much but is the farthest W has walked since his fall. He's making lots of progress but still can't paddle. Maybe next month.

Hallelujah

We have beautiful new basement stairs.There are still many steps before the remodeling project is complete, but it is great to get this one out of the way. It was definitely learn-as-you-go.

Paneling Complete

Demolition Phase Complete

We no longer have stairs to the basement.
An 8-foot ladder will have to substitute until we build the new stairs. But first we have to put paneling on the wall.

Basement Progress

We've been working away at the new basement stairs. Here we have set up the stringers and treads in order to measure for the risers - in our wonderful outdoor workshop. They are finally beginning to look like stairs. We even think we've figured out how to get the old ones out and the new ones installed, a rather important part of the process. But there is still lots of urethaning to do before we get to that point. So stay tuned.

Then this evening I went to June's for mojitos and Mexican train, a domino game that is very popular around here.

Busy Weekend

We were at Lewis' Friday night for a very nice neighborhood get-together. Then Saturday we dropped in on the Piercefield firemen's BBQ. And today we drove to Camp Uncas, a Durant great camp south of Raquette Lake. We were invited by the Loon Conservancy and got to hear a presentation by Nina Schoch on the loon research and then toured the camp. In between, we've been working on the basement project. More on that later.

Change of Plans

We were supposed to drive to NJ tomorrow for W's next doctor's appointment. It just got moved to next week, so we're still trying to adjust to the change in plans. I was not looking forward to the NJ heat, but I was looking forward to not working on the basement stairs for a few days. Guess I have to buckle down and continue the chores for another week. It's rainy at the moment, but I'll be sure to get out in my boat before long.