The Colors of Fall

In the picture you can see Larry deep in thought and hard at work installing our Solar panel. We are excited and anxious to see it in action, keeping our batteries topped off when the sun is shinning. We would like to keep our freezer which is separate from our refrigerator/freezer in use while we are in Florida this year. We are in hopes that between the wind generator he installed last Summer and the Solar Panel this year it will be possible. While we are traveling the intercoastal waterway and at a dock with power we keep it on with no worries but in Florida we tend to anchor and without auxiliary power so we will depend on the wind and sun to help us out. Since beginning this lifestyle of living aboard we have a new found appreciation for the things as land dwellers we took for granted. We only suffered when a storm would take out the power.















I look at this picture of Joseph helping Papa wash his bike in their driveway and he looks like his older Brother he has grown so much this year. We were lucky to have he and his Brother spend this past weekend with us on the boat one last time before we leave. Our neighbor on the dock next to us lent me her car to do some last minute provisioning in Brockport and I met our daughter Jennifer and brought the boys back with me. It worked out good because they were great help carrying everything down to the boat. I hope they stay as helpful when they are teenagers. Papa took them for a long dinghy ride up the creek while I stowed away the goodies and made room for them and their gear.















Celebrating Jennifer's Birthday at her house! The first year we left just three days before her Birthday but the past two years we have stayed for various reasons and have had the opportunity to celebrate with her and her family.
















Larry and I have taken several small trips this Fall and Old Forge was one of them. Last Wednesday we rode the motorcycle mostly through the back roads to enjoy the beautiful day and the color. You can see by the picture the colors were incredible. Something while riding in the open air on the motorcycle you also get treated to are the smells. The fragrance of the trees intensifies with the color change. The pine trees give off a delicious and tantalizing fragrance uniquely their own from the fallen needles on the floor of the forest. I always find something soothing about it provoking fond memories of camping as a child.















This picture was taken on Friday one week ago today outside our motel room before we left to come home. You ask and the answer is yes those are deer and we were standing just a few feet away form them. I didn't know they were so friendly, but obviously they are. They were looking for a hand out of food but we didn't oblige them. I hope they will stay close to town so they don't get shot during hunting season which soon opens.
Thursday the day before we spent the day enjoying the Adirondack Museum. We notice it the last time we took the cycle up to Old Forge with friends but didn't stop. This time we were on our own and could spend as much time as we wanted. While in the museum I came across a display of "cute or is it" set back in the early 1940's. In it was a picture of a young woman feeding her infant a baby bottle and at the same time feeding a fawn a baby bottle! The irony of the picture hit on Friday morning when these two deer greeted Larry outside our door. The closer we become to nature the more we see the danger in this scenario. These poor animals learn to depend on humans for food and when they aren't there to feed them are unable to fend for themselves. Yes it was cool to almost reach out and pet them but hopefully they won't just walk up to a hunter in a few weeks and become dinner.

A Beautiful September to Remember!

It's hard to believe that school has started and the leaves are turning color. The time has flown by since we arrived back on Lake Ontario in June. It seems that all the good Summers go by quickly. We have been busy with last minute jobs and provisioning and one of the most important things visiting with friends and family before we leave. The picture of our Grandkids was taken at Hamlin Beach State Park at a family picnic the Sunday before Labor Day. We had a great time as you can see and the day was sunny and warm.

We are planning a late departure this year due to some appointments we have made. We plan to leave on October 4 and if the weather keeps up with sunshine and warm temperatures we'll be glad. If it doesn't we'll be dressing very warm.















We are not planning to come back to Lake Ontario by boat next Summer so Larry and I have been taking some road trips by motorcycle this Fall to places we have been and wished to return to. We visited our Daughter Patience in Connecticut Friday though Sunday this past weekend. We had a great visit and a hot ride on the motorcycle on Friday but of course a wet ride home on Sunday. We tend to get to our destination dry but always a wet ride home. The picture of Patience was taken over Labor Day weekend on a great sail. She visited us that weekend and we visited her the next weekend.

Larry and I have made plans to visit Marla and Theva in Buffalo this weekend. They are settling into their new parish and getting to know their congregation. I'm sure Brockport UMC misses them. We are glad they are close enough for us to be able to visit them before we leave.

Next week we have planned a trip to Old Forge to do some leaf peeping and museum hopping. Let pray for dry crisp warm air, we'll be on the bike.