June 30, 2011. Western Head, NS. Lupines.

The lupines are beautiful right now.  Ever since  the middle of Maine we have seen them everywhere on both sides of the highway and in front of the homes.   They have stayed with us ever since.  New Brunswick fields are loaded with them, but Nova Scotia takes the cake as the province with the most plentiful and vibrant lupines.    Texas had a poor season for wild flowers due to the drought but Nova Scotia is making up for our lack of wild flowers in the south.

Today we drove to the cottage, then to Bridgewater and finally home along the shore.  The lupines were with us all along the way.   Blue, purple and pink blossoms can be seen all along the highways.  It was an unforgettable sight.

June 29, 2011. Western Head, N.S. Spinning Head.

One thing always leads to another.  When a building you own has a fire, the something leads to many things, required by you in order to proceed along the path of re-building.  This morning we met with our insurance adjuster,  Graham.   I get the feeling that we are going to become best friends.

My task today was to make a list of all the contents of The Carriage House, then put the price for acquisition and the date,  along with the cost of re-placement.  Now that may sound like a simple task but for someone like me who really does not enjoy details,  I think it is impossible.  So far I have completed the list, I think.   First I thought about the place by function, then I used the list of the objects removed by the company who is looking after it.  I should go back in and make sure I haven't missed something, but the smell is so horrid I hate to return.

Two builders are getting the figures to Graham to re-build, then we will decide what to do.  I already asked George, our builder, to get those numbers to the company.  We are ready to begin right now.  But we need the facts and figures in order to proceed.   We must settle our stomachs.  Nothing is speedy in Nova Scotia, which of course, is why we like it here.

June 28, 2011. Western Head, NS, Luncheon Party.

It was the first social event of the season, given by us here at our ocean house.  It was a perfect event for me.   I invited only two couples for lunch.  Mary McD. had given me a large pot of home made soup and I had found eight packages of sliced meat in my freezer.  I had purchased fresh bread yesterday.   Fruit was to be served for dessert, so I did not need to cook anything in order to serve the lunch.

I set the table  and when the folks arrived, I served the soup, which was delicious.  Next I had set out the fixings for a sandwich in the kitchen so people made their own sandwich or helped themselves for more soup.   Everyone got exactly what they needed in a sandwich and also had a little exercise.

For dessert, I brought a large bowl of fruit along with plates and sharp knives onto the dining table so everyone could chose the fruit and cut them up.  Herbal tea was the last of my chores.

It was a lovely lunch, enjoyed by all six of us and no one worked very hard.  I think I will enjoy these luncheon entertainments this summer.

June 27, 2011. Western Head, NS. Friends.

We enjoy living here.  Yesterday Ken took a nap sitting on the deck in a lounge chair.    He went out to enjoy looking out at sea but ended with a wee nap.    When the sun shines,  everything sparkles.   Even in the fog we like it, but not day after day.  So far since arriving on Saturday we have received two phone calls offering help with the Carriage House, two dinner invitations and three friends stopping by to say welcome.   Our friends here in Nova Scotia enhance our life.

And our good friends are not all here yet.  Gill arrives July 7 and the Ely's July 20 when the real parties begin.    Let our summer begin!!

June 26, 2011. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Sun.

The sun is shining here in Nova Scotia and everything in the area is sparkling.  The dogwood trees are in bloom and the shrubs too.  The Irises around the pond are a vivid purple.  Everything is bright, even the grass and all because the sun is shining.  Yesterday, when we were tired,  we both commented on the beauty of the blossoms, but it wasn't quite the same as today, where the sun is shining.  It is quite an amazing difference.

Yesterday, the house looked warm and inviting, just as it should coming home.  It is quite wonderful, here at our little house by the shore.  Rather like a miracle.

But the darking hulk of the burned out Carriage House is ugly.  Today I went and walked around inside.  It looks terrible.  I quickly took a long hot shower to rid myself of the small and taste of smoke.  I am not entering it again.

Today the sun is shining and our whole world is bright, here in Nova Scotia.

June 25, 2011. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Ferry.

We changed our minds and took the ferry from St. John to Digby instead of driving around New Brunswick and into Nova Scotia from the north.   There is a small tourist information office just after you enter Canada from Maine.  Last year we stopped for a map.  This year we stopped for information about the ferry.   While we were waiting to clear customs, Ken wondered when the ferry ran, not really thinking we would take it, but when we discovered that it left at 11:00pm,  we booked our ticket, right then and there.  Next, from the car,  we booked a motel in Digby, as the ferry would arrive at 2:00am and did not wish to drive to Liverpool in the middle of the night.  The Admiral Digby Inn sounded just great as it was three minutes drive from the ferry dock.

I had read about downtown St. John but had never walked around to see for ourselves.   It is the oldest city in Canada and was in the process being restoring.  We found it to be small but charming with an active bar scene.  We dined at a pub and could have chosen ten others.  The food was excellent, as was the beer, bitters for Ken and blueberry ale for me.

It was clear that many of the good folks who had boarded the ferry had done it before.  They arrived at the lounge complete with pillows and blankets.  The room was darkened and everyone slept except Ken and me, who read, sitting under the only light bright enough to read.   We would have slept but for the lack of pillows and blankets!!

June 23, 2011. Marlborough, Mass. AMAZING SIGHTS.

It was quite a day, but the most unusual incident occurred on the highway south, while we were driving north.    We were on the Merritt Parkway, in New Jersey.  It was raining cats and dogs in addition to thunder and lightning.  All of a sudden, our lanes slowed down to a crawl, so we knew something had happened.  I was driving.  Finally we saw a tree right across the whole highway and directly on top of a car and a truck.  It must have been a terrible event.  Can you imagine driving down the highway at a fast speed and all of a sudden a tree trunk lands on your car.  Fortunately, the main trunk did not hit the car directly, but landed on the hood, also the truck, but they were both covered with branches.  It was quite a sight.

In addition, it rained all day, most of the time hard.  Yesterday, when leaving the farm at 5:00 pm, we decided to allow the GPS direct our path.  Unfortunately, it took us right down into the heart of New York and the traffic was terrible.   Many highways were under construction so the GPS directed us around the construction, meaning that we drove on many local roads.  But we still enjoyed the day, finally arriving at a place just 15 hours away from Nova Scotia.  We hope the weather will be better tomorrow.

June 22, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Farm.

It was fun, showing the farm to clients of my friend from the city.   Mostly, they wanted to buy a farm in Bedford County as a center for the family to gather away from the city.  They wanted to talk to us about the business part of owning a working farm.

The did not want to buy a country property where only rich people own farms, so they eliminated Virginia and Maryland Eastern Shore.  And they wanted to be about two hours from the city.   We first purchased here in Mann  Township in Bedford County because of the low taxes and the low price and I bet they were thinking of that too.  Our arrangement with the Jays works very well but it a system requiring a lot of faith on both sides.  Nothing is written down but they farm the place and we enjoy it and exchange small amounts of money.  Spelling it all out is not easy but it was fun sorting it  out.  Our system is a bit complicated but it works.

Ken took the son for a tour of the whole farm, and they inspected both houses.  They were most interested in the Jay's management of the farm.  It will be interesting if they ask us to sell our farm to them?    Goodness.

June 21, 2011. Artemas, PA. We are Set.

We have completed everything on our list, here at the farm,  so now we are heading north.   Last evening we gave Brian a cheque for the purchase of the steer at the fair, so when we return, we will have a freezer full of good Angus meat.

 A friend from work has a client  interested in purchasing a farm in Bedford County, so tomorrow, they are coming to talk to us about the farm business.  They will arrive about noon.  It will be fun to show them our farm and to see the improvements.  The farm right now looks spectacular.  It is a working farm.  The fields of hay and corn are growing well and the herd of cattle is thriving.  We have 28 calves, one bull and 29 heifers.  The weather has been kind.  The sun shines every day, yet every afternoon the rains come too.  It is perfect weather for growth.  The farmers are smiling.

I have all my duds ready to put in the truck.  Ken has yet to organize anything.  My pattern and Ken's pattern is different.  But I am the one who usually forgets something important.  He does all the technical organization too.  I am sure we will all be ready to drive away at the same time.  Whether we leave tomorrow or Thursday depends on how much the folks want to spend with us.  It doesn't really matter to us.

June 20, 2011. Dickie Creek Farm, Artemas, PA. The Fair.

The Bedford County Fair is a big deal around here.  The kids all belong to 4H Clubs and the animals and projects worked on through the year are judged.  The animals are then sold at an auction.  Typical farm kids.  They work all year grooming and managing their animal only to have it sold at the Fair, then slaughtered for food.  They don't bat an eye.

Unfortunately, we will not be here for the Fair.  Our freezer is empty and we want to be able to drive to Mississippi with coolers full of frozen Angus beef.  Tonight we will meet with Brian to arrange for him to bid on and buy a steer, using our money.  Then they will bring the animal home to their farm, slaughter and butcher the meat, then put the frozen meat in  our freezer.  We will arrive home with a freezer full of good tasting beef, just ready to cook.

Now the Jay family are very kind people but in addition, the funds we spend go directly for their children, to be saved for their college fund, so they have a vested interest in us buying their children's cattle.  And of course, we want a head of cattle that was raised on our land, so it all works out just fine.  This evening, we will meet with Brian to figure out how much we must spend.

More walk

A walk in the woods

June 19, 2011. Artemas, PA. Speaking.

One problem  with my life right now is the talking part.  I spend most of the time being quiet.  Ken and I go about our day and have conversations every so often and at meal time, but most of the time, I am alone, either reading or working around the farm.  But most of the time, I am not speaking.

The Neurologist in Texas recommended that I keep working as long as possible, just to keep  me talking as much as possible.  Today, talking on the phone with Mary M., I realized that I was struggling with words.  She could tell too.  It is the first time I have felt that I have regressed.  This week we had lots of company so I have been in many conversations,  so I don't really understand why I am struggling today with my words.

When I first began to get back my talking, I read aloud from  magazines.  Perhaps I should do it now.  Or perhaps I will begin to read aloud from the books I am reading.   Maybe I should get sociable and visit Helen every day and have a chat,  or spend more time on the phone.   It appears the Neurologist was right.

June 18, 2011. Artemas, PA. Bluegrass Festival.

Tonight, in Artemas, we will attend the Bluegrass Festival, held at the Legion Ball Field, where the Little League games are held.  Last year the field was re-done, and several fund-raisers were held to raise  money, even though all the work was volunteer labor.  Tonight they hope to finish  raising the funds tonight.  It appears, our little town of Artemas is a hot bed of Little League Baseball.  Two teams won the state championship last year.

Betty and Roger drove out to the farm to see us today.  We ate a lovely lunch and now they have gone home to the city.  Everyone loves the look of the country and the farm land but no one feels comfortable to stay for the weekend.  Interesting.  Folks are very tied to the city and their home.  It was lovely to see them.  Betty and I worked together for a long time.  She is wonderful at her job and she also is a huge source of ideas.  I am without ideas but I am just smart enough to become surrounded with idea people.  Betty was one of those people and I was grateful for her contribution.    Now I am retired.

June 17, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Work Crew.

Last March, these  three good folks  opened every box.  Today they came to see the results.  They were amazed that everything fit and that every object is in it's proper place.  When they left after their day of work, the screen porch was full, the bedroom had piles of stuff and all the art work and photographs were stacked against the walls.  Now, all the art work appears to have been there forever, not just hung three weeks ago.  Today, these three good folks spent the day at the farm with us, just hanging out and talking and eating.  By the time we turned around, it was time to get an ice cream before they hit the road for home.

Good friends are such a pleasure.  You don't see them for four months or four years, and when you all get together you  chatter away, just like old times.  It is actually quite interesting and delightful.  Of course, fried chicken and potato salad from The Road Kill makes life easy for all, especially the cook.  Now they must come when we are here again in September!!

June 16, 2011. Dickie Creek Farm, Artemas, Pennsylvania. The Farm.

 Everything is working at the farm and all our technological gadgets are up to speed.  The cell phones work like a champ, now that Ken installed the booster.  We have four bars instead of one and even in the bedroom, which is on the opposite side of the antennae,  we have two.  You no longer are forced to walk out to the field and cock your ear in order to be sure your call will go through.

Last evening we watched the final of the Stanley Cup alternately with a program on The History channel citing the top 100 gadgets of the last one hundred years.  Tim Wu was one of the ten expert panelists for choosing the top ten.  It was an interesting program, made more so because many of the gadgets were developed during our life time.   So our television was working well too even though the Vancouver team was not able to figure out what to do with Boston.

We have two systems for accessing the Internet;  one is via satellite using Wild Blue and one using the cell signal, so we can use the computers both downstairs in the office or upstairs in the main room.  And we both can work at the same time which is a good thing.

Music can be played on both levels too.  I am now listening to an old Louis Armstrong disc.  Ken puts a new set of discs into the machine every morning and we listen all day.   We are listening to music we have not heard for years and I am enjoying it.

Of course, now that  everything is in good working order, we will soon depart for Nova Scotia, which is the story of our life.  It is interesting that it doesn't bother us.

June 15, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Nature Trail.

We couldn't even find the trail most of the time.   Every so often we spotted the yellow blaze marks painted on the trees to mark the trail, but most of the time we just headed in the right direction.

A walk before breakfast is always pleasant, so today Ken and I went for an early hike to find the old trail.  When we first purchased this farm in 1997, we hired a forester to assess the wood lots and to map out a nature trail from the old farm house and back again.  He did a great job, through deep woods and across the edge of fields.  We walked the trail a lot, but especially me.  I took that hike almost every day.  Ken of course, does not really like to do the same things twice, let alone every day.  But then Alan put a new road right across the woods to the next field, which allowed us to get to our picnic area in the far woods without opening the gates and walking through the cattle.  It became easier to walk on the new road, so I did.

Then the trees fall down, so soon I could not even find the nature trail.  But today we found it, at least, we found part of it, which is a good thing.   It was pleasant in the woods but not as easy as walking  on the road.  We will see what I will do.

June 13, 2011. Artemas, PA. Sara Lou.

It is always a bit difficult to use the GPS to get  to the farm.  The little machine brings you  via very odd roads.  Today, poor Sara Lou drove here to the farm following the directions on her trusty Garmin, which brought her right up Creek Road and forced her to ford  the creek, twice.    She had been to the farm before and when I asked if she needed directions she told me that she had them  in her phone.  But she used her GPS instead and drove across the creek two times.  Two weeks ago,  her sedan car would not have made it across that creek, but today, she drove across just fine.   She had no clue where she was, until she finally saw our red barn.  Then she knew she had arrived.

She enjoyed everything about the farm, especially the peace and quiet.  The weather was perfect, so we sat on the screen porch and talked and talked and talked, catching up on the events of the past eight months.  She had never seen the Hill House or the renovations to the kitchen and third floor of the Farm House and of course, she had to see how we had fit ourselves so well into the Hill House.  So our day was full.  Now she is on her way home.  But she will not drive down Creek Road.  We told her a better way!!

June 12, 2011. Artemas, PA. Company is Coming.

It was a lovely day with Freddie and Phyllis.  They drove up for the day from Bethesda.   They drove up looking like movie stars, arriving in a BMW convertible and wearing sun glasses.   We seldom see BMW's here in the country, left alone a convertibles.   But it was lovely spending time with them today.   Actually, we have not seen them since last September so we had a lot of news to catch up with.  It was fun.

The highlight of the day was ice cream at the Alley Cat Creamery at the Road Kill Cafe.  They were astonished with the size of the servings and the price.  And we sat outside and ate our dessert and enjoyed the country air.  Phyllis and I went for a walk in the afternoon, and the rest of the time we either ate or talked.    Food was good but easy and the conversation was lively.   Our life in the country is quiet but today, we were  busy and lively.  And it was fun!!

June 11, 2011. Dickie Creek Farm. Artemas, PA. The Flicker.

The Flicker is a beautiful bird, but this little devil has been pecking holes in the siding of our Hill House.   The flicker is a woodpecker,  and has a white rump, so it is easy to spot when it flies.   You almost never get to watch the flicker sitting on a tree.   It moves as soon as you approach, but you can watch them fly away.

Ken heard it first and could not identify the sound because the pounding is intermittent.  Normally you hear the woodpeckers hammering away in the woods at a fast rate, so Ken was sure it was not a woodpecker hitting the house.  But I found him hammering away at the siding, early yesterday morning.  That little critter has hammered several holes right through the wood siding.  

Today, our builder Keith, came today with his ladder and a can of foam and filled up all the holes.   Keith will sand down the foam, then paint it, so the siding will look fine.  But the real problem is how to stop the woodpecker to stop destroying our siding?  You never know where your difficulties will come from, but today it is the flicker giving us problems.

June 10, 2011. Artemas, PA. Three Good Books.

My niece Wendy recommended this book to me while we were in Mexico.  I down loaded it into my Kindle and now I have had the time to read it.  It is definitely worth a read.  "An Englishwoman In America" by Isabel Byrd, at least I think it is Byrd.  It was written in 1855 and the author travelled to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.    It was not easy travelling in America in 1854.

"My Nine Lives" by Leon Fleisher is another excellent book.  I am in the midst of that book and am enjoying it thoroughly.  It is well written and entertaining.   I have always been interested with prodigies and Leon Fleisher was certainly one of them.  But at the peak of his career, he lost the use of  two fingers on his right hand, thus rendering it impossible to continuing  his job.

And I am also reading the new book about Jane Austin, telling how it happened that when Jane died, no one expected her books to last longer than a few years.  But by the turn of the 20th Century, she was hugely popular and has been ever since.  It's an interesting story.  It's called "Jane's Fame".   Another well written interesting story.

You can tell I now have time to read, thank heavens.  All the organization is done!!

June 9, 2011. Artemas, PA. Things That Bring Pleasure.

We are using our good dishes for every day living, here at the farm,  and it pleases us.   It took me a long time to figure out what to do with our good Royal Dalton dishes.  Ken started giving me these dishes  one Christmas early in our married life,  choosing them himself with a starter set for four.    Over the years,  we have added more to the set,  so now we have a service for twenty four.  When we knew we were breaking up our apartment in Chevy Chase,  I puzzled and puzzled about what to do with those dishes.

I went through all the possibilities and finally decided that as neither Christina or Suzanne needed them, and the grandchildren were too young to use them, I decided to send the kitchen dishes to the lake, the set for twenty I inherited from Miss. Tomlinson, and use the good dishes every day at the farm.  Of course, I took the dishes we had been using,  down to the old farm house, and gave the Blue Willow dishes to Tammy, who loves them.  A big shift indeed.  But it has worked out well for all.

But the best part is that both Ken and I enjoy using these beautiful dishes every day.  I  recall that after my Father died, my Mother started using her good dishes for every day, thinking that she probably would no longer do much entertaining.  It was a good idea back then in 1964 for my Mother and it is a good idea now for me.  I gives me great pleasure by using those old dishes.

June 8, 2011. Artemas, PA. Hot Hot Hot.

The day is a scorcher.  98 degrees in the shade.  And the whole northeast is hot too.  Soon we will be heading north where 80 seems really hot to all the natives.  We left Mississippi just in time.  Their temperatures have been over 90 since we left.  When we were in Texas and the day was hot, I commented to Ken that if we ever live in Texas or Mississippi all year long, the first thing I would do is install a swimming pool.  On a day like today, all I want to do is to get into the swimming pool.

Heat is such a relative thing.  We humans accommodate to changes in temperature quite quickly.  After just a week in Texas,  our relatives from Vancouver felt chilly when the temperature reached 75, even though  in Vancouver 75 feels warm.  The same is true for elevation.  A few days at a higher elevation makes us respond to the higher elevation so we feel better.

But today was hot.  While at Walmart, I chose to wait in the car while Ken shopped.   I kind of enjoyed it, baking in the furnace of the truck, but at the next stop, Ken ordered me out of the car.   And I followed his instructions.

June 7, 2011. Artemas, PA. Our Complicated Life.

Today I met with Tammy, who looks after our house here at the farm.    One of the items on my list  for discussion was to ask her to run every tap and flush every toilet at least once a month.  She seemed puzzled until I explained the reason;  then she understood.   Now we have two houses at the farm so this task is not insignificant.  Lizzie, who is eight, agreed to take on the task.

Then I met with our Postmaster.  Small post offices are the best type.  When a package arrives that is too big for our box, she calls me to tell me that the package was left at the farm house, on the porch.  Our system for mail is to have our mail forwarded to a mailing service, which is in Florida.  We either e mail or call the mail service to tell them where we are.  About once a week or so, we ask them to mail us our mail, which arrives in a box via regular mail.   Our nice postmaster is happy now that we are at the farm.

Without the computer and the Internet we could not function.  Even then, our lives are complicated.  But it is never boring, which is a good thing!!

Keith, Wilma, Ruth & Ken, Riding Mountain Nat Park, Manitoba

June 6, 2011. Dickie Creek Farm, Artemas, PA. Pitching Out>

I spent all afternoon sorting and pitching and sorting and pitching.  Fifteen boxes were piled in the office of the farm house.  My task was to save the valuable and dispose of  the rest.  These boxes were sent from my office in Bethesda.  Regina, dear Regina, packed up everything, and Tom brought it all in his car in March.  These boxes have been waiting for me ever since.

Now I don't know if this is a good thing or not, this throwing away all your stuff.   Tomorrow, I am ready to take to the re-cycle everything I ever taught the agents all those 23 years.  Being somewhat compulsive, I kept notes from every session I taught, all properly put in alphabetical order by topic, so if I needed to teach the same topic again I only needed to update the information.  And I have notes of every seminar and convention I attended, filed in chronological order.  So if anyone calls me quickly, I can find who spoke on what topic at NAR in Hawaii.  But no sense calling tomorrow because I am taking them all to the dumpster.

Now my Real Estate career is finally over.  I have no history of my past life as an agent and as a manager.  It's probably a good thing.  But it was not easy!!

Keith & Wilma @ the 50th

A Memory

Disaster

Beginning and Ending

June 5, 2011. Artemas, PA. Keith Dickie.

Keith Dickie died two nights ago, at home,  in Brandon, Manitoba.   He  died while taking a short nap.  Keith wanted to die at home and he wanted not to be a burden on his family and friends so he got his wishes.  Once he was diagnosed with the recurrence of his melanoma, he knew he had not long to live.   The cancer took him suddenly.

Keith was Ken's younger brother by five years so when Ken went to College at age 18, Keith was still a kid living in Parry Sound and playing hockey,  morning, noon and night.  He was a high energy 'rink rat', who eventually played for the Brandon Wheat Kings.   He met and married Wilma in Brandon and after stints in the west, have lived in Brandon ever since.  He still attended every game of The Wheat Kings, wearing his team jacket.

Pearl, who lived with the Dickie family said of Keith that "Keith knows how to have a good time".  This was true back then and was true until he died.  Keith and Wilma and Ken and I spent a week together last October at Riding Mountain National Park and every day we went out in their car to explore.  We all loved it but Keith loved it better than all of us I think.   He lived in the present and enjoyed the moment.   We will miss him and our hearts go out to Wilma, who will miss him the most.

June 4, 2011. Artemas, PA. The Strawberry Social.

The little church just up the road held a fund raiser tonight.  It was called a strawberry social, to be held from 4 to 7 today.  Ken and I were unclear what was being served, other than strawberries, so we arrived just after 5  expecting them to serve a dessert and tea.  But we were wrong.   The good folks from the church were serving a full dinner, all cooked and served by them.  Donations only.

By the time we arrived they were out of Polish sausages and cole slaw, but they had plenty of everything else:  sloppy Joe's, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad sauerkraut, green beans,  baked beans and rolls.  Of course, ice cream, cake and strawberries for dessert.  The place was full, with folks still coming when we left just after 6.  It was amazing to us, that we know very few people there.  We must make a point to get to know more people.  But maybe not.

I also don't know what they were raising money for.  It seems that a good idea is the most important part.  The new Minister,  actually he has been there for four years, is very energetic and enthusiastic and it shows in the attendance.  The building that they have always served dinner has been expanded with the roof raised and fans installed, so it is much more comfortable.  And two excellent singers entertained us outside.  All this for a donation.

June 3, 2011. Artemas, PA. Amazing Distruction.

The whole top of the Carriage House was blown off.   The cupola at the top is gone.  The widow's walk is still intact, but there is nothing above the railing.    When the lightning struck, all the windows were blown out, both in the cupola and on the second floor.  The second floor is burned badly.  No bed, couch, art, or carpet.  They are busily rescuing anything of value, which turns out to be the drop-leaf table made by David Nickerson and all the dishes.  The first floor, Ken's workshop, had only water damage,  so all his tools and furniture will be stored, along with his partly completed kayak.

In a twinkling of an eye, all the beauty of the Carriage House was gone.  But we must remember, that it was just stuff, to be used and enjoyed.  Now it is gone.    Ken and I loved building that place and it was very useful to us and enjoyed by our friends and relatives.  Our decision must come ahead of us, so we must figure it out.

My brother's comment was the most accurate.  Dave said, "Now you have a project."

June 2, 2011. Artemas, PA. More Troubles!!

The Carriage House in Nova Scotia burned last night.  A lightning bolt hit the cupola, blowing out all the windows and setting it on fire.  Our good neighbors called the fire department in Liverpool, and they did their best.  The good part is that no people were living in the Carriage House.  The bad part is that we have  a huge mess.

It is interesting the response.  Brian and Jackie called, first in the middle of the night which we did not answer, and again at 6:00 this morning, to tell us that the whole place had burned down and needed to be gutted.  Then George, our builder, went to look and said the same thing.  "Just bull doze the place and start again."   Walt and Mary went to look it over, both inside and out, and reported that the structure seemed fine and that the floor between the first and second floor was intact.  All the interior walls and belongings on the second floor need replacing.  There is a vast difference between the three responses.

The Insurance Adjuster will inspect the property today and give us the real scoop.  We await his response.