Best Life

 Coffee in the jacuzzi - the best way to start the day.  The sun was shining.  The icy deck was melting.  And our plan for the day - simple.  Start cleaning up the yard and the construction "mess". All the extra metal went up in the loft easily.  The kayaks - a bit harder but we finally figured it out.  The double one needed to be loaded through the rear but there was plenty of room for all four easily.    Next the boat and kayak trailer were tucked in and out of the weather.  A perfect fit.   We took all the unusable metal and the old TV to the transfer station.  No charge for the metal but $1 charge for the TV!  And it can only be paid by check.  Silly people.  It will cost more to cash my check.  But I did manage to find some books and entertainment in the bargain barn.  Watching people dig through the bargains - very amusing.  Today someone even donated a used breast pump.   With...

                                                                                 Rangeley Lake Our trip to town this afternoon - frustrating.  Our "free" post office box just cost us $30!  Apparently because we did not let them know we wanted to renew, they changed the locks and sent all our mail back to the senders. (We wanted the same lock number which meant they had to change the locks a second time.) Though we were out of town at the time we should have renewed, a phone call would have sufficed.  At no time did anyone alert us to having to renew our "free" box.  (It's free since there is no delivery to Dallas Hill Road.)  Lesson learned.  Our renewal is now on my calendar with plenty of leeway so we can visit or call ...

 A gorgeous, though cold (30s), start to our day.  We headed to Oquossoc to grab kerosene and found the lake just coming awake from the fog. The sun warmed us nicely (high of 61) and we had a successful day.  Paul installed beams and the facade on the carport.                                                                                     Before                                                                                          After      ...

 We used today as a planning day.  Unload the snowmobile we dragged up here, the new kerosene heater for the garage, move the boat out of the carport and take inventory of our supplies.  The goal this week: build a loft in the carport to store the extra pieces of metal and the kayaks. Kerosene is only sold at Koob's in Oquossoc so we headed there and surprise! - they are not open on a Sunday.  So we wound up detouring to Quill Hill.  Since they close the road to cars tomorrow until the spring, we decided to check it out one last time this year.  Though "peak" is over for the season, it is still incredible just how far and how many mountains surround the area.  We spent the remainder of the day watching the game (go Pats!), read, napped, some artwork and soaked in the jacuzzi (perfect in this cool October weather). National Alaska Day.  This is still one of my favorite trips (2014) filled with so many beautiful memories.       ...

 Just under 300 miles north and the temperature difference feels significant.  Upon our arrival in Rangeley - 37 degrees (which was the high for the day).  Unload the car, unpack the boxes and start the fire.   We actually started out later than we intended because we SOLD the truck!  And we had to visit with Megan and Charlotte while we waited for the pharmacy to open.  But the traffic - nonexistent.  The weather perfect.  And we made good time.   Arriving mid afternoon, Paul had time for a quick project.  Installing a smart TV in our bedroom.                                     The old tube TV and VCR player have been in the same spot since we built the house                                    in 1991.  Defini...

 I am going to miss hanging out with Charlotte in the morning.  I have forgotten how easily time passes when watching a baby snuggle and sleep.  How utterly absorbing watching various expressions cross her face.  How somebody so tiny can fill a heart so full. But alas, we must head to Maine.  When we left the house in August we thought we would have returned before the weather changed to freezing.  Water in the jacuzzi and pipes could become a problem.  In addition I left food in the fridge (exactly what I cannot recall).  So the plan is to head north tomorrow morning and stay a week (or so).   Our car is packed and after a potential buyer for the truck test drives it at 7am, we can go retrieve Fenway and be on the road.  It would be nice to have the truck off the lawn for good.  Fingers crossed. Word of the day - whewling.  Meaning to cry complainingly, howl. whine.