2 September 2009

No mouse! Alverta came down to pick me up to go up to South Burlington to pick up the Sienna to go to St. Albans to look at / drive a Ford F-150 pickup truck to Junction Auto for a pre-purchase inspection. Whew! And it weren't over yet. The truck had major problems so won't be joining the Perkins' fleet. After returning the F-150 to St. Albans and dinner with Alverta (one of the 50 recipes from A Man, A Can, A Plan), drove back to Fern Lake. Only 250 miles driven today... and Vermont just ain't that big.

1 September 2009

No mouse! Drove Delores up to Ehlers RV Sales and Service in Essex Junction to fix water leaks and the inoperative furnace. Had been warned that they were good, they were honest, but they weren't cheap. Right on all counts... "only" cost $500 to get the keys back. Back to Fern Lake by dinner... 1/4 tank (20 gallons) of gasoline lighter. Lots of activity around the yellow jacket nest at sunset so "treatment" didn't work. Nor did the ice cube trick that Ehlers recommended to solve the black water tank level indicator sensor problem. (Other than having the tank overflow through the toilet -- not a pleasant alternative -- there is no way to tell how much "stuff" is in the black water tank, 'cause the indicator hasn't worked in who knows how long.) Found a mouse nest (in plain sight... previously not seen because of male-pattern blindness) in the cabinet under the RV sink.

31 August 2009

Woke up to find a (the????) mouse in a utility drawer trap. Transported the critter to a nice hollow stump at the Silver Lake parking lot... 2 miles from Fern Lake. Alverta came for lunch / canoeing / dinner cooked over the campfire and to drive the Sienna up to South Burlington. "Treated" the yellow jacket nest alongside the path that caused me so much pain.

30 August 2009

No mice in the traps! Replaced RV wiper blades and repaired screens. LOTS of mosquitoes about -- took 3 doses of Deep Woods Off to slow down the biting. Worked for awhile widening / smoothing the path down to the lake (preparing to get the hand truck with the new stairs down to the dock) until a yellow jacket nest was disturbed. Got stung 15+ times, some in very tender places, while beating a hasty retreat to the RV. Unfortunately, 6 of the yellow devils accompanied me into the RV, where they continued to make life way too exciting. Swimming in the afternoon helped to dull the pain... at least temporarily. Attended the Lake Dunmore / Fern Lake Association dinner at Camp Keewaydin in the evening and "won" a bushel of the famous Kingsley's sweet corn at the silent auction. Kingsley's farm stand is only two miles south on Route 53. Some hereabouts say there is no better corn grown in Vermont. I'm not saying they're wrong!!!!

29 August 2009

Drove from VA to VT. Took 10 hours because of a major traffic delay on the New Jersey Turnpike - 1 hour to go 6 miles! Lots of mice "presents" in the same two utensils drawers.

13 July - 8 August 2009

Chree and I spent a simply delightful 26 days in Australia with Kris Higman.  A week of playing tourist in Sydney, then Kris and I had to work (please try to restrain your tears!) for a week each in Perth, Gladstone, and Townsville while Chree relaxed and enjoyed all the attractions that each place had to offer.  A word to the wise: if you can find them, SW Australia Cabernet-Merlot blends are to die for!  Unfortunately, the Aussies keep all the good stuff for themselves! Also to die for: United Airlines international business class.

7 July 2009

Another (????) mouse was in the trap this morning; released the critter down by the lake. Secured the RV for an extended absence, then made the nine hour schlep back to Virginia. Chree says I need to take the mice at least a mile away, as I’ve probably just caught and released the same rodent four times. And hoping not to jinx things: the shower enclosure track (only "fixed" five times) seems to be holding together just fine.