Floors

The hardwood floors in the dining room and hallway have been sanded, stained and polyurethaned.

Mountain Flooring did a fantastic job removing the scratches and discoloration.   The floors were stained Golden Oak to match the rest of the hardwoods in our house.

The new floors are a little darker than the ones which were stained 4 years ago and have faded in the sunlight.

Lights Out

Otis was stretched out in the kitchen while I was washing dishes. When I turned the lights out and headed upstairs, Otis stayed in the kitchen. I thought Oti was sound asleep.

When my foot was on the first stair, I heard the clang of dog tags against the side of a dog bowl. I realized that Oti had been lying in wait, until I left the kitchen. Coop had not eaten all his dinner and Oti was enjoying what was left.

Gloucester

We enjoyed a beautiful stretch of weather while we were in Massachusetts. One day we drove to Gloucester for a 7 Seas whale watch tour.

While driving through town, we stopped at the Mariner's Memorial honoring 3,500 Gloucester sailors who died at sea.

The whales are staying far out at the feeding grounds (32 miles from port). It took about 2.5 hours before the first whale was spotted. By the end of the day we had seen 30 different humpbacks, including mothers and calves.


The new masthead on our blog is a reminder of this trip.

Salem

While the hardwood floors were being refinished, we spent a few days in Salem, MA. This was our first trip to Salem.

Salem is best known for the witch trials.There is a memorial to the 20 innocent people who were falsely accused and killed for practicing witchcraft. The memorial is very moving, especially the protests of innocence which are carved into stone.The Salem Witch Museum provides an overview of the witch trials.

I did not realize that Salem was once a thriving maritime city with merchant ships sailing the globe. The National Park Service gives a great tour of the sailing ship, Friendship,  and the Custom House. 

 

The House of the Seven Gables made famous by Hawthorne  has extremely narrow staircases and low ceilings. Not a welcoming place for a tall person. The waterfront views and garden were beautiful.

If you are looking for an evening ghost tour, Hocus Pocus does a fantastic job.

If you get to Salem, stop for breakfast or lunch at Red's Sandwich Shop. Jeff was served 3 plate size pancakes that were so large, he could only eat half of them.

Wind Power

While traveling in Massachusetts, we stopped at a Walmart. When we pulled into the parking lot, I was surprised to see wind turbines on top of the parking lot lights.

When we entered the store we noticed two things:
1 - there was a lot of natural light (skylights) in the store
2 - in general the store was darker than most Walmart's (fewer fluorescent lights)

I asked the cashier if the windmills were producing power for the store. She said yes, the store was powered by these turbines and it saved a lot of money in their electric bills.

I was really impressed to see that Walmart was going green. I know that the cost savings is good for the company's bottom line, but I was still excited to see wind power being harnessed. Hopefully other companies will follow.

I remember driving in the Netherlands and seeing miles of wind turbines spinning. Perhaps this will happen in the US someday.

Surprise!

I do not feed the birds over the summer and usually pack the feeders away in the spring. This year, I was so busy with the renovation, the feeders remained outside.

With the cooler weather coming, I thought it was time to start filling the feeders again. You can imagine my surprise, when I opened this feeder and found a nest inside!

I said to Jeff, "How could a bird possibly get in there ??" Jeff responded, "What makes you think it was a bird ?"

I then realized Jeff was right, it was probably a field mouse who had built the nest. That really freaked me out. The feeder got a good scrubbing before it was filled and hung back up.

Could this unwelcome visitor be the reason why the hawk is sometimes seen on the deck staring at the feeder ?

Nice Rack

Jeff and I were having lunch in the kitchen when a buck wandered across the backyard, along the edge of the woods. "Wow", I said, "Look at that rack!"

I could not count the points on the deer's antlers, but knew this was the largest set I had ever seen on a deer in our yard. It was larger than the antlers which hang in some hunting lodges.

I thought of Jeff's friend, John, who bow hunts deer  in Wilton. I wondered if he would take up residence on our deck to get a chance at this beautiful buck. I hope that this majestic deer is able to survive hunting season.

Trees

We were on our morning walk with Cooper and Otis, when Cooper suddenly stopped and began to sniff the trunk of a tree. Coop raised his nose and stared up into the top of the tree.

I am not sure what Cooper smelled, perhaps a raccoon or opossum. It must have been very strong because Coop stood on his back legs, with his front resting against the tree and kept sniffing. Still not satisfied, Coop tried to climb the tree.

Unfortunately for Coop, he does not possess the tree climbing gene. We pulled a reluctant Coop off the tree, but it was obvious that he was frustrated.

What's next ?

Now that the dining room is painted, we need to have the hardwood floors refinished.

During my last visit to Country Curtains I saw some silk curtains which will look  beautiful in the dining room. Once the floor is stained and polished, I will purchase the drapes. I also need to order the chandelier.

We still need to stain the stair railing and paint all the balusters. This project may be put on hold as the changing leaves are a sign that fall is here and we need to complete the outdoor work before it gets too cold.

I give Jeff and I a BIG pat on the back. When the contractor left, I thought we will never get the downstairs painted. After weeks of working every night and most weekends, we now have most of the painting completed. Time for a vacation!

Happy Birthday Cooper!

Cooper has been with us for 2 years. He is now 9 years old !!

Life with Cooper is never dull and he always keeps me guessing. Coop can be aloof  one instant and wanting to snuggle the next.

Cooper is happiest outside on sunny days chasing the birds and butterflies which float overhead. Every morning Coop races out the door eager to greet a new day.  Cooper's shining eyes and wagging tail tell me that he knows he is loved and enjoying life.

Cooper is a good dog and we are lucky to have him in our pack. Cooper has changed dramatically from the scared, neurotic Golden we first brought home. Coop will always be a little crazy and slightly reserved, but that just makes the kisses he does give that much sweeter.

150

I read an article about a Dr and his wife who live in West Hills, NY (Long Island) and own a  $2+ million  home on 7 acres. This couple made the news because 150 starving and abused dogs were found abandoned in their sprawling mansion with no food or water.  Many dead dogs were  found within the home.

I was horrified to read this. I will never understand how people can be so incredibly cruel. What tremendous evil must live in their souls to starve helpless animals for sport.

After reading this, I gave Cooper a big hug and a kiss. Their story is Cooper's story. Left alone with no food or water, a life of starvation and abuse. I said a quick prayer that 150 people will come forward to adopt these dogs who desperately need love.

I told Coop that his birthday donation would be sent to the Huntington, NY Animal Shelter, which is now caring for all these dogs. Coop's wagging told told me he liked that idea.

Dining Room II

The dining room has now been painted!

I really like the Crisp Autumn Leaves color. I can't wait for fall and the chance to have dinner in the dining room with the fireplace blazing. It may be hard to tell from the photo, but the color is a mix of red and orange.

At one time, I would have been afraid of such a bold color. Jeff reminded me that when we sell, we will need to tone the color down. However, with the current market, we will be in Wilton for quite a while.

Goodbye Earl

There's maybe three or four days a year that I'm glad we moved from North Carolina to Connecticut.  Today is one of those days.

We lived through one direct hit hurricane when we lived in North Carolina and I can tell you that's one thing you only want to experience once.

How far we've come

When I was at the vet last week, there were 2 moments that made me realize just how much Cooper has changed in the time he has been with us.

While we were waiting to see the Dr, a woman approached Coop and said she had a much larger Golden waiting in her car. She stuck out her hand and Coop licked it. When she petted Coop, he happily thumped his tail.

When we went into the exam room, Dr Duffy spoke with me, before examining Coop. Coop did not like being ignored and went over to the vet and nudged his hand, until Dr Duffy bent down to pet him.

I do believe that Cooper's Golden personality is starting to shine.

Smart

Otis is smarter than I thought. On these hot, muggy days we close the windows and turn the air conditioning on. I did not see Otis downstairs and went to look for him.

Otis was not in the office or bedroom, he was stretched out on the guest bath tile floor. Not only is the tile cool, but Oti's head was directly under the air conditioning vent. Oti opened one eye, looked at me and immediately went back to sleep. It was obvious that Oti was not going to be leaving this cool spot anytime soon.

Dining Room Trim

The dining room ceiling, window trim, crown molding and baseboard have all been painted.

The eyeball spots are also installed.

A lot of people ask, how can you still be painting ? All I can say is that I think we are moving at a good pace, if you consider we only have some nights and weekends to work on this large project.

Another Vet Appointment

Cooper had his annual vet appointment.  I was the only person in the waiting area and thought this will be nice and quick. I should have known that fate had other plans. 20 minutes later a vet tech came out and took a blood sample from Coop. I was told Dr Duffy would be with me shortly.

5 minutes later, a girl came running in saying her dog had been hit by a car . Over the intercom the emergency call went out. I knew I would be waiting a long time. It turns out that the puppy had stepped on the window control, opened the window and jumped out. The driver did not realize this happened and ran over the dog.

After 40 more minutes, Coop and I met with Dr Duffy. The vet and the staff apologized for the wait. I said emergencies happen and if it was my dog, I would want him treated immediately (visions of Otis opening car windows were running thru my head). The puppy is going to be fine.

Cooper is a perfect 60.8 lbs. Dr Duffy said that Cooper seemed very healthy for a senior. I mentioned that Coop hesitates when he walks on very dark nights. Dr Duffy said that diminishing eyesight is a sign of old age, but Coop's retina are healthy.  Coop's thyroid is not enlarged and there are no signs of cancer. Dr Duffy said he will see us in one year.

Clean

While the Lexus was in for servicing, I had the car detailed. When I picked Lexi up, she was sparkling inside and out. The dirty floor mats had been shampooed and the leather gleamed.

Not bad for a 4 year old car, I thought. I keep getting letters from Lexus asking if I want to trade my car in. However, with only 22K miles, I think Lexi will be with  me for a long time.

Dining Room

After a week away from painting, we have started working on the dining room. I am hoping that this room will not be very difficult to paint. With any luck, we will be finished by Labor Day weekend.

Sun Shades

The new blinds for the office were finally delivered. The blinds are supposed to block the sun, but still allow you to see out.

I can't say if this really works, since we have not had a sunny day yet. I know Cooper will be disappointed to no longer see his shadow friends on days I work at home.

Zip Your Suitcase

We have written about how Otis loves to carry shoes and towels around the house. It seems that Oti does not limit his interest to our possessions.

When our guest was here, Oti went into her suitcase and decided that socks and pajamas were play toys. The next day, when the suitcase was closed, Oti  found her sneaker and proudly paraded it around the house.

If you are coming to visit, I suggest locking your suitcase.

Another Awesome Shot

The View From Behind

I was walking Cooper and Otis and realized that these dogs walk in very different ways.

Cooper prances with his tail held high and curling at the tip, like a giant plume. Coop is always looking up and around, ready to race after a bird or falling leaves. Coop walks at a fast pace, his eyes sparkle and you can tell that Coop is happy to be outside.

Otis walks with his tail down and nose to the ground. Otis constantly sniffs and walks at a much slower pace. Otis loves people and yet when we walk, his attitude changes. Otis is in "security" mode and will softly growl or whine to alert me of approaching people. Otis happily greets anyone who comes to our front door, so I am surprised by this. Our trainer said Oti  is a  Signaler and I think Otis feels it is his job to alert the pack to potential danger.

Nikon

Last year Jeff bought a Nikon digital camera to take on our Alaskan vacation. Jeff has been very happy with the camera, except for the fact that the battery stopped working and would not hold a charge.

Jeff finally contacted Nikon about the problem  and was instructed to mail the battery to their service department. One week later we received a new battery.

I was impressed by how easy Nikon's return process was.

Exhausted

We have hit the wall on painting. Both Jeff and I are sick of the endless prepping, trim, door and wall painting. Just the thought of picking up the paint brush again makes me want to cry.

I am tired of having paint in my hair. I am weary of washing paint off Otis and Cooper. Otis has white ears most days.

Thankfully we will be taking a break this weekend when our guests arrive.

Changing Seasons

Fall is coming. I can tell this, not from the leaves on the trees, but from Cooper and Otis. Both dogs are shedding like crazy. Their soft summer coats are falling out and will soon be replaced by their thick winter fur.

It seems early to me for the dogs to be blowing their summer coats. Could this be a sign of a cold winter ahead ?

I keep vacuuming, but the dust bunnies seem to multiply. This is a warning to our weekend guests ;)

Hallway

We have finally  finished painting the hallway! The dining room and staircase still need to be worked on.

I thought that painting the hallway would be pretty fast, but painting the 4 doors (both sides) and the door frames and trim took several days. Even the wall's surface area was greater than anticipated - 2 gallons of paint were needed.

We will not be installing the existing Waterford lights until the floors are refinished. I know that the sanding will send dust everywhere and I do not want the lights impacted. Also, the 2 new Waterford lights are on back order. I love Waterford, but it seems that there is always a month or more delay between ordering Waterford and actual delivery.

Scent

When I saw these roses at the store, I stopped and looked twice, because the color did not seem real. The photo does not do them justice, they are a hot pink.

After I brought the flowers home, I noticed the wonderful scent. Most store bought roses do not have a smell.

When I close my eyes and sniff , I am reminded of cutting roses in my Mother's garden - warm summer days and bushes full of blooms.

Country Curtains

Two years ago, I purchased bamboo shades at Country Curtains for the office. I liked these blinds because they let in some light and the room was never too dark.

The other day, when I went to adjust the shades, the cord that held them in place snapped. This occurred on both sets of shades. It seems that the sun had weakened the fabric strings and they tore trying to raise the shade.

If I had purchased the product at Target or Walmart, I would not have been surprised. However, I buy Country Curtains because even though they are expensive, they are high quality.

I called Customer Service and was told that I would be given a credit for the original cost of the blinds. We returned the broken blinds to the Westport store and ordered some new UV blocking sunshades. The new shades were not in stock and will arrive next week.

I was impressed that Country Curtains was willing to refund the cost and keep me a happy customer. Of course, this was a smart business move, since I purchased additional items while I was in their store.

Karma favors dogs

Harvest

Jeff planted some onions in the deck planters this spring. Cooper loved to dig these bulbs up and I thought they would never survive.

 Jeff harvested the first onion. As you can say it is pretty big. I don't like onions, but he said the taste was semi-sweet but very strong.

The UNC Tarheels need to recruit this guy

Infinity

The infinity light which I ordered for the living room finally arrived. Now that it has been installed, the room is completely finished.

Owls and Growls

I heard Otis pacing and whining at 3:00 AM.  I reluctantly got up to take him outside.

We began to walk in the yard. From the trees above us I heard the Hoot-Hoot-Hoot of an owl. Otis began to growl - loud and fierce. Otis had no interest in doing anything but staring into the woods, growling.

I realized that the reason Otis had been whining was because he heard the owl. Otis did not need to go out, he was bothered by the owl's calls and pacing as a result.  We immediately headed back inside.

Family Room

The family room has been painted, new window treatments and carpet are installed and the furniture is back in place! This paint color is Antique Beige and a much lighter shade than the formal living room.

I was hesitant about buying such a colorful carpet. However, Jeff convinced me that it would be a good way to add color to the room, especially with brown furniture. The couch has tiny red flecks and I think the elements go well together.

You will notice that there is no television. We moved our old tv upstairs and are going to buy a new flat screen when things calm down. The cardboard is the size of a 46 inch tv. We are trying to decide if  a 42 or 46 would be better.

Cooper and Otis are enjoying the new carpet. I wonder how long it will stay  clean.

Cooper's Favorite Spot

Cooper has taken to sitting on the stairs lately.  Seems as though you can get a pretty good view through the new door if you're sitting on the right stair.  If you look at the picture to the left, you'll see his reflection in the top of the door.

Mission Control

When we renovated, we put a lot of thought into where we want the light switches.  Previously, we had to go to four different locations just to turn the outside lights on.  Going from the front door to the kitchen was always at least a three step process of flipping switches and walking back and forth.  Now everything is in one spot.  Of course, that one spot looks like Mission Control at Cape Canaveral.

5 minute fan

Now that the family room ceiling has been painted, Jeff installed the ceiling fan.  The Hunter fan box states that it is a "5 minute fan", meaning that it is very quick to install.

One hour later, the new light is now installed.

Crisp Autum Leaves

When we renovated, I thought that it would be nice to paint the dining room blue. That is, until I learned that in the world of interior decorating blue dining rooms are a big NO-NO. I realize that I can choose any color I desire, but the last thing I want is to have an unappealing room.

With blue out, I began to look at other possible colors. It seems that red is a dining room favorite. We had a red dining room in a previous home and I did not want another one. I began to think about a dark orange/pumpkin.

When I saw Crisp Autumn Leaves, I thought bingo! This color  is a cross between red and orange. In our beige home, it will be a bold  splash of color.

I painted a sample to see if I really love this color. Crisp Autumn Leaves will not go away easily, so I want to be sure I can happily live with it.

Potato Chips

I was snacking on potato chips at the kitchen table. Otis was sitting nearby looking at me with pleading eyes and drooling. Cooper was nowhere in sight.

As I was finishing, I gave Oti a chip. Immediately, I heard a thump,thump, thump. Cooper was stretched out under the table. How he knew that Oti had a potato chip is beyond me. However, Coop wanted to make sure that he too would get a snack.

Spoiled!

Open a wine bottle with your shoe

I don't know if this is another one of those "You can open a car door over your cell phone" things, but interesting anyway...

http://www.wimp.com/wineshoe/

Furniture

Finally, we have a place to sit ! The living room furniture has been moved from the garage to back upstairs. We still have some pieces stored in the guest room. Hopefully in the next few days the room will be completely  finished.

OK, now this is depressing

Read the story here.