Where does Time Go?

 I made a post here on November 9. The next one was today the 22nd. There is MUCH that has happened in the days in between. I'll try tomorrow to fill in some of that.

Kia Sedona Serpentine Belt, Tensioner, NY State Inspection

My 2011 Kia Sedona van this morning.

Yesterday I dropped my 2011 Kia Sedona van off at Main Auto Parts in Watertown, NY to have the NY State annual safety and emissions inspection as well as hd them replace the serpentine belt and belt tensioner. the tab for that came to $403.40 BTW, $21.00 of that was for the NYS inspection fee.

The tab for NY State inspection, derive belt and belt tensioner

Usually when I drop one of my vehicles off somewhere for a repair I have the Better Half or my Celebrity Brother meet me, pick me up, or whatever. They were both incapacitated. The BH was very sick for 2 days with vomiting and other issues. My CB was still recovering at home after 5 days in the hospital with a c diff infection. SO, my daughter S picked me up at the garage and drove me back home to Chaumont. Later in the day I needed a ride back to the garage to pick up the repaired van. This time my grandson JJ's girlfriend came out and picked me up. That was particularly nice because it gave me some one on one time with her. She is a most wonderful, kind person. (Very pretty too.)  J and her have two beautiful young children also. 

First Snow and Pickled Garlic

 

Freezing rain on our car today in Chaumont, NY.

Awoke this morning to snow falling. It was a light snow, sticking to the ground and outside objects. As day wore on it was more drizzling rain mixed with some snow and at one point it was freezing rain. Laid low today, checked in on Celebrity Brother Al as he recovers from prostate removal 10 days ago or so. Late in afternoon made some pickled garlic. Here is the recipe I used. This is first time I've tried it. 

Yesterday was a nice enough day that I painted a couple more boards for my ongoing side porch repair / rebuild. I also spent a couple hours with CB Al yesterday. His recovery has been quite painful at times and making him miserable. 

First snow of the winter season was accompanied with some freezing rain.

Made some pickled garlic today.

Painted porch trim boards yesterday.

Maple leaf on first snow and freezing rain.

A Trip to the Emergency Room

Last night, at 2:00 AM the Better Half woke me. She was in excruciating pain coming from her  lower back, right side. She has been experiencing pain in that area for some time, we figured it was related to her long time back issues that have a years long history. We arrived at Samaratin Medical Center in Watertown at 3:00. They concluded that she has a kidney infection. IV antibiotics were administered as well as some pain relief. We left the ER at 8:00 am. She was feeling well enough by then that we stopped at Shorty's diner for breakfast. Picked up prescriptions at Kinneys. At home we both dozed off and on a few times. About 2:00 I made some chicken soup. No rain today, some sunshine, pleasant, high temp of 44.

Yesterday I took my Celebrity Brother to his appointment with the doctor that removed his prostate. After I dropped him home and went to Wal-Mart and shopped some medical supplies for him. He is coming along ok, no longer needs the catheter, but  he is clearly somewhat weary as he recovers. The BH and I went back to his house late afternoon with couple more items for him. It rained most of the day. It was dark, dreary and miserable weather. 

Beautiful Day, Raked Leaves

My 2011 Kia Sedona van at Al's house. I unloaded 5 bags of leaf mulch
behind the shed. It was a beautiful day for outdoor work.

Yesterday (Sunday November 2) was a nice day here in the North Country. Sunny, high about 50 dgrees. I took down our Halloween decorations and stowed them away for next year. Then spent 3 hours raking and mulching leaves. I rake the leaves up into large piles and then take the lawn mower to them, chopping the leaves into a fine mulch. In recent years I dump the bagged leaf mulch behind my brotherAl's house in Calcium. He has been filling in a large section of hillside, slowly extending the yard. Al is recovering from prostate gland removal. His son Tim was there as well as brother Ron. I dropped off some Halloween candy bars we had left over from Halloween night. 

Halloween 2025 Steve Hunt Creations

 Halloween, Friday October 31, 2025

Steve Hunt house, Main St, Chaumont, NY, Halloween 2025

My neighbor down the street from me, Steve Hunt, has been creating some interesting sculptures. The photos I present here are of his home decorated for Halloween. 

As for us, we had our usual array of Jacko' Lantern string lights and inflatable. Nothing too elaborate. 

Halloween itself was rainy, windy and temperature in the high 40's. This put a damper on number of trick or treaters, even though the rain subsided for most of the evening. Last year we had 163 trick or treaters, a record number. This year we had 75. We bought 4 boxes of full size candy bars totaling 138 pieces. Bought at Sam's Club for about $150.00 Heather & Dave and their sons and girlfriends came over. Had some food and couple of beers. 

Steve Hunt house, Main St, Chaumont, NY, Halloween 2025

Steve Hunt house, Main St, Chaumont, NY, Halloween 2025

Steve Hunt house, Main St, Chaumont, NY, Halloween 2025

Steve Hunt house, Main St, Chaumont, NY, Halloween 2025

Porch Work, Lack of Sleep, Nice Day

 

Beautiful day in Chaumont NY. Side yard viewed from side porch.

Yesterday, October 28, 2025, was a beautiful day. Sunny, breezy, cool, temp in early 50's. I hd. shortage of sleep because I was up until 3:00am watching the 3rd baseball World Series Game between the LA Dodgers and Toronto Bluejays. The game went into overtime innings. Dodgers won in a walk off home run in the 18th inning. Consequently I was overtired and less ambitouse than normal. I did some work on our side porsh, accompanied the BH to a doctor appointment, picked up a grocery order from Hannaford's, had a guitar lesson at 4:30, went to Brother A's house and then to Sam's Club to buy Halloween Candy for Friday. Spent almost $140.00 for the candy. We bought a box of 48 Snickers bars and the 30 count boxes of assorted candy bars. Last year we had 163 trick or treaters, an all time record. This year it's supposed to be rainy so I imagine we will have fewer. 

Brother Goes In For Prostate Surgery

Brother Al ready for prostate removal surgery. He was upbeat and joking.

 I drove my Celebrity Brother A into the Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown, NY for prostate gland removal. I got up at 4:15 am, left house in Chaumont at 5:00, arrived at his house about 5:30, got to the hospital at 6:00m, his check in time. At 7:30 he was wheeled into surgery. It's now 9:35. Procedure supposed to take about 3 and 1/2 hours. 

Rain Drops on Maple Leaf Photo

 

Raindrops on a maple leaf,   photo by Gary Walts

I snapped this photo of raindrops on a maple leaf back on September 25th. I took it with  Minolta 50mm f2.8 macro lens mounted on a Sony a6600 camera.

Today I finished cleaning the wood stove flue pipe, the part of the chimney system that is inside the house. A couple days ago I cleaned the chimney. It's ready for the first fire of the season. Normally I have this chore done much earlier in the season. I decided I should clean it in late spring or early summer at the conclusion of the heating system. 

It was sunny today, great autumn colors with a high of 5 degrees.

New Tires on Our 2019 Kia Sorento

 October 10, 2025: New Tires on Sorento

Sunset on the Taconic Mountains viewed from Hairpin Turn of Mohawk Trail, Clarksburg, Massachusetts

We recently had four new tires put on our 2019 Kia Sorento prior to taking a road trip. We had planned on a drive to Florida to meet H & D in Miami, however, several things cropped up including the fact that H & D got sick,  the Better Half was not feeling up to it due to her ongoing back ailments. So the BH and I decided to take a long weekend road trip to through Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. (I still need to post some photos from that). 

Anyhow I opted to buy tires at Cheney Tires in Watertown. I've experienced great service and work at that shop. The tab for that came to $700.98 Cheney's, by the way was sold not long ago to Steve Shannon Tire and Auto Centers. 

Today is the Better Half's 77th Birthday

Wednesday October 15, 2025 

View from our backyard, Chaumont NY, a beautiful day.

Today is the Better Half's 77th Birthday. Outdoors it has been a lovely autumn day. Temperature at 55 degrees, clear sky, sunny, mild breeze. It simply can't get better than that. (Well, figuratively speaking.)

In the afternoon we took a drive, started by going down the Millens Bay Rd, having herd there was a nice farm stand somewhere along it. We came upon it and it was closed. Sign said it's open Saturday and Sundays. From there we made our way to Clayton and to Watertown. We had dinner at  the Texas Road House which was quite good. The tab came in at $100.00 and change. 

Here she is, my Better Half on her 77th birthday

My iPhone reports I walked 4,784 steps today.

Farm stand on the Millens Bay Road between Chaumont and Millens Bay

Farm stand on the Millens Bay Road between Chaumont and Millens Bay

The Texas Road House, Watertown, NY

Finished Kia Sedona Brake Job

 

New brake rotor, pads and caliper successfully installed on 2011 Kia Sedona

Today I finished replacing the brake pads, rotors and calipers on our 2011 Kia Sedona van. It came out great. Brakes and goes down the road nice and smoothly. Driver side rotor removal was difficult. The passenger side went smoothly EXCEPT: One of the bolts holding caliper bracket in place was very difficult to break free. But my large DeWalt battery powered impact driver got it apart. 

ALSO, a little trouble with passenger side caliper. Yesterday I Got new one at Auto Zone. Got home and discovered one of the pins was seized up. Could not budge it. Took it back. Watetown store didn't have another one but their Evans Mills Store did. I get home and go to install it and this one came with the wrong metal clips that the brake pads slide on! So back I go to Evans Mills and get the correct ones. This morning it all came together nicely.

I now need to get the exhaust system repaired. It's very loud. 

Later today I made a batch of Jamaican Jerk Marinade. In the evening we went to B & M's place for dinner. 

Reciept for brake purchased at Auto Zone.

New brake rotor, pads and caliper successfully installed on 2011 Kia Sedona