PHOTO: Oak Leaf on Windshield

Oak leaf on Car Windshield, iPhone 6 photo by Gary Walts

I snapped this oak leaf on the windshield on Saturday, October 5th.  The leaf caught my eye as I was leaving the house to go to Crouse Hospital in Syracuse where the Better Half was recovering from ileostomy reversal surgery. That operation went well and she came home on Sunday the 6th.

Guitar Day: Wednesday September 18

Me playing guitar at the Watertown Farm Market. Photo by Frank Sacci.

Last week I played the Watertown Farm & Craft Market on Washington St. Watertown. It was last minute gig. The chamber contacted me a couple days earlier to see if I was free. I was. Afterwards I had guitar lessons at the Copley House in Chaumont. The photo presented here was taken by Frank Sacci.

Drawing of Me With Guitar by James William Henley

 Presented here is a drawing of me playing guitar. It was created by artist James William Henley. He resides here in the NorthCountry somewhere. I confess that I only met him once and that was last summer (2023) at Orion Art Gallery where I was playing when he drew this. I don't remember where he said he lives. Adams or Brownville seem to be in my mind. Anyhow, I love it and thank him for the print. It's 16x20. He dropped the art off at Orion's new location on Mullin St., Watertown, NY. 

Drawing of me by artist James William Henley.

Sunset Sailing on the St. Lawrence River, Clayton, NY

 It was a beautiful day here in the North Country. Sunshine, breeze, 68 degrees. Around 6:00 we took a drive to Clayton and Cape Vincent. A sailboat illuminated by setting sun on the St. Lawrence River in Clayon, NY caught my eye. I used a Sony 6600 camera and a Minolta 500mm f8 auto focus lens. 

Sailing on the St. Lawrence River, Clayton, NY. photo copyright Gary Walts

Earlier I stacked firewood. iPhone shows I walked 4,264 steps.

Sunset On Wilson's Bay and New Work at Clay St.

 September 5, 2024

Sunset on Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY.  photo copyright Gary Walts September 5, 2024

We hired a builder/contractor  Keith Scoville, Copenhagen,  to replace/repair the soffit and facia at our ClaySt, Watertown apartment house. He started yesterday, the 5th. Much needed repair should improve the buildings sale appeal.

I finished repairing the the cellar door threshold. 

In the early evening we drove to Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent to photograph the sunset. The photo above is one of them. iPhone app says I took 6,405 steps.

Dinner was pork chops, mashed potatoes, carrots and a tomato salad made with our garden tomatoes. 

Mushroom Gills Photo

 

This is detail cropped from the photo below. It shows how sharp the Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens is.      photo copyright Gary Walts 2024

Close up of mushroom gills. Snapped photo in our yard, Chaumont, NY. I used a Sony a6600 camera and a Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens. That lens is incredibly sharp. never ceases to amaze me. This photo was actually cropped from the full frame shown below it. 

Mushroom in our yard, Chaumont, NY. Photo taken with Minolta 200mm f2.8 lens and Sony a6600 camera. photo copyright Gary Walts 2024

Photos of Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY.

Point of land jutting into Lake Ontario as seen from shore
of Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY.  photo copyright Gary Walts August 27, 2024

Here are a couple of photos I snapped late this afternoon at Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY.  Editing and adjusting the many parameters of such photo can be endless. It can be difficult to know when to call it quits. 

Cropped version of the above photo.  photo copyright Gary Walts, August 2024

Ship on Lake Ontario off Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY. photo copyright Gary Walts, 2024

Earlier today my BrotherA and I cut up a small dead tree and removed a small live tree from backyard of our Clay St house. Temperature was 85 degrees. Became hot & sweaty. Also drove to Copenhagen and paid a deposit to builder Kieth Scoville who will be repairing/replacing the soffit & facia there.

Beach Creature Art at Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY

Beach sculpture, Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY

Had a bad nights sleep last night that followed a wonderful family get together at our home in Chaumont, NY. Consequently got up later than usual this morning. It was a lovely Summer day, breezy and a temp around 80 degrees. Late this afternoon we decided to take a drive to one of our swimming spots, Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY.   We discovered this somewhat eerie artwork. The artist unknown. I love it and find it inspiring. 

Beach sculpture, Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY

Beach sculpture, Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY

Beach sculpture, Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY

Beach sculpture, Wilson's Bay, Cape Vincent, NY

Most years we go to this beach many times through the summer. One of our favorite spots. This Summer was different. Many, many days of rain, the Better Half dealing with some health issues, me putting extra time in at our Clay St house readying it for sale. So today the weather was exceptionally nice and the discovery of this artwork made this day special. 

My iPhone reports I walked 4,621 steps today. 

What I Did Today: Faucett repair, molding, baby mouse

 What I did yesterday, August 22, 2024, a Thursday.

Baby mouse found in our garage.

I was busy. First thing was go to Watertown City Comptrollers office and pay the city tax bill for our property at 418 Clay St. That was $621.31. Then I was busy at Clay St just doing more little jobs ,prepping for sale and or new tenants. I repaired leaky kitchen faucet in Apt #2, put together one of 3 windows that I had repaired for Apt #1, painted the window sills, and did a minor repair to the threshold of the new stairway door. I also put down some 1/4 round molding along the baseboards in the 2nd bedroom of Apt #1.

On way home I bought some charcoal at Sam's Club, 2 20 pound bags for about $24.00

In the evening I discovered  baby mouse in our garage. It's eyes were not yet open and it moved very clumsily & feebly. At first I thought it was dead. I showed it to Better Haf and our visiting granddaughter A. I returned the mouse to where I found it. This moning it ws gone, it's fate unknown to me.

1/4 round molding in bedroom at Clay St Apt #1

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2. Removing damaged plastic washer.

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2. 

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2.  Stem of the ball was bent. 

Leaky faucet repair at Clay St Apt #2.  The damaged washer, left and the new one.

Someone obviously damaged the ball and washers of the faucet, maybe through frustration trying to stop the drip. This is a Delta faucet, repair kit included the ball, washer, springs, seals, o rings. It cost $30.00 at Home Depot. 

Tomatoes and Avacados for Breakfast

Todays breakfast: Tomatoes, avacados, fried eggs, Tuscan bread toast.

 

Tomatoes are ripening quickly in our garden here in Chaumont, NY.  For breakfast his morning I had some of them along with an avacado, fried eggs and toasted Tuscan bread. Around noon I got to Clay St. to do some more work. Went to Lowe's and purchased three pine boards for Clay repairs. They cost almost $40.00. That's crazy compared to a few short years ago. It was another humid day with a little rain here and there. The high temp in Chaumont was 78. 

My iPhone says I walked 5,139 steps today. 

A Bat in the Back Shed, Sunflower reflection Photo

 This evening just as it got dark there was a bat flying around in the back shed. The Better Half's daughter H spotted it as she was entering . I opened the screen door and it flew out into the darkness. 

Otherwise It was a warm and humid day. We changed BH's ostomy bag. Nurse Heather came to check. I went to Clay St and finished setting up electric stove / range for apartment #1. Unboxed new refrigerator. Met loan officer at Watertown Savings Bank and got a loan to pay off our Florida house. Back home at 4:00. H & D arrived at 5:00 with a pizza from Nice N Easy. Had good time on the porch and backyard. 

My iPhone says I walked 7,862 steps today.

I have a variation of this photo accepted for the Along The River's Edge exhibition at th Thousand Islands Art Center in Clayton.

Heavy Rain, Frittata, Coffee, Flooding, I Get Wet

Friday August 9, 2024 

My morning coffee caught my eye so I snapped it. photo copyright Gary Walts 2024

What a day yesterday was. We had heavy rain all day. The region experienced flooding in many places. 

Started day with eggs scrambled with chopped tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and cheese. I didn't realize it at the time but it just dawned on me I basically made a frittata.  My coffee caught my eye making me snap pix of it. Later I began cleaning and painting old wooden windows at Clay St. All the while it rains and rains. About 4:00 daughter S calls and says her basement in flooding. She needs a pump. I buy a good utility pump at Ace Hardware, State St, Watertown. While I am there a steady stream of customers are buying sump pumps, utility pumps, hoses and related hardware. Turns out there was a rush on those items at the the other stores in area. Lowes, Home Depot, White's et al. 

At one point the hose blew off the pump soaking S and myself. What a riot. The rain caused wetness in our Clay St house in places that never got wet before. 

Breakfast: Frittata with onions, cheese, jalapeno, tomatoes

I got drenched when hose blew off utility pump.

Worked on old window frames at Clay St.