Halloween 2024 at Our House in Chaumont, NY

Our candy supply for 2024 Halloween Trick or Treaters

Halloween here in Chaumont, NY was exceptionally wrm and nice. A bit breezy and 72 degrees. That resulted in a record number of trick or treaters showing up at our door. We always hand out full size candy bars that we buy at Sam's Club. We had 140 candy bars and had 160 trick or treaters. When we got down to 20 bars grandson N and his girlfriend ran to the Dolar General and picked up a couple of mixed bag  small bars. Thast carried us through to the end. Most years we average 100 to 120 trick or treaters. 

Me enjoying a beer and the warm weather, all set for the Trick or Treaters.

Guitar Gig at Orion Art Gallery

I play guitar at Orion Art Gallery's Halloween party. I love this photo
snapped by artist Alice Elisabeth.

This is photo of me playing guitar at Orion Art Gallery, Mullin St, Watertown, NY. I felt I played well and the music was received well.  Played 6-8:00, enjoyed good food and company. 

It was a beautiful day here in the north Country, temperature hitting 72 degrees, sunny. The Better Half & I had breakfast a a diner/bakery here in the village of Chaumont.  Afterwards I raked some leaves, prepared some food for tomorrow's Halloween party at our house. The gig went well and finished the evening watching the5th game of the World Series between the NY Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers won tonights game 7-6, clinching the World Series title. 

First Wood Fire of Season

 

It's been a beautiful Fall this year. This is the view from the driveway of our Clay St Watertown apartment house. It is looking South at Keyes Ave

We lit a fire in our wood stove today, the first of the season. Usually we start using it much earlier than this. The weather has been very mild and warm this Autumn season so we have been using our oil furnace. This morning nephew Tim, the realtor,  came by and talked to us about the ins and outs of selling our Clay St property. In afternoon I raked leaves while the Better Half went to a dental appointment. While raking leaves neighbor kid across the street came over and was selling tickets for a Chicken Bar B Que dinner, $15.00 apiece. It's a fund raiser event for the Lyme Central School class of 2025. I bought four tickets.

It was a beautiful day today, high only reached 50 degrees but it was wonderful for October in the North Country.

Lit first fire of the season today in our Regency model FM2400 wood stove.

Tickets for Chicken BBQ Fundraiser for the Lyme Class of 2025.
My neighbor's son was selling them. I bought four.

Dead Squirrel In Open Live Trap - Very Strange

Look carefully and you can see squirrel in the trap, the trap door wide open at right. The animal was dead. This was most strange to me.

A very strange incident occurred here. I found a dead squirrel in a live animal trap I had set in our backyard. What made it strange was the trap was never sprung. The trap door was open and the squirrel was  laying dead inside. It's incomprehensible to me how the creature enters the trap without tripping the door shut.  With the trap door open it was free to enter and leave the trap at will. How did it die? Did it just walk into the trap and lay down and die? I examined it and could see nothing obvious that caused it's death. It's as if someone placed a dead squirrel in the trap and then set the door open. I can't explain it.

Found this critter laying dead in a live animal trap. The door was open, the animal wasn't trapped. I can find no obvious reason how it died.

Photos Of Red Paint

 

Gilidden exterior house paint separated after sitting for over a year. It caught my eye.

It was a warm day that reached 71 degrees here in Chaumont, NY. I need to paint our garage but today just painted the doors. I open a new can of paint that was in need of stirring as it has been sitting for a year or so. I took the lid off the can and instantly was drawn to photographing it. It "caught my eye" as I like to say. So I present here a few of the snaps I made.  

    It took about half an hour to paint one door. After this job I went to Clay St and fixed the garbage disposal in Apt 2. There was a fragment of metal in itthat was creating huge amount of noise. 

Gilidden exterior house paint separated after sitting for over a year. It caught my eye

Found Art. Paint can lid 

Our garage doors being painted. Will require a 2nd coat. 

Cleaning the paint brush in our "slop" sink. This too caught my eye.

All photos obviously are copyright Gary Walts 2024

I Remove a Deer Tick From My Skin

Deer Tick photo I found in Google search. I have no idea
who or where to credit this photo. It is NOT my photo.

I wake up today and discover a deer tick is embedded in my skin, on my stomach  area. I applied some hand sanitizer on it and it began to move, slowly. I then pulled it out with some tweezers. It's very tiny. I snapped picture of it with a Sony A6600 camera and a Minolta 50mm f2.8 macro lens. I then went to urgent care in Watertown where I waited around for 2 and half hours. Was prescribed an antibiotic as the tick can spread lyme disease as well as a number of other ailments.  I must have picked the creature up in our yard as I was outdoors there for most the day. 

Otherwise the day was warm, mild, partly overcast. iPhone reports I have walked 3,090 steps today. 

Also replaced head light bulb in the Better Half's car today. Those things cost $20.00

Deer tick I removed from my skin. Photo made withSony a6600
camera and Minolta 50mm macro lens.

Deer tick I removed from my skin. Photo made withSony a6600
camera and Minolta 50mm macro lens.

Stayed Home Today; Black Beans, Chuck Roast in Smoker

 

Pot of black beans simmering on the stove

I stayed home today in Chaumont, NY. Took day off from Clay St apartments. It was sunny, mildly windy, high of 64 degrees. A wonderful day weather wise.  Poor nights sleep so I arose at 8:00 am. That's late for me.

I made a pot of black beans. Used 2 cups dry black beans, Jimmy Dean's hot sausage, red bell pepper, 3 white onions, some garlic, all in one pot with 8 cups chicken broth.

I put a well rubbed 3 and 1/2 pound beef chuck roast in the smoker at 12:30. That roast, by the way, cost $4.99 a pound at Hannaford grocery store. Piddled around the yard doing some lawn work. Saw the woodchuck that has been troublesome. Took a shot at it with my air rifle and missed.

Brother Al dropped by for short visit. Just long enough to have a beer. The Better Half n I took a drive to the lake, Wilson's Bay to be exact. Got back at 5:30 at which time we proceeded to eat dinner. 

Along with the beef we had a most excellent macaroni salad prepared by the Better Half. 

Beef chuck roast and potatoes in the smoker. The beef was in there for about 4 hours.

In all it was a wonderful day. My iphone recorded 4,373 steps for the day. 

Artist Tom Bintz' 73rd Birthday

Artist Tom "Captain Honk" Bintz on his 73rd birthday, October 11, 2024

I made this portrait of  Tom "Captain Hink" Bintz on the morning of his 73rd birthday. We are at te Pillar Point Community Sign outside Dexter, NY.  Someone whom I don't know posts names of Pillar Point residents on this sign on their birthdays. On this day however, Bintz' name was missing. The phone number to call regarding the birthday posts was not working. His name was displayed however a couple of days later.

I have been working so much on our Clay St apartment house that I have spent little time with Bintz this summer. He is a long time friend and a talented, interesting fellow. 

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.

Guitar Gig and Floor Painting Today

Orion Art Gallery Summer Festival promo piece.

 I played guitar from 11:00- 1:00 today at the Orion Art Gallery as part of their Summer Arts Festival. I didn't get any photos of myself to post here. Later I gave our Clay St house a second coat of paint on the front porch floor. A few days ago on Wednesday I gave the floor the first coat of paint. I still need to paint the area in front of the stairwell door. 

Panorama view of front stairwell door. This section remains to be painted.

Clay St. porch floor with first coat of paint.

Work at Clay St. Today

 

Apt #1 Radiator, recently painted, with faux wainscoting panel behind it. 

I spent a good portion of the day at our Clay St apartment house, ongoing repairs and maintenance prior to listing it for sale. I washed the front porch floor. Plan to paint it, or at least half of it tomorrow. I then fitted a piece of paneling behind the living room radiator in apartment 1. I discovered an elctrical outlet behind that radiator. The radiator boiler system must have been installed some years after the electricity and the outlet was never removed. It's impossible to access. It's not visible either. I discovered it because the pnel was catching on it as I was slipping it behind the radiator.  When I got home a played through some of my guitar repertoire for about an hour. 

Apt #1 living room radiator a few weeks ago.

Scrubbing the porch floor with soap, water and elbow grease. Prepping for paint.