More of the Same

I'm really into creating backgrounds. There's no real thinking that goes into it but after the backgrounds are made satisfactory, I move on to some additional eye benders.

Hmmmmm...

Outland

What would YOU do with backgrounds?

Lost at Sea

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Creative Project

I have finally reached the achievement of creating my own backgrounds with an old application I have —"Art Rage Lite." It really boggles my brain to experiment with creating my own colorful backgrounds and the possibilities are numerous. Here are two that I made this morning and after that are photomanipulations I put together yesterday with the first of my new backgrounds. This is fun for me. No cleanup messes either like I'd have with actual artist supplies!

Oh, such possibilities!

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Dock

It is general maintenance that is always needed for every homeowner. Luckily I have a handyman who takes care of the grass, flowerbeds and snow removal. He also does hundreds of other mini-chores for me and I'm fortunate to have him live nearby. There are other things that I now need helpers for and one helper is my grandson. He and his lady clean beams and high-up things in this cabin every spring. Recently, he came after his regular work job and took the time to put preservative on the dock. It was difficult this time due to a hillside washout that caused the mud to flow down and over the bank onto it before the real project could start. It took lots of digging, scraping and sweeping to prepare for the application. Sealing our wooden dock is the best way to preserve its natural beauty and ensure it lasts as long as possible. 

He and several others did the under-barrel replacement and side repair in 2018. 

In 2004 he and his mother undertook the task of building a new dock. The supplies were purchased by them and it was built as a surprise anniversary gift to us for when we returned in July from SC. 

The original dock and float were built by my husband, brother and brother-in law in 1963.

If you live on a lake, you just gotta have a dock!

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Between Showers

Rain showers, that is!  I rode about this morning. One thing I noticed is that most of the peonies have never bloomed. I think they don't like it so wet. There is a favorite white one that had buds and they are gone. In the same area is a pink one and it too, has no buds nor blooms. 

The Hollyhocks have started to open. I was a bit disappointed to see they seem to be all the same dark color. 

The only critter I saw was this one. 

My daughter had a visitor when she was taking pictures of her annual garden blooms at her home. All of the following are her images.

She cut this little bloom and I identified it for her. There are many around the lake here. It is a Spotted Bellflower.

Every year she has an unbelievable flower garden. This year some of the fencing and flowers were damaged when a black bear visited several nights when tearing down her bird feeders.  Nevertheless, here are some of this year. 

Several years ago she took some of the Sundrops from the cabin plot that her grandfather had planted. They thrive and bloom every year.

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New Mug-New Mud

Never a dull moment at Cabin Tranquillity!

My pottery collection is growing! This is my latest and it is a crazy pinch bottom mug. Even the glaze is special! Al delivered my pot the other day when I was still napping and left it in the buggy. What a wonderful surprise this was! It holds exactly 2 cups and looks tipsy but isn't!

It's raining again after my yard guy just cleaned up the mess from the clogged catch basin. This time it ran down, across the road and over on my beachfront and onto the dock!  He took this photo after I had called the township supervisors to unplug that grate. They don't do work on the unused property above it as it is privately owned. Hoping for the best this time. Nature rules. 

Weekend at the Lake

Now that the 4th of July weekend is over, and the out of town folks have mostly gone from the area, it really is quite quiet! We didn't have fireworks at the lake as rain showers prevailed. Montrose had wonderful activities and it was a very busy place, so I see by the photos posted by one of our competent local photographers. Below are 2 of hundreds of images posted by Ken Newman.

My son and his partner came for a one day visit. It was about 80-90 miles one way and the traffic wasn't too bad.  They cleaned and swept the floor of the shed which was a much-needed project. They relaxed a bit and then it rained so hard that their buggy ride was postponed until their next visit.

Nothing stops the hummingbirds from visiting. They sure are thirsty this year, keeping me busy refilling the feeder every two days!

I was fortunate to check out and purchase a two-drawer small dresser from a yard sale at the neighboring lake for easier access to my tops. I discovered a couple of labels and did some research about the piece. It was old and had scratches many, I knew that it wasn't antique and was well-constructed though not beautiful. I did find out that the original maker was from Pennsylvania Furniture Co., York PA and that it was shipped to a nearby Fair Store on Court St. in Binghamton around the 40's or 50's. My son worked for a while with my brother's furniture restoration business and identified it as not being older due to the handle and front piece styling. Black was popular in that time but the thing that could fool a person was the dovetailing of the piece. I'm keeping it like it is.

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