VK in the C-dale!

Ah the best of times!


So "best" that I just haven't had time to write. Kajsa and Gizmo arrived safely on July 15th and the fun has been nonstop since then. With some work sprinkled in here and there. House work that is. Work work has been forbidden since the Swedes have been around. 


Since we hung our humming bird feeders up it's been just outrageous. These little guys are eating us out of house and home. And we love it. The ladies are very territorial and chase each other away. The dudes are more rare and there is no end to the excitement when one of them comes around. Ruby throated beauties!

So far this is the only picture of him. Birding can be very stressful especially when you got finches and hummingbirds everywhere and I kept snapping without checking sposure. The result is a grainy mess but he's still a handsome fella.

In other birding news I caught a snap of a strapping catbird posing like some musketeer.

And the gold finch activity is never ending since we hung two finch sacks (you heard me - finch sack). 

We changed the feed in one of our feeders to straight up safflower seed, following Rosemary's advice and within minutes the house finches gathered for a snack. How do they do that???

This is him and his lady.

So what are we busying ourselves with you might ask. Well...

We drink syrrans mojitos? Yes please. Keep em coming.

We go to Ukrainian festivals in Kerhonkson and eat beige food. Tasty though!

We go to High Falls and discover a gem of a town!

We go to Lake Minnewaska and get a respit from the heat by taking a dip!

We (and by "we" I mean mostly Gizmo...) make PIZZA! 

We go to streetfestivals in Rosendale and see bluegrass and chick rock. 

Another chick that rocks.

Lovely Rosendale.

And we do some work on the house and in the yard and everyone chips in and helps!

And we go to Martha's Vineyard. Where there is no peeling paint and no knot weed. Just beaches and good food and Rosemary! A well deserved break for sure. 

Farmers market in West Tisbury.

Breakfast at Beetlebung in Vineyard Haven.

This is how exciting a breakfast at Black Dog can be!

Sakletare (thingfinders) on Squibnocket beach. (We saw seals too!)

And our birding adventure follows us there in the shape of this American Oyster catcher.

James has been working on the outside of the house and he is doing fantastic. With the help of Billy B they got the front eave stripped and ready for paint. The windows are right behind and looks like the bay window may get primed today! 

We're in the business of making insurance companies and neighbors happy here at 19 Maple Ave.

I took the kids on a slow ride to the city and the stops included Dia in Beacon (good stuff) and Mint in Tarrytown for some licorice.

In the city we took a stroll on the Highline at dusk and went shopping in Chinatown.

Highline view with cartoon moon.

Too many choices.

If you happen to speak a little Swedish you can follow the adventures on both Kajan's and Gizmo's blogs. Or just stop by to look at more pictures.

Sis/Giz leave on monday so we have a busy weekend ahead. Highlights include building a stone bench from the bauta rocks we found in the pit, Marc Ribot at the Falcon and tubing in Phoencia!