Home Again in NJ

After cutting the grass at The Bolt Hole last Monday, I drove back to NJ on Tuesday. Since then I have turned over the remaining third of the garden, planted all my peppers and tomatoes (and repotted what tomatoes were left), attended a retirement dinner for four of my former colleagues, “supervised” the installation of a new front door and the final of 10 replacement windows, cut the lawn (much smaller job than that up north), limed the lawn, spread weed-and-feed on the rear lawn (which I started from seed last April), washed the truck (parking it under a budding maple tree up north got it coated in sap and leaf buds), and moved a ton of rocks (removed from the lawn when I started the seeding). In short, I have been a busy, busy, busy. I have yet to get to work on the deck but figure I will spend some time today taking the lattice off the side so I can see how much of the original structure can be saved and how much I need to replace.

Terry and I got the approval drawings from Beaver Mountain Log Homes last Thursday and looked them over. Sweet! We then called the General Contractor out in PA and made arrangements to meet with him this Tuesday to go over the drawings and see what he has to say. We’ll leave some copies of the drawings with him so he can contact subcontractors about the electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc. One more step on the way to building our log home. We will go out early Tuesday to visit The Aerie (at 2100 feet above sea level and on the side of the mountain overlooking the Route 6 corridor some 500-750 feet below, it seems an appropriate name, don’t you think) and cut some weeds and brush. After an early bite, we will meet with the GC at his home.

We have finalized our plans for our upcoming trip to Colorado (June 27th-July 14th). I’ve mapped out our route from The Bolt Hole to Monument and the stops we will make along the way. All stops are about 400-450 miles apart, which will be a good 8 hours or so driving even on the interstates with the trailer in tow. The first two campgrounds/RV parks are ones we stopped at on our last trip. They are beauties and have enough facilities to make them destinations in their own right but we will just be passing through again on our way west. The Lake of the Rockies resort in Monument is where we stayed two years ago. Even without its lake (drought and dam problems have removed the water) the place boasts a swimming pool and hot tub that can cool and relax a weary traveler. It is also within easy walking distance of town so we won’t have to drive to the parade on the 4th. We have booked a slot for a week this time. Hope they set aside a nice one.