Today, Paul, Conor, Alex, Daniel, Jenny, Bob, Betsy explored and reminisced at Thicut.

We explored the attics and took pictures of the 'top' attic ceiling, remembering Paul (and Eric A.?) re roofing and painting the house about 35 years ago (?). We found old stationary in the 4 drawer file cabinet up there. It is letterhead from John L. Kruger: "Electrical Construction Co., Inc. : Electric wiring for light, heat and power, 137 Grand Avenue, near Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY" It also says: "we repair, rent and sell motors" "domestic-commercial refrigeration"

Conor and Daniel climbed up to the 'attic' of the barn and took pictures of the sleigh, about 20 telephone pole glass insulators (from Chuck Masters?), and various camping equipment (also from the Masters I think) In the process Daniel opened up a 3 burner gas camping stove and found 4 mice. He then handed it down (mice and all) to Conor who passed it to Bets, who passed it to Bob, who took it outside. There was a huge nest inside. We all got a good look at the mice; Alex really wanted to bring them home for 'wild' pets. Paul said 'no way'. The mice refused to run out, so we closed it up and handed it back up to Daniel, mice peeking out as it was handed from person to person... Lots of snake skins in the barn attic, too. Before the boys climbed down, Paul discovered a crack in the middle beam. (for reference: it's near where the bird feeder is hanging as you look in the small door.) Conor and Daniel made it down safely...

We:

• inspected the water pipes at the bottom of the basement stairs that go under the dining room (new plastic from the renovation) to affirm that the kitchen pipes are less likely to freeze if power goes off in winter
• fuel gauge is 11/16ths full
• watered the plants
• fed the fish since it was a balmy 55 degrees
• counted 13 fish still swimming around
• turned the water off
• wandered up to the piano lyre/harp to show the boys: Daniel thinks it would make an awesome headboard for a bed

Bob, Anna, and I stopped by for a few minutes to check on things. Anna is home from college for the week! Everything looks good at Thicut.

• watered the (few) plants
• turned OFF the water
• checked the lights on timers
• borrowed 2 pillows for the Sandin/Sandin visit for Thanksgiving
• borrowed a flat iron from the living room fireplace for Bob to use to 'clench' nails on his current project to redo an old wooden framed kayak
• took home wood for Thanksgiving fires
• as we left, we passed a family coming from a hike down the Grassy Lane

Bob and I had a good week visiting Bob's parents and sister and niece in the warm (and rainy) south. (Hilton Head and Atlanta) On the way down, we stopped at Anna Ruth's new home! It is cozy and close to Carlie and Rick's in a nice neighborhood. She invited Eric A. and the Williams for dinner and we had a great time!

I stopped by Thicut today to check on things and all is good. The weather has been mild, so the house is not cold, no evidence of mice (or snakes!). The leaves are all down, but the wind has blown most off the yard and road so I guess we won't have to rake. YAY!

Here are some highlights from the last two weeks during Anna Ruth's visit:

• moved things around in the barn to make room for the adirondack chairs and the metal chairs
• did some raking
• took out big rock (possible headstone for Chuck M.) from truck bed and placed next to stone wall in front of barn/near driveway
• had lunch with Anna Ruth, Eric V., Ann
• sold truck to Bob Naughton (Phyllis Kruger's son in law): payment 'soon'
• Eric Allen came up, Anna Ruth and he walked to falls (Grassy Lane)
• Bob, Bets, Anna Ruth and Eric Allen walked to slide/sword factory and discussed water power generation (the men) and the beauty/history of the area (the women). We rediscovered the remains of the dam that went across the brook at the slide. Do you know that there must have been a large pond that stretched all the way back to the bridge?! Imagine what that swimming hole would have been like.
• found more Tree of Heaven in the sword factory foundation, we'll get that in the spring
• put one twin bed (including mattress, box spring, frame), Christmas boxes, etc in Eric A.'s car for Bethesda
• Anna Ruth and Betsy looked at a copy of an old picture of the house from an historical book from the E. Hampton library. It talks about the Sexton mills... The house has only had the two families as owners: Sextons and Kruger/Sandins. I'll try to duplicate the article and put it into the blog...
• found a Creswell tea set in the parlor, Ann says she lent it to Nanny to go with the oriental theme in the parlor when Nanny was living there, it comes from Aunt Alberta and before that Paul and Alberta's parents wedding from a cousin who was a missionary in Asia (I think this is right...) Its been handed down to the eldest daughter.

Today I:

• finished up pictures by taking pix of the basement. Next time you're here, look at the size of the foundation stones, above the rock foundation walls. They are huge!
• checked the oil tanks: 3/4 full
• There was a message from Mary LaRosa (Connie's daughter in law). Her husband Steve would like to hunt the property again this year. She will work it out with Eric V.
• Walked up behind the barn where the old chicken coop was and found the iron frame (and some strings!) of the old piano. Do you remember David S, John, Kathy, Paul, Betsy, possibly Eric V, (were there Masters there, too?), having a funeral for the old piano when we moved it there? All that's left is this frame. The foundations of the coop and two other buildings are still there. I'd like to know some history of what they were for.
• called Anna Ruth and will bring towel rack, indian girl picture and Eric A.'s beer to Bethesda when we come next week
• the leaves are mostly down, the air a beautiful 50 degrees, sunny and quiet.

Since many of us are called by multiple names, depending on who is talking to us, we've decided to use birth names in this blog. We'll add middle names or initials for those of us who have the same first name.