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.