Here's an update of Bob's and my visits to Thicut over the last couple weeks:

• The lawn's been mowed, twigs, etc cleaned up a bit around the crabapple tree, Bob's mowed the field around the fire pit.
• I've moved the calla lilies outside to get some sun and they are thriving: I watered the pot today.
• Mail keeps being delivered to the mailbox. When I checked today, it seemed to mostly be solicitations for donations and something from GEHA which I kind of recognized as NOT junk mail so I opened it and it's from your health insurance, Aunt Sandy. 
• There were a few messages on the answering machine from folks who don't know the new Bethesda number. I'm not sure if they're people you know or not, except several from Hilary Whittaker, someone in your phone's contact listed as 'JM' and someone named Gordon Schwen. There were also several messages from the CVS in Bethesda to renew a prescription. 
• Otherwise the pond has two huge frogs, I didn't see any fish this time.
• And: are you coming up for Valerie's wedding, Aunt Sandy? Let me know and I'll get a room ready here :)

Tree's cut up and welcome to summer!

 Rene and two of his employees came down yesterday and sawed up the tree. I have offered him some of the wood.

I brought bread, english muffins, eggs, and milk and some SoG coffee to get you going in the morning. Welcome to CT, Cynthia!

Quick update:
Rene Desjardins just called to apologize for not cutting up the tree sooner.(!)  He's very busy with his asphalt business, etc, etc. He went down to reconnoiter and saw the work Eric/Bob/Matt did. He'll try to go down early next week before you come and finish up... I told him not to worry it'll get done; he felt bad, and wants to give back for you letting him hunt and enjoy the woods, Aunt Sandy.
I went down earlier this week and got the milk you left and took home the eggs. I'll replace the eggs before you come again. Anything else I can stock before you come?

Spring finally!

Here are pictures of the new roof in the daylight. It is less 'red' than the barn shingles, but looks very good. Watch out for stray nails and small pieces of wood debris around the yard. The roofers did a great job picking most of it up, but there are still roofing nails here and there.

 I can never remember the name of this shrub, but it is in beautiful flower right now!

 Can you see the feathery green on the trees in the background and the flowering quince and crab apple tree in bloom? Rene hasn't been able to come down to cut up the Maple, it seems to rain when he's available. One of these times, I'll wander around the yard and pick up all the small dead branches from the winter. The yard already needs mowing, but for now, the violets are creating a colorful purple and white carpet.

The Comcast man met me and installed phone, new internet modem/router, and hooked up the cable with new TV remote. I took notes which I left near the TV. The main difference with the PHONE is that if you unplug or turn off the power strips for the TV/Internet, you'll also be turning off the Phone.

While I was waiting for him to arrive, I swept the cobwebs from the ceiling of the kitchen - there were a LOT. I cleaned up the myriad mouse droppings on the kitchen counters. And I swept the kitchen floor, all the pounding of nails on the roof created a layer of dirty dust on the floors. It didn't seem to be as bad on the floors in the upstairs main part of the house. I turned on the water and that seemed to work fine, no leaks. I turned it off again when I left.

I listened to the old phone messages. There was only one that wasn't a blank message or 'spam'. It was from one of the bridge contractors, Reed Perry, who was wondering about the status of the bridge. I have his number if you want it. He left the message on March 8. There were way too many calls saying things like "Hello Anna, this is xxx, please call me back, I have information on thousands of dollars in your name." I am concerned and sad that they have found this phone number.

And lastly, there are still 2 goldfish swimming merrily around in the pond. Lots of tiny bugs flying around just off the surface, and 2 BIG frogs already. Spring has definitely Sprung.

Spring and New Roof

Here are some pictures of early evening at Thicut. Bob and I were on our way to Goodspeed Opera (Anything Goes) and stopped by to check on the roof. For those of you who don't like change, it looks just like it did before, only cleaner and newer. They're done except for hauling away one more dumpster. Here are Bob's artistic pictures:

 No work on the branch just yet. It's been rainy and cold until this weekend. Bob and I wound up the swing rope and put it under the canoe for now.

 Daffodils in the Fire Pit.

 Forsythia and only a few daffodils blooming behind the well.

I went inside to check: the keypad on the alarm says: 'Comm. Failure'. After looking it up in the manual, this means there's no communication with the phone. I called the house phone to see if it was working (from my cell) and the message was: 'this phone is not in service at this time'. I've notified you, Aunt Sandy, and you said you'd be checking on it this morning. Let me know how it goes. The alarm is set, but won't call ADT if there's any problem. Other than that, all seems fine.  And the play was an AMAZING production; it brought back memories of our senior production at Guilford High School, except I can't remember who played what part :)... Happy spring.

roof clarification

Hi everyone,
Just to clarify, the equipment is all around the house, but the re-roofing hasn't started yet. Will it be the similar red color?
And Rene hasn't come to cut up the maple yet. It's been cold, rainy, snowy, and a bit muddy. Maybe later this week when it clears up a bit.