A Last Look At The Farm Apartment

This was the week that I was moving out of the apartment and into the farm house in preparation for my upcoming retirement. But before I let the dogs into the house at all, I wanted to snap photos of the apartment all cleaned up but with furniture still in it so that I could advertise it for rent on Craigslist:

Besides, these photos will bring back lots of memories some day when I look at them. I was very happy here on my weekends up at the farm:

I photographed the bathroom also, a bathroom which I quickly discovered was much more convenient than the one in the house. Oh well, the rest of the house will make up for it:

This bathroom had lots and lots of storage space and a modern shower. It also had a lovely view of the flowering crabs and Yellow Delicious apple trees in the springtime just outside that window:

I chose 4 photos to put on my Craigslist ad. This was one of them as I figured it would show what a potential renter would want to know:

And my little kitchen work station and table. I left the kitchen work station, formerly someone's computer desk, in place but put the table into my new kitchen. I then let the dogs into the house and began cleaning, moving and making phone calls. But I'll post more about that tomorrow:

Route 458, The High Northern Plain

We were almost to the farm and had reached Route 458, which runs between Route 30 (north of Paul Smiths) and the town of Hopkinton. Route 458 is on a high northern plain, still part of the Adirondacks and with mountains visible all around, but rather flat compared to most of the area. It is surrounded by boreal forests and wetlands. There was no snow on the ground that December day but the surrounding mountains all looked sugar coated:

Madeline and Clover figured that if I'd stopped the car and rolled down the window, there must be something interesting out there. Notice little Madeline's reflection in the car's side-view mirror:

Broad wetlands stretched alongside the road in many places, interspersed with northern forests, and some of the wetlands had nearly completed the sphagnum caused return to solid ground:

I've passed by this sign many times without so much as slowing down, but on that day I stopped for a look. Jennings Road. Did that refer to Route 458 or that little dirt lane into the forest? I can find no answer on Google. The next photo is enlarged and easier to read:

Here is a closeup of the sign. This area was important in the war of 1812. I found references to the "Jennings Clearing" or "Jenning's Place," both referring to an encampment of U.S. troops during the war. Perhaps I'll just have to walk that road. There's a gate there, but I can still walk it if there's no "No Trespassing" signs:

A look at what may or may not be the old Jennings Road. If that's it, there should be a clearing back there with grave sites. But on that day I was in a hurry to get the farm and we'd already done enough exploring along the way. So I continued on Route 458 and left this mystery for another day:

A New Discovery At Barnam Pond

We were on our way up to the farm for the weekend and had made it all the way to Route 30 north of Paul Smiths. I stopped to snap a photo of Barnam Pond, whose water's come within a foot or two of the highway's edge, and the lovely snow-dusted mountains in the background. I noticed, for the first time, a dirt lane leading into the forest across the road from Barnam Pond:

I continued on my way toward the farm but then changed my mind, turned around and came back to that little dirt lane. I drove into the forest, found a campsite and let the dogs out. Little Winky was very happy to be out in the woods exploring:

The younger dogs bounded into the forest with great joy:

And a beautiful forest it was, mature enough to have little underbrush:

Winky and Wally, my two old-timers, were slow and I had to keep stopping to urge them on. Wally is nearly blind and Winky is deaf, so it was important that I not let them out of my sight. Nevertheless, they always have a grand time as they toddle through the forest:

I walked ahead a little bit to check on the younger dogs. They were running, playing and sniffing and doing the usual doggy things:

I told little Madeline to sit so that I could get a photo of her. It's difficult when she's on the move because she keeps her head down and her nose to the ground. I think she was a Beagle in a past life:

Seamus, Fergus, Daphne and Clover had gotten too far afield and had to be called back:

When I had all the dogs back together in a group, we started moving back toward the car. This was, after all, just a rest stop and I was in a hurry. I had a lot of things to do when we got to the farm. This was going to be a busy weekend. I would be moving from the apartment into the house and - well, I'll post all about it in the next several days:

Look just to the right of those big rocks and you'll see blind old Wally making his way back toward the car. He had a problem when he reached that pile of old tree limbs. He made it, though, with a little guidance from me:

I got all the dogs back into the car , counted several times to put my mind at ease that they were all there, and continued on our way:

I got another nice view of Barnum Pond as we pulled back out onto Route 30. We'd be at the farm in about 30 minutes:

Almost Winter In The High Peaks (But Not Quite)

We were on our way north to the farm for the weekend and had just had a great rest stop along the shore of the Schroon River. From there, I headed up Route 73 through the High Peaks Region of the Adirondacks. We were making good time until I saw this scene in the Keene Valley and of course had to stop and take a photo. Now that we're all buried in snow it seems hard to believe that everything looked so "autumny" such a short time ago:

From the Keene Valley the road took us up into the High Peaks Region which began with the Cascade Lakes and a good view of what I think was Mount Marcy:

And toward Lake Placid, where lots of mountains framed every vista:

Many of the farm fields in the area are being given over to housing developments, but these fields are still growing hay and still providing beautiful views:

Daphne found the whole thing fascinating, Madeline kept her eyes on me and Clover focused her attention on more immediate concerns. Seamus, in the back of the car, also watches everything with a great interest:

And on through the town of Brighton, where more scenic vistas beckoned:

There wasn't yet much snow in the mountains, but there were lots of clouds caught in the peaks:

I stopped to snap these photos, but mostly we were making rapid progress toward the farm and would be there in record time. I'll post more tomorrow:

A Return To The Schroon River

Another Sunday morning dawned and I loaded the pooches into my little red car and began a trip north to the farm. We made it as far as Exit 29 on the Northway before I pulled off the highway to give the dogs a rest stop. I drove into the abandoned former Frontier Town and headed right for the shores of the Schroon River. The dogs knew this place and just where to go, but they had a lot of sniffing to do on their way down to the water's edge:

Wally and Madeline seemed particularly fascinated by the base of an old fence post. I'd bet it'd been the site of a lot of canine leg lifting, perhaps recently. I certainly can't be the only dog owner who has discovered this spot:

Seamus, Fergus, Daphne and Clover wasted no time getting to the river:

Madeline, as is her custom, went slowly with her head down, sniffing like a Beagle:

And then from the water's edge they all ran up to the top of a sand dune:

And back down to the pebbly shore of the Schroon River:

This time we went farther, pushing through the brush along the river just to see what was there:

There wasn't much there of interest, but I did get a nice action shot of Fergus in mid-frolic:

And then we all began our march back toward the car. As you can see, the scenery was fantastic:

Clover and Daphne took a drink of water but kept their feet dry:

And then back up to the car which was parked in the trees:

Well, there were two holdouts. The two old timers, Wally and Winky, were not moving as quickly as the youngsters. They took more time to make their way back to the car. Once all the dogs were safely back in the car and I'd counted noses several times to assure myself I hadn't left anyone behind, we resumed our journey up to the farm. But I'll post more about that tomorrow:

Feeling At Home In The Farm Apartment

I'd taken several driving tours on this visit up to the farm and hiked the Red Dot Trail with the five younger dogs. It was time to settle in for the evening and the dogs were happy to do just that. This is one of the rare photos with all seven dogs. Seamus, by the way, is on a giant sized doggy bed but his giant sized body is covering most of it up:

Winky, Fergus, Daphne and Wally. This was to be our last full weekend in the farm apartment as I planned to begin moving into the farm house on our next visit:

Wally took the pillow in front of the heater this time. Usually that belongs to Clover:

Um, Dad, It's dinner time. Haven't you forgotten something?:

And there's Seamus on his big doggy bed:

And I served dinner:

I have never had any food aggression issues and that's a good thing with so many dogs. They just wait politely until a food dish opens up:

Madeline stayed right at my feet. She's definitely a people dog:

With everyone's stomach full but the dog food dishes still out, they all lay down for a nap - especially the five which had been hiking that day:

Six dogs, all comfy. The only one missing in this photo was Madeline - and she was at my feet:

Clover waited until Wally got up to eat and then reclaimed her bed by the heater:

Once darkness had fallen, it was time for bed. Good night!: