Adventures: The 127 Sale - World's Longest Yardsale

For months now, my sister-in-law and I have been planning a trip to The 127 Sale - World's Longest Yardsale.  We have talked about this sale for years (since it was featured on HGTV) and it's been a bucketlist item for me.   

This trip really did not go as planned.  Basically from the start.  Originally I figured that we would be there the whole time (Thursday to Sunday).  Unfortunately, my sister-in-law had to work on Monday, so no big deal, we'd come back on Sunday.  For planning, I originally thought 100 miles/day but overnight decided on 50 miles/day (THAT was a good idea).

The original plan was for me to drive up to NY with the Jeep.  Well, the check engine light had been coming on a lot (at least once a month since May).  It's always been code 740 (torque converter).  We were told in July 2011 that we would need a transmission, but after a reset and a flush, the code didn't come on again until September 2012.  The jeep has been driving fine, but we figured that we would at least get it checked out before I went on this long trip.  Bad news - it really did need a new transmission.  First gut instinct was "new car" (90K on the car & 10 years old), but then after thinking about it overnight, we changed our mind (no job and new car payment = bad plan) and got some estimates.

Backup plan in effect - I would take the Elantra to NY and we decided to take my brother's car (now my SIL's car) to Ohio.  The Impala is bigger than the Elantra.  That way we could get some stuff in the car!  Bonus change in plans - My SIL's sister, Helen, decided to come with us.  The more the merrier!  Hence another reason why the Impala would be better.  At home, originally we thought that we would have to wait until I got back home until we got the Jeep fixed and Dan would drive it to work and if it broke down, he would just have it towed and then get a rental.  HOWEVER, believe it or not, the Jeep dealership was the best price/deal for the transmission AND we got a loaner car during the work.  WOOHOO!

So trip up to NY was fine (Tuesday).  Wednesday, we were going to leave about 3 pm.  My SIL text me that she was coming home early because she thought she might be getting an UTI and was going to head to the doctors.  Doctor's visit went fine, SIL got antibiotics and was going to down a bunch of water.

Since it was a drinking evening (and I mean water/fluids, not alcohol), we stopped a LOT.  But we were all fine with it.  We had a blast on the ride out.  Luckily, we all get along.  We finally arrived at our hotel about 11 pm.

Thursday, SIL felt better and we had a great day.  We probably stopped at over 75 yard sales.  Some multiple sales in one location.  We started probably about 9 am and by about 3 pm, I was done.  We weren't really seeing anything interesting and I think all of us were about done.

I picked up bunch of old (like 1940's) cat and dog figurines.  I have my mom's dog figurine collection so those old figurines call to me.  I also picked up one small depression glass dish that caught my eye.  And I picked up 2 glass pendants.  I ended up spending about $20.

About 30 miles out from the 2nd night stop/hotel, we decided to just go to the hotel.  Once we unpacked, we headed to dinner and then we were basically ready for bed.

Friday morning, we were in Van Wirt, OH and we were thinking about hanging around there for a Ribs Festival along with the yardsale.  We got ready and then, SIL said "I think we need to go home, I'm not feeling well and I don't want to end up in the hospital here"  That's all it took and we were on our way home.  Let me back up and say, on the drive to OH, whenever I saw a hospital sign, I would always ask "do you need a hospital?"  And on Thursday, Joanne said that she almost said "we need to turn around" on the drive to OH.  I knew if she said we needed to go home, she defnitely wasn't feeling well.  She was WAY TOO excited about this trip to let a little belly ache ruin it.  We (Helen, Joanne's sister) and I could tell she wasn't feeling well during the drive.  Joanne wasn't talking at all.

Friday, we got back to NY about 6 pm.  We took some backroads and took our time.  I figured I would head back home a little early (Sunday instead of Monday), but got to spend some time with each of the nieces & nephew.  Friday, was Maegan's turn - dinner at Friendly's.  Saturday was VJ's turn - dinner at Texas Hot then No Bake Reese's Bars with Chrissy.  Sunday, VJ rode home with me so we got plenty of time together.

Let me say that we came back to a construction mess (we left one too).  Joanne is getting their bathroom redone so no shower for a couple of days, just a toliet upstairs.

Jeepy is back at home and is working fine.  Hubby drove the loaner car - a Jeep Patriot - while I was gone.  This is the 2nd time I've driven a Patriot & I didn't care for them either time - especially this time since there were NO UPGRADES on it - no power ANYTHING (windows, locks, nothing).

Satellite radio was the only good thing.

However, was only for 2 days - it ended on August 1.

Adventures: Vacation at the Beach

Sunday, June 9 - 10:30 am
Last year, we went to Broadkill Beach in Delaware.  We picked this beach because it is dog-friendly all year round.  I found a house that was located right on the beach and hubby LOVED it.  I enjoyed it too.  It was really quiet and we could just hang out.

When Hurricane Sandy came through in October, I found footage that showed a glimpes of the house where we stayed and figured they probably had some water damage.  Last year, there was a little barge right at the back of the house.  It's gone now and you walk right out to the beach.

This year, we are staying in the same house.  We were very concerned about the traffic.  Last year, we came up on a Sunday.  This year, Saturday.  We were very lucky.  Hardly any traffic.

We took our first walk on the beach and hit the motherload.  There were a LOT of conch shells - and I mean WHOLE conch shells on the beach.  WHAT??!!!  Both Dan and I were so excited.  We both didn't plan on getting any shells (or stones - last year, there were a bunch of granite stones).  We ended up picking up about 6 of them.  Then we couldn't carry any more!

There are more people here than last year.  I can remember the people to the left being here (because of their dogs), but this year we are surrounded by people.  Including the owner's daughter, son-in-law and grandchild upstairs.  DANG IT!  Didn't think it would be too bad, BUT you can hear EVERYTHING.  The kid is young and is just making noises (no screaming babies yet).  I can basically hear their converstations and the best part - the toliet must be right above where we are sleeping because during the night.I heard them toot when they were in there and then a flush.  GREAT!

Sleeping arrangements aren't the best.  As last year, Esa has claimed the full size bed and Dan and I are in the separate twin beds.  Not a big deal.  Until you get Zed in a twin size bed with you!  Talk about a bed hog!  So I didn't sleep too well/was kind of stiff this morning from not moving around much.  The best story.  During the night, I thought they were doing something upstairs because it sounded like maybe the baby was in a rocker and it was creaking the floor.  NOPE - it was ZED SNORING!

Zed seems to be doing much better this year.  Last year, it took him awhile to relax.  He just seemed nervous for the first couple of days.

This morning, we went for a 2 mile walk.  There aren't as many horseshoe crabs as last year.  Our daily ritual was turning over the crabs so that the would live.  We met a couple of dogs & people.  We only saw one conch shell & it was living.

8 pm
This evening, we went for about a 1.5 mile walk.  We basically had the beach to ourselves.

We were daring and let Esa off leash.  We are always hesitant because we just don't know if she will listen or not.  There were a couple of times that she didn't come right back (and headed towards off beach) and we had to walk up to her, but for the majority of the time, she did great.  As always, no issues with Zed.

Not that we would ever expect Esa to go into the water, but she looked at the water coming in and out today.

 

 

 

Monday, June 10

11 am

So the rain has started.  We expected it - the forecast said 80% chance of rain today.  We were able to get about a 1.5 mile walk in this morning.

 

Zed leading the walk this morning.

 



Today will be catching up on e-mails and probably some scrapbooking.

 

9 pm

Yup - scrapbooking day! Plus a really good nap day.  It downpoured quite a bit, but we were able to get a 2 mile walk in around 7:30.

 

 

Tuesday, June 11 - 11 am

Well, I think our upstairs guests have left.  Not sure when they left during the day yesterday, but they didn't come back last night.  Both of us are happy.  The baby wasn't bad, but it sucks when you aren't used to kids.  How would they feel if our dogs were barking all of the time?

 

We went on a 2 mile walk this morning.  We met up with Grizzle again and got chatting with his owner.  She used to live in Front Royal and worked in Ashburn.  We were talking about the storm last night - just waiting for it to hit here, but it didn't.  At home, the neighborhood lost power for 7 to 9 hours.  Not sure if a line was down or if there was an accident.  The freezer should be good and the refrigerator was basically empty.

 

Speaking of the freezer, the refrigerator freezer has an issue.  Of course it happens the day before vacation.  I thought it I had just dropped an ice cube, but it was more than that.  We emptied out the freezer side and put everything in the chest freezer in the basement.  And Handyman Dan, worked on it.

 







Looks like a tube is leaking from the inside.  We'll be dealing with that when we get back.  I tell you, 10 years in a house and you might as well replace everything.  We've already replaced the A/C, next might possibly be the furnace.

Back to the walk.  We saw another dead baby shark.  I forgot to post that we saw one last night.

Surprise, surprise - Esa was playing in the water with Dan some!

 

 

3pm

So our view will probably be changing.  Like I mentioned earlier, the beach has changed some because of Hurricane Sandy.  Yesterday, they were changing the seashell road (which was new) in front of the house.  Today they have added surveyor's sticks and a BIG beam.  I know the house in to the left front of us is missing a utility pole, but it looks like they are going to actually build.  There were house beams on the beach last year and they are now missing.  They may be just replacing them.

 

The view to the left last year (2012).

 

 Wednesday, June 12 - 7:30 am

 

 Last night, we met up with my family for dinner.  They are in Ocean City, MD about 50 miles away, so we met half way.  We had a great time at a little restuarant called Blue Water Grill.  The food was wonderful.

 

We saw something that you usually just see in the country or maybe on the highway.  A chicken truck - or should I say 7 chicken trucks.  Not really something you want to see when you are at a restaurant.

My niece, Chrissy, & I shared the best pie ever - Peanut Butter Pie - with Reese's on top and an Oreo crust.

 



We went for a 2 mile walk when we got home and what did I find on the beach?  A hermit crab!

 

11:30 am

So, not a quiet morning.  They are putting structural beams in the sand which leads to a bang, bang, bang X many for each beam.  Then times that time about 10 beams.  There goes our view too.  They really might be putting in a house :(.

 

Thursday, June 13, 2013 - 11 am

We got in a 2 mile  walk before the storm.  They finished the beams and left the crane, so if lightening strikes, it's going to be close - like 50 feet from the house.  They almost lost the metal beam into the house.  It wasn't secure and started to fall into the house.  Luckily, they got it before it fell.

 

The walk included another shark - an even larger shark.

 

 

and I found the smallest conch shell we have ever seen.

Guess what - it was occupied.

Friday, June 14 - 12 noon
Well, this morning has been long and dreary.  It's been overcast, WINDY, and rainy.  Esa has been up since 6 am.  We were going to go to the park, but I really don't feel like going out in the crazy wind.  Seriously crazy wind.  I think that is why Esa woke up so early.  Anyway, Dan and I are going to go finish his geocaching goal of getting these 50 caches that are in a big X.  He went the other day (Wednesday), and got 45 of them.

Since yesterday was pretty dreary, I did some more scrapbooking.  I started our 11th anniversary scrapbook.

 

 

5 pm -

The beach was almost gone this afternoon from the storms.

 

 

The weather cleared up so we took the pups for a walk and then went geocaching for the final 5 that Dan missed the other day.  Success - including getting wet.

When we got home, we found a surpise - the pups had gotten into the walking bag that has water, poop bags & treats.  They ate all of the treats.

I've started to pack.  I definitely didn't read as much as I thought I would.  That's what happens when there's internet and tv.

 

Monday, June 17 - 10:30 am

 Time to get back in the swing of things.  The drive home on Saturday was uneventful.  We obviously picked the right week again this year because all of the traffic was going east and was backed up.

 

We got to meet the cleaning lady for the house.  She was told to clean at 10 am  and we were told 11 am to be out.  We were packing up and almost done when she showed up.

 

Our last walk on the beach included seeing dolphins!  We were both so excited to see that.  We saw another dead shark on the beach and a TON of horseshoe crabs flipped over on the beach.  Our goal for the walk was flipping as many over.

Flipped over horseshoe crabs

 

The pups checking out one that we flipped

close up of the shark teeth - this shark was maybe 1 1/2 feet long.

 

We are hesitant about going back next year to the same house since there will be a big house in front of the house we stayed at.

 

The new view (before they picked up the construction equipment.

 

Crazy looking clouds coming in on Friday night - never rained, but got really windy.

 

 



Adventures: A 2 Week Vacation!

Below is the entries I did while we were on vacation in Canada (August 25 to September 8).  Hubby's family has a cottage on Rice Lake in Ontario.  I describe it as "rustic".  The water is from the lake so you cannot drink it and there is no internet and only 3 TV channels (with 2 of them the same).  It's nice and relaxing and I do the majority of my reading when I am there.
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Thursday, August 30

First time turning the computer on this week!  Vacation has been good & relaxing so far.  Saturday, we stayed at my brother’s house.  It was a restless night as Esa did not sleep well.  I think she was more concerned about where everyone was.  It was her first time spending the night there.  No issue with Zed. He can sleep anywhere.  The first hour of the drive to NY was terrible.  We were in traffic only 5 miles from our house AND were stuck there for one hour to go about 2 miles!  That basically blew our whole trip/day.

Sunday’s drive was better and got in some traffic in Toronto, along with the border, but that was it.  We stopped and got a few groceries and got to the cottage by 6pm.  I did realize that there are few cars that have bumper or window stickers or magnets on them.

Monday was the big grocery day.  We went to the Super Walmart and it was an adventure.  The one thing that is hard to get used to in Canada is people do not say excuse me when you are shopping.

Tuesday, we just stuck around the cottage & relaxed.  Wednesday was chore day for Dan (moving some timber & small trees) and then Walmart again for some items we forgot.  My neck has been really hurting me so Ben-Gay & a better pillow was on the list.  Today, my neck seems better.  We did find one geocache that is right down the road from the cottage and got it when we took the pups for their evening walk.  Dan said that he saw the path on Monday, but didn’t go with his instincts and check out the location. 

Today (Thursday) was geocaching day.  We went to the Trans Canadian Trail that is about 2 miles from the cottage and walked about 1 mile.  We found 9 out of 10 geocaches.  Within the last year, people have placed about one geocache every 10^th of a mile.

 

I am on my 3^rd book.  I read “Big Stone Gap” by Adriana Trigiani, “Playing with Fire” by Theo Fleury and now “The Shack” by William Young.  This week is about relaxing, next week, hopefully some reflection and what I want to accomplish when I get back.  Of course, “The Shack’ is making me think though…..

Friday, August 31, 2012
Relaxing day – Dan is out geocaching and I am hanging out at the cottage.  I have started my 4^th book – “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain.  One thing about vacationing here and getting caught up on my reading, it makes me think.  I thought that “The Shack” would be something I read and passed on, but now I think I might keep it.  It just makes you think about God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit – no matter what your religion – from a different perspective.  When I read a book like that, I think “how did the author think of this book?”  I will be looking up more about this book when I get an internet connection.

Whenever I read biographies, I think I need to write my story.  Funny enough, that’s basically what Shania Twain said in the intro to her book.  She was writing the story for her son, but felt that everyone should write their story.  She also mentioned that she wish she knew her mom’s story.  I totally connect with that.  There are so many questions that I wish I could ask now.  I have been thinking about my story for awhile & will do some research on where to start (and how to keep the flow).  Do I just do stories that I remember? Do I start at the beginning, as far back as I remember? Do I start in the here & now?

I did some laundry today and hung the clothes out on a clothesline for the first time in probably 25 years.  I was able to do 2 loads before the line was full, still some loads to go.  At least I’m being green!

I also gave Zed a bath on the dock.  That was fun (not).  I don’t know how much shampoo came off of him, but at least he’s not licking his paws now!  Poor pup.  Not smelling though!

 

I am glad we are here for 2 weeks.  I don’t think I would have been ready to go back today/tomorrow.  I kind of felt like I had an anxiety attack earlier today (just an overwhelming feeling that I get) – thinking I had to give Zed a bath & do laundry.  I keep trying to think about the positive – we still have a week up here!

Sunday, September 02

Saturday we visited the library to get on the internet.

The next door neighbors are here for the weekend and Esa has been playing with their dogs (Luka, Duke & Rosie) - Zed just hanging out with them.  We had a scare with Esa. Dan was playing with her and next thing you know, she’s limping & we could tell that her paw was swollen.  She was using it though so I figured it couldn’t be too bad.

Luckily, she was better this morning.  The pups played some more this morning & then we ran out for groceries and to buy a kayak.  Yup – Dan wanted to get a kayak.  He tried the neighbor’s out first, and really liked it.

 

After that trip, we went to Lang Pioneer Village for a corn roast.  We thought the corn would be on the grill, but it was boiled over an open fire.  It was really good.  They had music and the Canadian Antique Phonograph Society was there with a display.  It was really neat to see.  Dan said, his mom would have loved it.

 Now it’s just hanging out while Dan is in the lake on the kayak.  I’ll never see him the rest of the trip!  Tomorrow everything is closed with Labor (or as it’s spelled up here Labour) Day.  Totally different than in the states.

Monday, September 03, 2012

Labour Day (as they call it here in Canada)

Just relaxing today since everything is closed.  Seriously – so unlike America where it doesn’t matter anymore if there is a holiday or not.  Things have changed so much within the last 20 years (probably less than that) when it comes to holidays in America.

Dan took out the kayak this morning and did a 5 mile round trip.  I hung out and made pasta salad and figured out some goals (yes, time to start thinking about when I get back home).

After lunch I took a nap, read and caught up on some blogs that I downloaded on my Kindle Fire.

 Dan has been working on a puzzle that he got at the thrift store (below the library) on Saturday.  It’s TOUGH! 

 

Tuesday, September 04

Rainy, rainy day.  We ended up going to Peterborough to see if we could find a hobby shop (to buy a gift for my brother), with no luck.  I pulled both places out of the phonebook here at the cottage which was from 2008-2009.  Both places weren’t there and we ended up getting SOAKED walking around going to the addresses.  It was by the downtown “mall”, so we walked in there to see if there was any free wifi.  Finally found some, looked up hobby stores and realized the hobby stores only have radio control models.  So back to the car.  Oh, score on a travel bug though!  When we were parking I noticed a travel bug on a car, so we at least got that.

We then headed to the Lansdowne Place Mall – which is really a “mall”.  Looked around and got some “gifts” for the family for letting us stay there overnight.

I started my 5^th book yesterday, “Inside of a Dog” by Alexandra Horowitz.  I am more than half way through and haven’t learned anything new about dogs.  It’s written kind of scientific, but in an interesting way & easy to read.  It quotes different cases studies and has the author’s stories on her own dog.

Some of the things I have forgotten to mention:

Ducks:  We have a family of 9 ducks who have been visiting us almost daily.  We have been feeding them bread and I realized yesterday that if the dogs aren’t on the dock, the ducks will come closer.  If the dogs are there, they stay out a bit.  Zed has also realized NOT to go chasing the ducks in the water.  He did growl a little yesterday, but stayed away from the edge of the dock.

Beaver:  Last couple of years, we would always see a beaver daily.  We finally saw it once this year on Sunday and was able to get a picture or two. 

 

Fish:  The lake is FULL of fish this year - from minnows to full size.  We never know what the fish population is going to be like.  One year we came up and there were ton of dead fish.  We have also been feeding them.

 

It’s just nice & relaxing checking out the nature around here. 

Wednesday, September 05

Our wedding anniversary – 14 years

Today was a relaxing day.  The ducks were by first thing this morning, so the pups & I fed them before waking Dan up for our morning walk.

Dan went for a trip around the island in the kayak this afternoon.  I started my 7^th book, “My Appetite for Destruction” by Steven Adler.  My 6^th book was “Running with Scissors” by Augusten Borroughs.  That book was crazy – There’s no way that book was real!  It is too far out there!  I think I have seen some of the movie.  Once I get back to the internet, I’ll have to look more into the author.

We went to dinner at Berc’s Steakhouse.  We have been there once before and it was really good (and kind of expensive)

Thursday, September 06, 2012

Last full day at the cottage L

Today will be doing last minute running around (bank & filling up the gas tank) then starting to pack. L

We are heading to my brother’s again and staying overnight.  It’s just easier for Esa since she cannot relax in the car at all plus, I get to see the family for a little while.

 

*****
So Friday, we drove and hung out at my brother's on Friday & headed out again on Saturday.  Friday night, my SIL had her women's group from church over for dinner & I got to see a church member I hadn't seen since I moved to VA.

On the drive Friday, the check engine light on the Jeep came on.  We took it up to Advantage Auto and they pulled the code.  Internal transmission AGAIN.  The system was reset and hasn't come on since.  I will need to look up and see if this is a usual issue with Jeeps.  If we need a new transmission, it's a no go - we are getting a new car.

Saturday, we drove the majority of the way in the rain - or should I say hurricane rains.  There were several tornado warnings in NY & I guess in the DC area.  The rain was coming down REALLY hard, but we kept going.  We would get ahead of it and then stop to let the pups out, then back driving in the rain.

Today was groceries and finishing up the laundry.  Back to work tomorrow & we will be getting all of our mail delivered.  The below Mutts comic was posted on August 29.  Fitting!  I still look forward to getting the mail.




This Mutts comic was from September 1.  Yes - so much to do once you get back home.