Friday, September 27, 2024

You Asked, I Answer!

Sometimes blog friends ask questions -- and I try to respond personally if I have an email for them, but otherwise, they sometimes end up in the ether! And lately, I've been negligent in responding to anyone (that will only get worse in October when I'll be on blog break!)

So, I thought I'd answer a few of them!

About the Cottage 

Erin said, "Wow, I didn't realize that your family actually lived there."  I probably wasn't clear. We never lived at the lake full time -- only in the summers. From the time my mom was a kid, and through my teen/college years, we would spend summers there. But didn't live there full time.

Beach time with the cousins, c. 1978

Erin also asked, "Do you ever stay up there for fall?" We sure do! It's nippy at times -- we have a fireplace and space heaters and that's it! But it's gorgeous. You can see a couple of posts with images from up north in the fall here and here.

"I wonder why you only stay here in the summer. It's such a beautiful place...I think I'd live there all year long," Deb of Readerbuzz said. Beautiful, yes. But it would drive me nuts. The town doesn't have much to offer in terms of culture and the arts and I'm definitely not a winter person or into winter spots. Also, the community is extremely conservative. I fear I would go politically insane! (And, as I mentioned above, we don't have heat!) So fall is as far as I go!

 

Other Things!

What kind of bird is Harry? asked Judy (but no blog listed!) Harry is a Great Blue Heron. He hangs out at our neighborhood pond (called The Ditch) from spring until fall. Last year I saw him well into November. Harry North (and his partner) are also great blue herons but are seen up north at the cottage.

Carola asked: how do you use a fork when working with watercolor? And the answer is: Very badly. Part of the challenge I was doing was to use tools you never used for art before. (Examples, bubble wrap for texture). I used a make-up sponge, a straw and a fork. The fork was least successful. I thought it might make for nice snow dots but they were all too "in a row." I tried scraping some texture in but watercolor is so transparent, that wasn't very effective either. Finally, I just globbed on some gouache and made snow on the branches. I don't recommend it!

Jean from Misadventures in Widowhood wrote: "I also notice you had a straw with your paints? One of the ladies here was experiencing with putting paint on the end of a straw and blowing it around the paper. Didn't turn out very well, in my opinion, but she kept trying to prefect the process."

The straw was also part of that class challenge with three or more "new" items. It actually worked pretty well for adding snow to branches and small line details.

Carola also asked: When are you leaving for England and how long will you stay? Will you be staying in Bath the entire time?


 We leave for England on October 2 and will return on the 24th. We'll be in Bath for a week (doing side trips as well as enjoying the city).

The Roman Baths

We're especially excited to be staying in a lovely house a few miles out of the city. We stayed here before and it will be a wonderful and relaxing way to begin our trip.

Morgan's Forge

Then it's on to London for the remainder of the trip, with a road trip in that time! 

Steve from Shadows and Light asked: I wonder what Viola means about paying for "3 or 4 slats in the Venetian blinds"? Is she trying to say it was expensive or cheap?

This refers to the vintage postcards from the lake on this post. Viola wrote a note on her postcard about paying for slats in the Venetian blinds and was not at all impressed on the restaurant. I tried to find prices of Venetian blinds in the 1940s online with no luck. But my guess is she was saying it was expensive. Anyone have an idea?


Thanks to many of you who weighed in on the "bald" cardinal from this post. The general consensus seems to be that he is moulting. Makes sense to me!

Finally, I will be off blog for our trip and sadly, not visiting you. I doubt I will post we're gone but will look forward to catching up with you when you return and have all sorts of fun photos to share! I hope I don't miss TOO much here! Thank you again for all your comments. Hopefully after we settle back, I'll be able to get more in my practice of replying more directly to your comments.

Have a lovely fall and I'll see you next month!

45 comments:

Judee said...

This was a fun post getting answers to all the questions. Enjoy you trip to London. Looks like you have some wonderful things lined up. That last fall photo is exquisite.

kathyinozarks said...

Enjoy your trip=you have gorgeous fall colors-we have mostly oaks here-they have no colors just turn brown

Rita said...

This Q&A was an interesting switch. I do hope you have the best time!! Will be waiting to hear and see when you get home safe and sound. :)

Sue in Suffolk said...

Hope the weather is good for you here

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Bon voyage! Au retour!

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful Autumn photos, the colorful trees are lovely.
I hope you have a wonderful trip , safe travels.
Enjoy your day and happy weekend.

Tom said...

...safe journeys and have a fabulous time.

Tracy said...

Your photos really show the amazing Autumn leaf colours. Have a great time when you visit us on this side of the pond!

NanaDiana said...

That was a good way to answer questions from those that don't have direct emails. I should do that, too. I do try to respond to everyone that I can via email. Happy travels-enjoy every moment of it. xo Diana

La Table De Nana said...

Have a WONDERFUL time.I know you will!!

Anonymous said...

This is a good time to travel because the weather is still nice, and with schools back in session the summer tourist season with crowds is over. London is not a nice destination like it was say 20 years ago. Due to the governments open borders and soft on crime policies, London now has as much violent crime as Chicago, only the gangs there use big knives and machetes. They have no issues targeting tourists, so avoiding that city all together is the best policy.

My name is Erika. said...

I like how you did this post. I may have to copy you when I get home and have photos from my trip to post. Hope that's OK. And have a fabulous trip. Enjoy. I remember you put this off and so I hope it is full of fun, pleasant people, good food, lots of wonderful sights and nothing terrible going wrong. Hugs-Erika

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz said...

I think I am as excited about your trip to England as you are. I look forward to seeing photos when you return. Enjoy your time away!

Boud said...

Enjoy your trip and remember to go to North Yorkshire!

gigi-hawaii said...

Bon voyage. Aloha from Hawaii.

The Happy Whisk said...

Safe travels and wishing you a wonderful trip to the UK.

thepaintedapron.com said...

Have a wonderful trip Jeanie and enjoy your blog break, we will miss you!
Jenna

Mary Rose's said...

3 or 4 slats of venetian blinds ... I *think* Viola was saying they paid extra to be seated in a booth by the windows, instead of being seated at the counter or on the dining room floor. Although those vertical blinds in the postcard image aren't Venetian.

Just a hunch.

Can't wait to see your stories from Bath and London! Safe travels to you & Rick! xoxoxoxox

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I'm obviously falling behind in my blog reading. I didn't even know you were going to England. Have a wonderful trip and I look forward to seeing pictures of beautiful images. The leaves are starting to change here, but maybe you knew that from your recent trip. Happy travels, Jeanie! -Jenn

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

Stay healthy and have a wonderful trip.

gz said...

Have a good trip and enjoy Bath... there is the American Museum there, not far from the centre if I remember correctly..it would be interesting to read your comments on it!

Debra@CommonGround said...

Have tons of fun Jeanie. take care and savor each day!

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Have the best time, Jeanie!
Enjoy every minute. Safe journey.

Dixie @ Arranged Words said...

Have a wonderful time.
Enjoy every minute.
Safe journey too.

Bill said...

Have lots of fun and take lots of photos. Safe travels, Jeanie.

Pam Richardson said...

Wishing you a fabulous trip and safe travels, Jeanie and Rick!

Cindy said...

Your fall photos are absolutely stunning! Have a wonderful time in London. My two youngest girls have visited there and they've come back with great stories. I'm so excited for you! Can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Lorrie said...

This post was full of interesting tidbits! Have a wonderful trip to England, Jeanie.

acorn hollow said...

Enjoy England
Cathy

Prims By The Water said...

Have a fun and safe trip. Make sure to take lots of pics and share when toy can. Janice

DeniseinVA said...

Wonderful photos! I am excited for you over your trip to England. I used to drive through Bath all the time when I visited my sister many years ago. Happy traveling and I look forward to your posts when you get back.
https://www.anenglishgirlrambles2016.blogspot.com

Red Rose Alley said...

Oh, I love your Fall scenery where you live, Jeanie. The photos are vibrant with color. Thanks for answering the questions. I knew many of them, but I was a bit confused also about the lake and how long you stay there, and why you leave at certain times during the year. The house you are staying at in England is so charming. And those London phone booths are delightful. The girls took pictures of them when they visited as well. Have a wonderful and safe trip, Jeanie, and I'll see you when you return. : )

~Sheri

Joyful said...

Beautiful photos. I enjoyed reading your answers to enquiring minds want to know, lol. I'll miss you while you're in England. I wish I was tagging along in your suitcase, lol. Have a fabulous and safe journey.

ashok said...

Appreciate your effort to answer :) lovely post Jeanie

Linda P said...

I have been reading your blog posts but not commenting. I send greetings. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time in the UK and I look forward to seeing where you went. (Love the London bus)!

Breathtaking said...

Jeanie, I hope you enjoy your holiday in England and return with loads of photos to share
All the best
Sonjia

Anvilcloud said...

Your cottage would be cold in that location. I suspect that you would have enough heating to extend you stay into November, but by then the landscape would be pretty bleak, so there would be little point.

We loved going to a cottage during winter, but it had heat, and I could snowshoe through the woods for many years.

So, off you go to Merry Olde. Have a great trip. It would be nice to see the occasional brief post, but don't even think about reading or commenting on our posts.

I may take a similar break soon, not from travel but to get some things done. Like you, I might post a bit, but reading and commenting takes time.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Happy & Safe travels with no delays or unwelcome glitches

Debbie said...

great questions (some have been on my mind) awesome answers!! fall there is spectacular!!

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

Interesting post! I've often wished you'd reply to comments in public instead through email because I (and probably) others are interested in what you might write back to other commenter's questions or comments. Now I know---at least some of them.

Steve Reed said...

This comment is ridiculous. I live in London and have for 12 years and it's no more dangerous than any other large city. I have never been a target of knife crime or, for that matter, any other serious crime. I've never even had my pocket picked! (Unlike in NYC.)

Steve Reed said...

Thanks for tackling the Venetian blind question! We may never know, though I'm inclined to think you're right -- she thought the place was expensive.

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

Those fall colors are gorgeous! I don't think our colors get as vibrant here in the Twin Cities - or I don't recall them looking so vibrant! We used to only go to the lake from memorial through labor day but have had a year-round place since 2001, I think? Even when my parents lived in ND, we started to celebrate Christmas at the lake, probably around 2008 or something like that? It's a more central location and there were lots of outdoor activities for people to do and it felt extra "christmasy" being by a frozen lake. Now my parents have a beautiful retirement home so it's extra easy to celebrate there, although they can't really accomodate our whole family anymore since it has really grown (and will grow in April 2025 as my younger sister is expecting her 3rd child!).

Have the very best time in England! That is a nice, long stretch of time to spend there! I can't wait to read all about it!!

Anonymous said...

Have a safe and terrific trip! Can't wait till you and Rick get back and you put up all the pics !!! HAVE FUN!!! Dawn P. Albany, GA

Lowcarb team member said...

Happy travels and safe travels are wished for you.

All the best Jan

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