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Once again we had a rainy Saturday but a splendid Sunday.  On Saturday, Sarah had a riding lesson, in which she wrestled bravely with Cookie’s exceeding bounciness.  During the weekend, she offered her toil, sweat and tears (no blood, thank goodness) to her essays for her school applications.

Because my comments on Sarah’s applications are not universally viewed as helpful, I spent lots of time with Daisy.

We had a lovely day today — cool, dry, and sunny.  The trees are starting to turn, and it begins to seem possible that, some day, the barn roof may be finished.  On Saturday, in the rain, we had a visit from Zach Wolf, who farms at Stone Barns (the Rockefeller place in Pocantico Hills) and at The Locusts (André Balasz’s place in Staatsburg) and is scouting for farmland.  He found ours scenic yet hilly.

Daisy, who can be a very serious dog, enjoyed the walk.

This weekend, it looked like fall but felt like summer — beautiful flying weather for these geese.

We had a visit from the Meng/Kufferaths, including little Lucy, 15 months old.  On Saturday we went apple picking.

On Sunday we headed south on Route 9G and visited Val Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s home in Hyde Park.  On the tour we learned that FDR and Eleanor built a house there for two of Eleanor’s friends who oversaw a factory (pictured) which built reproduction Colonial furniture.  After that business failed, Eleanor converted the factory into a house where she lived with her secretary, her doctor, and her bodyguard, all of whom seemed to be involved in possibly steamy, sometimes unrequited, relationships with Eleanor.  I found the tour confusing, although the park ranger was endearingly fond of Eleanor, and a bit miffed at FDR because of his emotional distance.

Ringo visited on Saturday for a playdate with Daisy.  We took a long walk culminating in a visit to the pond.

Daisy taught Ringo how to swim.

Here they are exiting the pond, ears flying.

They are finally making some progress on our new barn roof.  We are hopeful that it won’t look like a HoJo’s when it’s done.

On Saturday we had dinner at Bocuse, the fancy French restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. It’s run by earnest students, not quite ready for prime time, which adds a lot to its charm. After dinner, we had a tour of the kitchen, and Sarah was given a toque.

On Sunday Jen organized her 2014 jam production, which was extensive.

We had a relaxing Labor Day weekend with Jen’s parents and with Erica and Geoff.  I let Erica win at Boggle because she is an English professor and it is important to her.  Here, Lew and Sarah relaxed on the back porch.

On Sunday we met the Ostroys’ new dog Ringo, who is part Golden Retriever, part Border Collie, and altogether sweet.  We are hoping he will reform his co-dog Willie, who is a nightmare.

We had a big crowd for the fair this year, with visits from my father and BJ, Paula and Jerry, and Julie and Stacey.

Sarah befriended goats, sheep, and really any other livestock that seemed like it might be friendly.

Very few of the pigs at the fair were awake.

No visit to the fair is complete without a visit to the midway, where Sarah enjoyed favorites such as the Hamster Dance (above), the tilt-a-whirl,  and the bumper cars.

We met exotic chickens and bunnies.

The fair involves a lot of walking.  Here, BJ, Paula, Jerry and my father rested on the porch in front of the horticulture building.

Back at home, Sarah spent hours and hours on her latest enthusiasm, sewing.

I got my rotary mower back from the shop, where it’s spent most of the summer.  The invoice from Keil Equipment (which was breathtaking in amount) included a note to call the owner, Kim Keil — a little like getting a “see me” note on a test.  He wanted to stop by on Sunday to find out why I kept driving the mower over rocks and stumps.  I am woefully behind on my mowing, but I got a fair amount done this weekend.  In the picture you can see, at far left, Jen tending her garden.

She is growing lots of tomatoes — possibly more than we can eat.

Here’s a bunny I surprised on my way to the mailbox.

We are freshly back from two weeks in the country.  Sarah spent both weeks at the Mill Street Loft arts camp in Red Hook, Jen pottered around her various gardens, and I plied my trade, remotely.  Here are Sarah and Jen enjoying an afternoon dip in the town pool.

We had a visit from the Harris family, and climbed Burger Hill.

We also stopped by Stickles in downtown Rhinebeck, which has absolutely everything.

Sarah appeared onstage in the Mill Street Loft’s play.

A metal barn roof lasts about 100 years.  We are lucky enough to get to replace ours.

Jen is growing lots of tomatoes and lots of flowers.

And Sarah spent plenty of quality time with her dog.