Northpoint Lighthouse Tour

This is the Northpoint Lighthouse. I found it interesting that this lighthouse is located in a neighborhood. It seemed like an odd location. It made sense once we took the tour. They told us this lighthouse was not in this location to warn of danger but as a beacon to let ships find the harbor. The tower eventually had to be build higher so that it was above the tree line. The beacon light could be seen from the lake and used as a marker to find the entrance to the harbor.

We started out --- 3 kids and I - at the bottom of the lighthouse tower. It was really, very sturdy and a very nice climb. Most of it was stairs as in this picture and we would climb up to a floor level. The stairs were solid iron but were see-through. I tend to not like highs on a cliff but this was just fine with me. Still, we made it up one level and the little one said - ahhhh, I want to go back down. He decided to wait about where he is standing in this picture. At the bottom, on solid ground.

And then there were two - the middle child and I made it up to the last leg of the climb. It was a short ladder to the hatch. The top level was enclosed in glass. The view was spectacular. We found it amazing that this lighthouse had a woman keeper for 30 years. And she climbed this climb in a skirt carrying a 5 gallon bucket of oil - up this ladder!

Tim Hawkins video - The Government Can

a quote for the times

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Believed to be from Edmund Burke

fall is coming

It is so hard to believe it but the trees are starting to turn colors already. It seems like it is almost a month early. Wonder if it is going to be a long, cold winter.

I guess I am preparing for it. I made refrigerator pickles this weekend. (Recipe below). And then went over to my Mom and Dad's today. Mom is great at canning. She helped me can stewed tomatoes. I took her canning equipment and might give it a try on my own. We shall see though. I just like having her there to be sure I am doing it right. Plus it is more fun with company - someone to chat with. It was very nice.

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles

3 to 4 sliced onions

3 or 4 green peppers, cut in strips

Enough sliced cucumbers to fill a gallon jar (I used 4 quart jars instead)

3 c. sugar

3 c. vinegar

1/3 c. canning salt

1 tbsp. mustard seed

1 tbsp. celery seed

1 tbsp. turmeric

Wash slicing cucumbers and slice thin (do not peel). Layer in glass jars with onion and green peppers.

Combine sugar, vinegar, salt, mustard seed, celery seed and turmeric. Heat slightly until sugar is dissolved. Let cool, then pour over vegetables. Cover and keep refrigerated. Let stand a day before starting to use.