A Man's Rooster

How about this? The little rooster that Heather and Brenda named "Lance junior" has become quite the sociable bird. When all the other chicks run, this little one just wants to be picked up and taken for a ride.




As before, I have been preparing the house for winter. Soon I will begin the annual "wrapping of the house". This is our version of "decking the halls" and consists of wrapping the house's rock foundation with sheet plastic in order cut down on the drafts. It is not as attractive as decorating in holly and mistletoe but I am sure in saves a few gallons of propane each year.

Lance

Home on the range

I know I am blessed because when I woke up this morning after sleeping in my own bed I wondered why I ever went on vacation in the first place. Today was full of work to catch up on what we missed over the last week. The highlight was letting the little chicks out in their own coop and run.

New England was great. I won't give a detailed itinerary but my favorite part was the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Heather loved the Old Sturbridge Village (www.osv.org).

Pictures attached are Little Red Riding Hood on the campus of MIT (ain't she cute) and the chicks in their new run.

Lance

Fall and Floods in New England

This week we are spending time in Massachusetts and Connecticut for our anniversary trip. It has been interesting to visit a place that has had nearly 40 days and nights of rain, whereas, we have had a drought of the same length.

Only two pictures today. The first is Heather signing the guest book in Thoreau's cabin on Walden Pond. The second is a peculiar fellow I almost ran into in Putnam, CT. I heard New Englanders were open minded, but drivers licenses for dogs?
Lance

Relief from Drought

This week two days of solid rain fell after a month drought. A little bit of water may help with the fall colors, although I am afraid we will have a disappointing season. Unfortunately, many of the trees have already decided to forego fall and head straight into winter by dropping their leaves early this year.

This week's pictures include one of Heather's dahlias in the garden, the little rooster (I think he looks like a raptor), and the walnut grove below the house.

Lance

Early Fall in the State of Franklin

Autumn has arrived with the evenings getting down to the 40's twice this week. Of course, that means I need to get my rear in gear and finish insulating under our base boards soon. To my surprise, when taking down my first board I found daylight shining through the outside wall. I guess that's why it felt like we were sleeping in a tent last winter. Personally, I like the frigid feeling of chilly drafts - especially in the bathroom. Yes, we have indoor plumbing.

The pictures included with this blog are Heather and her new friends (Pasty in her right hand and an unnamed Buff Orpington in her left); mother, daughter, and hen planting iris and bugging; and some of the harvest of gourds and pumpkins for the fall.

Lance