The new roof

Back on the wagon, Ian.

Been real busy. 

Have writable walls in the office now. 

Rode some horses

Started aging some apple whiskey

Thought about changing majors. 

Lovin the fall

Franktoberfest!

 Like father, like son.

Had another successful Franktoberfest.  Lots of folks, lots of drinks, and a TON of great German food.

 The headstone is from an old cemetery across the road from Erik's.  I just think the finger pointed skyward is cool.  If I were going to celebrate my own life with a headstone, I think it'd be funny to get one like this, but with the finger pointed down.  No epitaph or anything, just the hand with the index finger pointing straight down... maybe with some pretty filigree.

 None of the following pictures of our Sunday ride are doctored at all.  That's how cool the lighting was that day.  When you look at the pictures of Rambo, remind yourself that he's 30 years old... he's an amazing horse.

Fall!

Fall seems like it's come early this year.  The leaves are well on, and we get to wear our sweaters and vests most days... at least in the mornings and evenings.  Sarah went to NYC this past weekend, and the dogs and I held down the fort.  I suffered from a minor sinus infection, but was really too busy to notice.  I totally forget what happened Friday, but Saturday was spent at the cider press and Sunday, in spite of a worsening cold, I cut down a bunch of trees, chopped wood, and walked the dogs.  Sarah had a good, if exhausting time at some AKC event.  She represented Cornell and chatted about all kinds of issues with all kinds of people.  She also got to hang out with some friends of ours and go out to a comedy club.  The hotel she stayed in was called the Yotel, and if I understand correctly it's run by Jewish robots.

The latest iPhone update included a built in version of hipstercam, so I've been playing around with that a bit.  This is Indy's current favorite spot; on the "cuddle chair" watching the birds out the window.  The stove's been cold lately, as the weather's been quite mild.  We've had lots of great star gazing nights, and Zhora always gets us out to look at 'em.

This is my new Stanley coffee mug.  I was sick of carrying my full sized thermos around with me everywhere I went.  I love the mug.  Man, my truck is a mess.

Brewing day!  Took over 20ga of hard cider over to Eriks.  We made another 12ga that day!  Man, my truck is a mess.

Got a great new belt buckle for my birthday.  It's copper, which is definitely one of my favorite colours and metals.  Thanks Adam and Leanna!  Also, I use that knife y'all gave me for attendin yer hitchin shindig all the time, too.  So thanks again!

Erik and Jonas workin hard on a whosey-whatsit.  Erik has what you'd call a complicated relationship with my dogs in that he hates them.  Jonas spent most of his time hangin under Erik's feet, though, after he caught on fire near me and the propane stove, and got stung my a yellow jacket by Vinnie and the cider press... It was a complicated day.

Sometimes the best way to end a complicated day is to act like a cave man.

Got this cool dodad from Dad and Mom.  It works great and is nice and heavy in your hand.  I can't tell where it's made, but it's definitely patented in the US and the UK, and it works like a charm on my Swedish made Husqvarna.

And this is what I love to do.  Lots of ash to cut around here, sadly.

Left the house the other morning to find this guy attached to the door.

I stayed home from school Monday.  My new job is really strange.  I wouldn't have stayed home if it had meant writing sub plans and missing a day of instruction, but I felt bad coming in sick and snotty and talking to a bunch of different teachers and being in a bunch of different classrooms.  Anyway, I'd only gotten and hour and fifteen of sleep the night before for all the snotting and coughing I did.  So at some point during the day, Jonas and Eva and I went for a little walk in the woods to celebrate the final day of Not Hunting Season.  Found this cool tree with woodpecker holes all in it.

Jonas was super happy, and Eva was so exited that I couldn't get her in the picture. She jumped out just before this attempt, and I never did get anything but a white blur.  When I got home, I had to run to Brookton's Market, and Indy looked at me super pathetically.

So I took her with me, and we stopped at the Redneck Riviera on the way.  She went for a great swim and I wished I'd brought my trunks.  She made it look like so much fun.

I'm feeling better now, but Sarah's sick.  I think she's on the upswing, and we have friends coming in this weekend for Franktoberfest.  The cider and beer and anything else we find will be flowing and the food will be great. Hopefully we get a chance to ride and hit the Apple Harvest Festival.  Gonna be another busy weekend.  At least we'll get to relax next weekend...