Fall foliage season has come, and almost gone. The flame-red maple leaves have left, with many other colors covering the ground (though still holding on to the trees in large numbers), and the nights are beginning to bring temperatures near or below freezing. We have already fired up the wood stove, and are harvesting wood from the property we keep intending to build a house on. And I am, for the first time in my life, wielding a chain saw and splitting hardwood.
It is satisfying to finish with a pile of firewood, though less so when I discover that it will only last a few days, and even less so when, by the end of the day, my wrists, knees, and back are crying for a good dose of ibuprofen, and I sleep until around nine in the morning because I'm so exhausted. I can't get away with that tomorrow, though; up at 5:15 a.m. to get ready for work.
Winter is on the way, and here we still are, in our drafty lakeside home, trying to figure out how we're going to stay warm. Potential buyers, like the foliage season, have come and almost gone, with none offering, and many worrying about the condition of the house, the size of the land, the size of the pond, and the tax bill.
The real estate people say that it is going to be better in the spring. For us that may be too little too late. I don't know. I am more encouraged by advice from by brother-in-law, Alan, who tells me that the best time to split wood is when the temperature stays below freezing. The wood gets dry and brittle, and splits easily, making you feel just like a lumber jack.
Right now I just feel like getting another pain pill.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Ch Ch Ch Changes
I've you've read this blog before, you know that I've changed the template recently. This one's for you, Mom! My Mom was having trouble with the display of the blog on her ancient Web browser. If this doesn't work, we may have to see about an updated browser, but I don't want to do anything radical.
What I haven't changed in the long time is, well, anything else. There's just been too much going on, some good, some not so good. But it's kept us very busy. But as summer winds down, the children are going back to school (Karen never stopped), and the days get shorter, it seems like a good time to try to revamp the old Web site, to give it a little style, and, most important, to make it easier to update with new stories, pictures, and perhaps (for those with faster connections) some home movies.
Meanwhile, allow me to update a few things:
Me and the Theater
That Darn Plot was a rousing success, so much so that I was invited to appear in a fundraiser for the theater group. On September 21st, The Village Players will present the last act of Neil Simon's Plaza Suite at an invitation-only event. I will play Roy Hubley, father of the bride who has locked herself in the bathroom and refuses to come out or even speak to her frantic parents. I also auditioned for a minor role in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum—and ended up with the lead. Whew!
Karen and School
Karen got an "A" in Algebra this last session! She expects to finish her third Associate's Degree, this on in Interior Design, by next spring.
Thomas and Work and School
Thomas is doing great at Dunkin Donuts, earning himself enough money to pay for Driver's Ed, and buy a new MacBook and iPod. School is going well; in fact, one of Tom's teachers asked to to speak to the Freshman class this year. After a rocky start with high school, Tom is now considered quite the success story.
William and School
William is in kindergarten! He's still very excited about it. He also lost his first tooth while we were on a trip to the Canterbury Shaker VIllage. The tooth fairy left him a Susan B. Anthony dollar!
I don't want you to think that I've left Danny out. No milestones to speak of, but he's doing great and being, well, three.
The House
We haven't sold the house. Still. Sigh!
What I haven't changed in the long time is, well, anything else. There's just been too much going on, some good, some not so good. But it's kept us very busy. But as summer winds down, the children are going back to school (Karen never stopped), and the days get shorter, it seems like a good time to try to revamp the old Web site, to give it a little style, and, most important, to make it easier to update with new stories, pictures, and perhaps (for those with faster connections) some home movies.
Meanwhile, allow me to update a few things:
Me and the Theater
That Darn Plot was a rousing success, so much so that I was invited to appear in a fundraiser for the theater group. On September 21st, The Village Players will present the last act of Neil Simon's Plaza Suite at an invitation-only event. I will play Roy Hubley, father of the bride who has locked herself in the bathroom and refuses to come out or even speak to her frantic parents. I also auditioned for a minor role in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum—and ended up with the lead. Whew!
Karen and School
Karen got an "A" in Algebra this last session! She expects to finish her third Associate's Degree, this on in Interior Design, by next spring.
Thomas and Work and School
Thomas is doing great at Dunkin Donuts, earning himself enough money to pay for Driver's Ed, and buy a new MacBook and iPod. School is going well; in fact, one of Tom's teachers asked to to speak to the Freshman class this year. After a rocky start with high school, Tom is now considered quite the success story.
William and School
William is in kindergarten! He's still very excited about it. He also lost his first tooth while we were on a trip to the Canterbury Shaker VIllage. The tooth fairy left him a Susan B. Anthony dollar!
I don't want you to think that I've left Danny out. No milestones to speak of, but he's doing great and being, well, three.
The House
We haven't sold the house. Still. Sigh!
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