A great winter

Been getting lot's of snowshoeing in. Here are some photos of my wife, our friends the Rapps, and myself, while snowshoeing near Pine Hill NY. This area has some of the most under rated scenery in the east.

Those old long socks did not help keep the bottom of my jeans dry. I'll stick to real mountaineering gators and synthetic fabrics, for any real winter treks. 

China Cabinet Part 3 (or is it Part 4?)

Upper doors, and therefore cabinet, are almost complete; just need to mount hinges,mount the knobs, install the catch, get the glass cut, install the glass and 
two more coats of finish.

Ken Burns

I simply forgot to post about what was one of the more inspiring evenings of the last few years. Jean and I went to see Ken Burns present a  preview of his new series on the three Roosevelts who influenced this country's history so dramatically, Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor.  I was not expecting to be impressed,  the little I've seen of his work seemed too slow paced and somewhat too focused on a particular point to be made.

I has an epiphany. The material he presented on the Roosevelts was excellent and I now plan to watch the full series when it is broadcast this fall.

What was even more impressive was Burns himself. He was articulate, intelligent, and amazingly well informed; the best speaker I have heard in a long time. Perhaps he is helped by not running for office.

He made several statements that were impressive for their clarity, for their  profundity, and perhaps most for his sincerity in expressing them. The one that seems to be central to his beliefs is " there are no ordinary people."

Here's a link to an article about the event.

http://www.recorder.com/home/10672263-95/there-are-no-ordinary-people

It is the white season

Until today, I have forborne from publishing a plethora of winter time pictures but I can't be good forever.

Today was a great morning for a walk in the snow. A photo from the trail that runs behind my house showing the double birch archway formed by still living trees one  from our backyard showing my snowshoe tracks 

 one  from our backyard showing my snowshoe tracks

and the sight that is welcome even after a delightful walk in the woods: home sweet home.

Movies: Labor Day and some coming attractions.

Yesterday we saw the movie Labor Day and we both liked it very much. Warning: there are no flaming car wrecks, no massive shootouts, no blood splattered scenery, just a few people working important things out.

The coming attractions for Pompeii and Need for Speed were another matter: special effects and mayhem triumphing over all other considerations. It didn't occur to me until somewhat later that they really aren't movies; they are simply non interactive computer games.

Growing Seasons

We have two growing seasons up here. During the first growing season, from late spring to early autumn' we grow lots of greens, many tomatoes, corn, melons, squash, berries, and in particular in our neighborhood, apples. 

In the other growing season, this is what we grow:

Under the ice

Remember that post of the frozen waterfall?Here's what's underneath that stuff.

The Good Not So Old Days

Was sorting through my pictures when I found this one. Days of Glory might be a bit too grandiose, but they were good days.