Boy on a Walk

It's always a good idea to put your Periodic Table T-Shirt on when you walk to Sibley Farm.



Partly I took this because I like the mostly-white heifer in the background--very pretty girl.

She's a white girl.

But I'm living with a white girl.

(that's a punk rock allusion, people)

Morning at the Montpelier Pool

Waiting for lessons to start.

The River Rock Campout 2010

Another lovely year-end camp-out with the big messy family that is River Rock School has left me suffering from a mild case of Failure To Thrive but a deep appreciation for communal care, deep-into-the-night songs around a campfire, capture-the-flag and, well, the delight of being coaxed out of bed to join a circle of fire watchers, and then riding the night out--bourbon, folk songs, Persian poetry and all--until the banter fades, the sky brightens, and some of us find ourselves a little ragged around the edges.

It was a grand time. If only we could coax Bob, Michele, Zoe and Henry to come to one of these things....

Pecking Order Problem

Do not place your bets, please, because if you do this video might become illegal.



This is what we get for adopting a new hen into the flock (the charming Silver Laced Wyandotte we've named "Orchid"). Yet another reason that these roosters need to go.

Morning Moose

Coming home from dropping the kids at school this morning I happened upon this moose at one of the ponds around the corner from the house.



I would have gotten better pictures but an oversized woman in a hot pink tank top got out of her shabby SUV and walked right up to the water's edge, taking pictures or video with her cell phone all the way. The moose got spooked and took off for the other side of the pond.

He kept his distance after that. Jerk lady.

Vermont Spring

Peaks of the Groton range this evening, after a late snowstorm. Temperatures up into the seventies in a couple of days, they say. Picture taken from the road in front of our house.

What do You Walk With?

What do You Walk With?
Originally uploaded by baseballpajamas

She walks with a leaf and a rock, like some kind of pagan. He walks with a pen and a sheaf of papers.

By the way, you can't really tell in the picture but the field behind them is an amazing, vibrant green--especially compared to everything else around here, which still has one foot in late winter.

Return of the Hermit Thrush

I'm no birder, but I was happy when I got home this evening to hear a couple hermit thrushes warbling in the woods. Sure, it's just another Sign of Spring, but it has a melodic and slightly spooky call that I love (it's much more haunting in real life than in the sound clip below). Oh, and it's the state bird of Vermont.

• Recorded by David L. Ross, William W. H. Gunn
Courtesy of Macaulay Library
© Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Signs of Spring

First Robin heard chirping this morning in East Montpelier.

Then the Shoveling

The path to the back door.

Because the dog has to get out somehow.

Best Obituary Ever?

From "The World," a weekly newspaper published in Barre, Vermont.

January Morning

It's True, I Like My Chickens

A couple of hens (the yellow one is called "Lemon Cake"). Five eggs today so far.

Waiting For Thai Curry

Waiting across the street from the Thai place....as the snow falls.

Such a nice idea.



Problem is, then you have to get your Thai curry home.

When the happy snowflakes turn into a squall.



And you're two months late in putting on your snow tires.

Final harvest

This afternoon Norah and I dug up the last of the potatoes--one of the funnest things about having a garden. It's particularly fun when you plant several varieties without any plan... Harvesting then becomes a kind of treasure hunt:

"I've got a red one!"
"Here's another white!"
"Oh! A purple!"

This harvest was almost an afterthought; I almost let it lie. Still, Norah and I came inside with fourteen pounds of potatoes.

Bring on thanksgiving.

Tonight In Montpelier: Rock Lottery 2

I'm still too run down to attend this event, but it sounds like fun. Several "False 45th Record Club" participants, including Mike Donofrio, are mentioned in this story. If only I could play my accordion worth a shit!

Source: Vermont Public Radio


The Lamb Abbey is located near Finkerman's/Ariel's, next to the Source (Subaru repair shop).

Halloween

Halloween
Originally uploaded by baseballpajamas

...Before heading out trick or treating. My favorite costume here? The 5 year old girl, near the center, dressed as a "goth strawberry" (her description).

We're back home now, with 5 of these boys (plus Fergus and Norah), riding the waves of emotion that comes with frequent infusions of sugar. I'm exhausted. And miles to go before I sleep.

There is a kind of lull right now as they watch a movie--oh wait a minute, one of the boys just came downstairs in a state of dismay (Lauren is running interference). But it is relatively lull-ish with the movie happening. Still, I'm unusually stressed.

Mostly Lauren and I are standing around tonight unsure what to do with ourselves--half listening to everything that is happening, ready to intervene if necessary, but not too soon, aware that it would be ideal to prevent bloodshed, or even tears. But also aware that these boys work a lot out on their own, at school. Still, I feel like I'm working in the ER, waiting for trouble to burst through the double doors.

Apples From 2 Houses Away

Apples From 2 Houses Away
Originally uploaded by baseballpajamas

We just made the first applesauce from my new hand-crank food mill (it's still hot!).

The picture does NOT do this applesauce justice.

It's lovely, tangy, sweet.

I'm glad the kids and I followed up on the hand-lettered (with fading marker on office whiteboard) sign:

"PYO Apples. Organic. $10 a bucket--25 lbs."

Nobody was home when we went picking, so we left the ten-spot pinned to the little bulletin board in their breezeway, with a note: "Thanks for the apples." And that was enough. Thanks again, Chappells.

Bad-Ass Rooster

I know, I know, enough with the chicken talk. But look at this bad-ass rooster. This is the chicken-with-attitude that we sent away to live with Shawnee (who took this picture) a couple weeks ago.

"Don't friggin' THINK of messing with me."

Egg Sizer

We got another egg this morning, the brown one in the middle. We
happened to be there just as she (one of the barred Plymouth Rocks)
got up. We HAD been wondering if she was a boy, based on the size of
her comb.

Not a boy.

The bluegreen egg is from a friend's mature layers, set here for size
comparison.