The Latest from down below

Mamma with her baby.

Armand in mid air. Evel Knarmand.

Ocee replacing a faucet....my little plumber.

Daddy recently began using Rogaine.....Don't say anything, we're pretending we don't notice.

At Christmas.

What can I say about this one?

Stud!

At Halloween.

Slaying the Snow Monster

Yet another dump of snow. After using the snow blower, I still have lots to do. The ends of the driveway at the road have a big berm of snow/ice from when the plow passed. Also, if you don't remove all of the snow from in front of your mailbox and along the road approaching and leaving it, your mail will not be delivered.
Taking care of the road leading up to the mailbox.

This stuff just never ends! I need more diesel fuel.

Here are a couple of videos of me working on the tractor. The neighbors love me. I have found that getting a tractor is the surest way to bring your neighbors calling. "Hey, could you dig out this bush?" "Hey, could you push down this tree?" "Hey, could you drag this huge rock to the back of my property?" "Hey, could you muck out the plow berm at the end of my driveway? My blower can't get through it." I think we are getting some extra Christmas gifts next year.

An Ironic (or Iconic) Plant

There is a plant that grows around here that is called "Red Stick". I don't know what the actual name of it is. In our yard, it grows all along the East border.
It is really red. These pics were shot through a double pane of glass during a freezing rain, so they really don't show it off that well, but you get the idea.

I think it's ironic that the people from Louisiana are the only ones in the neighborhood who have this growing in their yard. It makes a nice border, though.

White Christmas, Y'all!!

Lazy, Heat-seeking Cat

This is the face of bad. Look at it carefully. Learn it.....avoid it.....loathe it.
He produces nothing. He lounges in front of the woodstove. He eats. He sleeps. He....well, you know.

The only time that he gets mobile is when someone is making something to eat. Then he is like a four-legged tornado. He is going to get some of what you are making. Then it's back to one of his lounging spots. He is despicable. He is a leach. He is a democat.

There's no day like snow day.

And ya'll think ya'll have it bad! I had to break out the snow blower!

Conference All-State

Back in the Spring Mason auditioned for the New York Conference All-State Band. He scored a 99 out of 100 points on his trombone solo. Thousands of high schoolers across the state audition for this band, and only about 155 are selected. He ended up being the principal third trombone.

He left Oswego Thursday and went to Rochester where he spent three days practicing for the big concert. The NY Conference All-State Symphonic Band performed in the Eastman Theater at the Eastman School of Music yesterday morning. They were absolutely amazing!!

This is Mason with our band director, Bill Palange. Bill is also a trombone player and has been giving Mason private lessons for years.