Halloween 2014

Wishing everyone has a Safe and Happy Halloween!

I Already Don't Care For Our New Mail Carrier

We received the below "Your Mailbox Needs Attention" flyer in our mailbox the other day.  Apparently, after a year and a half of our mailbox being propped up next to the telephone pole it's now all of a sudden too far from the road.

Ironically, this issue coincides with the new postal carrier we now have.

You can see our mailbox propped up beside the telephone pole where it's been for over a year now.  It's also in a 5-gallon bucket since the post was snapped off by a Franklin town snowplow driver.

So, we don't have a choice but to move it out to the edge of the sidewalk where it'll once again become a target of the snowplows but also it becomes an object for walkers and sidewalk users to dance around.  Not to mention that it's an eyesore really.  However, we have NO plans to do anything about the latter since it's gonna take a beating out there next to the street anyway.

Fall Hosta Haircut

Most of our yards Fall cleanup has been completed.  The cleanup basically consists of cutting back all the flowers and doing a final weeding and cleaning of all beds.  I cut up most of the plants and dump them in the compost pile for future use.  

I intentionally left the Hosta above, as it was a hiding place for a big green Praying Mantis all Summer long.  I would remove it later after we had our first hard frost.

So, I removed and cleaned all around this dude and moved on.  Ironically the next day I noticed that a deer had visited, prolly in the early morning, and decided to assist in trimming this Hosta back.

Of course I would prefer the deer stay out of our gardens.  However, since it's the Fall and this Hosta was destined for the compost pile, it's all good.  At this point it would be nice if they came back and finished the job...

A Tough Lady

Working in the yard this past weekend, doing more Fall cleanup, and much to my surprise I came upon this Praying Mantis.  I don't recall ever seeing a Mantis this late in the season and found it surprising. They have a very long life expectancy, maybe ~12 - 16 months, and I have serious doubts that they, or this one, will be able to survive a long cold New England Winter.  Perhaps the warmer weather we've had to date explains why she's still hanging around.

Game Night Out

The New England Revolution

Scored (4) complimentary tickets, including VIP parking, to last nights New England Revolution soccer game against Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium.

The Rev's won 1-0 to close out the regular season and finish with a 17-13-4 (55 pts.) record.  They'll enter the MLS Cup Playoffs next week as the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed.

Emilie brought a friend and both seemed to enjoy themselves.  JoAnne and I did more people watching than soccer watching, which is always VERY interesting to say the least.

Poultry

Just Saying!

Time Lapse, As Best I Could Do

Fall is upon us -

Now it's time to rake.

Ding Ding Ding Diner's Ready

I performed some repairs on our Winter bird feeder and it's now ready to feed the birdies.  However, not just yet.  Still too early. Don't want to spoil them too much too early.

I also applied a coat of Turtle Wax to the top, which as you can see from the photo demo above, it beads the water off nicely.  However, some of the locals got word of me "waxing my bird feeder" and it's been hell.  If I'm not mistaken I'd say it was a form of bullying...

OCD Hell

I struggle with messy butter containers like this...

Final Ride Of Season...

Went for a 60 mile ride this past Saturday afternoon, which sadly I'm thinking will be the last for the season.  It was a cloudy type day but one that I'd consider a nice fall day with the temperatures in the mid 60's.  However, when on a bike mid 60's is chilly.

I should have known we were in for a "unique" ride when about a mile out I ran out of gas!  Yup, taking a left turn and the engine just quit.  Pushed it out of the intersection, switched to auxiliary and vrooom she started right up.  Banged a u-turn to the gas station we had just passed and filled her up.

Stopped in Rhode Island at Cady's Tavern, an original roadhouse, for some Jamaican rubbed chicken wings, which are delicious!

We got caught in heavy rains on the ride home, which happened to begin as night fall was closing in.  Two difficult riding conditions for sure.  Good news is we made it home safe and sound, although wet and cold.

Oh So Pretty!

Well, it's only been about a year and a half since we've had several windows replaced, so it was about time we got to staining the trim and woodwork.

Although, it's been a very rainy day, the temperatures were in our favor and reached the low seventies.  This allowed us to open some windows, otherwise we'd be chocking with the odor of the stain, ugh.  

Polyurethane is the next step; two coats and we'll be complete and in business.

Knocking items off the ole Honey-Do list... 

Thank You!

This past Tuesday I spent several hours serving lunch at the Lazarus House Ministries soup kitchen located in Lawrence, MA.

I jumped at the chance to volunteer and I'm thankful that I did.  It was a humbling experience for sure.  Made me stop and think at just how lucky and fortunate I am.

Chilly Willy This AM!

Brrrr

Woke to very chilly Sunday morning, yikes!

"Ichigo Ichie—one chance, one encounter"

Yummy yummy!!

A terrific Japanese dinner at Ichigo Ichie last night!

Our regular crew of nine went out to celebrate a birthday.

For starters we had duck, calamari and two different types of sushi, awesome sauce!

The food was delicious.  The chef was fun.  We all had a great time with lots of laughs.  We closed the place and all left with full bellies!

Definitely two thumbs up!

Tomato Garden Go Nite Nite!

Once the rain stopped this afternoon I made my way outside to put our big garden to bed for the winter.  I pulled and chopped up the remaining tomato plants, which were then dumped into the compost bin.  Pulled all the tomato stakes, cleaned and put away in storage.  Then proceeded to turn (till) the entire garden by shovel. The final touch was to plant winter rye, as well as in our other vegetable gardens.

Put all the tools away, took a nice hot shower and downed a half dozen Advil...

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the above picture?

This is one of the hallways at my office.  The windows overlook a closed in courtyard.  The red circle in the photo shows where this dude was hiding.  Although, not very well since his butt was up against the window.

A cool looking Tree Frog about the size of a quarter.

Oh Yeah, Pizza!

Following our appointment the other evening we grabbed a bite to eat at The British Beer Company (BBC) here in Franklin.

I chose the "Fenway" pizza, which comes with sausage, peppers, onions and a red sauce,yummy!

Humpty Dumpty Perhaps

Tuesday was a very windy day here at the ole homestead!

Here is what caused the loud bang I heard just before lunch.

Frustratingly, I had just moved these plants to this location.  The next step was going to be inside.  Of course it had to be a planter that we had a mate to, alas...

One Of Two

Here's one of the two pumpkins we grew this year.  This one is about the size of a volleyball.  It's been picked and is on display in the front yard.  The second one is smaller and still green.  Hoping the weather holds on a bit longer before I pick.

This pumpkin plant sprouted in the compost pile this past Spring.  I transplanted to a sunny location and it responded well.

Aye Chihuahua Trixiedog!

Trixiedog wanted up in my laptop something terrible - 

Apparently, there's some truth to the whole "Mexican Jumping Bean" thing!  After all Trixiedog is a long-hair, Blue Merle Chihuahua.

A Feathered Visitor

Had a gaggle of Crows visiting the other afternoon.  Not sure what they were after but they sure were carrying on like only Crows can do.

Actually, I was surprised this dude let me open the slider, step on the deck and snap some pics.  They typically take off once they see you.  Had he know I was going to plaster his mug all over the Internet he'd have taken off sooner...

Praying Mantis Fornication!

Turns out we had scads of Praying Mantis this year.  I was finding them all over the yard.  Seems once they're older they claim a territory and stay there.  So, when passing by I would peak in on the ones I knew about.  I was interesting to catch them stalking their prey or dinning on some poor insect and to watch how quickly they grew.

Well, perhaps I did a little too much peaking with these risk-cay pictures. 

The pair was coupled together in the AM before heading off to work and in the same embrace in the evening when I returned home some 10 hours later.

A couple days later the female was still there but alone.  Not sure if she dined on the male or if he scooted off.  Either way looks like we'll have many more next Spring and Summer too.

She Loves Me, She Loves Me NOT

Took this picture on 9-26.

To be honest I was a little surprised to see a beautiful rose in full bloom this late in the season.  I was tempted to pick it and give it to my love, but since it was in my neighbors garden I thought better of it.

The thought was there, so I should get a kudos or two, right?!

Wax on!

Fall is upon us!  The weather is cooler during the days and especially overnights, the leaves are turning and falling rather quickly this year and the days are shorter.

So, while we're getting the ole homestead winter ready, it's also time to get other items ready too.  The above photo is proof that I'm working in that direction by applying a mink oil waterproof to my work boots. For the picture, the boot on the left has been completed, with other queued up.