Turning Of A Page

It's official!

It's with a heavy heart that I inform you all we've sold our childhood family home.  It became official at the closing this afternoon.

We found a great family of four, like ours, who we believe dad would approved of.  They intend to move it and start making it a home again, with very few changes in store.  They even plan to plant vegetables come spring.  I believe my dads legacy will live on with this house on Burgess Avenue.

It will be missed for sure, but sadly as we turn the page I will forever hold all the wonderful memories this house holds and means to me and my family.

Wascally Trixie-Dog

It's easy to see who visits when there's snow on the ground VI.

Trixie-dog following her morning constitutional.

Wascally Birdy

It's easy to see who visits when there's snow on the ground V.

A little hunting and pecking following last nights snow storm.

Gotcha!

What a wonderful sight, Franklin's finest doing some ticketing right in front of our house.

Excellent!  Hope to see more of it.

Again, spent a couple hours yesterday rummaging through a box of old toy stuff that I've had stored here in my basement for some time now.  All the "stuff", miscellaneous smaller toy, figurines, Matchbox cars, etc., from when I was a kid. Most are in worn to very worn condition - used, so not of any real value money wise, however, it was a nice break to reminisce.

I don't recall exactly but more than likely I used this for my soft boiled eggs...

Fairylite Egg Cup Wooden circa 1950's, circa 1968

Vintage Leaning Tower Game

Spent a couple hours yesterday rummaging through a box of old toy stuff that I've had stored here in my basement for some time now.  All the "stuff", miscellaneous smaller toy, figurines, Matchbox cars, etc., from when I was a kid. Most are in worn to very worn condition - used, so not of any real value money wise, however, it was a nice break to reminisce.

Leaning Tower Lakeside Toys The Balancing Game, circa 1968

The White Stuff

Franklin received about 6" or so of fresh snow last night.

Always looks calm and peaceful when freshly coating everything.

Let There Be Light!

Completed another home project yesterday.  I installed (3) under cabinet puck lights in the kitchen, above the counter area where most of the preparing is done.  It was always on the dark side, as the one over head light in the kitchen would be to your back when standing at that area.

Before: Lights Off -

After: Lights On -

Another "bright" idea of mine...

Charlie's Place Has Been Relocated

Charlie's Place has been relocated...

Well, not Charlie's Place the shed, rather the Charlie's Place the drift wood sign that hung from my dads shed for as long as I can remember.  I waited till the end and took it down yesterday for the 12 mile drive to it's new home here in Franklin. Safe and sound, and out of the elements, hanging in my garage.

Bitter sweet.

The Green Hinge System - Outstanding!

I happened upon an overhead door performance system designed to help reduce energy costs when poking around on Amazon.  It's a spring-loaded garage door hinge system that allows automatic adjustment of the overhead door by a company called The Green Hinge System.  A 4-panel garage door, like ours, comes with (6) new 12 gauge powder coated steel hinges.  Simply replace the originals with these, it's that simple.

Before -

After -

Before: You can see the daylight running along the right side.  This of course is where the outside cold winter air was poring into the garage.  Once the new hinges were installed, BAM, no more daylight at all!!  Sealed up nice and tight -

Also, the new hinges help with the door rattling when windy and in general a smoother opening and closing.  Nice and snug!

There was an issue with my original order.  I sent the company an email on Saturday morning explaining the issue and received an immediate response from the owner - problem resolved.  Outstanding customer service!

It's Puzzle Season

Yeppers, banged out another 1000 piece puzzle!

This puzzle was a free replacement sent to us from the manufacturer.  I reached out to them after doing a brandy-new, unopened puzzle from Christmas that ended up missing two pieces.

We'll see, maybe I'll done one more...

Who Are You and Where'd You Come From?!

Trixie dog supervising the introduction of Jack 2.0, our Holland Lop rabbit, to Oliver the cat.

Both were caution and kept their distance from one another. In the end it was super uneventful and a bust, with a handful of rabbit "smart pills" left behind by Jack 2.0

The stare down -

One Year Anniversary - Dad

it's amazing how

within the presence

of thousands

the absence of one

is all that matters

-joshua ryan stewart

it's hard to believe that a full year has gone by since your passing; a full year

i still think about you every day

i still miss you every day

HBD Emilie!

Happy Birthday Emilie!

Love you!

HBD Alyssa!

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

"We're Still Here!"

Let's GOOO New England Patriots!!

"Sunday Morning"

Completed another 1000 piece puzzle!

This one was more challenging, so took a little longer.

Onto the next...

Survival of the Fittest and Smartest

Here are a couple perfect examples of what can happen when the darn deer are left unchecked and allowed to roam at their leisure.

They've eaten the bottom of the arborvitae; up as far as they can stretch their necks, and all they way down the line!  It's easy to tell they've been there but with the snow you have proof.  They will eat these plants bare during the winter when food is scarce, which ultimately does a number on the tree. 

Here is an example of what they'll do to a rhododendron.  Same as the arborvitae - they'll eat as high up as they can.  The smart ones will come back when snow has fallen and weighed the branches down and they can get at limbs otherwise too high.

Wascally Me

It's easy to see who visits when there's snow on the ground IV.

Enjoying the solitude and reminiscing of years gone bye. 

Wascally Squirrel

It's easy to see who visits when there's snow on the ground III.

Now that the walnuts are gone and the ground is frozen the squirrels are nut challenged.

Wascally Deer

It's easy to see who visits when there's snow on the ground II.

Many many deer tracks all over the back yard.  They're taking full advantage of there being no one around to keep them in check.

Wascally Wabbit

It's easy to see who visits when there's snow on the ground.

Be vewy vewy quiet.  I'm hunting wabbits!