Logging at 70 Hack

We had a tree go down in the backyard in the Autmn. We took care of it last weekend. Billn is ready to tackle a new career. If anybody knows of an opening on a logging crew, drop us a line.

Lake Hack

Each spring when the snow melts (or begins to melt) we develop a pond at the edge of our house. Enjoy the photos of our family playing in it.

Also, the picture of the four of us was taken one year after we bought the house.

More Senior Rides a Bike

Enjoy these photos we took last month while Senior rode around the loop at the end of our street.

Green Up Day 2008

We partcipated in Green Up day this year. You sign up at City Hall, they give you green plastic trash sacks and you pick up garbage in your assigned location. We scored the Nature Center. We collected one full bag of trash and one full bag of bottles/cans and other items we can recylce. It was cold and rainy this day, hence the jackets and hats.

Senior Rides a Bike!

This post has nothing has to do with our house work. Senior yesterday figured out how to ride a two wheeler. Some history, then some boasting.

In 2006 we found a two-wheel bicycles with 13" wheels in the garbage (in NY). We brought it home, spent $15 for training wheels and "tada" we have a dynamite training bicycle for senior.

It was a little too big for her then, so we did not do a lot of riding on it. In 2007 she mastered it with the training wheels.

A few weeks ago, she asked if we could take the training wheels off, this was unsolicited. She and I did about 30 minutes with it, me holding and she riding. Then senior did about the same time again with Jen. Yesterday I brought her out. We rode on our street 500 feet once each way and then she was on her own.

How awesome is Senior? She still needs help starting and stopping, but the in-between she is essentially on her own. She even rode around the loop at the end of our street. The took steering in addition to balance. It was awesome. Nobody is prouder than Billn now.

Go Senior!

Tile application, nearly done

Here are pictures of our recent tiling adventure in the kitchen. Jen M. decided on slate, which comes in random colors and textures. The goal was to simulate a patio and feel outdoor-ish.

This picture is a dry layout.

Here Bill N. has some tiles adhered. We have cementatious backerboard under the slate and used a thinset adhesive. The work is tedious. Sweep, then wet-sponge for dust, the smear on thinset, then lay tile, then let dry, then clean with a sponge, then apply sealer, then apply a second coat of sealer. Remaining is grout, then grout sealer.

Here is a picture of how random the tiles are.

Here Bill N. applies more thinset to lay more tile.

Senior, Bill N. and Junior.

Wet children footprints on the tile, after thinset adhesive, before sealer.

Mya could not stay away from tile application.




Bill N. and Jen M. wrap up the sealer application (coat #1).

Some winter pictures

We have had one of the snowiest winters on record. Of course this happens the first year in VT we are responsible for snow removal and Bill N. is too stubborn or cheap to buy a snowblower. We use muscles, not motors here. Anyway, enjoy some pictures we collected this winter.

Here is Junior coming up the back steps on the sled (Senior watches). Yes, this the same back door that is about 4' off the ground without snow.

Here she is all the way in.

Here Bill N. pulls Senior toward the back woods. We have a hill into the forest that is a terrifying ride down (all trees, all terror). Senior loves it, Junior likes it, Bill N. believes "danger is fun most times" and Jen M. wishes she wasn't home when we do it. The snow is really deep. Years in Buffalo do not compare to what we are seeing this year.

Here Bill N. tows one of the many loads of floor tiles and installation materials up into the house. Our Saturn VUE humped it all from the store in Burlington to our house. After dragging multiple loads around the back of the house into the dining/kitchen, Bill N. weighed a box. All told, the VUE and Bill N. hauled just over 1,000 pounds of tile and installation material. That's heavy.

Here is a picture of one snowfall on our front porch railing. Just one of many snowfalls.

Here Bill N. and the giant hand pull snow off the roof. The neighbor's roof is snow-free because the homeowner climbs on their roof and shovels it.

More snow removal from the roof.