Trail Whacking

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Done.

Immediately before leaving for Canada I finished brushing-out the trails.  All 3.5 miles of them.  Yes, they've been measured.

They get one more trimming before the hunting season ramps-up big time and already the trail cameras are showing steady traffic on the unimpeded 'forest freeway'.

Stay tuned for some cool pictures...

Artistic Inspiration

Last weekend The First Mate and Mrs. First Mate stayed here to watch over our Labs while we were away.  I hear there was some porch sitting and wine drinking (which makes perfectly good sense to me).  In the process inspiration was found.

Check this out...

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Missus First Mate sketched this very cool rendering of the old barn and some of the flowers bordering the porch of the house.

I believe it is frame-worthy.

Favorite Uncle

Most every family has a crazy uncle.  Take the Rand family for instance.  They have two.  But I digress.  Last weekend the Frau and I had an opportunity to travel north of the border to attend a family reunion in Ontario.

The Frau's Uncle John is one of my favorite uncles and we're not even blood relatives.

I've known Uncle John for decades.  He's a retired preacher and an all around swell guy all the criteria needed to be classified as a Favorite Uncle.

Bottoms-up!

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Mmmmm

Tuesday, 12:30 AM.

The first 20 pints of organically-raised, free-range, Kosher-free, garlic dill pickles are ready for the root cellar.

Bring-on the burgers, brats, wieners and Bloody Marys - the pickle avalanche has commenced....

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Guess What I'm Making?

Run.  Run for your lives. 

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Pickle AVALANCHE!

Lab Sitters

The Frau and I were out of the country for a family reunion and The First Mate and his wife stepped-up to look after the pooches.

They stayed at The Platz and kept an eye on things and even invited some friends of their own to hang out with them.

The Labs got daily walks and lots of socialization.

They were Lab sitters...

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Class of 2015

A member of the Class of 2015...

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