Ah! Morning Sun!

Ah! Morning Sun!, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Good morning! Just walk out the kitchen door, look right and Viola! Here's the beautiful west grounds of Tall Pines, under 30-some inches of the good stuff. Frequent visitors who have handled a target rifle will want to look at this photo full size and check out the target.

TPL Power Down!

TPL Power Down!, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

No power at Tall Pines -- except for the burglar alarm, that works fine. But nothing else! No internet, no heat, no well water! Luckily, the stove works fine and so the does fireplace. And I got plenty of firewood, so no worries.

It must have been all of this heavy snow -- by the a.m. there was 9 inches of the white stuff. And a big tree limb ripped off a tree at the bottom of my driveway and pulled down all the power, phone and cable lines. Oopsie. Oh well, it isn't really my fault nobody in Lomala's going to be able to watch Oprah this afternoon. Blame Mother Nature.

Check out the diagram above. Distribution circuit, apparently, is where the problem is. I'm sure Central Hudson Power & Gas will be on it soon enough.

1-2 inches

1-2 inches, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Seriously, more snow tonight. Heavy, wet snow. And honestly -- does that look like the forecast 1-2 inches? No, I didn't think so either.

The Blizzard #1

The Blizzard #1, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

We've had some snow up here (the kind that brings motorists into your yard) but Blizzard #1. Well, that was something different. This is between the first wave and the second wave, right after I did the walkway.

8-Inches at Tall Pines

8-Inches at Tall Pines, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Well, we got 8 inches of snow anyway. And then, when I was driving away, look what I found in the woods of my west lawn!

One Year

One Year, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

This is a Veuve Clicquot, one of my favorite champagnes. I've been celebrating with it since I moved to New York. This particular bottle was presented to me by Piz the day I closed on Tall Pines. And this photo is of when Piz and I popped the cork on the one-year anniversary of that closing. Happy first anniversary, Tall Pines!

The Japanese Maple

The Japanese Maple, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Well, fall has fallen. This is a photo from early in November, of the Japanese Maple dropping it's leaves all over the wheel barrow and the Adirondack chairs. Fall in the country ...

Walkway Over the Hudson

Walkway Across the Hudson, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

So, for a little bit or regional action, Piz and I stepped across the "Walkway Over the Hudson" up in Poughkeepsie. Nice! A railway bridge from 1870 that's 1.5 miles long and 3,000 feet above the Hudson River which has been converted into a rails-to-trails kind of walking path renovation. Seriously nice!

Curb Alert!

Curb Alert!, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

The glider had to go. I mean, I liked it, but it was kind of ... well ... unrefined. So, a quick post to Craig's List and four hours after hauling it down to the end of the drive and putting a sign on it: Gone! On Monday morning, I got an email from the guy who took it thanking me. Very dignified no-cash transaction. Much better than just sticking it in the trash.

Front Office

Front Office, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Well, you'll not believe this. Shop shelves. In the newly painted office. What the ... . I know. But it works, and well. Kind of combines the rustic functionality of the country with the modern principles of city living. Plus: Inexpensive & effective. The dude abides. (P.S. -- haven't I seen this pic someplace before?)

Montreal

Montreal, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Then, for a break, Piz and I grabbed the CR-V and popped off to Montreal for a little break from the housework.

Finally: Painted

Finally: Painted, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

SO! This photo is a little old -- from August. I haven't been keeping you up to date. Truth is, I just got these off the camera tonight. But, here it is: The painting of the living room. The color is basically the color of a Wendy's chocolate Frostee. Very nice. Pizy was a huge motivating force in this project. Thanks, Piz!

October Moon

October Moon, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Last week the full moon was spectacular (as is the case in October)! I had to grab a big glass of the good stuff and head out into the woods with a tripod and the Nikon for some long-exposure photography. 30-seconds, f/5.6 and dang! Look at that! Here's the lodge, bathed in the pale moonlight around 1AM. Sure, I'll lose a little sleep over something like this. Why sleep away the best photo op of the day?

Little Dude

Little Dude, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Not a great photo, admittedly. But, here's a little dude hanging out on the woodpile last Thursday morning.