Connie, rebranded

Connie, rebranded, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Did I ever show you guys my motorcycle?

Drinking Water

Drinking Water, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

You ever have a drink of water in New York City? It all comes from upstate you know, Catskills. We ride through the Catskills on bikes, you know, and we're constantly running into reservoirs filled with NYC drinking water and signs like this -- reminding us to relieve ourselves elsewhere.

Moto Season Begins

Moto Season Begins, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Yes, the season of motorcycle trips has started. Here's me at Wallkill Correctional Facility -- a sweet little prison work farm in upstate NY.

Ever seen Brubaker? It's kind of like that. A little friendlier, I guess. Minimum security, which of course, kept us moving.

Chiminea, Busted

Chiminea, Busted, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Of course, nothing lasts forever. The chiminea lasted six days before we busted its side open in a drunken fire storm.

Life well lived.

Pano, Chiminea

Pano, Chiminea, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Got one of those chimineas out at the flea market, too. This is a panoramic photo of the shiz in full fury.

Working the Front

Working the Front, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

LP's done a nice job of adding a woman's touch to the front patio. Look at those plants! A piece of beauty on every step, both left and right.

Little Red

Little Red, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Went out to the old Stormville Airport a few weeks ago for a flea market and picked up this little red 4-wheeled beauty for $10.

Priceless when it comes to hauling sticks around the place for evening fires in the fire pit.

Rain Chain, DIY

Rain Chain, DIY, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Gutters are so typical. A rain chain -- common galvanized chain instead of gutters -- is the better way to get water from the roof to the grounds. Trick is, having something to disperse the water at elevation zero. I used terra cotta half filled with dirt, half filled with pond stone.

It's a beautiful mess in a rainstorm, much more pleasing than a ticking gutter.

How to Cook

How to Cook, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Do you guys know how to cook? Well, me sorta. I like to keep a handy chart of meat temperatures on the wall of the kitchen -- scrawled in pencil, naturally.

When I first got this place, there were recipes glued to the inside of the kitchen cabinets. I guess this is the younger generation's way of keeping track.

This photo was taken about 20 minutes before I painted over this with a gallon of Sherman-Williams in the name of Kitchen Renovations.

Weber Spirit

Weber Spirit, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

And so as the seasons change, so does the grill. Birthday present from LP and the 'rents, here's me assembling the new Weber grill.

Charming Glow

Charming Glow, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Ahh, the Charmglow. This little grill got me through many cold nights, grilling up porks, steaks and late-night burgers. None of the controls worked, so it had one setting: HIGH. Burnt the hell out of everything subtle, so god forbid you try to grill a fish.

But, charming it was. Dig that redwood shelf to the left. And it had a fury to be appreciated.

Up Top

Up Top, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Just a little snapshot in the back from the iPhone. For kicks.

The Start of it All

The Start of it All, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

The first flowers of spring.

And see those little arched brick bed liner things in the back? Well, those little dudes are going bye-bye this year. I don't know what will replace them -- yet.

'Sup

'Sup, originally uploaded by Tall Pines Lodge.

Rates have been posted, the vacancy sign is lit and the birdhouses are open for business.