I’ve been forcing myself to stay awake until at least 10:00 each of the last two days so I can get back on some kind of sleep schedule. It’s been really hard. By about 9:00 I’m looking for anything to take my mind off the fact that I just want to go to sleep.
It would be really helpful if ANYTHING was on TV, but it’s all crap. God, I can’t wait for new episodes of The Office and 30 Rock and basically anything besides reality shows. Although Dating in the Dark is the most horrifyingly entrancing show of the summer IMO. :/
Thanks. Yes, dogs “do” relaxed in a way we can only hope to emulate – and young animals seem particularly good at conking out. Lily’s ears always seem to be flipped up and super-dooper fluffy whenever she sleeps.
At the moment she is just outside the window chewing on an old bone (since, mean-y that I am, I won’t let her inside).
I hope today’s travel all goes smoothly for you. Catch you on the flip-side.
Every one of our dogs loves to sleep with their body on the dog bed by the wood stove and their heads on the bricks around the stove. The only thing I can figure out is that the bricks are softer than their heads.
A few times I’ve had my face (accidentally) “head-butted” by one of a my dogs, and can therefore confirm your speculation. Goofing around with big dogs definitely has its hazards.
Only when you haven’t had it for weeks. The plumber and I got the solar collectors installed on the roof yesterday (for our new solar hot water heater). He’s supposed to come back this morning to do the final connections and fussy bits, but given the weather he may decide otherwise.
More than enough. We’ve had a very small hot water tank (80 liters) until now. Which just barely provide two people with baths/shower. It was however, cheap to run. This system will heat and store 250 liters. Which means we might actually be able to wash our clothes in hot water as well.
Here’s a photo of the last tube going into the collector yesterday around 5:30pm.
This system is a bit more high-tech than the flat panel and home-made types. I’m a big fan of home-made and low tech, but in this case the new and improved design was worth the extra cost.
Plus, now that it’s installed I can apply for a $1600 rebate from the Aus. Gov., plus I can “generate” Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) currently worth about $900.
Bob Dylan – Isis (Unreleased Hard Rain 1976)
Source: http://www.youtube.com
from the unreleased Hard Rain Show 22 April 1976 Clearwater, Florida “I married Isis on the fifth day of May, But I could not hold on to her very long. So I cut off my hair and I rode straight away For the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong.
This Week’s Theme:What is it? This is a game invented by NorthDakotaDem. All you do is post a picture and have people guess what it is. It can be a close-up of something that makes it tricky to recognize or something unusual that people might not recognize or a different view of a known scene or place or anything else you can dream up that you think will be fun to guess.
vacation? what vacation. It was sick time in a small cabin in the woods where I moved between bed and couch and occasionally looked out the window at the lake – which I never once got to go out on.
But I’m happy you had a few good weeks with the cubs.
yeah. But I think the worst was worrying that I was ruining everyone else’s vacation too and hoping I wasn’t making them sick. It was an extra level of stress you don’t have when you can be sick at home.
What a gorgeous shot, Andi! So evocative of how the forest feeds the soul.
I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Unfortunately, though, as a nation we seem willing to give it up for nothing.
IE, there are folks in upstate New York who are selling the natural gas exploration rights to their woodland retreats for the kingly sum of $25.
Jeebus.
Jeebus, indeed. I can’t understand how anyone could do that. It’s so sad that most people can’t see that they cannot get back what they let be destroyed.
But some people do know. Not too far from here is an 88 acre tract of land that was part of a larger parcel bought in 1816. The owner decided to protect the old growth trees and never logged the land. His children did the same as did their children and their children gave the land to the state. It’s now the largest tract of virgin forest in Indiana. It’s a beautiful place and thinking about the foresight of one man in the early 1800s makes me a bit more hopeful.
A stop at Shapiro’s for just about anything is a treat. Sorry Jim, we left at noon and just returned.
I’d heard that all state cash floweth toward Hamilton County these days and after seeing all the fancy new bridges on Keystone north of I-465, the new roundabouts all over the place on the secondary streets and the new arts district downtown, I’m convinced we found the pot of gold at the end of the Indiana rainbow. Oh, and not to mention the state school funding formula in Mitch’s latest version…
Mitch was one of W’s henchmen in proving that a conservative couldn’t actually run a government. I figure he’s going to be trying to ruin run for POTUS in 2012.
The twerp better invest in some elevator shoes. Actually, he’s one helluva campaigner, can put on the Mr. Folksy face and just be one of the good ole boys. Back in the guv’s office, he’s ruthless. I hear he has a hatchet team to do his dirty errands and that they more than enjoy their work. They’re busily cleaning out the Dept. of Ed this year.
I’m thinking seriously about a passport in case your scenario above develops.
We had a very nice young couple next door from Adelaide a few years ago. She was studying at IU at a 6 week symposium and he went nuts over the snow. He had never seen snow live before.
Nope, there’s no snow anywhere near Adelaide. but contrary to popular opinion, we do have mountainous areas in Australia which do get snow in the winter. We even have skiing (although most skiers prefer to fly to NZ).
Of course, Tasmania is the exception to most people’s ideas about Australia. We’re more temperate rain forest than desert. And our house is just high enough to get the occasional winter snow.
Right now we’re bouncing back and forth between Spring-like and Winter weather. Often in the same day.
Happy Tuesday!
I can’t believe I was so tired I fell asleep before Weeds was over last night. I guess I’ll be watching it on On Demand tonight.
Get some rest today!
I’ve been forcing myself to stay awake until at least 10:00 each of the last two days so I can get back on some kind of sleep schedule. It’s been really hard. By about 9:00 I’m looking for anything to take my mind off the fact that I just want to go to sleep.
It would be really helpful if ANYTHING was on TV, but it’s all crap. God, I can’t wait for new episodes of The Office and 30 Rock and basically anything besides reality shows. Although Dating in the Dark is the most horrifyingly entrancing show of the summer IMO. :/
What is Dating in the Dark, anyway?
I’ve never heard of Dating in the Dark. Is it on cable?
It’s on Monday night on one of the major networks…not Fox. Maybe NBC?
Bob Novak is dead.
Sleep well, Prince of Darkness.
Wooden stake through the heart?
Moms Mabley
I got my pencil out, but not my sketch pad yet.
I’ve decided I can at least try doing a quick sketch while I’m watching a dvd in the evenings.
Unfortunately, Lily rarely stays in one spot very long, even when sleeping – which seems to involve an awful lot of stretching.
You’ve captured the essence of a dog’s ability to be so wonderfully relaxed perfectly.
Thanks. Yes, dogs “do” relaxed in a way we can only hope to emulate – and young animals seem particularly good at conking out. Lily’s ears always seem to be flipped up and super-dooper fluffy whenever she sleeps.
At the moment she is just outside the window chewing on an old bone (since, mean-y that I am, I won’t let her inside).
I hope today’s travel all goes smoothly for you. Catch you on the flip-side.
She looks very relaxed…
As relaxed as they come. In fact, she’s relaxed right now – with her body on the cushion and her head on the floor.
I love when dogs do that. So tired from all the dog play, they collapse.
Every one of our dogs loves to sleep with their body on the dog bed by the wood stove and their heads on the bricks around the stove. The only thing I can figure out is that the bricks are softer than their heads.
PF
My dog loves to sleep on a chair with her head hanging off. It looks so uncomfortable, but she goes out of her way to position herself that way.
A few times I’ve had my face (accidentally) “head-butted” by one of a my dogs, and can therefore confirm your speculation. Goofing around with big dogs definitely has its hazards.
Lots to do today and flying home tonight.
See ya all tomorrow.
Hi and bye too!
But today is hump day, right? I’m ready for a weekend at home this week.
Have a good flight!
Yay I’m home. The way the dogs acted you would have thought I’d been for 20 years. Very good for one’s ego.
Welcome home! Those pups have unconditional love for you.
I think they have unconditional love for going for walks in the woods. 🙂
Welcome back!
Yes, but where else has self-interest ever been so charming as on the face of a dog?
Sunny warm day yesterday. Windy drizzly day today.
windy, drizzly sounds divine.
Only when you haven’t had it for weeks. The plumber and I got the solar collectors installed on the roof yesterday (for our new solar hot water heater). He’s supposed to come back this morning to do the final connections and fussy bits, but given the weather he may decide otherwise.
that is really cool. Will it be enough for an average shower?
More than enough. We’ve had a very small hot water tank (80 liters) until now. Which just barely provide two people with baths/shower. It was however, cheap to run. This system will heat and store 250 liters. Which means we might actually be able to wash our clothes in hot water as well.
Here’s a photo of the last tube going into the collector yesterday around 5:30pm.
Plumber’s here. Gotta go.
It’s up. It’s running. It’s raining. Woohoo.
Wow – that sounds great! I used to see a lot of homemade collectors in Florida when I lived there back in the 60s. They worked really well.
This system is a bit more high-tech than the flat panel and home-made types. I’m a big fan of home-made and low tech, but in this case the new and improved design was worth the extra cost.
Plus, now that it’s installed I can apply for a $1600 rebate from the Aus. Gov., plus I can “generate” Renewable Energy Credits (REC’s) currently worth about $900.
CoolHot! (water) That’s a pretty good incentive.Its always good to get home to that peaceful woodsy spot, isn’t it? Well, peaceful except for the packs’ attentions.
Nice find by an old friend.
With Scarlet Rivera on fiddle.
This Week’s Theme: What is it? This is a game invented by NorthDakotaDem. All you do is post a picture and have people guess what it is. It can be a close-up of something that makes it tricky to recognize or something unusual that people might not recognize or a different view of a known scene or place or anything else you can dream up that you think will be fun to guess.
Click here to go to the diary.
That was one of my favorite cafe games – I miss seeing NDD. Hope he stops in for his game.
He comes over to Knucklehead’s blog on occasion. It would be nice to have him come back by here.
BTW, I think you need to go on vacation again. While you were at the lake, the Cubbies did great but every since you came back, they’ve been terrible.
vacation? what vacation. It was sick time in a small cabin in the woods where I moved between bed and couch and occasionally looked out the window at the lake – which I never once got to go out on.
But I’m happy you had a few good weeks with the cubs.
It stinks being sick. But being sick in a strange place is the worst.
yeah. But I think the worst was worrying that I was ruining everyone else’s vacation too and hoping I wasn’t making them sick. It was an extra level of stress you don’t have when you can be sick at home.
Yuck. Way more stress than a vacation should be. I hope you get to have a few long weekends away too make up for it.
I humbly apologize for the poor word choice. OTOH, all the more reason for you to take another trip. 😉
Yay, it’s Friday! A nice leisurely day here at home. 🙂
Good morning all. We’re doing the packing thing, getting ready to go.
I’m so jealous! I hope you have a great time and take lots and lots of wonderful pictures.
Thanks! I’ll try and post a few as we go along.
Excellent! I can’t wait to see them.
Isn’t this late in the year for you? Don’t you usually go earlier?
It’s about a week late this year. The b2 boy starts school later so we decided to push things back. He doesn’t actually start until after Labor Day.
I see. Well, have a great time!
Thanks mary!
Have a great time, and I can’t wait to see some pictures!
Thanks CG! It was great seeing you at NN09.
Bon voyage!
click for larger
It looks like a gorgeous weekend around here. Have all the campers gone home?
Campers are long gone — the last camper session ended on August 1.
I love the 70s temps. Too bad they’re only here for the weekend.
We have to go to the Indy north side tomorrow. Not looking forward to that trip. I’d rather fiddle around in the yard.
Well I hope you at least get a great dinner out of it (if you’re on the west side of town, Athens on 86th is one of my favorites — great Greek food).
We’re going to do some “yard” work today — cutting up some of the trees and large limbs that came down in the storm for firewood.
Speaking of which, guess we’ll get going.
See ya later.
What a gorgeous shot, Andi! So evocative of how the forest feeds the soul.
I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Unfortunately, though, as a nation we seem willing to give it up for nothing.
IE, there are folks in upstate New York who are selling the natural gas exploration rights to their woodland retreats for the kingly sum of $25.
Jeebus.
Jeebus, indeed. I can’t understand how anyone could do that. It’s so sad that most people can’t see that they cannot get back what they let be destroyed.
But some people do know. Not too far from here is an 88 acre tract of land that was part of a larger parcel bought in 1816. The owner decided to protect the old growth trees and never logged the land. His children did the same as did their children and their children gave the land to the state. It’s now the largest tract of virgin forest in Indiana. It’s a beautiful place and thinking about the foresight of one man in the early 1800s makes me a bit more hopeful.
Is that the one at Spring Mill?
It’s near Spring Mill but it’s farther south. It’s near Paoli and it’s called the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest. The trailhead is right on 37.
Thanks for the tip. I’d love to travel down there to see it. Unfortunately, today we’re off to Carmel.
Carmel isn’t that bad — especially if you stop at Shapiro’s and have a pastrami on rye.
The trail isn’t very long (maybe a 1 1/2 miles round trip) so it would make a nice combination with Spring Mill.
I know this is too late, but I’d go for a kaiser.
MMM…pastrami on rye and pickles. I’m feeling a need to head to NYC to Katz’s.
A stop at Shapiro’s for just about anything is a treat. Sorry Jim, we left at noon and just returned.
I’d heard that all state cash floweth toward Hamilton County these days and after seeing all the fancy new bridges on Keystone north of I-465, the new roundabouts all over the place on the secondary streets and the new arts district downtown, I’m convinced we found the pot of gold at the end of the Indiana rainbow. Oh, and not to mention the state school funding formula in Mitch’s latest version…
Mitch was one of W’s henchmen in proving that a conservative couldn’t actually run a government. I figure he’s going to be trying to
ruinrun for POTUS in 2012.The twerp better invest in some elevator shoes. Actually, he’s one helluva campaigner, can put on the Mr. Folksy face and just be one of the good ole boys. Back in the guv’s office, he’s ruthless. I hear he has a hatchet team to do his dirty errands and that they more than enjoy their work. They’re busily cleaning out the Dept. of Ed this year.
I’m thinking seriously about a passport in case your scenario above develops.
If you got your passport you could come to Australia. Just sayin’.
We’ve got breezy and partially cloudy at the moment, but that can always change.
We had a very nice young couple next door from Adelaide a few years ago. She was studying at IU at a 6 week symposium and he went nuts over the snow. He had never seen snow live before.
Nope, there’s no snow anywhere near Adelaide. but contrary to popular opinion, we do have mountainous areas in Australia which do get snow in the winter. We even have skiing (although most skiers prefer to fly to NZ).
Of course, Tasmania is the exception to most people’s ideas about Australia. We’re more temperate rain forest than desert. And our house is just high enough to get the occasional winter snow.
Right now we’re bouncing back and forth between Spring-like and Winter weather. Often in the same day.
We’re here outside of Zion. I’ll try and post some photos tomorrow.
Oh boy! Can’t wait to see ’em. Hope you have a great time.
Oh cool! It’ll be incentive to put up another new cafe!