Monday, November 23, 2015

Warm guts, cold toes

My neighbor owns a share in a hunting camp that has been in his family for an age and a half. Tradition has it that on the Friday before hunting season starts, everyone meets at the covered bridge on the road up towards camp and they pass around a bottle of brandy.  In years past it has been apricot brandy; this year it was wild cherry.  Well the other night my neighbor stopped by for a visit and he brought that bottle of brandy.  I'm now one degree of separation from being a full fledged member of the hunting camp.

And today, since I've never had apricot brandy, I went and bought a wee bottle.  On a 32 degree day, that stuff warms up the insides even when the outsides are a bit chilly.

So.  Have any of you been sitting around for over a week, bowl of popcorn in hand, waiting for the massive photo explosion I promised?  I hope not but just in case, here is part two of the Catching Up Chronicles - foliage in Vermont.  All the first pictures were taken on my road as I was driving to Hinesburg back in October:











While in Hinesburg we hiked up to the ledge by Kathy's house:






That would be Evan making his Evan face.










Even the tripod went with.


"Ze plane!  Ze plane!"

(I heard a rumor there is a remake in the works.)








Aaaaaaaand now, the obligatory Christine pictures:








That last one is a tree at the bottom of Kathy's driveway.  Sometimes nature is as twisted as we are.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Magic, Big Magic

So here's a painting from September:


And here is the FABULOUS book I am reading right now:


Hmmm.  Coincidence?  My MAGIC, however, is quite small at 5" x 7".  Magic nonetheless.  This book is fantastic, by the way.  I need to be reading it with a pencil in my hand.  Here's one of my favorite parts so far. Pardon the bad word:

If people enjoy what you've created, terrific.  If people ignore what you've created, too bad.  If people misunderstand what you've created, don't sweat it.  And what if people absolutely hate what you've created?  What if people attack you with savage vitriol, and insult your intelligence, and malign your motives, and drag your good name through the mud?

Just smile sweetly and suggest - as politely as you possibly can - that they go make their own f*cking art.

Then stubbornly continue making yours.

Yes.  Exactly.  Reminds me of that Andy Warhol quote I've posted before:


When I was going through my pictures and found that MAGIC painting, I also found all my pictures from our field trip to Killington in September.  Mom treated us to the Mountain Coaster, the Skyeride and the ropes course.  For some foolish reason I went on the Skyeride.  What an idiot.  Note to self:  you don't like heights.












Off the Mountain Coaster and on to the Skyeride.  There's a reason why I like to be behind the camera and not in front of it:







That thing is like a giant slingshot - it slowly pulls you backwards and UP, then at the very top it lets go and you shoot down, aiming for that pole.  You are held in with a weak ass little seat belt.  I'm sure the view from way up there was spectacular but I had my eyes closed the entire time so I wouldn't know.

On to the ropes course.  Kathy was the token adult:




















I wish Liam had been wearing his cat sneakers.

The day ends with a poodle picture and in the interest of full disclosure, Kathy and Abby were on the couch first: