Corkscrew Willow

We lost the big Maple tree next to the screen porch during the ice storm a couple of years ago.  We replaced the Maple with a Redbud which did fine the first year, but never budded this year.  So, today, we put in a new tree--a Corkscrew Willow.  A really interesting tree with lots of character.  We love it!

Playhouse

UPDATE:
The playhouse is now moved, leveled, and has a door.  And, thanks to the "Ooops" shelf in the paint section of the local hardware, it's been painted a dark green (Max's favorite color), with pale yellow trim.  Looks pretty good!

ORIGINAL POST:
The "Building Trades Boys" needed a small project for the end of the school year and I had been thinking of building a playhouse in the back yard for Max and Daphne.  Seemed like a good match.

It's not perfect.  Needs to be leveled and moved a foot or so.  And, obviously needs trim, a door, paint, etc.  However, the students had a good time.  They even found time to try out the swings including the new horse tire swing.  I had them all sign a wooden plaque that will hang in the playhouse.

 

Ready to Ride

I saw one of these tire swings in a Tractor Supply Company store and thought they were pretty neat.  But, they were made with fake tires and I thought it would be fun to try it on my own.  An Internet search yielded the plans--seemed easy enough on paper.

The first challenge was to find the right kind of tire.  It had to be an old-fashioned bias ply tire because cutting radial tires would leave shards of the metal belt sticking out.  Not a good thing.  I tried the pile at the Recycling Center, but had no luck.  I asked our Automotive students.  No luck there either.  Finally, after about six months of casual checking, the Recycling Center came through.  Step one.

Using a Sharpie, I traced the template onto the tire, then started using metal snips to cut the pattern.  Whew, what a tough thing to do!

The final step was to turn the tire inside out, drill holes in the appropriate places, and install the bolts.  Ever try to turn a tire inside out?  That process took more than a little help from Sue.

Today, Horsey finally moved to his real home--hanging between two trees with about 10 feet of rope.  Looks pretty good, I think.  Hope Max and Daphne will enjoy the ride.

Cabin in Winter

A fellow CTE Director from Rochester, NH has a family cabin on Rangeley Lake.  He and his wife often visit during the winter and love to snowmobile on the many miles of trails in the region.  He shared the following pictures with me--great shots of the cabin on a beautiful day in late February.

Flyer for David's Group Photography Show

April 23, 2011

The day after Earth Day and we get snow. Figures.  Ironically, I took the snowblower off the tractor yesterday.

Not that we really celebrated Earth Day, but it was a nice day, sunny and fairly warm. I was on vacation and played golf at Shattuck (round #2 for the year--very pleased with how I played). Then we went to Kimball's. And, when we came home spent time walking around the yard.

Happy to report that we saw a pair of Cardinals, the first we've seen at our house in a very long time. Hope they are here to nest. The Broadwing Hawks are also back--watched a pair soaring in and out of our trees. It's just amazing to watch them fly.  Not sure where the nest is, but I think it's in the woods on the east side of the house.

Happy spring.

Peterborough Chamber Choir & WGBY-TV

Update: We recently learned that the PCC has now been selected as one of four semi-finalists. Now, we sing in a live performance on Saturday, April 30. If we are then chosen as the finalist, we will sing in another live performance on Sunday, May 1.

This is all good news except for the fact that the Monadnock Chorus concerts fall that same weekend! Fortunately, although it will be close, the timing works out okay. Lots of driving between Peterborough and Springfield, MA, though.


Back in December, I wrote about a choral competition being sponsored by WGBY, the public television station in Springfield, MA. We had to do an audition tape, then 10 groups were selected in five different categories. We are in the "small adult category." We went to the studios in Springfield to record our "competition" entry. Now, they are broadcasting the performances in a series of shows. Oddly, there are 4-5 barbershop groups in our category--quite a difference from the type of music our group sings.

It was hard to sing in that space. It was "dead" acoustically, so we had difficulty hearing each other. Also, we were limited to two "takes" that had to be complete, with no stops. In other words, they did not splice the best performance of each song together. But it's been a fun process. And grandson Max got to go to the studio with us during the taping. I think he enjoyed seeing Deeda on television and looking around at the cameras, lights, etc.

Click here to see my original post about the competition which has our "audition" recording.

And here is the recording done in the WGBY studios:

Max's 6th Birthday

It took us MUCH longer than expected to drive to NYC for Max's birthday party.  A 20 mile detour; followed by a 1.5 hour stoppage near Waterbury, CT; only to find the Saw Mill River Parkway closed because of flooding.  We made it though.  The party was held at a fitness club--Max seemed to be having a great time.

 

 

Spring!

The fantastic full moon last night followed by a beautiful first day of spring--42 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  We still have about 9 inches of snow in the yard, but that's going away quickly.  And the tulips are beginning to come up.  Things are looking up!

Yes, We've Got Snow