I have not been here for over two years. On March 19 2021 our 240 + year old house burned. Everything was either burned, water or smoke damaged.
I just brought 90% of my CDs, thumb drives, and back up hard drives up from the basement to do a better backup. I had 3 computers, and all of the backup items on the dining room table.
We do not go out much but it was my wife’s birthday so we went out with friends that night. When we got home the house was totally engulfed in flames.
I lost thousands of photographs , about 20 full Kodak Carousel trays, my Canon 5D mark 3, my relic Canon 20D plus the collection of my old cameras.
Lucky for me my daughter borrowed my Canon 7D. so at least I had a camera to take pictures of my burned house and the rebuilding of the house. I have a few thousand pictures of the reconstruction of the house.
The rebuild started in March 2021 and 95% completed when we moved back in October 2022.
My advice to all, make sure you have things backed up and saved at more than one place. Make sure you have enough insurance and understand what is in the policy and what it covers. Lucky my insurance company was great and never hassled me as I have heard some companies do.
I have some pictures attached, notice the trunk in the one picture. I had about 18 photo albums in there. I was lucky, some got wet and some a bit scorched but 90% of them were in decent shape.

(Download)










(Download)

The picture is great but think, how did the watch makers of 100+ years ago have the skills to make the tiny screws, jewel bearings, gears, tiny balance springs, faces and the fancy cases.
Just amazing.

There is a battery warehouse a few miles from me that say they can rebuild almost any battery for power tools, computers and any other device. Look in your area for a similar place. I have used them for car, tractor, RV batteries. I have heard others say they have had specialty batteries rebuilt by them and are very happy.

The log section, left side of the house was built circa 1780. The right side, Stone section, was built 1865.
The old picture is circa 1888. The young girl, second from the far left was the grand mother of the 90 year old lady that visited us giving us this picture. She was so pleased that the house was still here. She visited this house when she was a young girl and told us some funny stories.
We do have a ghost in our house, it is an old man. I have not seen it but my kids have and some friends and other family members.
The other picture is how it is now. We have lived here for 51 years. We spent 20+ years working on it.

(Download)


(Download)

Is that a Red Tail hawk? I am surely not knowledgeable with hawks but it does not look like a red tail.

Really neat!

I have my chickens in my two door car, so it is a chicken coupe, isn't that correct.
If I used a 4 door car it would be a chicken sedan.

I would not hang that in my chicken coupe.

To me it it looks like a great painting. I would like to have it on my wall.
To me it seems as if was post processed too much.

Ed made the best post! Make it better with your brother. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. I miss my brothers and we were on great terms.

I am not up on what they all mean but you have 3 different ribbons there on one bar. The one on the left is the WWII Victory Metal Ribbon.

I once needed the back door on my Tahoe to be painted. I went to an auto painter with the best reputation. He would not just do the door because the rest of the Tahoe was not in the best of condition. He said if he could do the whole thing he would not do just the door. It would be a reflection of his work.
I have a friend that makes quality pottery and when he pulls the work out of the kiln, if it is not perfect it gets smashed and discarded. He only sells quality, no one sees his imperfections.
Why would anyone want to give poor quality anything to someone? It is a reflection on your work and not serve anyone.

Some of the strangest humor in awhile!

These are beautiful, I have been there and they are even more amazing in person.

And the low frequency hum causing people to leave the area or think they are going crazy.