Just add caption (There goes Peter Cottontail)

Toadies

For some time now, I've been aware that there are toads living outside my window. I think I became aware when I came home one day to find one sitting on my windowsill, staring blankly into my room. In contrast to that one-time outpouring of curiosity, the toads are usually very silent and very well-hidden. In fact, I rarely see them, despite looking out my window for them every day. Today when I opened my blinds, it appears that one was in the middle of a game of hide-and-go-seek:

I decided to look around a little more closely and I discovered that the toad population was in fact much higher than I had originally imagined. This one is the smallest toad. He had perched himself on a rock, undoubtably looking for the hiding toad.

His cousin is a little bigger and was hiding under a leaf: 

And of course, the grandaddy. This one's eyes quickly scared me out of the open window and back into my room. He looks like he's about two croaks away from warping into a small dragon and flying around my window-well belching fire and brimstone. I'm going to have a difficult time mustering much sleep at night knowing that he's about 10 inches away from my head. He didn't give the least effort in attempting to hide.

Applefest Cancelled

As you can see by this picture of my lone surviving apple tree, there are no apples on it now. There were 3 small, rather scruffy looking apples on it until recently. Apparently someone or animal decided they wanted them and took them.

I wasn't sure how we were going to celebrate, perhaps we could have made a quarter cup of cider or a few tablespoons of apple sauce or even a half slice of pie. Or perhaps David and I were simply going to each eat 1 and 1/2 apples to begin and end the festivities. But regardless the event has been canceled so you can make the appropriate notations on your calenders. Maybe next year...

A truly electrifying experience

After days of goading, I've finally caved to the peer pressure and agreed to upload photos of my new electrical panel. For the clamoring hordes eagerly awaiting these images, have fun!


Here's the old panel—pretty messy, and not altogether safe.


Here are the two panels side by side. In this picture, the old panel (on the left) is being backfed from the new panel (on the right). That way I had power in my house between the time when the power company switched over the outside wires and I when I finally finished transferring over the circuits.


The new panel, with all the circuits moved over. Pending a final inspection, this job is done.


The lonely, old panel. Poor old panel, locked out of its electricity. I'll put you back...


Outside the house, the new mast along with the new wire running to it.

Picture of Electrical Panel

I decided to post a picture of my electrical panel as a seed picture. Thought maybe it would germinate other pictures of other family member's electrical panels on the blog.