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Anniversary gift..

Jess and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary today. I have lots to be thankful for but one thing for sure…. Jess is a good listener.

With all that’s going on in the world one thing I really missed and it’s a bit silly…but I missed going to the movies.

Over the years we sometimes switch off..meaning one year I organized the surprise and others Jess did. Some times we went away, or out for a nice dinner. This year neither of us planned anything, well, Jess secretly did. A few days ago she said don’t make plans, do I didn’t.

We set off from the house and I was under strict instructions to close my eyes as it was a surprise. I tried to figure out where we were going but lost track. We ended up in the parking lot of O’neil cinema in Littleton MA. I was shock and didn’t know why we were there and asked if the cinema was open…Jess said…for us it is!

My darling wife rented a movie theater for us for our anniversary! Apparently you can do this! You need to supply your own Blueray DVD, you can order food and drinks and have the whole place to yourself.

We watched a classic “The fifth element”. It’s a great movie and even better on the big screen when you have it all to yourself.

If you have not watched it….go watch it now. Yes, the above are photos of the actual movie….sue me! Here’s a link in case you can’t find it.

Thanks Jess for a wonderful 21 years and a wonderful gift…..and best of all thanks for listening. Love you, Alan

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GMans B-Day

GMan had a big one today. If we lived in Ireland he could vote and have a pint!

Happy Birthday!
Here he goes into the wood with Jimmy….that’s Jimmy Big Tine. Thanks Lenore.
Jimmy was last spotted looking rather nervously at another target!
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Random photos

GMan made a sextant, well 1/2 of one. Works great at finding latitude.
JMan and I took a bike ride to Colonial Candies. Kinda defets the porpuse of exercise….but that’s not really the point.
We all took a walk in a pumpkin field.
Then some of us got lots in a corn maze.
Then we meet the neighbors!
Then we became former shadows of ourselves….and really tall….with tiny heads.
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New roof – Part 2

Back of house completed.
ZIPsystem Flashing Tape where nothing existed before. This alone will increase our R value not to mention waterproofing.
Garage and lean-to completed.
Clear Story to roof intersection came out great. Compared to what was there this area is looking so much better.
Looking sharp!
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New roof – Part 1

We are installing a new roof and skylights today…well, that was a royal we! We are paying and someone else is doing.

Busy am with 6 to 9 guys on site at any given time.
The house was built in 1974 and it leaked in 74! Solution at the time was roofing over the existing. 2×6 sleepers with plywood, tar paper and shingles were laid right on top of the original.
It looks a lot more scary than it is. We did figure why the old roof failed. Decking was laid on the structure, 2″ ridgid insulation sat on top, then felt paper, then the shingles were nailed through the felt and insulation into the decking! It was destined to fail before the first rain fell. The good news is we have insulation!

The fix will be to lay in a 2×6, fill in the gap with plywood, ice and water up to the clear story window opening, counter flash, trim with PVC and seal up all around.

Ice & Water, underlayment ad new skylights across the back of the house.
New skylights in, shingles well under way. Garage roof stripped. Theses lads are animals!
House is shingles bars around the clear story windows. The 2×6 idea was a bust, however, I can up with a solution that they will try tomorrow.
Can’t get away for architecture even on my day off. I actually don’t mind as long as we keep the water out.
Ice & Water and Roof Runner going on the garage.

Tune in tomorrow for more!

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Lake Chaubunagungamaug

Always wanted to visit Lake Chaubunagungamaug in Webster MA. Jess and I took a Sunday drive on Labor Day Monday with the dogs.

Say that name a few times…drunk!

After a short walk we headed to the beach but no doggy allowed so we checked it out one at a time.

North Village Bridge

And here’s the lake.
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JMans big day

Today JMan was Bar Mitzvah. Given the circumstances we held it at home on our garage. It was just the four of us, the Rabbi, Cantor and our good friend Bret behind the camera.

The event was great and JMan did a fantastic job. We are so proud of our little big man!

JMan reading from the Torah

Rabbi Mike, Cool and the gang and Cantor Sarra
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Picking fruit

That time of year again. This year we stayed local and went to Carlson’s Orchards right here in Harvard MA.

I went with a stick em up look and Jess a more doctor lost on a farm!

Not exactly a cool day for picking anything….bar a pint at yours local but nothing like fresh fruit.

Peach Pie or something of that nature on the way and we’ll just graze away at the Blueberries.