Pumpkin time

As we prepare for our return to England, America is turning to all things pumpkin as fall rapidly approaches. I'm by and large pretty much a lager drinker with most real ale and flavoured ales passing me by as plain old lager just seems to do the trick. I do however to my surprise like the pumpkin ales that America produces in abundance this time of year and this display in wholefoods this morning needs sampling before we head back to blighty.

Big job broke out

As the interior work on the main house starts to wind up, the preparation for the rendering of the outside will be first thing on the cards this week. The back of the house shown above is pretty ramshackle and we have chimney stacks to both raise and lower plus large amounts of repair work on the structure to do before the first dollop of lime hits a wall. Given a little luck and some decent weather (dream on ) we should get the work done in time for autumn. Working outside again after a rather long winter will be a pleasure though as I'm not sure I can stand the thought of knotting,filling,sanding and painting another piece of wood again....ever. Mind you a spring and summer of climbing and moving scaffolding isn't exactly my idea of a good time but the thought of a cold beer at the end of a hard days working the sun is a great incentive.