A Day at the Farm

Well, it was really cold. So it was really only about 45 minutes.

But anyway, the other day I had some time to myself, so I decided to go to Knox Farm in East Aurora to take some pictures. I knew it was cold, but I didn’t figure on how biting the wind was, so I didn’t do nearly as much walking around as I had intended. Mostly I stuck around the farm buildings themselves.

Knox Farm is a former New York State Park that was once the estate of the Knox family, a rich clan that once lived here but has since dispersed. The state never really figured out what to do with the place, park-wise, and then the budgetary disasters that unfolded during the Great Recession gave the state the opportunity to eliminate the farm as a state park. (This despite that they didn’t even have to close State Parks during the Great Depression, but that was then, when America was more willing to levy taxes in order to pay for things we collectively wanted, as opposed to a country that seemingly wants low taxes and not much else. But I digress.)

Anyhow, here are a few of the photos from that day:

Knox Farm I

Knox Farm VI

Knox Farm II

Note the cross-country skiers:

Knox Farm III

By the Barn

These next two turned out cool, because I placed the camera in a dark place, relative to where I was standing. It was not this bright! But it makes me look all science-fictiony or something.

Into the Unknown Region?

Bathed in Light


I also drove up to the Mill Road Overlook, which is simply where the road passes by the top of a wide field on a hill, allowing a wonderful view. Some activists are currently trying to secure this property so that it remains a wonderful view, as opposed to the site of yet another boring development of ugly McMansions. The view that day from up there was wonderfully stark, since it was getting on late afternoon by this point.

Mill Rd Overlook I

Mill Rd Overlook II

Mill Rd Overlook III

Save This View


I really do love this area!

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Green

Thanks to the wonder of eBay, I now own a pair of moss green Carhartt overalls. Thus I shall conquer the world. BOW, MERE MORTALS!!!

Green Carhartts!

At the library II

Green Carhartts! II


Oh…in that last photo, I have zero idea what’s going on with my eyes, or why I look like the dude who is just itching to tell you where he’s buried all of his victims. Ye Gods.

And in other news of All Things Green, The Wife crocheted me a new scarf.

The Wife crocheted me a new scarf. Because she's awesome.

I am so prepared for this year’s St. Paddy’s Day! Maybe I’ll even go to the parade this time….

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Lemon paczki!

I usually indulge myself once a week by allowing the consumption of donuts (never more than two). This week, in honor of Mardi Gras, the donut of choice was the Polish delicacy paczki. I rarely like filled donuts, but I make an exception for these. Lemon filling, yum!!!

The rest of the day I gnawed on a head of lettuce. (No, not really. Too many carbs today, to be quite honest….)

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Photographic Evidence

Chronicling some recent adventures, misadventures, and regular old humdrum ventures of life, through the magic of digital photography! Huzzah!!!

Photos after the break….

First of all, Winter Storm Nemo came through the Northeast, as some of you may have heard. As is usually the case with Nor’easters, Buffalo-Niagara was mainly spared the big hit. Northern Niagara County (about 40 miles north of Casa Jaquandor) got hit with about a foot and a half of snow, but down here in the Southtowns, we didn’t get much at all, about four or five inches. Here’s what it looked like when the snow was starting to accumulate:

SnowMG!!!!

And here’s what it looked like the next morning:

SnowMG! The morning after. We got off easy, but good thoughts to those struggling now.

Ayup. Not much difference!

Of course, the cats responded to this climatic threat as they always do:

What people could learn from kittehs....

A random food thing: I like pistachio nuts.

I enjoy pistachios.

I’m glad they don’t color the damned things pink anymore, though! That was pretty annoying. I love the scene in the original Naked Gun movie where Leslie Nielsen and George Carter are staking someone out, and they’re passing the time by eating pistachios in their car. Evidently they’ve been there a while, because a solid inch around both their lips is solid pink and there’s an enormous pile of spent shells outside the car door.

Speaking of food, here’s what I look like when shopping:

Good lord...I'm just reading a label. Why does my face default to KILL YOU WITH FIRE?!

Apparently I’m incredibly angry about what I see on the label there. Weird, huh? Seriously, I’m starting to think I’m the human version of Grumpy Cat.

Anyway, on with the shopping….

Shopping I: O the choices!

Shopping II: Hobgoblin Ale?

Shopping III: I could really go for some pie


No, I didn’t get the Hobgoblin Ale. Nor did I get the coconut cream pie, alas!

I continue to be fascinated with my two pairs of Carhartt overalls, which are amazingly comfy and cozy in the cool weather. The only problem I have thus far is that, being as they are, respectively, black and brown (instead of blue denim or hickory striped), they attract cat hair like crazy. So every time I wear them out of the apartment, I have to go through this ritual first:

Cat hair, GAHHH!!!

I’ve also decided of late that I own too many dark-colored shirts and sweaters, so I’m trying to diversify a bit. I actually got this nice light-gray sweater at a local consignment store for a few bucks:

Reading rules!

I have also, over the last few years, taken a liking to the color orange, which I was never enamored of before. Strange how tastes change, isn’t it?

And finally, I had a moment the other day wherein I fully embraced my inner twelve-year-old. When I was leaving work for the day, I noticed a large sheet of bubble wrap blowing around the parking lot. It was about six feet long and one foot wide, with the larger air pockets. I didn’t want it floating around out there forever, so I grabbed it to put it in the trash dumpster outside…and then, the thought occurred to me. What thought? This thought:

I drove over bubble wrap, and IT WAS AWESOME. Your argument is invalid.

Yes, I tucked one edge under my car’s back tire, spread it out before the tire as best I could, rolled down my window so I could hear it, and drove over the bubble wrap. And yes, the sound was glorious. I couldn’t believe how loud it was! It was like driving through a corn popper. And then, my fun having been had, I got out and properly disposed of the now-destroyed sheet of bubble wrap.

And that’s the fun that’s been had lately! It’s always an adventure, here at Casa Jaquandor!

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