Flashback to Ava's 8th Grade Graduation

"J" Is for "Jedi"

We caught an early, private screening of "The Force Awakens" last week.

We were seated in Row J, which stands for.....

A selfie of me and Ava, the last photo ever taken of me without having seen the movie:

And, celebratory margaritas afterwards:

Miscellaneous

Thanksgiving Guests

Indy and Gatsby had a Thanksgiving holiday visit from their Richmond cousins: Wesson, an Alaskan Malamut, and Ruger, a six-month old Great Pyrennes puppy. Yes, the puppy is the same size as year-and-a-half old Gatsby.

Aerial view:

Lounging inside:

Last Warm Sunday of Autumn....

....most likely. Spent the afternoon in the sun with a good book and a best friend.

Red Belt First Degree

Ellie and I passed our Red Belt First Degree test this afternoon.

Halloween Decor

This novel was so long, it killed me:

Handiwork

A slight accident with the John Deere 990 put my repair skills to the test.

Before:

Extraction of damaged part:

After, once the new part arrived and was installed (waiting for new yellow trim decal to arrive):

And, now, with the decal:

Belated: Ava Turns 15

Boy, that's scary.

Ferric Chloride Solution

Polystyrene Beads, Expandable

Portrait of the Dog as a Young Man

Photo Credit: Lana Della Ratta

Florida for Mimi's 80th

On the plane: 

With family, friends, and grandkids at the party:

Ammonium Nitrate

(Photo Credit: Lana Della Ratta)

Acetone

Blessing of the Pets

We missed last year's blessing event at the nearby Franciscan Monastery. And within days Gatsby broke his leg and Indiana got dosed by a skunk.

No WAY were we going to miss this year's service.

The prayer service (note monk on the bench leading the service):

The boys tour the monastary:

This is Jackson, a Bernese/Pyrenees mix we met:

Welcome to Autumn

With the cooler weather back, the boys are happy to be on the way to a long walk at the local park.

Lazy Saturday

In Celebration of National Dog Day

And, from the early days of Gatsby's life with us. Note how annoyed Indiana is.

Regulated Medical Waste

Virginia Beach Vacation Views

And spotted on the trip down, a vanity plate that coincidentally says what I call my wife:

Also, our route took us over and under the Chesapeake Bay, via a network of three bridges and two tunnels at the southern point of the Bay. This is the view from the rest stop/observation deck where the south and western-most tunnel emerges onto the third and final bridge.

Hazardous Waste, Liquid

Inhalation Hazard

Pre-Kastles Dinner

Ventured into DC last week to watch the World Team Tennis Washington Kastles play the Austin Aces. Here are the girls at Tonic, in Foggy Bottom.

Here are Ellie and Lana getting swag signed by Kastles player Venus Williams.

Time-Lapse Gatsby

Gatsby at ~15 weeks last year at his vet checkup....

Gatsby at ~55 weeks at today's vet visit:

Wild Sunflowers

The progress of last year's sunflowers, growing a little wild this year.

Hydrazine

Ethanol

Gatsby Turns One!

Here he is celebrating with his Uncle Indiana:

We've also gotten photos from some other owners of this litter from around the country. This is G's litter-mate Yuki:

....Their litter-mate Jack:

...And their dad, Loui: