Morning Pool Party

This little puddle of a pool is a big splash with Ruby. This morning she brought her horses into the pool to clean them. Libby, Kiki, Pullman and Man-O-War. It's been a polite kind of summer and everything is growing lush.

Crackle of the Bat

In the Some Peoples Republic of Billy Goat Hill some of our parties are heated with Louisville Slugger bats and chilled with cave conditioned air. This is not an exaggeration or a boast. It's just how we roll on the hill.

Chicken Coop Concert II - Musician Portraits

In the order they performed at the concert. All photos by Tim Furnish.

Top Photo: R Keenan Lawler
Lawler is a prodigiously talented raga guitarist who performs frequently on resonator guitar. Lawler has an encyclopedic knowledge of Carnatic music and has developed many idiosyncratic instrumental performance techniques to complement his ragas with percussive and drone elements. http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9590-music-for-the-bluegrass-states/

Middle Photo: William Tyler
The Nashville-based guitarist for Lambchop, Silver Jews, Will Oldham, and many more has recently released his first or third solo album, depending on how you count. A cd-r and LP under the name Paper Hats were released on his own Sebastian Speaks label , while the first album under his given name, entitled "Behold the Spirit" was released on the Tompkins Square label to widespread acclaim. http://www.tompkinssquare.com/william-tyler.html

Bottom Photo: Michael Chapman
A brilliant, if somewhat obscure British singer-songwriter recorded albums for Harvest, Decca and Deram among others; his second album, "Fully Qualified Survivor" produced by Gus Dudgeon (Shirley Collins/Davey Graham; Elton John; John Martyn; Fairport Convention; David Bowie) was recently reissued by Light in the Attic Records, introducing Chapman's classic recording to contemporary audiences. Chapman recently ...completed a UK tour with William Tyler who will join him on select US dates including the chicken coop concert. http://www.michaelchapman.co.uk/

Chicken Coop Concert Series - Dos

The second Chicken Coop Concert was held on Sunday, June 5th. Three guitar musicians played. R. Keenan Lawler - William Tyler - Michael Chapman. All were fine but Michael, visiting from England really mesmerized me. It was great kicking back listening to birds singing and watching chickens shuffling to his music. Not the bar scene where you would typically listen to him. He was a nice man to hang with for a spell. Loved our sweet tea.

Taking the Wide View

I added a new ap to my phone today that let's me take panoramic shots. I had no idea how they might look on a blog platform so... here's the answer. These shots were taken in the back yard on June 9. I'm hoping this yard looks amazing for Ruby's birthday. The zinnias should be popping about then and I'm hoping the vines will have started to climb up the teepee structure to make her a hidey spot.

Coop Concert Series - First Effort

On Sunday April 17th we hosted the first Chicken Coop Concert. It featured Jason Ajemian and the Highlife (acoustic bass, drums, guitar, trumpet, sax) followed by Aaron Rosenblum (banjo, fiddle) and a yard full of displaced chickens and fully placed listeners. Go ahead, throw that beer bottle at the band. They won't mind. (The lower picture was sent to me by Hillary Harrison.)

Dont Tread on Me

Mess with me and you WILL be visited by my posse. This is the gang that hangs in my backyard most days after school. I can complain that their play is all about guns or I can rejoice that they are running around outdoors instead of inside on video games. I choose the latter.

Level: Maximum Potential

Theoretically, these two new cedar raised beds (8'x3') could produce more food than any other 48 square feet. They have not yet suffered a failed crop, a drought, a low germination rate, insect infestation, or any other something that could lower their potential. They are, in essence, at the level of their maximum potential. But you can't eat maximum potential. So sooner or later these better start pumping out some food with some actualized potential. I'll load up more pictures then.

The History of Play

Tonight I asked the kids that gather in the back yard each evening if they wanted to play dodge ball. When one of them said "sure" but then started talking about rules I had no clue about I started describing the game as I knew it. Kris blurted out... "Oh yeah. I saw it played that way on history channel." Perfect. I guess that means I'm a geezer. But this geezer has good aim.

Child*Chicken*Compost

Ruby has taken to liking letting the chickens out. And since the chickens like the compost pile, Ruby too likes it. Tis a joy to see all three in communication and healthy. The child, the chicken, the compost.

The Discussion

These guys are our additional family on a regular basis which we love. But last Tuesday was hard. So today we had "the discussion". It resulted in the information in the top photo. These are the self-determined rules, consequences and priviliges they came up with. Then they decided to make three bucks between them. A buck fifty each for helping in the garden. Good boys today. The evening culminated in a walk up to the IceCream and Pie Kitchen where they both got rootbeer floats. Sounds pretty damn "Waltons" after seeing this typed out. But it didn't feel "Waltons" at the time.

Domestique

These were shot on iPhone/CameraBag/Lolo setting.
Back yard at the Professional Porch Sitters Union Hall
July 26 2009

Toots Toys - First Year

These five portraits of Toot's toys are a new project I have started to document my daughters life. None of these toys were purchased new. They represent the aesthetic we are looking for in things that we think are proper in a young child's life. They have each brought her joy. More than once. That's all a toy need do.

One Porch-Five Views-Cool July

If you can't come sit on our porch with us, which would be an option, perhaps you can just look. Or, use this as a seek and find activity when you do come.

Slumber

This is why my life is good.

Imp

A puckish little sprite.

Bathtime for Little Toot

I am thankful that Little Toot is beginning to have a neck. Baby necks are awful things. They get sour milk all down in the folds of fat and it starts smelling like someone didn't take out the garbage. Grunge neck. You'd be holding this little lass and looking around for what rotten garbage was on the floor. Nobody told us that. It's something you find out for yourself. So...all you expecting first time parents. Forewarned.

Haunts of Billy Goat Hill

In our neighborhood folk really dig Halloween. A number of the families that have lived here for generations have been employed in the surrounding cemeteries as grave diggers. As All Hallows Eve draws nearer I'll capture and post a few more. My personal favorite is the home to Timmy Texas. Timmy owns a hearse. And unless he has a storage shed somewhere his house must be absolutely jam full of decorations all but one month of the year when they all get trotted out into the yard. Timmy Texas also has what has become my favorite business card of all times. It is plain white and all that is on it is... "Timmy Texas - Services" That's it. No number, no address, no explanation of exactly what services. He's a man that cuts to the bone.

Sour Cherries for Eggs

Our neighbors had sour cherries. We had eggs. Now they have omlets and we have pie. It's all still in the hood though. Bartering am good.