Self-Portrait

The boys and I are trying a new photo challenge. We will work our way through a weekly photo challenge to improve our photo taking. It will only be the weeks they are here and probably only for the next couple of months. The first challenge is a self-portrait. And since I’ve been playing around in B&W:

Self-portrait in the workshop.
Self-portrait in the workshop.

 

Pictures from Sweden (Part 2)

A quick upload while waiting in Kastrup for our flight to Oslo (and then home). Note to self: the WiFi at CPH is very good for a free connection.

More pictures of the lake from Dan's cabin.
More pictures of the lake from Dan’s cabin.
Kronobergs slott (castle), Sweden.
Kronobergs slott (castle), Sweden.
Will on the walkway to Kronobergs slott near Växjö in Småland, Sweden. The ruins are located on an island in lake Helgasjön,  Will, Susanna and I went to the ruins while Ben went fishing with Dan.
Will on the walkway to Kronobergs slott near Växjö in Småland, Sweden. The ruins are located on an island in lake Helgasjön. Will, Susanna and I went to the ruins while Ben went fishing with Dan.

 

Pictures from Sweden (Part 1)

On Friday, the boys and I took the train from Copenhagen to Alvesta, Sweden. We had to switch trains twice – our original train from Copenhagen was cancelled and we had to pass through an ID check at Kastrup Airport before crossing the border into Sweden. It was a little stressful to have to figure out where to go, but at least the people at the information desk spoke English.

In Copenhagen central station, we met a French family on their way to Stockholm that spoke little English and no Swedish. They stuck with us for the train swaps at Kastrup and again at Malmo.  Their daughter sat next to Will on the train ride from Copenhagen to Kastrup, thinking he was older. She was shocked when he said he was 13. She was 18. Of course, it embarrasses Will when I tell the story. But his new haircut makes him look older.

On Saturday, we had Isabella’s christening – Susanna posted pictures on Isabella’s website.

Sunday was an easy day. We cleaned up from the celebration and the boys took it easy.

Monday we went to Kosta and got fish pedicures and ate lunch. After lunch we took a guided tour of the glass blowing factory. In the evening, Susanna’s sister, Rebecka, took the train back to her home, and we headed out to Susanna’s Dad, Dan’s, cabin which is near Sävsjöström, Sweden on Alstern Lake. The boys and I were going to camp out for the night, but after dinner Will felt sick, so Will and I came home while Ben camped out with Dan.

This morning, Will, Susanna and I went back to the cabin and joined Ben and Dan for breakfast. Breakfast was followed by checking out Dan’s harvester, and Ben rode along while Dan took down a few trees. We spent this afternoon taking it easy and playing kubb while the boys took turns trying to figure out the antique (1960s) moped.

Susanna keeping warm next to the sauna at the cabin on the lake.
Susanna keeping warm next to the sauna at the cabin on the lake.
Enjoying the brisk Swedish evening on Alstern Lake, Sweden.
Enjoying the brisk Swedish evening on Alstern Lake, Sweden.
A low camera angle and short (8-inch) wall make Will look like a giant at Herråkra Church, Sweden
A low camera angle and short (8-inch) wall make Will look like a giant at
Herråkra Church, Sweden
Will and Ben watching the glass blowers work at Kosta, Sweden.
Will and Ben watching the glass blowers work at Kosta, Sweden.
Will taking alone time to carve points on sticks at the cabin on the lake.
Will taking alone time to carve points on sticks at the cabin on the lake.

Pictures from Copenhagen

Visiting Nyhavn. A must see when visiting Copenhagen.
Visiting Nyhavn. A must see when visiting Copenhagen.
Ben checking out a kayak slide into the canal. We didn't ever see anyone use it, but it was an interesting idea.
Ben checking out a kayak slide into the canal. We didn’t ever see anyone use it, but it was an interesting idea.
Will, Ben and Barbara enjoying the view of the canal in Copenhagen.
Will, Ben and Barbara enjoying the view of the canal in Copenhagen.
Ben taking a Coke break along the canal in front of our apartment
Ben taking a Coke break along the canal in front of our apartment
Ben looking at the moat at Kastellet, Copenhagen
Ben looking at the moat at Kastellet, Copenhagen
Ben posing for a portrait at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek art museum in Copenhagen
Ben posing for a portrait at the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek art museum in Copenhagen

Surviving the heat (a visit to Dianna’s Pool)

The boys testing the waters at Diana's Pool in Chaplin CT.
The boys testing the waters at Diana’s Pool in Chaplin CT.

With the humidity somewhere well above 100% (at least in the house this morning) and the temperatures soaring into the 90’s (mid-30’s for those across the pond using Celsius) we decided to let the air-conditioning take a break from its thankless task and head north to find some shade and water to temper the heat.

I did some digging on the Internet and found a listing for Diana’s Pool – a spot on the Natchaug River in Chaplin, CT. We got to the pool in late morning, beating the crowds (and getting good parking).

It was a great place to get a break from the heat. The water was cool, there was plenty of shade, and lots of waterfalls to play around in. The boys claimed that they overheard some of the other visitors talking about how it got its name – the claim was that someone named Diana drowned there. Of course, I’m sure they heard it from the college kids that were playing around (and drinking crap beer – but of course I drank crap beer when I was that age) and a morbid story is always the better option. But an article from the Hartford Courant from about 2003 give many rumors on how the pool was named (and only one of them was morbid). We had fun, no matter how the pool got named.

The crowds picked up around 1pm, and we decided to head home around 2pm.  Now both boys are trying to beat the heat by playing Minecraft (with Ben live-streaming it on YouTube) in their air-conditioned rooms while I wait for the workshop to cool off enough for me to head out there.

Ben playing in one of the waterfalls at Diana's Pool
Ben playing in one of the waterfalls at Diana’s Pool
Will and Ben exploring the swimming hole at Diana's Pool.
Will and Ben exploring the swimming hole at Diana’s Pool.

 

Working on Ben’s Boat

Susanna and Isabella departed for Sweden yesterday. Will is volunteering as a preschool camp assistant at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center all week. So, Ben and I get today and tomorrow to hang out together. Today we put some time into the boat. We are (still) working on replacing the stringers. We had replaced part of the center stringer two summers ago, but we didn’t do a very good job at it. So earlier this summer Ben and I cut out the repair and more of the rotted stringer.

Today we glassed in (partly at least) the new stringer. Tomorrow we will put another two layers of glass and cover the entire stringer.

Ben working the resin into the fiberglass matting.
Ben working the resin into the fiberglass matting.
The new stringer installed. We will probably have to rip out the other two and replace them as well.
The new stringer installed. We will probably have to rip out the other two and replace them as well.