tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:01:40 +0000Steve Butcher & wife Carrie Eubanks Butcher's postings of our life from Vermont, Tennessee, Michigan, Alaska, St. John or wherever we may be.http://www.butcher.org/blog/noreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)Blogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-100363321800873515Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:23:00 +00002010-04-22T13:01:40.578-04:00ryobisteve butcherelectric lawn mower48vearth dayRemove a weekly fossil fuel burner from your life?After looking high and low (and even demoing a friends DR Neuton), i finally took the plung and bought an electric walk-behind (push) mower.i had $51 worth of credit at Home Depot, so i strolled in last night and found a nice Ryobi RY14110 Self-Propelled 48V electric lawn mower. I triple checked all the details that have kept me from converting http://www.butcher.org/blog/2010/04/what-will-you-do-for-earth-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-8710454706050578986Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:26:00 +00002010-03-12T09:54:04.914-05:00Well, this morning I did the nearly unthinkable.I spent 45 minutes clicking my browser’s refresh button every 30 seconds or so as Apple updated their storefront to pre-sell the iPad. While often an early adopter of technology over the last 3 decades (Commodore 128, Apple Mac SE, Cisco 17xx series routers, Satellite pager, original Blackberry, VW New Beetle, etc), this has been by far the most http://www.butcher.org/blog/2010/03/apple-ipad-yep-im-early-adopter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-2053037419618747391Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:19:00 +00002009-12-15T19:19:19.990-05:00 Brian from B&H Electric spent the day yesterday cleaning up electrical work and connecting our home to the barn’s Kohler 12K backup power generator. We are now connected with Automatic Transfer Switches in both buildings and nearly ready for anything the weather (or power grid) can throw at us. Finally!     http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/12/vt-compound-un-gridlocked.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-158700498593997117Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:26:00 +00002009-12-15T19:30:32.403-05:00 In preparation for the 10yr anniversary of the SmartBeetle trip around the fringe of America, I’ve just started the re-launch of the SmartBeetle.com site! While there are only 8 days of travels up so far, I hope to get at least a page or two of the journey a day uploaded over the next 2 weeks.   http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/12/re-launch-of-smartbeetle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-8267585363745939477Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:53:00 +00002009-11-06T16:55:52.899-05:00basset houndsadiebrownsville tntibbsricohttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/11/rip-rico.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-8594410057254633293Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +00002009-10-04T17:18:11.565-04:00Cooking chili on the left and apple crisp on the right. After a long day of leaf peeping, it is time for a nap before fondue night.http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/10/carrie-and-sue-in-kitchen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-4097297855527236278Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:29:00 +00002009-09-26T12:30:26.642-04:00Sadie relaxes in the sun with a cool autumnal breeze blowinghttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/09/fall-foliage-westie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-2802555584521406591Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:49:00 +00002009-08-06T17:51:24.602-04:00At Addison County Fair tonight - yeehaw. Carrie wanted some fair actionhttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/08/rusty-logger.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-4993011755174763666Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:59:00 +00002009-06-26T10:00:12.988-04:00Salinder finishes the VickeryHill spiral steps and stiles while we wait for Reggie Orr to do the railing metalwork...thus the temporary cedar railing!http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/06/spiral-love.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-3186962180598879385Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:18:00 +00002009-06-22T07:19:24.795-04:00This morning I woke up to take out the dog and on the wall and the grill were two 4" long green moths (not to mention the other 25 smaller variety swarming my head). Bright green with purple highlights, yellow antennae and white bellies and very long delicate tails, they didn't seem to mind me at all. It seems they only live for a week to mate and although they aren't seen much, http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/06/morning-gigantic-luna-moths.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-2926641953376956819Sun, 17 May 2009 14:54:00 +00002009-05-17T12:50:55.341-04:00The square foot garden finally gets seeds for this summers crophttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/05/planting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-5433430220969686649Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:25:00 +00002009-04-30T19:25:10.718-04:00Finished planting the new junipers and laying the stone steps down to the basement, hot tub and garden boxes. Grow grass, grow!http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/04/bushes-steps-and-watchful-pup.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-4578546036980761102Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:45:00 +00002009-04-26T00:55:43.008-04:00Boyle assists with the trailer and we get the mini excavator for the weekend from Valley Rentall. Highside ditch swail in full effect - hello proper drainage!http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/04/cat-micro.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-607297039468839277Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:43:00 +00002009-04-18T11:17:17.287-04:00...and a little bit rock-and-roll.Kenny Chesney rips up the arena at Mohegan Sun. Great set and a closing cover of Jack & Dianehttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/04/little-bit-country.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-2556429855234446764Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:43:00 +00002009-04-11T13:43:31.895-04:00I build the garden boxes while Carrie decides whether their placement works for the yardhttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/04/square-foot-gardening.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-6825849478645801096Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:44:00 +00002009-03-27T16:44:50.784-04:00Carrie and Sadie enjoy the Friday afternoon sun as we work on www.DASolar.com and I consider the payback on some solar panels for the new house!http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/03/vermont-sun-energy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-9124362020148254430Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:22:00 +00002009-03-26T08:38:33.511-04:00bob mouldhotel cafedanny greenwaldDanny Greenwald, me and about 90 new friends watched Bob Mould rip off80 minutes of incredible live music at Los Angeles' Hotel Cafe on March 2,2009. He played some old classics from Workbook, a couple of Husker Dusongs, some stuff from Sugar and even a few songs off the soon-to-bereleased album, Life & Times. It was a great, intimate show with some serious acoustic (and electric) guitar playing http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/03/bob-mould-plays-hotel-cafe-in-la.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-4731700574816862010Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:46:00 +00002009-03-26T08:39:28.204-04:00san diegomiva merchanthall of justiceWhile walking San Diego today, I suddenly looked up and there I was -smack dab in front of the Hall of Justice. Haven't found any super-heroes yethttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/02/no-green-lantern.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-8427020480590744047Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:54:00 +00002009-03-26T08:40:10.249-04:00rick nicholasgrand canyonbill thomasjet blueJetblue takes me (and 141 others) right by the geologic wonder calledthe Grand Canyon - seems like I hiked her up and down 16 yrs ago withDr. Bill and Rick.http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/02/jetting-slash.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-216957894947373442Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:24:00 +00002009-03-26T08:41:45.040-04:00btvtsaBurlington International is chock-a-block full of French Canadiansspeaking in their franglish. Flights on time, light snow flakes andcode Orange fear on full tilt..."make sure you place your shoes inseparate bins for security Xray!" she demands of us all.http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/02/my-brethren.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-1989882437760706274Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:34:00 +00002009-02-14T19:34:58.882-05:00Carrie and I settle down to some veggie, bread and chicken sausage dipped in fondue before a nice moviehttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/02/valentines-fondue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-1239654240723682295Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:51:00 +00002009-02-05T20:51:19.961-05:009hrs without Carrie and Sadie's already forlorn. Thankfully we have a toasty warm house while it dips to -15F tonight in Vermonthttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/02/lone-dog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-1141345410098881288Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:36:00 +00002009-02-01T18:36:49.708-05:00Superbowl Sunday is a lot better than last year as Carrie and I make duckadillas and much more for a few friendshttp://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/02/duckadillas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-7212526089557118684Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:23:00 +00002009-01-19T19:45:58.251-05:00Finally mustered enough strength (or Carrie mustered enough mental shovelry) to trudge through the snow with the washer and dryer and get them moved from the barn basement into the house utility room. An extra 4-prong 220V cord from www.bisbeeshardware.com and we are cleaning clothes in the house again!http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/01/we-be-washin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7977824946199129131.post-584325096446775779Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:23:00 +00002009-01-17T12:24:54.214-05:00A sunny Saturday finds Carrie & I moving everything out of the entry way for me to put the grout sealer on it once and for all. Once it dries, we will be moving in the washer and dryer from the barn basement!!!http://www.butcher.org/blog/2009/01/grout-and-tile-sealer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Steve Butcher)0