billyvandervalk.com

So, about a year ago, Billy started talking about “Veggie House”. Apparently after you figure out how to run your car on vegetable oil, the next step is to figure out how to run your house on it. Good times. For the past 2 months Billy has been wandering around the house frowning and swearing every time the oil burner kicked on… Inconsolable. But - Yesterday, Friday the 5th of January was probably the best day of Billy’s life (aside from marrying me, of course). Veggie House is officially up and running. As of last night, he’s just been walking from thermostat to thermostat, recording data, smiling to himself, with little giggles in between each smile. I think will start to plan an elaborate vacation with our savings… Hmm, seems to make me smile a bit too!

My sister Mary Anne and her husband Chris had their first child about 9 days ago.  He is a very healthy baby boy named Kyle Christopher.

Can’t wait to teach him the difference between a 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine.

Here is Katie holding him.

You havent lived until you lose a bet and have to lay on a concrete floor and “sizzle like bacon”

Katie and I replaced 4 windows and put up new cedar siding on one of the gable ends of our house.  It looks so much nicer than the old aluminum siding.

Berk and Goose finally got one ..

Katie and I headed out to Bradbury State Park to get in some great fall riding.  Trails were great and the weather was 70 and sunny.

We rode with the usual suspects from the RAGE group.

Here is Justin getting it done on his singlespeed.

From this …

to this …

7 Cords.  I hope we make ti through the winter.

Katie an I took advantage of the beautiful fall weather on Sunday and went for a bike ride with the dogs. I look forward to these fall rides all year.

So about 3 weeks ago, coming home from a trip to MA, the Mercedes started making a horrible noise.  I have heard a lot of engine noises in my life, but this one was by far the worst.  I figured that the engine had finally died, and that I was goign to have to rebuild it.  Much to my surprise, after taking the engine out, it was just a thing called the “flex disc”.  It basically connects the engine to the transmission.  Picked on up at the local junkyard for $50.  So after about 20 hours of my time I got it changed out.