Snow Day Pics


Over the past week we’ve had record snowfalls, and more snow on the ground than I can remember since moving here in 2005. We’ve canceled Wednesday night church services two weeks in a row, and Eva now has a working knowledge of seeing school cancelations online. I woke up today to even more snow and thought it was a good time for some pics. Next time, I’ll wear snow pants as I’m uploading these in my boxers. Wet jeans. ch:

MAKING TRACKS: I didn’t realize just how much snow was in our yard until I stepped into it. And it was even with my belt. I laughed.

DON’T MIND ME: Eva dawned her snow gear and immediately fell down, just in time for me to snap a pic.

FOLLOW ME: The trail we’ve been nursing for the last week now looks like a run to an arctic observatory. Just add rope.

CHAINS ONLY: We tend to gauge or snow fall by how much of the swing set is showing. This morning set a new record. (And this was in a drift trough, too).

TIME OUT: Luik decided to follow my footprints to a place where I was shooting. He got tired out and leaned over for a little rest.

STRANDED: Jenny flung a stray Cozy Coup into the driveway last night. Found it like this at dawn.

WHERE’D YOU GO?: Our CUV (Child Utility Vehicle) got some snow on its ears.

HIP DEEP HOUSE: Luik emerges from the warmth of our nest.

BLANKET ANYONE?: The snowman the kids made got scared and threw a blanket over his head.

SNOW GRILL: For all my Aussie friends: a pic of the barbie, situated on the leeward side of the house (aka where the least amount of snow falls).

DAY 1 :: Live Recording Week

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Heavy snow kept a few of the band members from arriving as planned. But the good news is, they’re all here! Jason lives in Clayton, so he gets off easy. Teaspoon surprised everyone by showing up right after church on Sunday, while Denis & Becca pulled in just in time for dinner. Ron & Val left a message on my voice mail at midnight, saying they got in just fine. But Nate gets the gold medal, as he departed from Rochester at 6am Monday (due to not being able to get out of the city Sunday night), and didn’t get into Watertown until after 11am. The poor guy spent 3 hours going a max speed of 30mph on Rt. 81 N, a section that normally is drivable in an hour.

Yesterday morning and early afternoon was spent striking the entire stage at New Life, bringing in a new front-of-house and monitor set-up, then resetting the stage with our vast array of gear. After a quick sound check at 1pm, we busted our popsicle stand and went somewhere “with no grease.” What’s up with that? Jeck Subs. Which, consequently, I managed to find a lot of grease at. The food was good, the company better.

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With spirits high, and everyone eager, we decided to go late and worked our way through 2 brand new songs, “Set Me Free,” and, “The God Who Saves,” and revisited 2 others I wrote in 2005, “Take Me Deeper,” and “Only.” While the ladies stayed home, the guys had an adrenaline-filled five-hour jam session, laying down thick electric guitar parts and pads to absolutely killer rhythm sections. I can’t even begin to describe how excited we all were to literally feel the energy and anointing coming off the stage. It was like we were all 10 years old again, just discovering what a perfect chord progression feels like coming from your brand new 10 watt guitar amp (that your little sister breaks the next day by having a tea party on).

With more snow finishing the day out just like it started, we finally made it home a little after 9pm to find an incredible Mexican dinner prepared by Julie Brennan. Conversations went long and we enjoyed one another’s company until yours truly had to amble upstairs to work on edits for Venom and Song.

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With what we put together yesterday, and the set list yet to come, I can honestly say, this was the album I was born to record with some of my dearest friends. ch:

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