The Binker Files: Fall 2016

Photo Albums

Quotes

Actual happiness looks pretty squalid in comparison with the overcompensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn’t nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand. - Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Education
"Must we always teach our children with books? Let them look at the stars and the mountains above. Let them look at the waters and the trees and flowers on Earth. Then they will begin to think, and to think is the beginning of a real education." -David Polis
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it... but by sitting still, and the more one sits still, the closer one becomes to feeling ill... Thus if one just keeps walking, everything will be all right." -Soren Kierckgaard
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. - Albert Camus
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. Annie Dillard

February 04, 2017

Fall 2016

I have gotten far behind on the blog once again, but will attempt to recap the past 5 months. Levi and Arlo playing on Duane's Retreat:

During a hike to a pegmatite mine on Noyes Mountain:

Silas having his chickens tested for NPIP:

Sunflowers were harvested and saved for a special winter chicken treat.

In the late fall, we had a chicken situation. We had 40 meat birds to process and our brand new chicken plucker didn't work. I just wasn't up for hand plucking that many birds, so Silas and I squeezed 45 chickens into the van and drove them 1.5 hours away to a processor. In just under an hour, all the birds (including 6 annoying roosters - including Earl Gray Cuteness Chicken) were bagged, placed in coolers, and we were on the way home.

Arlo spent some time as a secret agent.

Levi made some awesome paper crafts.

The boys did a workshop at Circus Maine after seeing Pedal Punk.

Silas became a teenager! We spent his birthday visiting the Titanic Exhibit at Portland Science Center, then returned home for dinner, cake, legos, and a chicken movie.