Knock, knock ...

We're loving our "new" storm door. The door is an orginal, or close to original, piece of the house - as its hand-forged rosehead nails indicate. By the early 1800s, nail cutting machines were in general use in America, especially on the east coast ... so we are to assume the door dates back close to the construction of the house in 1775. It formerly seperated what is now our entry-way and kitchen. After taking it down over a year ago in the remodeling process, we knew we'd find the perfect use for it again. The hardware we used is also antique, taken from a 19th century home in Lancaster that was being torn down by its owner.

We'll leave you with a pic of the world's best cat, Sam ... lounging in the entry-way, as he does every afternoon, waiting for us to get home from work.

A Sunday guest …

Early last evening, we had a surprise visitor call on us: a GIANT snapping turtle.

Just before dusk, while trying to unwind from a productive weekend (post-and-rail is in!), we noticed a car pulled over in front of the house. Someone had stopped to rescue the biggest snapping turtle we have ever seen from the middle of the road. We ran out of the house, camera in hand to take part in the rescue.

The passers-by managed to move the massive, snapping reptile a few feet off the street and onto our lawn and continued along their way. Afterwards, as we stood there gawking at the poor lil’ guy (that we now refer to as Turtle Joe, II) … we felt compelled to get him to safer ground. Here are a few photos we “snapped” while deciding how to accomplish this.

You can see his eyes and nostrils clearly.

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Look at his tail!!!!!!!!!!!! It has spikes!

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And those claws!!

Ready to snap …

After careful consideration and advice from a neighbor taking an evening stroll, we decided to gently roll him on his back … scoop him up with a snow shovel and carry him several yards down to the stream bed.

See below for Eric in action. Just look at it … the turtle looks like a baby dinosaur! We estimate he weighed 35-40 pounds.