Impractical Jokers

A few months ago we started seeing commercials for a new show on TruTV called "Impractical Jokers", and we were hooked right away.

We have now seen several weeks of episodes, and we still find ourselves laughing so hard that we cry with every show.  If you have TruTV, we strongly recommend this show.

Bottling With Catoctin Creek Distilling Company

Last September I mentioned a local distillery, Catoctin Creek, that makes a whiskey called "Mosby's Spirit".  Over the last few months I have gotten to know more about the couple that owns and operates this distillery, and today I helped them bottle their latest batch of rye whiskey called "Roundstone Rye."

This distillery is the only one in Loudoun County, and it's the first legal one to operate in Virginia since the end of prohibition.  When I arrived, I was greeted by one of the owners, Scott and 18 other volunteers who offered to come in and help out.

I got a chance to do everything from fill the bottles, to cork them, to seal them, to label them and help pack them for distribution.  It was an enjoyable few hours that was a pleasure to help with.  From end-to-end of our production line there was what I can only describe as an elegant simplicity to how each step was performed.

One of the coolest parts of the day was that those of us who came to help were given an opportunity to sign and personalize the labels that we placed on the bottles.

At the end of the bottling activity the owners, Scott and Becky, bought all of us lunch followed by a tasting of some of the spirits that they make.  Before leaving I made sure that I bought a couple of the bottles that I personalized.  Take a look.

Mosby Sunbathing

The fact that it's winter doesn't seem to be bothering Mosby.  He just follows the sun across the living room floor.

Night Photos

While looking at the stars tonight we had both dogs in the back yard with us.  We also had a good fire going in the fire pit so I decided to play with the camera and take some night shots.  The first one is of the sky just after mid-night.  This image was captured with a 30 second exposure as a pane leaving IAD flew over.  The moon was so bright, that with this long of an exposure it looks more like the sun.

The next picture is of the sky looking north and a 20 second exposure.

The fire we had going was very warm, but not very large.  In this image you can see an ember that rose from the pit as an orange line.

The Galilean Moons

Tonight we were able to get our best look at all four Galilean moons at once. The Galilean Moons orbit Jupiter and are named after the first man to see them, Galileo Galilei. In fact, some argue that these objects were the first to lay evidence to the fact that not all objects in the sky orbit the earth.

Over the past few months we have seen three of these moons before, but tonight was the first time that w were able to see all four of them.  Very cool!

Maddie and Mosby

We have been getting quite a few questions from family and friends asking how the dogs are getting along with each other.  The answer is: very well.  So well that they often sleep next to each other just like in this picture.  :-)