Roast Duck sounds great, but like you, I haven't been able to really do it right and it gets too greasy, the has to be a way! In Germany roast goose is the traditional Christmas meat, I remember mother draining the fat and using it for cooking and spread on bread, I think she mixed it with some lard - that was what one ate, no one worried about cholesterol and no one gained a lot of weight. But then we walked everywhere and our apartments had no elevators, maybe that's what offset all that rich food.

"Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens (70 acres) is a notable country estate, with gardens, located in Akron,Ohio. The estate was built between 1912 and 1915 for F. A. Seiberling, founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He gave it the name Stan Hywet, Old English for stone quarry, to reflect the site's earlier use and the most prominent feature of the Estate."

I've been out of town for a while. Started to comment on each pic, but, they are all just great. No "fresh" fall pics here yet. I was in Philly where I could have gotten some great ones... if about a week or 10 days later. Most have seen my fall pics from earlier years, so, I'll just have to post to this thread when I have some "fall". I sure do appreciate getting some from those who are already enjoying it at their locales. Keep'em coming!

I really need to get my basement sorted out. To do that, I have to scan a bunch artwork/schoolwork that the boys have done. That is a huge task. I should have been doing it this winter, but well, you know, Netflix was calling my name. LOL. Once I get that started, I can empty out a dresser that is falling apart and get rid of that. I can sort out the school supplies and such properly and get rid of some other stuff I don't need to be dragging around for years. I think I'll buy a couple of Ikea bookcases with doors on the bottom and then I can properly put stuff onto a bookshelf in the spare room down there. When I get that spare room cleaned out, I'll move all the flooring I plan on installing in the basement into that room. When I had the floors done upstairs, they were on clearance and once it was gone, it was gone, so I bought enough to have the upstairs and downstairs match. I have purchased the sink cabinet and mirror cabinet for my future bathroom reno. I need to price check the tile I like at Home Depot and if it's the same as a local shop, then I'll support the local shop. I want a 24" square tile for the floor and I might have to get that in the US. I'll have to see if we're near a tile place on Sunday when my son is there for soccer. I know the faucets I want but I'm undecided on the bathtub. I don't want to spend $700 on the one I like that is ultra plain. I saw one that is pretty plain and nice. It's $100 cheaper in the US. I'll have to figure exchange and taxes to see what is more worth my while. I'll check flyers too as this is the time of year they have all the home improvement sales. Once I have all that, I'll call the contractor and get an estimate and time frame. I didn't really answer the question. It seems I'm filling up the house not clearing it out. LOL