Went to the horse races at the Santa Anita Track yesterday, and some friends came over after the races to light the bonfire and have a beer.

The wood pile is slowly dwindling:

Here’s what we started with:

Soon all that will be left are nails and screws in the ashes.

So close to a clean slate in that backyard. Can’t wait. Kind of like having to pee. You’ve got to pee during the whole car ride home but your holding it just fine. You pull in the drive, hop out, and just as that key hits the door, you can’t stand waiting anymore and think that you might just pee right there. No? Well, I guess it’s just me then.

Our friend Louis had an awesome idea for the staircase to the Lower Yard & Orchard. I’m putting together a graphic that I’ll show you soon.

By the way, Armand, Annie, and I won $100 on a $6 bet on the last race of the day! What do you think we should do with our winnings? (My idea of $100 of prosciutto di parma was shot down.)