Rebecca is this week's artist for her fabulous contribution to Thanksgiving.
I think I have mentioned before that Rebecca has become my sous chef. She chopps vegetables, fetches ingredidents, measures, mixes, and is a general help in the kitchen. She is always ready to help, apron on with willing hands. Rebecca does far more in the kitchen with me than I ever did with my mother.
I taught myself how to bake while in high school because I wanted cakes and cookies. Actual meals didn't happen until I was in college studying abroad in England, the utterly appalling dining hall food motivated me to learn how to cook. Now when I go home I cook with my mother, decades later than my daughter.
Anyhoo this is about Rebecca and what she made for Thanksgiving.
Last year I found a ridiculously easy and very tasty recipe for a cranberry relish over on Manolo For the Big Girl. Rebecca wanted to help so I printed it out and gave the task to her. It was a hit and now it is Rebecca's contribution to the feast. All I have to do is pull the sheet out along with the food processor and make sure we have all the ingredients. I really enjoy having my own "little chef."
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Hobbled
I broke my camera Friday.
I had put it down on what I thought was a safe place whilst corralling dogs and children for the annual photo. As I but over to boost up John I brushed against the camera and snagged it by the strap. It teetered and then fell onto the deck.
It wasn't a particularly far fall, but... the lens was out.
Which is a very bad thing for a digital camera. They are notorious for the lens barrel jamming if knocked about in the extended position. If you are lucky you can jiggle it back into alignment and it should work. My camera's lens barrel, however, was well and truly stuck and thus rendered inoperable.
Therefore I need a new camera.
Luckily it was black Friday and I was able to find a sweet deal on a decent little Cannon point and shoot that fulfilled my odd requirements, namely a viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen and powered by AA batteries. It'll take a while to get here, but that is my penance for breaking the camera. Until I get it I will be limited to my smart phone. So for now my photography is hobbled.
I had put it down on what I thought was a safe place whilst corralling dogs and children for the annual photo. As I but over to boost up John I brushed against the camera and snagged it by the strap. It teetered and then fell onto the deck.
It wasn't a particularly far fall, but... the lens was out.
Which is a very bad thing for a digital camera. They are notorious for the lens barrel jamming if knocked about in the extended position. If you are lucky you can jiggle it back into alignment and it should work. My camera's lens barrel, however, was well and truly stuck and thus rendered inoperable.
Therefore I need a new camera.
Luckily it was black Friday and I was able to find a sweet deal on a decent little Cannon point and shoot that fulfilled my odd requirements, namely a viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen and powered by AA batteries. It'll take a while to get here, but that is my penance for breaking the camera. Until I get it I will be limited to my smart phone. So for now my photography is hobbled.
Monday, November 26, 2012
SPIN
This is a short film that tries to find that perfect moment and all without a single word of dialogue. A clever movie that is fun to watch right to the end.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Mmm, Turkey Pot Pie
One of the best things about Thanksgiving is the leftovers. I used to be that I was stuck with a boatload of meat and after a couple of days we would all be sick of it.
Then I discovered the joys of the homemade pot pie.
With my scratch crust I have a meal the whole family likes. I had to wait until today to make it, because not everybody has been home for dinner the past couple of days. So there was much happiness among the kids when they saw me making pie crust and chopping up leftover turkey meat.
All that is left of our dear departed turkey are the bones, I think I'll be making soup in the near future.
Then I discovered the joys of the homemade pot pie.
With my scratch crust I have a meal the whole family likes. I had to wait until today to make it, because not everybody has been home for dinner the past couple of days. So there was much happiness among the kids when they saw me making pie crust and chopping up leftover turkey meat.
All that is left of our dear departed turkey are the bones, I think I'll be making soup in the near future.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Ginger
Part of the traditional big Thanksgiving run up for those cooking is the buying of the ingredients. I try to minimize last minute store runs, but alas there always seems to be that one ingredient. This year it was the acorn squash, I completely forgot about it until the Wednesday before.
Then there is the one thing you can't find. One year it was sage flavored sausage, I had it improvise with plain and load up the stuffing with sage. Another year there was the great pumpkin shortage, fortunately I had a can hidden in my pantry and I was able to make my pumpkin pie. This year it was crystallized ginger, an important ingredient for our cranberry relish.
I went to three different grocery stores, two didn't even carry it and the third was sold out. I could have gone farther afield, but I decided my time was better spent making my own dang ginger. I settled on Alton Brown's recipe and used a pound of fresh ginger. It was pretty straight forward, however it took me twice as long to cook down the ginger syrup mixture than the 20 minutes sited in the recipe. I used my food processor to slice the ginger using my ultra fine blade so as to get consistently thin slices. The end result was well worth the effort, I have a boatload of very flavorful candied ginger that is full of zing. I love the stuff and I can eat it like candy. It's a very nice that I can now make my own.
Oh and I picked up the neatest trick for peeling ginger, use a spoon!
Then there is the one thing you can't find. One year it was sage flavored sausage, I had it improvise with plain and load up the stuffing with sage. Another year there was the great pumpkin shortage, fortunately I had a can hidden in my pantry and I was able to make my pumpkin pie. This year it was crystallized ginger, an important ingredient for our cranberry relish.
I went to three different grocery stores, two didn't even carry it and the third was sold out. I could have gone farther afield, but I decided my time was better spent making my own dang ginger. I settled on Alton Brown's recipe and used a pound of fresh ginger. It was pretty straight forward, however it took me twice as long to cook down the ginger syrup mixture than the 20 minutes sited in the recipe. I used my food processor to slice the ginger using my ultra fine blade so as to get consistently thin slices. The end result was well worth the effort, I have a boatload of very flavorful candied ginger that is full of zing. I love the stuff and I can eat it like candy. It's a very nice that I can now make my own.
Oh and I picked up the neatest trick for peeling ginger, use a spoon!
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thanksgiving 2012
It was a splendid Thanksgiving this year. I got all formal with the table and pulled out the fancy tablecloth and napkins to go with our wedding china and the family silver, but kept it real with an informal dress code.
The menu was traditional with a hard core execution, it was all scratch with the exception of the bread crumbs from the stuffing. Heck I even made the candied ginger for the cranberry relish. Mind you the ginger was a more of desperation thing when I couldn't find any in three different supermarkets, Ground and fresh ginger were not a problem, but crystallized/candied was either sold out or nonexistent.
As for the food, well it was all good, even the flat buttermilk biscuits. I *think* the scalded buttermilk was still too hot when I added the yeast and thusly killed the little buggers. Oops. The dough never really rose, but I gamely plowed on and baked them anyway. Turned out it was a good call, because the flat biscuits of doom actually tasted pretty good. I was afraid they would be like hard tack, but instead they were chewy and delicious. The kids even want them for breakfast tomorrow.
So I hope y'all had a tasty and fun Thanksgiving, I know we did flat biscuits and all.
The menu was traditional with a hard core execution, it was all scratch with the exception of the bread crumbs from the stuffing. Heck I even made the candied ginger for the cranberry relish. Mind you the ginger was a more of desperation thing when I couldn't find any in three different supermarkets, Ground and fresh ginger were not a problem, but crystallized/candied was either sold out or nonexistent.
As for the food, well it was all good, even the flat buttermilk biscuits. I *think* the scalded buttermilk was still too hot when I added the yeast and thusly killed the little buggers. Oops. The dough never really rose, but I gamely plowed on and baked them anyway. Turned out it was a good call, because the flat biscuits of doom actually tasted pretty good. I was afraid they would be like hard tack, but instead they were chewy and delicious. The kids even want them for breakfast tomorrow.
So I hope y'all had a tasty and fun Thanksgiving, I know we did flat biscuits and all.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Artist of the Week: Map
This week's artist is Max. He is pictured here holding one of his many (and I do mean many) Lego creations. However, as I'm sure you have guessed, I'm not featuring his Lego build. Instead it is a map.
A map that was greatly admired by his older brothers.
Originally Max was going to draw all over his map. He likes to make battle scenes and then do a sort of live action narration as he draws the battles. Kind of like animation that is all done on the same page. From what I gathered Max showed the map to his brothers right before he was to draw the battle.
And I'm glad he did.
Jacob and Nate told Max not to do another thing to his map, it was too cool to draw over. They convinced Max to bring the map to me so that I could scan it and print out a copy, which was a very nice thing for them to do.
And so here is Max's map, deemed to be cool by a 14 year old and a 16 year old.
A map that was greatly admired by his older brothers.
Originally Max was going to draw all over his map. He likes to make battle scenes and then do a sort of live action narration as he draws the battles. Kind of like animation that is all done on the same page. From what I gathered Max showed the map to his brothers right before he was to draw the battle.
And I'm glad he did.
Jacob and Nate told Max not to do another thing to his map, it was too cool to draw over. They convinced Max to bring the map to me so that I could scan it and print out a copy, which was a very nice thing for them to do.
And so here is Max's map, deemed to be cool by a 14 year old and a 16 year old.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Baking With Julia- Best-Ever Brownies
Hooray! I'm actually baking/posting on the official day!
Sort of, kind of. The picture will have to wait until tomorrow because I can't take a decent picture of a brownie indoors when it's dark out.
But! We have brownies! And that is always a good thing.
As always this is being done under the auspices of Baking with Julia via Tuesdays with Dorie and the host this time around is A Beautiful Mess.
These are very good brownies, nice and gooey with a fudge like texture, just what I like in a brownie. But best-ever, I don't know. They are wee a bit fussier to make than my regular brownies that have garnered me a first place ribbon at the county fair. A recipe, mind you, I got off of the Baker's chocolate box. I'm not sure if I'll make these again, I'll have to see what my in house panel of judges thinks about them.
Oh and I almost forgot to add, I extended the baking time a good 10 minutes. I use an eight inch brownie pan vs the nine inch called for in the recipe, which gives me thicker brownies that need a bit more time to cook.
And here is the promised picture. The brownies along the edge of the pan were a bit more cake like, but move a bit more to the center and it's fudgey goodness.
Nobody has remarked about the brownies being any different, apart from one snarky boy who hasn't had one, but was reading whilst I type (heathen). I thing they are a touch saltier than the norm, but quite good. I'll stick with my tried and true, however it is nice to try alternatives.
Sort of, kind of. The picture will have to wait until tomorrow because I can't take a decent picture of a brownie indoors when it's dark out.
But! We have brownies! And that is always a good thing.
As always this is being done under the auspices of Baking with Julia via Tuesdays with Dorie and the host this time around is A Beautiful Mess.
These are very good brownies, nice and gooey with a fudge like texture, just what I like in a brownie. But best-ever, I don't know. They are wee a bit fussier to make than my regular brownies that have garnered me a first place ribbon at the county fair. A recipe, mind you, I got off of the Baker's chocolate box. I'm not sure if I'll make these again, I'll have to see what my in house panel of judges thinks about them.
Oh and I almost forgot to add, I extended the baking time a good 10 minutes. I use an eight inch brownie pan vs the nine inch called for in the recipe, which gives me thicker brownies that need a bit more time to cook.
And here is the promised picture. The brownies along the edge of the pan were a bit more cake like, but move a bit more to the center and it's fudgey goodness.
Nobody has remarked about the brownies being any different, apart from one snarky boy who hasn't had one, but was reading whilst I type (heathen). I thing they are a touch saltier than the norm, but quite good. I'll stick with my tried and true, however it is nice to try alternatives.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Big Catch Animation
A silly little movie that is worth watching. The seagulls are what did it for me.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Project MCP: Veteran's Day
Last week's photo challenge was Veteran's Day, with an idea of documenting those who served and I truly planned on doing that last Sunday and/or Monday. But life intervened and I didn't get out as I intended. I did however find a wonderful tribute for my movie Mondays, so I wasn't a complete slacker.
This weekend I had at least one trip up in the Richmond area and I thought a trip to the Virginia War Memorial was in order. It wouldn't be as nice as it would have been on last Sunday, but I had the time blocked out and it was a half way decent day. I like cloudy days and there was a good breeze blowing to get the flags moving.
I tromped around taking pictures for a good 20 minutes. A bit more sunlight would have been nice, however the somber sky was the right note. The wind, on the other hand, was perfect. The memorial overlooks the James river and a good stiff breeze had the flags snapping. It was not a problem to get a shot with all eight flags in the picture unfurled. For those wondering, the flags are Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Merchant Marines, Virginia War Memorial, and the POW MIA in the middle of the arc created by the other seven flags (the US flag and the Commonwealth of Virginia's are located far off the frame to the left). To the left of the flags is the shine engraved with the names of fallen Virginians that also houses the statue Memory and the Torch of Liberty.
It is a lovely sight and I'm seriously contemplating coming back on Pearl Harbor Remembrance day, aka my birthday.
This weekend I had at least one trip up in the Richmond area and I thought a trip to the Virginia War Memorial was in order. It wouldn't be as nice as it would have been on last Sunday, but I had the time blocked out and it was a half way decent day. I like cloudy days and there was a good breeze blowing to get the flags moving.
I tromped around taking pictures for a good 20 minutes. A bit more sunlight would have been nice, however the somber sky was the right note. The wind, on the other hand, was perfect. The memorial overlooks the James river and a good stiff breeze had the flags snapping. It was not a problem to get a shot with all eight flags in the picture unfurled. For those wondering, the flags are Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, Merchant Marines, Virginia War Memorial, and the POW MIA in the middle of the arc created by the other seven flags (the US flag and the Commonwealth of Virginia's are located far off the frame to the left). To the left of the flags is the shine engraved with the names of fallen Virginians that also houses the statue Memory and the Torch of Liberty.
It is a lovely sight and I'm seriously contemplating coming back on Pearl Harbor Remembrance day, aka my birthday.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Fighter Jet, Err Car
Cars for the most part are boring. Sometimes you get to see an exotic such as a Lotus, or antique like an old Chevy. License plates are a bit more interesting, but again nothing terribly dramatic. But every now and then you see a car that screams photograph me, and last Sunday I saw such a car.
What initially drew my eye was the ridiculous amount of stickers covering the back end. It was an unbelievable collage slapped willy-nilly and completely covering every surface, rear window included. As I walked around the car it got even better.
The owner had painted a shark mouth on both sides of the front end.
Wow.
I thought it was great and I had to take a picture. This ranks right up there with the yellow volksie I found last year. I wonder what oddity in the parking lot I'll find next.
What initially drew my eye was the ridiculous amount of stickers covering the back end. It was an unbelievable collage slapped willy-nilly and completely covering every surface, rear window included. As I walked around the car it got even better.
The owner had painted a shark mouth on both sides of the front end.
Wow.
I thought it was great and I had to take a picture. This ranks right up there with the yellow volksie I found last year. I wonder what oddity in the parking lot I'll find next.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Birthday Cookies
Meryl requested that this year instead of a cake she would like cookies for her birthday, specifically sugar cookies made the way she remembers.
They had to be large, about 4 inches across, a 1/4 inch thick, and smothered in nonpareils.
Done, done, and done.
I warned her that the cookies would have scalloped edges. I wasn't going to buy yet another cookie cutter when I could use one of my four inch tartelette pans. Meryl was fine with variation and in fact decided it looked very nice on the finished product.
I dropped off the cookies today on her birthday and they were a huge success. They were soft and just the right size. She told me I could have loaded on more nonpareils, but that changed after Meryl ate a cookie. I had completely nailed the cookie she was hankering.
Happy birthday Meryl, I'm glad I could bake you the treat you wanted.
They had to be large, about 4 inches across, a 1/4 inch thick, and smothered in nonpareils.
Done, done, and done.
I warned her that the cookies would have scalloped edges. I wasn't going to buy yet another cookie cutter when I could use one of my four inch tartelette pans. Meryl was fine with variation and in fact decided it looked very nice on the finished product.
I dropped off the cookies today on her birthday and they were a huge success. They were soft and just the right size. She told me I could have loaded on more nonpareils, but that changed after Meryl ate a cookie. I had completely nailed the cookie she was hankering.
Happy birthday Meryl, I'm glad I could bake you the treat you wanted.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Artist of the Week: Charming
This week's artist is John and surprisingly it is not for digging holes or eating dirt, his two most favorite activities.
This past weekend we had Rebecca's birthday festivities. She had a rather grown-up affair (at least for 10 and 11 year old girls) of a movie followed by a treat. Four of her good friends came out and I did the driving since Larry was off chaperoning and working at a marching band event.
I arranged for the girls to come to our house first since I wasn't sure which showing of "Wreck it Ralph" or for that matter which theater we would be attending. As the girls arrived in fairly rapid succession, they were delighted by our dogs. Normally I view Dell as the ambassador for the breed since he loves everyone, but he only lasted about 5 minutes. Apparently 5th grade girls overwhelm the poor dog, he ended up retreating to a few rooms away. John, meanwhile lapped it all up. He was happy to be the center of attention and didn't even mind being picked up.Heck he even tried to worm his way onto the van when we left for the movies.
When we got back he was very happy to be fussed over by the girls. At least two of them announced that they loved our dogs and wanted to get ones just like them. I think John as a very nice dog, but I never thought he could be a poster pup for dachshunds. In fact he is a real pain in the keister when around unfamiliar dogs, barking and leaping about. I guess he's just a people oriented kind of dog that loves the attentions of girls.
This past weekend we had Rebecca's birthday festivities. She had a rather grown-up affair (at least for 10 and 11 year old girls) of a movie followed by a treat. Four of her good friends came out and I did the driving since Larry was off chaperoning and working at a marching band event.
I arranged for the girls to come to our house first since I wasn't sure which showing of "Wreck it Ralph" or for that matter which theater we would be attending. As the girls arrived in fairly rapid succession, they were delighted by our dogs. Normally I view Dell as the ambassador for the breed since he loves everyone, but he only lasted about 5 minutes. Apparently 5th grade girls overwhelm the poor dog, he ended up retreating to a few rooms away. John, meanwhile lapped it all up. He was happy to be the center of attention and didn't even mind being picked up.Heck he even tried to worm his way onto the van when we left for the movies.
When we got back he was very happy to be fussed over by the girls. At least two of them announced that they loved our dogs and wanted to get ones just like them. I think John as a very nice dog, but I never thought he could be a poster pup for dachshunds. In fact he is a real pain in the keister when around unfamiliar dogs, barking and leaping about. I guess he's just a people oriented kind of dog that loves the attentions of girls.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Baking With Julia- Buttermilk Crumb Muffins
Well a week late, but hey it is Tuesday and I baked something!
For the full recipe you can head on over to this week's host, easier than pie. If you want the whole Baking with Julie story you need to go over to Tuesdays With Dorie. Okay now that I have gotten that out of the way let's get down to brass tacks.
I really like the simplicity of this recipe, no mixers are used, just your fingers, a fork, and a spoon. They knocked together very quickly and I was eating them an hour after I started, a big plus in a household with two teenage boys. They are a bit sweet for my tastes (mind I am still happily eating them), but the overall flavor is wonderful. They are like a very simple coffee cake with a nice soft texture. My only problem was that if I hadn't fully greased a well in my muffin tin the muffin would stick, I used two forks to run around the edges and pull them out. I think this recipe is worth revisiting.
For the full recipe you can head on over to this week's host, easier than pie. If you want the whole Baking with Julie story you need to go over to Tuesdays With Dorie. Okay now that I have gotten that out of the way let's get down to brass tacks.
I really like the simplicity of this recipe, no mixers are used, just your fingers, a fork, and a spoon. They knocked together very quickly and I was eating them an hour after I started, a big plus in a household with two teenage boys. They are a bit sweet for my tastes (mind I am still happily eating them), but the overall flavor is wonderful. They are like a very simple coffee cake with a nice soft texture. My only problem was that if I hadn't fully greased a well in my muffin tin the muffin would stick, I used two forks to run around the edges and pull them out. I think this recipe is worth revisiting.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Zoom
Happy birthday to my kid in perpetual motion.
You are smart, funny, kind, a huge worry-wart, and the most active child of a very active brood. You really can not sit still, which makes this picture Rebecca took of you so very, very appropriate.
14 years ago you barreled into our lives, happy birthday Nate.
You are smart, funny, kind, a huge worry-wart, and the most active child of a very active brood. You really can not sit still, which makes this picture Rebecca took of you so very, very appropriate.
14 years ago you barreled into our lives, happy birthday Nate.
Friday, November 09, 2012
Project MCP: Low Light
With the shorter days and the sun hanging lower on the horizon, this week's Project MCP challenge was low light.
I took this picture of John this morning. I saw him napping in a patch of sun and realized this was my picture. I was able to fetch my camera without to much disturbance and fire off a few shots from a discrete distance.
When I took this particular photo I knew this was the one. The focus is a bit off, but the composition more than makes up for the slight blur around John's head. Other than a bit of sharping, this is what I saw in the viewfinder. No cropping or fooling around with the contrast. I'm rather pleased how the picture came out.
I took this picture of John this morning. I saw him napping in a patch of sun and realized this was my picture. I was able to fetch my camera without to much disturbance and fire off a few shots from a discrete distance.
When I took this particular photo I knew this was the one. The focus is a bit off, but the composition more than makes up for the slight blur around John's head. Other than a bit of sharping, this is what I saw in the viewfinder. No cropping or fooling around with the contrast. I'm rather pleased how the picture came out.
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
Artist of the Week: Superior
This week's artist is Jake, or Jacob as he prefers to be called now, and his high school marching band. After a few years of a dry spell they earned the much desired "superior" rating at the state level assessment, which is a very big deal.
The band has been working very hard and this is the best show I have seen. During their first assessment this year they just missed the superior rating by half a point. Inspired, the band redoubled their efforts and were able to pull it off at their last competition of the year.
It's been a good year for the marching band and if they are able to garner another superior rating with orchestra this winter they will be a State of Virginia Honor Band. So keep of the good work, you have done something to brag about.
The band has been working very hard and this is the best show I have seen. During their first assessment this year they just missed the superior rating by half a point. Inspired, the band redoubled their efforts and were able to pull it off at their last competition of the year.
It's been a good year for the marching band and if they are able to garner another superior rating with orchestra this winter they will be a State of Virginia Honor Band. So keep of the good work, you have done something to brag about.
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Go Vote
Well I've done my civic duty.There was an actual line thus year and I was voter 1,100 and something, a new record for me. Normally the voter total is much lower when I meander out mid morning.
So go and vote. I don't care who you vote for, just do it.
So go and vote. I don't care who you vote for, just do it.
Monday, November 05, 2012
The God by Konstantin Bronzit
Wonderful animation of an all too familiar situation. I found this over on Films Short and in the brief film write up we learn it was created in 2004 by a Russian animator who later on created an Oscar nominated film in 2009.
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Whose Bed?
Nate has been wanting the dogs to sleep with him for quite some time, a few months ago we relented.
I'm still not overly thrilled, at some point something will get chewed, but there has been an unexpected bonus. Max is more inclined to stay in bed when the dogs are in the room with him (he and Nate share a room).
As you can see the dogs are usually with Nate. I got this picture in the morning when Nate was sleeping in. The dogs had been fed and let out and had returned to their favored sleeping spot. Poor Nate has barely any room on the bed. That, however, is the price you pay when the dogs are on your bed.
I'm still not overly thrilled, at some point something will get chewed, but there has been an unexpected bonus. Max is more inclined to stay in bed when the dogs are in the room with him (he and Nate share a room).
As you can see the dogs are usually with Nate. I got this picture in the morning when Nate was sleeping in. The dogs had been fed and let out and had returned to their favored sleeping spot. Poor Nate has barely any room on the bed. That, however, is the price you pay when the dogs are on your bed.
Thursday, November 01, 2012
Cold
The temperature has taken quite a dip lately and it has been downright cold the past few mornings. It is supposed to be warming up, but I don't know. Either way the warm weather is clearly over.
And I like that.
And I like that.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Happy Halloween!
I hope y'all had a happy Halloween, I know we did. Earlier in the week it was a bit dicey whether or not it would happen, what with Sandy and all. But we got lucky, it was just a glancing blow so our neighborhood has power and it was a fine, if a bit chilly, night for trick or treating.
Rebecca chose an easy costume to identify, a lovely little señorita. It was a challenge to find her something that wasn't... trashy. I really dislike the prevalence of "ho-wear" that is currently the fashion for all girls. Since Rebecca is not into the princess scene it was hard finding something she liked. Even Rebecca was disconcerted by the outfits available.
Max's is a bit more obscure. He is the non-existent character Herobrine from Minecraft (if you want to give the links a miss- Minecraft is a computer game where you can build almost anything with blocks and Herobrine is a person). I was able to download a pdf of the box head wrap created by Thisguyisme (warning on the camera work, it is not an easy video to watch, but the pdf files are outstanding) on youtube and tweak it just a bit to fit the box we had. Herobrine is just a Steve with white eyes, so I had to strip out the blue eyes in the files, but the rest was perfect.
As for the pumpkins this year, I only got six. I made sure to get them early so as to avoid last year's lack of pumpkin debacle. I didn't get more as Halloween approached because of that pesky Sandy. Halloween wasn't a sure thing and I didn't want to waste money on a boatload of pumpkins if it wasn't happening. Though the 2 for $5 pumpkins at Walmart on Saturday were certainly tempting.
Today was carving day and each kid got to pick out and design a pumpkin. Rebecca wanted a fiery unicorn, Jacob the Starfox logo, Max wanted a Creeper (a weird exploding creature from Minecraft), and Nate wanted to make the Aperture logo from Portal. As you can see Nate even carved his pumpkin and I must say he did a bang up job. As for the remaining two pumpkins I did a fairly traditional one and Cthulhu. All in all a rather nerdy set of pumpkins.
Rebecca chose an easy costume to identify, a lovely little señorita. It was a challenge to find her something that wasn't... trashy. I really dislike the prevalence of "ho-wear" that is currently the fashion for all girls. Since Rebecca is not into the princess scene it was hard finding something she liked. Even Rebecca was disconcerted by the outfits available.
Max's is a bit more obscure. He is the non-existent character Herobrine from Minecraft (if you want to give the links a miss- Minecraft is a computer game where you can build almost anything with blocks and Herobrine is a person). I was able to download a pdf of the box head wrap created by Thisguyisme (warning on the camera work, it is not an easy video to watch, but the pdf files are outstanding) on youtube and tweak it just a bit to fit the box we had. Herobrine is just a Steve with white eyes, so I had to strip out the blue eyes in the files, but the rest was perfect.
As for the pumpkins this year, I only got six. I made sure to get them early so as to avoid last year's lack of pumpkin debacle. I didn't get more as Halloween approached because of that pesky Sandy. Halloween wasn't a sure thing and I didn't want to waste money on a boatload of pumpkins if it wasn't happening. Though the 2 for $5 pumpkins at Walmart on Saturday were certainly tempting.
Today was carving day and each kid got to pick out and design a pumpkin. Rebecca wanted a fiery unicorn, Jacob the Starfox logo, Max wanted a Creeper (a weird exploding creature from Minecraft), and Nate wanted to make the Aperture logo from Portal. As you can see Nate even carved his pumpkin and I must say he did a bang up job. As for the remaining two pumpkins I did a fairly traditional one and Cthulhu. All in all a rather nerdy set of pumpkins.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Pup and Pumpkins
We weathered Sandy just fine. Central Virginia had, at worst, a glancing blow. We had rain, rain, and yet more rain. The promised high winds never really materialized and as a result there was no massive power outages or road blockages.
John, however, did have to deal with window blockages. The final step of my hurricane preparations was to bring in the pumpkins. I didn't want them smashed before they were even carved, so in they came. I set them just inside the door, no way was I going to lug them through the house to the garage.
And thus I got this lovely shot of one of the red boys by the pumpkins.
John, however, did have to deal with window blockages. The final step of my hurricane preparations was to bring in the pumpkins. I didn't want them smashed before they were even carved, so in they came. I set them just inside the door, no way was I going to lug them through the house to the garage.
And thus I got this lovely shot of one of the red boys by the pumpkins.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Eleven
This weekend we were able to sneak in Max's birthday party before the bottom dropped out and everybody started panicking about Sandy.
All Max wanted was to go to Waffle House and have some friends sleepover. We keep the guest list small and Max got just what he wanted. Since Waffle House is jammed in the morning we decided to go for dinner. Larry and Jacob were unable to attend (pesky high school football game that marching band would be at) which made us a group of seven. We couldn't all fit in one booth, so Max and his three guests got a table while Nate Rebecca, and I sat at the counter nearby. The boys were very well behaved and really enjoyed being at their own table.
Then it was back to the house to have Max's standard cake, a turtle shaped battle field with a war on top. This year he wanted a tank, which is the blobby green thing with the Cheerio gun. The boys then spent the rest of the evening tearing around the house whilst shoot each other with Nerf type guns. A wonderful time was had by all, even the big guys joined in the fun for a bit.
I'm glad Sandy wasn't able to mess up Max's party.
All Max wanted was to go to Waffle House and have some friends sleepover. We keep the guest list small and Max got just what he wanted. Since Waffle House is jammed in the morning we decided to go for dinner. Larry and Jacob were unable to attend (pesky high school football game that marching band would be at) which made us a group of seven. We couldn't all fit in one booth, so Max and his three guests got a table while Nate Rebecca, and I sat at the counter nearby. The boys were very well behaved and really enjoyed being at their own table.
Then it was back to the house to have Max's standard cake, a turtle shaped battle field with a war on top. This year he wanted a tank, which is the blobby green thing with the Cheerio gun. The boys then spent the rest of the evening tearing around the house whilst shoot each other with Nerf type guns. A wonderful time was had by all, even the big guys joined in the fun for a bit.
I'm glad Sandy wasn't able to mess up Max's party.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Project MCP: Spooky
The final challenge for this month is "spooky," a fitting subject for the close of October.
I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do until this morning. It was damp and misty morning with the sky brooding grey in advance of the upcoming "frankenstorm." Hooray, moody weather was just what I needed.
On the morning dog walk I kept an eye out for spooky subject matter. About halfway along I noticed little spiderwebs in the grass. Perfect, the webs had trapped some of the mist and were clearly visible. I resolved to search my own yard once I was back home.
I love the top picture, with the dark tress in the background it looks downright menacing. I had to mist the web a bit with a spray bottle to accentuate the web. It had dried out and was only faintly visible.
The bottom picture, however, is my favorite. The soccer goal netting in the background really adds to the composition. I had a hard time selecting pictures and in the end I decided both were worthy for submission.
I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do until this morning. It was damp and misty morning with the sky brooding grey in advance of the upcoming "frankenstorm." Hooray, moody weather was just what I needed.
On the morning dog walk I kept an eye out for spooky subject matter. About halfway along I noticed little spiderwebs in the grass. Perfect, the webs had trapped some of the mist and were clearly visible. I resolved to search my own yard once I was back home.
I love the top picture, with the dark tress in the background it looks downright menacing. I had to mist the web a bit with a spray bottle to accentuate the web. It had dried out and was only faintly visible.
The bottom picture, however, is my favorite. The soccer goal netting in the background really adds to the composition. I had a hard time selecting pictures and in the end I decided both were worthy for submission.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Not Right in the Head
It's meme time!
I decided to take a rather simplistic right brain/ left brain quiz and here is the result:
Nothing terribly shocking here, I live on the slightly more logical side of the street. But! I am not completely there. As I said it is a simplistic test, though one question really resonated with me, the whole "If I forgot someone's name, I'd go through the alphabet until I remembered it" fits me to a tee. While the finding things was only a partial yes, I'm big on color. I can find anything (even if it is not mine and I didn't lose it) if I know what color I'm looking for.
I've shamelessly stolen the quiz from Diane.
I decided to take a rather simplistic right brain/ left brain quiz and here is the result:
| ||||||||||
(11)Nothing terribly shocking here, I live on the slightly more logical side of the street. But! I am not completely there. As I said it is a simplistic test, though one question really resonated with me, the whole "If I forgot someone's name, I'd go through the alphabet until I remembered it" fits me to a tee. While the finding things was only a partial yes, I'm big on color. I can find anything (even if it is not mine and I didn't lose it) if I know what color I'm looking for.
I've shamelessly stolen the quiz from Diane.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Artist of the Week: Got Game
Nate is this week's artist because he's got game.
Nate is a natural athlete and as a result he does well in most sports. Right now he is currently involved with a travel lacrosse team. Since it is not lacrosse season the team does not have any regular games. However they do go to various tournaments in the area.
A week and a half ago there was a tourney up in Richmond. Nate's team was scheduled to play on Sunday, the idea being that it would be just a one day event for each age group. Then we got a call. It turned out the age group that Nate used to be in would not have a goalie, could Nate fill in? Their games would be Saturday, so the two teams had no scheduling conflicts. We asked Nate and he was game.
Poor guy was wiped out Saturday, he was in the whole time and played very hard. He also played well as a borrowed goalie and his team won their age group! Sunday, however, was a different story. Nate did his best, but the sheer amount of playing time from both days wore him down. Even though his team did not win their age group, he did a good job. By the time Nate got home he was utterly exhausted. It took him two days to recover. That'll be the last time he plays for two teams in one tournament.
Nate is a natural athlete and as a result he does well in most sports. Right now he is currently involved with a travel lacrosse team. Since it is not lacrosse season the team does not have any regular games. However they do go to various tournaments in the area.
A week and a half ago there was a tourney up in Richmond. Nate's team was scheduled to play on Sunday, the idea being that it would be just a one day event for each age group. Then we got a call. It turned out the age group that Nate used to be in would not have a goalie, could Nate fill in? Their games would be Saturday, so the two teams had no scheduling conflicts. We asked Nate and he was game.
Poor guy was wiped out Saturday, he was in the whole time and played very hard. He also played well as a borrowed goalie and his team won their age group! Sunday, however, was a different story. Nate did his best, but the sheer amount of playing time from both days wore him down. Even though his team did not win their age group, he did a good job. By the time Nate got home he was utterly exhausted. It took him two days to recover. That'll be the last time he plays for two teams in one tournament.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Dog Shaming
Dog Shaming is my new favorite website.
The idea is that your dog has committed some sin, you make a sign describing what happened, and take a picture of the dog with said sign. The result is quite often hilarious.
I found out about it from a dachshund owning friend. There is a rather dubious pride in the dachshund community in preponderance of dachshunds on the site, partially due to the site's owner having dachshunds. But the real reason is because dachshunds are awful dogs that get into all sorts of mischief (and yet we love them).
I whipped up this picture of the red boys and submitted it to the site. So far it hasn't appeared, but the website is transitioning to another platform and it may have gotten lost in the shuffle. I'll try again after the dust settles.
And yes, John really did eat the floor of the shed. He was trying to get to the critter underneath.
The idea is that your dog has committed some sin, you make a sign describing what happened, and take a picture of the dog with said sign. The result is quite often hilarious.
I found out about it from a dachshund owning friend. There is a rather dubious pride in the dachshund community in preponderance of dachshunds on the site, partially due to the site's owner having dachshunds. But the real reason is because dachshunds are awful dogs that get into all sorts of mischief (and yet we love them).
I whipped up this picture of the red boys and submitted it to the site. So far it hasn't appeared, but the website is transitioning to another platform and it may have gotten lost in the shuffle. I'll try again after the dust settles.
And yes, John really did eat the floor of the shed. He was trying to get to the critter underneath.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Destiny
Sometimes Destiny is not to be trifled with. A wonderfully paced short film from the Bellecour School of Art, France. Watch it all the way to the end.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Riding High
Today was a beautiful day and Rebecca and I got to enjoy it. I had a meeting with my dog club and I decided to take advantage of the fact that a friend who has horses was just 5 miles further out. Rebecca and I grabbed our riding gear and tossed it in the van before heading on out.
We were done with the meeting in short order and were out the door for a little fun. Unfortunately our friend couldn't stay, she had plans, but we were welcome to take the pony out.
I showed Rebecca how to properly groom a horse, which seemed to take forever in her mind. However, when I pointed out the small stone in the hoof she realized I had a point. Then it was out to the ring for a bit of a ride. They pony has a very sweet temperament so Rebecca could ride bareback with just a halter. I like the idea of her starting this way so she can get a true feel for how to sit.
Rebecca was very comfortable riding at a walk and was ready for more. I led the pony into a trot and soon Rebecca was able to manage all on her own. If fact she did so well she accidentally managed to get the pony into a canter. It was a shocking development for Rebecca and she quickly slowed the pony down. I explained what happened and Rebecca regained her composure and was brave enough to canter a few more times. It was, I think, an exhilarating day for my girl.
When Rebecca was finished I had her ride just a bit more at a walk as a sort of "cool down." It wasn't totally necessary, but it is a good idea to instill in her now. I want her to think about the needs of her ride and not just herself. Then it was a quick rub down with a further inspection of the feet and the pony was returned to its field.
It was a wonderful way to spend part of beautiful fall afternoon.
We were done with the meeting in short order and were out the door for a little fun. Unfortunately our friend couldn't stay, she had plans, but we were welcome to take the pony out.
I showed Rebecca how to properly groom a horse, which seemed to take forever in her mind. However, when I pointed out the small stone in the hoof she realized I had a point. Then it was out to the ring for a bit of a ride. They pony has a very sweet temperament so Rebecca could ride bareback with just a halter. I like the idea of her starting this way so she can get a true feel for how to sit.
Rebecca was very comfortable riding at a walk and was ready for more. I led the pony into a trot and soon Rebecca was able to manage all on her own. If fact she did so well she accidentally managed to get the pony into a canter. It was a shocking development for Rebecca and she quickly slowed the pony down. I explained what happened and Rebecca regained her composure and was brave enough to canter a few more times. It was, I think, an exhilarating day for my girl.
When Rebecca was finished I had her ride just a bit more at a walk as a sort of "cool down." It wasn't totally necessary, but it is a good idea to instill in her now. I want her to think about the needs of her ride and not just herself. Then it was a quick rub down with a further inspection of the feet and the pony was returned to its field.
It was a wonderful way to spend part of beautiful fall afternoon.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Project MCP: Favorite Fall Activity
There are lots of things I like to do in the fall, but I think my favorite is the morning dog walk. I love heading out in the brisk fall air and the walk seems to be a bit easier. The sun sits lower now and seems softer, no longer the cruel mistress of summer.
The colors are more vivid with the added bonus of little splashes of color here and there from new plantings and fall foliage. And if I'm lucky there is the smell of freshly turned earth when people have their lawns aerated. Later on I get to smell the fragrant smoke as fireplaces get pressed into service.
Everyday there is something new on the walk as we transition from one season to the next and that makes for a great walk.
The colors are more vivid with the added bonus of little splashes of color here and there from new plantings and fall foliage. And if I'm lucky there is the smell of freshly turned earth when people have their lawns aerated. Later on I get to smell the fragrant smoke as fireplaces get pressed into service.
Everyday there is something new on the walk as we transition from one season to the next and that makes for a great walk.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Yay Slippers!
I love the weather we are having now, low seventies during the day and falling down to the mid forties at night. The brisk mornings are far more pleasurable than the swampy sauna that we greet me each morning in the summer. The best part is that I get to wear slippers again.
I had a lovely purple pair that Larry got me, oh about two years ago. Unfortunately the dogs liked them as well and ate one. I couldn't find the same pair again, but I did find an acceptable replacement at Kohl's. So now I get to curl up each morning with my feet in a cozy pair of slippers.
Hooray for fall and the attendant lower temps and hooray for slippers!
I had a lovely purple pair that Larry got me, oh about two years ago. Unfortunately the dogs liked them as well and ate one. I couldn't find the same pair again, but I did find an acceptable replacement at Kohl's. So now I get to curl up each morning with my feet in a cozy pair of slippers.
Hooray for fall and the attendant lower temps and hooray for slippers!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Sunbow
Things are a little topsy-turvy this week, but I promise I'll soon be back to my regularly scheduled programing.
Anyhoodle this morning I saw the most remarkable sight, an honest to goodness sunbow. I have never seen one before, so I am very glad I looked up and noticed what was happening in the morning sky.
It formed a perfect circle around the sun with a fair amount of color. I did not have my camera with me, as I was escorting Max and Rebecca to the bus stop and from there heading out for my long walk with the dogs. I decided to chance waiting the thirty minutes and getting my camera after returning home, I could then take pictures without two dogs tugging on their leashes. The sunbow had clearly faded as he high misty cloud was burning off, but you can see a trace of it there in the picture.
This was an amazing sight and I hope to see it again.
Anyhoodle this morning I saw the most remarkable sight, an honest to goodness sunbow. I have never seen one before, so I am very glad I looked up and noticed what was happening in the morning sky.
It formed a perfect circle around the sun with a fair amount of color. I did not have my camera with me, as I was escorting Max and Rebecca to the bus stop and from there heading out for my long walk with the dogs. I decided to chance waiting the thirty minutes and getting my camera after returning home, I could then take pictures without two dogs tugging on their leashes. The sunbow had clearly faded as he high misty cloud was burning off, but you can see a trace of it there in the picture.
This was an amazing sight and I hope to see it again.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Project MCP: Fall Leaves
The third Project MCP photography challenge for October was "Fall Leaves."
Now back in Vermont this would be a snap, a friend of mine from high school has been posting on Facebook wonderful shots of fall foliage. However I'm in central Virginia and I can't magically transport myself up north. I have to wait for the far more subdued palate that nature uses around here later on in the season (we are roughly three weeks behind). Add in the dreary wet weather I haven't been able to do much until now.
The first two pictures I took during Rebecca's soccer practice. It was late afternoon and the sun was at just the right angle to add a wonderful luminosity to the leaves. I sent Rebecca on ahead so could slowly meander over to her practice field, taking pictures without an impatient 11 year old by my side.
Of the two I think the second one is my favorite. I like how I got the picture depth just right, the focus is just on the spray of leaves in the foreground. The other picture captured interesting details in the leaf, you can see a small area where insects have nibbled away leaving a filigree of veins.
I am so glad I remembered to grab my camera on my way out the door. The weather is perfect and I got an inkling this morning during the dog walk that I should keep my camera handy.
The final picture here is from that walk this morning. I stuffed my cell phone in my pocket just in case Nate, who was home sick, needed to know where I was. He never did call, but I did use my phone to take this picture. The contrast of the bright orange leaf on the black road really caught my eye. I also like the shadow cast by the leaf and the slight curl to the edge. The picture is far from perfect, but considering it's from my basic smart phone it is pretty darn good.
All three are straight out of the camera with the very tiny exception of the image rotation of the middle picture. No cropping, sharpening, or color correction was needed. I was able to compose my shots in the viewfinder and present them as is.
Now back in Vermont this would be a snap, a friend of mine from high school has been posting on Facebook wonderful shots of fall foliage. However I'm in central Virginia and I can't magically transport myself up north. I have to wait for the far more subdued palate that nature uses around here later on in the season (we are roughly three weeks behind). Add in the dreary wet weather I haven't been able to do much until now.
The first two pictures I took during Rebecca's soccer practice. It was late afternoon and the sun was at just the right angle to add a wonderful luminosity to the leaves. I sent Rebecca on ahead so could slowly meander over to her practice field, taking pictures without an impatient 11 year old by my side.
Of the two I think the second one is my favorite. I like how I got the picture depth just right, the focus is just on the spray of leaves in the foreground. The other picture captured interesting details in the leaf, you can see a small area where insects have nibbled away leaving a filigree of veins.
I am so glad I remembered to grab my camera on my way out the door. The weather is perfect and I got an inkling this morning during the dog walk that I should keep my camera handy.
The final picture here is from that walk this morning. I stuffed my cell phone in my pocket just in case Nate, who was home sick, needed to know where I was. He never did call, but I did use my phone to take this picture. The contrast of the bright orange leaf on the black road really caught my eye. I also like the shadow cast by the leaf and the slight curl to the edge. The picture is far from perfect, but considering it's from my basic smart phone it is pretty darn good.
All three are straight out of the camera with the very tiny exception of the image rotation of the middle picture. No cropping, sharpening, or color correction was needed. I was able to compose my shots in the viewfinder and present them as is.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Happy Birthday Times Two
Today is Max and Rebecca's 11th birthday. To celebrate I baked a batch of sugar cookies for Max's class and a batch and a half of cupcakes for Rebecca's class to be eaten at lunchtime. Right now their respective classrooms are thirty plus students apiece, hence the batch and a half cupcakes. It worked out that I gave treats to at least half of the entire fifth grade today. I could have handed out even more (it was so hard passing by a few of my favorites), but I had to draw the line somewhere.
The large class sizes are, fortunately, coming to an end soon. The school was able to convince the school to allow them to hire an additional fifth grade teacher. Luckily my two don't have to move, but I wouldn't protest too much if they did. The end result will be a smaller class sizes all around.
As for the treats, well there was much fist pumping when I arrived in the cafeteria laden with all my baked goods. I gave out the cookies to Max's class first and amazingly only one got dropped. I had a several extras, four to be exact, so nobody was left out. Then it was time for the rather gooey cupcakes for Rebecca's table. One child declined, I think chocolate was not her thing, so she got a cookie instead.
The whole thing was a rousing success and I had enough cupcakes leftover to bring home for us to enjoy after dinner. The official birthday parties will be held in the next couple of weeks.
The large class sizes are, fortunately, coming to an end soon. The school was able to convince the school to allow them to hire an additional fifth grade teacher. Luckily my two don't have to move, but I wouldn't protest too much if they did. The end result will be a smaller class sizes all around.
As for the treats, well there was much fist pumping when I arrived in the cafeteria laden with all my baked goods. I gave out the cookies to Max's class first and amazingly only one got dropped. I had a several extras, four to be exact, so nobody was left out. Then it was time for the rather gooey cupcakes for Rebecca's table. One child declined, I think chocolate was not her thing, so she got a cookie instead.
The whole thing was a rousing success and I had enough cupcakes leftover to bring home for us to enjoy after dinner. The official birthday parties will be held in the next couple of weeks.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunset on a Busy Weekend
Between band, soccer, and lacrosse I logged a lot of miles this weekend.
It all started with a game Friday night. Rebecca's team was invited to be ball girls for the VCU women's match up. The girls were stationed along the edge of the field, each one in charge of a soccer ball. If a ball went out of bounds the nearest ball girl would hand her ball to the player and then chase down the errant ball. It got very cold, but the girls remained cheerful and had a grand time noshing on popcorn during halftime.
Then on Saturday it was soccer games for the dynamic duo, lacrosse tourney for Nate, and a band competition for Jacob. I did soccer duty while Larry dropped off Jacob and took Nate. It was a long day with Jacob's bus arriving an hour later than originally scheduled.
Today I was very thankful that it was not our turn for the Sunday school carpool, I happily pushed Max and Rebecca out the door at 8:30 and enjoyed a few hours of piece and quiet. Larry meanwhile took Nate to day two of lacrosse before heading out for a game of his own. It was up to me to collect Nate, which I did after Rebecca's rare Sunday afternoon game.
Everybody had a good time, but I think they will be glad this busy weekend is over when they head back to school.
It all started with a game Friday night. Rebecca's team was invited to be ball girls for the VCU women's match up. The girls were stationed along the edge of the field, each one in charge of a soccer ball. If a ball went out of bounds the nearest ball girl would hand her ball to the player and then chase down the errant ball. It got very cold, but the girls remained cheerful and had a grand time noshing on popcorn during halftime.
Then on Saturday it was soccer games for the dynamic duo, lacrosse tourney for Nate, and a band competition for Jacob. I did soccer duty while Larry dropped off Jacob and took Nate. It was a long day with Jacob's bus arriving an hour later than originally scheduled.
Today I was very thankful that it was not our turn for the Sunday school carpool, I happily pushed Max and Rebecca out the door at 8:30 and enjoyed a few hours of piece and quiet. Larry meanwhile took Nate to day two of lacrosse before heading out for a game of his own. It was up to me to collect Nate, which I did after Rebecca's rare Sunday afternoon game.
Everybody had a good time, but I think they will be glad this busy weekend is over when they head back to school.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Sideways
Last Sunday I was kicking around Beth Ahabah, at loose ends waiting for the bell to ring. I was waiting for Max and Rebecca to finish up their classwork at Hebrew school before whisking them off to Rebecca's soccer game.
I have passed by this view dozens of times, but never really noticed until now. It is a rather different view of the front edifice via a very oblique angle. When I truly saw the view it stopped me in my tracks. I dug out my cell phone and I think got a fairly decent shot.
I have passed by this view dozens of times, but never really noticed until now. It is a rather different view of the front edifice via a very oblique angle. When I truly saw the view it stopped me in my tracks. I dug out my cell phone and I think got a fairly decent shot.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Plaited
Rebecca had soccer practice today and the big question before I take her is pony tail or braid. After years of battling she has realized that long, loosely flowing hair and soccer do not mix. So now she tolerates the brushing out and gathering up of her tresses.
Which brings us back to the question: braid or pony tail?
Today she wanted three braids in a braid or, as I called it, a mega-braid.
This was a first for her and once I started it dawned on her that this would be an even longer process than normal. She fidgeted for a bit, but soon settled as each braid was made.The end result I thought was quite pretty and I took a few pictures so she could see my handy work. I think she agrees since she didn't immediately pull it all out once we were back home.
Which brings us back to the question: braid or pony tail?
Today she wanted three braids in a braid or, as I called it, a mega-braid.
This was a first for her and once I started it dawned on her that this would be an even longer process than normal. She fidgeted for a bit, but soon settled as each braid was made.The end result I thought was quite pretty and I took a few pictures so she could see my handy work. I think she agrees since she didn't immediately pull it all out once we were back home.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Artist of the Week: Voice
Rebecca is this week's artist.
I took this picture of her, at her behest, waaay back in July. Max wanted pictures of him hiding in the tall grass. With his blond hair and the dried tops of the grasses, he quickly faded from view. It was a very easy assignment. Rebecca however wanted to be seen, just on her terms. Her request was a picture of her "behind a flower." So with a daisy in hand she found a spot to her liking and kneeled in the grass with her flower.
Her picture this week is not so much about visuals, but about voice. She had to illustrate the importance of a writer's voice.
I found the illustration while sorting through her school work. Tomorrow is recycling day and I wanted to pull as much unimportant pieces of paper as possible. I love the quizzical cat in the left hand picture. The dog, on the other hand, seems to have no issue with its legless state. Both pictures are very cute and are a fun way to illustrate the importance of voice.
I took this picture of her, at her behest, waaay back in July. Max wanted pictures of him hiding in the tall grass. With his blond hair and the dried tops of the grasses, he quickly faded from view. It was a very easy assignment. Rebecca however wanted to be seen, just on her terms. Her request was a picture of her "behind a flower." So with a daisy in hand she found a spot to her liking and kneeled in the grass with her flower.
Her picture this week is not so much about visuals, but about voice. She had to illustrate the importance of a writer's voice.
I found the illustration while sorting through her school work. Tomorrow is recycling day and I wanted to pull as much unimportant pieces of paper as possible. I love the quizzical cat in the left hand picture. The dog, on the other hand, seems to have no issue with its legless state. Both pictures are very cute and are a fun way to illustrate the importance of voice.
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Boy and His Dog
Nate loves the dogs and is inevitably in some way with them. He'll set up a comfy spot on a chair next to him, he"ll be down on the floor rolling about, or call them up to join him when it"s bedtime.
In this picture he was beneath my chair with John. I thought they looked cute together and grabbed my camera for a couple of blind shots. I was just holding out my camera and guessing where to point the lens. Apparently I had a good idea of where they were and got this rather thoughtful moment as they gaze into each other's eyes.
In this picture he was beneath my chair with John. I thought they looked cute together and grabbed my camera for a couple of blind shots. I was just holding out my camera and guessing where to point the lens. Apparently I had a good idea of where they were and got this rather thoughtful moment as they gaze into each other's eyes.
Monday, October 08, 2012
Sunday, October 07, 2012
What to Do with Key Limes
I've blogged about key lime cheesecake before, but dang... this one came out so pretty. I just had to share.
The cheesecake came about for two reasons, my in-laws were visiting for the weekend and I had picked up a bag of key limes. It was a toss up between cheesecake or pie and the cheesecake won out. I ended up calling Larry at work and had him pick. It was just as good as I remembered and was a huge hit with all those over the age of thirty in the house.
The cheesecake came about for two reasons, my in-laws were visiting for the weekend and I had picked up a bag of key limes. It was a toss up between cheesecake or pie and the cheesecake won out. I ended up calling Larry at work and had him pick. It was just as good as I remembered and was a huge hit with all those over the age of thirty in the house.
Friday, October 05, 2012
Project MCP: Cozy
Cozy is the second challenge for October and I think this picture fills the bill very nicely.
I wasn't quite sure how I was going to portray cozy, since the heat has come back here in Virginia. I know it's far cooler now than a month ago, but after a week or so of mid 70s, 80 plus is too hot. The one saving grace is that it cools down substantially each night, so it is a bit chill in the morning. As a result, Rebecca could be found the other morning wrapped up in a cozy blanket while not getting ready for school.
I wasn't quite sure how I was going to portray cozy, since the heat has come back here in Virginia. I know it's far cooler now than a month ago, but after a week or so of mid 70s, 80 plus is too hot. The one saving grace is that it cools down substantially each night, so it is a bit chill in the morning. As a result, Rebecca could be found the other morning wrapped up in a cozy blanket while not getting ready for school.
Thursday, October 04, 2012
Project MCP: Shadows
The first Challenge for October was shadows which proved to be a bit tricky this week. The weather has been stuck on warm (dare I say hot), gloomy and rather damp. Which has made for foggy mornings and not a whole lot of sunshine for making shadows.
I did, however, get this picture of the red boys out in the woods. I like the play of light and dark on their bright red coats. It was just happenstance their positioning being so perfectly bracketed by the branch coming off of the log I was sitting on. It makes for an interesting composition.
I did, however, get this picture of the red boys out in the woods. I like the play of light and dark on their bright red coats. It was just happenstance their positioning being so perfectly bracketed by the branch coming off of the log I was sitting on. It makes for an interesting composition.
Wednesday, October 03, 2012
Artist of the Week: Still Reading
It's been about a year since I last bragged about Max's reading skills and I'm happy to report he is still going strong.
We just got his interim report card today and he has so far garnered an A in reading. Not bad for a kid in first grade who could barely read, who is now in 5th grade he is very happily reading The Hobbit.
I'm so grateful for his first grade teacher that recognized it was more of a case of boredom, nothing she could offer at his reading level interested him. She found us an excellent tutor and over the summer before 2nd grade she was able to get him moving. It was money and time well spent.
We just got his interim report card today and he has so far garnered an A in reading. Not bad for a kid in first grade who could barely read, who is now in 5th grade he is very happily reading The Hobbit.
I'm so grateful for his first grade teacher that recognized it was more of a case of boredom, nothing she could offer at his reading level interested him. She found us an excellent tutor and over the summer before 2nd grade she was able to get him moving. It was money and time well spent.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Baking With Julia- Whole Wheat Loaves
Now I was supposed to bake this last month, but it never happened. I was going to bake today's bread, Cranberry-Walnut Pumpkin loaves, however I didn't have all the ingredients and I felt too crappy to go out and buy them plus the dough needed to rest overnight. So instead of doing the whole wheat for the last week of October (the official make-up week) I swapped the two to fit my schedule.
Whew.
Not lets get down to brass tacks. Whole Wheat Loaves was scheduled for Sept.18th over at Tuesdays with Dorie or as I call it Baking with Julia, the two hosts were Veggie Nums Nums and The Family That Bakes Together. Both have full rundowns on the whole wheat loaves recipe.
I, like so many others, never did find the malt extract and used molasses in its staid. The resultant bread was still very tasty. Jake and Rebecca thought it was very good and far, far better than any store bought whole wheat. My picture doesn't do it justice, partially because it doesn't have the beautiful tall crown other bakers achieved. I was using large loaf pans the the dough got a bit lost in them. It did rise and produce a wonderfully chewy bread with a proper crust, it just should have been in a smaller pan. I think this will get me to go out and buy some proper bread pans. I will absolutely give this bread another try.
Whew.
Not lets get down to brass tacks. Whole Wheat Loaves was scheduled for Sept.18th over at Tuesdays with Dorie or as I call it Baking with Julia, the two hosts were Veggie Nums Nums and The Family That Bakes Together. Both have full rundowns on the whole wheat loaves recipe.
I, like so many others, never did find the malt extract and used molasses in its staid. The resultant bread was still very tasty. Jake and Rebecca thought it was very good and far, far better than any store bought whole wheat. My picture doesn't do it justice, partially because it doesn't have the beautiful tall crown other bakers achieved. I was using large loaf pans the the dough got a bit lost in them. It did rise and produce a wonderfully chewy bread with a proper crust, it just should have been in a smaller pan. I think this will get me to go out and buy some proper bread pans. I will absolutely give this bread another try.
Monday, October 01, 2012
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