Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
memorial tree
We stopped to look at this memorial tree yesterday on the side of the road, fully decorated from the branch tops with Christmas decorations. From the number of tiny bears and toys we expected to find it a memorial for a young child. When actually it was for a boy, 17, who died over a year ago. The back of the tree covered in many snapshots of him with friends, family and pets.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
a walk in the woods
I'm probably the last American to finally read this gem of a book. I loved it so much, I started again at the beginning as soon as I finished yesterday. Fred took this week off work and I was constantly interrupting him from his own book, so I could read passages aloud. He always complied, listened and laughed at the right places, even when I knew he was at a good part in his own book.
(The camera captures everything in mirrored image, the book: Bill Bryson, "A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering American on the Appalachian Trail")
(The camera captures everything in mirrored image, the book: Bill Bryson, "A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering American on the Appalachian Trail")
Thursday, December 27, 2007
sleepy head
this is me this week, sleeping in and reading by the fire!
"...oh Fred, let's order dinner out again, ok?"
"...oh Fred, let's order dinner out again, ok?"
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
merry christmas!
A relaxing day here, a lovely day for cooking and guilt free reading. The kids are enjoying their goodies, I think we lost a cat somewhere in the wrapping paper, but we'll find her again soon. We're heading out to the movies after dinner. The challenge will be to find a movie we can all agree upon, ahh, teenagers!
Monday, December 24, 2007
quiet chapel
We had such a nice rainy day out yesterday, and found some shelter from the rain in the Bryn Athyn cathedral.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
backyard
It's a bit odd to view the house from the outside looking back. Olivia at her computer, near the Christmas tree, Fred tweeking something in the basement, Rush doing his thing getting ready to go to Mandy's house. The dog out with me in the backyard, wondering what I'm doing, watching from her point of view.
moonlit trees
Tonight the sky was especially bright from the full moon, the clouds shooting by in a blur. The temperature near 60, it felt like a dream. So I grabbed my camera, my hot cappuccino, and headed to the backyard for a while to take it all in!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
blueberries
Still no snow, just cold and bare trees, so I'm still banished to the window light studio for my photo-a-day.
This morning Rush told me he heard strange noises in the middle of the night. The dog was barking really loud, and he was certain someone was in the backyard. He told me how scared he got and that he text-message his sister at 2am to let her know. She didn't reply however, he wondered what that was about.
Hmm, now what ever happened to knocking on the door, crawling into someone else's bed when frightened or even tapping on the wall that joined his room to his sister's. A text message from their cell phones? And he wonders why she didn't awake to answer it? Ahh, it's a new generation! Oh the backyard intruder? A raccoon I'm certain!
This morning Rush told me he heard strange noises in the middle of the night. The dog was barking really loud, and he was certain someone was in the backyard. He told me how scared he got and that he text-message his sister at 2am to let her know. She didn't reply however, he wondered what that was about.
Hmm, now what ever happened to knocking on the door, crawling into someone else's bed when frightened or even tapping on the wall that joined his room to his sister's. A text message from their cell phones? And he wonders why she didn't awake to answer it? Ahh, it's a new generation! Oh the backyard intruder? A raccoon I'm certain!
tree lights
I was running out of time, we'd had the tree a week, but it was still undecorated. I told Rush (14) that I'd give him ten bucks to put the lights on--but do it now before Dad gets home.
He got right to it, and came to get me when he finished. He was beaming with pride. Of course the first thing I noticed was that the bottom of the tree had only white lights, working up to color, packed in tight at the top. I told him it looked perfect and went to get my purse.
He got right to it, and came to get me when he finished. He was beaming with pride. Of course the first thing I noticed was that the bottom of the tree had only white lights, working up to color, packed in tight at the top. I told him it looked perfect and went to get my purse.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
cat and oranges
These oranges are special. They are the first grocery item that Olivia ever brought into our home without us asking her to get something. Not a snack for just her, but real food, that she bought--for everyone. This is big.
Yes, she's 17, and yes she happens to work part time at a grocery store, so I guess it's about time. It just surprised me to realize that maybe something shifted. Maybe the earth does revolve around the sun and not our oldest. The sweetest of oranges, she's growing up.
Yes, she's 17, and yes she happens to work part time at a grocery store, so I guess it's about time. It just surprised me to realize that maybe something shifted. Maybe the earth does revolve around the sun and not our oldest. The sweetest of oranges, she's growing up.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
boots
These are the warm boots I love. The ones that likely tip off that I'm really a California transplant, trying desperately to survive and enjoy Pennsylvania--even in winter.
..."hey lady, it's not that cold".
..."hey lady, it's not that cold".
Sunday, December 16, 2007
berries, pumpkins
No snow as I had hoped, though we had a gentle, steady rain. On this pajama day, I got as far outside as the patio table to view my pile of pumpkins, not yet rotten from halloween.
Today Fred made a fire for me, I made split pea soup for him. It's almost winter!
Today Fred made a fire for me, I made split pea soup for him. It's almost winter!
contraption, self
two cameras, one digital, capturing an image of the glass bubble-top viewfinder from the 1940's camera. The contraption is the housing of the two together, keeping light and reflections off the viewfinder itself.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
cat enters still life
He doesn't care that I'm working. The still life becomes the hot spot. The place in the sun. The center of attention. The only place to be. That's where he will settle.
two cats
Those cats know how to capture a sun beam it's amazing!
Last night Fred and I had a date, we left the kids at home, and made it official. I know it was an official date because I put on make-up.
Though I was tired of selecting trendy, tasty restaurants and then waiting so long to get a table, I told Fred, 'let's go somewhere really bad for dinner, so we don't have to wait so long'. I expected some push back, but got none, just a pleasant, 'ok'. And that's what we did, dinner was mildly fair, but we had a great time!
Last night Fred and I had a date, we left the kids at home, and made it official. I know it was an official date because I put on make-up.
Though I was tired of selecting trendy, tasty restaurants and then waiting so long to get a table, I told Fred, 'let's go somewhere really bad for dinner, so we don't have to wait so long'. I expected some push back, but got none, just a pleasant, 'ok'. And that's what we did, dinner was mildly fair, but we had a great time!
Friday, December 14, 2007
pretzel cat
How do they twist like that without breaking something? I'm still trying to figure how the right arm got over on that side. That's just freaky!
tucked in or out
oh great, we have run our errands this morning and are just finishing our Starbucks capuccinos when Fred comments on my boots. That's when I realize that somewhere between dressing my right and left sides, I changed my mind about being tucked in or out. I like both, but please not on the same day!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
afton pond
Yesterday afternoon, driving into town, I passed a nice house on the right, which caught my eye. In the driveway were two police cars. Standing in a circle talking were three officers speaking to a nicely dressed woman, the homeowner I presumed.
In the distance, near the house was her husband, still wearing his long black coat. He was lost in a daze--or shock it appeared. I spent a good part of last night wondering what they had discovered inside their home, upon returning from work.
In the distance, near the house was her husband, still wearing his long black coat. He was lost in a daze--or shock it appeared. I spent a good part of last night wondering what they had discovered inside their home, upon returning from work.
blackberries and kumquats
hey, another indoor, it's-cold-outside, photo. But today we're expecting lots of snow, yay! That will be fun for photo taking. Where are my boots?
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
sumo
Sumo is a funny cat, he insists on sleeping under the covers--all night long. It might have something to do with Fred keeping the thermostat just a little above what feels like 42F, I'm not certain. But that cat will stay deep under the covers until morning, blankets piled on, never on my legs, but always fully alongside.
Here's the bedtime routine, I'll be reading, the cat looking for the entrance, Fred will lift all the covers for the cat, and I'll complain, "...no, not fur to skin" and I'll create an alternative opening between layers.
It's not that's he's not clean, he's an indoor cat, I just don't want the cat touching me that close. It's enough he insists on constant contact with me all through the night, even when it gets far too hot. The trouble is this cat insists on licking. He won't do it to anyone else, just me. The undersides of my knees and insides of my elbows are his favorite spots. He'll lick until he falls asleep and makes a soggy mess. But just a sheet or blanket layer between us--and I can sleep in peace. Silly cat!
Monday, December 10, 2007
four apples left in rain
I almost tossed these four farm apples, they were starting to rot. Then I had the idea to put them in the snow --we were due for snow.
Three days later, no snow, just rain, which filled my dish.
Three days later, no snow, just rain, which filled my dish.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
val and rush
Rush picked out the perfect tree from the farm in town! They had a barrel with a fire for warming our hands, like they do each year. Fred bought us warm kettle corn. What a fun Sunday to be outdoors!
Saturday, December 08, 2007
my little book
yay, my first photo book. Of course this is a 'through the viewfinder' image of the book, so it looks backwards here--but it's really not!
I borrowed Fred's special fountain pen to sign and number my 100 copies. (ok, I haven't signed all, but I got to #18 so far!)
That special silver fountain pen I first used on the day I met Fred in the antique store, and he let me borrow it to write a note--but that's another story....
Copies and details of the book in my store http://www.valcox.com
I borrowed Fred's special fountain pen to sign and number my 100 copies. (ok, I haven't signed all, but I got to #18 so far!)
That special silver fountain pen I first used on the day I met Fred in the antique store, and he let me borrow it to write a note--but that's another story....
Copies and details of the book in my store http://www.valcox.com
Friday, December 07, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
little log cabin on the creek
I took the little log cabin to the creek today. It started to snow, I found a tree stump and waited for it to accumulate. My flashlight earned it's keep today by slipping in the front door.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
hot peppers
it's really kind of sad being the child of a photographer. Last night I went to the store for milk and a couple goodies, and I come back with, no milk, but peppers and other colorful objects, not for eating but for props.
I was embarrassed when Rush helped me unpack the groceries. He didn't say a word, just dutifully put everything away.
I was embarrassed when Rush helped me unpack the groceries. He didn't say a word, just dutifully put everything away.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
cats on table
Yes the cats do have the run of the house, they go whereever they like. Do we have company for dinner very often? Not anymore.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
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