Monday, December 31, 2007

Sunday, December 30, 2007

memorial tree


memorial tree
Originally uploaded by valcox
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

diner


diner
Originally uploaded by valcox
chocolate milk shakes and steak sandwiches, enjoyed at the counter. A fun day out today.

Friday, December 28, 2007

a walk in the woods


walk in the woods
Originally uploaded by valcox
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")

Thursday, December 27, 2007

sleepy head


sleepy head
Originally uploaded by valcox
this is me this week, sleeping in and reading by the fire!

"...oh Fred, let's order dinner out again, ok?"

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

christmas dinner


christmas dinner
Originally uploaded by valcox

merry christmas!


christmas morning
Originally uploaded by valcox
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

cathedral berries


cathedral berries
Originally uploaded by valcox

stained glass


stained glass
Originally uploaded by valcox

quiet chapel


chapel
Originally uploaded by valcox
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


moonlit house
Originally uploaded by valcox
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


moonlit trees
Originally uploaded by valcox
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


blueberries
Originally uploaded by valcox
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!

tree lights


tree lights
Originally uploaded by valcox
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.

on the fence


on the fence
Originally uploaded by valcox

Friday, December 21, 2007

dominos


domino
Originally uploaded by valcox

Thursday, December 20, 2007

cat and oranges


cat and oranges
Originally uploaded by valcox
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.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

red pears


red pears
Originally uploaded by valcox
busy, busy, no time to talk.

I doubt this picture will carry a thousand words, but it might get me fifty. And that will do.

not me


not me
Originally uploaded by valcox
...no, it wasn't me. I didn't touch anything. It was the dog.

Monday, December 17, 2007

boots


boots
Originally uploaded by valcox
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".

Sunday, December 16, 2007

berries, pumpkins


berries, pumpkins
Originally uploaded by valcox
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!

contraption, self


contraption, self
Originally uploaded by valcox
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

I ate each one


I ate each one
Originally uploaded by valcox
...and they were wonderful!

cat enters still life


cat enters still life
Originally uploaded by valcox
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


two cats
Originally uploaded by valcox
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!

Friday, December 14, 2007

peppers outside


peppers outside
Originally uploaded by valcox

pretzel cat


pretzel cat
Originally uploaded by valcox
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


tucked in or out
Originally uploaded by valcox
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


afton pond
Originally uploaded by valcox
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.

blackberries and kumquats


blackberries and kumquats
Originally uploaded by valcox
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


cat
Originally uploaded by valcox

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


four apples left in rain
Originally uploaded by valcox
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.

kumquats at night


kumquats at night
Originally uploaded by valcox
I love that word kumquats, I keep saying it over and over. Fred told me to stop.

Sunday, December 09, 2007

val and rush


val and rush
Originally uploaded by valcox
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!

kumquats in red on orange


kumquats in red on orange
Originally uploaded by valcox

Saturday, December 08, 2007

my little book


my little book
Originally uploaded by valcox
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

Friday, December 07, 2007

name that photo


cat touch
Originally uploaded by valcox
...leave a comment, name that photo!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

blueberries on pink


blueberries on pink
Originally uploaded by valcox
yum, more blueberries, time for pancakes!

little log cabin on the creek


little log cabin on the creek
Originally uploaded by valcox
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

blueberries on blue


blueberries on blue
Originally uploaded by valcox
yum, each shot had fewer and fewer blueberries, as I nibbled....

cat enters still life


cat enters still life
Originally uploaded by valcox
silly cat, he's always in the middle of everything!

hot peppers


hot peppers
Originally uploaded by valcox
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.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

cats on table


cats on table
Originally uploaded by valcox
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

raspberries


raspberries
Originally uploaded by valcox
the little snow we had melted, but I'm sure it will be back another day.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

first snow, pumpkins


first snow, pumpkins
Originally uploaded by valcox
ohh, our first snow of the season, I love it!

Saturday, December 01, 2007