Wednesday, January 30, 2008

olivia

Last week it was discipline, 'you've got dishes for a week'.

olivia
Originally uploaded by valcox

Who knew she's do such a great job, the kitchen never looked better. Damn!

Seven days later, 'hey honey, you want to make some money? I'll pay you $25. every Wednesday if you do all the dishes and keep the kitchen spotless? 'Oh yeah' she said with a smile as I went for my purse.

17's a good age!

bowls stacked, glasses drying


bowls stacked, glasses drying
Originally uploaded by valcox

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Monday, January 28, 2008

my sister cooking


my sister cooking
Originally uploaded by valcox
Sabrina is visiting from Vermont, and last night she made from scratch tiny pizzas. We all got to prepare our own toppings., though she forewarned us that simple is usually best. No one listened--we heaped the ingredients on until our pizzas were nearly at thick as they were wide. They were amazing, each a little different.

My favorite? The little one she made just for me with the simplest of ingredients, a little goat cheese, a leaf or two of basil, a thin slice of tomato, a sprinkling of pine nuts. She was right.

japanese bowls


japanese bowls
Originally uploaded by valcox

Friday, January 25, 2008

dog


dog
Originally uploaded by valcox
busy, busy, I really will be back with things to say...another day!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

hydrangia


hydrangia
Originally uploaded by valcox

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

clock


clock
Originally uploaded by valcox

Monday, January 21, 2008

cat in sunbeam


cat in sunbeam
Originally uploaded by valcox
ahh, to lounge in a sunbeam all morning, that's my idea of a holiday.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Saturday, January 19, 2008

red wall


red wall
Originally uploaded by valcox

Thursday, January 17, 2008

log cabin


log cabin
Originally uploaded by valcox

apple barrel


apple barrel
Originally uploaded by valcox
busy, busy, I'll be back soon!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Monday, January 14, 2008

plums through ground glass


plums through ground glass
Originally uploaded by valcox

rabbit in ground glass


rabbit in ground glass
Originally uploaded by valcox

Today was week two, day three of my beginner yoga class. We primarily worked on breathing exercises today--it's pretty interesting.

Last Thursday, right before class, I saw one of my classmates outside the building. She watched me coming from across the street at Starbuck's, cappuccino in hand. When we caught up, she expressed her shock that I was drinking coffee before yoga.

Well why not? (oh course, I said nothing) I thought of this all week. So this morning, I went without, planning to get the cappuccino after class instead. Never again, between yawning and nearly falling asleep twice, I could never quite clear my mind of what I missed, that morning routine I enjoy so. Next time, I follow my heart and body and do what I want. Cappuccino before yoga? If that's what I desire, darn right, that's what I do!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

onions


onions
Originally uploaded by valcox

Saturday, January 12, 2008

man with dog


man with dog
Originally uploaded by valcox
Oh how Savannah loves Fred. I can't believe we've had her ten years already!

raindrop


raindrop
Originally uploaded by valcox

Friday, January 11, 2008

Thursday, January 10, 2008

olivia


olivia
Originally uploaded by valcox
She's so independant, I didn't remember that she was taking a day off school for an FBLA competition/test on 'Parlimentary Proceedures'. She bounded into the house this afternoon, victorious. Gee, I knew she was studying for something. I guess at 17, they don't tell us all the details of their lives.

I suspect at dinner tonight, she'll still be wearing around her neck, the first place ribbon she brought home today.

star fruit at night


starfruit
Originally uploaded by valcox

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

open doors


testing a viewfinder
Originally uploaded by valcox
The weather was so nice today, I opened all the doors and windows. The outdoor dog came in. The indoor cats went out. Everyone is happy.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

star fruit pair


star fruit pair
Originally uploaded by valcox

Dot our spotted calico


Dot our spotted calico
Originally uploaded by valcox
We had a wonderfully warm day, a bit unexpected for Pennsylvania, so I opened all the doors and windows. Dot ventured out to the granite slab on the patio, warmed from the sun.

Monday, January 07, 2008

lemon on blue


lemon
Originally uploaded by valcox

driving lessons


driving lessons
Originally uploaded by valcox
Today was a beautiful weather day, it reached nearly 70 degrees. I suppose in Pennsylvania that means we'll have snow tomorrow.

Olivia and I took the opportunity this afternoon to practice her driving, now that she has her learner's permit. Round and round in the neighborhood, hand over hand turning, remember the turn signals, watch that mailbox. Ahh, there's so much to learn.

She's quite cautious so we're working on getting her speed above 15mph. Ahh, in time I guess!

Sunday, January 06, 2008

red grapefruit, kumquats


red grapefruit, kumquats
Originally uploaded by valcox

savannah


savannah
Originally uploaded by valcox
Savannah is 10, she never holds still, and she hates to have her photo taken. She prefers the backyard to the indoors, and when I go outside, she takes off running to the edge of the property to show me she's working. Scaring squirrels up trees and the family of wild rabbits under the big cherry tree into their burrows. Boy can she run!

This is my first non-blurry photo of Savannah. I finally learned the secret--there is a glass door between us. The sun is setting, I can see the glow on her fur. She thinks it's supper time, so she's getting in close to the glass door to see if I'm going for the food bin. Nope, not this time girl, I'm taking pictures!

Saturday, January 05, 2008

red pears


red pears
Originally uploaded by valcox

Friday, January 04, 2008

cream nut candies


cream nut candies
Originally uploaded by valcox
I had to have these candies. I know, only 5 chocolates in a box and the price seemed high, $10.95, so I didn't show him that part. It was a small grocery store, afterall. Fred said, 'but you'll eat them'. Yes, I know, that's the idea, but I'll photograph the box first, and I did.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

stone house


stone house
Originally uploaded by valcox
Fred took the rest of the week off work, so this morning we casually drove the 20 miles to go to a favorite coffee house in Lambertville NJ. Sometimes I can't help but eavesdrop on another conversation--even stopping Fred in his own conversation, so I can listen better. I know it makes him crazy when I do this, but this one overhead today made me laugh. Two young men talking:

"In order to graduate on time, I had to double up on my gym classes. The only trouble was, they were not back to back, so I had to change clothes twice."

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

yardley post office


mail boxes
Originally uploaded by valcox

apples, red green


apples red green
Originally uploaded by valcox
The kids are back in school after the long winter break and they didn't miss the morning bus. I awoke at 8:30, having missed the morning activity, to find the house quiet, and a cat or two asleep in a sunbeam. A great start to the new year!

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

stone house berries


stone house berries
Originally uploaded by valcox
It was a beautiful day to walk around our small town. The sky was blue, the rains had cleared and everything was still except for the Starbucks on the pond, and some boys riding their bikes. My kind of day!

lamb night light


lamb night light
Originally uploaded by valcox

This morning I found a little night light on the top shelf of our closet. Fred said it belonged to him as a baby, it's leg was broken years ago. He put in a new bulb so I could see the calming glow.