Friday, February 29, 2008

grandma young


grandma
Originally uploaded by valcox
so sad, my mom lost her mom today.

93 years, yet we used to tease her that she would outlive us all. A good life, a happy life, lived well.

Kids, grandkids, great-grandkids scurrying cross-country to meet on short notice. She would have loved that we are all getting together in Utah. It's a shame she'll missed it--and by only a few days.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

caged flowers, bird


caged flowers, bird
Originally uploaded by valcox

Fred brought this brass bird cage home years ago. I have no idea why, we don't have a bird.

Just in case he got an idea that we might need one, I placed a stuffed bird on the swing, added some flowers below and found a place for it all on top of the basement freezer. The first thing you see coming down the stairs.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

pink umbrella


pink umbrella
Originally uploaded by valcox

wilted fruit


wilted fruit
Originally uploaded by valcox
what a lovely texture, I can't get myself to throw these out. Yes, I guess I should have noticed this fruit in my studio going bad. Perhaps even made a fruit salad before it was too late. No, I didn't notice them in time, I was busy melting glass. Now I want to see how tiny they will shrink!

Monday, February 25, 2008

Sunday, February 24, 2008

let me in


let me in
Originally uploaded by valcox

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Thursday, February 21, 2008

onions on blue and green


onions on blue and green
Originally uploaded by valcox
I've been thinking these past days about something my friend Karen told me last year. She was packing family heirlooms in anticipation of a wind shift and fire storm. She said, "it's simple to select what's important if the fire is right there...just grab the kids and get out!"

"But what do you pack when you have an hour? What about a day?"

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

cat and mouse


cat and mouse
Originally uploaded by valcox
Sumo plays the cat, while the clawless white cat, Dot, always plays the mouse.

Monday, February 18, 2008

bowl of fruit, morning light


bowl of fruit, morning light
Originally uploaded by valcox
yay, we have nearly 70 degrees here today. That means it will snow tomorrow, I'm certain. Off to the great outdoors with my camera!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Friday, February 15, 2008

night stand


night stand
Originally uploaded by valcox
we had the nicest Valentine's dinner last night, an early dinner at a favorite Indonesian restaurant in Princeton. Four amazing appetizers made up our meal, with a doggy bag for later.

My regular coconut drink was not available, so they brought the substitute, a jumbo coconut on a platter of orchids, with a pink umbrella hanging over the side. While shows of big plated, oversized, on-fire food or drink usually embarrasses me enough to send it away, this time I took it in both hands, despite the stares from the neighboring tables, I smiled at Fred and thanked the waiter.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Monday, February 11, 2008

dresser in the window


window dresser
Originally uploaded by valcox
Except for the noise of the passing cars, I think I could take a nap in the comfy window displays of the 'Black Eyed Susan' store.

Friday, February 08, 2008

bowl


bowl
Originally uploaded by valcox

Each time I do the family grocery shopping I look for something special for myself. Visions of lovely still lives, I take 10 minutes in the produce department choosing just the right specimen, shape, color. It's all very fun until I get to the checkout.

That's when I learn no checker remembers the code because no one in this large market has ever come across the items I select. Then they ask me what they are. I don't want to admit that I bought them for the texture. 'Tamillo?' There are many ways to pronouce this when you live in Pennsylvania. I try several pronounciations myself and get blank stares.

The implied value goes up, but I'm not leaving without them. I offer to check the price, no they don't want me to leave the line. I'll pay anything, so I make up a number. 'I think they are $2.99 a lb'. Good enough.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

new boy scout

Rush is loving Troop 10. I'm getting practice sewing on badges. This is a very time consuming job, but I just happen to have khaki colored thread--so I dive in with enthusiasm. After I finish handstitching a badge, I notice it's a askew, not quite as straight or centered as it should be. Rush doesn't notice, I get a hug for each, he thinks they look perfect!

new boy scout
Originally uploaded by valcox

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

trees


sunset trees
Originally uploaded by valcox
Today was a day for living in Pennsylvania--especially a winter day in February, where the temperature reached over 70 degrees and graced us with a vibrant sunset!

Today my married name became official. Yes, we were married in the 1990's, I just never bothered to register my name with social security. I took Fred along just in case, along with my passport, all the forms, and the original marriage license I stumbled upon last week--the missing puzzle piece that kept me from remembering to do this small (yet important) task.

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Sunday, February 03, 2008

barrel beads


barrel beads
Originally uploaded by valcox

flameworking


flameworking
Originally uploaded by valcox
It feels good to be melting glass once again, though I enjoyed the break and feel refreshed. The trick is to get my hands to cooperate with me and recall what once came naturally.

Saturday, February 02, 2008

one bad apple


one bad apple
Originally uploaded by valcox
this is what happens when you buy small fruit for photography, not lunch, then you get busy melting glass and forget about the props you left in the window.

My thumbmark makes me laugh--yes, I'd say this one is past it's prime.