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.

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

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

name that photo

cat touch
Originally uploaded by valcox

...leave a comment, name that photo!

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.

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.

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.

raspberries

raspberries
Originally uploaded by valcox

the little snow we had melted, but I'm sure it will be back another day.

first snow, pumpkins

first snow, pumpkins
Originally uploaded by valcox

ohh, our first snow of the season, I love it!

cat in leaves

cat in leaves
Originally uploaded by valcox

pink house

pink house
Originally uploaded by valcox

sumo

cat
Originally uploaded by valcox

red wall

red wall
Originally uploaded by valcox

Rush told me about this old building where the kids roam. Ignore the no trespassing signs he told me. He drew me a map of the entrance. It was right where he said it would be. The entrance hole was small, sized for a kid. My coat got caught, my right knee muddy, but I slipped in. A little scary, but the colors beautiful.

door

door
Originally uploaded by valcox

the little creek behind the ice house

the little creek behind the ice house
Originally uploaded by valcox

neighbor's house in fog

neighbor's house in fog
Originally uploaded by valcox

Last night it was so warm and foggy it felt like in a dream. I urged Fred when he got home from work to change clothes so we could go for a walk before dinner. We did, but he forgot his hat, I had my hood, it started to drizzle, so we turned back after a couple blocks. The sun was down, but the sky was mysteriously blue.

Weather like this makes me long for a fire and hot cocoa with little marshmallows on top.

cat on the birdbath

...
Originally uploaded by valcox

sumo makes the leap

..
Originally uploaded by valcox

grapes

grapes
Originally uploaded by valcox

butterbean

guinea pig roasting on wood pile
Originally uploaded by valcox

Guinea pig resting by the fire.

He's not spoiled.

yellow trees

yellow trees
Originally uploaded by valcox

two photos today, because I couldn't quite decide...

blue wall

blue wall alley
Originally uploaded by valcox

We had such a nice holiday! Today Fred and I had a leisurely day in Doylestown. The temperatures in the 60's we enjoyed all week is a thing of the past. I was bundled up and still cold! We walked and I took photos, we had lunch at a new Indian restaurant. Spicy food the day after Thanksgiving is a tradition for us. It makes turkey left-overs bearable.

thanksgiving

thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by valcox

cranberries

cranberries
Originally uploaded by valcox

...still cooking, the kids are helping too, yay!

lady apples

lady apples
Originally uploaded by valcox

there's lots of cooking going on here!

over there

over there
Originally uploaded by valcox

red marbles

red marbles
Originally uploaded by valcox

wow, we had the nicest, most relaxing weekend. Fred built a fire Sunday morning that lasted all day and night. He stacked an entired cord of firewood, I must have been out running errands. He went all around the house, in and out, and changed spent lightbulbs, he even asked for a shopping list and went to the grocery store to get all the food needed for Thanksgiving dinner. Yea, I'm looking forward to cooking and I'm not one bit tired.

I did find a dish of marbles last night. Marbles I had given to him as gifts over the years, but I always managed to reclaim. This time I gave them back, 'here honey are those marbles you lost, I guess I had them'. Then I borrowed the bowl of marbles back again to photograph these two, but I'll give them back. I promise.

leaf creek

leaf creek
Originally uploaded by valcox

pigs at the fire

pigs at the fire
Originally uploaded by valcox

Fred built a fire this morning. The pigs gathered 'round. Life is good! Where are the carrots?

red tree

red tree
Originally uploaded by valcox

dot in shadow

dot in shadow
Originally uploaded by valcox

glass spheres

glass spheres
Originally uploaded by valcox

rainy day

rain fruit
Originally uploaded by valcox

It's warm and rainy and the autumn colors are at their peak. I love living in Pennsylvania! It's days like this that I'm reminded that leaving California was the best decision I ever made.

spotted cat

spotted cat
Originally uploaded by valcox

floating leaves

floating leaves
Originally uploaded by valcox

Today I went to the pond next to Starbucks. I was tempted to drive by the cottage, to see if the ducks were on the lawn. But I didn't want to miss them later, so I turned right instead of left. Cappucino in hand, I met up with the geese at the pond, maybe a name will come for one or two. Many fall leaves were floating on the surface, a clear sky reflecting the trees above.

bowl of yarn

bowl of yarn
Originally uploaded by valcox

busy day, letting the photo carry the words today!

rush

rush
Originally uploaded by valcox

Last night, as Rush was heading out the door with friends, I reminded him it was Sunday night. Trash night. Oh my, nothing like the dishes duty he'd had for four days following Halloween--a night he was too busy to remember the trash, to not want that punishment again so soon.

So I got three very sincere 'thank you's' of relief for reminding him as he stopped everything to get the trash cans to the road. I never thought I'd hear those words associated with his chores--or see so much enthusiasm as he did it. Fred and I had to chuckle!

yellow trees

yellow trees
Originally uploaded by valcox

There are 3 trees down the street from us that hold onto their showy leaves longer than any other trees around. Fred and I were returning from some errands and rounding the corner to our street when I shouted for him to stop the car right there. He knows the routine now.

We were so close to home, I guess I really didn't need for him to wait in the car for 10 minutes while I took these, but the light was just right. Besides I've learned that when you go back later, (if you go back at all), that freqently the scene is not the same as that moment when it first caught your attention and forced you to take notice and act.

autumn trees of front neighbor

autumn trees
Originally uploaded by valcox

looking over

over the edge
Originally uploaded by valcox

red berries

red berries
Originally uploaded by valcox

All's well here, I'm back to work at a slow steady pace, no hurrying and scurrying about.

I-think-I-can-I-think-I-can

typewriter
Originally uploaded by valcox

I was so ready to hit the delete button on this darn frit book and take up a new hobby. I told Fred on the phone through tears that I didn't have it in me, all the time spent was a waste. I was sick of looking at it. In his usual supportive way, he made me feel resigned with my decision.

My mother, not so easy. I got the 'little engine' pep talk. She cited that story line, reminding me I am too close to stop now. Chugging along... I-think-I-can-I-think-I-can..."

cat on rug

cat on rug
Originally uploaded by valcox

Rainy day, I should be able to get a lot done today.

Election day, the kids have no school. I'll get nothing at all done today!

viewfinder

man
Originally uploaded by valcox

Fred is out of town for the week, so little things are different. I can leave my clothes, papers and sweaters on the bed, chair, floor and no one picks up after me. I like that. Now I know where they are. All the room fans are off, the windows are closed. I might even turn on the heater. I like it about 80 degrees inside, he likes it about 20 below, we compromise generally.

Last night, I ate dinner in the sitting room, I did take my dish downstairs, he would be happy. But not before I let Sumo have the leftovers. I watched a dvd movie called Pi, the two viewfinder cameras I set up in front of the screen obscured most of the tv screen but I watched it anyway. Until 3am. I don't think he would have approved of either of those.

Well that was fun for one day. Now I'm ready for him to come home!

cat curl

cat curl
Originally uploaded by valcox

oh boy, we're stocking up on firewood today, it's chilly, windy and I love days like this where I can curl up with a good book, a quilt, the kitty who insists on being under the quilt with me, the fire cracking.

american gothic

american gothic
Originally uploaded by valcox

I thought these 2 kids dressed up as the classic painting were just so clever! We didn't have too many trick-or-treaters come by, so unfortunately I will need to eat the remaining contents of this big bowl by the door. It will be my duty. And I don't even like gummy dots, but I keep grabbing at them.

Ok, I have a problem. I took a paragraph break, went to the kitchen to get some carrots for the guinea pigs. Did I grab a handful of carrots for myself. No, I took the last two little boxes of Dots and ate them both. MIssion accomplished.