Archive for the ‘Photostory Friday’ Category

Blogging This and That

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

This poor blog! I have not been posting very often, and I’m trying to figure out why. I think there is not just one cause, but a number of them, that have contributed to this sorry state of affairs.

  1. Like almost everyone out there, real life has been keeping me busier than usual.
  2. I have been conscientious about doing work in the here-and-now before doing this lovely creative work of writing a blog post.
  3. We have had so much sickness this winter/spring season. This means extra cleaning and laundry, or just not being able to do as much if I am the sickie.
  4. I think I got burned out doing the blog everyday thing with Blog 365 and just wanted to know that I really am not obligated to blog every day.
  5. For recreation, I have been spending more time on Facebook, keeping track of what friends are up to, and playing word games, and spending less time blogging. (If you are on Facebook, and especially if you enjoy playing Scrabble-type games, please add me as a friend!)
  6. Ever since the camera that I was comfortable using drowned in a lake (sigh!), my supply of pictures has decreased dramatically. We have only an old, persnickety, unreliable camera. My husband does know how to make it behave, so I must ask him to snap some photos for me. Without photos, I can’t participate in Wordful Wednesday or Photostory Friday, two of my favorites.

Well, there are lots of things I want to blog about, so, since I started this post with a list, I’ll continue in that manner. At least I can check back to this post to remind myself what to write about later!

  1. I need a picture of the designer laptop bag that I received today from Casauri.com. If you want to know what it looks like, go to their website and look for MS1412 Messenger Bag. Mine is the one with stripes. Founders and designers of the bags, Emily and Helena McHugh, provided this lovely item as a ‘Giveaway’ on my friend Grace’s blog, Sandier Pastures: Desert Living, Dubai Style. I still cannot believe that I won this lovely laptop bag. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Grace!
  2. Some pictures of the seeds sprouting on our living room window ledge need to be taken and posted. I told my friend Susiej, who sent me the seeds so that I could plant a Victory Garden of sorts, that I would do that. My husband is the one with the green thumb, so he is doing this project. If you are interested, you can also join the effort to grow a garden for your family’s use, and give the remainder to your local food bank. Susie is sponsoring this project.
  3. My blogging friend Linda of Remote Treechanger, nominated me for an award that I would like to accept. Linda lives in a remote area of Australia, and has interesting tales to tell of living simply in an area where you cannot just run to the store for everything. She reads and recommends interesting blogs from all over the world, so do check her out if you would like to peek at everyday life in other countries.
  4. I want to do some creative writing again. A poem is percolating somewhere, I just know it. I think it needs a digital photo for inspiration (hint, hint!).

Since I’m too tired to stay awake much longer, I bid you adieu! Thanks for stopping by for a virtual visit!

Photostory Friday

Friday, March 20th, 2009

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Today I had to come home two hours early from the school, due to coughing fits. I didn’t feel all that bad, but I couldn’t keep running out of class to cough.

Once I got home, stopped talking so much and had a couple hot drinks, I felt much better.

I called over to our daughter and son-in-law’s place to see if one of them could go to the fundraiser dinner at the middle school tonight in my place. Rick and I were scheduled to attend the 7pm sitting of the crab feed, but no way am I going to something like that when I might need to run out of the room to cough. Turns out Laura will be able to accompany her dad, and get to hear Seth sing as part of the entertainment.

When Darren heard that I wasn’t feeling well, he asked, “You need some homemade chicken noodle soup? I made some.” Before I knew it, Darren was at our place, container of soothing soup in hand.

It was delicious. Hearty. Warming. Soothing. It’s another recipe Darren learned from his dad, but this time he didn’t share the recipe. All I have is this picture for you of Chicken Soup for the Sick Person’s Soul:

chicken-soup

The Mystery of the Self-sealing Sandwich Bag

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek


experiment

Our twelve-year old son is learning about molecular structures in his seventh-grade science class. I should be asking him about this experiment before posting, but he is out sailing with his dad right now, so I’ll have to try to remember what he said. (Though it’s Saturday morning, I’m posting this as a Photostory Friday.)

Here’s what you do.

First of all, fill a sealable plastic sandwich bag with water.

Next, poke a sharpened pencil quickly through the bag.

The puncture should pull tightly around the holes, preventing any leaking. We left this bag for hours, and it still had not leaked.

Can you guess the reason for this? As I recall, it has something to do with how long the molecular chains are for polymers (plastics). Since the long molecular chain is bound strongly together, it sort of tightens up around the hole.

When our son gets home, I’ll have him take a look at this post to see if I’ve remembered correctly.

See if this works for you!

Photostory Friday – Puddles

Friday, January 9th, 2009

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I’m enjoying a leisurely Friday morning.

I’ve had two excellent cups of coffee already, and a slice of toasted homemade bread. I’ve made a quick round of some of my favorite blog reads on Google Reader. I’ve read some chapters from the Bible online at Blue Letter Bible, and listened to my husband talk about Galatians 3, which he is reading this morning.

All of this I’ve done, but one USUAL happening for a weekday morning that I’ve not done is get ready for work. Our school district remains closed due to flooding. It’s not raining just now, so the flooded rivers and streams must be receding, but I guess some road cleanup remains to be done before school reopens.

We’re just fine here in our home on a hill, but here’s a pic from our walk yesterday DOWN the hill:

river-is-over-the-road

Two of my daughters standing in a ‘puddle’. It gets much deeper, as a neighbor in waders proved later on.

Photostory Friday – SNOW!

Friday, January 2nd, 2009

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Certain members of our family have really been enjoying our unusually chilly, snowy weather.

For one thing, we have the TIME to enjoy the snow, since the children have been out of school since December 18th.

For another thing, my husband enjoys using what we have on hand to create new playthings. Viola! We now own a homemade toboggan, which has made many runs down the steep slopes of the abandoned gravel pit down our road.

For yet another thing, our two-and-a-half year old grandson LOVES the snow. Those of us who aren’t too wild about the cold white stuff get a lot of enjoyment from seeing him have fun, and from looking at the cute pics his mommy takes of him.

That’s my story. SNOW. We have it. We have had it for two or so weeks. The children wish it would just keep falling.

rick-with-toboggan

Here is my husband with his newly-crafted toboggan.

toboggan

pulling-the-toboggan-uphill

sliding-hill

snowscape2

snowy-folks

ready-set

our-road2

snow

looking-in

patty-cat-kiss

snowscape

bald-eagle2

Do you see the bald eagle? We have so many of them around here. And, OOPS, I just realized that I didn’t post any pictures of our grandson in the snow. I’ll do that tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

Photostory Friday

Friday, December 5th, 2008

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Ya know, there’s a lot to be said for bonding with a child.

When you hold a child, give him or her kisses, talk to them, and give them food and drink when they need it, you just care about them more, somehow. The more you interact with the kidlet, the funnier and more endearing you find them.

For the past three years our daughter and son-in-law lived clear ‘cross country from us. I got to see lots of pictures of our grandson and granddaughter, but didn’t know them the way I do now, when they’re right here with us.

So that’s what I have for Photostory Friday: some cute photos of these cutie pies with whom I have been bonding.

Diederick loves to play outside, and go on walks with his mommy and me.

Here’s baby sister Carly, all bundled up for a walk, too.

Here’s Carly once again, lounging in the sunshine.

Here I am, holding Deeder. He is probably asking to see images of cows or dogs on Google Images.

Last picture: Our cat GiGi enjoys Carly’s play mat.

To participate in Photostory Friday, click on the button at the beginning of this post for all the info. you need!

Photostory Friday, the grandchildren edition

Friday, November 28th, 2008

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

We are enjoying a quiet, laid-back day here today, after the busy Thanksgiving day activities yesterday. I’ve made coffee about three times for our crew, all of whom got up late, at different times. The apple pie and apple crisp are now finished off, and a few of us have had lunch.

I’ve been enjoying myself, visiting many friends’ blogs, reading my Bible at Blue Letter Bible, and chatting with my husband. He just reminded me of all the WORK I wanted to get done today, too, so I’ll quickly post my Photostory Friday.

Our daughter and son-in-law, who have been staying with us after moving here from Vermont, have secured a great place to rent, close to friends and work. That means that very soon, we will no longer have the pleasure of live-in grandchildren.

In honor of the little sweeties, whom I enjoy hugging and kissing, here are a few pics for this week’s post.

Left to right: Granddaughter Carly, Grandson Diederick – looking very solemn (the poor guy’s been feeling under the weather) – and daughter Sarah (twin sister to Laura, Carly and Deeder’s mom) in the very corner of the photo

To participate in Photostory Friday, click on the button at the beginning of this post for all the info. you need!

Photostory Friday, Just Barely

Friday, November 21st, 2008

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I almost didn’t get to publish a post this windy evening. The power went off at about 8:30 this evening, along with our water. When I called Puget Sound Energy to record the outage, the recorded message let me know that power was off in scattered areas over a four-county area. It sounded serious to us, so after a brief time spent playing Pente by some and reading by lantern-light by others, we all decided to go to bed.

Just as I was about to turn off the lantern, I noticed a glow from downstairs; sure enough, the power was back on. That meant just one thing: I could still publish a blog post tonight!

My plan for today was to publish this 78 to 80 year old photo of my mom and her brother for Photostory Friday, so I’ll go with that. This photo was taken probably between 1928 to 1930, in Phoenix, Arizona. Don’t my mom and her brother look cute, two happy kids playing together?

I love this beautiful glimpse into the past, but it gets me thinking about life’s brevity. At one time they were carefree children, living like there was no tomorrow, but now both of these folks are very feeble and elderly. Many of their contemporaries have preceded them in death.

Perhaps because I’m tired, THAT thought reminds me of some beautiful song lyrics by Joni Mitchell to her song, ‘The Circle Game’ which speak eloquently of life’s seasons:

Yesterday a child came out to wonder
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, when you’re older, must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and dawn
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look behind
>From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game.

Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels thru the town
And they tell him,
Take your time, it won’t be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and dawn
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return we can only look behind
>From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game

So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur
coming true
There’ll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through.
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return, we can only look behind
>From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game


Photo Story Friday

Friday, October 31st, 2008

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

When our daughter Laura got married three years ago, she and her husband Darren moved east to Vermont, where grandson Diederick and granddaughter Carly were born. The times we saw one another were few and far between.

Just recently Laura, Darren and kiddos have moved to our ‘neck of the woods’, much to our joy. I’m enjoying the sweeties here and now.

During those three long years, how did we stay in touch?

By phone? Not much. Neither Laura nor I are big fans of spending time on the phone.

Writing letters? Beyond the birthday cards and gifts that crossed the country, No.

I’ll admit we did chat online, but that wasn’t the best of it.

During those years, I got to ‘see’ the daily goings-on of the little family, thanks to my daughter’s diligent posting on her blog. I would comment on the pictures and running commentary of their days, and Laura would read my blog as well, keeping track of the goings-on in her younger siblings’ lives. I was a ‘virtual’ gramma. Not quite the same as a gramma ‘in the flesh’, but still I know I was blessed.

Now that Laura and Darren and family are here, we enjoy our times together, but those blogs are still very important to us. We comment back and forth, and chronicle our days. It’s still a great way to keep in touch, on a level to which we have become accustomed.

The blogging buddies reunited



 

Photostory Friday – Diaper Duty

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

PhotoStory Friday
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

In this photo, taken about 16 years ago, our twin daughters, Sarah and Laura, are about seven years old. Off camera to the left is our oldest child, 9 years old at that time, and Debra sitting on the cushion, about two years old. The girls are stacking cloth diapers for baby Rebecca, who is child number seven. That’s right; when my oldest child was 9 years old, we had seven children, and I must say, though we were all busy, we enjoyed ourselves very much.

I am full of a tumble of thoughts, wishing I could explain in very few words (so as not to bore you) exactly what it was like, and why the children were helpful, obedient, creative and kind to one another. It took a lot of planning, persistence and hard work on my husband and my parts to accomplish this, and yet we enjoyed the children ever so much.

I am especially thankful that these “little people years” were home school years. Our schedule was unhurried. There was plenty of time for adequate sleep, for doing animal chores, for helping around the house, for playing outside, and for reading books together.

Here is a link to a little something I wrote when I first began blogging that explains some of my thoughts about interacting with the children. Here are some of my thoughts on encouraging creativity in children. As long as I’m at it, here are some things I appreciate about my family.

 


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