He wanted to use his "cute" shovel (anything that is small is "cute"). He's making piles of pine needles--his castles.
This last one is just classic Sinatra.
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No Longer Mundane
12 years ago
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sinatra Needed Some Attention
He needed some attention so we went outside and I took pictures. It's so nice to have a camera that can capture his expressions that are so him. Pardon the number of shots. I'm having fun with my new toy and love everything that comes out of the little black contraption. He liked being my guinea pig. I got lots of hugs and smooches during our little photo shoot.
He wanted to use his "cute" shovel (anything that is small is "cute"). He's making piles of pine needles--his castles.
This last one is just classic Sinatra.
.JPG)
He wanted to use his "cute" shovel (anything that is small is "cute"). He's making piles of pine needles--his castles.
This last one is just classic Sinatra.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Rototiller
Jon went thirty minutes south of town to pick up a rototiller for the campus. He can thank his mom for his love of yard/garden work. The rototiller conjures up all kinds of memories for him because he had a big one like this when he worked with his mom in her garden.
Now he's bringing this sentimental contraption to the college where he will put it to good use. They just put in a community garden, and a few weeks ago he started a kitchen garden for the food service provider. The provider is very good about buying from local growers, but the on-campus plot will grow herbs and a few veggies for seasonal use.
Next year, Jon is planning on plowing up a field that the campus owns and putting in a large organic plot and a greenhouse for growing hydroponic veggies. Should be a fun adventure for him since he loves it so much. He is, of course, excited about the benefits he will "harvest" for the college too.
Now he's bringing this sentimental contraption to the college where he will put it to good use. They just put in a community garden, and a few weeks ago he started a kitchen garden for the food service provider. The provider is very good about buying from local growers, but the on-campus plot will grow herbs and a few veggies for seasonal use.
Next year, Jon is planning on plowing up a field that the campus owns and putting in a large organic plot and a greenhouse for growing hydroponic veggies. Should be a fun adventure for him since he loves it so much. He is, of course, excited about the benefits he will "harvest" for the college too.
Sugar and Shakespeare
Sweet as Sugar!
And then there's...
He's looking at a sunflower seed from the garden.
He looked at the first picture I took of him and thought he was pretty funny.
Hence, the comedy routine that actually succeeded in being funny.
Especially this gem!
And then there's...
He's looking at a sunflower seed from the garden.
He looked at the first picture I took of him and thought he was pretty funny.
Hence, the comedy routine that actually succeeded in being funny.
Especially this gem!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
My Surprise
Jon told me to be ready to go to our friend's house in 30 min. I got the kids ready. Jon got home and told me that he had to take a shower (he was filthy) before he joined us, but that I should just go on ahead because they were waiting. Then he backed the van out of the garage, turned it around, and parked it in the garage tail end first. Odd.
I forgot something so I dashed inside. When I came out, the kids were running all over the place. As I gathered my flock, Sinatra kept pointing to the side yard and yelling something. Finally I made out the little guy's words, "We got a Jeep!" I went to the side yard and there was a Jeep with a tarp thrown over it. They were not supposed to have discovered that. The surprise was ruined--just a little.
Jon came down and we loaded kids in the van, but my slightly dejected sweetheart took Sinatra and drove off to the friend's house without saying a word about the Jeep. Now I was wondering if I would forever associate the memory of getting a Jeep with the uncomfortable passive aggressive anger of my husband. We had talked about the possibility of this for years, but had always come to the conclusion that it would be way too impractical. Odd--he's not the passive aggressive type. I pulled out of the garage FORWARD, so as not to see the hiding spot, and joined Jon at our friend's house.
We dropped the kids because Jon had arranged for the two of us (and Sugar) to go Jeeping and to dinner while our friends babysat. We loaded in and took off with the wind in our hair. He still wasn't talking. I asked direct questions about the Jeep. It had 132,000 miles on it--how much did you get for your truck and how much did you pay for this? No answer. Did you buy it from a friend or somewhere else? Do we own this? No answer. After 5 min. my anger reached ticked off level and I told him what I thought of his silence. He didn't seem angry though. In fact, he seemed rather pleased with himself. He smiled at me and didn't say a word--smug little rodent. Odd. Odd. Odd.
I tried to calm down and enjoy the ride. It was, after all, a Jeep with the top down on a beautiful evening. After 10 min. of this, he finally broke. He laughed and told me that the Jeep was on loan from a friend who wanted to sell it. "Was that so hard, Jon?" I asked. "Why wouldn't you answer my questions?"
"I just wanted to see how you would have taken it if I had really pulled something like that--you did pretty good," (Unedited...I would have corrected that last little word).
Glare. Sneer. Laugh. Really enjoy the ride.
We went north of town to a Mexican restaurant. When we got out, Jon was going to leave his duffel bag in the car. He said that it would probably be okay. "What? No way. Take it in," I insisted. Towels and swimsuits aren't too expensive, but why risk it.
We sat down and ate. When I had finished eating, Jon opened the bag and started rummaging around--crinkling plastic. Odd. He pulled a box out and set in in front of me. It took a moment to register, then I dropped my jaw and was speechless. When I found words they were so eloquent--"No way. No way!! No way!!! I can't believe you got me one!"
Okay, let's cut to the chase. It's a Nikon D60 Digital SLR. It's a really nice camera for an amateur. I've wanted one for so long, but never could justify the price tag. Feed the kids for two months or buy a camera? It had always been a tough choice, but we'd always chosen the kids. Apparently, my husband thought that we just might manage to do both.
The camera came with a 18-55mm VR lens (nice and basic), but Hubs added a 55-200mm VR (telephoto) lens too.
I actually cried--no boo-hooing, but watery eyes and emotion. Then I smiled the rest of the night.
Of course, they don't make it so that you can play with the toy right away. I had to charge the battery overnight. And then the next day was one that I am glad I will never have to repeat. So I finally got out my camera tonight and started taking shots. The light had faded outside so these are all inside in the fake light. What an upgrade!!! I can't wait to snap away in the daylight.
About the Jeep--we're considering it. I think it's horribly impractical, but wonderfully fun.
What a nice, non-passive aggressive husband I have.
Macro setting.
Picture using pop-up flash--notice harsh shadows. Have a plan to remedy all that.
Picture set to no flash and high ISO (kind of works like the speed of film you would buy). A bit of blur, but really sharp compared with what I've been using. You can really see the difference between the flash and no flash shots if you click on the picture. Also, you could take my fingerprint from that macro shot--without a macro lens even!
Here's what Popcorn thinks--two thumbs up. He just can't wait to see the shots his mom gets when the sun pops up tomorrow.
I forgot something so I dashed inside. When I came out, the kids were running all over the place. As I gathered my flock, Sinatra kept pointing to the side yard and yelling something. Finally I made out the little guy's words, "We got a Jeep!" I went to the side yard and there was a Jeep with a tarp thrown over it. They were not supposed to have discovered that. The surprise was ruined--just a little.
Jon came down and we loaded kids in the van, but my slightly dejected sweetheart took Sinatra and drove off to the friend's house without saying a word about the Jeep. Now I was wondering if I would forever associate the memory of getting a Jeep with the uncomfortable passive aggressive anger of my husband. We had talked about the possibility of this for years, but had always come to the conclusion that it would be way too impractical. Odd--he's not the passive aggressive type. I pulled out of the garage FORWARD, so as not to see the hiding spot, and joined Jon at our friend's house.
We dropped the kids because Jon had arranged for the two of us (and Sugar) to go Jeeping and to dinner while our friends babysat. We loaded in and took off with the wind in our hair. He still wasn't talking. I asked direct questions about the Jeep. It had 132,000 miles on it--how much did you get for your truck and how much did you pay for this? No answer. Did you buy it from a friend or somewhere else? Do we own this? No answer. After 5 min. my anger reached ticked off level and I told him what I thought of his silence. He didn't seem angry though. In fact, he seemed rather pleased with himself. He smiled at me and didn't say a word--smug little rodent. Odd. Odd. Odd.
I tried to calm down and enjoy the ride. It was, after all, a Jeep with the top down on a beautiful evening. After 10 min. of this, he finally broke. He laughed and told me that the Jeep was on loan from a friend who wanted to sell it. "Was that so hard, Jon?" I asked. "Why wouldn't you answer my questions?"
"I just wanted to see how you would have taken it if I had really pulled something like that--you did pretty good," (Unedited...I would have corrected that last little word).
Glare. Sneer. Laugh. Really enjoy the ride.
We went north of town to a Mexican restaurant. When we got out, Jon was going to leave his duffel bag in the car. He said that it would probably be okay. "What? No way. Take it in," I insisted. Towels and swimsuits aren't too expensive, but why risk it.
We sat down and ate. When I had finished eating, Jon opened the bag and started rummaging around--crinkling plastic. Odd. He pulled a box out and set in in front of me. It took a moment to register, then I dropped my jaw and was speechless. When I found words they were so eloquent--"No way. No way!! No way!!! I can't believe you got me one!"
Okay, let's cut to the chase. It's a Nikon D60 Digital SLR. It's a really nice camera for an amateur. I've wanted one for so long, but never could justify the price tag. Feed the kids for two months or buy a camera? It had always been a tough choice, but we'd always chosen the kids. Apparently, my husband thought that we just might manage to do both.
The camera came with a 18-55mm VR lens (nice and basic), but Hubs added a 55-200mm VR (telephoto) lens too.
I actually cried--no boo-hooing, but watery eyes and emotion. Then I smiled the rest of the night.
Of course, they don't make it so that you can play with the toy right away. I had to charge the battery overnight. And then the next day was one that I am glad I will never have to repeat. So I finally got out my camera tonight and started taking shots. The light had faded outside so these are all inside in the fake light. What an upgrade!!! I can't wait to snap away in the daylight.
About the Jeep--we're considering it. I think it's horribly impractical, but wonderfully fun.
What a nice, non-passive aggressive husband I have.
Macro setting.
Picture using pop-up flash--notice harsh shadows. Have a plan to remedy all that.
Picture set to no flash and high ISO (kind of works like the speed of film you would buy). A bit of blur, but really sharp compared with what I've been using. You can really see the difference between the flash and no flash shots if you click on the picture. Also, you could take my fingerprint from that macro shot--without a macro lens even!
Here's what Popcorn thinks--two thumbs up. He just can't wait to see the shots his mom gets when the sun pops up tomorrow.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Best Hubby in the World
He often brings me flowers--doesn't have to be a special occasion--though this time it falls especially close to our 13th anniversary (Aug. 7). He bought me a mountain bike last year. Today he outdid himself. Let me just say that the man is generous. I have wanted this for years but have not found a way to justify spending so much when what I have already will do. You'll have to wait until later to find out what he did. This is just a teaser. Full story to come. I will tell you that when he gave it to me I dropped my jaw and was speachless, then cried, then smiled...the rest of the night.
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Smile
My mom and I Skype often. She has yet to see Sugar smile. So, here she is in all her glory!
This is what mom usually sees...
Coming...
Oh, yeah! There it is.
And open the mouth.
This is what mom usually sees...
Coming...
Oh, yeah! There it is.
And open the mouth.
Bounty
Guess what we have been making?
Aren't those jalapenos beautiful! We have one plant that is positively prolific. We pick pounds of peppers from our prolificly producing plant. Peter Piper probably would puff up with pride if he could pick from our prolific plant. Ha!
We grew so many Roma tomatoes this year. They have been wonderful for salsa. Jon slaved away over the stove and the smell was wonderful. He has somehow contented himself with using that little food processor that I use for making baby food. I told him that we probably need to upgrade to a full size.
I could make a wonderful marinara, but the inspiration hasn't hit yet. And in order to peel enough tomatoes for thee cups (Romas, mind you) you have to be inspired. In the meantime, I'll enjoy a tomato sandwich or just grab a chip and taste test to see if we need more jalapenos and red onions.
Aren't those jalapenos beautiful! We have one plant that is positively prolific. We pick pounds of peppers from our prolificly producing plant. Peter Piper probably would puff up with pride if he could pick from our prolific plant. Ha!
We grew so many Roma tomatoes this year. They have been wonderful for salsa. Jon slaved away over the stove and the smell was wonderful. He has somehow contented himself with using that little food processor that I use for making baby food. I told him that we probably need to upgrade to a full size.
I could make a wonderful marinara, but the inspiration hasn't hit yet. And in order to peel enough tomatoes for thee cups (Romas, mind you) you have to be inspired. In the meantime, I'll enjoy a tomato sandwich or just grab a chip and taste test to see if we need more jalapenos and red onions.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Visitors
My roommate from college, Sarah, came to visit this week. And I finally got to meet her daughter, Rebecca! Here they are jumping on the trampoline.
Rebecca is a beautiful, joyful toddler. We went to the park where our arms almost fell off before the little ones got off the swings.
Shakespeare can't keep to conventional playground use--must reach the highest heights.
Rebecca is a beautiful, joyful toddler. We went to the park where our arms almost fell off before the little ones got off the swings.
Shakespeare can't keep to conventional playground use--must reach the highest heights.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Dressed for Success
Jon has taken up wearing clogs to work. With the everyday polo and dress pants it's not too distracting, but this????...
These are his shoe of choice. Forget dress shoes. Not even loafers are good enough for him.
He must have the versatility of being able to garden and hold a meeting. Yes, he actually went to work like that--even after I made fun of him. At least he didn't wear the white ones.
These are his shoe of choice. Forget dress shoes. Not even loafers are good enough for him.
He must have the versatility of being able to garden and hold a meeting. Yes, he actually went to work like that--even after I made fun of him. At least he didn't wear the white ones.
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