Two Days Worth of Randomness

I didn't post yesterday. I did take some pictures, but spent most of my time working on my U.F.O. (If you are totally confused, see this post). I got a whole square done! Four down, eight more to go!

We pack up and head home today. It is always sad to have a nice relaxing time come to an end. I try to avoid re-entry to real life for as long as possible. This time around I have downloaded an audio book to my mp3 player, so I can stay in vacation mode the whole drive home. I know it won't change the fact that we have lunches to pack, a presentation to work on, baths and Little One's hair to do when we get home, but there's no use wasting a full three hours thinking about it when I can be living in Highbury with the Woodhouses instead.

Since we'll be digging out the room the three kids share here at my parents' house, packing up, and driving home for much of our time today, I figured I'd go ahead and do a joint post covering random things from the past 24 hours.

My parents have a window that is close to the size of a football field in the west wall of their living room. The afternoon sun shines through there quite beautifully, except when you are trying to watch something on HGTV, then the sun just makes it really hard to see all those clever design ideas. So, since the light was shining nicely on the piece of furniture I can't think of a name for and not so nicely on the TV that was providing background noise for my quilting, I paused my stitching and started arranging things in the sunlight- Sunday, February 19.

I added my wedding ring to this picture because I had just read a post from my camera twin friend about how she almost got kicked out of photo club. 'Oh yes, I see the logical connection,' you say. Well, it is a long story, but nutshell version, she ended up taking some cool pictures of her wedding ring at the prompting of her photo club friends in order to replace some prior pictures she had taken of her wedding ring that they declared to be less than cool. Since my camera twin is urging me to join photo club once My Husband's busy work season ends, I figured I ought to jump in on the fun from a distance, while I can still post pictures under the radar- Sunday, February 19.

This is a picture of my favorite manger scene in the whole wide world. At this time of year it is usually tucked away with the other Christmas decorations in a worn cardboard box labeled PUTZ . For those of you who are not Pennsylvania Dutch, you may wonder at such a label. But it apparently means manger scene in Pennsylvania Dutch, which isn't really Dutch at all, but a dialect of German spoken by immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. I used to be so confused about my heritage. I thought I was Dutch because I grew up hearing I was Pennsylvania Dutch. Silly me! I am not actually sure what country I thought I was from, Dutchland I guess, but then I heard that I was from Germany and people who are actually Dutch are from Holland, and I decided then and there to give up on World Geography for the rest of my life. Anyway, back to the Putz. The light was so great coming in the giant window that I decided to pull this out to take some pictures. I have tender memories of years of fighting with my brother over who got to set up the manger scene. When it was decided, through arm wrestling, loudest shouting, or a mandate from mom and dad, that I could have the honors, I would take hours carefully placing the characters in the stable. My two favorites are the shepherd with the lamb over his shoulders and Mary. I was always sure to put the shepherd close to Baby Jesus. I didn't think it fair that the Kings got all the good spots. Well, by the time I got everybody tucked into the barn this time around, the sun had settled a little too low for my liking, and my usual favorite, Mary, kept casting an annoying shadow on the kneeling Wise Man. I wasn't thrilled with any of the pictures I got, but getting to set up the manger scene was a fun treat, though not nearly as rewarding as having won the right in some sort of 'loving' Christmas contest with my brother- Sunday, February 20.

 This hand belongs to my Grandma Lucy. She turned 97 this past September. My original plan had been to take a really great picture of her and write a touching post about her life and how much I love her, but she fell asleep while we were visiting and so the only really good pictures I got of her are while she was napping. While they are sweet, I didn't think they did her amazing life justice. So, I'll postpone the blog tribute for another time. In the mean time I'll simply say this hand is one of the strongest, most beautiful hands I have ever seen- Sunday, February 19.

The kids with their Great Grandma Lucy- Sunday, February 19.

 I randomly started taking pictures of the kids at breakfast today. The Oldest promised he would keep his hand over his face until I put my camera in its bag. Never one to back down from a challenge, I set the camera directly on him. It was like a staring contest, both of us determined not to blink, but I finally caved and took the picture as is- Monday, February 20.

Little One trying to get the last of her breakfast Fwuffer Nutter- Monday, February 20.

First Grader, who usually packs clothing that would last if we decided to take a spontaneous trip around the world, forgot to pack pajamas for our weekend trip. I found this nightshirt on the clearance rack at the local K-Mart. She has worn it since, except for the few hours we spent at church. And even then she had a list of 101 reasons why she should wear it there. Smart and Cute, that's for sure- Monday, February 20.

Great Day

I have lots of pictures today, so I'll let my words be few. We started out tromping around in the woods behind my parents' house, then I moved on to exploring the rest of the yard from behind my camera, and we all wrapped things up at the local bowling alley. We had a wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable day.

The Oldest. I love the sunlight on his hair- Saturday, February 18.

Little One and First Grader pausing in their explorations just long enough for me to take a picture. Little One said she needed to keep her eyes warm. Who cares about being able to see, as long as your eyeballs don't get cold- Saturday, February 18.

 A White Birch- Saturday, February 18.

These trees grow in a little line that always makes me want to break into song. Specifically the opening song from The Sound of Music, the one where Maria is up in the mountains when she's supposed to be at church. At one point she weaves through a clump of White Birch trees while singing, "My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds that fly from the lake to the trees. My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies from a church on a breeze." Feel free to sing along if you know it-Saturday, February 18.

First Grader spotted the moss heart at the base of this twin tree- Saturday, February 18.

A hint of Spring- Saturday, February 18.

 Seeing the forest and the tree- Saturday, February 18.

This is the same mighty giant from the previous picture. He really is just a cute little sprig of a tree. Messing around with perspective is so fun- Saturday, February 18.

Pretty gold, curly grasses- Saturday, February 18.

 Bowling shoes are so much cuter on little feet- Saturday, February 18.

 I loved the bright colors and the reflection at the end of the alley- Saturday, February 18.

Fortunately these shots were pretty easy to take. First, Little One lugged her bowling ball to the foul line. Then she swung back with two hands between her legs and let the ball rip at a whopping .98 mph. (Yes, there was a radar gun on the alley). All I had to do was stand there and wait. I never realized just how long a bowling lane is until today- Saturday, February 18.

Now and Then

The kids and I started a long-weekend trip to my home stomping grounds today. We're settled in at Gram's and PapPap's house now, but on our way we made a stop to visit my best friend from high school.

I met J in first grade. She has a memory of me getting her in trouble at some point that year. I don't remember that at all (funny how selective one's memory can be), but I do vividly remember a few years later when J wanted to beat me up on the bus ride home from a Hershey Park field trip because she thought I liked the boy she had a perpetual crush on. I also have tons of great memories of driving around back country roads listening to country music. I remember local summer fairs and carnivals, lunch in the school cafeteria that was down in the scary basement of the old Junior High, and sleepovers on school nights that always involved some studying and lots of great fun and deep conversations about boys, what we would do on the weekend, and the future. The future then seemed so far away, and now here I am typing to you from those years that seemed they would never come. Of course we've had several surprises along the way, but our lives have turned out a whole lot like we hoped and imagined they would those late nights we spent talking instead of sleeping- J is a wife, mother of two adorable kids, and an amazing math teacher to a bunch of seventh graders, while I'm happy at home with My Husband and kids.

Those same kids played together today while J & I talked about life, present and past. We shared memories of teachers and prom dates and horrible books we had to read (The Jungle and 1984 topped both of our lists). We looked at old pictures (I can't believe I just called my pictures from high school old!) and at pictures from our lives now. The images captured in those albums literally seemed to be lifetimes apart, or at least very different chapters in the same book. But I guess when I think of all the changes that have occurred over the past 15 years, I shouldn't be surprised. We started out all those years ago as responsible (but only for ourselves) high school seniors with sometimes frizzy or orange hair, driving around in a little purple Saturn from school to practice to the movies to the new Walmart to someone's house to hang out. And now we are wives and mothers, still responsible, but for a circle wider than just ourselves. Thankfully no frizzy or orange hair this time around and now we've traded in the sporty little car for minivans and suvs. But here we are still driving to schools and practices and the movies and to Walmart and to other people's houses to hang out. It's just that the movies now are enjoyable not because of what's on the screen but because of the little ones who are sitting next to us and our Walmart lists are made up of exciting things like toilet bowl cleaner and ground meat instead of Twizzlers and hair dye.

Life is good, both the things that change and the things that stay the same. I'm thankful for a great friend and shared memories that seem to get better every time we retell them.

J & me- Friday, February 17.

First Grader and J's daughter, who is also in first grade. Hard to believe this is how old J & I were when we started our friendship- Friday, February 17.

 Mrs. Altemose's first grade class. I am in the top row, second from the left. J is in the bottom row, fourth from the left. Mrs. Altemose was the best teacher I ever had. I got chicken pox and missed school for the two weeks before Christmas vacation. She came to our house to bring me a gift and all of the projects the kids worked on while I was absent. She is high on my list of the most perfect people I have ever met. It could have something to do with the fact that I was in first grade when I knew her, but I think most of it is just because she was amazing- Scanned Friday, February 24. Taken sometime in the fall of 1985.

 *Side note- This is a picture of me and the boy who is directly to the left of the teacher in the picture above at our Senior Dinner Dance. I found out from J that he is now a sort of famous TV star and is on a show called Wizards of Wemberly Place or something like that. J showed me a recorded episode, prefaced with the clue that I would recognize somebody on it. And recognize somebody I did. Frankie always stood out. I am pretty sure that if our class picture above had us standing together instead of in Brady Bunch squares, Frankie would have been taller than our teacher. Yes, in first grade.  Frankie lived down the street from me and picked me up for school before I could drive. Who knew all those years ago that I was being chauffeured by a future TV star. He's even got a fan page on Facebook and his face on a billboard- I googled him. Though, I found out he now he goes by Frank instead of Frankie. TV star or not, he'll always be Frankie to me- Scanned Friday, February 24. Taken Sunday, June 1, 1997.

 
Senior Prom. J and I both were recovering from food poisoning that we got from an honors banquet earlier in the week. Students, principals, and parents from the five local schools were all sick. We were just the lucky ones who happened to have our Senior Prom on a boat in New York City later the same week. J spent the entire Friday in the Nurse's Office- she had to be at school if she wanted to go to the prom that night. I didn't get it as bad as she did, but all I consumed the entire night was a cup of hot tea and a roll. Good times- Scanned Friday, February 24. Taken Friday, May 23, 1997.

High School Graduation. Scanned Friday, February 24. Taken Wednesday, June 11, 1997.

My little purple Saturn. The best car ever. I actually cried when My Husband and I took it to the dealer to trade it in for a bigger, not purple car. I had dreams of a cute little family buying it for their daughter who had just turned 16. I saw her rolling down the windows (yes, crank windows), singing loudly with her friends on the way to the mall. Instead, a scraggly looking guy with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth walked over to my little purple car and started peeking in all the windows. (I assure you the actual image is worse than you are imagining, we were living in Kentucky at the time.) It was then that the tears started flowing and I began begging My Husband to change his mind. "You can drive a purple car, I know you can. And the fact that your knees touch the steering wheel really isn't all that big of deal, is it? I mean it could come in handy. You could learn to steer with your legs, then you can drink a cup of coffee and hang your other arm out the window while you drive."  This tear-infused persuasion went on for a couple minutes more, but finally, we pulled away in our bigger, silver car, leaving my little, purple Saturn all alone in a Kentucky used car lot. It took me a few weeks to warm up to the new car. I had to admit that it was much nicer, but first loves die hard. I think it was the sunroof and the CD player that finally won me over. But I never will forget my little, purple Saturn- Scanned Friday, February 24. Taken sometime in 1996. 

A Real Beauty

I had to cover the morning ride to school today. My friend, who graciously picks up First Grader every morning, had a field trip with her daughter, so I got to be the bus driver today. Boy am I glad I did. I spotted this guy sitting on top of a utility pole on the way. I had no camera and no time to stop. But I was pleased, this time around, to see he had waited for my return.

I took these pictures in the baseball fields behind our house. The pole sits right next to the first base dugout of the field farthest down from our house. I was standing on the pitching rubber- Thursday, February 16.

 There was a flock of little birds on the grass right below this pole. They didn't seem one bit concerned about who was sitting at its top. I, on the other hand, kept having images of this guy swooping down at me as I stood helplessly with only my camera to defend myself. I was even a little bit nervous to turn around to walk back home- Thursday, February 16.

I am happy to report that I did make it safely to the back deck, and I spotted these guys on the way. I really dislike black birds, but this pair was so cute sitting there on the branch I couldn't resist taking a picture- Thursday, February 16.

*A general note about my bird identification skills: Except for obvious species, like Cardinals, I have not reached the level of actually having any clue whether a bird I am looking at is male or female. So when I refer to a bird as he or she, it is just because I need a way to type about them. Again, to any secret bird watching experts out there, if I have offended you in any way by my mis-labling of birds, please feel free to contact me. I will be happy to express my true remorse in person as you share with me your knowledge that will show I was way wrong. I'm not too proud to admit error or ignorance, in fact, I would really like to be given the opportunity to do so, preferably someplace quiet, wooded, maybe with binoculars hanging around my neck...

Settling for a Sunset

I've missed it twice now. And I'm really not too happy about the whole thing. Two times I have driven by an amazing bare tree that has a couple of gnarly branches sticking out the top of it. Both times there have been three vultures perched on top of those gnarly branches, just waiting to have their picture taken. The first time I had my camera, but no time to stop. Today when I drove by I had plenty of time, but no camera! Arghh. I even bought a purse big enough to hold my camera bag, so I would never find myself in such a situation. My purse actually was sitting on the front seat, doing a great job of holding my camera bag, just no camera in the bag. So the second time, since there was nowhere I had to be, I turned around, full steam ahead to grab my camera. But by the time I returned to photograph the vultures, the tree was empty. I am guessing someone must have run over a squirrel or something for them to have flown from their perch. Oh well. There's always tomorrow. So today, I settle for a sunset picture. At least there are trees in it.

Sunset looking out from Conewago Chapel- Wednesday, February 15.

Trees and Birds

Earlier this week I was shopping for a new 4x6 frame to replace one that had seen better days. I was looking for simple dark wood, which I found, but I also found a really cool cut-metal frame depicting a scene with a bird sitting in a tree. Not convinced I would like it on the bookshelf with my other dark wood frames, I brought both home. I am sure glad I did. I didn't end up liking the metal frame on the bookshelf, but I do like it on top of the desk sitting next to the cool stone bird I bought a couple of months ago. At different points in the same shopping trip I also had in my hands both a framed picture of bare trees and another one of silhouetted birds on a clothes line. I put both of them back on the shelf, even though I had a really good coupon and they were on sale.

As I pondered my purchases, both actual and potential, I started to realize something, something I hadn't seen before. I really like trees and birds. My living room walls currently hold two different pictures that have trees in them. One of my favorite things to photograph is trees, specifically bare branches against the sky. There are certain bare trees that I really like, but I'll save that for another day. And birds. Well, you already know about my budding passion for bird watching. But I hadn't stopped to realize until now that I am also drawn to birds in art and decorating. **Important Side Note: I am not sharing this information as a sneaky hint that I want to start collecting bird and tree knick knacks. I've seen it before, someone says they like something and before they know it they are suddenly surrounded by figurines, throw blankets, you name it covered with the thing they thought they liked. My college roommate and the squirrels is a perfect example. She happened to find the squirrels on campus very amusing. She must have made mention of this to more than a few people and before we knew it we were sharing our tiny dorm room with stuffed squirrels, resin squirrels, squirrel magnets, I  think I remember squirrel socks. On the whole, I'm not real big on knick knacks and maintain a less-is-more kind of approach when it comes to stuff. I haven't always been this way, but being married to My Husband, who gets a literal high from throwing things away, has helped to solidify this characteristic in me.**  The reason I am sharing all of this today (yes there is a reason buried somewhere in here) is because of the card My Husband gave me this morning for Valentine's Day. The first line read, "I saw this card & knew it was for you because there were trees and birds on it." Trees and birds, he nailed it. How did I not see this before?

Now onto a picture. Yes, the picture for today has both a tree and a bird in it, though you have to look really closely to see the bird. I thought it an appropriate image for today since it tied in nicely with both my tree & bird babbling and the theme for the holiday, love.

This is a photograph (with annoying watermark) of a collage I made at the end of last year. It is called The Good Soil and is based on Scripture found in the books of Matthew and Ephesians- Tuesday, February 14.

"Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” -Matthew 13:8, 23 (NIV)

"that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" -Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Meat

After dropping Little One off at preschool this morning, I drove by the same sign I pass every morning I drop her off at preschool. I think it a funny sign, and take notice of it most mornings, but today, the sun was shining through the trees behind it and I grumbled at myself for not having my camera with me. I could see a great picture in the making, but no way to make it. By the time I arrived at home I had forgotten the sign and the picture that didn't happen. But then The Oldest and I settled down to work on Reading and suddenly the sign was flashing in my mind again. We read a story called Ingersoll by Gail Fitzgerald. Ingersoll is a pig who comes to live with the Otis family. The story is told with witty sarcasm from the point of view of the younger son, Harold. The family is made up of animal lovers, except for Harold who says, "The only way I like animals is on the table- fried chicken, barbecued pork chops, and hamburgers." I can relate to Harold. I have never been an animal lover and I do enjoy a good piece of fried chicken. Which takes me back to the sign.

I decided the convergence of the regretful sign sighting and the story focused on meat was no coincidence, so I purposed to leave a few minutes early, with my camera, to pick up Little One. When I arrived at the end of the alley to take my pictures, the bright sun that had been shining so perfectly through the trees a few hours before had not waited there for my return. (I guess the sun really does not revolve around me. How disappointing!) I eyed up the scene without the sun and decided to shift the focus from the trees to include the buildings in the background- Monday, February 13.

The sign is for a little store that sells locally raised, grass-fed meat. The store is in the brick building to the left, which used to be the carriage house for the big building in the background, hence the name of the store- Carriage House Market. The big building is The Sheppard Mansion, a fancy place to stay over and eat the locally grown meat advertised on the sign. With meat on the brain and no reservations for dinner, I find myself day dreaming of KFC and some bacon. Do you think a high of 38 degrees is too cold to grill pork chops?

P.S.

I was wearing this shirt yesterday afternoon. Another coincidence? I think not- Monday, February 13.