Day 31: Birthday Prezzie From a Friend

R. Scott Leavesley made these faboo earrings for me for my birthday. The other really cool part about this photo is that he is finally using the logo I designed for his jewelry business! I love seeing it used.

Day 30: Ugli Fruit

This is "Ugli" fruit, as found in the Reading Terminal Market. If I was in there for grocery shopping, I would've bought one!

Day 29: Birthday Girl's Night Out

Day 28: New Haircut

So, this is my new haircut... very similar to my last haircut. I like it, but I wish my hair was thicker. Thin, baby fine hair is the bane of my existence. The back is much shorter this time around and I do like that. Maybe I'll take a better pic a different day.

Day 27: Peep Show

My new boots. No they are not Fluevogs. While I was completely tempted to buy a particular pair of Vogs, I had to go with something a little more pratical. I need shoes that I can wear and walk in for hours, if needed. So, I opted for these tall, black suede boots made by the Fit Flops company... the most comfortable shoes in the world.

Day 26: Snow Dog

I love snow. And, I love this dog.

Day 25: Another One of My Favorite Things

I love my wedding rings, especially my antique wedding band that is an heirloom from Jeff's Mom's side of the family. I think it's from the 20's.

Day 24: Zach and E.

Day 23: Lo Fi Loveliness

This is my new devotional book for this year that my bestie, Bridget, gave to me. So far, it's more intellectual than I want to be with God.

I like how the lo fi cell phone photo makes this pic almost look like a pencil drawing.

Day 22: Mmm... Cake and Milk

Day 21: The Dance

Day 20: A few of my favorite things

Normally, Republic of Tea's Ginger Peach tea is too strong for me, but with this virus, I can hardly taste the flavor. Tea, honey, water, generic Nyquil gel caps... these are a few of my favorite things right now.

Day 19: Comfort Watching with Julia

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When I was younger, I used to watch Julia Child's cooking shows on PBS. So, it was somewhat comforting to watch her show this week while vegging on the couch.

Day 18: Guest Photographer

C. shot this photo while I was at work on Tuesday. I was sent home from work sick and proceeded to crash on the couch. Beautiful shot!

Day 17: Froggy Watches Her Sing

Miss E. has been taking voice lessons since this fall. I almost forgot about her lesson tonight and remembered, much to her chagrin, at the last minute. She had been playing in the snow for part of the day and we were still at a friend's home when I remembered. I'd been planning to wrap things up soon anyway, but Miss. E did not appreciate the abrupt change. Through coercing and chocolate, we made our way to the lesson in time. Miss E. pulled herself together and sang. She sang beautifully, sweetly, and more importantly, kindly, following direction and listening despite not wanting to be there tonight. During the last five minutes I could see her falling apart, the weariness in her eyes. But, she held out. I'm proud of my girl.

And, of course, I forgot my real camera and had to resort to the low-fi cell phone.

Day 16: Mangia!

I taught Jonah how to knead today. His year long project for school is studying Italian cooking, so today was the day he learned how to make pasta from scratch. He made what we thought were going to be linguini-sized pasta. Surprisingly, the pasta expanded so much in the water that they were closer to the width of egg noodles. I think he was proud that he made them all by himself and, so am I.

Day 15: Inspiration

Having only seen the movies and never read the book(s), I am now reading, "Lord of the Rings". I love fairy tales and fantasy and truth. The forward of the particular copy we own speaks of Tolkien's struggle to write the book in the in between hours of working and life. And, to think he had to do it on a manual typewriter! The arduous task of editing and typesetting followed and it seems that everytime a new published would publish the book, previous corrections would get lost or corrected in some new way during the typesetting process. Therefore, there are several different versions to be had. I find of all of these facts interesting. What I am enjoying about the book, so far, is having the delight of reading the sections that were deleted. It's like getting to savor a meal long after having already eaten.

Day 14: Steak and Eggs and GRITS!

Usually, on one of my days off during the week when I stay home and work for our business, Jeff and I go out to breakfast. Today we went out to the Duck Deli which is only open for breakfasts on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I love, love, love grits and they are the only restaurant in the area that has them. So, I had steak with poached eggs and cheddar cheese atop grits. The biscuit left something to be desired and was unnecessary. Good food and good conversation and even good coffee.

Day 13: Upside Down Girl

Well, in the spirit of taking a photo a day, I present Upside Down Girl.... another low light photo with my little point and shoot. I am trying my best to take a picture everyday this year, even if the quality stinks. Hopefully, inspiration will hit at some point.

Day 12: Yum

Fresh raspberries, Greek yogurt, honey, and walnuts... one of my favorite late night snacks.

Day 11: Mr. Chardonnay

Tried a different kind of Chardonnay. Normally $43/bottle, but it was on sale for $19.99.

Day 10: I Cold

Brrr... it's always drafty in a hundred and ten year old house.

Day 9: Jeffrey Scissorhands

C. has been nagging Jeff for weeks to cut her hair. She really prefers no one but him to do the job. It's sweet, but Jeff keeps saying he would like to retire from the hair cutting business.

My daughter is growing up. It's easier to see the change seeing her in photos rather than everyday life.

She chose the last photo. Swinging to the adolescent side of the pendulum.

Day 8- Laundry

I am working my way through the mountain of laundry that has been steadily growing. Sometimes, I get caught up and then I'll look, and it will be waist high again practically. Where does it come from?

Day 7: Snow with my new camera

Yesterday, Eve found my long lost Christmas gift... my camera! It had somehow made it into her new American Girl Doll's box which had been placed in room shortly after Christmas. Phew! I am so glad to know it wasn't thrown away and now I can play with my mini-camera. This is the camera's macro capability!

Day 6: Hidden Messages

Found these scraps in my bed. I believe someone of the 9 yo variety is going through some drama.

Day 5- Owie

Tonight, I skinned my right knee for the third time in about a two week span! In fact, the old scab had all finally came off yesterday. But, no, tonight I twisted my ankle on the uneven part of our driveway and skinned this damn knee again. w/e!

Day 4: Ugly/Beautiful

Shades of gray, jagged lines, divided space, organic circles. Mold on unfinished drywall.

Day 3- Uninspired

The uninspired life is full of mindless games. Mindnumbing competition to see who gets the higher scorel while dreams are left waiting on the sidelines. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Gandalf.

Day 2

Eve and I did a craft kit she received for her birthday from my very dear friend, Bridget. These bowls were made by melting little plastic pellets in pie tins in the oven forming multi-colored plastic discs. Once the discs were formed, we slumped them over a makeshift cylinder covered with tin foil. I am very impressed by this particular craft kit. It was easy, produced results equal to what was shown on the box, and created very little mess. As for the photo, it could be better. But, my camera needs to be charged and I need to download the manual to it. Also, I do believe this specific camera was created specifically for video mostly.

Day 1

No editing tonight. The past two days have been filled with charades and Pictionary. Tonight was Pictionary with the Radices. Jeff made this clue in Freedraw... guess what it is? Yes, this is what adults regress to when allowed to make up their own clues.

I am upset tonight because the camera that Jeff gave to me for Christmas is missing. We are worried that it accidentally got thrown away in the trash or possibly accidentally taken home by a teenager who slept over this week. There really is no other explanation. I opened up the package to remove the battery and charge it and now the box and camera are missing. It's disappointing to say the least. Luckily, my eldest son also bought me a camera, so I am able to use it, but it's disconcerting to lose an entire Christmas gift.