Exam Week

The kids all have exams this week, so they will be getting ready for those. Edward is getting ready to vote in the Michigan Primary. He said if he voted when I was at work, he could act it out for me later so I could take his picture. These kids know me too well. Yesterday, it was difficult to get them to let me take their picture, but I was in the mood to photograph something. I caught Maria studying.



Later on, Bridget suggested she make pancakes for supper. She told me I could even take her picture. What a girl!

A Gentle Spirit

Yesterday afternoon as Maria was quietly working on a painting, Leo was sitting there quietly watching her. The sun even came out for awhile and filtered through the window. I was happy to catch that in a photo.

Snow, Where Are Ye?

We have had warmer than usual temperatures lately - mid 30's this weekend. The dusting of snow on the ground will be gone as the day goes on. But a January without snow or sun leaves only gray. What a pity. Today then, I will show you some snow from about 50 years ago.

The Queen Mother with Uncle Alan

Flash Back Friday 51

Maria & Bridget, 2002, Independence Pass, Colorado

Leo Says: Election Edition

"If you won't blog about me, then I will."


So yesterday, Edward shook hands with John McCain at the rally here in GR and then he came home and I made him shake my hand. That's all.

Maria's Second Watercolor

Maria finished this watercolor this past weekend. My contribution to this creative endeavor involved getting her the masking fluid to keep the trees white and a case for her art supplies. She loves to paint. Next up: clean her room!

Netherlands Nuesday 11

Their cashiers have cush jobs in the grocery stores.

Self-portrait Challenge

Slightly out of focus, but that must be because I'm excited! I took the self-portrait challenge from this blog.

Grayness with a Little Brown Thrown In

January in Michigan

Sometimes, January and February and March and April, too, can be a bit dreary around here with the lack of blue skies and green growth. Today, it has gotten warm enough for the snow to melt off in a white haze moving up toward the gray skies revealing the brownish dull yellow grass beneath. My eyes are hungry for color.

Shimmering Saturday

When I was looking through old photos for a flashback yesterday, I came across this one from a Saturday many years ago. I thought some special effects would make it even more special. A shimmering memory indeed!

Flash Back Friday 50

Maria on elephant, age 6, 1998

My Truest Resolution

I never jumped on the MP3 player bandwagon before, but this Christmas, John gave one to me. So now I'm cool. I put all 10 of my Fernando Ortega cd's on it along with some others of a more classical genre. It has been fun to listen to old favorites on random play as they greet me like old friends. When this old gem of a song by Third Day came on, I just said "ahhhhhhh":

All the Heavens

As Your children gather in peace
All the angels sing in Heaven
In Your temple all that I seek
Is to glimpse Your holy presence
All the heavens COULD NOT hold You, Lord
How much less to dwell in me?
I can only make my one desire
Holding on to Thee.

All the angels exalt You on high
What a kingdom to depart!
But You left Your throne in the sky
Just to live inside my heart
I will always make my one desire
Holding on to Thee



One really awesome thing is when I put it on repeat now, no one gives me a hard time about it.

Home Sweet Home

One of my goals for this year is to get this house whipped into shape. Part of this involves putting pictures up on the wall. The holiday yesterday gave us the perfect opportunity to work on this: John told me it doesn't take a rocket scientist (ie. him) to do it, but yet. I wanted his input. These photos which I took of Edward, Maria & Bridget(above) last summer are now above the computer so I can stare at them whilst I blog. I'm happy with them. It actually looks like someone lives here now.

The Queen Mother has hassled me :) for years about the Picasso we had up in our living room. It is from his Blue period and I have always liked it but she didn't think it was "pretty" enough for a living area. I am glad to say I will continue to like it in my bedroom where we have blue walls. We also put up a print from Cape Cod and other pictures. In all we hung 13 pictures so I guess we're here to stay now.



The sad little blue man was replaced by the tulips painted by HRH.

Happy 2008!

Last night went out with a bang. The snow finally was useful for something like cleaning out your pores.



John & Bridget & I went over to some friends' house at 8pm to watch the ball drop. We had a little time to kill...the kids went in the hot tub first.


It was a perfect night for doing this:


The moms had a turn, and then the dads did.


Good thing Bridget got a new camera.

Happy New Year! I hope all your challenges and adventures feel as exhilarating as plopping in a pile of snow!