I get to pick a dSLR for Christmas. Yippee! I've been beside myself with trying to pick between the Canon Rebel XTi and the 30D. Oh baby, baby! You have to get at least one lens too, ya know. When it says 'body only' it means no lens. Yipes. Well, I've done the research. I've decided on a Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS ISM as my walkaround lens. That means everyday, general purpose, standard use.
We're going to a potluck tonight. We had such a good time at the first one. Husband is making deviled eggs and he bought a HoneyBaked ham today to take over there. I better go do my hair. Yeah, right after I write a little more.
We had teeny snow flurries in the afternoon. It's going to go below 32 degrees tonight. We'll see how well our heaters work in here.
I'm so lucky because a guy here who does photography saw my calendar and he told my husband I was at intermediate level and that I should really have a camera I can grow into. Wow. I felt so complimented. Very. And I think that's what made my husband think that I'm worthy of an sLR.
Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Oh no!
I screamed in the shower today. Really loud. It was a full scream, not half a scream and it echoed. It was an involuntary reflex action.
When I wasn't looking my wash rag fell on the shower floor. It lay there for probably two full seconds before I could snap it up. Can you say, "Ewww?" Ewww!
I stood still and listened for a couple minutes, but no one in the campground came. Actually I was glad nobody came, so I didn't have to explain that I was fine - it was just my wash rag that fell on the cement floor near the plastic mat that e-v-e-r-y-body stands on. I wear flip-flops in there.
Ewwwwwwww!
When I wasn't looking my wash rag fell on the shower floor. It lay there for probably two full seconds before I could snap it up. Can you say, "Ewww?" Ewww!
I stood still and listened for a couple minutes, but no one in the campground came. Actually I was glad nobody came, so I didn't have to explain that I was fine - it was just my wash rag that fell on the cement floor near the plastic mat that e-v-e-r-y-body stands on. I wear flip-flops in there.
Ewwwwwwww!
Life. Paths. Knitting.
Life
is
like
a
hand knitted
scarf.
Ernie wrote me back today. I was fairly floating after I read his email. We were friends in high school. People are so interesting. It's fascinating to hear of their past and I marvel at the paths they have taken to get where they are.
Last week I finished knitting a scarf that I'm overall pleased with. It turned out, may I say, beautiful. It's colorful. It's useful. And best of all, it's one-of-a-kind. Heh. And when I ran up the street to show it to Reta (she taught me to knit) the first thing I did was loudly announce that there were a lot of mistakes in it and the chenille covered them up well, and also I thought the knot where I connected new yarn to the old yarn really stood out. To prove it I tried to find the knot to show her. I thought I knew exactly where it was but it took me a good minute to find it.
Reta, almost 20 years my senior, watched me patiently then she told me in a very no nonsense manner, that no one else will see my mistakes. "Don't worry about them!" she explained. She said only I see every mistake and that's how knitting is. Everyone else will think it's a beautiful scarf. It was she who told me to keep knitting and stop pulling it apart and starting over every time I knitted an imperfect stitch. I immediately felt better about the mistakes that I imagined detracted from my work of art.
And in the very same way, I immediately felt better after I read Ernie's email to me. Ernie is very smart and intuitive. He gave me clarity.
Isn't life like that? Our mistakes are woven in, our imperfections part of the garment, but we can continue and end up with a beautiful life anyway; a life that's colorful, useful, imperfect, and one-of-a kind.
is
like
a
hand knitted
scarf.
Ernie wrote me back today. I was fairly floating after I read his email. We were friends in high school. People are so interesting. It's fascinating to hear of their past and I marvel at the paths they have taken to get where they are.
Last week I finished knitting a scarf that I'm overall pleased with. It turned out, may I say, beautiful. It's colorful. It's useful. And best of all, it's one-of-a-kind. Heh. And when I ran up the street to show it to Reta (she taught me to knit) the first thing I did was loudly announce that there were a lot of mistakes in it and the chenille covered them up well, and also I thought the knot where I connected new yarn to the old yarn really stood out. To prove it I tried to find the knot to show her. I thought I knew exactly where it was but it took me a good minute to find it.
Reta, almost 20 years my senior, watched me patiently then she told me in a very no nonsense manner, that no one else will see my mistakes. "Don't worry about them!" she explained. She said only I see every mistake and that's how knitting is. Everyone else will think it's a beautiful scarf. It was she who told me to keep knitting and stop pulling it apart and starting over every time I knitted an imperfect stitch. I immediately felt better about the mistakes that I imagined detracted from my work of art.
And in the very same way, I immediately felt better after I read Ernie's email to me. Ernie is very smart and intuitive. He gave me clarity.
Isn't life like that? Our mistakes are woven in, our imperfections part of the garment, but we can continue and end up with a beautiful life anyway; a life that's colorful, useful, imperfect, and one-of-a kind.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Oh no, holiday almost over
Is there only one day left? Sure has gone fast. I spent the day shopping and comparing online. Didn't buy anything, just read and read and read. I did go over to a friend's place to talk with a couple who is considering going full time (traveling full time in a trailer or motorhome) and they asked questions and I answered a few. I enjoyed talking with them. I must be changing this year because last year I didn't talk to anyone. They acted surprised that I'm 47 and said I looked younger but I think they're pulling my leg. I'm lucky I don't look like I'm my husband's mom or something. People always, I'm not exaggerating, act surprised that he's 65.
Our son today informed me that he is not a little boy and I am to stop calling him my little boy. He said Deedah (he's called his daddy Deedah since he could talk) can say it but not me. Thing is, Deedah never calls him his little boy anyway. Sigh. He's growing up so fast. I will miss him when he leaves. The time is flying by.
Which leads me to one of the saddest articles I've read in awhile. Fox News, 10 is the new 15 As Kids Grow Up Faster. I saw a lot of it in California which is part of why we left. Parents think it's cute but it's not. Sometimes it's almost pornographic what people let their little girls wear. It's the parents' fault. I'm so glad our child is getting a genuine childhood. Apparently having one is getting rare these days.
I have a new friend. She's an author. A published author. And she's nice. I met an author once in Tahiti. She wasn't nice. She was a psychologist and she hit on my husband - right in front of me! My husband was just a little lamb and acted like he didn't notice (ignored her, that is). I could not believe it. And she's supposed to be helping people with their lives? Sheesh.
Our son today informed me that he is not a little boy and I am to stop calling him my little boy. He said Deedah (he's called his daddy Deedah since he could talk) can say it but not me. Thing is, Deedah never calls him his little boy anyway. Sigh. He's growing up so fast. I will miss him when he leaves. The time is flying by.
Which leads me to one of the saddest articles I've read in awhile. Fox News, 10 is the new 15 As Kids Grow Up Faster. I saw a lot of it in California which is part of why we left. Parents think it's cute but it's not. Sometimes it's almost pornographic what people let their little girls wear. It's the parents' fault. I'm so glad our child is getting a genuine childhood. Apparently having one is getting rare these days.
I have a new friend. She's an author. A published author. And she's nice. I met an author once in Tahiti. She wasn't nice. She was a psychologist and she hit on my husband - right in front of me! My husband was just a little lamb and acted like he didn't notice (ignored her, that is). I could not believe it. And she's supposed to be helping people with their lives? Sheesh.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
What shall I write
I need an update for today. Hmmmm.
The only thing I can come up with is this. I was thinking what could I send in to PostSecret (linkage removed due to adult content). I thought and thought, then I got hungry. So I went and got my delectable bag of Donettes which by the way is spelled 'Donettes' and ate some. Then I needed a drink of milk. But it was a lot of trouble to open the cupboard (recall I had a sore finger) to reach for a glass and then walk 1.5 feet to the fridge, so I drank straight out of the milk jug. And I'm the mom of the family. I'm supposed to be the example setter. Well, everyone was in bed.
So then I knew I had a perfect postcard to send in to PostSecret. I can take a picture of some milk and then type in anonymous looking courier style lettering, "I drank straight out of the milk jug tonight." "And I'm the mother!"
The only thing I can come up with is this. I was thinking what could I send in to PostSecret (linkage removed due to adult content). I thought and thought, then I got hungry. So I went and got my delectable bag of Donettes which by the way is spelled 'Donettes' and ate some. Then I needed a drink of milk. But it was a lot of trouble to open the cupboard (recall I had a sore finger) to reach for a glass and then walk 1.5 feet to the fridge, so I drank straight out of the milk jug. And I'm the mom of the family. I'm supposed to be the example setter. Well, everyone was in bed.
So then I knew I had a perfect postcard to send in to PostSecret. I can take a picture of some milk and then type in anonymous looking courier style lettering, "I drank straight out of the milk jug tonight." "And I'm the mother!"
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving 2006
It's been the best one ever.
For one, this is the first time I've ever said a prayer straight out of my head that came out beautifully. Usually I spend an hour hunting for the right prayer online, print it, practice it, and tape it to the underneath side of the dining room table. When everyone sits down my husband says "How about a prayer?" and when everyone bows their head I surreptitiously unstick my prayer from the table and read it from my lap. I've never been busted! My husband knows I do this. He supports me. Heh.
This year I was all ready. Had to put the prayer in my back pocket though since the picnic table is a metal grate material - no place to tape a prayer out of view. I wasn't too keen on having to pull out my planned Thanksgiving meal prayer in front of everyone but I figured, no choice in the matter. The table was see-through.
I had to run up the street to the campground bathrooms right before we sat down. And in there a prayer came to me and I grappled with the idea of winging it and thought it would be nice but, no, I better not. I went back. We all sat down. Husband asked if anyone wanted to do the prayer and no one did, so he asked me to do it. I didn't reach for my back pocket, I hardly thought a thought. My prayer just came right out. The lady said it gave her a shiver. And when we left in the evening she thanked me for saying that prayer. I felt well about this. It's a first for me.
Everyone loved the cake I baked. Yay. I always worry that the food I cook will make someone sick and I dreaded the thought that someone might get a stomach ache. But no one did. What a waste of thought processes, eh? Boy, I have to get over that. A long time ago I baked an apple pie. Everyone got stomach aches after the meal and the hostess said it had to be the pie. I felt awful. I felt really bad. I was about 25 at the time and she was about 35 and she was rather mean. Apple pie is just apples, butter, sugar, some flour and shortening for the crust. I believed it was the pie then but now I think it was something else and she blamed my pie. Anywho, I've been uncomfortable sharing food I make with any other people ever since.
I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I just ate a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce on it. Delicious.
For one, this is the first time I've ever said a prayer straight out of my head that came out beautifully. Usually I spend an hour hunting for the right prayer online, print it, practice it, and tape it to the underneath side of the dining room table. When everyone sits down my husband says "How about a prayer?" and when everyone bows their head I surreptitiously unstick my prayer from the table and read it from my lap. I've never been busted! My husband knows I do this. He supports me. Heh.
This year I was all ready. Had to put the prayer in my back pocket though since the picnic table is a metal grate material - no place to tape a prayer out of view. I wasn't too keen on having to pull out my planned Thanksgiving meal prayer in front of everyone but I figured, no choice in the matter. The table was see-through.
I had to run up the street to the campground bathrooms right before we sat down. And in there a prayer came to me and I grappled with the idea of winging it and thought it would be nice but, no, I better not. I went back. We all sat down. Husband asked if anyone wanted to do the prayer and no one did, so he asked me to do it. I didn't reach for my back pocket, I hardly thought a thought. My prayer just came right out. The lady said it gave her a shiver. And when we left in the evening she thanked me for saying that prayer. I felt well about this. It's a first for me.
Everyone loved the cake I baked. Yay. I always worry that the food I cook will make someone sick and I dreaded the thought that someone might get a stomach ache. But no one did. What a waste of thought processes, eh? Boy, I have to get over that. A long time ago I baked an apple pie. Everyone got stomach aches after the meal and the hostess said it had to be the pie. I felt awful. I felt really bad. I was about 25 at the time and she was about 35 and she was rather mean. Apple pie is just apples, butter, sugar, some flour and shortening for the crust. I believed it was the pie then but now I think it was something else and she blamed my pie. Anywho, I've been uncomfortable sharing food I make with any other people ever since.
I couldn't wait until tomorrow. I just ate a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce on it. Delicious.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Today I shall bake a cake
It will be my famous, though not beautiful, German sweet chocolate cake made from scratch. I make this once a year or twice a year if I make one at Thanksgiving and one at Christmas. However I have not made one for two years. I have my recipe that I cut out of the newspaper in 1999. It takes hours to make this cake.
It took me all afternoon and now I am in a bad mood. I try to like cooking. I did real good and had a very upbeat attitude. I made everyone leave the trailer because I need some peace when I make this cake. I have to concentrate!
.................................
We had a bit of excitement when the ranger came by today to let us see a baby beaver that she rescued. It was stuck in a pipe or something. She's so good with animals, and with children too. It was awfully cute and I've never seen a live beaver up so close. I heard its mother had been killed about two weeks ago. The baby has been okay to this point so I dearly hope that's a good sign for its survival.
Ready, set, go
Wax paper is placed at bottom of each pan. In theory, this will make the cakes easier to get out of the pan.
Ready for the oven
But my oven is small so I had to cook one at a time. Fortunately the two layers that were waiting were just fine. Baking time: 30 minutes, but the last one I baked for 27 minutes and 18 seconds. FYI.
We wait until tomorrow
Stored in a very fine top of the line plastic container. My nice crystal one is packed or got sold in a garage sale.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
My friend Elke
I have a new friend, Elke. She is remarkable. She's a walking history book. She lived in East Germany when it was closed. Her mom snuck back two times under barbed wire to get some things from home, but basically they closed the door of their home and walked away. They rode in freight cars in the freezing cold and her mother's fingertips were open sores with frostbite. Her dad was an inventor, a physicist. I'm walking over to her place tonight to see her feed the birds. She gets a ton of birds over there.
She's highly in tune with nature. Even to an extreme, if that is possible. A bear once licked her on the cheek then walked away! It was a very big bear.
I'm making German chocolate cake tomorrow for Thanksgiving. This year we received three whole invitiations for Thanksgiving. That's never happened before! It was nice. I'm making candied yams too and husband is making mashed potatoes. I think I'm going to enjoy the holiday. There is a distinct possibility of this occurring. Highly unusual.
Late last night I dropped a line off to Ernie, a friend of mine from high school. Can't wait to hear back from him! He writes the best letters as I remember. We wrote each other a few times in the '80s, then lost contact. Or was it the '90s? He plays guitar, but he also played the drums in high school band and you know the guys who play drums are always the coolest. We girls would say "Ooooh, look at Ernie." Hehe! High school.
I must go wax my arms for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday now.
She's highly in tune with nature. Even to an extreme, if that is possible. A bear once licked her on the cheek then walked away! It was a very big bear.
I'm making German chocolate cake tomorrow for Thanksgiving. This year we received three whole invitiations for Thanksgiving. That's never happened before! It was nice. I'm making candied yams too and husband is making mashed potatoes. I think I'm going to enjoy the holiday. There is a distinct possibility of this occurring. Highly unusual.
Late last night I dropped a line off to Ernie, a friend of mine from high school. Can't wait to hear back from him! He writes the best letters as I remember. We wrote each other a few times in the '80s, then lost contact. Or was it the '90s? He plays guitar, but he also played the drums in high school band and you know the guys who play drums are always the coolest. We girls would say "Ooooh, look at Ernie." Hehe! High school.
I must go wax my arms for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday now.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Snow geese wintering in New Mexico
I felt like I was in a National Geographic film. Never have I seen so many birds in one place at one time. The sound was incredible. Hundreds of birds. What you see in my lens is but a portion of what I could see at one time. They are to my right and left as well.
They winter in New Mexico at Bosque del Apache. I want to go there again! I could stay all day. The weather was nice. They were having the Festival of the Crane event and it was really nice. Lots of people were there and there were educational booths which is where I got some of the photos below.
When we walked down the ramp to the water I started to cry. The sight and the sound was such that I was momentarily overwhelmed. I had no expectations and so to set eyes upon all these birds. It was awesome. A Japanese guy (with a very fine camera lens) saw me and he moved and gave me his place to take photographs. I was all weepy and got a good photography location to boot.
Barn owl
I had no idea this exotic looking creature is a plain old barn owl. All of these birds are rehabilitated and will never return to the wild. I think she has a wing that was broken and it didn't heal well enough for her to fly.
A burrowing owl! He is rehabilitated.
He was hit by a car and almost died. They saved his little life and now he goes to festivals and classrooms and teaches people about whoooo, whooooo, burrowing owls.
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