Ding…Ding…Ding…Ding…

Jan29

Ding.

My truck has a problem.

Ding.

It dings.

It does not matter if the keys are out of the ignition.

It does not matter if the lights are off.

It doesn’t even matter if the truck is running.

It just…

Ding.

I’m fine with the dent leftover from the deer incident.

Ding.

I’m fine with the spare tire permanently on the truck in all it’s rusty glory.

Ding.

I’m fine with the light that insists that we have low windshield wiper fluid when it’s full.

Ding.

I’m fine with the fact that half the doors don’t automatically lock.

Ding.

The rust – great.

Ding.

The dirt – fantastic.

Ding.

The rattle from the heating vent – music to my ears.

Ding.

Miscellaneous whining engine noises? A slow leaking tire? A great shift that doesn’t line up? It’s all fine.

Ding.

But we have got to fix the –

Ding.

It’s where I…

Ding.

…draw the…

Ding.

…line!

Ding.

Look Out World!

Jan29

I found Jane climbing the stairs with a roll of duck tape and a tube of toothpaste.

Look out world! With fresh breath, the desire to move up and duct tape for any problems that might come her way, this girl will be able to do anything!

*A note for those who worry: No, she wasn’t eating the toothpaste, it was very securely capped. Yes, I checked. No, she can’t get the cap off on her own.*

Rousseau and Other School Lessons

Jan24

Today Ivy came home from school and proudly showed me her latest art work. Fortunately for me, and my rusty art history, Ivy also identified it for me as Henri Rousseau’s The Sleeping Gypsy.

I took that as a good sign that not only has she been paying attention in art class but that it was going to be a good evening. Some days Ivy comes home bubbly and expansive with stories to share about school. But some days, tired days, we hear almost nothing.

The bubbly days are fun. We hear about the school drama, So and So “was this close to getting his B flipped!” and sometimes Ivy even shares what sort of skills they are working on in class.

Happily, Ivy had a great evening and shared all sorts with us about her day. In fact, for the rest of the evening she practiced another skill she learned today.

Ivy practiced while playing with Clara, reading books, eating dinner and getting ready for bed. She didn’t even need any encouragement from me to keep working at it.

Yes, tomorrow I’m sure the friend who taught Ivy will be very impressed with just how loudly she can burp on command.

Our Internet is Like A Tired One Year Old

Jan22

Lately our internet service has been acting like a one year old who dropped her morning nap.

Sometimes it’s all giggles and grins…

… and sometimes it can’t make it through lunch.

Perhaps one day we’ll have reliable internet at home but until then I ask you, to once again, forgive the spotty posting and poor e-mailing – we’ll get it figured out eventually!

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

Jan21

While I would cheerfully force Harry Potter into anyone’s hands who hasn’t read it yet, I was not as taken with this book.

Once I was hooked I couldn’t put it down and read far later into the night than I should have but it took a long time to get to that point.

Would I recommend it? Eh… Realistic people are impressive to read about, the depth of characters, their realistic quirks, it’s excellent writing. But does all that work make for likable characters? Not necessarily.

This Moment – First Ski Race!

Jan20

A Friday ritual. (Or if the internet is being horrible a Sunday ritual.) A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember

Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination

Jan15

Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination

In diving when the judges award scores they are multiplied by the degree of difficulty (D.D.) and then added together for a total score.

Taking this picture was like doing a back dive with two somersaults in the pike position.

It’s just a picture of an icicle, you say.

HA! I say.

First off this was the only icicle within reach that had sunlight hitting it.

Unfortunately the only way to get my camera at the right angle to catch the sunlight was to position it between the icicle and the shed while holding my camera up above my head.

This would have been easier had Jane not been in the amautik thrashing around letting me know that she was done with pictures and ready for dinner.

Then, because the auto focus wouldn’t catch the icicle, I kept with my resolution from last week and on the spot figured out how the manual focus on my camera works.

(Let’s keep in mind that it’s a funny auto zoom in, up and down arrow to focus, zoom back out and take the picture sort of manual focus.)

Meanwhile my fingers are starting to resemble my subject matter and Jane is now yelling in addition to thrashing and in trying to figure out how to focus when I can’t actually see the camera screen I accidentally break the tip of the icicle off.

The tip of the only icicle within reach that is catching the last of the sunset.

So, when you look at my mid-icicle picture, just remember to multiply by a decent D.D. before you comment!

The Olivia Books by Ian Falconer

Jan14

First off I’d like to clarify that I am talking the Olivia books.

The books by Ian Falconer.

The books where the first of them has that nice shiny silver Caldecott medal on it.

THOSE Olivia books.

(I have no comment on all other shows videos and books of a pig with the same name.)

The books where the face of the Olivia’s mother is one of the best parts.

From Olivia and The Missing Toy.

Those Olivia books are my favorite picture books, and I collected most of them after I had children.

Olivia goes to Venice came out about a year ago and I liked it but not so much that I had to have it. This year when I saw the newest title was Olivia and the Fairy Princess I rolled my eyes, thought the author was losing it but that Ivy would love it and brought it home from the library.But, then I read it and was oh so pleasantly surprised.

Olivia, she’s got a problem with all the pink princesses.

Olivia, I had no idea you could get any cooler but with the line “If everyone’s a princess, then princesses aren’t special anymore!” you became my all time favorite pig.

Ivy who has joined the hordes of girls (and pigs) who love pink princesses was unimpressed but I, I have a new favorite children’s book!