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31 October 2013

Happy Halloween

I made the costumes this year.

Well, I made Carus's costume and Adam's cloak.  I'm not sure you can count his as a costume - we are though.

I finished it this morning just in time for him to wear it to school, which he did.  And apparently he received tons of compliments and many people asked where they could get one like it.  I'm very happy with the fabric.  I'd like to go get some more while it's on sale for 50% off ($6.49 versus normal $12.99/yard).  It's a black velour and it's soft and heavy and I bet it will keep him warm.  He and Robert have plans to coat it with some waterproofing spray because he wants to wear it all the time.  

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Carus is a dead bride.  She told me how she wanted her skirt and shirt and I made it.  I used the pattern from her princess costume a couple years ago cutting it shirt length and then adjusting it to be more form fitting to her.  Then, instead of putting a zipper in like the pattern instructed, I put in buttons and loops.  The buttons are fabric covered buttons Carus and I made ourselves.
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Adam and Robert stayed home to play video games and hand out candy to the few trick-or-treaters we get (less than 10) and Carus and I went out.  The weather was great for Halloween.  Cool, but not very cold, and dry.

As for my 365s, I have the photos and I will update them soon...hopefully. 

15 October 2013

Little hummingbirds

It was gorgeous again yesterday with blue skies and a bright sun.  And I was stuck inside working.  It's days like this that make me wish my work computer was portable enough to pull outside on the porch and work in the sunshine.  Robert says he can make this happen for me; we'll see though.

After work I went outside to soak up any remaining sun as it quickly set behind the not too distant hills, and took pictures of how the backyard is adjusting to fall.

Of the freshly fallen leaves and Leia playing.

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Of the brightly colored leaves still on the tree.

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Of the one of the final sunflowers in my garden.

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Of the last rays of sun.

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And then I paused and tossed the ball for Leia once or twice, when I heard them.  The hummingbirds in the tree in the neighbors yard directly behind ours.

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They were buzzing around, speeding from tree to tree and chirping to each other.  I think there are only two but there could be more.  I believe they've been around all year too.

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They are shy little guys that always run from the hummingbird feeder the moment they see me (and my camera).  I do love my zoom lens; I stood close to the back fence hoping they would continue to frequent that branch.

Hummingbirds always make me smile. They make me think of my Granny and watching the visitors to her feeders, and that makes me smile too.

14 October 2013

I need more weekend in my weekends

It was absolutely gorgeous this weekend.  High 60s, bright and sunny.  Just a gorgeous fall day where there is a little nip in the air, but the sun is still bright and warm.

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Saturday I took a nap because my throat was feeling scratchy (again) and I had a headache, and then I spent the evening sewing a tulle skirt for Carus - most likely for Halloween.  I don't think we're aiming for something in particular, just a pretty foofy dress for dressing up because if it's for Halloween then you don't have to be all self conscious about dressing up.

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Sunday I was feeling better, and it was still gorgeous outside so we did yard work.  We trimmed one of the three rose of Sharon bushes and that filled stuffed the yard debris bin so we have to wait to trim the other two.  Then, we cleaned up the garden a bit more, dug up the last of the potatoes (only found 5, what the hell?) and planted some garlic.  I planted 4 rows of garlic in a 3 foot by 6 foot (not 100% on how long so don't quote me there) section and I still had cloves to plant. Maybe I'll get a bit more soil and finish off the last 3 foot (ish) square section at the end of the row with garlic.  I need more soil - with compaction and erosion, the soil we have is no longer enough. It will allow us to introduce more fertilizer too.  We had hoped to wait until spring but had to use up the last bit of soil in the shed from this year for the garlic bed.

I had planned on snapping a quick photo of the garlic bed shortly after planting, but got distracted with other stuff and didn't remember until sunset.  Specifically, the end of sunset and now we have a rather dark photo... Meh, you get the gist.

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12 October 2013

A week in Instagram

279/365 - Yoda curled up next to Adam
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280/365 Feeling cute - work bathroom selfie.
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281/365 A favorite evening - watching shows with Robert and editing pics.
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282/365 View while grilling dinner. The door was open for the dogs playing revolving door.

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283/365 Becca does a sleep study:  My room for the night.  I did it because Robert thinks I snore and that I have sleep apnea.

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The sleep study went well, I guess.  I slept. I didn't sleep better than usual; possibly a bit worse since I kept getting tangled up in the wires. I do not like having wires and breathing monitors on my face.  It was also very weird to think that I was being taped while I slept.  My legs, for some odd reason, feel like I walked a few miles which is weird and I have no idea what to make of it.  Also, I might be getting sick and I'm feeling grumpy and bitchy and the whining may or may not be related to that or the sleep study.  Basically, I was taken out of my comfort zone with the study and I'm not too happy about it.  Moving on...

284/365 Are you comfy, Yoda?
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I'll try to pull my actual camera out next week - and I'll probably be finishing the year in weekly posts or not at all - I don't know.  Whatever I end up doing.  I have the desire to be more creative...now to find the inspiration...

11 October 2013

Hello October, hello fall

274/365 - Timmy curled up on the dog cat bed.

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275/365 - Rain and clouds on one side (left) and sunny clear skies on the other (right).

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276/365 - Hydrangea in it's fall colors.
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277/365 - Fall wreath is up. Makes me smile.
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278/365 - Final green bean harvest, blanched and ready for the freezer.  I went out to harvest them since there was a warning of possible frost and ended up clearing out the garden.  I'll get my garlic planted soon and then plan for the spring.
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07 October 2013

The last of September

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Pouring (really really pouring) rain on the car window. I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for Robert to just run in and grab something - 2 minutes  (translation 20 minutes).
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Canning spaghetti sauce.  I made a double batch of sauce which gave me enough jars that it took three rounds to can them all.  This was two rounds down, third one in the canner, all the dishes that I had washed (for the fifth time that day) and my celebratory glass of wine.

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Yoda and Wilbur cuddling.

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06 October 2013

The Almost Final 7 Days

7 days had their fall run, and their second to last run, in September.  It started 7 years ago, and has been fun so it's being ended on a high note. I wish I had found it sooner.  It is a fun group of people participating all over the world.  Hopefully I can stay in touch with them through Facebook and Twitter and such.

All my other 7 Days posts are here.

Carus and I participated in the Chalk Art Festival even though it was supposed to rain all day that day.  It stayed dry until late afternoon with a few sprinkles around noon, which happened to be when we finished our big pink bunny.
Carus and my chalk art festival 2013 contribution

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After the festival we chalked her hair.  It looked great, but the chalk dusted off EVERY where... it didn't really stain anything but it wasn't practical not letting her sit on furniture and all so we went and got some colored hairspray which works better (though doesn't last that long).  We don't want to use chemical hair dye on her hair yet...

264_365 First day of the last #7days run. I chalked colored Carus's hair after a morning at The Chalk Art Festival. #7days1

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Everyone was feeling crummy so I made homemade chicken noodle soup.  It was good, though we did continue to fight the crummies for the rest of the week.

265_365 Making chicken noodle soup cause I have a house full of sickies (me too) #7days #7days2
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I finally finished the wedding photos and uploaded them to PASS.   Check out my Facebook business page for a few of those pictures, and the PASS link while it's still up.
266_365 Just uploaded the images from the wedding I photographed earlier this month. #7days #7days3

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Robert was playing a game with my brother Bud online and Bud got ice cream - so Robert went and got us ice cream.  It also helped the feeling crummy.

267_365 Ice cream time #7days #7days4
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Trying a new recipe for Gyros. (To copy a local restaurants gyros.)  The chicken marinade was missing something, but I did get the tzatziki sauce so YAY.

268_365 Trying a new recipe, making gyros. #7days #7days5 #whatsfordinner

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Sunflower in my garden.
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Adam was playing in the band at the football game so Carus and I went to watch the game.  I watched the game and she hung out with her friends.
270_365 Carus and I at the local high school football game. Adam is playing in the band tonight. #7days #7days7


05 October 2013

September ended, I can wake up now.

I love September.  In theory.  The beginning of fall - which I do love - and all that goes with it.

In reality though, we are not the greatest of friends.  I always feel overwhelmed and flustered and stressed and depressed and ANXIOUS about all of the things. Always.  It probably has a lot to do with the autumnal equinox and the rapidly changing amount of light that brings out those feelings with me as it does with many others.

But it's October now, and I'm feeling better.

I know I have a hard time with September so I planned ahead and took a day off for me.  A day where I could do what I wanted or needed to do while the kids were in school and have not have to worry about work.  I took it on a Friday - and after I ran some errands in the morning I convinced a friend to bring her newborn over so I could take a couple pictures of him.

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Walter was more interested in eating than sleeping for photos so I didn't get too many, and it hasn't worked out to get anymore newborn photos.

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Adam had some friends over to play games to celebrate his birthday and he agreed to let Carus throw him a Minecraft themed party.  We had red vines as "TNT", carrots and watermelon as themselves, chips and dip, cucumbers and dip, pizza (of course) and a Creeper decorated cake.  Carus planned, and helped make and put together everything for the party - even drawing the signs.

While spending some gift cards we've had laying around far too long I found this crate - which is a new prop for putting babies - or pug dogs (or cats, etc) in for photos.  Yoda was very cooperative and would jump in and sit down for me.
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Providence (the hospital/health care group I work for) has forums for it's employees to keep us informed of progress and plans, etc.  At the end of each forum they do a drawing to give away a little prize.  I won this time - a gift basket with coffee and chocolate.  The chocolate was good - I haven't tried the coffee yet.
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We were able to line up schedules one last time for me to run over to do this shot of my friends kids with baby Walter.  She saw this idea on Pinterest and loved it and so did I.  I'm glad we got it, I love it. (Of course Walter wanted to sleep that day!)
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Dogs begging for treats from Robert - who got into the closet for paper towels or something.  They did get a treat too.
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A good portion of September was stormy and wet.  We had 8-10 inches of rain in September.  Lots of gray skies and wet.
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But fall does have lovely sunsets.
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02 October 2013

Surprise, I didn't forget about the blog

And this is your fair warning that I am going to attempt to get caught up with my blog again.  I put everything else photo related off while I finished up the wedding photos (check out my Facebook page for some of those) and then an additional week to unwind from the wedding photos.

So be warned...

or stay tuned...

One of those.

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