Did it again.

I do it every year. I bought too much candy for the Trick or Treaters. And as usual, I wasn't smart enough to buy something that I didn't like such as Skittles or Laffy Taffy. So now I'm stuck with a large bag of Nestle Crunch Bars with Caramel. Stuck. Stuck.

The kids were all wonderful and the costumes were terrific. Mr. Eris Jr. won a prize at his school for the "most creative". He was a bottle of ketchup. Yup. Last night he told Eris that he no longer wanted to be Harry Potter because his friend Kelsey was going to be a hot dog. Okay... I don't know how long it took Eris but the resulting costume was great, especially when the hot dog joined him.

Little Ms. Eris was Luna Lovegood and Littlest Ms. Eris was a perfect Dobby. Eris was stunning as Ugly Betty, a costume that she claims cost her $4,000 (braces). Jubee was a football player.


Trick or Treating started out at Athena's office where they really know how to throw a party. No cheap mini-Tootsie Rolls at this place! One guy was handing out dollar bills, which really impressed the kids.




After we got back to the house the Princess, dressed as a ladybug joined us, along with the Duchess and Duke. It was a particularly stressful day in their kingdom due to the new cast that is on the Princess' left arm. But that is for another post.


To see a few more photos you can go over to the Shooting Blog.

Boo to You!

Athena and D-Rock

The CaveCouple

Eris as the Bride of Frankenstein

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

$.78

Out on the farm

More pixel playtime again today (can you hear this computer groaning..).

This image is my favorite from the set taken last Friday. Nephew Deke has this 60 year old tractor that he got running again. Jenn requested sepia tones but just for fun I left in a little of that aged rusty color. The two boys are very quiet and it took a little while to warm them up. Luckily I had the pink satin bunny ears in my gear bag. That brought out those cute dimples.




Last January I was fortunate enough to take
photos at their wedding. Hopefully they will let me take photos of the new baby when it arrives in six months! Way to go!

The second photo is of the back of the barn at their new home. It is a fairly large barn and is visible from a few miles down the country road. The lights strung on the back of the barn were his proposal last year. She tells me he still occasionally turns them on. Yes, that's our Deke.

$.10 (the dentist got it all)

P.S. One last thought. PLEASE VOTE. If you are in Utah you can vote early. And maybe if you all holler loudly enough Athena will tell you about the first time she voted four years ago.

Playing with Pixels

The last three days have been busy, either with the camera in my hand or at the computer playing around with pixels. Oh, I love those pixels, especially the ones that come out of my new toy. Friday I took photos of nephew Deke and his growing family. Yesterday afternoon Jan and her grandchildren were the subjects of my often-obnoxious zoom lens. Then tonight I got to pick on the Duchess and her royal family. The Princess has grown up with my camera pointed at her so she's not impressed when we try to get her to sit still for a 1/250th of a second. Special thanks to Eris for standing behind me and being the entertainment for the little one. She has done this a number of times and is excellent at it. Maybe a backup career if teaching (or whatever she will do) gets boring down the road?

In the last three days my shutter has clicked over 800 times and many hours have been spent sitting at this computer tweeking images. Every minute of it is sheer enjoyment. Hopefully there will be a few that will be loved and shared.

On the way home tonight I reflected back on the old film days, the days before instant pixel gratification. When Bubba and Jubee were born I stopped on my way home from the hospital to get one-hour processing done on the film so that I could show them off to everyone that would look. There was no correcting a bad photo. Nowadays there is a disposable camera in my glove compartment, a Point and Shoot in the car door, a camera on my cell phone (never used) and often a DSLR in the back seat or trunk. If we are gone for more than one night the computer goes with me as well. Just call me the Pixel Packin' Mama.

$1.22

The little guy at the top is Jan's grandson. He was adorable. The lower photo is a classic example of what being a Grandmother is all about. Those three kids adore her.

Comfort

A few days ago I switched out my closet. Summer shorts finally went into the storage bin until next May. Sweatshirts and turtlenecks took their place. In the winter you will find me with layer upon layer. Jeans and hoodies, sweaters, turtlenecks, all of the warm stuff.

While I was hanging up the tops that would get me through the next six months my favorite knit shirt came off the shelf. It was purchased five years ago in Jackson Hole, WY and I still remember the little store. Last year I noticed that it was starting to wear out. The cuffs are fraying and have little holes in the seams. It was once a nice butter-yellow color but now has faded to a nondescript beige. It has been bleached many times due to various things being spilled on it, including tomato sauce and paint at one time. A good number of babies have most likely spit up on it. But it is still the first item that is pulled out of my closet.

This morning I chuckled when I put it on. Just like a pair of old shoes, it just feels right. You all have one. That flannel blanket that you all sleep with to keep you warm, the threadbare jeans that never ride up the wrong place, the stinky baseball cap that no one else will touch, the pajama bottoms that were outgrown four years ago. Comfort clothing. We all have something that we cling to.

I should throw it in the rag pile. It's not in good enough condition to send it to my favorite secondhand store. It passed that milestone two years ago. So it will be washed again, worn, washed, continuing that cycle for as long as possible until it absolutely must be retired.

That will be a sad day for me.

Fess up. What is your comfort item?

$1.52

Jubee is Twelve!

Happy Birthday to Jubee! I wanted a granddaughter. I wanted a granddaughter really bad. One that I could put ribbons in her dark, curly hair and make frilly little dresses for her to wear. She was born twelve years ago today, just as I requested.
The photo above is my mother's favorite. She was about three years old and was having a ball in the back yard blowing enormous bubbles. I have many memories with Jubee. She was the first of my grandchildren to share weekly Grandma days. Our routine usually involved going up to the hospital to have lunch with Grandmama in the cafeteria where the volunteer ladies would all ooh and ahh over her beautiful dark hair and eyes. Sometimes we would visit Athena at work. We also had fun times baking cookies and playing with Grandpa, who by the way was putty in her hands from day one.

She is growing into a lovely, smart young woman. I know that I can always count on her when I need a model for a photography experiment. She is also my Holiday Shopping Buddy. Last year she even reluctantly helped with my Festivus Celebration. Of all my kids, she is the one who can roll her eyes in the largest circle when I suggest something crazy.

Jubee, we love you and hope that you have a wonderful birthday. We will see you for dinner and hugs tonight!

$1.35

You asked for it, Eris! I also added a few more over at the Shooting Blog.This was taken while having lunch at the hospital with Grandmama. She had been warned to quit playing around on the chair. Sure enough she got her cute little head stuck in the chair. All of the little lady volunteers thought I was an awful Grandma because I wouldn't get her out before I took her picture. The chair had to be tipped upside down to free her!

Skylights

First of all, the stupid Tooth Fairy did not show up the other night. This time I trusted her, but noooo, she just blew me off. All those years I covered for her and lovingly sneaked quarters under those little pillows. Where was she this time? Out drinking and carousing with the Easter Bunny? Making nice with St. Nick? Flitting around with a little Leprechaun?



I spent the last three days being lazy, and by that I mean lazy, lazy, lazy. With Zeus still in Berkeley I kicked back and did practically nothing. I did manage to drag my butt out of bed Sunday and Monday mornings for half-hearted runs but then promptly returned to doing nothing for the rest of the day. It's a good thing that Zeus has returned or I might still be sitting at the island eating Ghirardelli chocolate. Hey, if I can't have a caramel apple that will do just fine.



The images at the left were taken in The Mining Building on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. There were three huge skylights with lamps hanging from the centers of each. To get the bottom image I had to lie down on the lobby floor on my back and scoot around until I got exactly under the hanging lamp. The building was constructed in 1918. It was amazing.

$3.23 (.08 contributed by Zeus)