Nothing New

 I keep coming back to this barn.  I like the way the windows look.  Eventually, I will capture it the way it needs to be.  Until then, you can look forward to more pictures of it whenever I get the chance.

Fifth graders today.  Until the day is over, I will leave you with this picture of the daughter.

Daughter Games

 I pick up the kid all the time.  I still haven't got it figured out, though.  Sometimes she disappears.  Even though I am certain I just picked her up.  Tonight, I knew I'd picked her up...I could smell her.  But, she didn't smell quite right...

Then I found her!

I cannot figure out why Cora won't let me dress her, though.  I think I made sure she was covered and lady-like very nicely!

 Cora is an excellent mom and reads her daughter bedtime stories every night...that is, when I don't.  Chloe loves books.  You can see her turning the page!    

She is an awesome little person.  There is no doubt about that.  She is happy and well adjusted!  She is a terrific Joy to have here!  I love this little girl!

Satellite AKA Moon

So, according to several sources, last night marked the first time in almost 20 years that the Full Moon was as big as it was.  This is because it happened to be full right at perigee (the closest it comes to Earth during its monthly orbit), so it looked bigger than normal.  Sure enough, it did!  It took awhile for it to come out of a patch of clouds here, but it did look somewhat larger than the norm.

Here, have a look, I snapped a few photos before heading off to bed with a cold capsule and a sip of cough medicine.

This is what the photo looks like after I have cropped and tweaked it.  I upped the contrast and made it darker to draw out the details.  My lens is pretty good, but I need a telescope that mounts a 35mm and has a worm-drive if I want to do astro-photography too much.

 This is the before shot.  I chose it because it seemed the most in-focus.  It doesn't look impressive, unless you compare it to others I've taken.

 (shuffle, shuffle, dig, dig, toss...crash)  nope, darn it.  I put those on another hard drive.  Just take my word for it.  It looks bigger.

I'm feeling better than I did yesterday...I think.  That's a good thing, since we have things to do.


I'll leave you with a photo Cora took while trying to show the clippy she had just made.  Chloe was being less than cooperative.  I was attempting to get her to look at the camera by holding a toy off to the side...yeah, right.

Ahh, Colds!

Chloe, my darling daughter, has found it necessary to catch various colds and viruses.  She has also seen fit to give these illnesses to her parents.  Gee, thanks.

As a result, I'm seeing the world in a different way today.  it's hazy and dull...like this:

I do have some pictures of the dear one.  After seven or so months of picture taking, I have been going back over the book I bought for it and trying some things I did not before.  It is amazing what I have forgotten after reading the book the first time.  I'm looking forward to some more experimentation.

My camera takes black and white.  I knew that, but there are several ways to do it.  The one I usually use (and prefer) is to do it after the fact in the computer.  it also allows after the fact in the camera.  I knew about that.  I did not remember that you could just take in BW and have no color...it's an interesting option, but it does not allow you to switch between filter colors after the fact.  It's complicated, but that's a good thing.  It means there is no end of artistic possibilities with this camera.

I am sick.  I have a cold.  I have no outward signs of distress, though.  Apart from being tired all day and just...blah...there is no real symptom that is specific.

Still, never mind me, here is a picture of Chloe taken in Black and White.

 She is getting some more teeth in and is a bit grumpy.  She also gets cuddly...which is something I think we both don't mind, too much!

Oh, and this is a good way to get myself in the picture, don't you think?

I'm going to go find some cold meds while dinner marinates.  I hope you are all having a good weekend.

Jimh.

A Day With Daughter

 I missed out on a job for the day, so I stayed home with the daughter.  We started with breakfast in four courses.  We had an oatmeal course, which was denied, except for a few bites.  Then we had a pear/berry/oatmeal course which WAS accepted.  Then awhile later we had a canned peach course.  Then a little after that a scrambled egg course, and finally a hash brown course. She was in a good mood and we had a good day.

I needed to go into town for a few items, so we both drove to town.  As we were about to drive by the arboretum, I remembered that I had put the camera in the truck with me "just in case."  We pulled off and I snapped a few pictures.

 I think she's pretty.

 

We went on to get groceries and then home again.  While I put groceries away, Chloe played.

Chloe loves the little rocking horse we have. 

She has been really getting comfortable with it.

 a bit TOO comfortable.  She has been standing on the seat!  Each time we get after her and correct her actions.  She is really getting sure of herself.  She can be naughty and look you in the eye and smile.  She dares you to correct her.

 This is her shortly before I put her back on her bottom and growled at her.

 I wish I could say she wasn't smiling after I got done with her, but she seems to find that to be funny, too.  Seriously, this kid is someday going to make her teachers pull their hair out.  It's a good thing they seem ready to fight over her, now.  They think she is an angel.

Shhh-We just won't tell them how she really is.

We had a good day together.  I even managed to do a little laundry and dishes and make dinner (Corned beef and cabbage).  Both of us were in good condition when Mommy got home!

Blue Skies Smiling At Me

My sweet Chloe looks great with a blue background!

I taught fourth graders today.  I introduced myself and said, "Sometimes kids have trouble remembering my name.  You can also call me Mr. H.  You can call me Mr. Awesome.  You can call me 'Oh Great One,' but if you call me Oh, Great One, please do this when you say it!"  And I mime bowing and kow-towing.  They laughed, and asked if kids REALLY call me Mr. Awesome.  I said, "yeah, they do." 

I took role and we did the pledge of allegiance and then they launched into "Anchors Aweigh," explaining that they sing the Air Force song, too, because their teacher's kids are in the Navy and the Air Force.   So, following the plan, I immediately sent them off to P.E.  When I got them back I gave them a math test.  There were two drawings on the board.  One of a submarine and one of an airplane.  They liked them.

I made them read and do some dittoes.  I promised to show them some of my drawings if they were good.  

They went to lunch and recess and came back and went straight to reading silently.  I got to a point where the teacher apparently thought a thirty minute reading would take them over an hour.  They got restless, so I showed them my coloring books and some of my drawings.  They were amazed.  So, I took requests and drew things right on the document camera where they could watch.  I gave them all a coloring page, which they thought was cool.  At the end of the day I have numerous kids come up and say to me in a hushed voice, "You really ARE awesome!"  

I love fourth graders.

You should see my daughter, though, if you want to see someone who is awesome!

 She IS awesome!

 And it's great to be a family.

Happy Wednesday ALL!

Walls

 I took a half-day today.  I had the...ah...honor of taking care of Chloe in the morning.  Let me just say, I have no idea how mothers keep ANY trace of sanity after living with toddlers for any length of time.  I mean, I had great plans of making sure that I did laundry and dishes and cleaned the house and vacuumed.  I was going to show Cora that I would not let her down!  Now, that I know the truth, I realize I greatly underestimated the whirlwind that is Chloe.

I have no idea how the child can move so quickly without teleporting.  She would be in one spot, I would turn to put ONE dish in the washer and turn back and she would be out changing the oil in the truck!  I would retrieve her and then pick a sock off the floor and she would be next door helping the carpenters re-roof the neighbor's house.  I swear I have gotten more work done sleeping.

Let's not even mention it, but it was my turn to comfort and feed last night...all night.  Cora says it is not acceptable to drug her, so I had to muddle through all the options:  bottle, diaper, hug...bottle, diaper, hug...

So, when I got the half-day I had not yet been accosted by a toddler for half a day and I was a little disappointed that I would only get part of my day done.  By the time I needed to leave for work I was climbing up the walls and praising whatever sick teacher needed my assistance!

I ended up over-estimating how long it would take to get Chloe dropped off, so I had a few extra minutes and took my camera for some photos on the way to and from work.

 I have more pictures on my photoblog if you'd like to visit there.

 I had a good day, and when I picked Chloe up I was actually missing her and happy to see her.  Really, who wouldn't miss those cheeks and those eyes and that grin?!