Guess Whoo?

See who was hanging out in our backyard this afternoon?

Christmas

Christmas this year was streamlined and simple...

       And the fun will last all winter!

Staying Put

Well, way back last spring I posted about new job possibilities, possible moves, life changing decisions, etc.  It didn't occur to me when I posted that it would cause anyone else to feel like I was leaving them on the edge of a cliff.  I was too busy looking over the precipice myself, trying to see the other side.  I did get some feedback however, with requests to end the mystery, and here, months later, it is.

Some decisions are long in the making.  Not because we can't see what we'd like to do, but because there are so many pieces that have to fall into place to make the way clear, or even possible.

Neither of the jobs that involved moving away worked out.  So, we are staying right where we are at the moment, with a few changes in lifestyle.  Rick has taken a different job, working with a young software company doing some sales and business development as they push into a new phase of growth.  He began in December, and is now working from a home office, and travelling considerably less. He also plans to pick up (distance education) classes again this fall, continuing to work towards a degree in Theology from Gordon Conwell Seminary.  After all, we wouldn't want that non-transferable GI bill to go to waste!

So, here we are--staying put.  

  Which is not so bad!!

Time for Boats

Uncommitted time--
                                                                                                         





An Inspirationally shaped piece of leftover wood...

A Pond...











                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                         Happy Boys...

                                              

                                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                 





Happy Memories!

Happy Birthday Lydia!

Twelve is a great age.





It allows you to appreciate a new violin... 










While still having fun with the lego set your little brother gave you...

...Or maybe that's just our Lydi.

                                 Happy Birthday sweet girl.

the last leaves of fall

Here are a few last photos of flying leaves before the snow begins to fly.

I had fun playing with slower shutter speeds, larger apertures, and spinning myself around under the trees for these ones.  I probably looked like a lunatic, but the effect was interesting...

Some last minute clean-up before Superstorm Sandy arrived...

And finally, after several years of good intentions, I got around to planting garlic!  It's one of those fall jobs that I have always thought about after the moment of opportunity has passed.
Working in the garden often means guaranteed solitude for me,  (which has its own charm), but now and then someone joins me to chat and help out.  Moriah is the most likely candidate to join in...

 Good conversations happen while you share tasks.

It's been a beautiful fall.

It's a Dog Eat Dog World.

Literally.

Our dog ate a stuffed dog.

Then he had surgery to remove the stuffed dog.

Then he tried to recover,

But didn't.

RIP Cocoa.