Vera's Visit

Vera came out from New York this weekend for a friend's wake and spent most of the day Monday with us in Pine Valley. I asked J to take a photo of the two of us, and mayhem ensued. Poor J had the worst time trying to get a decent picture with the two of us cracking up. This was the most "normal" of the photos ... we were laughing too hard in all of the other photos.

Aaah, college roommates are the BEST!

A Note....

As much as I have enjoyed the 365 project, I simply do not have the time to keep up this blog on a daily basis. I will post photos as I take them, but I can not post photos daily any longer.

Thanks for understanding. I will keep this blog open and post the photos that mean the most to me as often as I can, and I hope that you will enjoy them.

Thank you for keeping up with my adventures in photography.

-- Susanne

Day 85: Anglican Service

One of my favorite parts of liturgical worship is icons. Eastern Orthodox Christians, and to a lesser extent Roman and Anglo Catholics, view icons as "windows to heaven." On the most basic level they provide a reminder to us of an incident in biblical or church history and were very important in earlier times when very few Christians were literate. Icons were like Bible stories to many early and medieval believers, recalling a certain story to mind as one looked at the icon.

Eastern Christians pray before, or in their words, "through" icons. I love learning about how icons are written (not painted), with the black and dark colors going on first, then finishing with the light colors, especially white and gold, reminding us that Christ brought the Light of His salvation to a dark world.

This icon hangs on the wall of Victoria House, the parsonage of Alpine Anglican, in the dining area where we worship during the colder months, during Lent, and on special holy days. The Annunciation is depicted here, which is timely as this biblical event is celebrated by the church on March 25 (T's birthday this week), nine months before Christmas. I can sit before an icon for a very long time: praying, admiring the skill and colors, meditating on the event and/or people portrayed in the icon. I have two small ones of my own that hang above my prayer corner next to my bed.

Day 84: San Diego Zoo

The coolest of the many photos I took at the Zoo on Wednesday. I like the last one best of the python....

Day 83: T's Birthday

We celebrated T's 14th birthday with a trip to the San Diego Zoo -- photos of animals will be posted for Thursday. We met my parents there for lunch, and T opened his birthday card from them and was very pleased with his Target gift card.

Happy 14th Birthday, T!

Day 82: Silly Boy....

I think some tangerines or something came in this net bag which B enjoys wearing tightly on his face to distort his features.

Day 81: Lake Murray

On Monday the two middle boys started three days of standardized testing as required by our private home school group. B is young enough not to be required to participate, so while E stayed home to work on her high school assignments, B and I did his schoolwork at Starbucks while the boys tested. B and I also made a quick foray to Lake Murray, a park I rarely go to because of the preponderance of birds (which I don't like at ALL). But it was a beautiful day, and I took some nice photos of the lake ... and even of the birds.

Day 80: Final Day of Retreat

A small loom was placed for decoration in our hall and reminded us of the retreat theme: "Tangled Threads to Tapestries." What we weave into our tapestries can be quality wool or polyester trash, and we can weave our yarn together as a group effort.

On Saturday afternoon, a good-sized group gathered outside under some trees to learn knitting and crocheting from other women in the church. It was a wonderful time for fellowship and for chat, and especially for building friendships. While our fingers moved and our minds attempted to count stitches, we truly slowed down our lives long enough to spend time with one another. It was a relaxing yet satisfying afternoon.

Day 79: Lake Murray Women's Retreat in Pine Valley

The theme for this year's retreat is "Tangled Thread to Tapestry." The exercise on Friday night involved our small group standing in a circle, facing in and shoulder to shoulder, then taking hands across from each other. Then we had to untangle ourselves and get back into a larger circle without letting go. It was pretty hilarious to watch (which I did as I couldn't participate physically). It took listening to one another, loosening grips without letting go, and a willingness to bend without breaking grips ... some very good lessons for the real "knots" in our lives as well.

Day 78: Friday Service at Alpine Anglican

A tousled-hair B helps Father Acker prepare for Communion. Worshiping God simply, with prayer, Scriptures, and Communion, is the spiritual highlight of my week. And I love being surrounded by things that remind me of Jesus: icons depicting scenes from His life, candles reminding me that He is the Light of the World, the liturgical colors showing me that this is a season of fasting and repentance. And kneeling before God as I confess my sins is cleansing and brings such an indwelling of His peace that I wish the service went on for hours....

Day 77: Flameless Candle

My favorite candle in the evening light ... no flame lit.

Day 76: B at Work

B had done three subjects before our 9 AM start time this morning, and he's been finishing his written work by lunchtime every day this week ... what a wonderful help he is!

Day 75: Copters in the Meadow

Rescue copters just outside our fence today, taking accident victims to the hospital in San Diego.

Day 74: Time Is A-Flyin'

Our dinner guests on Friday remarked on our mantel clock which had graced my grandparents' family room during my childhood. I have to remember to wind it every Saturday (and often forget), but its simple beauty and lovely chimes remind me of my grandmother -- and that time passes all too quickly, especially as I watch my babies shoot up into young people.

Day 73: Sunday Dessert

After making chocolate mousse for our Friday night dinner party, Keith used the leftover egg whites to make meringues on Sunday night. They take a very loooong time to bake at 150 degrees in the oven, but they're so wonderfully crispy and light! These are vanilla meringues, and he made lemon ones later on. Delectable ... and gluten-free!

Day 72: At It's a Small World

J in line for It's a Small World


T & T in line for It's a Small World

Day 71: Downtown Disney Shops

B and Wall-E


Darth and the Boyz

Day 70: Trying on Hats in the Mad Hatter

Grumpy E


My "Goofy" Mom


B in Stitches


My Grumpy Dad


Magical Me

Day 69: More Disneyland....

Day 68: Disneyland Day 2

It's a Small World ... from the boat

Day 67: California Adventure

My first ride on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror -- so cool!!!!!!!!!!

The family at California Adventure -- my mom, my dad, my brothers' kids M & T, my brother Tom, and my kids J, E, T, and B

Day 66: Disneyland Day 1

The family on Thunder Mountain Railroad

Day 65: More Daffodils

My daffodils are in bloom for such a short time that I get rather photo-crazy with them. Get used to it. ;)

Day 64: Portents of Spring

My daffodils are starting to bloom ... a definite sign that spring is around the corner....

Day 63: Running Home at Dusk

B runs home ahead of me after walking to the post office and back with me at dusk.

Day 62: New U2 CD....

Taking a photo of the back of the U2 CD just out yesterday ... No Line on the Horizon. Rockin' kewl music.

Day 61: Mountain Skies

The sky was beautiful late this afternoon when B and I walked to the post office.

Day 60: Birthday Celebration

Today is my 43rd birthday, and Keith and the kids celebrated it in great style: Keith brought me flowers and made my favorite spinach-and-mushroom-stuffed chicken with white wine sauce. Keith baked a gluten-free chocolate cake and the kids gave me presents. Earlier in the day Kitty and Judith took me out to lunch at a fabulous little Italian restaurant, so I've had a truly lovely birthday.

Day 59:

Vespers (Evening Prayer) for the First Sunday in Lent....