Sunday, October 9, 2011

October 8: View from the Mountaintop


We celebrated Keith's birthday on Saturday, and his idea of a great birthday was to climb Long Valley Peak (elevation over 4900 ft) which looks down into the valley in which our small town in nestled. He took this photo of the highest point, looking northeast. (He's a little sore today after 5+ hours of hiking.)

September 30: Sunset


As I drove Jonathan down to Alpine to play in the Starbucks Jam with the Free Teen Guitar Class, an outreach of Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity, the sunset was incredible. So I asked J to pull out my camera and take a few shots while I drove. And this was the best photo of the bunch.... :)

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

September 26: Dinner!!



It's ready for the oven. Keith baked his special chicken pie recipe for dinner--a favorite in our family.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

September 9: Prayer Corner


My bedside table doubles as my prayer corner, and this candle is my latest addition. Given to me by my poet friend Kitty, the Scripture she included is my favorite verse.

September 8: Blackout


On Thursday afternoon, a string of events occurred that caused a huge power surge and outage throughout Southern California. All of San Diego, Imperial, and parts of Orange County went dark for 8-12 hours. 1.7 million homes and businesses survived by grilling dinners, burning candles, using flashlights, and opening windows after a day that reached 107 degrees in some areas. Neighbors hung out together. Families reconnected without the interruptions of computers, televisions, and other electronic playtoys.

We played gin rummy by candlelight and enjoyed the evening so much that I'm tempted to have a "blackout" night once per month.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

September 7: WIP


Yep, I have a WIP...a Work in Progress.

I started last November on writing a work of fiction for teen girls. I have about five short chapters left to write (I've published 45 chapters so far), and I may reach 200 pages before I'm done. I'm still pinching myself that I've written this much...174 pages and 101,000 words. It's entered in a contest, but I doubt it will win anything. I'm just thrilled that I'm up to 92,000 reads on WattPad. :)

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

September 6: Last of Delphiniums


The summer flowers are fading, but one violet-blue delphinium remains, seed pods developing....

Monday, September 5, 2011

September 5: A Bit o' Rain


Rain in Southern California is a precious and rare commodity. I heard sprinkles on the roof around 3:00 AM, and a definitely rain shower came through later in the morning. Clouds hung heavy over our little valley all day, a blessed relief from the usual summer heat we have in the mountains during August and September.

September 4: Cleared at Last!


This concrete slab has been ankle-deep in wood pieces, logs, and assorted detritus for a couple of years as we often split and stack our wood pile here. But the boys' summer project was to clear it--and they did. All the stacked boxes are full of kindling, and the wood is stacked and ready for winter.

September 3: Labor Day Weekend

My dad always told us that Labor Day was for labor...namely, yardwork. I didn't know differently until high school.

But this weekend, Labor Day meant yardwork for our family as well as T mows the weeds that we pretend make up a lawn....

J and B pull weed along the concrete slab....

Keith, J and B take a quick breather....

At least the yard looks acceptable now. ;)

September 2: Homeschooling in Crazyville


J shows off his calligraphy on the school whiteboard while he's supposed to be focusing on algebra. Such is homeschooling in Crazyville!

Friday, September 2, 2011

September 1: The Blushing Pear


I loved the blush color on this pear--and did it ever taste as wonderful as it looks....

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

August 31: The Promise of Fall


The Pippins are looking promising this fall. We'll give them another month and pray the squirrels don't beat us to them this year as they did last autumn, the little thieves....

August 30: Whiteboard Cartoons


Benjamin and Keith collaborated to create this poor, doomed stick figure on our school white board....

August 29: First Day of School


School planbook is splayed upon the school table, ready to tackle Week #1 of 36. Year #15 of Home Education is now underway....

Thursday, July 28, 2011

July 28: Praying the Book


Sorry I've been MIA for the past week. My chronic illness flared up (and is still flaring), and I have been in too much pain to keep up blogs, Facebook, etc. E-mail has been it.

And lots of prayer from the Book of Common Prayer 2011.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

July 20: Summer Project


One of my two summer projects is recopying my Gratitude Journal from computer printouts from my blog into a dedicated, hardbound journal. I'm up to almost 600 entries on my blog, but I've only recopied 70 or so as I can only handwrite ten at a time before my hands start cramping. And, of course, I'm having to edit some of my more long-winded entries.... ;)

July 19: Praying on the Porch


A quiet day, with Keith and the boys working atop the mountain, affords a lovely Quiet Time of prayer on the front porch with my Book of Common Prayer, my English Standard Version Bible installed on my Kindle, and, a rare blessing, uninterrupted TIME....

July 18: The Harry Bear


Keith gave me the teddy bear on the right for the Valentine's Day before we were married. I christened him "Honey Bear," "Bear" for short, and once I moved out of the PLNU dorms and married Keith, Bear has resided on our bed.

But, upon occasion, he escapes. With Keith's help, of course.

When we were first married, I came home to find Bear swinging from the ceiling fan, circling in flight over our miniscule living room, the Post-It beside the switch declaring him to be Super-Bear. A few weeks later, he was discovered in the dragon-shaped cookie jar, the lid on his head, accompanied by a note declaring that he had a thing for Snickerdoodles.

And thus Bear has made his presence known through the 26 years of our marriage.

When Elizabeth and I came home, exhausted, from the Twilight Saga: Eclipse midnight showing, I discovered Bear sitting on my side of the bathroom counter, covered in glittery paper and with paper fangs descending from his mouth, the Post-It declaring that he could sparkle in the sunshine, too.

And Monday morning, just as I went upstairs to brush my teeth before the whole family went to see the last Harry Potter film together, this is what I discovered on our bed. Yes, Keith and Bear have struck again, with poor Chaucer-Bear changed into a pumpkin-head, my pen becoming Bear's very own wand....

Sunday, July 17, 2011

July 17: Summer Garden


We haven't had any money this spring, so I haven't been able to plant any flowers. But many of my plants from the last few years reseeded beautifully, filling my container garden with snapdragons, delphiniums, alyssum, blue salvia, and other flowers. This photo is framed by our Pippin apple tree.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

July 16: Finished!!!

Keith's newest stained glass commission: finished!! 

Keith photographing the finished window, with Benjamin and Jonathan holding it in the setting sunlight.

Yes, it's done. Right now it's hanging in our front window until the clients come to pick it up. It will be installed on a stair landing in a Craftsman bungalow (dating around 1920) in Los Angeles. I think they'll love it!!!

The family stopped by a month ago to admire Keith's glass choices and progress, and they agreed upon a completion deadline of mid-August. But as Keith hasn't had much outside work lately, he was able to finish it a month early.

The window is simply lovely; these photos do not do it anything like justice....

Friday, July 15, 2011

July 15: Midnight Madness


Elizabeth the Gryffindor just before the midnight premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. This has been her Halloween costume for the past few years.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

July 14: The "Deal"

Taken by Elizabeth

I made a deal on Facebook with a friend from second grade: If I read Stephen King's Under the Dome, he would read the Harry Potter series. So here's my proof, Teddy: I have the book in my possession. Where are your copies of Rowling, dear?

The deal is on!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

July 13: A Cloudy Sunset


The sun sank behind deep, thick clouds, reminding us of our current spring temperatures, a welcome break from summer heat!

July 12: Growing Things


Because of late frosts through mid-June, I had to plant my tomato plant late. But here it is, struggling along, growing, and I hope later, producing some delectable tomatoes! :)

Monday, July 11, 2011

July 11: Words on the Fridge


The other side of the fridge is plastered with words. Some more pictures, too, photos enclosed in Christmas letters and cards, but mostly words. And a cool magnet from an art museum, gift from a beautiful poet.
Here words bump up against each other, gently rubbing shoulders. Smirking, the boys rearrange words into odd phrases, words that are usually strangers becoming acquaintances, then friends--all on our fridge.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

July 10: On the Fridge


The photos on our fridge, arranged by Elizabeth. Many "m-workers" represented here, plus close friends and tons o' family. The photos are posted just over our water/ice dispenser, so we can pray for Christian workers, friends, and family members while we fill our water glasses and bottles. :)

Saturday, July 9, 2011

July 9: A Gardening Angel


This gardening angel looks over my front garden. A Mother's Day gift from Keith and the kids years ago, somehow she has escaped being shot by the boybarians in their frequent Airsoft battles or by my squirrel hunters who manfully defend the nearby Pippin tree from the little marauders who stripped every single apple last summer. She has survived hail storms, snow drifts, and football games as she guards my new tomato seedlings, just planted a couple of weeks ago after the last frost on June 14.
In a place in which I've lost most of my garden statues in various unsavoury ways, someone must be looking out for my Angel of the Garden.

Friday, July 8, 2011

July 8: Pincushions and Primroses


Two of my favorite garden flowers have grown around each other in my front flower beds: scabiosa (which is a horrid name for such a lovely flower!), also known as pincushion flowers (named so because when the petals fall away, the flower head looks just like a pincushion, with little pins sticking up all over it) and Mexican primroses--which I love for their lovely pink cups and bright yellow centers.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

July 7: Study Session


This afternoon I spent a couple of hours on our front porch, reading and writing. It was so quiet and relaxing, truly a little piece of mountain paradise.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

July 6: Summer Rains....


Summer rains may be common across the country, but here in Southern California, rain is a rare treat. The lack of rain endangers our precious oaks, many centuries old, and it has grieved me to see so many lost in the ten years we've lived in Pine Valley. So two days of summer storms are not only a blessed relief from the oppressive heat; they are also a blessing for our thirsty trees and natural foliage in this place which receives about 20 inches of precipitation per year (double what San Diego proper receives) and reaches into the 110s regularly throughout the summer. The summer storms drop the temperatures by 20 degrees within 15 minutes, bringing flashes of lightning, crashes of thunder, and the welcome patter of rain and sometimes hail, all rarities in this south-western-most corner of the country.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

July 5: Beach Sunset


Sunset over the Pacific, taken from my parents' rooftop deck in Pacific Beach. The palm trees are specifically dedicated to Julie who, living in Cincy, misses her palms. Enjoy them while you're out here in Southern California this month, Julie!!

July 4: Independence Day!


We went to my parents' house in Pacific Beach (just south of La Jolla) to celebrate the 4th. It was a lovely day for the beach!! This shot is from the boardwalk, taking in the huge flag fluttering atop the main life guard tower, looking north to La Jolla.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

July 3: Mountain Sunset


After a cloudy day threatening summer showers since daybreak, the few remaining clouds are beautifully lit as the sun sinks behind the mountains of our small town....

Saturday, July 2, 2011

July 2: Lamps in the Dusk


We have two of these lamp posts in our yard. A friend sent me an article she wrote for our small-town newspaper on the history of these lamp posts that can be found in the yards of several of the older homes in Pine Valley. Manufactured in Ohio in 1926, the lamps were installed in downtown El Centro, the largest city in the Imperial Valley (between San Diego and the Arizona border). Removed for more fashionable lamps in the mid-40s, they were sold for $100 apiece, and many home owners in our town bought them for their yards. I love the looks of these beautiful lamps and am glad we own two of them.

Friday, July 1, 2011

July 1: Cousins!!!

L to R: Timothy, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Audrey, Allison, Aileen, and Benjamin

Keith's sister and her family stopped by our place as they traveled from Arizona to spend the 4th of July with Dad Barrett. Such chatter and craziness!!! Just before they left, we snapped a few fun photos of the cousins on our front porch, our four and the triple A's, and this one was the BEST!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

June 30: A Clean School Area!


With the boys' final grades submitted yesterday and Keith's sister and her family arriving tomorrow, I cleaned up our school area today. "Normal" people might call this a dining area, but Keith made this drop-leaf table with school in mind. After selling so many school books, the bookcases are only stacked single-depth deep now, rather than the double-stacking that had been necessary for the past several years.

One thing homeschooling families always need more of: bookcases!!!

June 29: From Our Community Garden


Timothy and Benjamin have been working for over a year in our small town's community garden, Pine Valley Community Gardens. After working all morning there today, they brought home this bounty--several kinds of lettuce, two kinds of radish, beets, carrots, and a giant leek. Jonathan and I washed the veggies since the other two boys grew and harvested them, and then we spread them across a towel to dry.

These beautiful organic veggies made the most delicious salad tonight!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

June 24: Beach Day


B builds a sand penguin at the beach near my parents' home. When the tide at last flooded the defensive ditch, surrounding his work, he beheaded it, smashed it, then scraped "RIP" into the sand where the penguin had been built.

Rest in Peace, little penguin....

June 21: 19th Century Laptop


I pulled out my Bombay wooden lap desk (a.k.a. my 19th century laptop) this week to write a long letter to a dear friend--not an e-mail, not a Tweet, not a Facebook message, but a real, live, long, double-sided ink-on-paper missive. My hand ached by the end, but what joy to let ink flow in sheer friendship!!

June 19: A Clean Desk...


...is a sign of a sick albeit organized mind.

Yes, I hadn't cleaned this thing off since Christmas. Now I can work here again!

June 15: 26th Anniversary


E snapped this quick photo of Keith and I, leaving for our evening out to celebrate our 26th anniversary.

June 9: Sunflowers


A simple pot of sunflowers in a friend's garden can make me happy....

June 5: The Ademas' Window


We celebrated Dr. Don's birthday in early June, and we took the opportunity to snap another photo of this 1500-piece window that Keith completed three years ago. This window is huge--4ft by 5 ft--and truly is Keith's masterpiece.

May 31: Quite a Catch!


T discovered this three-foot long gopher snake in our garden. I hope he is truly keeping the gophers at bay!!! :)

May 30: Window Is Complete!

Keith takes a photo of the memorial window
The Memorial Window

Keith completed this window in honor of C., the daughter of dear friends. C. is at home with the Lord; the end of April marked the first anniversary of her journey. Even while she is "forever in our hearts, forever in His hands," she remains a sweet presence to all who know her.