tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26018046793454076792024-03-12T23:48:33.276-04:00Carol's 365A picture a day from the busy life of a working mom.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.comBlogger181125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-17699336550302267312010-08-17T12:35:00.002-04:002010-08-17T12:42:36.334-04:00Goodbye, Ningdu<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxogjx3J_lsSg4t6vbM9zVsSwj_pIgQ203Ha54L_YgY6x0ATA8-FJ5FzNqqreq-Gd1izQVnOQjKqHi6Hq97sQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is video of the incoming orphanage director at Ningdu (blue shirt), the outgoing director (woman in back), one of the government officials (pink shirt) and the SWI doctor, (woman on right) waving goodbye after our visit last summer. As we were leaving the incoming director lit fireworks for us. <br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-25761340869512288452010-03-22T22:15:00.005-04:002010-03-22T22:33:57.900-04:00Kitchen Demo Begins<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85g_kPXU8n7nCmRJsdoLqPvNMz450VAqc57ja9Ra5HCSv03Q1bBPsI4nqYuMCaLkuEzfXSQF21wcAU3IE9VNZKmz8_hZHOPCmtsbyLPzo26mzn3SlEUg6q7R-o2YB3NpuXo8loxwkQ8E/s1600-h/DSC_0002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85g_kPXU8n7nCmRJsdoLqPvNMz450VAqc57ja9Ra5HCSv03Q1bBPsI4nqYuMCaLkuEzfXSQF21wcAU3IE9VNZKmz8_hZHOPCmtsbyLPzo26mzn3SlEUg6q7R-o2YB3NpuXo8loxwkQ8E/s320/DSC_0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451649217681402402" border="0" /></a>The first step to the kitchen remodel was to take down the soffit. The cabinet above the microwave is where we've kept the liquor. It's new temporary home is on a card table in the living room. But it's probably going to be moved from there, too. More on the reasons for that in a later post.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMaJE_oPc_3rMJWh8KIM0OwaI6WuBKRYbci-GNUKUCk67aPluPoKdbmzc_kgDHraY0d8G8FcDv25czL_W6HU6dDzo7okOM1HV62yLBKlK0SmfJxq4l-NR31IIBxTszxHRQZmQxBVfhBM/s1600-h/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMaJE_oPc_3rMJWh8KIM0OwaI6WuBKRYbci-GNUKUCk67aPluPoKdbmzc_kgDHraY0d8G8FcDv25czL_W6HU6dDzo7okOM1HV62yLBKlK0SmfJxq4l-NR31IIBxTszxHRQZmQxBVfhBM/s320/DSC_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451648816047409058" border="0" /></a>This is what was inside the soffit. Which poses a problem. We don't want any soffit at all there, so the pipes that lead up to Rachel's bathroom need to be moved. I have a good friend whose husband is a plumber and he's going to help us out. Thanks, Ralph!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr87VcsTuccIVvPehnZ-KzG_kHwO2kH-5xwrCMLw_NhU1zyYAMrFCEbopJccI2Q2TXMMZN6T9CgioZRS67y-Love4SdAImoFUuJrQN3CRkOzqalSGqmYsuFO3zU-_pyFrHehWu3l6lN00/s1600-h/DSC_0013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr87VcsTuccIVvPehnZ-KzG_kHwO2kH-5xwrCMLw_NhU1zyYAMrFCEbopJccI2Q2TXMMZN6T9CgioZRS67y-Love4SdAImoFUuJrQN3CRkOzqalSGqmYsuFO3zU-_pyFrHehWu3l6lN00/s320/DSC_0013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451648806918111746" border="0" /></a>Next up, taking out the cabinet and microwave. The microwave is on the top of our baker's rack in the dining room for the time being. It's a bit high, but it won't be there long. The next cabinet over was the next victim.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hM3kBmsNzT2Cf2_8za5NS2jFv6hO49lcFmG19vwYfiYxSZehgcOHMODWUPa-HeKKfR84OlSWVfmujDdFof9Hiuav6CSB1jnvF0M_6xOcKkInvBMNDKXomF_6YfN7FYIWuy5EPo8EwBM/s1600-h/DSC_0017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hM3kBmsNzT2Cf2_8za5NS2jFv6hO49lcFmG19vwYfiYxSZehgcOHMODWUPa-HeKKfR84OlSWVfmujDdFof9Hiuav6CSB1jnvF0M_6xOcKkInvBMNDKXomF_6YfN7FYIWuy5EPo8EwBM/s320/DSC_0017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451648798356148530" border="0" /></a>Now what?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXjkWSWnDj14Mf-a91PINE8A1r70-Y3nZhQDuLYEAbTzmEBD_vQzqSyZ3mKhAqhfsOpbAzheiulnauH0pv_SJqSQPgvu3CXljzGe0UJHY9oBGMOKtpHBY5sd2IXtLIid6MprkExrJXkI/s1600-h/DSC_0019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXjkWSWnDj14Mf-a91PINE8A1r70-Y3nZhQDuLYEAbTzmEBD_vQzqSyZ3mKhAqhfsOpbAzheiulnauH0pv_SJqSQPgvu3CXljzGe0UJHY9oBGMOKtpHBY5sd2IXtLIid6MprkExrJXkI/s320/DSC_0019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451648793895274066" border="0" /></a>The wall comes down next, of course!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJxpHNV2yzBpcPgyBxioJHiMCDe4PifHA2zgvPfuapFpoNiSreWzRRhPAkhT4Yhw2JYV5AZssxLExWVoh9YC29FfHDpCuGzPyiJWlFXgW3g_PG4O-m4clWQwbBqkJ66Rzx8hb-PdFerA/s1600-h/DSC_0030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBJxpHNV2yzBpcPgyBxioJHiMCDe4PifHA2zgvPfuapFpoNiSreWzRRhPAkhT4Yhw2JYV5AZssxLExWVoh9YC29FfHDpCuGzPyiJWlFXgW3g_PG4O-m4clWQwbBqkJ66Rzx8hb-PdFerA/s320/DSC_0030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451648785438470034" border="0" /></a>So far, so good. There is still the soffit to take down completely and electric that needs to be moved. We also need to figure out how to support the granite breakfast bar that will go on this half wall. Flooring is an even tougher question....<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-31656719620888774552010-03-20T22:34:00.002-04:002010-03-22T22:56:37.562-04:00Spring...Finally!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBA2eoeT4BAD65kL1-2oXMUeVFtGKfgsY4MO6fxUncTwGzZlly_hQza4c7Ddr8O2sHF4xAEw0ITr_nNdTLlZNJ8N6zmVr1-7ZzVK_QxW7wH89alVHjYU_EM2OKWthBZVpI-GCn5QI4QQ0/s1600-h/DSC_0241.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBA2eoeT4BAD65kL1-2oXMUeVFtGKfgsY4MO6fxUncTwGzZlly_hQza4c7Ddr8O2sHF4xAEw0ITr_nNdTLlZNJ8N6zmVr1-7ZzVK_QxW7wH89alVHjYU_EM2OKWthBZVpI-GCn5QI4QQ0/s320/DSC_0241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451652697582495346" border="0" /></a>I like winter, I really do. But this winter was <span style="font-style: italic;">long</span>. But my favorite times of year are definitely spring and fall. I love the change of seasons. Everything is so new, so fresh. I love how the grass gets a little greener every day, how seemingly overnight the trees have leaves budding on them.<br /><br />Today we celebrated spring the way so many do: At Rita's for free water ice. I took a picture, and I searched and searched for the picture, but couldn't find it. Then I remembered I took it on my cell phone, which I don't know how to upload to the computer. <br /><br />Rachel and I also planted some flower seeds. We are starting them inside. We planted zinnias, forget-me-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nots</span> and delphiniums. Can't wait to watch them grow.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-2758299586532986972010-03-19T23:52:00.000-04:002010-03-22T22:34:34.969-04:00Taylor Swift Concert<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVpaqoALr7DRY8BvbYy5ImWlZPVBJ_xRHvuKqcHlQO9ZZ6IYPzGj-PRA_a7njdnZkqvzYwB_2WGHgltczfQhzfnYeXiLimvdY2gE2DXHEXJouUCB6utjKZxzAAIUnGU48wdiOmD5XWmc/s1600-h/PICT0121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVpaqoALr7DRY8BvbYy5ImWlZPVBJ_xRHvuKqcHlQO9ZZ6IYPzGj-PRA_a7njdnZkqvzYwB_2WGHgltczfQhzfnYeXiLimvdY2gE2DXHEXJouUCB6utjKZxzAAIUnGU48wdiOmD5XWmc/s320/PICT0121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451642520061375186" border="0" /></a>Fred surprised us tonight with tickets for the Taylor Swift concert.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KTKK8OUyMHL4WOy2iW6TK1BlA27cIW_pITW1kg4KFJFQKqVKuYDok8LtYWJwC8kxvEibEykvy9si6cH3lYvgC7YFgm4nBoPILLTYhzaSzL_UwFDSWYc5XkKFwJAj1eSazoJRonS8Boc/s1600-h/PICT0133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KTKK8OUyMHL4WOy2iW6TK1BlA27cIW_pITW1kg4KFJFQKqVKuYDok8LtYWJwC8kxvEibEykvy9si6cH3lYvgC7YFgm4nBoPILLTYhzaSzL_UwFDSWYc5XkKFwJAj1eSazoJRonS8Boc/s320/PICT0133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451642512123670162" border="0" /></a>It was Rachel's first concert, and it was a really good one!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnofp801mX85rSzrQa4a1kbdc4sIrBVENyO3HPjU60ozNv8mgEP_Q4KDfA0ZL9IIHhZ8Mi_-M3Z9qcKL4ps4eTPdRUyfp1j0Ql8wREQ5qI1t-0vQphqJ_FlidCRjjRDH2VvYYqtfDw1pQ/s1600-h/PICT0136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnofp801mX85rSzrQa4a1kbdc4sIrBVENyO3HPjU60ozNv8mgEP_Q4KDfA0ZL9IIHhZ8Mi_-M3Z9qcKL4ps4eTPdRUyfp1j0Ql8wREQ5qI1t-0vQphqJ_FlidCRjjRDH2VvYYqtfDw1pQ/s320/PICT0136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451642503921019522" border="0" /></a>After going into the crowd to sing a song, Taylor walked through the audience to this small stage at the opposite end of the arena to sing a few songs. Then she walked through the audience back up to the main stage. It was a really nice touch, hugging and shaking hands with so many of her fans.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4Ve-KXfu0YzNWaFWg6x4SWXk6eu0PSykYE2tu9br945wMz6am4ACJwtOH0t9t_v7_hgnPJLD_pFxCRNfd4OrmQNgvxfeiD6o3JgUwdnHEBdWosP7SbydFqzpRhLx16yA2oxlWJp5puw/s1600-h/PICT0138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4Ve-KXfu0YzNWaFWg6x4SWXk6eu0PSykYE2tu9br945wMz6am4ACJwtOH0t9t_v7_hgnPJLD_pFxCRNfd4OrmQNgvxfeiD6o3JgUwdnHEBdWosP7SbydFqzpRhLx16yA2oxlWJp5puw/s320/PICT0138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451642496442527010" border="0" /></a>This was the set for "Love Story," which I loved. It's one of my favorite songs of hers.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hYxLVx2SRQzWKuJm8acMkYZrYC8nrS2bHC0hCm4WpccZmKOFyzO6S7dXGruwNEiuCovFOExtNFKyRf57tLfqbA-Hv9Q_stjaJVBYmWXUN83YtpID7G39nJ_mwY_Lw6X2zB4fr_N9ihM/s1600-h/PICT0148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hYxLVx2SRQzWKuJm8acMkYZrYC8nrS2bHC0hCm4WpccZmKOFyzO6S7dXGruwNEiuCovFOExtNFKyRf57tLfqbA-Hv9Q_stjaJVBYmWXUN83YtpID7G39nJ_mwY_Lw6X2zB4fr_N9ihM/s320/PICT0148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451642487131094050" border="0" /></a>This was the finale, and I'm pretty sure the song was "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Should've</span> Said No." She had water raining down on her, and gaps in the water would spell out words, like "no." It was very cool. Overall, I think Rachel really enjoyed her first concert. It was hard to tell sometimes, though, because, as with everything, she seemed to be studying it. She has always been a big observer. She takes everything in.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-52254103298092784292010-03-18T15:16:00.003-04:002010-03-18T15:57:32.382-04:00Kitchen MakeoverThis past weekend we started remodeling our kitchen. Below are the "before" pictures. I have hated our kitchen since we moved in here 7 1/2 years ago. Our kitchen in Florida was pretty big, and I guess we were spoiled. What we're doing to the kitchen won't alleviate all our problems. The only way to do that would be to take out the wall completely and move the stove (which means moving the gas line) and replace our hard wood floor. So we're going to do the next best thing and give ourselves much more cabinet space and the <span style="font-style: italic;">feeling </span>of more room.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju88Wk7K2z2jEGocRHZTwBC1iKUUyvL0w71IlVXviR7TLKUfjDILqTbn3Vvsisj8-dIv5Dws3qQNKh_NOWW85-6fYW55SdW_lm2odMeOMDz5dM04vwyq04WvTcrau-Yt8r2MgNeJhtLWs/s1600-h/PICT0071.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju88Wk7K2z2jEGocRHZTwBC1iKUUyvL0w71IlVXviR7TLKUfjDILqTbn3Vvsisj8-dIv5Dws3qQNKh_NOWW85-6fYW55SdW_lm2odMeOMDz5dM04vwyq04WvTcrau-Yt8r2MgNeJhtLWs/s320/PICT0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450055265348743922" border="0" /></a>This is looking at our kitchen as you come in from the garage. One of the problems Fred and I have when cooking is that we bump into each other around the stove and island. I realize that there are worse problems to have. After all, not every wife takes the role of sous chef at dinner time so her husband do the bulk of the cooking. The basic layout here will stay the same, but everything will be replaced (except the appliances).<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_OabYN5URRzRP7bDZWRcuAXflwYOzSXldyNgG4wuFSkdT-ezu8fLltXAEke7FqQonsCE_waRy_s9WuM0_kKOB8PbmeXTr3jH2ZDS-jzInxPjTHVs5x1WvB63biVk2RwR4d250hnM6y0/s1600-h/PICT0072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_OabYN5URRzRP7bDZWRcuAXflwYOzSXldyNgG4wuFSkdT-ezu8fLltXAEke7FqQonsCE_waRy_s9WuM0_kKOB8PbmeXTr3jH2ZDS-jzInxPjTHVs5x1WvB63biVk2RwR4d250hnM6y0/s320/PICT0072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450055257426298706" border="0" /></a>This is our barely-used dining room. The table was my grandmother's, the desk was my dad's and the china cabinet I bought used a few years ago. It's all going away. Well, I'll be keeping the table, chairs and desk, just not in this room.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznbaFbq6RT92GYKr4TmIDh5VeMur-hzNDV86pUcgUBqHIPaAZsSMdqr2WrffbfIHbrHHCeC19HaEgN4VKquh2sz4T-pdjlwUWe7lBaogjVp8rgYNdNjLUgvmMujU8RYVd9PixySrbVDk/s1600-h/PICT0073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznbaFbq6RT92GYKr4TmIDh5VeMur-hzNDV86pUcgUBqHIPaAZsSMdqr2WrffbfIHbrHHCeC19HaEgN4VKquh2sz4T-pdjlwUWe7lBaogjVp8rgYNdNjLUgvmMujU8RYVd9PixySrbVDk/s320/PICT0073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450055254869556978" border="0" /></a>This is the view from standing next to the desk. The wall that has the picture on it will be coming down...half of it anyway. It will become a breakfast bar. The window is staying as is. We decided to get rid of the dining room because, in the 7+ years we've been here, we've used it only a handful of times. More often than not, this table is covered with a bunch of <span style="font-style: italic;">stuff</span>, whether it be Rachel's school projects, craft projects, or just random crap that lands there and doesn't get put away. I have a backup plan if and when I ever do have a big holiday dinner.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7Sz3IDfiu6kNsoGtkghsSX1t-gbcVzevC82t5KNLq29uxWEpe4r3W2Kp9g-rRTT4rJVgAVnh25RE6ds0AIJlDPsoYyjwRFgNekwRjW-fw1MESPzTLgKPulZNex_n7CncWg93NaYZKKs/s1600-h/PICT0074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7Sz3IDfiu6kNsoGtkghsSX1t-gbcVzevC82t5KNLq29uxWEpe4r3W2Kp9g-rRTT4rJVgAVnh25RE6ds0AIJlDPsoYyjwRFgNekwRjW-fw1MESPzTLgKPulZNex_n7CncWg93NaYZKKs/s320/PICT0074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450055247460923282" border="0" /></a>This is a view of the kitchen from the bay window, near our kitchen table. The mess to the right of the refrigerator is a bakers rack that holds all my cookbooks, my mixer, clean dish towels, a wine rack (filled mainly with cooking wines), Fred's coffee and other incidentals. It, too, will be going away and in its place will be cabinets and the microwave.<br /><br />We are planning to do this project entirely on our own, with the exception of some minor plumbing work which I will outline in a later post. So yes, it's going to take quite a while to complete.<br /><br />Some of the things I'm stuck on are what to do with the floor in the dining room. Right now it is carpet. I'm thinking of putting down slate tiles. But will that be too many different kinds of flooring? Getting hard wood to match what's in the kitchen will be next to impossible, and replacing all the hard wood will be way out of our budget.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And what should I do with the walls? We're going to do a tile <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">backsplash</span> above the stove and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">countertops</span>, but what about the walls that will still be exposed in the dining room and the remaining walls in the kitchen? The walls of the "formal" living room (more like a sitting room) that is off the dining room are red, very red. The walls of the family room, which is where I took the first picture from, are a textured blue. Not too dark and not too light. It's almost like a light denim blue, I guess. And the walls of the hallway from the front door into the kitchen are white with thick stripes. The prior owners painted them. They alternated flat and satin or glossy white to make subtle stripes, which I like. Unlike the circus tent strips above the counters that I hate.<br /><br />Of course, I'll take pictures along the way and I'll <span style="font-style: italic;">try </span>to get them posted more frequently!<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-55063748856215631202010-03-17T15:41:00.001-04:002010-03-18T15:58:08.521-04:00Battle Bound!<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">Eeks! I haven't posted anything since the 1st? That's pretty bad, even for me.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zz20CyAMX8nNc6lAjINk8fH2IkY6lylibnXfroyo9kwKeiebLG66aq5neT0ekqHMeIidTKkl63QlPEAOgMXfslFwnJjy-tTAXORKD554IFKLGONw8vIy6hS_jREKFcuzy10l2cxrcK4/s1600-h/PICT0076.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zz20CyAMX8nNc6lAjINk8fH2IkY6lylibnXfroyo9kwKeiebLG66aq5neT0ekqHMeIidTKkl63QlPEAOgMXfslFwnJjy-tTAXORKD554IFKLGONw8vIy6hS_jREKFcuzy10l2cxrcK4/s320/PICT0076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061586809038098" border="0" /></a>Friday, March 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span>, my friend Kim and I drove the girls to Washington D.C. for Battle at the Capital a <span style="font-style: italic;">huge </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cheerleading</span> competition. We drove down on Friday to do some sightseeing before the competition started on Sunday. Emily's brother Nick went along.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKzq761aeGFYIiCbaAIly7nMrsGT-2Tw9jIDu1N2Xj1LrPQU63zfs0LZM46LmsN2EnWMfr2cR_mXlbPBKbo-plObQv_NrJl7LqRFfRtzcA1CqcdNVwQI4teFXWe6iG369rugd55cc78/s1600-h/PICT0086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuCKzq761aeGFYIiCbaAIly7nMrsGT-2Tw9jIDu1N2Xj1LrPQU63zfs0LZM46LmsN2EnWMfr2cR_mXlbPBKbo-plObQv_NrJl7LqRFfRtzcA1CqcdNVwQI4teFXWe6iG369rugd55cc78/s320/PICT0086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061572314699490" border="0" /></a>Emily broke her toe a couple weeks ago and all the walking we were doing was making it hurt, so she got a lift from Nick.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-WSz3t3DZ1xCDNg9KY4chzhVXhAoeJhzqkYu9iqJ8ZSNNqumnA4_W1SWZeTGdIdsgGv00diPq7JMj4C-INXlRzJDKRiF4occG2irBwOioeltP2rnOSjl0D70dFq5s3K_Iz8pMqt_W4A/s1600-h/PICT0091.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-WSz3t3DZ1xCDNg9KY4chzhVXhAoeJhzqkYu9iqJ8ZSNNqumnA4_W1SWZeTGdIdsgGv00diPq7JMj4C-INXlRzJDKRiF4occG2irBwOioeltP2rnOSjl0D70dFq5s3K_Iz8pMqt_W4A/s320/PICT0091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061565536736306" border="0" /></a>It was very windy, but we were lucky the sun was out and it wasn't raining.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoelHy7yRrnHdIpvINyQIFUxENgqEXT1lpnK92MLB5fjA83mhQVMxv_tekwJCYKtPSPuZ0uP0XEAbcd4_x3ftx_cTesfaMUdBTWfgbqfuz1u8kwoDwWiPAzn1s1PIrQR-dneOd1rVvLE/s1600-h/PICT0100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoelHy7yRrnHdIpvINyQIFUxENgqEXT1lpnK92MLB5fjA83mhQVMxv_tekwJCYKtPSPuZ0uP0XEAbcd4_x3ftx_cTesfaMUdBTWfgbqfuz1u8kwoDwWiPAzn1s1PIrQR-dneOd1rVvLE/s320/PICT0100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450061562571356082" border="0" /></a>Rachel took this picture of the Washington Monument. We only had a couple hours, so we went to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian. Then we went back to the hotel for dinner before letting the girls swim before bed. We were going to go the Outback Steakhouse, but found out it was 6 miles away from the hotel. Plus, it was Friday and since Kim and her kids are Catholic, no meat. So we ended up at the little mall area under our hotel and had pizza from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sbarro</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">BAD CHOICE</span>. That's all I have to say about dinner.<br /><br />The girls swam for an hour or so with some of the other cheerleaders staying at our hotel, and then it was time for showers, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">hairdrying</span> and bed. We have to dry their hair real good before bed because the coaches want it straight. So even though Rachel has straight hair, I blow it out and put Chi Silk Infusion in it, and it turns out real soft and very straight.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-57323131410608131592010-03-01T15:55:00.002-05:002010-03-02T16:59:28.301-05:00First Place Again!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq5eaR_3M5YNbh7XbUUkuuer7kROJrTBMjiMaqOLnAKyVXiktSmXsYq7CSF1Wtl3wz6Ninj_zMbhLTlwSCuOR0RkwxHow0V6Zb1EZyzxFP3TMu9f5uA_5X8OmI-DkLWe-wgcJRmSBLSM/s1600-h/aerabesc.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq5eaR_3M5YNbh7XbUUkuuer7kROJrTBMjiMaqOLnAKyVXiktSmXsYq7CSF1Wtl3wz6Ninj_zMbhLTlwSCuOR0RkwxHow0V6Zb1EZyzxFP3TMu9f5uA_5X8OmI-DkLWe-wgcJRmSBLSM/s320/aerabesc.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444155999352605138" border="0" /></a>Rachel's team came in first place again this weekend! There wasn't a whole lot of competition there, but still, a win is a win! And they did really good. The stunt they're doing here is an arabesque. This stunt starts as a pop-up, then she changes to a heel stretch, then a scorpion and ends in the arabesque, and then she cradles out of it. Rachel's job in this stunt is the back spot. <br />Rachel's team is a Youth Level 2. Youth designates the age group; 8 to 12 year olds, basically. The Level 2 part is their skill level. I don't really know all the details, but I know that for tumbling they can't do anything above a back handspring. They can do front and back walkovers, forward rolls and roundoffs. I think there's some rule about their stunting, too. Maybe something about the flyer's hips can't go higher than their head. But like I said, I'm not really sure. Anyway, the organization where Rachel cheers has several different levels. They have tiny 1, mini 2, Junior 3, Junior 4, Senior 3 and Senior 4.2. The 4.2 means their tumbling is a level 2, but the stunting is level 4, or something like that. Our Junior 4 team is phenomenal. I hope to get some pictures of them at this weekend's nationals.<br />This will be our first big competition. It's a two day event, and the teams perform both days. Your best score of the two days is the one that counts. It should be a fun weekend. I'm driving and taking Rachel, her friend Emily and Emily's mom Kim, who is also my friend. :) We are leaving Friday and will be home Sunday night. <br /><br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-50869066275401640502010-02-27T12:12:00.003-05:002010-02-27T12:45:28.213-05:00MORE SNOW!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrNIglDCUpsPtGe2c6GnkYTCxjXO0gLFbuOq2KO1aLUk0CElGNkBUyxyAM5qU6FRVejuVF3UDkGM_rJDkTYFS-av56zfAvkZw9EBmlaq6CoUyx2Iknn5SUWT7rJJKBAl2M9EvuuqKP48/s1600-h/misc+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrNIglDCUpsPtGe2c6GnkYTCxjXO0gLFbuOq2KO1aLUk0CElGNkBUyxyAM5qU6FRVejuVF3UDkGM_rJDkTYFS-av56zfAvkZw9EBmlaq6CoUyx2Iknn5SUWT7rJJKBAl2M9EvuuqKP48/s320/misc+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442972868145465890" border="0" /></a>I took this picture on Wednesday, 2/24/10, which was two weeks after the last big blizzard. Most of the snow disappeared on Tuesday the 23rd when we got a lot of rain. <br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39HPlKGsvXsHynQMRikH_RrlmwbxGBWRHJMskXigSY5paYKfQqyP6-LEhGhjdU9NNrDa666U3BGnLIZmNlL72_hsJpeS1pOswlgwADDconvhZ7vhM0MVVCaI0maePzSl7HvJTTZx7Kr4/s1600-h/misc+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39HPlKGsvXsHynQMRikH_RrlmwbxGBWRHJMskXigSY5paYKfQqyP6-LEhGhjdU9NNrDa666U3BGnLIZmNlL72_hsJpeS1pOswlgwADDconvhZ7vhM0MVVCaI0maePzSl7HvJTTZx7Kr4/s320/misc+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442972863800285426" border="0" /></a>This was Wednesday, also. For the life of me, I don't understand why the snow plows plow the way they do. Is it so hard to plow along the curb of our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cul</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span>-sac? No cars were in the road. Instead, they piled a bunch of snow right here, between our driveway and our next door neighbor's driveway. Where there is maybe a foot or two of curb space. If that. And this pile has shrunk considerably in the last two weeks. It probably extended out into the road 15 feet or so. Which means that we had to shovel that much out into the road. I'm really quite upset at the crappy plowing job they've done this winter. We pay a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot </span>in property taxes, and I'm sorry, but I just expect the snow plows to get closer to my driveway than 15 feet. Especially when there is 2 feet of snow on the ground. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBA6c8wxR4u0OSQ3uMFGthAJ3CDxwWI9NZ3-yfwxig3DOkG1PmM4tzZquzTjaUfgxPCXsx3_tLnj5QoSkn96WLUnoZIma8W9dkh_BiYA1eSHP_nAVIcjQr4eArqvhWk9nmtjH5czZ3KI/s1600-h/misc+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBA6c8wxR4u0OSQ3uMFGthAJ3CDxwWI9NZ3-yfwxig3DOkG1PmM4tzZquzTjaUfgxPCXsx3_tLnj5QoSkn96WLUnoZIma8W9dkh_BiYA1eSHP_nAVIcjQr4eArqvhWk9nmtjH5czZ3KI/s320/misc+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442972858433110418" border="0" /></a>This picture was taken on Thursday, during our most recent "blizzard." The school superintendent sent out a message on Wednesday evening saying that Thursday would be a one-session day, which means the kids get out of school two hours early, because of the expected blizzard. It snowed all day Thursday and into Friday. But it seems like there's hardly any on the ground. It was very windy, but still. <span style="font-style: italic;">Where did it all go???</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83QY2RV0ZfFLbB8wFwvHFtzWm6RzvISg4MbtzD9pewcSyrr2xIaP7uebEJdKWk9bgxZO8zhmXJ3jEH2FqxusoS5PMXHY-vB85RbDpETBlaALXwqz9gnPtAqnCTBzoHrWreBHYg40T2Wc/s1600-h/misc+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83QY2RV0ZfFLbB8wFwvHFtzWm6RzvISg4MbtzD9pewcSyrr2xIaP7uebEJdKWk9bgxZO8zhmXJ3jEH2FqxusoS5PMXHY-vB85RbDpETBlaALXwqz9gnPtAqnCTBzoHrWreBHYg40T2Wc/s320/misc+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442972854563680642" border="0" /></a>This was Friday morning. This is after the plow came through. Nice, isn't it? They made one straight line, backed up, plowed that line that goes from left to right, and <span style="font-style: italic;">then left</span>. I understand that there's only a few inches out there, but come on. Last night it was all ice, chunky, slippery ice. They didn't even salt the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cul</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">de</span>-sac this time. I'm so annoyed. Can you tell?<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEBvaci1RDIiCXmz4TbsIJGKqJBgjzIe1r1EEWRLS8bsF1LXND0I5Ib_AaK7CpRSAJ74EIdr7zp8SE_zjCwW-s2pRzwtwEZcI0avvzZKEzyqECpuMyb4Qm8t5tDJSz6F-ep0Xe1EbIG8/s1600-h/misc+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEBvaci1RDIiCXmz4TbsIJGKqJBgjzIe1r1EEWRLS8bsF1LXND0I5Ib_AaK7CpRSAJ74EIdr7zp8SE_zjCwW-s2pRzwtwEZcI0avvzZKEzyqECpuMyb4Qm8t5tDJSz6F-ep0Xe1EbIG8/s320/misc+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442972848435196706" border="0" /></a>So is this robin and all his robin friends. They flew back up north just a bit too soon. I think we're going to have nests under our deck again this year. They've been hanging out on this railing a lot, and the nest from last year is right under this part of the deck. <br /><br />I love the snow, but I am <span style="font-style: italic;">so </span>ready for spring.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-9019943040735160122010-02-20T20:41:00.003-05:002010-02-20T20:51:16.944-05:00No Dog is an Island.....<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiemPQsFCrVVaoSqeBAcTFQzagUWvbHUdaGhtmx-Cmkod5BLqOv6giYVX9VretYCn9RIId0Ox1lfuHK4sZ4GuUGHSgs-xNBLlfHZhDn6y_YZcQ2q7b7B4YtRVerQCgKPhVYjhiAOG0ufY/s1600-h/misc+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiemPQsFCrVVaoSqeBAcTFQzagUWvbHUdaGhtmx-Cmkod5BLqOv6giYVX9VretYCn9RIId0Ox1lfuHK4sZ4GuUGHSgs-xNBLlfHZhDn6y_YZcQ2q7b7B4YtRVerQCgKPhVYjhiAOG0ufY/s320/misc+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440506087402734514" border="0" /></a>.....but Ferris seems to be stuck on one! I had him out in the backyard for a little bit today. While I spent 10 or 15 minutes picking up the pool cover clips and trying to put them back on, he spent the time sniffing for critters around the shed. Earlier this week he had been able to fairly easily walk on top of the snow to go potty. However, the last couple days were warmer and the snow was mushier. If he took his time he was okay, but as soon as he started to run he would sink. When I was done <span style="font-style: italic;">trying </span>to fix the pool cover, he started to follow me on the snow, but gave up and just stopped walking. So I picked him up and carried him out front. I threw and he chased a couple small snowballs around the front yard. Then he went to the raised landscaping bed, which has almost no snow left on it, and just stayed there. He walked around it trying to figure out a way to get back to the concrete without getting on the snow. Eventually he just sat down and waited for me to go get him. I think Ferris, and just about everyone else in the Northeast, is ready for spring!<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-80569873180003533412010-02-19T17:57:00.000-05:002010-02-20T18:08:19.285-05:00Hello Gorgeous<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6zNvzAN7YnIl5PBZTyjKt0sr30xqB50CFvRtAC0NO1lxP_auwBZMbCY_wnE3nkZZn4x9_a56LVznSxwnbcumF-u6hg9yih9ESNNZi3_e9DPx-cQJx3ihnIzmX9TMJQ_ebKxi1BvV2sc/s1600-h/misc+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6zNvzAN7YnIl5PBZTyjKt0sr30xqB50CFvRtAC0NO1lxP_auwBZMbCY_wnE3nkZZn4x9_a56LVznSxwnbcumF-u6hg9yih9ESNNZi3_e9DPx-cQJx3ihnIzmX9TMJQ_ebKxi1BvV2sc/s320/misc+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440463866871303362" border="0" /></a>This beauty was delivered today. It is a <a href="http://products.geappliances.com/ApplProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=SpecPage&Sku=C2S980SEMSS">GE Cafe Dual Fuel Range</a>. You can use it as a convection oven or a regular oven. The drawer in the bottom is also a stove. It has an extra burner/griddle on the middle of the stove. <br /><br />We decided to get a stove without the back guard/back splash because we're hoping to redo our kitchen in the very near future, and the top half of that wall (the one with the circus ten stripes) will be removed and a breakfast bar put in it's place. Whoever painted those stripes didn't remove the stove when they painted, obviously. So even if we don't redo the entire kitchen, at the very least we will be doing a tile <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">back splash</span>. <br /><br />For Fred's first meal on the new stove, he made <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/03/chicken-scallopine/">Pioneer Woman's Chicken <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Scallopine</span></a>. Yum. The stove has two rapid boil burners, so boiling the water for the pasta took no time at all!<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-23805305728928007782010-02-15T11:43:00.003-05:002010-02-20T20:52:53.424-05:00More Sledding<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASG2wASKjp3PEBiILct-iiiD7dUAeIqgYx0M1av0qqUlFL-KBmtZRF-biiVakXxcA5pWWy1Mft2n8ZW5Dam61ifGF5sTaJ4LJAo8AZQrXG6uf6K_rR-Q_QvG73VFYG0caeMiUt7a85Zk/s1600-h/PICT0185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASG2wASKjp3PEBiILct-iiiD7dUAeIqgYx0M1av0qqUlFL-KBmtZRF-biiVakXxcA5pWWy1Mft2n8ZW5Dam61ifGF5sTaJ4LJAo8AZQrXG6uf6K_rR-Q_QvG73VFYG0caeMiUt7a85Zk/s320/PICT0185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438512211876459106" border="0" /></a>We tried a different sledding hill and went with our friends, Kim and Emily. The part of the hill that is to the left of the big trees has a little creek at the bottom of it, and as we were walking across the bridge, we saw a kid leaving who had just landed in the creek. So we stuck to the hill on the right which did not end in the creek.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLy_ip3n0KNCf3qLdFMGHmlMUibJthcrY-xqzPtDkSGiiMK48zadZmnh3AEXa7VLiiq3YCfOQQN4BQ6Ikls9fjZNsIsaMk1UfCJsXWDFerXqaaficTBaseII5C35kNA6Xqy_t7ojRCBc/s1600-h/PICT0178.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLy_ip3n0KNCf3qLdFMGHmlMUibJthcrY-xqzPtDkSGiiMK48zadZmnh3AEXa7VLiiq3YCfOQQN4BQ6Ikls9fjZNsIsaMk1UfCJsXWDFerXqaaficTBaseII5C35kNA6Xqy_t7ojRCBc/s320/PICT0178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438512202622639362" border="0" /></a>This was Emily's first time <span style="font-style: italic;">ever </span>sledding. I think she enjoyed it!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98DV9KwKpEipzktRK2C00G91-_N-q1egbuy5E5dxFvJO0mavKxcQLRundYUC2cVj84_Vk6I39QT-OZBzq0Ze6_EbvOUy-cNQ1sQ6D75CqWEtpXBRkKShDiU-S50dMbAUjjkxdRxgRlcU/s1600-h/PICT0184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98DV9KwKpEipzktRK2C00G91-_N-q1egbuy5E5dxFvJO0mavKxcQLRundYUC2cVj84_Vk6I39QT-OZBzq0Ze6_EbvOUy-cNQ1sQ6D75CqWEtpXBRkKShDiU-S50dMbAUjjkxdRxgRlcU/s320/PICT0184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438512191257762482" border="0" /></a>I went down the hill once, too, and of course had to take a picture on the way down. And I only took out one or two kids at the bottom of the hill. :)<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-41219102140970693752010-02-15T11:18:00.002-05:002010-02-15T11:39:51.618-05:00Rachel's 11th Birthday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbBujASSA-rw7fVIOZhg15gthr13_jHw6QK72oDNXb5aAh3jZuKssFw_O8vlwFC8NwpEpYAvWIfIMJ9lym1nfdIDdZXtQntmXKMNEC1R8_dtLW1HQUg791dFrfVilOSo0hgF0KlsfnR8/s1600-h/PICT0163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbBujASSA-rw7fVIOZhg15gthr13_jHw6QK72oDNXb5aAh3jZuKssFw_O8vlwFC8NwpEpYAvWIfIMJ9lym1nfdIDdZXtQntmXKMNEC1R8_dtLW1HQUg791dFrfVilOSo0hgF0KlsfnR8/s320/PICT0163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506253830088386" border="0" /></a>~*~*~*~*~*HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY!!! ~*~*~*~*~*~<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTHhX5iFmQ1Oli7QCfK1Ugm-6m1hFw4VZwl2eNhBeWaFX8bFe0eqn43qOhZ46zCsd6MKrr_3HEcKjK5p27VfyJD3NZrf6T58etHbyJxtczjTiVEZV6K0u_ymysFkfWsIHEdPMMWGXbz4/s1600-h/PICT0155.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTHhX5iFmQ1Oli7QCfK1Ugm-6m1hFw4VZwl2eNhBeWaFX8bFe0eqn43qOhZ46zCsd6MKrr_3HEcKjK5p27VfyJD3NZrf6T58etHbyJxtczjTiVEZV6K0u_ymysFkfWsIHEdPMMWGXbz4/s320/PICT0155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506250166383266" border="0" /></a>She's so happy with the box, how will she react to what's inside?!?!?!?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmqh82PRdF-QekYmCScqbHZJmjJ5wVvcGBXx7ZfLy06Bpgy8cQOUuuBgyCASPwSa3eu6jIQAPdUlp20itkOqcIPRMg2HdAz7H7tpna5B4ERRNjle9NVRgU5PLSDWhDE7GJ_c2LJJpVGo/s1600-h/PICT0159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmqh82PRdF-QekYmCScqbHZJmjJ5wVvcGBXx7ZfLy06Bpgy8cQOUuuBgyCASPwSa3eu6jIQAPdUlp20itkOqcIPRMg2HdAz7H7tpna5B4ERRNjle9NVRgU5PLSDWhDE7GJ_c2LJJpVGo/s320/PICT0159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506239401260930" border="0" /></a>I think she likes her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hollister</span> t-shirts!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmBcV6hIxyLi8k2psd5A9gj8ZglsPd2cSws_ifv8ZYU4kOHlIQoay-fezSnedoBiYy2jj0LvWceU7lQtz_xK_3kUsazobV6c5GTmiuDsZl9dhwbqJVXTjgi1U1S2miO5Gt4IsIQaxASE/s1600-h/PICT0138.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmBcV6hIxyLi8k2psd5A9gj8ZglsPd2cSws_ifv8ZYU4kOHlIQoay-fezSnedoBiYy2jj0LvWceU7lQtz_xK_3kUsazobV6c5GTmiuDsZl9dhwbqJVXTjgi1U1S2miO5Gt4IsIQaxASE/s320/PICT0138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506235456599074" border="0" /></a>My friend Kim and her daughter Emily sent Rachel this candy basket. Later in the week they took her to the mall to pick out her present. Good friends are priceless.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblwrM578zSYRt-yJxYbcCfNvUu0yvSMzW0i9PdlF_8yUDOFmhe7FeC94DEXiSF8XaqFFldxXAJqZJLuTcniXZ5Bk_uEd1SEjI3_w2Bkax9yrn7uauvhdASV6ZW_rj2IbFa-5WPOQrsuE/s1600-h/PICT0147.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblwrM578zSYRt-yJxYbcCfNvUu0yvSMzW0i9PdlF_8yUDOFmhe7FeC94DEXiSF8XaqFFldxXAJqZJLuTcniXZ5Bk_uEd1SEjI3_w2Bkax9yrn7uauvhdASV6ZW_rj2IbFa-5WPOQrsuE/s320/PICT0147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438506227188636066" border="0" /></a>Rachel's birthday was on February 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, the day of the third blizzard of the winter. Fred had to work, so he actually went and stayed in a hotel the night before. Rachel and I spent her birthday watching Pirates of the Caribbean movies and shoveling snow. This snow was <span style="font-style: italic;">heavy. </span>We shoveled 3 or 4 times throughout the day/evening to try to keep up with it. Fred got up the next morning before work and shoveled again. <br />Because of the blizzard a few days before this one, Rachel's school was delayed 2 hours last Monday. Tuesday was a regular school day. Then they were off Wednesday and Thursday. Friday and Monday were scheduled days off for President's Day weekend. Personally, I think they should have used those days as make-up days. If we have any more snow days, they won't get out of school until July!<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-40630846023965830422010-02-08T22:36:00.003-05:002010-02-08T22:44:46.900-05:00Vulture<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nME-c88unNFQ0kmXPixd69XEhQPutiG-lEB0MCFhXH4wRpSDqEFCfmLEAKNELAUUKvhvC8P3WWueCYmquWh4ifV8Iezxg9uar3H74WlTUy1k9gGL8gmM3SaBH2red5vSRTDnlBnTK_s/s1600-h/PICT0112.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nME-c88unNFQ0kmXPixd69XEhQPutiG-lEB0MCFhXH4wRpSDqEFCfmLEAKNELAUUKvhvC8P3WWueCYmquWh4ifV8Iezxg9uar3H74WlTUy1k9gGL8gmM3SaBH2red5vSRTDnlBnTK_s/s320/PICT0112.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436083491283346658" border="0" /></a>We had a visitor to our roof yesterday. One of the neighbors called to say there was a really big bird on the roof above the garage. Rachel had been watching it, too. He kept flying back and forth from the porch roof just outside her bedroom window to the garage roof outside my bedroom window. He landed in our maple tree once, too. I think it was a turkey vulture, but I'm not sure. I was thinking maybe there was a dead rabbit or something in our yard, but I looked around and couldn't find any carcasses. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77c5-ntAy_GuRcyepY2Im0gukW8Kz7UeZTKHRqt-mebkMeMkqLSskX98WciRjsemQhSkBrpQxcrx_9gFDg1plXL-6c7TmhJoW6SjKdr4PZBgaTWhyTsBePe2FQXBDIVWMKtDtSrs3dZs/s1600-h/new+camera+1+575.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh77c5-ntAy_GuRcyepY2Im0gukW8Kz7UeZTKHRqt-mebkMeMkqLSskX98WciRjsemQhSkBrpQxcrx_9gFDg1plXL-6c7TmhJoW6SjKdr4PZBgaTWhyTsBePe2FQXBDIVWMKtDtSrs3dZs/s320/new+camera+1+575.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436083484539856402" border="0" /></a>Violet was watching him the whole time, too.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDwubRqA2TurklO5bzDDByU8T4NTnlH_870868O3Uv34ciQvE9D9jYOdn0QQS2drEYsT54N7a-eCbVdGIgqWYl_8q3cvM9b91CreiTcr7KU3u8nsG5Stz-MpePPH7KNl6h5JGoDPtDgk/s1600-h/new+camera+1+578.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDwubRqA2TurklO5bzDDByU8T4NTnlH_870868O3Uv34ciQvE9D9jYOdn0QQS2drEYsT54N7a-eCbVdGIgqWYl_8q3cvM9b91CreiTcr7KU3u8nsG5Stz-MpePPH7KNl6h5JGoDPtDgk/s320/new+camera+1+578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436083480712582114" border="0" /></a>We often see vultures and hawks flying overhead, but this is the first time we've seen them this up close.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-58517665817769632612010-02-08T21:55:00.005-05:002010-02-08T22:36:10.755-05:00More Snow<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkAmBqExTDz6tHPNO7_LyJ_FA0-zC-qkl4VRo7i0qZEgFUEDyw6urJ2Cxx2LfbroD45hfo9b_6dBaCecs5jgBC734ESwqx5U0qrb-IlIoqTwBhVaM1R4Vf7YexLw2j6S6kDA1OHMsPYI/s1600-h/new+camera+1+563.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkAmBqExTDz6tHPNO7_LyJ_FA0-zC-qkl4VRo7i0qZEgFUEDyw6urJ2Cxx2LfbroD45hfo9b_6dBaCecs5jgBC734ESwqx5U0qrb-IlIoqTwBhVaM1R4Vf7YexLw2j6S6kDA1OHMsPYI/s320/new+camera+1+563.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436075228761967922" border="0" /></a>We had our second blizzard of the winter this past weekend. We got right around two feet of snow. We were so impressed when the snow plows showed up early. It was still snowing when this big plow came into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cul</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span>-sac. But then he plowed two straight lines, and that was it! He didn't get anywhere near our driveway. I waited patiently, and he did come back, with a friend in a backhoe. They plowed together, but they still didn't get anywhere near our curb. So, in addition to shoveling our driveway and sidewalk, we had to shovel ten feet out into the road. They also plowed the snow almost right up to our mailbox, which we then had to clear away so the mail lady would deliver our mail. I don't understand how you can pay <span style="font-style: italic;">THOUSANDS </span>of dollars in taxes a year and get such crappy service when it snows. There were no cars in the road at all, nothing to keep them from plowing right up to the curb.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rXzvchP-i-we29G5HNBZ16Dv82lJfKJcfBbRkPQEjLCZZ-km8zw5DwUpS_JxxCh_J_vS2JiDyPTShCB5vOOVojMl7SjJPfcvJ539CvNm_-5Xm5xnXiOnprcdlpOwDpNq9WWDlK0DWX0/s1600-h/new+camera+1+561.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rXzvchP-i-we29G5HNBZ16Dv82lJfKJcfBbRkPQEjLCZZ-km8zw5DwUpS_JxxCh_J_vS2JiDyPTShCB5vOOVojMl7SjJPfcvJ539CvNm_-5Xm5xnXiOnprcdlpOwDpNq9WWDlK0DWX0/s320/new+camera+1+561.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436075222526024402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the path we shoveled for Ferris in the middle of the storm. Check out his little footprints leading to and from the patch of grass where he tinkled. Yeah, we had to shovel this a few more times during the course of the storm.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRS43imE8-LWZZip4TvG5_2g0Cmbep7-USMB2v1QNSApwLiVwcBsln-7arbcXVlkQLmLD0WS5ooB2D-7hF6Ucv-bZCOOu90KXnKbcngA940iAc3-i5rAoTesoQura6vlach2F3UwSN3Q/s1600-h/new+camera+1+567.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRS43imE8-LWZZip4TvG5_2g0Cmbep7-USMB2v1QNSApwLiVwcBsln-7arbcXVlkQLmLD0WS5ooB2D-7hF6Ucv-bZCOOu90KXnKbcngA940iAc3-i5rAoTesoQura6vlach2F3UwSN3Q/s320/new+camera+1+567.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436075428752029474" border="0" /></a>This was after the snow stopped. Unlike <a href="http://carols365.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post.html">last time</a> when my van had so much snow piled on it, thanks to the wind, Fred's car didn't have much at all. This picture is a little deceiving; the snow wasn't nearly as deep further down the driveway.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAQ1wWCA9UrL6bnmsHnUe9vhdbUx6QwteZEWPWI3TrJtJMSvFowYq7s1WbHFfnc7cQyudw-B4LlzqddBZPi-m6woVnuhAohLT-xkFdMEHC1Qva5-1QG3sJjGHLX42BCFTT5snAmV1AXU/s1600-h/sledding+2010+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAQ1wWCA9UrL6bnmsHnUe9vhdbUx6QwteZEWPWI3TrJtJMSvFowYq7s1WbHFfnc7cQyudw-B4LlzqddBZPi-m6woVnuhAohLT-xkFdMEHC1Qva5-1QG3sJjGHLX42BCFTT5snAmV1AXU/s320/sledding+2010+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436075202398758546" border="0" /></a>Sledding on the little hill in our neighborhood. It's actually a retention basin known as "the ditch." In the summer it's used for pick-up baseball games.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcwV2GsNrkdahS6Cbe1n4tNZHshl_dWRfwroHxgmGz5seCUqRk6M8Ur1fN-5BZ801M3pkqNFxB9nHmN3wQ74VEH2nfE5geF1MadlcUNvAnkiHsZhVuLplmhQRpoab2A9o1e3BZS3sroU/s1600-h/sledding+2010+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcwV2GsNrkdahS6Cbe1n4tNZHshl_dWRfwroHxgmGz5seCUqRk6M8Ur1fN-5BZ801M3pkqNFxB9nHmN3wQ74VEH2nfE5geF1MadlcUNvAnkiHsZhVuLplmhQRpoab2A9o1e3BZS3sroU/s320/sledding+2010+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436075213366776546" border="0" /></a>Ferris went with us to the ditch. <br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNy4Cen3poDvkak3WZBkvJZPJ8ttrcgtW9tYCnWbWadt9IwrsW7oVMNqGUYEYhESPK6jq7IwmBrsn8sM2m_QNBf-SK89OwYA3lkI4E-WfbEUv4GtnUyiN7RE7nPvNigRHWI6etgKIX0P4/s1600-h/sledding+2010+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNy4Cen3poDvkak3WZBkvJZPJ8ttrcgtW9tYCnWbWadt9IwrsW7oVMNqGUYEYhESPK6jq7IwmBrsn8sM2m_QNBf-SK89OwYA3lkI4E-WfbEUv4GtnUyiN7RE7nPvNigRHWI6etgKIX0P4/s320/sledding+2010+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436074304797497426" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">He even went sledding with Rachel. He stayed on her lap the whole way down the hill, multiple times. He didn't try to jump off at all. I took him down once, too, and I hit a bump at the bottom and fell backwards. He still stayed on me. In fact, he made himself at home and sat down on my chest as I was laying in the snow. I guess his feet get cold in the snow. I'm thinking of getting him a pair of booties. He's so good about wearing coats, maybe he'll keep booties on. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGhdb2B9W5JOJcQ4LKXP565W2gzi636MIVdyoQjPoMp0_RIW4h0r9WQYrna-JA0WLtZv4MIHzECmvRBNVqoBeG40DaN0Uti_CYmIZtLmSad5yi2S_rADf2vP2ZSzAZPfwNGDpwEqVD8Q/s1600-h/sledding+2010+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGhdb2B9W5JOJcQ4LKXP565W2gzi636MIVdyoQjPoMp0_RIW4h0r9WQYrna-JA0WLtZv4MIHzECmvRBNVqoBeG40DaN0Uti_CYmIZtLmSad5yi2S_rADf2vP2ZSzAZPfwNGDpwEqVD8Q/s320/sledding+2010+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436074311282403810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDYtvn7PlWUiWpiF00MRf2BiIElccssPKEhGg4pyYFOr-jrf5OJjpIN7NVu6XWuvL1un3sigR9dPRYoiFV_TEivisXJHbjSJRI3u3FIiqZCRUxHASQo0_Fv94iIfn2HYIHYE0SOxBopU/s1600-h/sledding+2010+042.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDYtvn7PlWUiWpiF00MRf2BiIElccssPKEhGg4pyYFOr-jrf5OJjpIN7NVu6XWuvL1un3sigR9dPRYoiFV_TEivisXJHbjSJRI3u3FIiqZCRUxHASQo0_Fv94iIfn2HYIHYE0SOxBopU/s320/sledding+2010+042.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436075214289500002" border="0" /></a>Of course, the only bad thing about sledding is climbing back up the hill. But seeing as how Ferris didn't want to really be in the snow that much, he stayed in the sled and let Rachel and a friend push/pull him back up the hill. <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTI7omfg1n_4aJ24rhXnsfhPS_cBtr6lGrtBshZA2OO8fAGs2d9JglX1nLReQU8ji8MxVcQIOymhhFnQhdO0HRW6puzR9z09bw_y2Hpzo_yd6nwmgSbx7kS5v57oO16Mh1Gw6Bl7st_sI/s1600-h/PICT0136.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTI7omfg1n_4aJ24rhXnsfhPS_cBtr6lGrtBshZA2OO8fAGs2d9JglX1nLReQU8ji8MxVcQIOymhhFnQhdO0HRW6puzR9z09bw_y2Hpzo_yd6nwmgSbx7kS5v57oO16Mh1Gw6Bl7st_sI/s320/PICT0136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436074296180112530" border="0" /></a>Back at the house after sledding we tried to make a snowman <span style="font-style: italic;">again</span>. And just like December's snow, this snow wasn't packing. It wasn't just us....I haven't seen any snowmen in any neighbors' yards. So Rachel settled for making snow angels. I kept telling her she had to wave her legs, too, but there was too much snow and she couldn't.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikd29C9m_grHDoqKcD-ErpKISL-xeM-jbHm8fGkMjd71iejZaEsUDiEaEGFcVxEXjdKe_zZXHSS-yfVDRwcrm95wl_JNHqJyoGAyr_7-ud3U0f0hZ6CnbanGeoLXpiMHV7XLOimP3VE0/s1600-h/PICT0137.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikd29C9m_grHDoqKcD-ErpKISL-xeM-jbHm8fGkMjd71iejZaEsUDiEaEGFcVxEXjdKe_zZXHSS-yfVDRwcrm95wl_JNHqJyoGAyr_7-ud3U0f0hZ6CnbanGeoLXpiMHV7XLOimP3VE0/s320/PICT0137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436074291982736802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeyoMJIeVi_Q0MF-G_-VVH3xswNRhTUVUQkYL6kobzqL_Mo_zfB0qhhlqaHU74uNgHb3NDENLTttj9MLEr_cCFE647MxhX28PRn7vqk5Hi_YcqYFvwI_QfDqtgcTC-O9LR11sx7JHomU/s1600-h/PICT0129.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMeyoMJIeVi_Q0MF-G_-VVH3xswNRhTUVUQkYL6kobzqL_Mo_zfB0qhhlqaHU74uNgHb3NDENLTttj9MLEr_cCFE647MxhX28PRn7vqk5Hi_YcqYFvwI_QfDqtgcTC-O9LR11sx7JHomU/s320/PICT0129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436074289307611906" border="0" /></a>All this playing in the snow makes you tired!<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-4132942335813107742010-02-07T11:57:00.004-05:002010-02-07T12:07:31.785-05:00University of Delaware Competition<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8ZTqHQ9AhFX9CQLex09vqEK5V1-vColArs6cSDv-Y_1KOht6k6-nFMITvpIC278S7tHnDV5zZa7YDFhyAiHbrbMcThmnRiep2dK5z9U4NNFXeRfbNsGq4hZBtUWteHTO6v8lcpvowOg/s1600-h/PICT0079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8ZTqHQ9AhFX9CQLex09vqEK5V1-vColArs6cSDv-Y_1KOht6k6-nFMITvpIC278S7tHnDV5zZa7YDFhyAiHbrbMcThmnRiep2dK5z9U4NNFXeRfbNsGq4hZBtUWteHTO6v8lcpvowOg/s320/PICT0079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435547328902557586" border="0" /></a>Here they come!!! On their way to a First Place finish!!<br />This was actually last Sunday. We pulled out of today's competition because of all the snow. (More on that in the next post)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbZVVJOvGdWAMdu8BOtCnPt2u2xoc6s8fQSftU-fGu9fLSa8HrlUT9i49jNLKUxdecVOrCJisBNEbLttcIvwd19Pv4T9fIUxHhPld6hGA0NHr5BKqr-XGAtCWjZPuJSevNK8Ki6MS0Lc/s1600-h/PICT0098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbZVVJOvGdWAMdu8BOtCnPt2u2xoc6s8fQSftU-fGu9fLSa8HrlUT9i49jNLKUxdecVOrCJisBNEbLttcIvwd19Pv4T9fIUxHhPld6hGA0NHr5BKqr-XGAtCWjZPuJSevNK8Ki6MS0Lc/s320/PICT0098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435546897917534642" border="0" /></a>What we didn't know at the time was that Emily hurt her knee pretty bad at tumbling the day before. She was a trooper and did everything in the routine, including her back handsprings. But my friend Kim took her to the hospital and she's now on crutches. She's waiting for an appointment at AI DuPont Hospital for Children next week. The first hospital told her it was her <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ACL</span>, but the follow-up orthopedist said her patella punctured a hole in the bone behind it. Either way, she's off her knee for ten days. So for Emily, it's a good thing we pulled out of the competition today.<br /><br />I'm having hardware issues....the card for my new camera won't work in my computer, and the card reader I use is broken. So I can't access those pictures until Fred gets me a new one, hopefully today.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-70797174279669918362010-02-06T22:57:00.001-05:002010-02-08T23:00:00.699-05:00Pyramid<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0bJ2B7IBetFz1Hrw246g5Q7Iw1b3m2ZOBO2puW_5p2yr3S2XISPri41RBrcA0tcLIVaTXTA4DNK1Zi5l1OlN8uP6qA8En3t_ZJALgDidAcAprOGAIoAD1to7Gr3kWVsJhOJJEgk6ois/s1600-h/new+camera+1+555_edited.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0bJ2B7IBetFz1Hrw246g5Q7Iw1b3m2ZOBO2puW_5p2yr3S2XISPri41RBrcA0tcLIVaTXTA4DNK1Zi5l1OlN8uP6qA8En3t_ZJALgDidAcAprOGAIoAD1to7Gr3kWVsJhOJJEgk6ois/s320/new+camera+1+555_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436088179134541810" border="0" /></a><a href="http://carols365.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-2010-competition.html">Here </a>I showed you how Rachel's team begins their routine. This is how they end it. <br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-13248227724508246452010-01-30T14:28:00.003-05:002010-01-30T14:44:52.216-05:00Toe Touch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuiiOwDYqAaNriAK7c6ww6BoyTstBXJTxMnKpK48vh4O4dQbpM2c5vM2djeN8dIRUxQ-4xRKNNAMOA-ft5cj1efVNM17kt9AP3BorAPcdcq4VZpfi6JChK_qkJlhxo3c0WJfxOUZCtek/s1600-h/PICT0061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuiiOwDYqAaNriAK7c6ww6BoyTstBXJTxMnKpK48vh4O4dQbpM2c5vM2djeN8dIRUxQ-4xRKNNAMOA-ft5cj1efVNM17kt9AP3BorAPcdcq4VZpfi6JChK_qkJlhxo3c0WJfxOUZCtek/s320/PICT0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432620417432699986" border="0" /></a>Rachel went to a friend's birthday party last night. It was a tumbling party. She practiced her jumps on their trampoline and into the pit. Her toe touch looks pretty good. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxI4qcCSzQt66M77KWCPWfHrV3KE3L5_OS6xl1bOfvmF0kR694slL3s63CttJ206Ayh45xpCMYtTdblV9K09StVeG2xJvJ_FcGceNNSjiAySOr4AQxNsa7kKjElfxVLlm1y3x2-cnL-Q/s1600-h/PICT0065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxI4qcCSzQt66M77KWCPWfHrV3KE3L5_OS6xl1bOfvmF0kR694slL3s63CttJ206Ayh45xpCMYtTdblV9K09StVeG2xJvJ_FcGceNNSjiAySOr4AQxNsa7kKjElfxVLlm1y3x2-cnL-Q/s320/PICT0065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432620412455725058" border="0" /></a>This is a herkie. It's my favorite jump. <br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-50105938003216705402010-01-27T16:35:00.003-05:002010-01-27T16:51:35.462-05:00Trade Fair<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjB6Ai6M43itjvOVz4yzoes4mHVZ9KYCHJGn725O354Zrnzg8GZkowvX5Jao-VQkH_GM4-XZs4620F92oWFX6G8jNB2vX5AymP81WlBNw43VLy9YIxxUYi6F8wTo22-UaQW-Ant8SD8g/s1600-h/DSC_0569.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjB6Ai6M43itjvOVz4yzoes4mHVZ9KYCHJGn725O354Zrnzg8GZkowvX5Jao-VQkH_GM4-XZs4620F92oWFX6G8jNB2vX5AymP81WlBNw43VLy9YIxxUYi6F8wTo22-UaQW-Ant8SD8g/s320/DSC_0569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431536708150277330" border="0" /></a>Rachel is in the EXCEL program at school, and every year the fifth grade EXCEL students have a Trade Fair. They have to create a "business" -- whether it's a game, a product or a service -- and try to make a profit at the Trade Fair. Rachel created a "Wishful Wheel." It is basically a spinning wheel game for prizes. She had three different prizes: 76ers beads, friendship bracelets and super balls. They can purchase various forms of advertising, such as hanging posters, making a commercial during morning announcements, etc. Any money they spend they have to keep track of and pay back out of their profits. So they were supposed to try to make prizes or use things from around the house and not use food as a prize.<br />Rachel's Wishing Wheel did pretty good. She didn't make the highest profit, but she followed the rules and had a lot of customers, so it was successful. <br />I think her next big project will be the wax museum. That should be a fun one.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-3447594683569212162010-01-24T21:18:00.000-05:002010-01-27T16:35:19.615-05:00Villanova Competition<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFmH54e90H1BY_2QarTmQrrO21mTB1gSkNPMqRrhsDEfLSq1gvQ7briz1hbADxiVowrDRCDi44MIeQwlmRAVGoOH4fQkQKp4DgGQpEVniFDfR7sNAqW3oJfy2XR8zbtNtNxP5rJf0PPQ/s1600-h/PICT0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFmH54e90H1BY_2QarTmQrrO21mTB1gSkNPMqRrhsDEfLSq1gvQ7briz1hbADxiVowrDRCDi44MIeQwlmRAVGoOH4fQkQKp4DgGQpEVniFDfR7sNAqW3oJfy2XR8zbtNtNxP5rJf0PPQ/s320/PICT0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431532167966623234" border="0" /></a>Rachel's competition this weekend was at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Villanova</span> University. Her team took first place out of three! They looked so good, too. The middle of the pyramid that ends their routine collapsed, but aside from that it was a great performance. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEE3khHCW1ym7kbZdrD7BWdHfmRRJegR5WvwCZa8dC1LzpN0eOcfLtwtqb0wPLWmHAEa19FTSfD4T5VYxeSJYdrLm6Dy44y79aUZC-oGX1rqXNhbY1uRgOptax9vD_QKlCG7L0x3FUfI/s1600-h/PICT0039EDIT.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEE3khHCW1ym7kbZdrD7BWdHfmRRJegR5WvwCZa8dC1LzpN0eOcfLtwtqb0wPLWmHAEa19FTSfD4T5VYxeSJYdrLm6Dy44y79aUZC-oGX1rqXNhbY1uRgOptax9vD_QKlCG7L0x3FUfI/s320/PICT0039EDIT.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431533873442111490" border="0" /></a>It was a long day. We thought we'd be home by 2:00, but we didn't get out of the gym until 2:00 or so. After stopping for lunch, we didn't get home until 5:00. It was a fun day, though. There was a parent team that performed, and they did surprisingly well. In fact, I think they inspired our organization to start one. Should be interesting!!!<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-3939801862844764692010-01-23T14:40:00.006-05:002010-01-23T15:07:56.652-05:00Scenes from a Bus, Xian<div style="text-align: justify;">Xian was our second stop in China. (Click<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://carols365.blogspot.com/2009/07/last-day-beijing.html">here </a>to read about our train ride from Beijing to Xian, <a href="http://carols365.blogspot.com/2009/07/after-arriving-in-xian-via-overnight.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">here</span> </a>to read about our first day in Xian and click <a href="http://carols365.blogspot.com/2009/07/xian-day-2-terra-cotta-warriers.html"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">here</span> </a>to read about our visit to the Terra <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cotta</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Warriors</span>.)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml8Bv0xDwAHxSVFDyXhDM0SG3UoEGKQOjf8zlkqWocsnZ7YQPLn4NPWf_EUoKOTuvx8nHXqeV2WOOmWHHKQZarBWoyLHMfqe4nuvQc2Lk_nbM34CcGhLS_Ltc7SJMxQRdYcDNu6YAAC4/s1600-h/PICT0640.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiml8Bv0xDwAHxSVFDyXhDM0SG3UoEGKQOjf8zlkqWocsnZ7YQPLn4NPWf_EUoKOTuvx8nHXqeV2WOOmWHHKQZarBWoyLHMfqe4nuvQc2Lk_nbM34CcGhLS_Ltc7SJMxQRdYcDNu6YAAC4/s320/PICT0640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430023344945680498" border="0" /></a>Okay. Technically, this is a scene from the overnight train we took from Beijing to Xian. I like the mountains in this one. This was taken probably about an hour before we arrived in Xian. The best part of the train ride was when the sun came up and we could see the scenery going by. It helped me forget how dirty and gross I felt from the day/night before. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXa6tI59rT1dGZbT6ip6R9z1iICZUKPDs8RIs51DV-FhIYDdnB1G4WY4dq69ckyAXf7Y8S1d5pN1vHaeIMqJ8xg9jb6W1zQWc7dbOTrzDhlrhTDpxv6m1zOSsQA0Cp27ytKyYRCsIzg8/s1600-h/PICT0845.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXa6tI59rT1dGZbT6ip6R9z1iICZUKPDs8RIs51DV-FhIYDdnB1G4WY4dq69ckyAXf7Y8S1d5pN1vHaeIMqJ8xg9jb6W1zQWc7dbOTrzDhlrhTDpxv6m1zOSsQA0Cp27ytKyYRCsIzg8/s320/PICT0845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430022849088198034" border="0" /></a>We saw a lot of pool <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">floaties</span> being sold along the street in Xian, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out where they would be used. China's not like the U.S. where every other house has a pool in the backyard. The only pools I saw while we were in China were the ones in our hotels. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqDS9GRRO2ipCImomYgk9gAEkxe-xWPGx6S_W5m3j3Hw2XKEQRI4u7VJ6pb_l347I-W43XMZGOWb6eO58fBcVfutPz15aBtAAPh5Ol4gOvo5l0cWUI62lt0qE5h2Agr9_Zk-SC02YRt0/s1600-h/PICT0713.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqDS9GRRO2ipCImomYgk9gAEkxe-xWPGx6S_W5m3j3Hw2XKEQRI4u7VJ6pb_l347I-W43XMZGOWb6eO58fBcVfutPz15aBtAAPh5Ol4gOvo5l0cWUI62lt0qE5h2Agr9_Zk-SC02YRt0/s320/PICT0713.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430022752199636594" border="0" /></a>A woman doing wash outside a shop.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsCxTdfhZXj8Nj9A5CSGI4worKpaXVgs_M4MmYCK4SValS7HDZrOKPtw2L3lMJevlyyzErq9IAqIz78ibXbxmiGUIc3qCqml0AHQk25pBmwsAJzdVP7nUHsSfOz42UM_VN9xBQPRjBQY/s1600-h/PICT0681.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsCxTdfhZXj8Nj9A5CSGI4worKpaXVgs_M4MmYCK4SValS7HDZrOKPtw2L3lMJevlyyzErq9IAqIz78ibXbxmiGUIc3qCqml0AHQk25pBmwsAJzdVP7nUHsSfOz42UM_VN9xBQPRjBQY/s320/PICT0681.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430022749351238978" border="0" /></a>Wires. Lots and lots of wires. Can you imagine working for the cable company or phone company and having to replace a downed wire!?!?!?!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbne9-ctDbshBiSQl5qTMyEJRDvcR8l37CGEtTORflRkQ5RQrmS4iqL239czW7YzzHOMfB0ydjPElTnKhEGO3Si4gY_99NQZWrKXPJ1bzivp4jLekhgK4uNfVE2OrjYBKycSeN2oIuhg/s1600-h/PICT0650.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbne9-ctDbshBiSQl5qTMyEJRDvcR8l37CGEtTORflRkQ5RQrmS4iqL239czW7YzzHOMfB0ydjPElTnKhEGO3Si4gY_99NQZWrKXPJ1bzivp4jLekhgK4uNfVE2OrjYBKycSeN2oIuhg/s320/PICT0650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430022744416972674" border="0" /></a>Employees participating in team-building exercises before their workday.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW9qJEXP_S4pzID0xQHQNyejnJPSMcCLNBkH3Gb9otb_RsvpL0rJh8RCFCGtV26E_vzfyzyjAy8LVV5ht5jcwg2KnsaOycr8dpUNiiqbAhcHiBMbvKbRB_LwxB1d2uxUFDWlGrccap88/s1600-h/PICT0649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW9qJEXP_S4pzID0xQHQNyejnJPSMcCLNBkH3Gb9otb_RsvpL0rJh8RCFCGtV26E_vzfyzyjAy8LVV5ht5jcwg2KnsaOycr8dpUNiiqbAhcHiBMbvKbRB_LwxB1d2uxUFDWlGrccap88/s320/PICT0649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430022741091294514" border="0" /></a>Day laborers waiting to be hired. The little signs say what type of work they do. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwkeP5OPYJJFeuniJ6dfiAOLYmkGB3v556GI762bPCjhpzomC2KmzRi0wSqBcvOtKDhAiTC2A9n0SVjkKkBHbAAjN-ciytsyYdJA1EeibqvRDkVw1i76tdTUkmegKAFRfFZQLS-E5Ny0/s1600-h/PICT0648.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwkeP5OPYJJFeuniJ6dfiAOLYmkGB3v556GI762bPCjhpzomC2KmzRi0wSqBcvOtKDhAiTC2A9n0SVjkKkBHbAAjN-ciytsyYdJA1EeibqvRDkVw1i76tdTUkmegKAFRfFZQLS-E5Ny0/s320/PICT0648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430022731196155506" border="0" /></a>Old folks in a park doing their morning exercises. We saw this happening everywhere we went. Sometimes it would be just one or two people; other times it would be large groups. <br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-32521502480411984732010-01-22T00:02:00.004-05:002010-01-23T15:09:13.874-05:00Scenes from the Bus - Beijing<div style="text-align: justify;">While in China last summer, I took TONS of pictures through the windows of our buses. They are some of my favorite pictures from the trip. On days when I don't have any current pictures to post, I hope to post some of these pictures. I'll start tonight with ten photos from our bus in Beijing. (Click <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://carols365.blogspot.com/2009/07/we-made-it.html">here</a> to go to read all about our trip to China.)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIM7NGyLv1xFGUU-nZdWZ_j4LsYLGuJvKyaMremUnNSq9MyWmxyd2xPK4wVgopk4Q-KWPrm6Tco4UasTpMWRatfJfjMKsOff56oNZ4Y20xdfgyrMm-VbIjoMtHOfPqSvZzRL6Vkn164A/s1600-h/PICT0255.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIM7NGyLv1xFGUU-nZdWZ_j4LsYLGuJvKyaMremUnNSq9MyWmxyd2xPK4wVgopk4Q-KWPrm6Tco4UasTpMWRatfJfjMKsOff56oNZ4Y20xdfgyrMm-VbIjoMtHOfPqSvZzRL6Vkn164A/s320/PICT0255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429797314555626306" border="0" /></a>Traffic. Sorry; I'm not sure why the picture is so crooked.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3zAMyZwkqI4jS-g5S2Jqg09EScK_y7oVFNsk1JcV0Was5fLXXR9txAuaYvePY2Ealc3Dpnx2Nwsmooylc5A_X31l9JydIev7mwhTD1JMe-YoibFiXxfhhGUWvxUQgg7fEHWg-jFHSLg/s1600-h/PICT0236.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3zAMyZwkqI4jS-g5S2Jqg09EScK_y7oVFNsk1JcV0Was5fLXXR9txAuaYvePY2Ealc3Dpnx2Nwsmooylc5A_X31l9JydIev7mwhTD1JMe-YoibFiXxfhhGUWvxUQgg7fEHWg-jFHSLg/s320/PICT0236.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429796588134224242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEuJfdR1kIKZmGo-W2k-hSinziR-odTmf5JC6i2uMKMMIdUbE8GdW9FRk9UBfEHzjowemJU0Z26-Wr-LXlSOnsYkzltzL2-IqE88uSYjs85YjPYZ7PUz-dWj5QhQeoY4n0Tm_dLZXkvM/s1600-h/PICT0488.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEuJfdR1kIKZmGo-W2k-hSinziR-odTmf5JC6i2uMKMMIdUbE8GdW9FRk9UBfEHzjowemJU0Z26-Wr-LXlSOnsYkzltzL2-IqE88uSYjs85YjPYZ7PUz-dWj5QhQeoY4n0Tm_dLZXkvM/s320/PICT0488.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429796585414956114" border="0" /></a>Punch Buggy!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBY7RhLTPxBsJ7-uyySoFweqAjGGs117vt7hS92anSFK0HnjRKBb1WMDbUaWhch7tvakBOyg664uWhkfwr4oNbUASUu8xCe7Se8dJqAcK77jB2w4rPt3Fx5nT0UbsS4UT-PGFvrXAmiC4/s1600-h/PICT0279.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBY7RhLTPxBsJ7-uyySoFweqAjGGs117vt7hS92anSFK0HnjRKBb1WMDbUaWhch7tvakBOyg664uWhkfwr4oNbUASUu8xCe7Se8dJqAcK77jB2w4rPt3Fx5nT0UbsS4UT-PGFvrXAmiC4/s320/PICT0279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429796580549598466" border="0" /></a>This was a pretty cool building. If you click on the picture, you can see it bigger to see all the detail.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2b4D_av6fhGWB9sfqNqDiORXR4c9os1nbi9Rvgl4BWqa-2Ns5LhrQ1k5Cyfzc36XpE7D4PRQdx4WJ_g4eb29QhXluXKSU5k4Z-nBYU069xIvM0xGl3geLi7F5KAciC1TRJhwY0HsvsU/s1600-h/PICT0292.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2b4D_av6fhGWB9sfqNqDiORXR4c9os1nbi9Rvgl4BWqa-2Ns5LhrQ1k5Cyfzc36XpE7D4PRQdx4WJ_g4eb29QhXluXKSU5k4Z-nBYU069xIvM0xGl3geLi7F5KAciC1TRJhwY0HsvsU/s320/PICT0292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429796573693716418" border="0" /></a>I have pictures of this theme park in my scrapbook from our first trip to China ten years ago. It was abandoned then, and it still sits empty. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr7iSSMHQbZruKHWUIqZEqm_VeuFeTLgoqXetC-sAS_tAFb947AfIOCNDyvtTIPJGUfdPg5TWkNcqhh8Hm9N0XHIJqVn2K-DjjwxiMXt1emlzxIL8dMk-_2rdWJQLkNFMIBNZjRIkUb0/s1600-h/PICT0167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkr7iSSMHQbZruKHWUIqZEqm_VeuFeTLgoqXetC-sAS_tAFb947AfIOCNDyvtTIPJGUfdPg5TWkNcqhh8Hm9N0XHIJqVn2K-DjjwxiMXt1emlzxIL8dMk-_2rdWJQLkNFMIBNZjRIkUb0/s320/PICT0167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429796826179964658" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7ApIl9qMvK-sLFGMByLjZ0SbGB-eoaTX8xrhnd9Aj6k87RrOA8CqJVAwesBsXFLVyAtT-_BHJ8vBE3qlLgDYtOK8Nd3g7dlCtStF_nVUola_MsWqt3F53AzjYiJcF4fN9H10lN949e0/s1600-h/PICT0248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7ApIl9qMvK-sLFGMByLjZ0SbGB-eoaTX8xrhnd9Aj6k87RrOA8CqJVAwesBsXFLVyAtT-_BHJ8vBE3qlLgDYtOK8Nd3g7dlCtStF_nVUola_MsWqt3F53AzjYiJcF4fN9H10lN949e0/s320/PICT0248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429796572808294770" border="0" /></a>It was interesting to see all the different modes of transportation and the many configurations of bicycles. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyXTro7Oi_Q6GmkRRgDkRoLAQcl5HWKssofGvG-uSN40t07vNmKkURQYIJHCCJ9LLzsjOAshA3bnkGQ9T4MV33zSxbSDBQs4Hw6TE49BMwxwXUMYml7WYlTbgBOPlRScwdraoN0Dbv6k/s1600-h/PICT0489.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyXTro7Oi_Q6GmkRRgDkRoLAQcl5HWKssofGvG-uSN40t07vNmKkURQYIJHCCJ9LLzsjOAshA3bnkGQ9T4MV33zSxbSDBQs4Hw6TE49BMwxwXUMYml7WYlTbgBOPlRScwdraoN0Dbv6k/s320/PICT0489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429800077201190338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgHZEMlSd85DF4ZI9iQorUCm5ZywPeW00Grkcb64HC5UgPpO8FfPS8fpHRL7HZ_GLe-EG3CxeI7w2jPh1B36lPum_gVLppkKEGs_7iGzJpRlFnuZKzRNgLiY3n7WyZS2E3LkTlb1djfg/s1600-h/PICT0485.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgHZEMlSd85DF4ZI9iQorUCm5ZywPeW00Grkcb64HC5UgPpO8FfPS8fpHRL7HZ_GLe-EG3CxeI7w2jPh1B36lPum_gVLppkKEGs_7iGzJpRlFnuZKzRNgLiY3n7WyZS2E3LkTlb1djfg/s320/PICT0485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429800072647365442" border="0" /></a>There seemed to be no limit to the amount of stuff piled on bicycles.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqjqbPfhyZedFVmYXUiQpMTxXrbNnlgrDTZeXEsZ-L14YlEoYXXw7UOPPt4IDhhDd4ELvfFVNDknzmEfroS8vyF1bthUrhVlZ4h6tDy7So8_2NCgxBy26Kvq88CQd3-2TSbJAANnudD8/s1600-h/PICT0164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqjqbPfhyZedFVmYXUiQpMTxXrbNnlgrDTZeXEsZ-L14YlEoYXXw7UOPPt4IDhhDd4ELvfFVNDknzmEfroS8vyF1bthUrhVlZ4h6tDy7So8_2NCgxBy26Kvq88CQd3-2TSbJAANnudD8/s320/PICT0164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429796826943497874" border="0" /></a>Scene ON the bus.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-10004914407639036482010-01-21T23:52:00.000-05:002010-01-22T23:55:12.481-05:00Fascinating.....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6-0Tenwo34fVWGv7LIWnFl_DHqkvCkuJ2iVofHBypP8-m-YhP7VSoeftJ6dOjwD4g2mzFvGRztCjpFszM-1tdrWOmr-UBrghTKrMPwrYcCHKrUhBCwhlas5X3xH_pl3ZRRoI1XIXP_c/s1600-h/PICT0756.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6-0Tenwo34fVWGv7LIWnFl_DHqkvCkuJ2iVofHBypP8-m-YhP7VSoeftJ6dOjwD4g2mzFvGRztCjpFszM-1tdrWOmr-UBrghTKrMPwrYcCHKrUhBCwhlas5X3xH_pl3ZRRoI1XIXP_c/s320/PICT0756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429793853072652322" border="0" /></a>.....simply fascinating.<br />Now if I could just get her to start doing the laundry instead of just watching it....<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-48666238274453055252010-01-20T22:02:00.004-05:002010-01-22T15:45:38.804-05:00D.A.R.E. Graduation& Sixers Game<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdYW-XuHjQWKV4Vvip8R-APSEr6ztJE_c87EXeDayU67E4UZ59eGee-h2L-PbXtb4XJHZqH1UKZI73A8ZLQvjyN-yqp-gkWVpAOKa_qg-KREMnbpnnE7BD-IliOrsDR0g9v8sxFVCtdw/s1600-h/PICT0004edit.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdYW-XuHjQWKV4Vvip8R-APSEr6ztJE_c87EXeDayU67E4UZ59eGee-h2L-PbXtb4XJHZqH1UKZI73A8ZLQvjyN-yqp-gkWVpAOKa_qg-KREMnbpnnE7BD-IliOrsDR0g9v8sxFVCtdw/s320/PICT0004edit.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429626854722134674" border="0" /></a>Rachel graduated from the D.A.R.E. program today, along with the rest of the fifth grade class. Over the past several months, they were taught drug prevention, how to avoid peer pressure and how to get themselves out of sticky situations. They each prepared a poster and an essay and awards were given out. Rachel's friend, Bianca, won the essay contest for the entire fifth grade, and she read her essay during the graduation. She did a great job. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">The blurred faces is a little creepy. Sorry. I don't like putting kids' faces on the Internet without their parents' permission. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhlVhNl2w6hnT_yWcSrSvuYsluS0mE5dfWJo_ac3EYKmBRW2RhmWbNo9sGYcsfrcQrecmaoGkdI8oJZ11WncTDv6VOEQSgPjw_LmuYEUOl-uH3I_vtIjVWm9YzbkbC8AjUORNiZPzIlo/s1600-h/PICT0018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhlVhNl2w6hnT_yWcSrSvuYsluS0mE5dfWJo_ac3EYKmBRW2RhmWbNo9sGYcsfrcQrecmaoGkdI8oJZ11WncTDv6VOEQSgPjw_LmuYEUOl-uH3I_vtIjVWm9YzbkbC8AjUORNiZPzIlo/s320/PICT0018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429626851687761682" border="0" /></a>Our Mayor was there, along with our State Assemblyman and the Superintendent of Schools. They are public officials, so I don't have a problem putting their faces on the Internet!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnq0wMZE-schYj1LX2-gtAQzWOGrmo35OP-xO2ohyphenhyphen_g3yS1hyZqNyvHnl4_iyaxNrXCJbJUnKlPpoLi3Wzg9JbtpGY3iNFMV8fBIJ3Cpn7eMoeurkNWkfVbRO2ZqvQSD_7GkG4SD9Iag/s1600-h/DSC_0550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnq0wMZE-schYj1LX2-gtAQzWOGrmo35OP-xO2ohyphenhyphen_g3yS1hyZqNyvHnl4_iyaxNrXCJbJUnKlPpoLi3Wzg9JbtpGY3iNFMV8fBIJ3Cpn7eMoeurkNWkfVbRO2ZqvQSD_7GkG4SD9Iag/s320/DSC_0550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429626848531109074" border="0" /></a>Tonight we went to the Philadelphia 76's game. It was not exactly a sell-out. And it was boring. Basketball is definitely not our sport. But it was interesting to come to once.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbAHeikOCLOBJ9-ViC-QSYeGo56tsxGkCc05IBCXA90avWrxsHG190_IZdZC8oHP4f8v0fQnoWIzsiQ0hh76VLCl0RWoKpDWouRWf5qAwM-Mbf-OQqigztsDccmHVmA30rvGizHXqy_Q/s1600-h/DSC_0553.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbAHeikOCLOBJ9-ViC-QSYeGo56tsxGkCc05IBCXA90avWrxsHG190_IZdZC8oHP4f8v0fQnoWIzsiQ0hh76VLCl0RWoKpDWouRWf5qAwM-Mbf-OQqigztsDccmHVmA30rvGizHXqy_Q/s320/DSC_0553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429626842189533986" border="0" /></a>I spent most of the game reading the manual for my new camera. I might have learned a few things. I was so frustrated after the D.A.R.E. graduation, because I got very few good pictures. Even closeups were blurry. The two pictures I posted here were from the old camera. One thing I did learn is that I need to get a telephoto lens. We left the game after half-time.<br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-7741262441695051932010-01-19T23:15:00.002-05:002010-01-19T23:22:27.607-05:00Bath Time<div style="text-align: center;">Ferris was a little stinky, so he had to get a bath.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN6WmD2rxQxbp3m6yJIV5DOPspBsM86ngg5T3QRnIj9PYAeM6OU_2XQtiWKJOd84JE8j0JOAiLlqTkwDeiUznCird1aUeCP4bsFwn7KcZuxdvaipMYncw6AexKAFl5mrwbxRAvnMfzHk/s1600-h/DSC_0475_edited.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN6WmD2rxQxbp3m6yJIV5DOPspBsM86ngg5T3QRnIj9PYAeM6OU_2XQtiWKJOd84JE8j0JOAiLlqTkwDeiUznCird1aUeCP4bsFwn7KcZuxdvaipMYncw6AexKAFl5mrwbxRAvnMfzHk/s320/DSC_0475_edited.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428671850045870450" border="0" /></a>"No! Please! Not a bath!!!"<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp50iYxnaTiU9_HdxGt9LFM_XnpCPTqghjiA_d0LCOkN8dQjdtFI5m1BrW6sb8xQGrGDeJTVWYxBvz4TJT5_HXsNyqerqx7nJCjaaAn0Alck_TkGZDid0i1CA6jPYwuCm5qTCFQZPZpo/s1600-h/DSC_0483edit.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp50iYxnaTiU9_HdxGt9LFM_XnpCPTqghjiA_d0LCOkN8dQjdtFI5m1BrW6sb8xQGrGDeJTVWYxBvz4TJT5_HXsNyqerqx7nJCjaaAn0Alck_TkGZDid0i1CA6jPYwuCm5qTCFQZPZpo/s320/DSC_0483edit.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428671847714748546" border="0" /></a>Tomorrow will be a long day. Rachel has her D.A.R.E. graduation at school at 9:30. Then I have a 2:00 job in the city, after which I'll come home, pick up Rachel and then head back to Philly for the Sixers game. Hopefully I'll get a little work done in there, too.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2601804679345407679.post-1133638279960077692010-01-16T19:59:00.002-05:002010-01-16T20:15:47.412-05:00First 2010 Competition!<div style="text-align: justify;">We were in Trenton this morning for a cheerleading competition. It was Rachel's (and my!) first all-star cheerleading competition. She did cheer for six years for a rec squad (pee wee football) and did competition with them for four years, but this is her first year doing all-star.<br />We woke up at 4:45 and left the house at 6, got to Trenton by 7:30. I played with the camera while watching the other teams perform, but I still need to figure this new camera out. Once again, <span style="font-style: italic;">every single</span> picture I took, except for the close-ups, was blurry. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, so I'll have to get the manual out I guess. I also need to invest in a telephoto lens sometime in the next month or two. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQHkO7RPnYViqsfarbKNAslRdFqt3zmesy225eD16W9YqM4gAvNARptjD5lF0PzeK1nk6Wl4HLaeO_36ohPHRCbOMNkJ2McddSNMnL9GqZyOldANi4Sx7GReiuHOuk9cLeCvlM8fFQ5c/s1600-h/DSC_0427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQHkO7RPnYViqsfarbKNAslRdFqt3zmesy225eD16W9YqM4gAvNARptjD5lF0PzeK1nk6Wl4HLaeO_36ohPHRCbOMNkJ2McddSNMnL9GqZyOldANi4Sx7GReiuHOuk9cLeCvlM8fFQ5c/s320/DSC_0427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427507583617661714" border="0" /></a>This is how Rachel's team lines up to begin their routine. They did <span style="font-style: italic;">so </span>good. I'm so proud of Rachel and all the girls. The looked great!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl_4SfX2t2qT216sPdH3hZCwRf3sCU5_r7IqgtBL3lOq2Hfg5ZkOu3XHUNvIA9PL7Orw2S5wNSNKVKJxlUFV8yOit8uZAWAeYGlBvY0BdX0Z-z2WSl2uqqMd4QheuFPAnrgmpBLT0TAA/s1600-h/DSC_0449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl_4SfX2t2qT216sPdH3hZCwRf3sCU5_r7IqgtBL3lOq2Hfg5ZkOu3XHUNvIA9PL7Orw2S5wNSNKVKJxlUFV8yOit8uZAWAeYGlBvY0BdX0Z-z2WSl2uqqMd4QheuFPAnrgmpBLT0TAA/s320/DSC_0449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427507579931858498" border="0" /></a>Rachel and Emily having some post-performance Dippin Dots.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5Rezi-M_yoT0B9gr8siQaPlir4Dg6PFN-fAMMx8k4V0HdJK_qVrAjCk0VGXrKdFhaMOEVc4eRkWYHdmnhXV8IQqvDorvAAHZ4eDuWkuuPiuQhblsSnHMWK3EnL5v25zCmmNs1CV51Bk/s1600-h/DSC_0458.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5Rezi-M_yoT0B9gr8siQaPlir4Dg6PFN-fAMMx8k4V0HdJK_qVrAjCk0VGXrKdFhaMOEVc4eRkWYHdmnhXV8IQqvDorvAAHZ4eDuWkuuPiuQhblsSnHMWK3EnL5v25zCmmNs1CV51Bk/s320/DSC_0458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427507574828506386" border="0" /></a>This is all the teams from the morning session on the mat for awards. It was fun, but I'm exhausted. I am not a morning person, and when I have to get up earlier than usual, it just knocks me out. <br /></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16498305295128668723noreply@blogger.com0