My House Is a Very Strange Place

My evidence:

I looked out the front door this afternoon and saw the three of these nutjobs walking down the street with walkers and canes. I didn't ask why. Just asked them to come in and sit for a picture.

Lunch Up Close

Carrots, grapes, bread, and chocolate chip cookies up close.

I pulled out a little magnifying glass I had from work and a decent flashlight - and viola!
Lunch takes on a whole new look.

New Plane

I've had this whole Empire of the Sun imagery in my head the last few days.

I don't know from where these things come.

All I know is that "S" gave me a look the other day that made me think of a young Christian Bale.

(a look that made me think of the movie Empire of the Sun - not how he beat his mother ... )

From there, I had to buy an airplane, find a meadow, and take his picture.

S" didn't mind - he got the airplane in the end.

I'm working on a few more images - I'll post them when I'm done.

A few more .....

.

B

TwentyEight Frames

The other day while I was working on the attached picture of "B", someone looked over my shoulder and said "Oh, you ALWAYS take such nice pictures of your kids.
I wish my kids would let me take pictures of them like that".
I would hate for anyone to operate under the false impression that it was easy to get good pix of the kids.
An exchange I had earlier today at work made me think about some pic I had taken at the beach last week.
Someone at work today tried (fiendishly) to get my kids to rat me out and admit that having their pictures taken was something less than a wonderful and loving bonding experience between mother and child .... o.k., I bribe them with candy and when that doesn't work I threaten them.
Don't judge me! I no different than any other mom.
So, for every beautiful picture I get to hang in my home, send to my family, or display in my office - there are a 100 others that look like these.
These are just 28 of ... oh, I dunno know, 100+ frames from the other day. I knew from the start that I had already lost the light I wanted, I had REALLY lost "S", and God knows I had lost what was left of my mind after a week at the beach.
I just kept taking shots just to see what other pained looks he could come up with.
Gotta admit, "B" is having fun.

I Like Cape May Quite A Bit!

Its not a thing like New Jersey!

As much as I prefer just about anywhere to the Jersey shore, my husband REALLY hates it! He won't even look eastward. But, the kids ... they want to see the ocean. The want to see the dolphins. They want .... so we go.

I have to say, I like Cape May. It didn't feel at all like New Jersey. We didn't get stuck in any traffic in either direction, there were no crowds or medical waste on the beaches, we got into restaurants when we wanted to .... it was actually lovely. And we got home just ahead of hurricane Bill.

whadayaknow!

Vacation Video

Same pix .... kids wanted a video

"Vacation" Pix

Just back from our Disney "vacation".

Does one actually vacation in Disney?

I'm just sayin' that at times it felt like a 4 day death march in 110 degree heat.

The kids had a blast - they want to go again next year.

Click on the image above to see some pix

The picture of Phil in the Pirate of the Carribean ride is so funny!

Just look at Phil's face - he has just walked for about 8 hours in 98 degree heat, full sun, carrying a backpack, a thunderstorm is on its way in, he's starving, and the kids "have got to see" 10 more things before we leave. I love this picture!

My Easter Bunnies

I'm working through some Easter pictures I took today.
Here are the first few I've gone through.
(click on image to see larger)

Alchemy and a Six Year Old

The kids are making leprechaun traps for a school project.

"S"'s is a basic shoe box with a trap door, some plastic gold coins from the dollar store, a few brush strokes of green paint, and voila! A leprechaun trap.

"B" began the process with a totally different plan. "S" just wanted to get the darn trap finished and get back to playing hockey. "B", you see, really wants to catch a leprechaun; and has put some thought into how to do it.

It started last week with with "Mommy, you need to make some liquid gold for him to drink". You have to know that if a project STARTS with alchemy it only gets harder from there.

I consider myself somewhat of a MacGuiver in tasteful heels and lipstick, but I really did not expect to start this stuff with first grade projects. Plus, you have to know, it doesn't stop with the "Mommy, will you make the gold". Then it become, how will mommy figure out how to properly light and shoot the gold ... one strobe, two strobes? Snowballs! Things just snowball!!!!!

Long story short, we ended a full week of trap building with a fully functioning trap that is tripped when the poor soul lifts the cup of irresistible liquid gold, setting of a series of counter balances, which result in a cage being dropped on his head.

God forbid she catches one of these things. Where on earth will I keep it?

Notes - the liquid gold is made from oilve oil and gold flake from the art store. If you need an y flake let me know. I now have enough to last me 12 years

The images were shot in my kitchen with one off camera SB800 strobe; manual; 1/16 power (I think); shot through a dark colored paper cup with a small hole placed just below the glass container of liquid gold

Saturday Night

Phil went out last night to get some Indian take out in Media: he came home with the most amazing Chicken Vindaloo (sp?), this movie, and a couple bottles of wine.

Not a bad Staurday night!

Beef Stew

Most of you (the 2 people who read my blog), know that I am both adventurous and skilled in the kitchen - I'm not sure how I got to be 29 years old without ever having made a proper beef stew; but today, I lost my stew virginity.

I used two recipes, from the Food Network, as inspiration (here and here) - like Lisa, I can't really follow a recipe ... or use a measuring cup ....

My house is now filled with the most amazing aroma of red wine, herbs, root vegetables, and beef.

When I die, I hope heaven smells like this.

Tough Times

The economic situation of the world is not what it used to be.
To reflect this, even some of the Blue Chip companies have modified their logos.

Kit and Kat

Meow!

How To Make It Snow ... According to a six year old

B, G, A, and M went to Aunt Joan's house tonight to perform a snowdance. If I have the story straight, Aunt Joan explained to them that they could get a snow day if they performed a really good snow dance.

As I am sure you can guess, I do not support the snow dance - we just had a snow day last week.

Here, B explains Aunt Joan's recipe for snow.