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Twelve months

You know what I love? How iPhoto automatically only shows the last 12 months of photos so every time I log in to upload a blog photo the first photo that appears is 12 months old and reminds me what I was doing last year and what perhaps I should be doing this year.

Last year at Robb's Hut with family friends. It was SO pretty. When we arrived it was clear

 

and then during the night it snowed a perfect dusting of white.

 

I probably blogged this last year but it was so pretty it bears repeating.

This year, same friends. We didn't get our act together to reserve Robb's Hut again but did take a local trip to the nature preserve by our house.

Tons of deer. Really, really close up (I don't think I zoomed on this shot!)

 

And it was relatively warm so of course the little kids went for a swim (skinny dipping ;). On November 11? That's weird even in California.

 

It was no dusting of snow but a few fall leaves, a lot of oaks, cool clouds and a smooth river made for some pretty pictures anyway.

 

 

The kids have sure grown in 12 months!

But I have 10 photos of the Anthropologie window display

Two wonderful days in Portland and I took a sum total of 18 photographs. Ridiculous!

My sister completed the Portland Marathon! and Biscuit said she ran too (true, she totally kept up for 50 yards at mile 19) and asked when she can run a marathon. I said when she's 18.

 

We all loved the Portland Museum of Contemporary Craft. No photos allowed inside (bummer) but their website shows everything (awesome) and the museum is free. Biscuit LOVED the playhouse/dollhouse and "play" kitchen. I thought the embroidery pieces were impressive. We all watched the mesmerizing video until the skinned rabbit and nude man showed up and we figured it probably wasn't as three-year-old-friendly as we'd anticipated. Back to the dollhouse. She seriously loved it and it made me think we should visit more (free) museums. My mom loved the engraved "mel mac" and is hoping Mr. H can make her a tea set. (not likely).

 

And, we had a chance to create 'art' of our own, courtesy of our hotel (a place we always splurge to stay when we are in Portland because 1. my friend works for them 2. free wine hour 3. free art supplies during wine hour 4. consistently super friendly staff). Even though I suck at painting it made me want to buy some paint and canvas for home. It was so FUN to paint with a glass of wine and no expectations. On the right, Biscuit's house (huh? seriously? she is consistently saying that is a house). On the left our collaborative landscape which I actually like except for the fact the paint is very, very dark and almost dreary which is the opposite of what I was aiming for. But painting with an almost-four-year-old keeps the process loose so you don't worry when the ground is suddenly blue and the sky orange and the whole thing dreary. Whatever. I'm sure we meant to do that...

And after 11 hours in a sedan with five people we are home. Great trip but, phew! More tomorrow when I get photos from my mom and dad who actually did use their camera.

Behind the pumpkin patch

So many cool things. Great colors. Great textures. Great autumn evening light. I only wish I was a better photographer but here's what I got.

One of the barns is actually two boxcars with trusses and a tin roof on top.

There's a boat in the rafters. Random

And a lot of rusted out cars and trucks scattered about.

See what I mean? Did you spot the lizard? How about a rusted out bus? Do you see it below?

But wait, there's more....

Are you getting the feeling it might be time for a farm-wide decluttering? This fellow clearly has issues throwing things away. And I clearly have issues with restraint when it comes to photographing EVERYTHING. Look, this is an outhouse in a fig tree.

And a house that is falling down.

Ok, did you make it this far? Last one which is sadly out of focus but what is this? On the end of the pipe coming out of the roof is a big auger bit. Any ideas? I was thinking water cistern but why the auger?

Big fun

That's the theme of the California State Fair. And it was big fun even without the rides and greasy food!

really old tractor

calf

lamb

inspiring gardening

lettuce

black sheep

white sheep

fun!

In case you hadn't noticed I'm trying to post every day in September. Making this by 5 minutes having dozed on the couch with the non sleeping child (late nap after the fair). g'night.

This was two weekends ago

We finally went camping with my parents at a campground near their home. This is my favorite shot.

In addition to rock climbing there was exploring.

Orienteering

and lots of blackberries!

I have been working on catching up on (years) of scrapbooking and have discovered the blog is a total lifesaver when I'm trying to put things in chronological order. Hence, camping photos!

Dispatch from the lake

We're at the lake for our annual week with Mr. H's family. The above is pretty much the view: Hot Rod Lincoln's bow (a term Biscuit has learned to use properly), flat water, puffy clouds and brown hills.

There has been a lot of swimming and floating (check out Mr. H's nifty shade structure ;)

There has been even more making of mud pies (and salads, and rock sandwiches etc). Literally the only toy the girls have played with all week has been discarded cups, spoons and plates along with water and the plentiful dirt around here. HOURS of messy entertainment.

There has also been tube riding (much to my chagrin and Mr. H's joy, Biscuit is a total daredevil in the tube). And a lot of eating and drinking and reading and lazing about.

There was a memorable balloon ride for Grammie and the girls. Luckily theirs was not the group to get dumped sideways into the lake!

The sunsets and clouds have been spectacular and I'm enjoying the "sunset" setting on my camera which turns everything brilliant orange.

I think that about covers it. Back to reality on Saturday and hopefully back to a more regular blogging schedule.

Back

The computer is back from the dead (and, in the end, much cheaper than the $600+ repair estimate). Hooray!

I am back from my four day vacation. If you can call 22 hours of driving in four days (with my mom and kiddo) a vacation. Two days driving. Two days hanging out with these cool people.

And while my near-dead camera is not back, I replaced it with what appears to be an awesome choice, the not-DSLR-but-it-may-as-well-be Canon G10. So far: love. Except when I finally got these four cuties in the same chair and inexplicably had the camera set to black and white. I got it back to color about the same time the baby got tipped over and started to cry.

And, finally, it seems I am back to blogging. So here's a quick trip to San Diego recap:
Coronado

Beach

More beach

Cute newborn

:::
Ironically, when I put my old memory card in my new camera it resurrected long lost images of Biscuit's first trip to visit my best friend (mother of the adorable baby pictured above). Three+ years ago Biscuit and I flew to Virginia to introduce Biscuit (then 11 months) to Little Man (then nearly 2).

Amazing what a few years can do.

With a camera and a computer and several sewing projects completed I should be good to go again on blogging. If not, I can always take more photos of the chickens. They're getting big, you know.

Joy

As anyone who follows me on Twitter already knows, we took the kid to Disneyland last week. It was, in a word, awesome. Not too crowded, warm not hot, kid was basically happy all day (even sans stroller and nap), she rode all the rides WE like, and for her extra special treat she was ecstatic about a 54 cent lollipop. I took pictures with film (yes, those cameras still exist) so I just got it back from being developed and still have a half roll in the camera. I forgot how much fun it is to wait for film to be developed and then to go through an envelope full of images hoping for a few winners. I was really happy with these.

The first "roller coaster" we rode when we got to Anaheim on Tuesday afternoon--the parking tram--she loved it! It tided her over until we got to actually go into Disneyland on Wednesday. Not sure what Mr. H is doing here.

The teacups (probably her favorite ride)

Being VERY brave on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this photo I took by outstretching my arm on a moving roller coaster.

Sharing her special "notes" with the princesses. I may not like the Disney Princesses but I can't deny how sweet they were to her and how excited she was to meet them even after 1.5 hours of waiting. She walked right up, handed each one a note and would have walked off except they invited her to sit for a photo.

How do these girls maintain such freakishly perfect smiles all day long?

And there aren't any photos but this kid also rode SPACE MOUNTAIN! And DIDN'T hate it (too much). It was such a fun day.

What did the mommy tomato say to the slow, little tomato?

Ketchup!
Wasn't (some version of) that joke in a movie? Pulp Fiction?

Anyway, a catch up post. Working backward:

Biscuit has learned to play on the monkey bars. So cute! We stopped by the park on our way home from voting this evening.

The chickens are getting even bigger. Sadly, one died (did I mention that here?) so we're down to seven but all of them seem healthy. Three or four are still nameless--still taking suggestions. I call the one on the far right (in the photo below) Nutjob. It may be true but that seems a bad name for a hen.

Awww, nameless chickie

Also, thanks to my industrious husband the tallest, skinniest chicken coop in the world gained three additional walls and some roof trusses last weekend. These kiddos might just have a place to live when they outgrow their cardboard box.

I don't think I ever recapped my most recent craft shows, IndieSacramento and IndieDavis.

At IndieSac it rained non-stop the entire show but the traffic was amazing and I sold $103 worth of stuff which included one of my dad's $10 prints. Plus I spent $10 on coffee and a hat for a gift plus $17 on the booth so I came home with about $70. Certainly not worth it timewise but I'll take $70! At IndieDavis the weather was great but the traffic was non existent. Luckily the booth was free. I had two whopping sales all day but each was $30 so I didn't feel too bad walking home with $60 in my pocket. I don't have any additional shows lined up at the moment which is good because I don't appear to have any additional motivation either.

Several weeks ago we went camping. Biscuit loved it so we're looking forward to going again for Memorial Day! From our last trip:

S'mores for breakfast

Tricycle ride to (and from) the Indian grinding rocks and ceremonial roundhouse (we got to go inside the roundhouse--a special treat!) That's the roundhouse in the background--it looks really weird from the outside.

Despite forgetting dish soap, functioning matches, a blanket and several other possibly useful items the trip was just dandy.

Whew, I think that brings us up to speed. I'll appreciate this post when I try to catch up on several years of belated scrapbooking!

Touristy

I hate the term "staycation" so let's just say we had a little vacation on our home turf with some out-of-town friends.  We did take the opportunity to visit two of the most well known local attractions that I had never visited after living here 16 years! Yikes, nearly half my life.

I finally went to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. Get there early to avoid the lines but it was fun. I find food manufacturing facilities fascinating and this was no exception.

Couldn't get the kids to stay still for a photo after their bean samples.

We came home with several bags of "belly flops" so I can fill the Easter eggs this year. Hopefully Biscuit isn't smart enough to notice that the Easter Bunny has the same candy we do. I fear she might be.

In addition to the candy factory, we also visited the Railroad Museum. $8 for adults and free for little kids it was a great deal!

I took a ton of photos but my camera is in it's death throes and only captures about 1in 3 images. Annoying! I was going to get a DSLR but I'm considering another point and shoot. I love my Kodak Easy Share. Let me know if you have good camera ideas--the rechargeable batteries are my favorite part of the EasyShare.

Speaking of photos, this is the best image I got all vacation. The three little ones working on a pictorial treasure hunt created by my friend.

Awwww.

In unrelated news, I've been making soap, planning our Easter brunch for 12, thinking about Easter baskets, missing out on thrift store scores, eating a lot, busy at work and generally having the attention span of a gnat. So I've been on twitter more than the blog. I'll update here soon but, in the meantime, Happy Easter! (or not)