358/365
The girls made pancakes and bacon. Which is great, but a few too many cooks in the kitchen for me at this hour. I tried to stay clear until after I had my coffee...
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Locked Out
356/365
357/365
It's hard not to feel like a dummy when you lock your keys in the car. You feel even worse when you realize the second set of keys has gone missing... Making it necessary to arrange for your car to be broken into with a coat hanger. Good thing Mr. CM's got skills...
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Kumquats Are Back!
355/365
Ten more days, and my year-long project will come to an end! Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what I have accomplished in the past year, what it means, and what's next... but more on that later. Today, I thought it would be fun to return to a subject that I captured 11 months ago, when my journey had just started. Our friends in California sent us a new crop of kumquats, and they are every bit as tasty as the last one.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Late-Night Ramblings
353/365
Several things come to mind...
I think the world could be divided into two camps. Those who like coconut, and those who do not. I am in the former, Mr CM is in the latter. (The other pint is pistachio.)
I miss the Caribbean. Last year at this time, we spent a week there. It was lovely to visit summertime just as winter was wearing out its welcome.
As soon as the Olympics are over, I've got to get back to going to bed on time, and not stay up late, watching tv & indulging in treats like this.
I wish we had some of those those teeny-tiny gelato spoons, like they have at the gelateria we went to while on vacation in the Caribbean last February...
Shootin' Thru
352/365
My little break-through with off-camera flash the other day has led me down a wormhole, researching technique, and studying equipment...lots of equipment. The potential expenses are dizzying! Thanks to a generous friend, I was able to borrow some gear to play with for a couple of days.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Thrill of Victory...
351/365
Does anyone else see the irony? That the world's greatest athletic competition turns us into total couch potatoes...?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Flash & Portrait Workshop
350/365
This week, I finally made good on my threat to check out my local camera club. Like so many things I finally get around to doing after much delay, I'm very glad I did! I met some great folks, and learned a few lessons at their flash & portrait workshop today.
When I got home, I continued to fiddle with my gear, and together with my seven-year-old art director, tried to apply what I learned. In the process, I figured out how to get my camera to wirelessly trigger my off-camera flash. Woohoo!
Friday, February 19, 2010
My Crush on Apolo Ohno, Explained
349/365
These are my speed skates. They haven't seen much action in the past year or so, but I do know how to use them. Learning how to speed skate on the short track was way more challenging than I anticipated, and took me far out of my comfort zone. I had assumed that knowing how to get around the ice on figure skates & hockey skates would be enable me to just strap these guys on and zip around the rink. Was I wrong! Not tripping on the long, straight blades, balancing on the edges, propelling myself forward, turning without falling -- all had to be learned as if for the first time.
But before too long, I was moving with relative ease, if not blinding speed, around the track. As my skating improved, I got faster, and crouched lower. Sometimes, I even passed other skaters, while whipping around the turns and balancing on one skate at a time. Every so often, my blades would lose their grip, and then I'd be down, sliding into the mats that line the walls of the rink. Once, I managed to skim the ice with my fingertips as I pivoted through the turn, and I imagined that I must have looked just like an Olympian!
Watching those athletes this past week makes me think I should get back out there. Of course, I have several excuses: the rink is far away, practice is held late at night during the week, I'm not fond of skinsuits... But I did enjoy it. Maybe I'll try a few turns on the "home ice" this weekend.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Little Piggies
347/365
Well, these piggies aren't so little. And they won't have a foot-modeling career ahead of them. But, they are off from school this week, and with no big plans, we girls decided to indulge ourselves. Mani-pedi times three was a bit of an extravagance, but far cheaper than the tropical vacation we're craving.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thin Mints
345/365
Somewhere in the lull between Christmas goodies & Valentine's candy, the Girl Scout cookies arrived. We're trying to pace ourselves. Unfortunately, I can't show you a photo of my personal favorites, Caramel Delites (aka: Samoas), because they're already gone!
What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie?
Sunday, February 14, 2010
We Heart Waffles
344/365
Ready for this? Today isn't just Valentine's Day. It's also our wedding anniversary. (Seventeenth, if you're keeping score at home.) I know, that sounds a bit like a stunt that's too cute by half. To be sure, there are advantages and disadvantages to combining these two events into one super-romantic day. One benefit to a Valentine anniversary is that there's no danger of forgetting either occasion. The downside is that it can be hard to get a dinner reservation on "amateur night."
But we don't mind. We hang out at home, feeling smug about how we have made this "Hallmark holiday" our own, and eat heart-shaped waffles.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
On Your Mark...
342/365
My first track meet. Never did get used to the starting pistol going off...
I wish I had a better shot to share. Tough lighting, and quick action plus a manual-focus zoom lens challenged my skills.
Prince Firstly runs the 55m hurdles. He had his own challenges -- the "no jewelry" policy resulted in his disqualification because he ran with his Livestrong band on... Oops! So, there was a lot of "live and learn" tonight for both of us.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
This is Not a Blizzard
340/365
We should have known the big storm would fizzle out when yesterday, under clear blue skies, school was already being cancelled for this afternoon.
So far, the storm is mostly wind, and just enough flakes for dramatic effect.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Portrait of a Dog
338/365
My Project 365 colleagues have turned me on to a new resource for daily photo ideas. (After 11 months, I could use a few...) Today's assignment on The Daily Shoot was to create an "interesting" photo of a pet.
So, Wally & I discussed some options, and he chose to go with an environmental portrait that showcases his pensive nature.
More Lessons
337/365
Aside from skates, helmet, snowpants and mittens, there's one more piece of equipment the beginning skater requires: milk crates.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Circling the Drain
336/365
A few days ago, this ladybug appeared in our bathroom.
Hoping it was a good omen, I have allowed her to hang out in there, undisturbed. (It just wouldn't be right to squish a harbinger of spring.) But she's not making very good choices about where to spend her time...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Slapshot
333/365
Are you sick of ice rink photos yet? I'm getting there myself, but such is the nature of the season. Got to get out & soak it all up while you can, because before long, it will be gone...
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Grandma-911
331/365
Still too sick to go to school, so we called in some reinforcements today. Grandma came right over, and she assumed my spot at the checkers board. Where I have been losing, repeatedly. Sick or not, that girl plays a mean game of checkers. This photo was taken right before Grandma's (black) last move, for her fourth loss. Ouch.
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