pics

A Better Look

I wanted to show a better picture of the new front patio:

It is not quite 100% finished. I still need to fill all around the stones with sand to level it out better and make sure everything stays in place (and is not a hazard!). It is pretty stable right now, don't get me wrong, but it will look much nicer in the end.

In the meantime, this past weekend I started building a little bluestone wall to the left side of the patio, to enclose what will be a little flower bed in the spring. If you look very closely in the photo above, you can barely see the dried-up brown ferns that are there. I have since pulled them out and started clearing the area, and roughed in the new little wall. It's been great weather for that kind of outdoor work.

FYI, it is best to wear nice, heavy work gloves while working with bluestone. Don't ask questions - just take my word for it.

So excited!

I just got my copy of the new book by Katherine Neville, The Fire, which is the long-awaited (20 years!) sequel to The Eight, which I LOVED and would probably rank in my top ten favorite books.

My cup runneth over.

Whew!

I could not be more proud...

... or honored, to call the following individuals family:

B.M. Strong, Jr.
K.N. Schwandt
V.R. Benson
D.C. Strong
C.R. Strong

Amongst the five of them, they represent or have represented every branch of the U.S. military. They have seen 5 tours in Iraq, one tour in Afghanistan, and been awarded one Purple Heart. I am very thankful that all of them are now safely back on U.S. soil.

On the eve of this election day, let me first say that I usually make it a policy NOT to discuss politics or which candidate I am planning to vote for. And while I won't directly mention anyone by name, let's just say that I am a big fan of the song "Dear Mr. President" by Pink, and I think the Dixie Chicks are pretty cool, too.

We need some change. Big change. And I don't mean the type of change that comes from an aging Republican who chose Carabou Barbie as his running mate.

Please make sure to vote tomorrow.

And in the meantime, to B, K, V, C, and C, thank you and God bless.

No, you are not mistaken.

That is snow in them thar hills.

There are still a few pretty leaves left, not long for this world.

My Visit to Annapolis

This past weekend I went to Annapolis to visit my sister. We had a great time! I got to see my nephews, which was so nice - it had been way too long! We met up with them at John's football game. Below, Jessica and Michael:

And John, coming off the field, number 44. He doesn't look too happy because his team lost that day.
Twin brothers!
After that we drove over to our friend Jen's house, to see her and her 2 girls. Claire is so darned cute now, and seemed to really be fascinated by my purse.

See, she was protecting it with her life!

I just wanted to take her home with me!

The day before we went to visit Aunt Karin, and went out to lunch for Ethiopian food. I had never tried it before, and really liked it!

The rest of the time we just hung out at Jessica's house and spent time with her roommate, Jen, and the cats, Zoe and Inky. Jess had recently bought the cats a cute little hat and we had fun trying it on them. As Jessica said, putting it on them is so humiliating for them, it takes away their will to live.

Zoe refused to make eye contact. She wouldn't even lift her head up, so when she walked it was like an army crawl. Poor kitties. Inky seemed much more tolerant of the hat.

Currently reading: Wrong Place, Wrong Time, by Andrea Kane. Ehh.