Never a Dull Moment
Today, I noticed while I was vacuuming the swimming pool something was missing from the pool ladder. I went to the shed to find the parts.
This green snake was inside to greet me.
It was really small around but rather long.
Archive for Personal
Cleaning the Roof
I noticed the other day what a mess the roof of the house was, along with the debris staining the gutter guards. As I spent a day scrubbing it, I realized, “Wait a minute, I have two tall boys in the house.”
The next day, Miquel and Mike was given the job, and went beyond what I could do. Obviously Miquel doesn’t share my issue with heights….
What’s Your New Address?
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
Today my son Miquel and I went to a funeral service for one of the most Godliest of men I have known, who had been ill for some time and passed away. Left behind is a very Godly and sweet family.
What made this service different is that his son Micah, preached at the funeral service. Preaching a funeral, my own son tells me, is the hardest of sermons. I can’t imagine what it would be like if it was for your own father.
Micah has the blessed assurance to know that his dad was a believer in God, a committed Christian, had a relationship with and trusted Jesus as his Savior. His life was testament to this belief.
Micah said, “My dad did not cease to exist. He just got a new address.”
I believe as Micah does. We don’t cease to exist. Death of our physical bodies is a proven certainty, but we have souls that live forever.
Our days are numbered, we should live them wisely.
Psalms 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
Micah asked, “If your body was in that casket, where would your soul be?”
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Something to think about. Now, says the Bible.
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The Wilds 2008
Another year, another trip to The Wilds! Our teens will go to North Carolina for a week of fun, Bible study, and cut off from the world. No cell phones, no radios, no mp3 players, no computers, nothing. Each year, no one seems to even miss their connection to the outside world. Each year the camp has a theme. One year it was the “Days of Knights” and midieval theme prevailed [Miquel came home talking like a Monty Python movie], Another year was something like the Hatfields and the McCoys [Miquel came home talking like he was born and raised in the deep south]. This year, what else? The Campaign Trail.
This is Laura’s first year without Miquel going along, but she was excited and happy to go. Usually the teens of our church try to earn money for this wonderful camp by having a car wash with sponsors. This year, they did something different. Our church promoted a Hire-A-Teen and each teen who wished to, got a chance to earn money towards their trip. Laura worked very hard and was happy for the opportunity.
Here Laura and Erin embrace in excitement.
Pastor Josh, who was as excited as any of the kids, this being his first year at The Wilds, is giving last minute instructions and van assignments.
Erin remembers no electronics are allowed and digs into her purse to give her device to her sister.
Laura rushes to get her packed sandwich, she chooses Turkey each year. Mrs Mary and Mrs Becky will go this year and drive the girls’ van.
The vans take our youth away for one week. They will be so missed but each parent knows that this is a very good and challenging place for them.
OK, I miss my baby already. Have fun, my princess.
Disco Swimming Pool
When Laura and I made our trip to Wisconsin, we saw an item in the SkyMall catalog on the plane for a floating light for a swimming pool.
Today, as we needed something for the pool, we went to the pool store and found the same light, but for about $5 less. We bought it.
As soon as it went dark we dashed out to the pool to give it a try. Also, being the day before the 4th of July, I thought this might give me some practice for shooting fireworks with my new camera. I already knew what settings worked with my old camera (and the camera’s limitations), I thought this would be a good tryout for the Canon.
It took a lot of tries, but I finally got a setting that worked well with our new “Disco Swimming Pool”
Only thing missing was the BeeGees music.
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Get yours!
Underwater Swimming Pool Light Show
 
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My Summer Project
For as long as I can remember now, I have wanted a digital SLR camera.
Today I finally purchased a fine camera, the Canon 40D.
The thing has come with 4 CD’s of software to install and 5 manuals to read.
Today I took about 180 practice shots, and I think I am really going to like the camera.
A few test shots so far:
American Goldfinch #1
American Goldfinch #2
Titmouse at the feeder
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First Obstacle? I need help threading the strap. *sigh* Any takers?
Seriously, it’s been the hardest part of the camera so far.
The Vine
A vine is taking over our yard and freaking my mom out.
Any idea what it is?
I think we have ruled out Virginia Creeper or Kudzu, but not sure….
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Another Sister’s Birthday
In our family, spring brings on a slew of birthdays in a row, starting in April, and not slowing down till end of June.
The addition of Petra to the family didn’t change that. No sooner have we calmed down from Linda’s birthday, it’s time to celebrate another.
This photo was taken of Petra (on the left) and I before a dance. Mom had made both our dresses and we are modeling for the camera.
Petra, may all your dreams come true, you deserve them.
Happy Birthday!
Linda’s Birthday
I love my big sister.
Today we celebrated her birthday. (It’s really the 16th)
George invited all of us to The Bayou in Havre de Grace.
Most of us feasted on crab cakes. They were perfection.
We had a great time with little Conner and Aiden.
Images of the celebration are HERE
In honor of my sister’s big day though, I have put together a slide show, images taken over the years, with music in the background that she would dance me around in our dining room in East Baltimore when I was small. Happy Birthday Linda, I love you. ( Click HERE to see the slide show )
You might need to upgrade your flash to view the video.
Jared and the Groundhog
Well as our guest Jared soon found out, not only is our place a nuthouse, it’s part zoo.
We seem to have aquired a groundhog that has decided to make its home in our yard.
Jared quickly went about getting its picture.
Jared got some fabulous shots up close. Knowing the limitations of my camera, I just had fun taking photos of Jared getting the groundhog.
Everyday
…is starting to look the same around here.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 447 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
IN MARYLAND THIS WATCH INCLUDES 13 COUNTIES
THE ATMOSPHERE IS FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WINDS AND LARGE HAIL ARE THE GREATEST THREATS…BUT THERE IS ALSO A RISK FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES. HEAVY RAINFALL AND CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING WILL BE COMMON WITH THESE STORMS.
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Cooking Class #8: Sweet & Sour Pork
The next category for Laura’s cooking class was to cook a meat. She selected Sweet and Sour Pork.
Ingredients:
To Serve 4
1 lb lean boneless pork
2 T. Dry Sherry
salt and pepper
1 egg
3 T. Flour
3 T. oil
2 Carrots
2 Onions
1 Cucumber
1 Garlic Clove
¼ c. ketchup
2 t. Soy Sauce
2 T. Vinegar
1 T. Brown Sugar
1 T. Cornstarch
1 ¼ c. Water
Cut meat into ½ inch cubes. Put into a bowl with sherry and seasoning and marinate for 30 minutes.
Lightly beat egg. Dip pork cubes in egg, then coat with flour. Heat oil in large skillet. Fry pork for 8 minutes till golden brown on all sides. Remove from pan.
Peel and chop carrots, onions, and cucumber. Peel and crush garlic. Add all to skillet and stir-fry for 5 minutes over fairly hight heat. Reduce heat to moderate. Add ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, conrstarch dissoved in water and reserved marinade to the pan, Bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes, stirring.
Return pork to pan and cook for 3 minutes more till heated through. Serve with plain boiled rice.
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Robins Update
Some time ago, I blogged about robins making a nest in our front porch light.
I thought would be good to sneak a peak inside the nest, as I figured eggs were there by now, and I’ve seen the robins sitting on it, (although, I don’t know how, with the little space they allowed for themselves!)
Here is what I saw:
Granite Girls Soccer 2008
Laura’s soccer came to an end today with the final tournament game. They won 4-3!
For more photos of the two years Laura has been playing with this fine team, look HERE.
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The Graduate
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. ~Isaiah 42:16
My son graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College today. He has worked hard for this moment. I was indeed blessed to go to Wisconsin and see him graduate.
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No More Double Vision
Some of my regular visitors noticed that my blog was having issues, it was posting double. So once people would click on the comment link, they would go to a page where the blog post appeared twice, and there were two comment forms as well.
After searching forums and Wordpress expert pages, turning off all plug-ins, and changing the template with no results, I finally took the plunge and upgraded my Wordpress Blog.
Now to some, that doesn’t sound like something hard to do, but this was my first time trying it. I was afraid I would make a mistake and lose everything, so after practicing (with John’s OK) on Boz and Oz, my first step was to download all the contents of my blog folder. Next I looked for a way to download my database files, (a tad harder to understand how to do), and finally, following the short version of how to upgrade your wordpress blog, it was done.
The newest version of Wordpress sure has a different looking dashboard. It has taken some getting used to, but only around a short week since updating it, I love it.
So if you have a Wordpress blog, and you are having issues with posts showing up twice, try upgrading your Wordpress.
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Barb and the Squirrel
My grandmom used to feed the squirrels peanuts straight from her hand. I remember as a child watching with wonder as she would reach out and they would just come up to her and reach for the peanut.
I used to fuss at the squirrels always eating my bird food. I have decided not to fight them anymore.
Now, I have a few squirrels that come to my ledge of my bedroom window to get peanuts and eat on the bird food. These squirrels have been great fun to watch and “play” with. They especially make me laugh when I am not expecting to see them, peeking in, ever curious, or asking for food.
Mom’s Birthday
Today is my mom’s birthday, so we filled the house with flowers…
Happy Birthday Mom!
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Sim City Has Stopped Working
I thought I would share a few of my views of the new SimCity Societies.
Where the graphics and detail are amazing, there have been a few setbacks in my new Sim Journey.
But first the graphics. Here are a few screen shots: (you can click on the images for a larger view)
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As you can see, it has day and night like SimCity 4 Deluxe, but also clouds…and rain!
Your rolling hills can even have morning fog. It’s adorable.
Some of the issues has been the announcement “Your Sim City has stopped working.”
There is an option to debug the issue, but that never works.
Also, there is a pop up on start up, which makes mention that I need to go to Microsofts webpage to update for the Video, and when I actually went through the few dozen steps to find the download, and figure which kind of computer I had (32bit), I downloaded it, and upon installation, I was told this was not for my computer.
I finally went to SimCity’s webpage, logged into the forum, and saw people had a thousand issues and I am actually one of the lucky ones who get a few minutes play before it crashes.
The good side of this program is that it does a regular save of the game every 5 minutes or so. So when the crashes do occur, you usually haven’t lost a whole lot.
One other item comparing it with the last version of SimCity, so far, it doesn’t seem as challenging. The actual attempts to earn money for your city doesn’t seem as difficult.
I am glad I have the game, but I am glad I didn’t have to pay the full price for it.
One more image before I go.
A skatepark at night.
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Ok, many aggravations, but a lot of fun!
Only You
Today is my mom and dad’s wedding anniversary.
Since I love looking at their old courtship and early marriage photos, I thought to make a slide show for this occasion.
I miss seeing them together now that dad is gone, but he sure is in our hearts in a big way. I know he is in mom’s.
 
