tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237338072024-03-07T13:53:24.109-05:00As Seen Through The Eyes Of...Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.comBlogger268125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-22329685349328810252011-01-03T19:10:00.000-05:002011-01-03T19:10:14.225-05:002010 Books**** Pick it up from the library today!<br />*** Add it to your reading list.<br />** Eh, it was ok...<br />* Forget you ever heard about it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fiction</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Wives of Henry Oade</span><b><i>s</i></b> by Johanna Moran - "A common bat on the other side of the world elects to sink its rabid fangs, and one's cozy existence is finished." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Vagrants</span> by Yiyum Li - "The day started before sunrise, on March 21, 1979, when Teacher Gu woke up and found his wife sobbing quietly into her blanket." **<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimB1WiP27dRT6z4QTwOijXmFtu-F1AeFBWCAAyk2Jt1M22MmkiorwDr7z21Mu-eoblfMXUSbX9HPiGiHgv-xAjW4_uRxsVlkwpC_3C5Kr19rmNdaNst2U_q-Q-OF0gKAeaJBBS6w/s1600/Cutting+for+Stone.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimB1WiP27dRT6z4QTwOijXmFtu-F1AeFBWCAAyk2Jt1M22MmkiorwDr7z21Mu-eoblfMXUSbX9HPiGiHgv-xAjW4_uRxsVlkwpC_3C5Kr19rmNdaNst2U_q-Q-OF0gKAeaJBBS6w/s400/Cutting+for+Stone.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558088108704578770" /></a><div> </div><div><b><i>Cutting for Stone</i></b> by Abraham Verghese **** - "After eight months spent in the obscurity of our mother's womb, my brother, Shiva, and I cam into the world in the late afternoon of the twentieth of September in the year of grace 1954."</div><div><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Daughter of Kura </span>by Debra Austin - "Something obscured the horizon." *<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Northern Clemency</span> by Philip Hensher- "'Sue, the garden of number 84 is nothing more than a sort of playground for all the kids of the neighborhood.'" *<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Uncle Toms Cabin</span> by Harriet Beecher Stowe - "Late in the afternoon of a chilly day in February, two gentlemen were sitting alone over their wine in a well furnished dining parlor in the down of Pee in Kentucky." **<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Little Bee</span> by Chris Cleave - "Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close</span> by Jonathan Safrean Foer - "What about a teakettle?" ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Pearl of China</span> by Anchee Min - "Before I was Willow, I was Weed." **<div><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Elysiana</span> by Chris Knopf - "Stretched out she just fit, slightly wedged, between the padded armrests of the Catalina's backseat." *<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Await Your Reply</span> by Dan Chaon - "We are on our way to the hospital, Ryan's father says." **<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Willoughbys</span> by Lois Lowry - "Once upon a time there was a family named Willoughby." **<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Jungle</span> by Upton Sinclair - "It was four o'clock when the ceremony was over and the carriages began to arrive." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Believers</span> by Zoe Heller - "At a party in a bedit just off Gower Street, a young woman stood alone at the window, her elbows pinned to her sides in an attempt to hide the dark flowers of perspiration blossoming at the armholes of her dress." **</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXqPHVTkp5h8eAuQzyvoTgIQbBcfgkZhPpls4_uLjhShKbd_Mh7zmcD1C1w8sL2OzpjfR1-EdEjZJ36xvQs8VlYyYT2fN48iEzyd5FXufYKNBZva2DZTwoivlJAYd3lNutycvJg/s1600/Shades+of+Grey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 193px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXqPHVTkp5h8eAuQzyvoTgIQbBcfgkZhPpls4_uLjhShKbd_Mh7zmcD1C1w8sL2OzpjfR1-EdEjZJ36xvQs8VlYyYT2fN48iEzyd5FXufYKNBZva2DZTwoivlJAYd3lNutycvJg/s400/Shades+of+Grey.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558090499864857794" /></a></div><div><b><i>Shades of Grey</i></b> by Jasper Fforde - "It began with my father not wanting to see the Last Rabbit and ended up with my being eaten by a carnivorous plant." ****<br /><br /><div><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">All Souls</span> by Christine Schutt - "Mr. Dell, in his daughter's room, stuck his face into the horn of a stargazer lily, one of a... one of a... must have been a dozen, and he breathed in and said wasn't that something." **<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Miles From Nowhere</span> by Nami Mun -**<br /><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>The Curious Case of Benjamin Butto</i></b>n by F Scott Fitzgerald **</div><div><br /><b><i>Sherlock Holmes ***</i></b><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Secret Garden</span> **</div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vhRRQkuEXx9ZCtEZq9_mFoOfK2_TUFYWjCGnDeu3UX8szGGQy4MaIVuyKgbKQZBulsaGZO5MAZSe0q7lFBLxsDYtb6E-4ILS4c1hPAlOs2nBuB4JwDByKIiHSGJC-0QOviRVvQ/s1600/The+Help.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vhRRQkuEXx9ZCtEZq9_mFoOfK2_TUFYWjCGnDeu3UX8szGGQy4MaIVuyKgbKQZBulsaGZO5MAZSe0q7lFBLxsDYtb6E-4ILS4c1hPAlOs2nBuB4JwDByKIiHSGJC-0QOviRVvQ/s400/The+Help.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558089974855371202" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Help</span> by Katheryn Stockett - "Mae Mobley was born on a early Sunday morning in August, 1960." ****<br /><br /></div><div><b><i>The Little Stranger</i></b> by Sarah Waters ***</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Slaughterhouse Five</i></b> by Kurt Von **</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Non Fiction</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Worst Hard Time</span> by Timothy Egan - "Live through this." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A Short History of Nearly Everything</span> by Bill Bryson - "Welcome, and congratulations." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">On Becoming Babywise</span> by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam - "With a baby in your future, everyone seems to state the obvious "Life as you know it will never be the same." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Stitches</span> by David Small - "I was six." **<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Big Short</span> by Michael Lewis -- "Eisman entered finance about the time I exited." *** </div><br /><div> </div><div><b><i>The Five Love Languages</i></b> by Gary Chapman - "At 30,000 feet, somewhere between Buffalo and Dallas, he put his magazine in his seat pocket, turned in my direction, and asked, "What kind of work do you do?" **</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-Z9_Xascsmq4ZnXteMYbCiIDmrtzlw9Nel3WpvhMlVdl3S0XOZbCgW_ihms0OTVEhNNklE9Xs6IqEjkRXxP-STyBa1fqVYdfqSp5q06iwLTcr7grNqhcxGmR7um-a0KtrJV7HQ/s1600/little+princes.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-Z9_Xascsmq4ZnXteMYbCiIDmrtzlw9Nel3WpvhMlVdl3S0XOZbCgW_ihms0OTVEhNNklE9Xs6IqEjkRXxP-STyBa1fqVYdfqSp5q06iwLTcr7grNqhcxGmR7um-a0KtrJV7HQ/s400/little+princes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558091215846149970" /></a></div><div><b><i>Little Princes</i></b> by Conor Grennan - "It was well after nightfall when I realized we had gone the wrong way." ****</div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-59941477977614308442010-06-03T18:31:00.007-04:002010-06-03T18:38:15.689-04:00... X-Ray VisionHere's what you'd see if you had x-ray vision into my tummy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OeSPohr2CK5_ovQ3V-0DJKq0aHx4EGuj3dQ7m5Klem73atSqwaporwhoGiIjiXwFsSlg2BI78DlVxlgxyY6hTgPLHdm7YLn03FmfxNbg5MglteKAp5eHx_BoVSggQpDrhhbM1w/s1600/32+Week+Swingle+Girl01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OeSPohr2CK5_ovQ3V-0DJKq0aHx4EGuj3dQ7m5Klem73atSqwaporwhoGiIjiXwFsSlg2BI78DlVxlgxyY6hTgPLHdm7YLn03FmfxNbg5MglteKAp5eHx_BoVSggQpDrhhbM1w/s400/32+Week+Swingle+Girl01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478679633169853698" border="0" /></a>Here's what you'd see if you didn't.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6OJRYZw0iYDhEyJi_U_6inTy2Ow_x5VCq4topjRer_H75i14Xdujpi6rjZvqW_nDHjoL2RnrTN4K_n-8tg_fvBjRaVUMawniO3-UStCcnIeaOC2vjW2RFJd3y9Uobkhb9uNd4g/s1600/Photo+57.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6OJRYZw0iYDhEyJi_U_6inTy2Ow_x5VCq4topjRer_H75i14Xdujpi6rjZvqW_nDHjoL2RnrTN4K_n-8tg_fvBjRaVUMawniO3-UStCcnIeaOC2vjW2RFJd3y9Uobkhb9uNd4g/s400/Photo+57.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478679507459268370" border="0" /></a><br />One version is decidedly much cuter in my opinion.<br />One version is becoming fairly difficult to cover in a modest fashion.<br /><br />One version I stare at all day.<br />One version I touch all day.<br /><br />Both versions make me exceedingly happy.<br />Hey, it's the south. Everyone's kinder to pregnant women. ;-)Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-203930579322911832010-03-29T14:46:00.017-04:002010-03-29T16:44:20.289-04:00... Flat Stanley's Big Adventures<a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2007/12/megan-and-me.html">Megan</a>, my niece, read the book <span style="font-style: italic;">Flat Stanley</span> this year in school. Stanley is a little boy who gets flattened. He's a bit sad about it at first, but then realizes he can be sent through the mail for some exciting times. So what do you know, Stanley got sent to us for a visit!<br /><br />We had a ball taking him around town to see the sites. Day one: Colonial Williamsburg followed by The College of William and Mary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvV6WKwlzqsBvq4rZODuEmE7NAWSTnwpGLXn5GlIIp3n3MToDdbq6HX8ZG6ojNJ10UHexXuxgb89VSkgcqsTsAis1fnMv_cpEaMrlThcwpNJcj9TsSDqJjppAZ5gW2C_puq-jUfg/s1600/WB1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvV6WKwlzqsBvq4rZODuEmE7NAWSTnwpGLXn5GlIIp3n3MToDdbq6HX8ZG6ojNJ10UHexXuxgb89VSkgcqsTsAis1fnMv_cpEaMrlThcwpNJcj9TsSDqJjppAZ5gW2C_puq-jUfg/s400/WB1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454148826265368850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWXfd08V_XqzJxmr_WvIIe2XsJszrPvF1i_qKx47GNPNHuYzPkWbNHoCq3lHMtxDfhnFGRmZkLqfxrRV2Wb3Z1OuB2Z_C2Ck_NDQTFxq8CkYPfAE0yG_SWX4E_ZuM34J-UwVwAQ/s1600/WB2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWXfd08V_XqzJxmr_WvIIe2XsJszrPvF1i_qKx47GNPNHuYzPkWbNHoCq3lHMtxDfhnFGRmZkLqfxrRV2Wb3Z1OuB2Z_C2Ck_NDQTFxq8CkYPfAE0yG_SWX4E_ZuM34J-UwVwAQ/s400/WB2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454150225527668402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHgV4bO33ThWTl8UpsoZzSNX2bTMJwq_l-jxw9gRYDHm5tLZMMhM2AewVQldSxFy4UQUKkxFj4QZK-HktC4zhkxB_T8gDzpFzANl7a1DRvzUb7ntd5EJJb7_MMh2COYgtghHArA/s1600/WB3.jpg"><br /></a>Turns out the Stanley is a pretty popular dude. People were stopping me asking if Stanley was available for photos with them.<br /><br />Day Two: Virginia Beach Oceanfront where we saw the Shamrock Marathon & King Neptune Statue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrK3YVv7Q5kSRZ9HUoZvhW-k3bKo6OGL6kT-IzDseAGDfFLdyrrqHfmaJl4UXvU78nrTGNrAb8riMkz9Qor7rlR_NoTXm6Cz9A1MeLdsMyQgvZBf7npnyCU5IRC1HfC1i3jt4WQ/s1600/VB1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrK3YVv7Q5kSRZ9HUoZvhW-k3bKo6OGL6kT-IzDseAGDfFLdyrrqHfmaJl4UXvU78nrTGNrAb8riMkz9Qor7rlR_NoTXm6Cz9A1MeLdsMyQgvZBf7npnyCU5IRC1HfC1i3jt4WQ/s400/VB1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454153087572158946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgYTZubT_szu_b3r6XDRkjSbQX5lmskknx13cVdwVi8SUy1AWBsBR370hyTFOZLBlE8umCp4-Kcxsy82N4itIcN8rOh-PvmYq7BZnk1okOjQLhzNMT_cxcOcIpNdURq6KdZgo3g/s1600/VB2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 137px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgYTZubT_szu_b3r6XDRkjSbQX5lmskknx13cVdwVi8SUy1AWBsBR370hyTFOZLBlE8umCp4-Kcxsy82N4itIcN8rOh-PvmYq7BZnk1okOjQLhzNMT_cxcOcIpNdURq6KdZgo3g/s400/VB2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454154436241235378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKq9pFwvvsHXhmdvU-LT_a2KY8xrcRi3zACVG_LMWf8ZrV4uyiyqfKZ0PWmcHOyJ9JwOmfGD5cOmUrz_Mghr4pk_sIwPwrfS7jK9-mJCBaqlnfcdn8HYI2MtrSP7D72D3ieFuVA/s1600/DSC_1556a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKq9pFwvvsHXhmdvU-LT_a2KY8xrcRi3zACVG_LMWf8ZrV4uyiyqfKZ0PWmcHOyJ9JwOmfGD5cOmUrz_Mghr4pk_sIwPwrfS7jK9-mJCBaqlnfcdn8HYI2MtrSP7D72D3ieFuVA/s400/DSC_1556a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454155100632232370" border="0" /></a><br />Rounding it up: Downtown Norfolk for a visit to the Pagoda and USS Wisconsin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyMqdNfxf-1v1dm6D989T3XsX-fU7_NkqmJIQeraSaDDIE3hpS11kFYSTpURgCVK9-L5zrcXjEqZYxglxrGuRZNnxy5dH3-XltWs_w5vFuENv-T1QA7B1NLMy9VAmBjd84KFIBA/s1600/ORF1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKyMqdNfxf-1v1dm6D989T3XsX-fU7_NkqmJIQeraSaDDIE3hpS11kFYSTpURgCVK9-L5zrcXjEqZYxglxrGuRZNnxy5dH3-XltWs_w5vFuENv-T1QA7B1NLMy9VAmBjd84KFIBA/s400/ORF1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454157553006934210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEZy1Bh1Lu9s3JXUgVKCFW-BMnP2CiUoaY6zLj6DkYbZXwZD6aqZArVnHyDxicLSjVS0s9M7FAQR1n70lJ4jp470S4jElb4ZH7jVumXb1F21sFgx8d6DhUNSEzS8eVypbAYDmeA/s1600/DSC_1587a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEZy1Bh1Lu9s3JXUgVKCFW-BMnP2CiUoaY6zLj6DkYbZXwZD6aqZArVnHyDxicLSjVS0s9M7FAQR1n70lJ4jp470S4jElb4ZH7jVumXb1F21sFgx8d6DhUNSEzS8eVypbAYDmeA/s400/DSC_1587a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454157547305827778" border="0" /></a><br />We had such a great time with his visit and are hoping that next time Megan, Ashlynn, and their parents are flattened so they can visit too!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-51680520444668501602010-03-25T10:56:00.000-04:002010-03-25T10:56:44.562-04:00... Coming Home DressI though baby girl should have something special to wear for her arrival home. Not that she'll care at the time, but still.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQ9LCIwjoreXxZWfV_Hxuoz3BihbCoeTl4ZjjI8e_LaN64wLgZSn58bvMzuPQ-aYZUPyzAAMyKvxmVdNk0mCxNNbhoqCmN9VWe0RxuFl3OsFis1ZXtmzmuF2815j3uM0BOuIgLQ/s1600-h/DSC_1514a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQ9LCIwjoreXxZWfV_Hxuoz3BihbCoeTl4ZjjI8e_LaN64wLgZSn58bvMzuPQ-aYZUPyzAAMyKvxmVdNk0mCxNNbhoqCmN9VWe0RxuFl3OsFis1ZXtmzmuF2815j3uM0BOuIgLQ/s400/DSC_1514a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451828355411057058" border="0" /></a><br />I'm so pleased with how this turned out. I've never attempted to sew clothes before so I feel quite a sense of accomplishment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9_KrlXbWJe9hAQwJ9Vn1rV87ZPm_yOkTPCOJspdKCrqBXL3Jb_wRIokez8tc55Gp6jZLqXxhEdPmRsTKthxeBY_2_q4lQ1cvvYoiJsKUBtaF4EEUJtrDhKN6Owe8tOLM-shJ7A/s1600-h/DSC_1512a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9_KrlXbWJe9hAQwJ9Vn1rV87ZPm_yOkTPCOJspdKCrqBXL3Jb_wRIokez8tc55Gp6jZLqXxhEdPmRsTKthxeBY_2_q4lQ1cvvYoiJsKUBtaF4EEUJtrDhKN6Owe8tOLM-shJ7A/s400/DSC_1512a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451828346508334674" border="0" /></a>The very next day I made another dress/top for <a href="http://katieandsean.blogspot.com/">a friends</a> baby.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4lvY8OKd3AUnAVBa5k8TvGY9nG2o4sLDF1hvcef5g6xLqXdqEWptkAOXAhfOds4aNOfZzZvwy3jtx9HXGmfVZrmXvB1pW1fUIdMaTeazIHqgH6leRQ8NiOWshOJtBINMtCo17g/s1600-h/DSC_1507a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4lvY8OKd3AUnAVBa5k8TvGY9nG2o4sLDF1hvcef5g6xLqXdqEWptkAOXAhfOds4aNOfZzZvwy3jtx9HXGmfVZrmXvB1pW1fUIdMaTeazIHqgH6leRQ8NiOWshOJtBINMtCo17g/s400/DSC_1507a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451828336734351554" border="0" /></a><br />I think I'm going to like having a girl. :)Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-14183415789461022812010-03-22T12:24:00.007-04:002010-03-22T12:35:18.921-04:00... McDonalds turns SmurfAt some point in time, the attic in our house was converted into a loft. It's a really neat space with lots of angles, window seats, benches, and exposed brick (the fireplace chimney juts up through the center of the room).<br /><br />We've had a few roommates live up here, making one half their bedroom, and the other half their living area. It's really rather large as it extends the entire length of the house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NQG5ChNa3TTUkA5ercvGY-wSgS7Z8pDhbDChOdOhv4KWaD2NmlZwhyphenhyphenLp_C7MqhLf9gTYH0KrElLV-OTm7ZwNARh_SlRYTS-o0zcFHFzu8S5fNxrvT-nO4Yp_9s8RZDZNj38kRw/s1600-h/DSC_1501a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NQG5ChNa3TTUkA5ercvGY-wSgS7Z8pDhbDChOdOhv4KWaD2NmlZwhyphenhyphenLp_C7MqhLf9gTYH0KrElLV-OTm7ZwNARh_SlRYTS-o0zcFHFzu8S5fNxrvT-nO4Yp_9s8RZDZNj38kRw/s400/DSC_1501a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451496358558221986" border="0" /></a><br />One of the roommates painted it yellow. As in sunshine yellow. Golden arches yellow. It was really bright. We weren't so into it.<br /><br />Since I'll be moving my office up here to make room for the nursery downstairs, we figured a now was the time to paint it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThWyWXBXsBMXnUH31s8hYDwZjE5Q1jnE82DICUDHQzjAUg_ziDp0fDwi3TLeI6QU3DPptsPRXoIWhWntYXNDx2uPMjsPJVGjdVsi80LzApH7RCl3UNjphzWVlP1G17lURSjDYmw/s1600-h/DSC_1497a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThWyWXBXsBMXnUH31s8hYDwZjE5Q1jnE82DICUDHQzjAUg_ziDp0fDwi3TLeI6QU3DPptsPRXoIWhWntYXNDx2uPMjsPJVGjdVsi80LzApH7RCl3UNjphzWVlP1G17lURSjDYmw/s400/DSC_1497a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451496350546552626" border="0" /></a><br />5 gallons of paint and 1 month later, we're done. I had no idea how much work it would be. It's a good thing I like it 'cause we're not painting it again. Ever. :)<br /><br />We'll slowly be making additional repairs and adjustments to the room. Like new carpeting. I envision one day having all the furniture and accessories be black and white. But for now, I'm happy with the fresh coat of paint.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-62593524877981572022010-03-08T14:07:00.005-05:002010-03-08T14:43:59.429-05:00... Our Little Girl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4kQ50jTOyce7aTfBTWxjpYlb_mDQWc-7MlUeCX7UzEJgVkbzBWd-a-fmVku4mdhV2J6To9t9Pidsdgx_vorMLi0Ly5Tu5BFcebhzq0HfGyxZnU1TgotcHHwUH5RHtjuB383Vqg/s1600-h/sc00149c0c+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4kQ50jTOyce7aTfBTWxjpYlb_mDQWc-7MlUeCX7UzEJgVkbzBWd-a-fmVku4mdhV2J6To9t9Pidsdgx_vorMLi0Ly5Tu5BFcebhzq0HfGyxZnU1TgotcHHwUH5RHtjuB383Vqg/s400/sc00149c0c+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446343059164712546" border="0" /></a>It's a she!<br /><br />The tech prematurely announced our little thing was a girl, but then quickly added "but we'll make sure in a few minutes, I could be wrong". What a cruel joke that would have been if she'd changed her prediction. Not that I didn't want a boy, but as soon as she said the word "girl", I was hooked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QL1ZUWSjaKX36FDRTJHGId2v0HfCECL905hjI7MeWAlnbPjI2kqDqEGaeJFPWVeKJHMIvks-94gp88yNIpTOJQf04BUm0rabuXd99bRSeXzkrX5boxU5zr570BCDA3tdAr49nQ/s1600-h/sc0014746d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 360px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QL1ZUWSjaKX36FDRTJHGId2v0HfCECL905hjI7MeWAlnbPjI2kqDqEGaeJFPWVeKJHMIvks-94gp88yNIpTOJQf04BUm0rabuXd99bRSeXzkrX5boxU5zr570BCDA3tdAr49nQ/s400/sc0014746d.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446343676228523426" border="0" /></a><br />So was Jeff. I've heard him talk of wanting a daughter ever since I've known him. I'm not entirely sure he knows what he's getting into though. A very large portion of his family is male so a girl will be a little new to him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdvs5LBP3PVHk93ioIma7oEI_98oqqkQ-iZplPd9RaLe_QnQ8EqOslXOHgA0FyN3avTweUo00IShlppPsaxQ6q14np_bHKMLTAQuD-217pEOh0mfVs6_IYgpqmAKXJ3ycv6jg_Q/s1600-h/sc00149c0c02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdvs5LBP3PVHk93ioIma7oEI_98oqqkQ-iZplPd9RaLe_QnQ8EqOslXOHgA0FyN3avTweUo00IShlppPsaxQ6q14np_bHKMLTAQuD-217pEOh0mfVs6_IYgpqmAKXJ3ycv6jg_Q/s400/sc00149c0c02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446343454527351586" border="0" /></a><br />Baby girl moved quite a bit, waiving hi to us, chillin' with one arm tucked back behind her head (just like mommy and daddy do).<br /><br />Seeing her like this just makes her all the more real to me. Soon enough she'll be in my arms. We can't wait! :)Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-33718366031419432712010-03-01T18:01:00.005-05:002010-03-01T18:08:13.028-05:00... The Halfway Point<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDngN4w9hHxMJlUeK3ulYvwJddfPt6XCNtK69oXdUtvMPfIWwq-m9cUpww1bd5sBxD2WH-XbScivuxLu_xSupyWLRjW6VLT7Kel4GDum40qQyPxNWlrkCcQjC2K3ITPChiok7ccg/s1600-h/Photo+24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDngN4w9hHxMJlUeK3ulYvwJddfPt6XCNtK69oXdUtvMPfIWwq-m9cUpww1bd5sBxD2WH-XbScivuxLu_xSupyWLRjW6VLT7Kel4GDum40qQyPxNWlrkCcQjC2K3ITPChiok7ccg/s400/Photo+24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443805222999686178" border="0" /></a><br />While working in my office today (soon to be the nursery), I took a break to shoot some photobooth pics of my growing midsection.<br /><br />Does it seem like I'm on the large side for 19.5 weeks? Man! :)Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-44819600508881410172010-02-15T13:37:00.002-05:002010-02-15T13:38:50.104-05:00... The necessitiesI'm not a materialistic person. I hate clutter. I live in a very small house intentionally. I wouldn't call myself a minimalist, but I strive to be.<br /><br />That said.<br /><br />I'm having a baby. And in an effort to not let this little human double the amount of things we own, I'd like to reach out to you.<br /><br />What is necessary?<br /><br />What is superfluous?<br /><br />Bare bones here people. What do I need and what is hype? Help me out.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-44817823350233804912010-02-12T11:28:00.001-05:002010-02-12T11:28:41.644-05:00... A Blanket for Me and Mine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqyFv7c5WOYvD8aysfTRmWAQLcsiNok-l-2o9yobM0JGhbPqVbfkZ8tv_JF4hWP3SMridrhaj2C_KaUs8qOQWy1y7pFE52mmmkR93c_M2i6r0vFeYyIUoYcfXsywNpL1006AxpA/s1600-h/DSC_1472a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqyFv7c5WOYvD8aysfTRmWAQLcsiNok-l-2o9yobM0JGhbPqVbfkZ8tv_JF4hWP3SMridrhaj2C_KaUs8qOQWy1y7pFE52mmmkR93c_M2i6r0vFeYyIUoYcfXsywNpL1006AxpA/s400/DSC_1472a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435246992589161410" border="0" /></a><br />Once in a while, when a very special baby comes into this world, they will receive a baby blanket knitted by yours truly.<br /><br />I use the softest yarn and double up so it's quite plush.<br /><br />Here are a few that I've made:<br /><a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2008/01/stuck.html">Killian's</a><br /><a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2007/09/crafts.html">Avery and Tre's</a><br /><br />This time, I made one for myself.<br /><br />I hope (s)he likes it!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-56679359572705359992010-02-06T16:15:00.007-05:002010-02-06T16:30:33.243-05:00... SnowSnow, snow, snow, snow!!<br /><br />{You have to read that the way it's sung on White Christmas. Which, by the way, I happen to go to church with the son of one of The Clooney Sisters. You know... the gals that actually sang that song with Bing and Danny. But that's a story for another time.}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuosr6NmdWfk6LC2ckFTQR88w4KWuHAAR0JQ7DVWvOEM6Oh_zDApHYTCf5ex3DRXHqDcDKkicJi_h1BYs7-0DtJ-3kj_TQz7oAZGwv7W4XRN7oEBUSvr9c0ZYm7h9s5oMO83IdQ/s1600-h/DSC_1402a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuosr6NmdWfk6LC2ckFTQR88w4KWuHAAR0JQ7DVWvOEM6Oh_zDApHYTCf5ex3DRXHqDcDKkicJi_h1BYs7-0DtJ-3kj_TQz7oAZGwv7W4XRN7oEBUSvr9c0ZYm7h9s5oMO83IdQ/s400/DSC_1402a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435243694809032386" border="0" /></a><br />Yes folks, here in Norfolk, VA we actually experienced snow. These shots were taken one week ago from today. The local papers told tale of this being the biggest snow storm in 20 years. To be honest, it's the only <span style="font-style: italic;">REAL</span> snow I've seen here in the 13 years I've lived here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexkJ8KhSwZM57WSA2fdYX0pZBCVPrT9JHg2AqQfCAIm50FAjbXM52xMubDpnl1W2vwF-ebVFnX2-B1TeNi0INav3-BnZKRptpFmPiOQWZ5rATFudoWjTkVZnkpc40AuSQIPZBmg/s1600-h/DSC_1458a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexkJ8KhSwZM57WSA2fdYX0pZBCVPrT9JHg2AqQfCAIm50FAjbXM52xMubDpnl1W2vwF-ebVFnX2-B1TeNi0INav3-BnZKRptpFmPiOQWZ5rATFudoWjTkVZnkpc40AuSQIPZBmg/s400/DSC_1458a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435244194489030450" border="0" /></a><br />The funny thing is, today it's snowing again. Part of what weather men across the nation are calling "The Storm of the Century".<br /><br />What's the world coming to I wonder?<br /><br />But back to the snow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkUUYy0Pejv-rtteRpIww5VDqvuh5vLkH5tkpq13dej0a1pxBuUnKhxR-c81cLkt2InRk5JBteVIoK7-iO8aWl_j3dVzxSU2OoMgGzAKDRe9le_CW6oJ99uu_ybfStxh81eLDow/s1600-h/DSC_1440a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkUUYy0Pejv-rtteRpIww5VDqvuh5vLkH5tkpq13dej0a1pxBuUnKhxR-c81cLkt2InRk5JBteVIoK7-iO8aWl_j3dVzxSU2OoMgGzAKDRe9le_CW6oJ99uu_ybfStxh81eLDow/s400/DSC_1440a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435244192233725314" border="0" /></a><br />Since we have no children, most of our entertainment centered around our dog, Sidney.<br /><br />She faithfully allowed us to throw snowballs at her. {She tried to either eat them in the air, or fetch them depending on how far we threw.}<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3UHDV76GYv3wtnDwd2p4kAJC81snFU20RjuKWDL73rr4UniTVj8z1u5iecESHFbPs7JwhmIKsgDQWPWJvo_N-ujteBlXR-AYCdBp1hx191cCi0kD0pPYeXwe-uez20igRARLEQ/s1600-h/DSC_1416a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3UHDV76GYv3wtnDwd2p4kAJC81snFU20RjuKWDL73rr4UniTVj8z1u5iecESHFbPs7JwhmIKsgDQWPWJvo_N-ujteBlXR-AYCdBp1hx191cCi0kD0pPYeXwe-uez20igRARLEQ/s400/DSC_1416a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435243705993646066" border="0" /></a><br />She also let us chase her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2ZDIgFcJ7uNcU58bp3VQXfR7nELlVH__9q4v2yjJZZNLoUeAN6CQFkShoprv50aS9WRoUl3dh0KL90nuPix90N2Kg9zb79jcVdAhYjM_0XR0o2FYHXVGzSL_0XcAOdU54UHOLA/s1600-h/DSC_1428a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2ZDIgFcJ7uNcU58bp3VQXfR7nELlVH__9q4v2yjJZZNLoUeAN6CQFkShoprv50aS9WRoUl3dh0KL90nuPix90N2Kg9zb79jcVdAhYjM_0XR0o2FYHXVGzSL_0XcAOdU54UHOLA/s400/DSC_1428a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435243717889240674" border="0" /></a><br />But mainly, we just sat inside peering out the windows at this amazing sight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdGW6HrVu8JHd2qgfby1sJkpsdZN3nXuunHHECFnal3YWoz8zPWOtB7rkTIv5fjConjJyFXDuJ8gVa79YngVKfAgJ-hl0dfFXq8Z-ulNE2hVswI4MTdIJWe5S4Uk3PbBM_hhrzA/s1600-h/DSC_1469a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdGW6HrVu8JHd2qgfby1sJkpsdZN3nXuunHHECFnal3YWoz8zPWOtB7rkTIv5fjConjJyFXDuJ8gVa79YngVKfAgJ-hl0dfFXq8Z-ulNE2hVswI4MTdIJWe5S4Uk3PbBM_hhrzA/s400/DSC_1469a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435245176733523970" border="0" /></a><br />What a novelty.<br /><br />Snow.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-85125339499504492222010-01-27T09:32:00.002-05:002010-01-27T09:36:26.626-05:00... Illogical InsanityI don't work in the design or web marketing field, however, I truly love this website. It captures the frustration I sometimes feel when working with some of my clients.<br /><a href="http://clientsfromhell.tumblr.com/"><br />Clients from Hell</a><br /><br />Even those that don't work directly with their clientele will appreciate this site, I'm sure.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-85240146843274324622010-01-19T08:06:00.000-05:002010-01-19T08:06:52.379-05:00... Mr. OwlShortly after I found out I was expecting, my minds eye started scrolling through all the cute baby & children's crafts I've seen over the years. I was eager to make something, yet frustrated that I didn't know the gender of our child so I could start stitching immediately.<br /><br />I ended up settling on a little stuffed owl to satisfy my itchy stichy finger. I copied the idea from a picture I saw online, using various textured fabrics making it fun to feel... and drool on too I suppose. I think he turned out kinda cute!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A73HNkOiGN6sQkxfxSrs37u1l-T00A7XozUUkErMr8cAWjT7h3kZHXwnvjiQsYWMjViiESVqhrUM9J8xFewDGCuhVuDDiXDWV0kJ3W5L4uG8Qu76dNXMXdas1x6ctzrz7BnkTQ/s1600-h/DSC_1360a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5A73HNkOiGN6sQkxfxSrs37u1l-T00A7XozUUkErMr8cAWjT7h3kZHXwnvjiQsYWMjViiESVqhrUM9J8xFewDGCuhVuDDiXDWV0kJ3W5L4uG8Qu76dNXMXdas1x6ctzrz7BnkTQ/s400/DSC_1360a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428133202948522642" border="0" /></a>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-43551174461409349812010-01-16T14:52:00.000-05:002010-01-16T14:52:10.083-05:00... the not-so-new-anymore glassesRemember <a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2009/08/preparing-for-hawaii.html">this debacle</a>? The one that forced me to get new prescription sunglasses. Well, it turns out that you have to get your prescription updated every 12 months. And your eyes don't like it when they have sunglasses in one prescription and glasses in another. So that whole dang dolphin incident.... it made me have to get TWO new pair of glasses. Ouch!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfv4zU9W8tiO4GaE1ABNQeFTne4k7k_VoNC1LW167JzTM7nPT29Q0dVmYL-eiWTqoxY48lixZXGftBjat0zTT9bXJnsAaYOe4rvF1e6I7-y0L_Uxe7GDPz0p06EXAZwFiL8SHmw/s1600-h/DSC_1306a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfv4zU9W8tiO4GaE1ABNQeFTne4k7k_VoNC1LW167JzTM7nPT29Q0dVmYL-eiWTqoxY48lixZXGftBjat0zTT9bXJnsAaYOe4rvF1e6I7-y0L_Uxe7GDPz0p06EXAZwFiL8SHmw/s400/DSC_1306a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426612674465816818" border="0" /></a><br />But here they are. A little subdued compared to <a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-new-glasses.html">my last ones</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz5mOQWAvH_nmV9XjsZUrluB06jDLIc_XUHoTY4pC8GiI_IySUiFiY8pGEsWamEJoA_VSVDmzbD8uF-qZcoIjN0VS3DwkRPrZ5OqHgOfJPEuL1W8stgf5IHJfX3qKBLL0UJ4fPQ/s1600-h/DSC_1294a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz5mOQWAvH_nmV9XjsZUrluB06jDLIc_XUHoTY4pC8GiI_IySUiFiY8pGEsWamEJoA_VSVDmzbD8uF-qZcoIjN0VS3DwkRPrZ5OqHgOfJPEuL1W8stgf5IHJfX3qKBLL0UJ4fPQ/s400/DSC_1294a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426612656154535458" border="0" /></a>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-40542949767623106362010-01-12T12:24:00.004-05:002010-01-13T13:27:31.025-05:00... the 41 of 2009**** Pick it up from the library today!<br />*** Add it to your reading list.<br />** Eh, it was ok...<br />* Forget you ever heard about it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fiction</span><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5t9P8UndodGBzpQDXB0cZBphyphenhyphenZXIM-I4PL6e2QCvv2AK-LeB1Z8VcCJAcR3xwmu6YZ5PiCCEmSgWFAFjV_s7obnuhirEubGEOBZjdoMV4BAE4W4CGm5DNJ5cGhYLKEAtcwnujw/s1600-h/The+Day+the+Falls"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5t9P8UndodGBzpQDXB0cZBphyphenhyphenZXIM-I4PL6e2QCvv2AK-LeB1Z8VcCJAcR3xwmu6YZ5PiCCEmSgWFAFjV_s7obnuhirEubGEOBZjdoMV4BAE4W4CGm5DNJ5cGhYLKEAtcwnujw/s200/The+Day+the+Falls" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426273794645658018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Day the Falls Stood Still</span> by Cathy Marie Buchanan - "The stone walls of Loretto Academy are so thick I can sit curled up on a windowsill, arms around the knees tucked beneath my chin." ****<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Shadow of the Wind</span> by Carlos Ruiz Zafon -- "I still remember the day my father took me to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books for the first time." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Lush Life</span> by Richard Price -- "The Quality of Life Task Force: four sweatshirts in a bogus taxi set up on the corner of Clinton Street alongside the Williamsburg Bridge off-ramp to profile the incoming salmon run; their mantra: Dope, guns, overtime; their motto: Everyone's got something to lose." **<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcR_29xlD9zRo-sX-nO7v84BeJuwq9_dF1rF8PEzDDPoNzeT7lFvdW_0bCGG0wimzAOB_MR6oyCAGVESCVKroXdysKUkj2xBMhD4GYjv_8FzaDGVD-MDvt7Q2_tUtVcuBpdkBTQ/s1600-h/The+Gargoyle"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcR_29xlD9zRo-sX-nO7v84BeJuwq9_dF1rF8PEzDDPoNzeT7lFvdW_0bCGG0wimzAOB_MR6oyCAGVESCVKroXdysKUkj2xBMhD4GYjv_8FzaDGVD-MDvt7Q2_tUtVcuBpdkBTQ/s200/The+Gargoyle" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426274004178469474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Gargoyle</span> by Andrew Davidson -- "Accidents ambush the unsuspecting, often violently, just like love." ****<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Olive Kitteridge</span> by Elizabeth Strout - "For many years Henry Kitteridge was a pharmacist in the next town over, driving every morning on snowy roads, or rainy roads, or summertime roads, when the wild reaspberries shot their new growth in the bramlbes along the last section of town before he turned off to where he wider road led to the pharmacy." **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Skeletons at the Feast</span> by Chris Bohjalian - "The girl - a young woman, really, eighteen, hair the color of corn silk - has been hearing the murmur of artillery fire for two days now." **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo</span> by Stieg Larsson - "It happened every year, was almost a ritual." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Time Traveler's Wife</span> by Audrey Niffenegger - "Claire: It's hard being left behind." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Art of Racing in the Rain</span> by Garth Stein - "Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature." **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Given Day </span>by Dennis Lehane - "Due to travel restrictions placed on major league baseball by the war department, the world series of 1918 was played in September and split into two home stands." **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Shanghai Girls</span> by Lisa See - "'Our daughter looks like a South China peasant with those red cheeks,' my father complains, pointedly ignoring the soup before him." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Daphne</span> by Justine Picardie - "To begin." *<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Things that Keep Us Here</span> by Carla Buckley - "It was quiet coming home from the funeral." **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society</span> by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - "Susanne Scott is a wonder." ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing</span> by M.T. Anderson *<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Boat</span> by Nam Le ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Brick Lane</span> by Monica Ali **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Bridge of Sighs</span> by Richard Russo ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Cellist of Sarajevo</span> by Steven Galloway ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Children of Men </span>by PD James **<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_LONYxDzNUOp1lL14w3RFt1xBnX0s7SX73fikd_SfBCyGWbCBJlM4bVKidmcAYjf3wjdpaAEpstvlag_OpKnwETViBSopgaCqmbnyktHiW_ea5r8iN3Ej0scBT73KkwToYUbeA/s1600-h/Serena"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 101px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_LONYxDzNUOp1lL14w3RFt1xBnX0s7SX73fikd_SfBCyGWbCBJlM4bVKidmcAYjf3wjdpaAEpstvlag_OpKnwETViBSopgaCqmbnyktHiW_ea5r8iN3Ej0scBT73KkwToYUbeA/s200/Serena" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426274646032549074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Serena</span> by Ron Rash ****<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br />The Elegance of the Hedgehog</span> by Muriel Barbery ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Great Gatsby </span>by F. Scott Fitzgerald ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Lazarus Project </span>by Aleksander Hemon **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Likeness </span>by Tanya French **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Mudbound </span>by Hillary Jordan ***<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">My Sisters Keeper</span> by Jodi Picoult ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Netherland </span>by Joseph O'Neil *<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Pig Did It</span> by Joseph Caldwell **<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />The Plague of Doves</span> by Louise Erdrich **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Sea of Poppies</span> by Amitav Ghosh ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">So Brave, Young, and Handsome</span> by Leif Enger ***<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqmttiaQdoGXi1JlL8bayFti3lx1_nXWUebtohKHq9NiREu0wVFIW3TUZWMC0rCXd7ec-pMq91q5zuiDdXIOmApsWV6Nq9xeTELfkqsVSZVjP6nCCQ8PI4Kl1nBZxec67BHcLAQ/s1600-h/The+Story+of"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqmttiaQdoGXi1JlL8bayFti3lx1_nXWUebtohKHq9NiREu0wVFIW3TUZWMC0rCXd7ec-pMq91q5zuiDdXIOmApsWV6Nq9xeTELfkqsVSZVjP6nCCQ8PI4Kl1nBZxec67BHcLAQ/s200/The+Story+of" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426274367933375794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Story of Edgar Sawtelle</span> by David Wroblewski ****<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Unaccustomed Earth </span>by Jhumpa Lahiri **<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Non-Fiction</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Annie's Ghosts</span> by Steve Luxenburg **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Hemingses of Monticello</span> by Annette Gordon-Reed ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Island at the Center of the World</span> by Russell Shorto ***<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-udm61HwzRdeXQ6gUVIeIm-qffzoUGAVTxkUWUz1ww0znfZ4KYxT4pa4yCIjcxM5rS71ju2-xiAOV0SJPSI3R-MWb6zexanmUWtqDJNEjV1AON2K9qBIGEebJwydvWSMJIGKdg/s1600-h/Tears+of+the+"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-udm61HwzRdeXQ6gUVIeIm-qffzoUGAVTxkUWUz1ww0znfZ4KYxT4pa4yCIjcxM5rS71ju2-xiAOV0SJPSI3R-MWb6zexanmUWtqDJNEjV1AON2K9qBIGEebJwydvWSMJIGKdg/s200/Tears+of+the+" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426273658950612898" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Jamie at Home</span> by Jamie Oliver **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Last Lecture </span>by Randy Pausch **<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Long Walk to Freedeom</span> by Nelson Mandela ***<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tears of the Desert</span> by Halima Bashir - ****Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-25065473900965220222010-01-10T16:42:00.004-05:002010-01-10T16:45:35.092-05:00... The Reason for My Absence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8Sgy19YjJc0DLuvD3br5uYUcHcMUDbiTDFsUv8U_aZzN2tPGHE2AemCO41KlSdQPR2meXrdu0HT7TgtlgvJqQ46lkITEoEBsz899ggV3G6rAoTaJQLIPElNZely8SuQwzzAQ4w/s1600-h/DSC_1280a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8Sgy19YjJc0DLuvD3br5uYUcHcMUDbiTDFsUv8U_aZzN2tPGHE2AemCO41KlSdQPR2meXrdu0HT7TgtlgvJqQ46lkITEoEBsz899ggV3G6rAoTaJQLIPElNZely8SuQwzzAQ4w/s400/DSC_1280a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425230222396499074" border="0" /></a>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-63833135696885690802009-11-22T20:34:00.001-05:002009-11-22T20:36:29.696-05:00... Farmers Market, Hawaiian Style<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf2nDGTSGffbiicNK6qessVRnTVFrwoswKy3GnvErxXVgDMdH3QlHfxWrLbSSuzsOCBU4OdR5l5XG8wxjh8dNhtEq0NDbh4f3WpD8DKRtjY5pY0sx-r1MpTuUhc3mKN0aUYYzOQ/s1600/Fresh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 266px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406686938253466066" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf2nDGTSGffbiicNK6qessVRnTVFrwoswKy3GnvErxXVgDMdH3QlHfxWrLbSSuzsOCBU4OdR5l5XG8wxjh8dNhtEq0NDbh4f3WpD8DKRtjY5pY0sx-r1MpTuUhc3mKN0aUYYzOQ/s400/Fresh.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Morning of day #1 and what do we do? We immediately ferret out a local farmers market. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this! The place was packed out with all types of people, a large variety of inviting fragrances, and colorful & exotic fruits & plants.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRN-uzJP7HBj3Fe7kqMzGD-vOkg4P6mb9rmjpUlRJpXYIOMkwhiYXrANrEdMgNAWlhBNLID8WO6IT5kQljadUu2Bm-mppsQMQNi7Bddz_mROnJicU98c-m57FhCNg95r-YecCEg/s1600/Strange+Fuits.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRN-uzJP7HBj3Fe7kqMzGD-vOkg4P6mb9rmjpUlRJpXYIOMkwhiYXrANrEdMgNAWlhBNLID8WO6IT5kQljadUu2Bm-mppsQMQNi7Bddz_mROnJicU98c-m57FhCNg95r-YecCEg/s400/Strange+Fuits.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407104449084898338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvZ149MQEDhYxwuJpGxq55fdXCtm6ZMa1RDjMFwEWcmSTG-e4baWWw-rTEciuhrOYY_D4eCrXnpFl301SeITvJN5GxY3_RTrxj39ww0zwCOm0GO_GRWQYoOmuCNGRdYnnvl5Qlg/s1600/DSC_0358a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 266px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406687415652926226" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvZ149MQEDhYxwuJpGxq55fdXCtm6ZMa1RDjMFwEWcmSTG-e4baWWw-rTEciuhrOYY_D4eCrXnpFl301SeITvJN5GxY3_RTrxj39ww0zwCOm0GO_GRWQYoOmuCNGRdYnnvl5Qlg/s400/DSC_0358a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Acting like kids in a candy store, we scooped up as many fresh goods as our little arms could hold. Creamy Avocado, Juicy Tomato, Hot Bread, Sweet Papaya...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRRxmFCI92KOZKtgLET3xk5jTPkDe1h_bl3K0T3kNJajnHCpLzNLKHwWKsntFJEA2UmNDRsF1KZBst2PVu5VH-NS8USFnrMNTH91X1owpGk782rdxNwVMBg0OMUpzIx69Ya0EKg/s1600/DSC_0355a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 266px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406685771449622722" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRRxmFCI92KOZKtgLET3xk5jTPkDe1h_bl3K0T3kNJajnHCpLzNLKHwWKsntFJEA2UmNDRsF1KZBst2PVu5VH-NS8USFnrMNTH91X1owpGk782rdxNwVMBg0OMUpzIx69Ya0EKg/s400/DSC_0355a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div> One of our more adventurous eats was some coconut juice. When you cut open a coconut, there is a watery fluid in there (it's not the milk -- that's made by scraping and pressing the pulp). It was interesting, not coconut-y or sweet, just a fruity flavored water. We went back afterward to have it cracked open and scraped so we could eat the meats. What a versatile nut.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf31jGH1f1DcPkjUDRu3awoEyIUUOPyXki0jPSwh5wPwPxbrx1Yz0DfC2BnlOduixCbvTpykaMb1x8dRdL5CE3oVcSrQ9miFtxqrzDgu_nqNAuXq1u5sm9vOEugnmPP5mbZpbhKg/s1600/Coconut+Juice.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px; display: block; height: 266px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406682365257382498" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf31jGH1f1DcPkjUDRu3awoEyIUUOPyXki0jPSwh5wPwPxbrx1Yz0DfC2BnlOduixCbvTpykaMb1x8dRdL5CE3oVcSrQ9miFtxqrzDgu_nqNAuXq1u5sm9vOEugnmPP5mbZpbhKg/s400/Coconut+Juice.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddrXQdTg9v6Mu6Ji8NxNfahctJ66lUWoGBijpZGbT4g_P26IMG6nJSAjMVkApTlDcHySwKEbZu1Utx2XwcxQ0z0CnwNwxIhTpjFk4eDJSS69cOQoL_sdEl2TcBQPEJoEup6-fqg/s1600/DSC_0371a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px; display: block; height: 400px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406684680579706546" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddrXQdTg9v6Mu6Ji8NxNfahctJ66lUWoGBijpZGbT4g_P26IMG6nJSAjMVkApTlDcHySwKEbZu1Utx2XwcxQ0z0CnwNwxIhTpjFk4eDJSS69cOQoL_sdEl2TcBQPEJoEup6-fqg/s400/DSC_0371a.jpg" border="0" /></a>Ahhh.... a well stocked farmers market, the perfect way to start our vacation in paradise!<br /></div></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-80553014907157156422009-11-19T19:46:00.012-05:002009-11-19T21:54:48.203-05:00... The Things that Keep Us HereTwo in a row!<br /><div></div><br /><div>This one found it's way on my front door stoop just a few days before <em>the storm</em>. Well timed because if it weren't for three days without electricity and an unsettling amount of time camped in a coffee shop like a refugee, it would likely have been weeks before I would have attacked this book. I've thought it through and attacked is the correct verb. For it was done and victoriously shelved in two sittings. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The story read well -- a real don't-want-to-put-it-down type of book. But what was really interesting was the superbly timed subject matter. It was, personally, regionally and nationally, quite relevant.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvjciVac5M57B0eCMGcodd9Pn66ubZjsVerlpzehfeJQhVg-263osjXhByDkNh8lsDuwl6i7Tl7oDk2a1UQz_5bgfpHOPosIJMu4PK7QlmkpZ2xlHK0bhzI2Iu2cVbLlrRXBxYg/s1600/Things.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPvjciVac5M57B0eCMGcodd9Pn66ubZjsVerlpzehfeJQhVg-263osjXhByDkNh8lsDuwl6i7Tl7oDk2a1UQz_5bgfpHOPosIJMu4PK7QlmkpZ2xlHK0bhzI2Iu2cVbLlrRXBxYg/s400/Things.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406011080958425538" border="0" /></a>A quick scan of the back of the book told me that a virus was spreading through the nation and what would a mother do to protect her family. Not something I would normally pick up. Too sensationalist sounding, right? Well, yes, it was a page turner but it was oddly not sensational. Not sensational since much like the book, we are facing a flu pandemic. And much like the book, I was struggling with being cooped up in a home without power. Annnd... well, that's about where the parallels ended. But it was enough to hook me. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Perhaps I'm just in a generous mood - deeming a high percentage of my books as recommendations lately. Or maybe there's a lot to look forward to in 2010 in the publishing world. But Carla Buckley's book is a good story! So start checking the shelves around February and set aside a Sunday afternoon. Just make sure you don't have the sniffles when you're reading it, or you might get a little fearful of the consequences. :)<br /><br />Added Later: This would make an excellent book club read. Lots to discuss and consider...<br /></div>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-21108419343640090552009-10-06T11:29:00.014-04:002009-10-06T20:22:59.176-04:00... The Day the Falls Stood StillIn an unmarked envelope, that's how it arrived. I took a few minutes, scanning my mind, trying to remember if I'd recently ordered anything. Then I open it and <a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2009/08/preparing-for-hawaii.html">sniffed the pages</a>. A new book. An advanced copy sent to me by the publisher in hopes that I would read and review it. I always read them, rarely do I review. But I've been quite excited to share this one with you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjdlC3wJTTusBG3BVUMtmlIglDSgNBW5D6ZJ1qKkWQpr56LpRZ0Mmwnq5PRJ2o8uKmGqUMknmI7xa9pNs6rmvS9u8hzuG8cM7Nq3IOxFPA96uwgSgFatz6ToPG-YR7-s2N_hapw/s1600-h/Falls"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjdlC3wJTTusBG3BVUMtmlIglDSgNBW5D6ZJ1qKkWQpr56LpRZ0Mmwnq5PRJ2o8uKmGqUMknmI7xa9pNs6rmvS9u8hzuG8cM7Nq3IOxFPA96uwgSgFatz6ToPG-YR7-s2N_hapw/s400/Falls" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389513030151982690" border="0" /></a>Prepare yourself to travel to the early 1900's where on the Canadian side of Niagara you'll meet Bess.... I could now use phrases like "coming of age" or "epic" to describe her journey or the course of the novel, but I won't. They're so overused and to be honest, when a story is described that way, it make me not want to read it. So instead of a sweeping overview of the beautifully written story, I'll share why I liked the novel so much.<br /><br />Though fiction, enough actual history is woven throughout to really breath life into the story. In addition to old black and white photographs of the town and Niagara river, they've included faux-newspaper clippings of key events. I love the touch these add to the storytelling.<br /><br />The characters are easy to relate to. In the beginning, I was about to toss the book aside, thinking it was the same ol' story with the same ol' people, but the characters grew and progressed throughout the story. The became real to me in a powerful way.<br /><br />In the end though, in spite of how good the story is, it's Buchanan's writing that really excited me. I found myself completely <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">in</span> the story. Something about the way she told it had me experiencing a broad range of emotions, along with the characters, quite keenly. It's been a while since I've been carried away with a book like that.<br /><br />Buchanan's novel has since been released, so if you're looking for a good, as of yet obscure, novel grab it and be carried away yourself.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-83412908007061056402009-09-21T16:50:00.000-04:002009-09-21T16:52:17.099-04:00... Sew Many ProjectsWhat does a group of modern-day crafty gals do when their handmade project list has grown to monstrous proportions? Why, they schedule a sewing get-a-way of course.<br /><br />And when the lack of funds and shortage of free weekends threaten to squelch the thread and needle... they shorten it to a day and keep host it at one of their homes.<br /><br />Or at least that's what <a href="http://iamhuns.blogspot.com/">Amy</a>, <a href="http://allthingsjudd.blogspot.com/">Rebekah</a> and I did.<br /><br />Work hard we did, accomplish much we did not. I was amazed that given an entire day, working solidly from morning 'till night, I was only able to get 1 project done. One. But hey... I had loads of fun doing it. And at least I was able to get Elka's nursing cover mailed in enough time for her baby shower!<br /><br />She chose the fabric... isn't it beautiful!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU27HWXwAuYlX65L6VYKcrelrujtV1p2MuKmOctMLsxgPfx-KVGsruwrqcjtdErm7bH4CONmGv5lws_8DGoApRf6EBGZSvY2V5eaagMRTuvcLRFyFSl7F77wnOyS3Q8QSBUuGIw/s1600-h/DSC_0138a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZU27HWXwAuYlX65L6VYKcrelrujtV1p2MuKmOctMLsxgPfx-KVGsruwrqcjtdErm7bH4CONmGv5lws_8DGoApRf6EBGZSvY2V5eaagMRTuvcLRFyFSl7F77wnOyS3Q8QSBUuGIw/s400/DSC_0138a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383963200945212370" border="0" /></a><br />Not to be discouraged, I spent the rest of the week completing Joanna's bridal shower gift. It may look familiar since you've seen the other place mats I've made <a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-first-sewing-project.html">here</a>, <a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2007/09/crafts.html">here</a> and <a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2009/08/housewarming-gift.html">here</a>. The good news is, I'm getting really good at making these. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqD7NEnqQXMI4W1aytpzmPrg3tlhTLZ1JK4JGWz28Kq9QsDQjcKXfo3Ip1AALulYYZpQcRz9yovtYIIbHsN_pKCpSAtB6wno4UvtAFoYQu6UpJa5Cd3XZoTxVMAqak2CZk9gXNQ/s1600-h/DSC_0141a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqD7NEnqQXMI4W1aytpzmPrg3tlhTLZ1JK4JGWz28Kq9QsDQjcKXfo3Ip1AALulYYZpQcRz9yovtYIIbHsN_pKCpSAtB6wno4UvtAFoYQu6UpJa5Cd3XZoTxVMAqak2CZk9gXNQ/s400/DSC_0141a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383967048797254754" border="0" /></a><br />I was super excited about this fabric. The dishes she registered for are cobalt blue which I think will contrast with the persimmon quite nicely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpHDT6zfVsFgwNKz1ewPPGj883GtqW4LCiOyCV-ZBJnkzpjHd7O1cZEyz2hFCloSjP_S2nHShwvurHDQK0PQ5QTbHlyoWf_kRxIgpwHdIhmvroBBJse0HkEisBP7_e1rJ3bO2vQ/s1600-h/DSC_0145a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpHDT6zfVsFgwNKz1ewPPGj883GtqW4LCiOyCV-ZBJnkzpjHd7O1cZEyz2hFCloSjP_S2nHShwvurHDQK0PQ5QTbHlyoWf_kRxIgpwHdIhmvroBBJse0HkEisBP7_e1rJ3bO2vQ/s400/DSC_0145a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383967060131748354" border="0" /></a><br />And since Jo lives in Hawaii, the flowers add a nice touch too. Well, at least I think they do. If they don't, just don't tell me, ok?! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs62ZxtvCQgLeDKV0FAC3q6EBNjDUHyNG7we3PYr8aofrjleZjAXifr87iOrbFOgvrxrKmx2OIQfLFzEpp1qz15BxieC6z6XeeCx2gj92OEscqrfwJqiOnB12_OnFlrMQGUWfmQ/s1600-h/DSC_0147a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs62ZxtvCQgLeDKV0FAC3q6EBNjDUHyNG7we3PYr8aofrjleZjAXifr87iOrbFOgvrxrKmx2OIQfLFzEpp1qz15BxieC6z6XeeCx2gj92OEscqrfwJqiOnB12_OnFlrMQGUWfmQ/s400/DSC_0147a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383967071922091890" border="0" /></a><br />But wait, there's more!<br /><br />I still had to create the perfect vacation bag. The bag that I'll wear all day, every day while touring Hawaii.<br /><br />It had to be cute (No shortage of fab fabric to choose from! I chose these two by Anna Maria Horner.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7DG2uCIvKx3-bCEU9og4LoVw3PxVt4ny6924h1UZxs28xNgpX4J3A-wn2cPF9imXxd50-dQYYu4m23pzdnwM1y6FV6vosms15Gr0cPOJuqyFIbNulg9Oqe_Z7DKLsLufuStqWg/s1600-h/DSC_0182a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7DG2uCIvKx3-bCEU9og4LoVw3PxVt4ny6924h1UZxs28xNgpX4J3A-wn2cPF9imXxd50-dQYYu4m23pzdnwM1y6FV6vosms15Gr0cPOJuqyFIbNulg9Oqe_Z7DKLsLufuStqWg/s400/DSC_0182a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384017933408262450" border="0" /></a><br />It had to be comfortable (it slings around my shoulder and hangs right at the perfect part of my hip.)<br />It had to be reinforced (since the camera is heavy and I'll be carrying it all day, I made wide shoulder straps and doubled up at the top where it sits on my shoulders.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzF9-yeiPEvC1VrxpyT6jOyonXkO1QiV3UsT0DJmTjsDU3hTt2EV7ytUx4Yj1NkD81lSzQps3-evIH16WDJLyia_SlgGGSaq8_MjXEclB2na9OWWxEWK3jsG2PDM4HLkYOX385w/s1600-h/DSC_0178a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzF9-yeiPEvC1VrxpyT6jOyonXkO1QiV3UsT0DJmTjsDU3hTt2EV7ytUx4Yj1NkD81lSzQps3-evIH16WDJLyia_SlgGGSaq8_MjXEclB2na9OWWxEWK3jsG2PDM4HLkYOX385w/s400/DSC_0178a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384018358815698610" border="0" /></a><br />It had to be the right size for the vacation essentials.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6pdUqSjtiwxjHvGZPFkg4EfLMcA9vLltQoMbcbSrIM33KSaKuuxpET3F1VoTKHMnk_X9WnQewOzjK-JWCkNQqttwAvEAgtNobaDmClqP_ldfwHBbbzL1iz37lQiXB9PjPollRw/s1600-h/DSC_0165a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6pdUqSjtiwxjHvGZPFkg4EfLMcA9vLltQoMbcbSrIM33KSaKuuxpET3F1VoTKHMnk_X9WnQewOzjK-JWCkNQqttwAvEAgtNobaDmClqP_ldfwHBbbzL1iz37lQiXB9PjPollRw/s400/DSC_0165a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384020567884697522" border="0" /></a><br />It had to keep the camera safe (Amy suggested flannel interfacing for extra padding and it worked out perfectly. I also boxed the bottom of the bag so it's exactly the same size as the back of the camera.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtaMQRvVDdE53GosnrMqy6iR0FzhSBCdfk1_fQT8zbXDIy8jLI_j26xyhCqrmHIi_-4odj-X-0j5Jh7FGx7Tk6s0FbYIfmldAGMFmE6N12DLmR815rqxwj2F_tOJLNzx8M38Nsg/s1600-h/DSC_0168b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtaMQRvVDdE53GosnrMqy6iR0FzhSBCdfk1_fQT8zbXDIy8jLI_j26xyhCqrmHIi_-4odj-X-0j5Jh7FGx7Tk6s0FbYIfmldAGMFmE6N12DLmR815rqxwj2F_tOJLNzx8M38Nsg/s400/DSC_0168b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384020068066467410" border="0" /></a><br />It must have a place for everything (I created the pocket sizes and locations based on exactly what I plan on having in each one. The iphone in the front for ease of reach. The wallet in the middle below the magnetic snap so it'd be handy for me, but not for an unwelcome hand.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUb7OkPs002324mu3z8IoJNAhkyqNAigiAq3CxQYZImyk0kiULqO9jIB9ObR2YjfE7T8E_38YhVTO7jKC08avvB89VTja9c-4CTkqciUOQDZ1bN_iN0CYRowVMAKPAEoVdgK_aQ/s1600-h/DSC_0167a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUb7OkPs002324mu3z8IoJNAhkyqNAigiAq3CxQYZImyk0kiULqO9jIB9ObR2YjfE7T8E_38YhVTO7jKC08avvB89VTja9c-4CTkqciUOQDZ1bN_iN0CYRowVMAKPAEoVdgK_aQ/s400/DSC_0167a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384021624013706466" border="0" /></a><br />Jeff said this bag wasn't a necessity, but I think it was. It's the perfect vacation bag. I'm now officially ready to go! :)Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-67081578344415004092009-09-02T11:49:00.001-04:002009-09-02T11:49:14.580-04:00... Kiptopeke<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecT5AXK9p8SakNS2L8mMpQUfDWdgLDFSVKx5UWjTgknkkBXKjHSppFc1qWN4HjdQdH5mga7eIiuqu_40syrcZFt5b8gzd5svGN5vlv1TpFo9vGQPqjbQB6kixwdvLRuiDzGiA1w/s1600-h/DSC_0085aa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecT5AXK9p8SakNS2L8mMpQUfDWdgLDFSVKx5UWjTgknkkBXKjHSppFc1qWN4HjdQdH5mga7eIiuqu_40syrcZFt5b8gzd5svGN5vlv1TpFo9vGQPqjbQB6kixwdvLRuiDzGiA1w/s400/DSC_0085aa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866867261378530" border="0" /></a><br />Just one <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge-Tunnel">18 miles bridge </a>away, the Eastern Shore's bekon could be ignored no longer. Jeff and I finally packed our camping gear and kayaks and headed up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFSKyUR3mgWgyHPaWXeDNEn7zcNx8Pli7I1m_gPrrkxt_pN3rwnplAIxHOVzdJKsU9vS_gDG_NFa6CuoHfAlaHQDXsah7S77wJY02fjqvUWOMlfT6E9fcmeE8WECRXIYEwVd3Sw/s1600-h/DSC_0092a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFSKyUR3mgWgyHPaWXeDNEn7zcNx8Pli7I1m_gPrrkxt_pN3rwnplAIxHOVzdJKsU9vS_gDG_NFa6CuoHfAlaHQDXsah7S77wJY02fjqvUWOMlfT6E9fcmeE8WECRXIYEwVd3Sw/s400/DSC_0092a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866895961525570" border="0" /></a><br />The sun decided to set while we were on the bridge. We came upon the pull off with just enough time to snap a self-portrait or two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoUvq3qFXZozkltWLQ866772R7lzvccPy8-E952H8t8AmHFnPw_Acl61kiu_nTPECcSbq0RstFMRzhxyyhKTVtYwENFu9jGAap7Vejzja9ob5BlU3uIL359ga9YklHidNm3lgNg/s1600-h/DSC_0091aa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoUvq3qFXZozkltWLQ866772R7lzvccPy8-E952H8t8AmHFnPw_Acl61kiu_nTPECcSbq0RstFMRzhxyyhKTVtYwENFu9jGAap7Vejzja9ob5BlU3uIL359ga9YklHidNm3lgNg/s400/DSC_0091aa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376866886847901922" border="0" /></a><br />Despite my reservations about getting in the water with a tropical storm having just passed, we kayaked out to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_ship">concrete ships</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmIXdxnsQZ-HqpaWPrFCO2P4anS2D2KQJSjF3g4Bg5C_DzYX5MuRuMeaLe4wvadsfLNaKtDv70kMF-0uN4Va3jHBwDfrrzYbsXL8W780WqunGqSPQDDBnqsSNsaFck9y5nQDNGw/s1600-h/DSC_0101a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmIXdxnsQZ-HqpaWPrFCO2P4anS2D2KQJSjF3g4Bg5C_DzYX5MuRuMeaLe4wvadsfLNaKtDv70kMF-0uN4Va3jHBwDfrrzYbsXL8W780WqunGqSPQDDBnqsSNsaFck9y5nQDNGw/s400/DSC_0101a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376893384867154786" border="0" /></a><br />They were built during WWII and then sunk as breakwaters in the bay. Viewed up close, the atrophy and decay offered an alluring type of beauty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjaur9Uc9qCrV0rj1kaQW9Qh22rm4CQfLAA4WGurjJXBF1vayeP5AgEmZRRzaZhx6eBvEhZvyHz4PdoPYzwj7PYKvA4hyNKgSqqs_Y9H0JhcNtbPgfyXI3l3nF853UoecfyMw3Q/s1600-h/DSC_0106aa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjaur9Uc9qCrV0rj1kaQW9Qh22rm4CQfLAA4WGurjJXBF1vayeP5AgEmZRRzaZhx6eBvEhZvyHz4PdoPYzwj7PYKvA4hyNKgSqqs_Y9H0JhcNtbPgfyXI3l3nF853UoecfyMw3Q/s400/DSC_0106aa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376896720239947778" border="0" /></a><br />Though the trip was cut short due yet another East Coast rain storm, we weren't disappointed at all. We'd managed to pack in lots of relaxation and fun and plan to head out there again soon.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-26990450188609555732009-08-28T09:02:00.004-04:002009-08-28T09:04:52.287-04:00... Sleeping Angels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjAxNqBMMpqtlsCOwyAgvnnTW0ItErIkPV7Ai0JZRS-MAIl6LAEPqEzHP_1eGGG2Fre0OWMJbG-Eds9cvEKNYRZzaWuDx0SCCfVmMYTT0jadkJgAm9EShIg3nBByg3NN9a1HleA/s1600-h/DSC_0046-small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjAxNqBMMpqtlsCOwyAgvnnTW0ItErIkPV7Ai0JZRS-MAIl6LAEPqEzHP_1eGGG2Fre0OWMJbG-Eds9cvEKNYRZzaWuDx0SCCfVmMYTT0jadkJgAm9EShIg3nBByg3NN9a1HleA/s400/DSC_0046-small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374999607741433426" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://jessicarockey.blogspot.com/">This bundle</a> of preciousness is welcome to slumber on my couch whenever she wants.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-48476121785111175212009-08-18T15:25:00.014-04:002009-08-18T16:53:05.833-04:00... The Uniform Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XTkjBr0nhroZsZL6QzVxxKTeNbxo6nOzZxTcqLhDrlG6Lw-3XAcxIcbISkNObrBp1_gNv5MLh5s7YSDo1R2WXW5bCbG7NgBRUv0zUNzPRW2ibSukMTc4_rMdE0aLh27Y3htLNg/s1600-h/2dresses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XTkjBr0nhroZsZL6QzVxxKTeNbxo6nOzZxTcqLhDrlG6Lw-3XAcxIcbISkNObrBp1_gNv5MLh5s7YSDo1R2WXW5bCbG7NgBRUv0zUNzPRW2ibSukMTc4_rMdE0aLh27Y3htLNg/s400/2dresses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371405135929641426" border="0" /></a>What do all these outfits have in common?<br /><br />They're obviously an exercise in accessorizing. But look closely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgxe31F2ZnVhg3xvgrEvFZwlzKaWRR31QQTkyN5gHkgAb7qixsljm9sa7K3R_TFaRs-hORBXkm4jLhAdwBPLuB3ncCHyWEdbY3j5wozLNarcVJj9SJ05-NDIsSiXylC-7jiPxLw/s1600-h/2dresses2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgxe31F2ZnVhg3xvgrEvFZwlzKaWRR31QQTkyN5gHkgAb7qixsljm9sa7K3R_TFaRs-hORBXkm4jLhAdwBPLuB3ncCHyWEdbY3j5wozLNarcVJj9SJ05-NDIsSiXylC-7jiPxLw/s400/2dresses2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371408399448671314" border="0" /></a>Did you notice they're all the same dress?<br /><br />With 7 copies of the exact same black dress,<a href="http://www.theuniformproject.com/"> she</a> wears the dress every day of the week altering the outfit only by adding accessories.<br /><br />And she will do it for 365 days in a row.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y8OYOYcfnxAWvBA7qsWp-9tPNTXCwwcmut6lop2qocdOKwWAYfq5N4LV-sz4PcnyOiJ4nszEboD4yPUdzApzZFPBLP9bvuheeAvQkffyE2O5WTNXcLNFEGUxiYbHz6s0yEv93w/s1600-h/2dresses3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 337px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1y8OYOYcfnxAWvBA7qsWp-9tPNTXCwwcmut6lop2qocdOKwWAYfq5N4LV-sz4PcnyOiJ4nszEboD4yPUdzApzZFPBLP9bvuheeAvQkffyE2O5WTNXcLNFEGUxiYbHz6s0yEv93w/s400/2dresses3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371408409180023106" border="0" /></a>If only I were this brave and talented. I'm lucky if I go so far as to add a belt to my jeans....Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-48794878499301744122009-08-13T12:37:00.002-04:002009-08-13T12:38:48.110-04:00... Judging a Book by its Cover<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWt71oxuCqokZcvTy0VsvpXtojp3JUBkHqQoYNEltVjWS2DlcdPd2j24Hllp9ktvjScUQlYiwQo5FSB94KeZ2PkMW8zjp1vozMgYolRph8yxXGesJR5HXqwvM5yOCSAZPI_D-5A/s1600-h/Girl"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 128px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWt71oxuCqokZcvTy0VsvpXtojp3JUBkHqQoYNEltVjWS2DlcdPd2j24Hllp9ktvjScUQlYiwQo5FSB94KeZ2PkMW8zjp1vozMgYolRph8yxXGesJR5HXqwvM5yOCSAZPI_D-5A/s200/Girl" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369487491723852802" border="0" /></a>Once, in spite of what they say, I spent a whole summer judging books by their covers.<br /><br />I walked up and down the aisles of Barnes and Noble and chose to only read books with covers that caught my eye.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKefJVeu5WLLcASY2sWUTq56sa5J7_2KsNUlJW8yRizLTbfygUOv49LTzBwf6F9QuukNCy2nmi0e3O6L0-UlvgJWdvzUorr5Ks2wZqIlkiQGlka5NzTVC94Zj5FI2DFDWDmq-89A/s1600-h/balzac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 97px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKefJVeu5WLLcASY2sWUTq56sa5J7_2KsNUlJW8yRizLTbfygUOv49LTzBwf6F9QuukNCy2nmi0e3O6L0-UlvgJWdvzUorr5Ks2wZqIlkiQGlka5NzTVC94Zj5FI2DFDWDmq-89A/s200/balzac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369488322949504658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And you know what?<br /><br />I read some really great books that summer.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-52729758789060808082009-08-10T15:18:00.010-04:002009-08-10T15:55:32.913-04:00... Preparing for Hawaii<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3v0fINJB1vvuaRalJGu9jl2-01nHj7iW_pdeIj2DakTjrFDebe1cvaxh1yyOLuILquoHBu-GNj9JbTA2njREM8iPERFJWD0eJEUu0e_d058XiMmugC87rcLlkjKJVpRJQ3IEUw/s1600-h/Hotel+Photo"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3v0fINJB1vvuaRalJGu9jl2-01nHj7iW_pdeIj2DakTjrFDebe1cvaxh1yyOLuILquoHBu-GNj9JbTA2njREM8iPERFJWD0eJEUu0e_d058XiMmugC87rcLlkjKJVpRJQ3IEUw/s400/Hotel+Photo" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368424075423782786" border="0" /></a>Our hotel is booked (finally!). It took quite a while to find one location that had everything we wanted. I don't think we're particularly choosy, however, there are a lot of teal walls and rattan furniture in Hawaiian hotels and we were hoping to find something a little more updated. We did.<br /><br />Though it was already in our price range, I called the hotel directly to ask what their rates were. My experience is that the hotel will oftentimes quote lower than the websites. They did. Mr. Nice-Guy-At-The-Front-Desk gave us $40 off the cheapest on-line rate. x10 days and that's $400 plus tax in savings. Whoo Hoo!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvUhoNRH45rUX4E5IT3xzi_6PHMP7_wSrGeoJj1ujXdUr0CXp7igWZ7BsxjTDb-sOIK1QCzr2cWC9NRLLSJybw6wJ3gqkVlC4XuX8_4ysLQmyKFZBkLPR5-I9W_Z9j8lzGOyuYw/s1600-h/Dolphins+Pic"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvUhoNRH45rUX4E5IT3xzi_6PHMP7_wSrGeoJj1ujXdUr0CXp7igWZ7BsxjTDb-sOIK1QCzr2cWC9NRLLSJybw6wJ3gqkVlC4XuX8_4ysLQmyKFZBkLPR5-I9W_Z9j8lzGOyuYw/s320/Dolphins+Pic" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368424750217934306" border="0" /></a>Next comes working on the tan. I'm not a fan of laying around in the sun, but I don't want us to burn on day #1 and have a miserable time thereafter. So this past Sat we took a few hours and visited north beach. That's when I discovered I hate dolphins.<br /><br />I was wading in, barely up to my knees and not planning to go any further. But then a pack of 15+ dolphins were swimming by so very close. So I waded out further. I was enjoying them until *whack* a big wave knocked me over and caused my practically new prescription sunglasses to fly off my face, never to be seen again. That's why I hate dolphins. I don't know if I'll ever get over it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjg7UpcOWb2jPaEAfp9rE7J5zCR5F4ulVNzKybKDdU1ousZdM3vQjJ6GJTTgWtm_W9IMU4_A2bPimYX2ICNqf-3RtyiguqFP8bqgw5tkYj6thDU5f1W9zPj40C1j1d7jZa7COxTw/s1600-h/Book+Pic"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjg7UpcOWb2jPaEAfp9rE7J5zCR5F4ulVNzKybKDdU1ousZdM3vQjJ6GJTTgWtm_W9IMU4_A2bPimYX2ICNqf-3RtyiguqFP8bqgw5tkYj6thDU5f1W9zPj40C1j1d7jZa7COxTw/s200/Book+Pic" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368425436901628642" border="0" /></a>Then today, the books I purchased as beach reads while in Hawaii came in. I'm positively giddy with excitement over them. Is that strange? Is it strange that I smoothed my hands over the covers & sniffed the pages? Do I need help? Don't answer that.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23733807.post-49491376526118504902009-08-05T09:40:00.001-04:002009-08-05T21:11:42.955-04:00... Housewarming Gift<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTdh9B0pBL2NUZfz_38-QS5xxaGP_sMepu8muyHVLrYRhUUkz5JmkVAsRBAcrmHXDNjDRYP7bkII2_srfsp1fm7TmSZKx8I9tKzfufggj7iTgcHkr2tIfdwbMS3EwkynZlr3rPw/s1600-h/DSC_0019a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTdh9B0pBL2NUZfz_38-QS5xxaGP_sMepu8muyHVLrYRhUUkz5JmkVAsRBAcrmHXDNjDRYP7bkII2_srfsp1fm7TmSZKx8I9tKzfufggj7iTgcHkr2tIfdwbMS3EwkynZlr3rPw/s400/DSC_0019a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366473992422705842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.littlehouseonthetundra.com/">Somebody's</a> getting something special in the mail.....<br /><br />Have you guys been checking out <a href="http://www.littlehouseonthetundra.com/">Libby's adventures in the Alaskan Wilderness</a>?<br /><br />I thought this housewarming gift appropriate.<br /><br />When I saw the fabric, I knew it was the one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI5vMu7ZIF3lpzu71B9cmBQG7s60BCKbdNhIoWX7xIQie4ausghOKc5Dfq2jpFhbR1KxdpH9kJllTqLnP2ZlPgFVAB8kIwqXZfSMSb49OxcjATrGdWX27LLWtbbRd0L_K5rJxOQ/s1600-h/DSC_0013a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyI5vMu7ZIF3lpzu71B9cmBQG7s60BCKbdNhIoWX7xIQie4ausghOKc5Dfq2jpFhbR1KxdpH9kJllTqLnP2ZlPgFVAB8kIwqXZfSMSb49OxcjATrGdWX27LLWtbbRd0L_K5rJxOQ/s400/DSC_0013a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364275267554405426" border="0" /></a><br />It's discovery channel meets Anthropologie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKRgHLHPKAbk9exLjNK1lujw5zDyjMxLyJnQ-mdJvmQKlBVCIZzXt5Eyi0Zk8x5Zop77jNnF6mk6Ddxdw7D_4En1nlPovHV7lc-hOmnwN4LNIkOBTtH_Z3Bbnqfq1VrXy8vgVVQ/s1600-h/DSC_0012a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKRgHLHPKAbk9exLjNK1lujw5zDyjMxLyJnQ-mdJvmQKlBVCIZzXt5Eyi0Zk8x5Zop77jNnF6mk6Ddxdw7D_4En1nlPovHV7lc-hOmnwN4LNIkOBTtH_Z3Bbnqfq1VrXy8vgVVQ/s400/DSC_0012a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364275263740543970" border="0" /></a><br />I was considering making a video tutorial -- how to make Libby's Housewarming Gift in 85 simple 5 minute snatches of time. hehe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJn_D-VE29jZ44VqOYDRPjCqcvyT7vyy7MZXkpisSt_Z_CbfD6bVSD3gAhubVCr5ppx3HPWYjJKMRuG69o41zJKUZlhQumIH_TsoP50GJq0n_zZtqpXYpU4UPqweJeu_2KgjA4g/s1600-h/DSC_0010a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJn_D-VE29jZ44VqOYDRPjCqcvyT7vyy7MZXkpisSt_Z_CbfD6bVSD3gAhubVCr5ppx3HPWYjJKMRuG69o41zJKUZlhQumIH_TsoP50GJq0n_zZtqpXYpU4UPqweJeu_2KgjA4g/s400/DSC_0010a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364275259858870802" border="0" /></a><br />But I finally got them done and they turned out so lovely. Much better than <a href="http://asseenthroughtheeyesof.blogspot.com/2007/04/my-first-sewing-project.html">my first attempt</a> at this project.<br /><br />Can't wait to see pics of your new home girl. You have such exquisite taste. I know it's going to rock.Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17103373366727257334noreply@blogger.com6