Pumpkin Carving 2008

So, just like my picture in the last post, the wife seems to be the one to start this activity. Here, Lyndsay is starting the carving and emptying out of the pumpkin while Kyle and Bella oversee. I don't know if Bella is worried that Mommy might hurt herself, or afraid that the pumpkin will cry out in pain. Still, she was having nothing to do with the preparation of the Jack-O-Lantern.

Once it was finished, though, she didn't mind touching it. She's checking out the delicately carved eye hole here. Kyle designed the Jack-O-Lantern. Quite the artist, huh? Compare that to the one Kathie designed in the previous post.

Finally, we got the end result out front. Kendall would rather watch her sister than look at a cut-open vegetable sitting on the ground.

Crawl Before You Walk

Well, that seems to be true. At last, Kendall has started crawling. I will see the proof myself this weekend. And I have pictures from last weekend that I have not posted yet of Kyle and I carving a Jack-O-Lantern. Bella didn't like it. Kyle and Ali used to love it when they were younger. In fact, here is a photo of Kathie, Alison, and Kyle carving a pumpkin in 1985 (I think).


I apologize for my delay in posting this week. I just did not get around to it. Between Survivor, newspapers, not getting home until around 6pm, I just did not think of it. Thanks to those of you who are keeping up with yours. What can I say. It was a week of crawling instead of walking or running, but it is the weekend. Yeah!

I felt like playing with Photoshop tonight, so I played with this photo from Ouray a few years ago. One of these days, I'll get some of these printed and hang them. But not tonight. Oh no, not tonight. I'm still crawling in Photoshop before I can run.

It's Hot as Hell in Philadelphia

Someone ought to open up a window. (At least, that's what they said in 1776)

OK, you're right. On the whole, I'd rather NOT be in Philadelphia, and it's not really that hot here anymore. However, since our A/C went out, it is certainly hotter inside than it is outside. The A/C dude cannot get to the company for a warranty fix until Monday. The blower motor bearings went out.

So, we are vacationing at DEW Spa and Resort in south Tempe, AZ. A nice, large 3 bedroom, 3-1/2 bath place, with a large backyard and pool. It is 63 degrees right now. Lovely. And so far, they have not asked us to pay a cent. Cool, huh?

Here's a shot of a place all you people that have lived in or visited London will know. Yes, Westminster Abbey. The largely unknown place mentioned in the very famous song, England Swings (Like a Pendulum Do).

We're going to try for the early service today, so I'll let you go. Have a great Sunday.

Daughter-in-law After My Own Heart

Kathie and the granddaughters and family are back from their quick trip over to the "D" (Disneyland, of course). They had a good time, but no hot water in the hotel. Anyway, I heard Lyndsay took some 300 pictures during the 48 hours they were there. All Right!! Unfortunately, I don't have any of them to post today, so I played with one of my own.

A few years ago (11/12/2005 10:44am), as we were entering Zion National Park in Southern Utah, I lucked up on this shot while still on the entry road. At work, there is one of Ansel Adam's photos (Tetons and Snake River, shown below) that made me think I wanted to play with this one. OK, fine, I am no Ansel Adams, but I like my shots for a little 3MP digital camera. However, even in this reduced size, you can see there is still a gap between the clarity of a 4x5 camera and a little digital one. Speaking of which, I recently read that there is now only one lab in the world still developing this 4x5 size film. Well, I will stay digital now.

Dancing Around the Room

Here's a cute little dancer. Well, OK, she can't actually dance yet....or walk yet....or crawl yet. Still, doesn't it look like she is dancing?

Maybe it is because she heard my test results from the camera down the throat. I know I am dancing because of the results. I went to an ear, nose, throat dude this afternoon. It seems my gag reflex let him put a camera down my throat instead of through my nose. No polyps, nodules, cancer, lesions. Nothing serious, Praise the Lord. There is inflammation. He thinks it is due to gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)during the night. Not enough to wake me, but enough to irritate my vocal cords. So, no singing, minimal talking for the rest of the week, no caffeine, no eating 3-4 hours before bedtime, and take Prilosec for 2-4 weeks. Whew! I think I was quiet for a day back in the 60s, but since then....

Danged Stump and Danged Cute

Well, ole Stumpy hasn't made an appearance in a while. I cannot say what happened to him, but I did find some of his followers up in Prescott. I guess you CAN pray anywhere.


They probably got there on this bus. Sure, the driver does seem a little young, but it seems like everybody looks young to me now. When did that start happening?


Speaking of looking young, this fairy godmother looks even younger than the bus driver. She is apparently offering a wish to someone seated beside her.


Oh yeah, I signed some papers, including W-4 Withholding, so I am certain I actually am a full-time employee now. Thank you, God! I am looking outside, but there is no dang stump. I guess I'll have to pray somewhere else.