The Ziejewski Family

CJ Turns 14

2012-01-14T11:51:00.000-05:00

On the morning of CJ's birthday he found presents and 'cake' awaiting him.
He was very curious about the silver one, wondering why his parents would be giving him some kind of spirits. He turned to me and said 'I don't think I can concentrate through the exam today unless I know what is in that bottle holder'.

So, not wanting to be the cause of 'concentration issues' he opened the mysterious container to find no adult beverages...really CJ?! Instead he found a gift card that would help him in his quest to build the spaceship of his dreams.

After a yummy dinner, Bourbon Chicken as per the birthday boy's request, it was time for cake and presents.

He was very pleased with every aspect of his birthday (minus the Algebra exam) and even managed to have cake for breakfast the next day.

Rock House & Old Man's Cave

2011-12-26T14:41:00.000-05:00

Since the weather was warm, for December, and sunny we decided to take a trip to Hocking Hills.
It was interesting seeing the caves in a different season.

Steve and CJ

A family portrait.

Hey, that kid looks like ours.

The Sphynx Rock

Christmas Morning

2011-12-25T17:15:00.000-05:00

After getting caught twice sneaking downstairs, first at 11:30 and then at 3:30, it was finally Christmas morning.

As usual the adults had to have their coffee before present opening could begin. And maybe a little breakfast too! Poor CJ. Notice that it is still dark outside.

Dakota gives MaryKate a Christmas gift.

Finally!!!
And a glimpse of light outside.

Mark gets some help opening presents from the dogs.
Look at the beautiful sunrise!

MaryKate got lots of tools to help with her renovation projects.

Is it food?

Video game excitement.

It was a Flyers Christmas. Steve got a jersey, hoodie, t-shirt and license plate holder. I got a Winter Classic blanket and Old Time Hockey Flyers sweatshirt and hat.

Mark now has his own NCIS hat.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T22:56:00.000-05:00

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to watch A Christmas Story. This year we shared that tradition with MaryKate, Mark and the dogs. MaryKate didn't understand why we enjoy the movie and went to bed. The rest of us enjoyed the 24 hours of our favorite Christmas movie!

A Warm and Rainy December

2011-12-22T13:35:00.000-05:00

It is our first day of winter break and we should be packing the truck and heading to Wisp to have a relaxing ski vacation before Christmas. Unfortunately everytime it cools down enough to make snow it then warms back up and rains.

Today it rained a mere .36 inches. That was enough to set a record for annual precipitation. And, the year isn't over yet.

According to the World Weather Post - The yearly rainfall total for Columbus now stands at 53.55 inches, surpassing the previous wettest year of 1990 and its 53.16 inches.

The Hunt for the Perfect Tree

2011-12-17T13:12:00.000-05:00

December 17th is the latest we have ever gone Christmas tree hunting. But between the never ending rain and other commitments that was our first available weekend.
The weather was chilly with a bit of wet snow falling.
It was a bit weird to having to dodge the mud puddles while walking through the snow.

We walked up and down the rows while Tucker explored every inch of the farm.

Finally we had it narrowed down to two trees.

This one was deemed 'the perfect tree'.

Can you see the mud caked into the soles of CJ's boots?

Tucker had to have a 'tubbie' when we got home. He had mud packed in between his toes and pretty much every where else.

Steve worked on the lights and CJ placed the tree skirt.

Then we all hung the ornaments.

England May Have Stonehenge...

2011-12-10T12:46:00.000-05:00

Central Ohio has a field of concrete corn.
It's called art.

CJ and Richard pose with the corn.

Richard is a coworker of Steve's, based somewhere near London. He has been to our house a number of times and Steve has met & toured London with Richard and his family. Richard came to dinner Friday night and then we spent Saturday searching out the perfect Christmas gifts for his family. Richard did the searching, we just helped him spend his money! On the way back from Abercrombie we stopped to show Richard the cornfield.
Unlike Stonehenge we know exactly what our corn field is used for...making tourist shake their heads in disbelief.

Homemade Breakfast

2011-12-05T12:27:00.000-05:00

It all started with the granola. Many of you have tasted it and declared it 'the best granola ever'. I think so to but it is nice to hear it from others.
Then, I came to be the owner of a big tub of cherries. So I made cherry butter. Don't know if it really classifies as a butter but it certainly isn't jelly or jam. What it is is yummy.
Then I ran across a recipe for crock pot yogurt and decided to give it a try. The first batch was yummy although a little thin. The second batch I picked up organic milk and didn't notice that it was ultra-pasteurized, it was okay but not quite right. For the third batch I strained off the whey. After the straining I had on jar of whey and one jar of yogurt. The yogurt still wasn't a thick as in the store but it is yummy. I feel guilty about straining off all that whey just to get a thicker consistency so for now I have been drinking a little bit of it each morning just before eating my homemade breakfast.

A Trip to Philly

2011-12-01T08:50:00.000-05:00

We left early, as usual, Tucker, CJ and I loaded our stuff and ourselves into the truck and headed east. No we did not leave Steve at home. He spent the previous day working in Pittsburgh so our first stop was to pick him up at his hotel. After lots of loving from Tucker we were once again on the road. I was amazed at how well the truck did on the highway, and how comfortable it was the entire trip.

We visited with Mark & MaryKate and the dogs.
CJ didn't go back to PopPop's house with us.
He opted for a fun filled night with M & MK.

Mark really liked CJ's NCIS hat.

While Steve helped with renovations to MK's kitchen CJ & I went to visit Bunny.

Presents were piled around the tree.

Bunny started with her donut from 7-11.

Bunny and I posing with her new ice/snow scraper. It should be long enough to clean off the entire width of the car.

Testing out the new binoculars.

CJ was thrilled with his gift from Bunny. It was the final book of the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini. It was about 3.5 years between books.

He spent quite a bit of the rest of the visit and the trip home reading it.
The book was worth every bit of the wait.

After our visit and present opening, we picked up Swati and headed over to the Morris Arboretum. It was a beautiful day and lots of other people were there too. Even saw someone in a OSU sweatshirt.

They have this giant structure, tree house, that includes a human size robin's nest, complete with eggs that need someone to sit on them, to incubate them of course.

.
CJ & Aunt Swati

I was the biggest kid playing on the ropes.

Ahhh...sunshine.

CJ and Bunny listening to the sounds of the creatures living in the woods.

The main attraction was the Christmas Railway!

We then met up with Dan who had been working on erecting new fencing in the Wissahickon.

We ate at a little deli/restaurant in the park. The sandwiches were yummy and they had small bags of sweet potato chips the were mmm,mmm, good. Wish we had them in C-bus.

For those of you who are skeptical about bamboo being a sustainable wood source. The tall green trees are bamboo. There are pockets of bamboo just like this all through out this area of Philly. Plant one stalk, get a wall of bamboo in no time at all.

On Saturday, Dan lead CJ and I through the park on one of the newly created trails (while Swati went for a run). This area had been a meadow and then was overrun by non native plants and trees. The Friends of the Wissahickon have worked hard to turn it back into a meadow.

The rock bench CJ & Dan are sitting on was placed there by Dan (and some helpers) as a place for weary hikers to rest. These two weren't weary, just getting out of the way of a couple of mountain bikers.

The stroll through the meadow was enjoyable. We made many stops to look at the rocks; quartz, mica, schist with garnets, and even an interesting mushroom.

From here we could look down and see the creek, Forbidden Drive and the covered bridge.

After a quick stop at PopPop's we were off to MK & M's house to see how the renovations were coming. Here you see CJ on guard duty. His job was to keep the dogs out of the mess of the kitchen.

He's doing an impressive job, don't you think!!!

Such a Face

2011-11-23T08:17:00.000-05:00

This is the face of a dog who is excited to be included.
This is the face of a dog who doesn't mind a long trip in the car.
This is the face of a dog who really wants to be in the front seat.
This is the face of a dog who thinks he deserves a treat.

Friday Night Live

2011-11-19T19:32:00.000-05:00

The high school marching band season doesn't end with the end of the football season. They put together an indoor show that has the kids performing in the aisles as well as on the stage. While this may be necessary because it is a large band, it also makes for a performance that the audience feels a part of.
As in past years, the high school director invited the 7th & 8th graders from both middle schools to be a part of the performance.
By working in the concession stand on the first night of the performance, I was able to watch most of the show and to scope out where in the aisles CJ would be performing. We were able to get seats that were just perfect!
The kids were amazing. They sounded great, the looked great and they had a great time performing.

Steve's Flannel Quilt

2011-11-15T08:31:00.000-05:00

Is finally finished. Just in time for the arrival of cold weather.

Everyone Loves a Frosty

2011-11-12T10:11:00.000-05:00

With so few kids trick or treating this year we ended up with lots of coupons for free junior frostys.
CJ, Tucker and I enjoyed our 'after band practice' treats.

Sunrise

2011-11-12T10:07:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful way to begin a day.

A Watchful Eye

2011-11-12T10:04:00.000-05:00

Trying to decide if the croc is friend or foe.

Ahhh Tucker...

2011-11-12T09:44:00.000-05:00

First lets start with -The bed was made that morning. Quite often I come home to an unmade bed and wonder why. One morning I found out, Tucker scoots the covers out of his way, he prefers to sleep on the sheets!
When I first looked in on the sleeping critters Tucker was laying with his feet in the other direction. When he rolled over this is what it looked like. He really has know idea how big he is or where his feet are.

Dickens wasn't quite sure what to make of the sleeping arrangements.

Especially when the big paw ended up wrapped around him!

IELA Project

2011-11-06T14:26:00.001-05:00

The first big project of the school year was in IELA. The students had to pick a topic that involed an American military conflict. CJ chose to write about how Russian tanks helped the Allies win WWII. The report was to be hand written on an 11x17(approx) sheet of paper folded in thirds like a brochure. Pictures were also required. When he was done with the rough draft he had 5 notebook pages filled with his story. Knowing that it would never fit, he called his friend Carol to help condense his masterpiece. It was fascinating listening to Carol ask questions that would get CJ thinking and therefore condensing. It was also fun to listen to CJ and Carol interact. It gave me a glimpse of the CJ that everyone tells me about. CJ turned in the condensed version and I will keep the novella version in his 8th grade memory box.

Halloween

2011-10-31T13:33:00.000-04:00

The Halloween goblins were on our side this year as the rain ended just in time for trick-or-treat to begin.
We had to buy firewood this year since ours was/is so waterlogged. We found that sitting in front of a paid for fire was just as good as a free fire. The neighbors once again joined us around the fire while we waited to hand out candy. This year most of the area celebrated on Halloween so it was a slow evening which was just fine for us. CJ opted to stay home this year so having leftover candy was not a problem!

Steve

Mary

What do boys do when they no longer go out for Halloween?
Target practice, of course!

DC Souvenirs

2011-10-30T13:20:00.000-04:00

NCIS attire, plane, bomb shelter, astronaut ice cream.
The older he gets the more he remains the same.

The 8th Grade Goes to DC

2011-10-30T13:09:00.005-04:00

The 8th grade trip to DC is something of a right of passage for middleschoolers in Central Ohio. The buses left at 6am Monday morning and returned just before 10pm Friday night. In between the kids learned much more than the probably realize. Not only did they learn of the history of our great country but they learned a lot about themselves during the week without parents.

These are just a few of CJ's pictures from the trip.

And So Begins 8th Grade

2011-08-24T08:59:00.003-04:00

The beginning of school this year was the beginning of CJ's year of Big Man on Campus. He and his fellow 8th graders began their day by grabbing those most coveted seats in the back of the bus.

This year they will be ending their day with advisory and academic assist rather than beginning it that way. I think this will be a good change for CJ.

Another sign of a good year to come is that according to CJ he has 'the best teachers' for his 8th grade team.

For the first time since he began school we do not have a first day of school picture. It was yet another rainy day (yep, just like the last day of 7th grade). The good news is that the school pictures this year came with a cd and a release to be able to use the picture any way I want! So here it is.

A Lovely Day to Sit Outside...

2011-08-17T12:35:00.002-04:00

Cello lessons at Otterbein have been a great time for me to sit and enjoy the sun and do some reading.

When CJ's lesson was over he joined me on my blanket. We enjoyed a picnic dinner and watched the clouds go by.

We watched this cloud move across the sky and wondered if it would end our picnic. It did, but we did have enough time to finish dinner first.

We drove home in the rain with full bellies and pictures of cloud animals in our heads.

Yike - Skunks

2011-08-15T12:00:00.002-04:00

This summer has been a very smelly summer. Just about every dog in the neighborhood has been sprayed, a few more than once.
Tucker was no exception.
One beautiful summer evening we were at our neighbors enjoying a lovely bonfire and roasting marshmallows. There was the sound of animals in the nearby pine trees that we wrongly assumed was raccoons. Tucker took off and ran head first into a momma skunk. I have never seen a group of people scatter so quickly. Tucker and Steve headed for our backyard, I headed for the odor removal ingredients and CJ ran inside away from the smell. Tucker got bathed twice with the hydrogen peroxide solution and was fairly stink free by bedtime. His leather collar didn't fare quite as well. Here it is soaking in the solution, after a while we gave up and bought a new collar.

Jersey Tomatoes

2011-08-08T11:51:00.000-04:00

On the way home from vacation we stopped at a roadside farmers market for some Jersey tomatoes. It didn't matter that we were in Delaware, they were still Jersey tomatoes.
A Jersey tomato is unlike any other tomato I have tasted and makes my mouth water just thinking about them. I thought about how to make the most of my 3 lovely tomatoes and decided on a tomato sandwich to get the full effect of the luscious flavor. So off to the store I went for some squishy white bread (although I did buy the one with a bit of whole grain). That afternoon's lunch was simply yummy. Something that will keep me in happy thoughts this winter.

Vacation in Ocean City, MD

2011-08-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

Summer Vacation 2011 found us back at one of our favorite spots - Ocean City, Maryland.
Do I look happy? Do I look ready to relax?
Yur' darn tooting I do!

This year logged a ton of beach time under the shade of our new umbrella. It was a great year for sun worshipping and doing nothing. Newspapers and books got read cover to cover, naps, Frisbee and football catches rounded out most of our days.

It wasn't more than an hour or two of arrival that the first hole to China was constructed. The boys got pretty far until the tide got the better of them. China is a little damper now.

CJ's picture reflects the epitome of vacation this year - plenty of relaxation. The chilly and rough water had something to do with it - it was funny to see a majority of the people standing on the edge of the water, about ankle deep, but not going in. There were a few brave (or stubborn) people like Steve who got in - I heard it was refreshing - Hah!

This picture shows how rough the surf was for a majority of the week. The shallow parts were very rough - lots brush burns from people getting thrown down. The waves were tall and powerful - tough to get over. And did I already mention that it was COLD!

The (not so) little boy mentioned that he wanted to be a mechanical designer for La-Z-Boy...he just might have a future after all.

Ah.... the Dogfish Head Brewery in Rehobeth Beach! Great beer (the 90 minute IPA is highly, highly recommended), great food and awesome Ginger Ale according to CJ. It was about an hour from Ocean City, but definitely worth the trip. We'll probably make it a stop on our next trip.

It wouldn't be a complete summer without a few battle field re-creations: Gettysburg, Normandy and others. It was nice to know that CJ didn't forget all of what he learned this past year.

It was a great year for hanging out with each other. In this spot we were waiting to get into a very cool, (literally and figuratively) family owned Italian Restaurant on the boardwalk. The closeness was short lived however, CJ ate the linguine with a garlic clam sauce. Thank goodness it was a breezy week.

"I am bronze!"...can't you tell?

Bourbon Tasting 2011

2011-07-31T11:18:00.000-04:00

After dropping CJ off at camp Steve and I headed to Kentucky for a quick bourbon tasting tour. Our first stop on that blazing hot July day was Buffalo Trace. We opted for the 'hard hat' tour that took us right through the factory. We saw the whole process and enjoyed the learning process even with the withering heat.
The tasting room was nice and cool and there we enjoyed the different bourbons that Buffalo Trace offers. They even distill a vodka called rain that was quite good, if you like that sort of thing. In the gift shop we bought a bottle of bourbon and some souvenirs.

We then headed to Woodford Reserve were we had a more reserved tour. There was an air of snootiness to Woodford Reserve that was reflected in the taste of the bourbon. The old limestone buildings were both cool looking and cool feeling. They have a spring fed water fountain that was quite refreshing. We were able to walk right up to the fermentation tanks and watch the process in action which was very neat.

After our tour we headed to my cousin Tim's house. He graciously invited us to spend the night and to dine with him. He is quite the cook and I don't foresee me ever turning down one of his meals. The salad was yummy with homemade dressing, dinner was an amazing chicken and dumplings and even though I was full I 'forced' myself to eat dessert which was yummy.
The next morning Tim joined us for a tour of Four Roses and Wild Turkey before heading out to spend the day kayaking on the Kentucky River.

At Four Roses we purchased a bottle so that we could compare it with Buffalo Trace.

Wild Turkey had quite the tour complete with an air conditioned bus. We did not care for the less than mild taste of Wild Turkey and left the facility empty handed.

We enjoyed the tours of both facilities but found that bourbon tasting should be reserved for the afternoon or evening!

While Tim headed to the river we headed north to listen to an amazing performance from the Olentangy campers and to pick up our favorite 'college' student.

Several weeks later ,after recovering from morning bourbon tasting, it was determined that our favorite so far is Buffalo Trace, with a combination of Red Stag and Jim Beam a close second.

Orchestra Camp

2011-07-31T10:49:00.003-04:00

This summer CJ went to Orchestra Camp at Otterbein University.
Each morning I dropped him off at Otterbein. When I picked him up in the afternoons his smile was huge. He spent his days learning new music, playing camp games and eating in the student cafe. On Thursday morning Steve and I dropped him off with an overnight bag. He spent the night in one of the dorms like a real college student. We picked him up on Friday after listening to a wonderful performance that spotlighted their learning.
He loved every minute of camp and is planning to spend the whole week sleeping in the dorm next year!

Hot and Sticky

2011-07-20T15:51:00.001-04:00

July has been hot and sticky. East Coast sticky. Yucky not at all like Columbus sticky.

This morning all of our back windows looked like this.

And you thought I was exaggerating!!!

Visiting Aunt Nancy & Uncle Dick

2011-07-16T15:12:00.005-04:00

CJ and I took a road trip to visit Aunt Nancy & Uncle Dick. On Wednesday morning we hopped in the car and headed east to Central Pennsylvania. About 5 hours into the trip we got off the turnpike and then made our way through the windy mountain roads. The roads were narrow, steep and lined with lots of trees, it was a fun drive! We turned on their 'road' and continued our journey up and to their wonderful home nestled into the mountainside.

Thursday was spent exploring Raystown Lake by boat. CJ gave water skiing a try but decided against it. I manged to get up on the skis once but it wasn't pretty. What was pretty was the lake and the day.We had beautiful weather with sunshine and a few puffy clouds. After some exploring we enjoyed a picnic lunch on shore and then swam in the lake.

On Friday we spent the day at the pool. CJ and I went off the diving boards and raced each other to the far end of the pool. CJ and Nancy spent time floating and talking. It was another beautiful and peaceful day.

Our evenings were spent on the porch enjoying the cool air and each other's company. After dinner all the competition began. Nancy taught us how to play Canasta. Each night we got a little better, not good enough for Nancy to worry about losing, but better. We will have to practice a lot before we go back.

Hocking Hills, zip lining

2011-06-29T13:04:00.001-04:00

10 zip lines + 5 rope bridges + 1 rappel to ground level + 2 fun guides = 3 hours of fun at Hocking Hills Canopy Tours.

After a bit of training on a short line just above the ground we went off to our adventure.

Our guides were kind, informative and lots of fun. We learned a bit about the history of the area, the river was named Hockhocking by the Delaware Indians because of it's shape and about the beavers and how long it takes them to chop down a really big tree, 2 weeks. We also learned that screaming is recommended, kind of like when you are on a roller coaster.

We zipped from platform to platform, crossed adventure sky bridges, and had fun. Not being an adrenaline junkie I was concerned that I might not have fun. There was no need to be worried, zip lining is a blast, I smiled the entire time!

The Z's, Urban's and our guides, Chris & Jared.

Thanks for a great day!

Hocking Hills, caves

2011-06-29T11:58:00.001-04:00

This was our second trip to the caves of Hocking Hills. The rock formations were no less awe inspiring this time as they were before. Our trip this time took us to Old Man's Cave and Rock House. I will let the pictures tell the story.

Old Man's Cave

Rock House

Hocking Hills, the cabin

2011-06-29T09:53:00.002-04:00

We took the scenic route to the cabin which ensured our belief that we were in the middle of nowhere. Little did we know that we would be staying in a cabin that had just about every modern device one would need in the 'middle of nowhere'. It had running water in the creek, sinks, shower and hot tub! It had a place to cook in the fire pit, stove, oven and microwave. It had a place to sleep, charge your iPod and to watch TV. And, because the cell service was non-existent it had free phone with long distance.

We hung on the front porch for cocktail hour and then moved out back for outdoor dining and s'mores making.

The boys had to work extra hard at their fire making skills since it had rained a lot the week leading up to our stay. We thought the cardboard box we had brought supplies in would help but it soon was damp from all the residual wetness in the air.

After a great night's sleep we were awakened by nature. A crow was standing on the window air conditioner, cawing loudly, pecking at the window and looking as if he wanted to see if the boy sleeping on the sofa was his breakfast. After a bit of giggling we went back to sleep with the hopes that the crow did not know how to turn a doorknob.

The following night nature was noisy again. We had a thunderstorm that sent us inside just after s'mores makings. After the thunder passed we noticed just how loud rain can be on a tin roof! In the morning it was no longer raining but the water dripping off the trees was just as loud when it hit the roof and a bit more startling since it was unexpected.

Father's Day

2011-06-20T20:25:00.000-04:00

For Father's Day Steve got to
1. play hockey
2. wash & vacuum his car
3. shower
4. take a nap - finally something he doesn't normally get to do.
5. eat zesty garden crab bake
6. open presents.
Okay, so 1,2 and 3 are pretty lame as they are an every Sunday thing.
Hopefully 4, 5 and 6 made up for it.

I forgot to take a picture before we dove into all that yummy crab and veggie goodness. It was just too good to leave unattended for long!

Ralphie's House

2011-06-20T20:12:00.000-04:00

For many years now our Christmas Eve tradition is to watch "A Christmas Story". We used to watch our VCR tape but have recently been spoiled by the 24 hour round the clock showing on TBS. The house that Ralphie 'lived' in is in Cleveland. The house has been restored back to the way it looked in the movie, there is a gift shop and a museum across the street. You can tour the inside of the house although we opted not to.

We did 'ooh' and 'aah' all through the museum. There were movie posters, set pictures, a leg lamp, and costumes. Just about everything was there, including an explanation of Randy and his snowsuit, and how Flick's tongue stayed on the flagpole.

Someday I would like to have a front window that would be conducive to hosting a leg lamp at Christmastime! In the meantime I may have to settle for miniature leg lamp lights for the Christmas tree!

This is a car similar to the one in the 'Oh Fudge' scene. And yes, you could purchase Lifebuoy soap at the gift shop.

Duct Tape Festival

2011-06-20T17:12:00.041-04:00

Duck brand duct tape is located near Cleveland. For the past several years they have hosted a duct tape festival. It starts with a parade and finishes with a little carnival.

A flower encrusted wedding gown with a school colors tux for the groom.

A school bus made on an ATV and 2x4 body.

A Georgia Bulldog portrait made from little pieces of duct tape.

Who needs wood, stain and varnish when you can make your alley (and pins and bowling balls) from duct tape?

At the craft booth we all gave wallet making a try. Creating with duct tape requires patience, a steady hand and lots of scissor cleaning as duct tape is very sticky!

What do you think of our masterpieces?

Too Many Tortillas

2011-06-15T15:06:00.000-04:00

We had a lot of tortillas in the fridge. We had no hamburger for tacos and I had had my fill of egg burritos so we turned them into snacks. CJ's are savory with parmesan cheese and garlic powder and mine are sweet with cinnamon sugar. They are both yummy, although I like CJ's better. I suspect that before too long there will be none left!

Furmination

2011-06-12T14:53:00.015-04:00

The weather is no longer scorching hot. We have had beautifully cool nights and days in the high 70's. Spring weather has finally come to central Ohio.
It isn't really fleece weather, CJ had just returned from the hockey rink when he was tasked with helping a friend Furminate Tucker, Pia and Jett.
The area birds love it when the pets get brushed.

In Honor of Les Paul

2011-06-10T14:01:00.005-04:00

On Les Paul's birthday the Google doodle was a guitar. Not just a picture of a guitar but one that could be played when you ran the mouse over the strings. Try it out here.
CJ was enjoying the doodle enough to dig out our guitar and play it.
He picks at it just about everyday and is no longer asking for piano lessons!

7th Grade is Over!!!

2011-06-07T15:48:00.014-04:00

And CJ is thrilled!
If you are wondering why he looks a little damp it is because he is!
Last year the elementary kids bombed he and Hunter with water balloons as they got off the bus. This year it was Mother Nature's doing. Just as they were leaving school the rain began. Big, really big, raindrops came pounding to the ground. Then it started to rain harder and for a couple of minutes we had golf ball size hail.
Quite a finish to the year!!

Final 7th Grade Orchestra Concert

2011-06-04T14:24:00.000-04:00

This year's final concert was on a Wednesday. We had to be at school by 6:30p for cello tuning but first, I had a 2pm meeting and CJ had a 4:30 clarinet lesson. Somewhere in there we had to fit in dinner and a change of clothes. While this was doable I was wishing for a quieter start for the concert. That is until I re-read last year's entry for the year end concert. 6th grade final orchestra concert

This year was easy.

The concert was another fabulous success. The director is amazing and it shows with the way the kids perform. Thank you Mrs. Cornett for all your hard work!

Roses from Carol

2011-06-04T13:24:00.000-04:00

On that very hot Tuesday this week Carol, my friend and neighbor, spent her vacation day outside working on the yard. By the time I saw her at 4:00 she was done and her yard looked awesome! We had a great talk and I went home with two of her beautiful roses. I love how the pink fades into the yellow.

Thank you Carol for being my neighbor.

A Glorious Week

2011-06-04T13:20:00.000-04:00

The weather here has been glorious. Memorial Day weekend was perfect for all the pool goers out there. We had 2 of the 3 days in the nineties. Monday night we finally gave in and turned the air conditioner on. It was a good call since Tuesday brought the hottest with temps going to 93 and 'east coast' humidity. The kids coming in from recess looked like they might just melt! Fortunately it did finally cool down, the air was turned off and the window are back open. We are enjoying normal weather for early June.

On Friday CJ had is cello lesson outside.

This morning, the boys headed off early for some fun on the atv and dirt bike. CJ was glad to be away from the house and homework. Last weekend was spent on math review and social studies year end project. The final is done and he is awaiting the grade. The history based amusement park is almost done, just awaiting the final touches to the map and then the work for 7th grade will be done! Just 2 more days of school!!!

Ahhh...

2011-05-28T19:04:00.000-04:00

The rose bush is very happy this year!

On NPR this morning the announcer told the listeners that there was no rain in the forecast for the next 3 days!!!

Today was glorious and tonight should be perfect sleeping weather.

Tomorrow will be warmer and Monday even warmer.

Yea!!!

Wild Weather Week

2011-05-27T23:08:00.000-04:00

This week's weather brought more rain. Each time it rained I reminded myself that it could be worse. And then I got sad not just because it was raining again, but because our rain would end up in the Mississippi River.

We also had two nights of tornado warnings and watches and after the disaster in Joplin I took them seriously.

The first night the storm was fierce but quick. It blew through in less than an hour. CJ and I kept ourselves busy by gathering the storm/camping supplies and bringing them to the basement. By the time we had finished the threat had passed and so had my anxiety.

The second night of tornado warnings was a longer affair. About 5pm the warning was issued. By 10pm the warning was extended to 5am! The storms that night weren't as severe but did last all night. And yes, we sent even more water into the Mississippi. UGH.

Then Thursday evening the skies got dark and the rains and winds started. The rain came down sideways. The winds blew so hard that the rain came in the front door which is under a 8 foot deep porch roof! Fortunately it was over fairly quickly and the house and neighborhood fared rather well.

It is now Friday and no rain. The weekend is supposed to be nice just like last weekend. Maybe this will be the summer of glorious weekends. It sure is starting out that way. If so you know where to find me.

A Not So Subtle Hint

2011-05-27T22:33:00.002-04:00

Sometime this winter our Verizon Internet and phone got bought by/sold to Frontier. Since then our Internet has been slow. Slow as in sloth like. Do you remember the dial up modems of the 80's? Not quite that slow but...
Then Directv annoyed us by first raising the rate of our package, then by adding a new charge and finally for bugging us to get new 'free' services.

We discussed maybe moving to cable TV and Internet.

CJ thought the change would be a good idea. He also thought we weren't moving fast enough in making the change. One morning I wandered the house to find these notes on just about everything.

The good news is that we finally did call and when all is installed we will have better internet and tv for less money. Well, less money for the first year, after that who knows. The savings will pay a car payment or gas for me for 4 months or for the increase in the cable bill for year 2.
WooHoo!!!

The End of Moochie

2011-05-25T22:21:00.000-04:00

Gutted and beheaded.

Poor Moochie.

Or, more correctly poor Tucker.

Whatever will he do without his Moochie?

A Glorius Weekend

2011-05-23T21:52:00.002-04:00

Friday was glorious, blue skies, fluffy clouds and that beautiful glowing orb, the sun!!!

When CJ's cello teacher called to say his lesson was cancelled I was thrilled to be able to go home and sit on the porch with the sun on my face.

This is the porch.This is where you can find me when the weather is nice. Come visit, my neighbors and I like to see just how many people and dogs we can fit on the porch!

I did spend a bit of time just off the porch this weekend. I moved about 10 feed into the front yard. The yard is was once again covered in Bradford pear seedlings so I spent a lot of time pulling up baby Bradford pears. At one point my neighbor Amy was sitting on the front lawn helping me weed the lawn. I love my neighbors!

After hockey on Sunday Steve pulled out the chipper and discovered that it hadn't fared this winter as well as other winters. Maybe it was the horrendously wet spring that did it in and not the winter.

Here he is working on it with a little help from a friend.

Sunday evening while visiting with friends it started to rain. Thankfully it was a warm summer evening with a nice quiet rainstorm and we were able to stay on the porch and enjoy the sounds and smells of summer rain.

We even got to enjoy a beautiful rainbow, with our neighbor's house being the pot of gold at the end!

More rain is in the forecast for the coming week.

A Very Wet Spring

2011-05-17T09:21:00.001-04:00

A wet spring is nothing unusual for Central Ohio. Usually we cut the grass twice a week until the end of May. This year it is hard to find a day that is dry enough to cut the grass. Not only that except for last week the temperatures have not been warm.

One local weatherman says this is the wettest and coolest spring he has had in all his years of forecasting in Columbus. He tells us that we will have about 1.5 days of sun each week for the next 3 weeks. Makes me really thankful that I spent so much time outside last week!

Unfortunately for CJ and the rest of the 7th grade it is raining today and the temps will be in the 40's most of the day. Today is their science field trip to the zoo.

The rain will eventually stop and the sun will come out again, but until then forgive me if when I am cranky as I miss the sun very much!

A Wonderful Week

2011-05-15T15:50:00.006-04:00

This picture was taken on May 10th, it was a dark and rainy day. The woods still looked a little sparse. That made for great viewing of the beloved Dogwood tree.

This picture was taken May 15th. The days in between were warm and sunny. The trees filled in and the dogwood while still blooming is a little harder to see.

Each day after school the kids came outside and played and played. The grownups were outside too and we were rejoicing in the nice weather. Dinner became an afterthought as no one wanted to miss a moment of the glorious sun and warmth. It was great to see people outside in shorts and smiles!
I had missed hanging on the porch with my neighbors.

Mothers Day

2011-05-09T15:53:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day was the day after Music in the Parks.
When I arrived downstairs that morning I was greeted with flowers, cards and a To Do list. The first thing on the list was to 'go back to bed' so shortly after getting up I did just that.
Steve and CJ prepared (and cleaned up) a wonderful dinner of salmon, asparagus, hash browns and salad.
It is nice to be pampered!

Music in the Parks

2011-05-08T08:10:00.002-04:00

Very early Saturday morning our 7th & 8th grade bands, choirs and orchestras loaded onto school busses and headed off for a day of competition and roller coasters.

Music in the Parks is a competition held at a school close to Kings Island. Each group performed in front of judges, peers and chaperones. After the performances there was a mad dash to change, put instruments away, get back on the busses and head to the amusement park.

The park was great fun for everyone. We were rained on only during the awards ceremony, so with the help of ponchos we stayed dry. The pirate ship and wooden roller coaster appeared to be the favorites for the group CJ was with.

About 9:30pm we headed back to the busses for our ride home. After verifying that all 8 busses worth of students and chaperones were accounted for the drivers took us back to school and our cars. The bus drivers were amazing as the rains that we wished away all day finally came along with some thunder and lightning. We pulled into the school around 12:45, more than 18 hours after arriving there that morning. It was a long day filled with great music and lots of fun.

Oh, how did the kids do…the 7^th grade Orchestra won their division and scored a - I – Superior and the rest of the groups won in their categories as well. Congrats to all!

Activity at the Feeder

2011-04-27T15:57:00.022-04:00

This is a male rose-breasted grosbeak. He and a of his
few friends spent a week or two with us this April. They were new to the feeder so we spent quite a bit of time watching.

This guy we weren't quite as pleased to see.

He wasn't able to get to the food and we are hoping he doesn't try again.

Dickens, be good...

2011-04-05T19:25:00.000-04:00

Seems like I say that alot.

He is forever tormenting the dog.

Older brothers of any form seem to 'have to' pick on their younger siblings, why is that?

Spring Break

2011-04-03T19:15:00.004-04:00

This February my mom turned 80. I struggled with how to honor such a milestone and eventually came up with the idea of offering myself to her for whatever she needed. Since the weather in February both here and there was still cold and snowy we waited until our school let out for spring break. So on the first day of spring CJ and I headed to Philly.

We made a pit stop in Harrisburg to see the Civil War museum. The museum was impressive with rooms of interactive scenes. As we walked through the museum we walked through time, beginning with a slave market. CJ was pretty quiet in the first couple of rooms. It was eye opening even for me. Learning about slavery in school and watching Roots did not bring slavery to life like this museum did. From there we learned why slaves were so important to the southern economy and way of life and why it had to be ended. Moving through the rooms we saw the weapons used, re-enactments of battles, operating 'rooms', and much more. We both highly recommend the museum to anyone passing through the Harrisburg area.

CJ is listening to a narration by one of the soldiers in a Union Army encampment.

On Monday Bunny took us on a tour of all the beautiful magnolia trees and tulip gardens in Society Hill. Normally they would have been blooming at the end of March. This was not a normal March and they weren't even thinking of blooming. Still it was fun to wander through all the streets and alleys that Bunny speaks of. We saw beautifully restored Revolutionary era homes, amazing window boxes, a couple of wonderful old churches, a heart wrenching Irish monument, and much much more. We visited the new bike path and very nearly got run over by a car!

Soon we were back at Bun's house enjoying a warming bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Who would have though Philly would be so cold and dreary at the end of March.

After some playtime we headed back to Dan & Swati's for more playtime. This is Rufus, the most amazing cat. He catches cat treats mid air in his paws and then tosses them in his mouth. He could be on TV!

We had a great dinner at the seafood restaurant just up the street. literaly no more than 6 house away! CJ had the clams and was thrilled to be close to fresh seafood.

Wednesday brought a day of organizing. My mother is an amazingly organized person and yet her basement is not. So using the skills that she taught me so long ago we organized the basement. Fortunately it is a little house with little basement and very little clutter so we were done in time to run some errands and have fun learning about gas pumps, tire gauges, and little air compressors.

CJ and I then headed to Roxborough for a quick visit with PopPop and dinner with Mark & MaryKate.

On Thursday we watched Bunny workout. Wow, she is one strong lady!

Then it was off to Fabric Row and South St.

Fabric Row is just as it sounds a block of stores that sell everything from buttons to custom made wedding veils. South St. is just as it had been, a party spot if there ever was one!

Wow, CJ really is taller than Bunny!!!

That night we had a wonderful meal that Swati had lovingly created for us. We played some more with Rufus and watched the outside cats frolic.

Friday morning had us heading home. Spring Break was over and we hadn't yet seen any signs of spring.

We did accomplish our goal of celebrating Bunny's birthday by doing whatever she wanted so it well worth the trip. Here's hoping I have half the energy of Bunny when I am 80!

An Early April Fool's Joke?

2011-03-30T15:26:00.001-04:00

Today it is snowing.

It snowed last week too.

Twice now the table and chairs that I put out way too early have been covered in an inch of snow.

Fortunately, March snow melts quickly.

An Easter Basket for Nut Brown

2011-03-22T06:11:00.000-04:00

For Valentine's Day CJ gave me my very own little Nut Brown Hare.
When I cut the squares for my latest project too small, I decided to use the errors to make a basket for Nut Brown.
Little baskets require little seams and lots of patience.
But the end result was worth it. The basket is as cute as can be.
The basket now needs some jelly beans and a little bit of Easter grass.

Rushing the Season

2011-03-19T16:11:00.000-04:00

Every year the school's lacrosse team sells mulch. Normally I don't buy it because it comes too early. This year I didn't care. Yesterday the mulch arrived. When CJ got home from school we spread mulch over the gardens.

Today I cleaned windows and put the screens back in. The sun streaming in is very warming which is good because the temps have gone back down to the normal range (50s). Then up from the basement came the table and chairs. After a good scrubbing, the green mold didn't really look appetizing, they were placed just so on the deck.

Come on warm weather I am ready.

A Day at the Races

2011-03-17T06:20:00.002-04:00

Ready

Set (or scratch an itch)

Tucker and Casey spent some time working out and getting fit.

Ahh, CJ...

2011-03-15T06:09:00.002-04:00

He tried thinking outside of the box - but it wasn't nearly as comfortable.

Crazy March Weather

2011-03-13T18:08:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago the rains started. That week we had heavy downpours that left the towns north of us flooded. Then we had a little bit of snow. Not much, just enough to see it and groan.
The next week brought not downpours but a constant week of rain. The towns up north are still flooded and the lakes, reservoirs and rivers here are higher than I have ever seen. Our creek was rushing, I have seen it higher but don't think I have seen it moving so fast. Then Thursday night it turned to snow, again.

First it rained.

Then it snowed.

Yesterday it was sunny and warm.

Today it is back to cold and dreary, but there is hope!!

Getting Back to Sewing

2011-03-11T22:46:00.000-05:00

Sometime last summer my woefully neglected fabric stash got boxed up and put under the basement steps. The boxes were recently retrieved from the dungeon and brought back to their rightful place by the sewing machine.

Since then I have made a pouch for the Kindle.

A sleeve for Bunny's iPad.

Using a tutorial I found on Pink Penguin I made a lunch bag.

I also adapted a fabric basket pattern on Pink Penguin and filled it with baby stuff for a lady at work. Unfortunately there is no picture.

The pattern for this adorable crayon and doodle pad portfolio came from Skip to my Lou. This creation was sent to a sweet boy in PA who has brain cancer.

The next project is in the testing stages and will be posted later.

Thanks Steve, for giving me the Kindle that needed some protection and inspired me to retrieve the boxes of beloved material.

Goodbye Ash Trees

2011-02-27T11:01:00.000-05:00

While looking at the pictures of the Piliated Woodpeckers I noticed that the giant ash tree was splitting.

Previously there was no concern about the tree falling on the house because of the way it grew towards the sun and away from the house. But with the split half of it could come down on the house. The tree guy assured me that it wasn't going to fall for quite some time, unless there was another massive wind storm like the two we had back in September of 2008 and January of 2009. So we scheduled a day to cut it down. It rained that day and snowed the next. Wednesday it was cold but clear and a good day to cut down a tree, or two or three.

Up the tree he went and down came the branches.

Until all that was left was a huge pile of firewood.

While it seems a little bare now, it's not all that different. The tree was so tall that all we saw of it was the trunk. The view from the front of the house is where the missing tree is noticeable. The tree was so tall that it towered over the house and could be seen out front.

Fortunately there a many more dead Ash trees in the woods so the woodpeckers will not go hungry.

A Day at the Pool

2011-02-26T16:30:00.000-05:00

Friends invited CJ and I to hang with them at the pool last weekend. This was our first visit to this pool and we were very impressed and will be heading back soon. There is a small lap area connected to the play pool. So while CJ waited for his friend he swam laps.

While I waited for my friend I enjoyed sitting at a poolside table reading and loving the warmth and the pungent smell of chlorine.

Both the warmth and the smell brought back memories of swimming at the Main Line Y. It was a small facility, the pool had only 4 lanes and one had to be careful to not fall into the pool when climbing onto the bleachers. My grandparents would come to my meets and I didn't think much of it then, they loved me and the Y was close to their home. But sitting at that comfortable table feeling very warm, I became a little weepy thinking that they sat through those really long meets on metal bleachers, watching all of us swim up and back and up and back. They were very good to me and I miss them.

OK, back to the fun at the pool.

Much fun was had going off the boards in the lap pool.

This was the closest thing to a posed picture I could get.

Another Amazing Bird

2011-02-11T09:37:00.000-05:00

There was a flutter of movement out back that caught my eye. It was an owl getting comfortable in one of the trees. Grabbing my camera, slowly & quietly, I was able to get a couple of pictures. From this one it would appear that he knew I was there and was not concerned. Was he trying to see if I would make a good breakfast?

This is a Barred Owl. Named for the bars running along his chest. He is one of two owls with brown eyes, the barn owl is the other.

His tail feathers are amazing, how do all those spots get lined up so precisely?

He finally settled on this position, hopefully sheltered from the cold and wind. This was the morning that it was still below zero at 8am. An hour later he was still there, now with some company.

A group of smaller birds were sitting on nearby branches seemingly looking at him. Then came the blue jays. There were two of them loudly calling out what seemed like warnings. Do Barred Owls eat other birds as well as mice?
It was a great treat to finally see the owl that has made us smile with its "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all" hooting.

Brrr...

2011-02-10T07:48:00.001-05:00

Earlier in the week the forecast promised sun and warmer temperatures by the end of the week. The forecast has changed. This morning my computer jolted me from my sleep at 4:30 to warn me about a winter weather advisory. It was 1 degree outside. Three hours later it is -2 degrees. The temperature isn't supposed to drop as the sun comes up.

The TV10 forecast below once again says the it will be sunny and warmer later in the forecast. Something to look forward to, maybe.

Well, at least we will have the sun today and tomorrow and it might get to 30 tomorrow, that will be like a heatwave!!

SEVEN DAY FORECAST
Thursday High: 17° Low: 0° Sun & Clouds. Bitter winds continue.	Friday High: 30° Low: 10° Partly to mostly cloudy. Not as cold.	Saturday High: 35° Low: 22° Flurries from Friday night early. Only a slight chance.	Sunday High: 42° Low: 27° Partly to mostly sunny & warmer.	Monday High: 45° Low: 32° More clouds, warm-up continues.	Tuesday High: 44° Low: 29° Partly cloudy and still seasonably warm.	Wednesday High: 47° Low: 32° Seasonably warm and sunny skies.

A Saver in the House

2011-02-09T07:57:00.002-05:00

The gift at the top of the Christmas list this year was a PS3. The gift not given this year was a PS3. Poor kid, so mistreated!!!

The main reason for not giving the PS3 to CJ was that he was saving for it, and doing a good job at it. Watching him make the decision to save rather than spend was heartwarming. Another step towards independence(we have had quite a few lately).

On Sunday, CJ counted his cash and to his delight he had enough for both the PS3 and the desired game. After some research on who had the best deal we headed off to Target.

On the way home CJ said, "It feels better to buy something that you've saved for than to just get it".

WOW, we are so proud of him!

The Elusive Piliated Woodpecker

2011-02-07T18:07:00.010-05:00

Since moving into this house we have heard the woodpecker many times. I had seen one briefly at a neighbors house many years ago. Thanks to the Emerald Ash Borer two Piliated Woodpeckers are visiting our backyard. These pictures were taken a couple of days after the ice storm.

Battle of the Bows

2011-02-06T18:06:00.001-05:00

CJ went to school on Saturday. No, not for detention.

The day was spent playing games, fiddling, learning new fingerings and bowings, learning new songs and making new friends.

The music director from Otterbein University lead the mix of high schoolers and middle schoolers through their day of learning and fun.

The battle was between Teams Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello and Bass.

We are proud to say that Team Cello won!!!

The winners got first dibs on the chocolate at the end of the day.

And concluded with a short concert for the parents.

They sounded great.
Thank you to Mrs. Cornett and Mrs. Waite for your dedication, patience and love of our children.

2011-02-03T12:35:00.001-05:00

The birds have been busy in the woods. The picture above has 4 birds in it, can you find them?

The bluebirds are back. This is their second February at our feeder. The feeder has been busy although there have been only a couple of cardinals, which is strange.

The other critters noticibly missing in the woods are the deer. I haven't seen any at all through all of the weather. I hope they found somewhere cozy, warm and safe to wait out the storm.

Another Calamity Day

2011-02-02T12:34:00.000-05:00

Last night the rain started again. By 10pm the area was covered in a thick layer of ice and school was cancelled. Overnight the temperatures went up and some of the ice melted, most of the vertical surfaces were free of ice. This pile is what fell off the back of the house last night.

The creek was visible again.

So why the calamity day? At 6:30 this morning it was a balmy 36 degrees. At 10:30am it was down 10 degrees to 26. And it will get even colder as the day progresses. That and the wind is gusting to 25 mph. Everything that had melted is now frozen again. And lots of places have lost electricity. The weather should be out of our area by 6pm leaving us with fridgid termperatures lots of ice.

So, that's the last of our calamity days.

February is normally our snowiest month.

Hmm...

Calamity Day

2011-02-01T14:48:00.000-05:00

Can't call it a snow day since we haven't had any snow at all and it looks like we won't. When Steve got home from hockey last night he covered the truck with a tarp. He's a smart man as this is what it looked like in the morning.

The back steps were just as icy. Tucker did manage them safely though. He and Steve did not fare so well on their morning walk. They both took a spill but are okay.

CJ and his friends had fun 'sledding' down the neighbor's driveway.

Then it was relaxation time.

Steve reports that the main roads are clear.

The neighborhood is still a mess. This is the longest we've gone without seeing a plow. They must have been really busy last night.

Their is still another storm headed our way. The forecast calls for more freezing rain tonight an maybe tomorrow. We shall see.

Grade Card Prize

2011-02-01T07:32:00.005-05:00

In celebration of an excellent grade card, I brought home a burger and fries for CJ.

At first he was a little dismayed by the mustard, he shares his fathers disdain for mustard, but a closer look revealed that the burger was not what it appeared to be. The fries were really sugar cookies, the bun was a cupcake, the burger was a brownie and the dreaded mustard was yummy icing.

CJ's grade cards have been impressive since entering middle school. This one was even better because this time he did it on his own. The homework got done because it needed to be done, not because I asked(nagged, bugged, annoyed, pleaded). And, he got an A in math!!!

Yikes

2011-01-31T15:46:00.000-05:00

On my way home from work today I was wondering if the storm was still coming our way. The sky was blue, the sun was out. It was so beautiful and warm that I even cracked to sunroof a little bit. Maybe I was a little over zealous with the sunroof after all the temperature was still below freezing.

At home I checked the WeatherBug and this is what I found.

It would appear that the storm is still coming and that we will be getting ice, lots of ice.

I don't think I have ever seen a storm quite that big and certainly not one that will take more than 48 hours to pass by.

CJ's science teacher is hoping for a snow day and has asked the kids to help make it happen.

This is their homework for tonight:

Science:

1. Flush ice down your toilet, wear your PJs inside out, and put a spoon under your pillow!

Maybe if everyone does their science homework the ice storm will turn into a snowstorm.

Come on 703 - do your homework!!!!

The Winter of 1994

2011-01-31T09:02:00.003-05:00

The impending ice storm got me thinking of the winter of 1994. That was the winter of 19 ice storms and while it wasn't all ice, there was some snow too, the ice prevailed. The ice covered everything. When it did snow it was a challenge to shovel but leave just enough to cover the ice and provide traction.

Both Steve and I had jobs that required us to be there. There was no calling off because you couldn't get there. Steve's job took him all all over the tri-state area. That Ford Aerostar and some impressive driving got him there every time. I still am amazed that we would leave in the morning and he would be in Delaware about the same time I make it to Devon.

To get to my job I had to cross the river and then get up the big, long, windy hill. The name of the road escapes me now, it had Devon or Valley Forge in it and probably changed names midway through. My beloved Nissan pickup truck made it up the hill every time. Usually I had to go around people that were stuck, sliding backwards or off the road. That truck had its hubs locked in 4-wheel drive from January to mid march. That truck rocked, because unlike Steve there was no impressive driving going on with me. Just guts and a great truck.

Button Down Boys

2011-01-30T15:28:00.001-05:00

In celebration of Derek's Confirmation, CJ put on a button down shirt.

He didn't button it or tuck it in.

Both he and Derek looked very nice in their 'dress up' shirts.

There was a time when CJ would not leave the house without a button down shirt.

He referred to them as 'go to work shirts'.

He was one very well dressed pre-schooler!

Now he is a polo shirt wearing middle schooler.

I wonder what clothing trends high school will bring?

(BTW, that's rootbeer in the mugs.)

Waiting

2011-01-25T08:06:00.002-05:00

The squirrel ended up having to come back later. Tucker chased him(and the birds too) away.

Moochie

2011-01-23T19:52:00.000-05:00

Moochie is a store at the mall that sells stuff for dogs. During MaryKate and Mark's visit here they and Steve stopped at Moochie. Later, Steve, CJ and MK went back and purchased a gift for Tucker.

Tucker is in love. He has played with Moochie, indulged in adult activities with Moochie and taken her outside to meet his friends.

A Sign of Spring????

2011-01-22T08:55:00.000-05:00

This is the first morning that I have noticed it being light out at the time CJ goes out for the bus.

I realize this is just wishful thinking as the temperature was -1 at the time and the ground was covered in 5 inches of snow!

Plow Safety

2011-01-22T08:50:00.000-05:00

There have been articles in the paper and segments on the news about snowplow safety. Yesterday I found out that it's not just you and I that need to give a wide berth to snowplows. Recycling bins need to consider the snowplow before placing themselves at the curb.

We placed our trashcan and recycling bins close to the street, and close to each other, in a shoveled part of the driveway so that the wonderful Rumke folks wouldn't have to dig them out of the snow. I also made sure that 'heavy' recycling was on top so that the winds wouldn't dislodge anything.

Then the plow went down the road. The recycling bins ended up 2 feet from where we put them. The 'heavy' items flew out onto the driveway and the bins were coated in plow slush.

Next time I will heed the snowplow safety messages and will put the trash/recycling further up the driveway.

Thanks Orange Township for doing such a great job plowing our streets!!!

Staying Safe

2011-01-21T21:31:00.000-05:00

This Christmas Steve gave me a Kindle. It has seen a lot of use. I have read 2 books and started a third. CJ has downloaded a couple and is reading an H.G. Wells book. And, The New York Times crosswords have been keeping Steve entertained. Being something that was keeping all of us rather happy, I wanted to keep it safe. Looking online at at the stores for a cover, I discovered that they were all too expensive or bulky. So, I dug into the material stash and made a cover for my new favorite 'book'.

7th Anniversary of the 39th Birthday

2011-01-19T22:16:00.000-05:00

And birthday month continues with Steve's birthday.

He had a yummy birthday dinner of bacon wrapped steak tips and twice baked potatoes.

The lack of fruit or veggies is in honor of his birthday

Then came pie time. Buckeye pie from Graeters, yummy!!

Happy Birthday!!!

CJ's Birthday Dinner

2011-01-18T20:55:00.001-05:00

This year CJ decided against a birthday party. Instead we took him out for a good steak. We didn't want to go to one of the really expensive steakhouses, figuring that might set the bar way to high for future steak dinners. Steve found a place in Delaware that had good reviews and we decided to give it a try.

CJ and Steve had the Filet Mignon.

They loved it.

Steve said that it was as good if not better than what he has eaten at more expensive and well known restaurants. CJ was practically moaning while chewing.

And while I felt a little silly ordering it, with the boys ordering steak, I had the grilled cheese. The sandwich was amazing and midway through I realized that it was a grilled cheese that needed to be photographed.

We shared a dessert, which came out with a candle in honor of CJ's birthday.

We have now found our new favorite restaurant and it's name is '1808 American Bistro'.

Happy 13th Birthday CJ.

A Teenager in the House

2011-01-13T20:28:00.002-05:00

The day before CJ turned 13 we had got some snow and school got out early. CJ got home before I did. When I got home I found that he had shoveled the driveway for me!!

At bedtime Tuesday night, CJ was hoping that there would be no school on Wednesday as an added birthday bonus.

Unfortunately we didn't get that much snow. We did get enough for a two hour late start.

The late start gave CJ time to enjoy his birthday cookie, hot chocolate and one present.

With Steve out of town, CJ wanted to hold off on a birthday celebration. So an early morning sugar laden breakfast and opening the much coveted fleece jacket would be his 13th birthday fun.

Steve's appointments for Thursday were cancelled and much to CJ's surprise, Steve met us in the parking lot at clarinet. He was standing in the snow holding balloons for the birthday boy.

So, he got to open his presents on his birthday after all.

Happy birthday to my sweet, awesome, kind, smart, incredible teenager.

Aunt Kate & Uncle Mark Come to Visit

2011-01-05T20:01:00.004-05:00

And with them came Dakota, Casey and presents.

It was a fun visit that concluded with a birthday dinner at Dewey's Pizza for MaryKate. And then off to the BlueJackets game.

Dickens Scares the Dickens Out of the Villagers

2010-12-28T19:51:00.001-05:00

And then naps with his nose in my stocking!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T19:00:00.007-05:00

Christmas morning started before dawn, somewhere around 7am. CJ waited patiently, as he did last year, while we made coffee and Tucker and Dickens ate breakfast.

Tucker was quite the helper, making sure that all the presents smelled just right.

I got coal in my stocking!!!

This year's big gift for CJ was not the PS3 that he had asked for and we were a little concerned about how it would be received. It was not on the list, nor had it been mentioned even in passing (at least not for a long time).

He likes it!!!

He really likes it!

We spent the rest of the day enjoying our gifts and each other's company.

A Trip to Wisp

2010-12-23T19:34:00.002-05:00

This year's trip to Wisp was a great time. It snowed each day and we skied until we dropped. This trip was a first for CJ in that we were joined by two other families. That meant that CJ had other kids to spend time with. His first vacation where he wasn't the only kid, yippee!

The boys hung out at dinner and then back at the hotel they enjoyed the peace and quiet of a hotel room without parents. We also enjoyed the peace and quiet of the bar without kids!

Christmas Tree Hunting

2010-12-13T19:10:00.001-05:00

This year we opted for a Charlie Brown tree. While hunting at the 4th tree farm of the day we found this little tree that needed a home for the holidays. It is probably the smallest tree we have had in recent years, but it once we got it home and decorated it was just perfect.

Orchestra Concert

2010-12-11T18:36:00.002-05:00

This year's orchestra concert was great. CJ's group sounded great. They enjoyed entertaining us and especially enjoyed playing Alvin & the Chipmunks with Alvin himself joining the show.

After the middle school finished their performance we were treated a performance by the high school orchestra. We were amazed by how professional looking and sounding they were. The music was amazing and they all looked so good in their dresses and tuxes. Yes, tuxes!

Thanksgiving in Philly

2010-11-29T16:52:00.012-05:00

Thanksgiving morning we gathered at Dan and Terry's apartment in Chinatown. It was a great place to watch the last few snowflakes fall from the sky. We enjoyed a yummy brunch and had fun seeing all the Mercers together.

Each visit with Bunny requires a height picture. This picture shows that

CJ is taller than his grandmother!!!

After brunch we headed back to Roxborough for dinner with the Ziejewski clan. More good food and fun with family. Unfortunately for a couple of family members their favorite football team did not win, maybe next year.

On Friday I went with MaryKate to see South Pacific, Steve went to the Flyers game with Mark and CJ went to hang out with Bunny and then Dan & Swati.

We all met up again (minus Bunny who went to bed) at M & MK favorite restaurant.

At some point during the visit CJ showed his AuntKate his Christmas list. This year's list was quite extensive and categorized. As you can see, the list brought a laugh to everyone who read it!

The ride home was uneventful and we were very thankful for that. The previous day had been spent at the dealership and the day before had blown hoses and an empty radiator.

Lyle and Tucker were very good travelers, keeping us entertained most of the trip.

Halloween

2010-11-02T19:46:00.002-04:00

Halloween this year meant that CJ got to Trick or Treat twice. His sitter, Loren lives within the city limits and Columbus Trick or Treats on the Thursday before Halloween. So while Steve and I were all exploring Joshua Tree, CJ was filling his bag full of treats.

On Halloween he once again put on his 'cereal killer' costume and went out again. The hat he is wearing is from Alcatraz and very appropriate for both the costume and the colder than usual weather.

The adults once again gathered around the fire handing out candy to friends and neighbors.

This year was the first year since CJ's birth that we did not carve pumpkins. We had planned to carve after hockey on Sunday. That was until I shoved too much stuff down the garbage disposal and Steve had to cut out the pipes and run a snake down under the house to clear the clog. And then put it all back together again in time to hand out candy. Don't think I will be using the disposal anymore!

Palm Springs

2010-10-30T16:36:00.001-04:00

This year for the first time, I accompanied Steve to his company's annual sales meeting. The meeting was in Palm Springs, CA. We landed in Palm Springs on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. As we walked through the airport we noticed how clean and fresh the air was, like being outdoors. Then we looked up and saw that we were actually outside! After a short drive to the hotel we spent the afternoon by the pool, it had rained recently and the water was too cool for me but it was nice to be poolside with the sun shining down on us.

We later wandered the hotel's golf course.

Dinner was an informal affair. We opted to sit around the fire on the back patio, while looking out at the golf course.

Monday morning meant that Steve had to work. So off I went with some friends. The Palm Springs Tram proved interesting. The tram took us 8500ft up the San Jacinto Mountain to the beautiful forest above.

The top of the mountain was wooded and green, the air was clean and cool. Very different from the desert below. We enjoyed a short hike, lunch and a trip to the souvenir shop. Back at the hotel it was time for reading and relaxing on the balcony and then dinner. Dinner was an 'informal' affair. The front of the hotel was converted into an outside restaurant with an amazing assortment of food.

The next two days, Steve worked while I explored the area and hung at the pool. The last evening was a formal affair with Steve in a tux and me in my 'little black dress'.

The sales conference was an incredible event. We spent four days meeting new people and catching up with some that I met back in the CS&S days.

On Thursday, we spent the day in Joshua Tree National Park. The park is the convergence of two types of deserts. The high desert is greener and full of granite. The low desert is brown and flat. We were fortunate to be there about a week after a rainstorm and were able to see some green in the low desert.

On the way to the park we passed the windmills. I had seen them before (back in the CS&S days) about 17 years ago and was amazed then. Now the numbers have grown and therefore they are even more amazing. They line both sides of the road and back on the side road on the way to the park.

Joshua Tree

High Desert

Joshua tree Dandilion

Granite Outcropping

San Andreas Fault

The fault can be seen running horizontally through the middle of the picture. The ridge is higher on the far side because the plates are pushing against each other and lifting the earth. I never imagined that you could actually see the famous San Andreas Fault. We were glad it was quiet that day!

Low Desert

As you can see from the number of pictures we enjoyed the high desert much more than low desert. The rock formations were amazing. The granite looked as though it had just been dropped from the sky. They hadn't though, they were actually pushing up through the softer rock. The park was a great experience and an amazing exploration into an ecosystem very different from ours.

Friday morning had us up very early for our trip back home. This is a picture of our walk to the gate after having checked our luggage. Those trees are outside, just as we were. What a great place to spend the winter!

We got home in time to meet CJ off the school bus. While it was a great trip, it was hard to be away from CJ for so long. He did great without us, but was happy to have us home.

Soooo Big!

2010-10-29T19:58:00.001-04:00

Tonight when Casey, the dog, came by to visit with Tucker I grabbed my jacket and quick put on a pair of shoes. No big deal or so I thought. I had on my thick winter socks and the shoes I stuck my feet into were loose. The shoes I threw on, belong to CJ!!!

From 'sooo big' to too big in the blink of an eye!'

Clam Boy

2010-10-27T10:05:00.003-04:00

These pictures are from our trip to San Francisco last summer. We tell the story of CJ and his big bowl of clams often. Somehow the story never made it to the blog, until now. On our second day in SanFran we spent the day wandering Muir Woods and the Presidio. For dinner we decided to try a restaurant that had been recommended by a few people back home. CJ ordered the clams and the waiter was very skeptical. He figured that there was no way the mere child would eat an adult portion of clams. When the clams arrived we also were skeptical.

That's a big bowl of clams!

That's a lot of empty clam shells.

The bowl wasn't completely empty but for a kid of just 11 years, that is some impressive shellfish eating!

Pumpkin Time

2010-10-25T09:10:00.002-04:00

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon we headed out to find the perfect pumpkins for our Halloween pumpkin carving.

Our first find was not a pumpkin but a cornstalk horse.

OK, where are those pumpkins?

Which one to choose?

Let's sit and think a moment.

I like this one, now if only I could get it to the cart!

The sunflower says - 5 feet tall!!!

Check back later for the jack o'lantern pictures.

Cello Day

2010-10-23T17:11:00.003-04:00

This is CJ's second year at Cello Day.

This year we made it back in time to see the performance.

The teacher had some fun with the kids and in turn the kids had fun.

We are thinking this looks really natural and maybe guitar lessons are next on the list!

What's for Dinner?

2010-10-21T17:04:00.001-04:00

It was supposed to be chicken and spagetti squash,

but he doesn't look like he wants to be chopped in half and put into the oven.

It took me another day before I got the courage to stick a knife in angry squash dude and it was worth the wait.

After a bit of time in the oven he still looks a little scary or maybe even scarier.

The end result is nothing but yummy!

Preparing for the cooler weather

2010-10-19T16:44:00.001-04:00

The heat of summer has finally left us.It is time to start thinking about cool nights and warm fires.

Steve and CJ spent some time in the woods working on their lumberjack skills.

That annoying cherry tree we had taken down so very long ago makes for some sweet smelling fires!

Thanks for the Cupcake

2010-10-18T16:33:00.000-04:00

CJ enjoys a Buckeye Cupcake.

We will have to take him at his word when he says that it was yummy.
There was not even a crumb left for us to taste!

Meet Hazel

2010-10-17T11:18:00.000-04:00

Hazel found me while I was shopping one Sunday afternoon.
She is a very safety conscious witch who insisted on a safety belt for the ride home.
Since arriving at our house she has been keeping an eye on all of us, making sure we are on our best behavior.
I am beginning to think she is the Emily Post of the witch world.
Her hair is always done and her legs are always crossed daintily at the ankles.
She would have made TT proud. Not that TT shared my love of witches but she would have made an exception for this beautiful lady!

The Ziejewski Family

CJ Turns 14

Rock House & Old Man's Cave

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve

A Warm and Rainy December

The Hunt for the Perfect Tree

England May Have Stonehenge...

Homemade Breakfast

A Trip to Philly

Such a Face

Friday Night Live

Steve's Flannel Quilt

Everyone Loves a Frosty

Sunrise

A Watchful Eye

Ahhh Tucker...

IELA Project

Halloween

DC Souvenirs

The 8th Grade Goes to DC

And So Begins 8th Grade

A Lovely Day to Sit Outside...

Yike - Skunks

Jersey Tomatoes

Vacation in Ocean City, MD

Bourbon Tasting 2011

Orchestra Camp

Hot and Sticky

Visiting Aunt Nancy & Uncle Dick

Hocking Hills, zip lining

Hocking Hills, caves

Hocking Hills, the cabin

Father's Day

Ralphie's House

Duct Tape Festival

Too Many Tortillas

Furmination

In Honor of Les Paul

7th Grade is Over!!!

Final 7th Grade Orchestra Concert

Roses from Carol

A Glorious Week

Ahhh...

Wild Weather Week

A Not So Subtle Hint

The End of Moochie

A Glorius Weekend

A Very Wet Spring

A Wonderful Week

Mothers Day

Music in the Parks

Activity at the Feeder

Dickens, be good...

Spring Break

An Early April Fool's Joke?

An Easter Basket for Nut Brown

Rushing the Season

A Day at the Races

Ahh, CJ...

Crazy March Weather

Getting Back to Sewing

Goodbye Ash Trees

A Day at the Pool

Another Amazing Bird

Brrr...

SEVEN DAY FORECAST

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

A Saver in the House

The Elusive Piliated Woodpecker

Battle of the Bows

Another Calamity Day

Calamity Day

Grade Card Prize