Project Zwolf Revisited (038/365)

“I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that don't work”

Thomas Alva Edison (American Inventor who, singly or jointly, held a world record 1.093 patents. In addition, he created the world's first industrial research laboratory, 1847-1931)

TIME:  8:43 AM
PLACE:  Work
SUBJECT:  View in the parking lot

No exciting pictures today.  I’m trying something similar to the Zwolf2010 from last year.  While I don’t consider my attempt last year a failure, I will admit that I wasn’t pleased with how my project turned out.  So, I’m adjusting - this time, instead of a monthly photo, I’m taking a weekly photo.  My subject will be this view at my office parking lot.  I think a weekly photo will capture the changes during the year better than a monthly photo.  I’m going to wait until I have about a quarter of the year done before attempting to post it anywhere…that is, if it turns out half-way decent this time.

Vintage Beer Holder (037/365)

“Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder”

Kinky Friedman (American Singer, Song Writer, Novelist and Politician. b.1944)

TIME:  6:36 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Blue Moon Belgian White and a vintage drinking glass

I found this glass at the thrift store on Friday.  Priced at a mere 35 cents,  I thought it was both adorable and affordable – I am officially in love with the bird that decorates the sides of the glass.  I christened my new drinking vessel this Super Bowl Sunday with a Blue Moon Belgian White ale, and of course, an orange slice.  It worked perfectly.

Saturday Morning (036/365)

TIME:  8:42 AM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  Bird

TIME:  9:56 AM
PLACE:  YMCA
SUBJECT:  StellaDella

We woke up this morning to two inches of freshly fallen snow.  But that didn’t stop SD from attending her Daisy Girl Scout “Dance Away The Winter Blues” workshop at the YMCA.  I just threw the old Jeep in 4-wheel drive and off we went.  As I was backing out of the driveway, I spied the birds jumping around in the bushes.  I took a few shots then we continued on.  After a brief stop at QuickTrip for breakfast - water and a donut for SD and a coffee for me – we made it to the Y without any issues due to the snow.  There, I ingested my caffeine, took photos of her dancing up a storm and we returned to the house by 11am.  Take *that* Mother Nature!

BFFs (035/365)

“God gives us our relatives—thank God we can choose our friends.”

Ethel Watts Mumford (1878-1940), U.S. novelist, humorous writer, Addison Mizner, U.S. architect, and Oliver Herford (1863-1935), U.S. poet, illustrator. The Cynic's Calendar (1903).

TIME:  11:53 PM
PLACE:  Dining room
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen & Erin B.

Erin B. is spending the night…again *heavy, put-upon sigh*  I’m kidding – she’s a good kid and I don’t mind having her here.  Since she was here, I put her to good use - I made her and DQ pose with two of the chunky crayon lips StellaDella and I created the other night.  Aren’t they just the most adorable girls you’ve ever seen?

Clothed In Ice (034/365)

"Come when the rains
Have glazed the snow and clothed the trees with ice,
While the slant sun of February pours
Into the bowers a flood of light. Approach!
The incrusted surface shall upbear thy steps
And the broad arching portals of the grove
Welcome thy entering."

William Cullen Bryant, *A Winter Piece*

TIME:  2:59 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Ice covered leaves and branches

We awoke to sun, blue skies and below freezing temperatures.  The good news is that combination of the sun and the ice all around made for a sparkly, pretty day.  The bad news is that the kids were off school again.  The novelty of the weather and being home is wearing off both me and them...I posted on my Facebook last night that I was ready to wet them down and throw them outside!  Nevertheless, we survived another day of togetherness and I am certain that school will be in session for tomorrow – although tomorrow being Friday means that they go back for one day and then they will have another two days off due to the weekend.  How inconvenient.

Crayon Carnage (033/365)

"Life is about using the whole box of crayons."

~RuPaul  (American actor, drag queen, model, author, and singer-songwriter, b1960)

TIME:  11:50 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Shredded crayon wrappers

We started making StellaDella’s classroom Valentines today while they were out of school due to the snow.  We are recycling the plethora of old crayons we have (two plastic shoeboxes full) into new chunky swirly ones by melting them in a Valentine cookie pan I purchased on clearance at Target last year.  StellaDella and I peeled the paper from a kabillion crayons – Two things I learned from this:  One: peeling crayons takes much longer than you think it would and two: I am a much faster peeler than she is.

Ice Storm (032/365)

“But I was going to say when Truth broke in
With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm”
 
Robert Frost (1874-1963), U.S. poet. Birches (l. 21-22). . . The Poetry of Robert Frost. Edward Connery Lathem, ed. (1979) Henry Holt.

TIME:  5:13 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Ice covered branches

Well, Ice-Pocalypse 2011 has arrived.  The kids were off of school today and it has already been called off again for tomorrow.  It’s cold.  Freezing cold.  In fact, tomorrow night they are calling for below zero temps – *shivers*.  Here’s hoping the electricity stays on.  If not, we’re heading for Dad’s house and his fireplace.  Pop, I know you read this, so don’t be changing the locks on us!