my first matzo

December 16

Bathroom

I'd been wanting to wear this vest for some time.

December 17

Closet

My secret present box stashed in the top of the closet.

December 18

Sunroom

I've been craving a good New York style bagel so I picked some up from Whole Foods. There's no comparison to Bagel Delight, but I guess it did the trick.

December 19

Whole Foods Parking Lot

Why am I mentioning Whole Foods so much. Because I work there now. In the bakery. And this is what it looked like when I left for the day.

River

Andy wanted/s to participate in the photo a day on occasion. He was at the river working on the house and they had a big fire at night.

December 20

River

Andy's still at the river and participating. This is Sam working on the windows.

Dining Room

Andy came home and we celebrated the first day of Hanukkah with matzo ball soup!

December 21

Living Room

Sometimes I think the pile of laundry warrants a photograph because it is so large.

December 22

Dining Room

Our Advent wreath.

Christmastime is coming next...

67 degrees in december

December 6

Office Floor

The crafts waiting for me to do them....

December 7

Living Room

This is a package Andy received from my aunt. Notice his new last name. I've been chuckling ever since. (Update: Sister just informed that it might not be wise to share my address with the world wide webs. GP, Sister, gp.)

December 8

Station 5

This is what the fire station looks like at night when everyone has gone to bed because Andy is watching television shows about steam engines.

December 9

Downtown

This was the night of the lunar eclipse. I didn't know that at the time but was awed by the moon ring.

December 10

Sunroom

At least somebody likes all the insulation being inside.

December 11

Also Sunroom

You can see a tiny speck and that speck is the tiny spider that was climbing it's web back up into our fan.

December 12

I don't want to lie so I'll just say that I failed.

December 13

Sister's Kitchen

Holiday/Birthday cookies. There's a surprise inside!

December 14

Front yard

Z of the truck.

December 15

Dining Room

I dug this sign out to decorate for Andy's birthday potluck!

siding on the side

November 30

Back of House: Phase 3

The siding on the side (ha) is nearly complete.

And the windows have been installed on the back.

December 1

Back of House: Phase 4

First side of house complete. All we have to do now is put some stairs back in so we don't walk out to nothing. It does make a pretty nice exit point for things like trash though.

December 2

Back of House: Phase 5

The other side of the house is nearly there. It's not very exciting because there are no windows. There is a dryer vent!

In regular life, Whit left a Christmas present in the tree in our front yard. It's a coal rake (for Yody) he made out of an old railroad something or other.

December 3

Office

Garland that I made for the Christmas tree.

December 4

Purcellville Volunteer Fire Station

We went up for the day to visit Andy's cousin and to work at the tree stand (and maybe to get ourselves a tree also).

December 5

Back of House: Phase 6

Almost completed! There's one little strip at the top left to do!

In regular life, the Christmas tree (that we got in Purcellville) is up and decorated (with the garland I made)!

it's all measured in phases

November 21

Kitchen Counter

Thanksgiving: Phase 1

The crust doughs are made.

November 22

Sunroom

Back of House: Phase 1

The windows have been purchased and acquired.

November 23

Dining Room Table

Thanksgiving: Phase 2

The pies have been made.

November 24

Sam and Meg's

Thanksgiving: Phase 3

The family has gathered and eaten.

November 25

Thanksgiving: Phase 4

Bob and Elisabeth's kitchen

The official move to Christmas. Cookie making and listening to Amy Grant. It had been awhile since I'd heard "Baby, Baby".

November 26

Lowe's

Front Porch: Phase 1

Purchasing Lumber. (I guess Phase 1 might have actually been when we uncovered all of the rotten wood that was "holding" the porch up.)

Followed by Hers His Burritos.

November 27

Chimborazo Park

I stopped at the park by sisters to see what the sunset looked like and I found Richmond's very own Statue of Liberty.

November 28

Sunroom

Back of House: Phase 2

Old doors have been replaced with new French door and new casement window.

Front Porch: Phase 2

Bob and Andy secure the premises before knocking all the rotten stuff down.

November 29

Front Porch: Phase 3

Rafters and new header in place.

More phases tk.

Sooner or later, you'll know he's right

November 15

Little Rock, 1978

You could say I was distracted today, hence going to the archives for this one. Uncle Tom passed away this morning after an eight-month fight against lung cancer. He was one cool dude and touched many lives around the world. He touched mine, too, and even now I'm still learning how to be a better person because of him.

November 16

Parking lot on Foushee and Franklin

Extra time before swim lessons equals calling my mom. It was a rainy day outside, which felt right, given the last month.

November 17

Grandma's house, Little Rock

In the span of one week in February all these munchkins will turn two. Sitting at my Grandma's house with my cousins, we caught a glimpse of what it must have been like for our parents. Because when we were little there were probably 15 kids within five years of each other. It was so fun to see all of my cousins' kids running around, playing with each other, and doing the same things we did as kids. I swear, the toys in the toy drawer are thirty years old and the swinging bar is definitely held by more than one screw.

November 18

Holy Souls Church, Little Rock

To the left of the tree my aunt and uncle are laid to rest and to the right, my grandpa. This wall is becoming a pretty powerful place.

Same day, later on

My Parent's House, Little Rock

So my uncle was once the house player at a casino in Katmandu. He taught me most of what I know about poker. Starting when I was old enough to sit still through one hand, I watched and he gave me commentary about what was going on. We had our "First Annual Tom Kelly Memorial Poker Tournament" and I think I made him proud.

November 19

Beck Compound, Little Rock

All the cousins got together to watch football. We just can't get enough of each other when we are all in town. This is the peaceful view from the kitchen windows.

November 20

Little Rock Airport

Saying good-bye is always hard, no matter what level you are doing it on.

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving.

I can't help but be thankful for the love that I feel every day from family and friends.

The Other Williamsburg

November 7

Sunroom

Z giving me the stink eye for interrupting her nap in her new favorite spot. I can't say that I blame her.

November 8

Kitchen

Baking corn muffins in the ten cent generic princess cupcake holders Andy got me.

November 9

Front yard

A near full moon through the clouds.

November 10

Williamsburg (the Colonial one)

Walking down the pedestrian road, we saw some giant sunflower skeletons hanging on to their stalks for as long as possible.

November 11

AMF Williamsburg Lanes

Andy and I going head to head. We played two games and on both of them I got two strikes in the first two squares. After that I kind of went down hill. I guess that's the only place you can go after strikes though. (He won. Cumulative score. But only by six points.)

November 12

Colonial Williamsburg

This trip was really my first time to the historic place and seeing all these reenactors made my day. Over and over again. And then we got to go in the stocks (<-pictures!) and my day was made again.

November 13

Bathroom

Back home now, but something bit me in Williamsburg several times. This was just the most photographic one.

November 14

Living room

He's asleep.