More Snow

Beware of the Dog?

Friday Five - Wrapping

This weeks FridayFive is about gift wrapping. I LOVE wrapping presents!

How seriously do you take gift-wrapping when you give gifts?
I like to wrap. I usually don't combine gifts so I have more to wrap.
AND... I've started folding in the edges before taping so there are nice smooth edges.
Do you save gift-wrapping to re-use later?
Absolutely
How picky are you when it comes to selecting wrapping paper?
I go for the cheapest decent looking stuff. Yea, it's the kind that so thin it will rip at the corner if you try to pull it tight around the box. So, not picky I guess.
How much attention do you pay to the way gifts you receive are wrapped?
Really, not a lot - other than noticing if there is overkill on the tape.
Among people you know, who is the most talented at wrapping gifts?
Answer unknown at this time.

Thankful Three on Thursday

Today I'm thankful for

- snow
- anti-lock brakes
- and trucking companies that buy lunch for our office.

Good Morning

The scene as I opened the door to let Camden out this morning... it was still a little dark.
I LOVE SNOW!
I wish I didn't have to work today. I would bundle up in my ski pants, coat, scarf and thick man-hand gloves, grab my camera and take Camden on a long walk around the woods at Governor's Mansion. We would romp through the snow and have so much fun!

UPDATE: We would not be romping, it has definitely been sleeting all day.


Photo is straight out of camera
Shutter speed: 2 seconds
ISO: 200
f: 3.8
focal length:18mm
flash: did not fire

Thankful Thursday

Three things I'm thankful for today.

• The snooze button - I've come to enjoy easing my way into the day.
• My husband - I'm thankful for him everyday!! And today, for the way he responds to my quirks.
• Camden - he can be so funny sometimes, like when wants to check out the deck of cards (by sniffing) but is scared of Ryan shuffling them.

Speaking of Camden, here he is wishing you Happy Thanksgiving (a week late) and thanking me for letting him clean out the peanut butter jar.

Look at how he puts his little paws around the jar like hands. So cute. Not gonna let it get away!

One of Those Random Things

My family started a fun, unique tradition years ago of taking photos in front of state capitol buildings.

Little Sarah at the capiol of her home state, Iowa

There are 12 photos and 14 capitols visited so far.

Grumpy Sarah in Minnesota with some sweet looking 1990's clothes

Over Thanksgiving, I decided to scan all those photos to digital and gather the collection in one place. It's been fun and motivating. I'm re-energized to make a point to visit captiols if I'm anywhere near them.

More sweet clothes in Washington

Actually, I've considered taking a random weekend road trip to a nearby state just to get the photo - something I really would have done in college that just sounds a bit more ridiculous now.

Castle in New York

Last night, I said something to Ryan about going to Oklahoma City. And he logically responded that Jefferson City is probably closer. Glad he's so smart. Anyone want to go to Jeff City with me?

Late one night in North Carolina

And how have I managed to have photos from all over the Kansas Capitol, but not a good one standing in front of it? Maybe my first random weekend road trip should be just a couple miles down the road.

Got to Alaska's by boat

P.S. Did you know when talking about the city it's 'capital' and when talking about the building it's 'capiol'? Crazy.

'Tis the season

Remember this from last year?

We're at it again.

Raking up the exactly 5,687,955,364,411 leaves in our yard. Yes, that's trillion!

And these are just the front yard.

Camden = no help at all.

Sunny Day

This is the first day of sun we've had all week! Almost thought we'd moved to Seattle. ;)

Friday's Random Story:
The photo is of Camden in his little corner of the yard. When Ryan and I aren't tantelizing him with food, he likes to lay there looking the other direction and watch the goings on in the street. Which consist mostly of squirrels and every once in a while, a person walking their dog. During fall the pile of leaves on the other side of the fence is so high, if you look from the front, he looks steath. Like he's hiding out. You can only see his head and he kind of blends in to the color. It's cute. But I haven't even tried to get a photo of that because the moment he sees me, Camden gets too excited to stay put and jumps on the fence for attention. He's an attention hog, have I mentioned that?

Friday Five - Book Titles

Here's another fun one. (I have a feeling my answers will be somewhat nonsensical. Is that a word?)
From Friday5: "Each of this week’s questions is the title (modified, in a couple of cases) of a well-known book."

What color is your parachute?
A mixture of periwinkle - because I like to say that word and Creek Bend - because that's the name of the awesome paint color in our guest room. Or is it River Bottom? Whatever the name I really like the color.
Who moved your cheese?
Waldo
Where’s Waldo?
In my fridge
Are you my mother?
No tengo niños.
What’s happening to your body?
If you really want to know.... -Um, I've never actually heard of this book.

And there you have it. Random answers to bookish questions.


PS The only book that I actually know anything about it "Where's Waldo". I've heard of most of the others, but don't know much about them.

Do you Catan?

Have you heard of this GREAT game?

Some friends introduced it to us a year ago. We play it with them often. Then a few weeks ago, Ryan and I bought our own box.


The more people we invite to play "this cool new game we learned", the more we hear "I've played that before." It's gaining popularity - and I guess I'm helping.

Here's what I like about it:

• It's interactive
• It's different every time
• Something happens to every player on everyone's turn (no sitting and waiting.)
• There's strategy and there's luck
  
• Once you get the hang of one version, it can change

If you ever come visit for a weekend, it's likely you'll get to play this game .... that is, if you haven't already.

Camping again

This time it was a bit colder. Note the frost on the grill and all the people staying around the fire.

So, I really haven't been caming all that much, but this is the first time I remember being kept awake by an animal. A pesky racoon. A pesky and persistent racoon! After Ryan had already been out of the tent a few different times to move trash and other easy-to-get items, the darn racoon came back and tried to steal our bread - which was in a small plastic tote. He almost succeeded in dragging it into the woods. This time I got up, but was so scared the racoon was going to bite me for taking it's food/toy/loot.

Well, I successfully secured the bread box without a bite and tucked back in, when, a few minutes later the 'coon came back and OPENED one of our big totes and took the ... picinic tablecloth? What a pest. That isn't even food and he still tried to get it. I estimate it was about 4am; Ryan and another of our friends took all the large totes and coolers and secured them in the truck.

Maybe 15 mintues later I heard loud clanging and rummaging noises at our 'neighbors' camp site. So much for sleeping in peace.

My pups and Me

Capitol Dome Tour

Starting on the ground floor looking straight up...














...ending on top with a great view.

Fall Fun

A few of the things you can find at a small-town Fall Festival. :-)