Project #51 Laughing Baby

A baby laughing is one of the most magical sounds you will ever hear.  Well, at least to my lil' mama ears, anyway. This little cutie isn't mine, he belongs to friends of mine, who's wedding I had the opportunity to photograph a few years ago. ( the FUNNEST wedding I have ever worked on, I might add)

One of the things I love about christmas is the chance to reconnect with old friends, and since these friends live so far away ( an entire province away) it was just so great to see them and meet their little one!

I made sure I was sitting right next to his high chair at dinner, so I could enjoy his little antics while I caught up with his awesome parents =)

He was so fascinated by my bracelet and rings on my hand, that he would shriek everytime I moved my arm away! hahaha.  So I ate my tacos with my boring hand while I let him play with my other "facinating"  hand, haha. 

I didnt have much time to catch up with them, as I had to share their attention with other people there as well, but I did manage to squeeze in a couple quick photos of him in his dad's arms before I left. He was a bit out of sorts because of all the travelling that had thrown his usual daily nap schedule out of whack, but as you can see, this kid is a real trooper, and he grinned and gurgled away happily for the most part. He even giggled away at the peek-a-boo game just long enough to take this photo. 

Wishing I could take a nap right now,

-J

Project #50 - The Wheel

I honestly couldnt think of a single thing to say about this photo, hahaha!

It's 12:56 a.m. and I have been staring at my computer for hours trying to think up something witty to say about it. Oh who am I kidding, I'd settle for something even slightly intelligible at the moment.

After 3 cups of tea, about 27 trips to the bathroom and nearly dozing off about 46 times, hahaha, I've decided that there's really nothing to say about this photo : it is what it is. A wheel,

A pioneer wagon wheel, to be precise. From a wagon in the old abandoned ghost town I blogged about earlier. I had taken this photo and really liked it, but I kept waiting to post it until I had something wonderfully exciting to write about it. But now it's 1:02 a.m. on December 30th, and I'm kinda getting down to the wire here to get my projects all up to date so that I can post the final project of the year, Project #52 of 52, on December 31st. SO,  That being said, here is the almost-next-to-last project photo.  The invention of the wheel itself changed the course of history forever, so in that respect, there is a lot that can be said about "the wheel". But since I've nearly fallen asleep for the 47th time now, hahahaha, I'm gonna let the photo say a thousand words, because I'm too tired to do it myself, hahaha!

Wagon wheels carrying me off into dreamland,

-J

Project #49 - Christmas Lights

When I was a little girl, my dad used to pack us kids up in his truck, pick us up some hot chocolates (and coffee for himself) and drive around the neighborhoods in our small town looking at all the houses decorated for christmas, while we listened to christmas carols on the radio.  It was always something I looked forward to.
Nowadays it's rare to find entire neighborhoods all decked out in the season's best, each trying to outdo the other. Obviously things like rising electricity costs, and everybody trying their best to "go green" and do their part to preserve the planet for the next generation ( myself included) have changed things alot since then . That being said, seeing any kind of christmas lights, whether outdoors or indoors up along the top of my kitchen cupboards ( like the ones in the photo) always hit me with nostalgia every time I see them.
I hope every single one of you had a chance to admire twinkling christmas lights this year. I hope every one of you had a wonderful christmas full of love and laughter.
For those of you who didn't, my heart goes out to you, I wish I could wrap you up in my arms and warm your heart with my words. A new year is coming upon us, A year to make changes, to take chances,  to forgive and to heal, a year to clear away the cobwebs in your heart and just let it shine like it was meant to.  If no one else has told you you're loved, I'll tell you: YOU ARE LOVED MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. If you don't have a mama to tell you "I love you, I support your dreams, I believe in you" then let me be the one to say it! I'll be your bloggie mama, hahaha.
So take a long look at the twinkling lights and let their bright little bulbs shine love into your heart and hope into your soul.
 Hugs and Hope for a new year,
-J

Project #48- Birthday Candle

WHAT: My son's 8th's birthday party
WHEN: December 10th
WHERE: at home =)

This was the cake I pulled together at the last second - he had wanted a penguin cake but I couldnt find a moulded pan anywhere for that, and we were running out of time to get it baked before the party, so he decided that a skateboard cake would make the cut, haha (Plus, he got to keep all the funky plastic miniature skateboards after!)

Instead of the usual candles, I decided that "sparkler" candles would be more exciting. Then I decided that taking a photo of the candle once it was lit might make a fun photo.

So there we have it.
 P.S. - the cake was really yummy! hee hee =)

cakes and candles shooting sparks everywhere,

-J

Project #47 - Puppy Love!

This cutie here, is Mack ... ( aka "Mackaroo")

And this is Mercedes (aka "Sadie", aka "Giant Ball of Fur") hahaha

 Let me tell you, they LOOK like quiet little angels in the photos here, but photographing pets of any kind can be a challenge, and at times a royal nightmare, which thankfully was not the case this time.  These two adorable "babies" belong to friends of mine, whose family portaits I was honored to take recently, the first weekend it snowed.
Mack is a boxer, and Sadie is a miniature American Eskimo. These are two of the sweetest, most gentle puppies ever. My kids LOVE these dogs! 
I get a kick out of the fact that Mack is nearly 3 times the size of Sadie, yet he thinks he's her size!  He's younger than her and wants to do everything Sadie does, including curling up on my lap, haha.
We had a great family session, although it was so cold the only ones who didnt mind being outside were the dogs. They played and chased each other, and Mack ignored me when I called to him to look at the camera - he was too busy watching the ducks!
Here they are running together...  I love the sense of motion in this one! 

Here they all are, with Mack staring at the ducks haha

We had a fantastic morning, and celebrating it by warming up in a restaurant over a yummy sunday brunch =)

Puppy Love and Sunday Brunches,

-J

DOUBLE WHAMMY! Projects #45 & #46

Alright!
Since I've had to improvise with my computer due to what we'll call the Great Multitasking Incident of 2011   (or GMI '11, or "What Was I Thinking?"), hahaha  I am going to be super efficient in a no-nail-polish-of-any-sort-anywhere-near-the-computer kind of way. I'm going to post TWO projects in ONE post. (I know, I'm such a badass, hahaha)
SO....
 Project #45 is gonna go a little something like this: The Ordinarily Extraordinary

Just an ordinary coffee cup, right? WRONG!  This is a hand painted cup, with the house painted on it having been one of actual houses buried by lava from the volcano Eldfell on Iceland's tiny island of  Heimaey (Vestmannaeyjar)  back in the infamous eruption in 1973.   This cup belongs to a cafe, which belongs to the owners who have lived on this island their whole lives ( as most of the islanders have) . They started the cafe , called Vinaminni, as a tribute to honor those who had lived on the island and  fought Nature itself to save their island and preserve their homes and way of life.  The owner's wife was kind enough to sit down with me and share her story of  what happened the night of the eruption (she was 17 years old at the time, and dating the man who is now her husband). Not only was it an extraodinary story of bravery and resilience, but hers is one of the sweetest love stories I've ever heard!   She also happened to mention that houses back then did not have just numbers for addresses, they had names.  (again, VERY small town, haha) This particular house bore the name Vinaminni Uraaorvegi 5. 
The house painted on the cup is what that house actually looked like, and belonged to a beloved little elderly lady, whom my cafe hostess herself as a child once asked " can you be my grandma?" hahaha, too cute!
Vinaminni literally means "remember your friends", which is a perfect name for their cafe.  Her husband, ridiculously talented that he is, not only hnadpainted every single coffee cup in the place with a different house,  he is also the chef, and a musician!  She herself is quite an artist in the multimedia department:. she made the ceiling of the cafe look like you're sitting beneath lava of an erupting volcano!   which brings us to :

Project  #46 Volcanic Artwork

Yes, this is the ceiling in Vinaminni,  which is actually a collage of photos of lava from all different volcanos, and superimposed over each other in layers, to get the final effect, then lit up from behind.
The tables all have photos on them, under glass, of houses and families from the island who were here in 1973, and what their stories were.  How I wish I were in Iceland again, chattiing in the cafe over a steaming cup of coffee and stuffing my face with the most amazingly delicious crepes I've ever had!  Her english is very good ( as is alot of icelanders, actually) and her accent is so beautiful and she is such a skilled storyteller, it makes you want to sit and just listen to her talk for hours!  haha
Did I mention? It's extremely hard to find a cupcake anywhere in Iceland, I was convinced that I couldnt find one ANYWHERE!  Not  even in the bakeries! But this li'l place had the BEST cupcakes I'd had in , well, weeks! 

Typing From A KeyBoard That's Not Mine, and Wishing I Had A Cupcake,
-J

Things That Make Ya Go, "DOH!"

Ya know those days when you're charging along so well and getting so much done, that you just KNOW something is bound to happen to trip you up?  I had one of those days last week, when I got everything done on my "to do" list in record time, and decided to reward myself by relaxing with a funny movie before going to bed.  So I crawled into bed with my laptop, and then, being the Queen of Multitasking that I am, I figured I should use my time more efficiently by painting some nail growth solution on my poor neglected nails while I watched. (something I've done dozens of times before)
Well,
 Long story short, my poor laptop is now in the tech shop awaiting a new keyboard, since the current one is totally fried.
DOH!
Serves me right for trying to be efficient! hahaha
I'm going to try not to let this get me behind in my photo projects, since we are SO close to the end of the year and the end of the projects! Depending on how long I have to wait for the new one to be shipped, I may try to plug in an external keyboard for now, and go about my posting that way.
And lets just say, this is one lesson learned the hard way that will only ever be learned ONCE, hahaha

Keyboards and Kicking Myself,
-J

The Season's Warmest Greetings . . .

 . . . come from this lovely lady right here! 

This is my very dear friend (and beloved mentor) Barb, who makes the most beautiful  handmade greeting cards for every possible occasion. I snapped this photo of her at a craft show with my phone, so I apologize for the poor quality.

Not only does she make the most creative, visually stunning cards you've ever seen, but she also makes whimsical little gift boxes for even the smallest of gifts. (Like, for wrapping handmade original jewellery for a loved one perhaps?)  Not only that, but for anyone trying to go "green". you should know that these cards are made from recycled materials, 'cuz my friend is one of the most resourceful creative thinker I've ever met! I'm constantly amazed at how she manages to turn little odds and ends she finds into amazing treasures. I'm in awe of how she discovers new ways to use everything from vintage jewellery to leftover ribbons to glue guns to nail polish! ( And here I thought fixing my boots with my hot glue gun was pretty inventive  hahaha!)   She also fashions the most precious miniature decorative birdhouses (seen in the photo above hanging from the iron "tree" there) .

For those of you with busy schedules, who never seem to have the time or energy to pick out that Perfect card for a loved one, you"ll find what you're looking for from this creative genius here! And if you're anything like me and have trouble even just keeping track of what day of the week it is, hahaha,  my thoughtful friend offers the service of providing early reminders to those of us who tend to be on the forgetful side! (To some of you husbands out there, you will never have to worry about forgetting an anniversary or your mother-in-law's birthday again! haha) So again, to see some amazing handmade sweetness for your soul, go ahead and click on this link

Greetings that are like hugs for your soul,

-J

Project #44 - The Largest Pipe Organ Ive Ever Seen

I KNOW, RIGHT?! 

|This is honestly the biggest pipe organ I have ever seen. Sure, there may be larger ones out there, but this one broke the record forones Ive seen in my lifetime so far, haha.

As mentioned in my last post, this was the organ I sleepily stared at in the cathedral as I waited for the impending checkin time for my flat so I could finally SLEEP!

Below is a photo I took from another angle to show you how big "them pipes" were in relation to the organ's keyboard on the ground below. To get the angle, I had to lay down on the floor next to the foot pedals. This was a dangerous move, not because of the massive tourist foot traffic (which there was alot of) but becuase I nearly fell asleep as soon as I hit the floor, hahaha.

See how gi-normous those organ pipes are? They took up the whole wall of the cathedral! Now that's what I call A Strong set Of Pipes!  

Ahem,

I'm sorry, I must still be tired, hahaha

Pipe Organs and Naps on the Floor,

- J

Project #43 Arches

|

This is that same church in Iceland, from the inside. I arrived in Reykjevik at 6 am and by the time I got into the city itself it was almost 8 am. I hadn't slept all night ( I can't sleep on planes very well, - I am a nervous flier to begin with) so I was exhausted. Unfortunately I couldnt check into the flat until noon, so I ate breakfast, and then tried to find somewhere to rest until then, so that I wouldnt have to lug around all my luggage in the pouring rain.

I sought sanctuary in this,  well,, sanctuary-  and rested in the pews as I listened to the organist play the largest pipe organ I've ever seen.  I spent alot of time taking photos in there, more to amuse myself and try to stay awake than anything else, hahaha. Honestly, at that point I just needed sleep. (I did go back another day and fully enjoyed the time exploring.)

Here is one of my favorite shots , taken from a slouched half laying, half sitting position in the pews, becuase I was too tired to stand up, hahaha.

Project #42 - HOT SPOT

This is the famous BLUE LAGOON just outside Reykjavik, Iceland.  The natural hot spring lagoon was created when the leftover water used in the country's geothermal water supply was pumped out, and formed a basin where the mineral rich piping hot spring water collected in a pool of azure bliss.   Because the water is so warm, the lagoon is open year round and is one of the country's biggest tourist attractions.
I had hoped the water would be "hot-tub" temperature, but it turned out to feel just a little warmer than baby-safe bathwater, haha. That is, until I discovered the pipes running along the edges of the lagoon, that carried in the piping hot water up from its smoldering underground hideout.  I huddled in the "hot spots' ( which were indeed hotter than any hot tub I've ever been in) and I cleverly followed the "hot spots' as they drifted around, hahaha

They also had buckets of white silica mud all around the lagoon. You're supposed to slather it on your skin,  face, neck, arms, back, wherever you want really, to give you skin a spa-like cleansing mask treatment. I have never seen so many people with white-mud caked faces. We all looked like the extras' cast in a Twilight movie, hahaha!

Watching the white snow fall and wishing I was covered in white mud again,
-J

THINGS I HAVE LEARNED . . .

There's learning hard lessons, and then there's learning lessons the hard way. I seem to be prone to the latter more often than I care for. Regardless, I have learned alot in my almost-32 years on this earth, and I feel I should pass along some of these hard-learned lessons in hopes that it might spare a few hearts from alot of stress, pain and anxiety.  So for those of you who are NOT like me, and are wise enough to learn from the mistakes of others, haha,. here they are:

32 Things I have learned....

1.  The learning curve for raising children is a steep one; It requires a ton of patience, and a sense of humour!

2.  When you don't know whether to laugh or cry, choose to laugh. Sometimes I do both at the same time.

3.You can't run FROM your problems, but going FOR a run can help find perspective..

4.  No one is in control of your happiness except for YOU. Happiness is a choice, it's not based on circumstance.

5. Stepping on "Lego" toys pieces still hurts, no matter how old you are!

6.  People will only treat you the way you allow them to.  You need to stand up for yourself if you want respect.

7. Occasionally, ice cream really IS the best thing to eat for dinner!.

8. I  didn't fully appreciate how much my parents did for me, until I was a parent myself.

9. Junk is something you keep for years and then throw away 2 weeks before you need it.

10. Everyone in this life will at some point let you down or hurt you. You just have to decide which ones are worth suffering for. (Paraphrased quote from Bob Marley)

11. Your mind is a battlefield. Defend it

12. I can't choose which life paths my children will take, all I can do is prepare them for the journey.

13. Dance in the rain. Seriously.  Do it.

14. Your friends are the "family" you get to choose,  so choose wisely.

15. I can't always trust my feelings, because I can feel 20 different ways about the same thing in 5 minutes.

16. I may not FEEL like doing the "right thing" but I can still CHOOSE to do it anyway.

17.  Noone on earth has all the answers.  Not even Mom.

18.  You can grow bitter, or you can grow better.

19.  Achieving important goals makes me feel so good I want to set more!

20. Obstacles are nothing to be afraid of, they are just opportunities in disguise.

21. "Giving up" is not something I am accustomed to, but sometimes the healthiest choice is actually to drop my gloves and step out of the ring.

22. Trust is the willingness to risk betrayal. You can't wait for the risk to be eliminated before you trust someone, cause the risk will always be there.  (That's where the trust comes in.)

23. Just because you love someone, doesn't mean they're any good for you. If you are suffering in an abusive relationship, and you need help to get out,  go to http://www.thehotline.org/  or contact your local shelter and counselling/resource centre. For children under the age of 18 suffering in an abusive family situation, go to http://www.childhelp.org/pages/hotline 

24. Leaving the cell phone turned off for a weekend can do wonders for the soul.(freeeeeedooooooom!)

25. Wearing suncreen today will prevent the "leather handbag" look tomorrow, haha

26. I'm alot stronger than I ever thought I was. So are you. Our greatest strengths grow out of our biggest weaknesses.  ( And I have alot of weaknesses, haha!)

27. People come into your life for a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime. 
28. Asparagus makes your pee smell funny!
29. Just.   Breathe
30. <---- Really isnt such a scary number!
31. LISTEN before you speak,  THINK before you act.

32. Stop believing your soulmate is simply your perfect match.   "...a true soulmate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave." (from the book 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert)

I hope that some of these were helpful, or inspiring, or at least amusing -  even if it was just to put a smile on your face!

Huge hugs and life lessons from my heart to yours,
-J

Ten Years Ago Today . . .

 Ten years ago today, I held this awesome little dude in my arms for the first time, and fell head-over-heels for this precious baby boy of mine!   I feel so incredibly blessed to have  my constant lil' sidekick!
Once a upon a time he was only 6 lbs, 10 oz. and measured just 21 inches long!  Now when he stands next to me, his head comes to my shoulders! I know it won't be long before he whizzes past my lil" 5'2" self! ha ha ha
Yup, my first born baby hit a major life milestone today, with the double-digit birthday. I am so proud of my son!  He is one of the awesome-est people I have ever met. He makes me laugh so much, and he has brought so much joy and happiness into my life. His sensitive nature and compassionate heart make him a thoughtful, caring person who just wants to make everyone around him feel comfortable and included. He makes friends easily and shares freely. He is a fantastic little helper! He's incredibly bright, has a fantastic sense of humor, and endless energy.  He is the sunshine in my day.
Sometimes I wish he was just a little newborn baby again, so I could have just one more chance to scoop him up in my arms and rock him and sing him to sleep, since he is way to big and heavy for me to do that now!  I remember when he would cup my face with his chubby little toddler hands, look at me with his enormous blue eyes just inches away from mine, and tell me, " I yuv you, mama!"
Now I just enjoy every quick hug and the "bye, mom!" he gives me before he runs out the door to ride his bike with his friends.
I treasure every moment I get to have with this kid, because in just 8 short years, he will be graduating high school and beginning the next chapter of his precious life as he sets out on adventures on his own! ( But lets stop talking about that for now, hahaha)
So, 
 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE DUDE!  Love, Mom =)    

Beaming With Pride, and Brimming with (nostalgic) Tears,
-J

Project #41 - "Ice Rose"

As always, Nature has a way of creating beautiful things, and then keeping them hidden away, like a beautiful secret that is rarely discovered.

This is an "ice rose" formed under a glacier that is only revealed once the glacier begins to melt away and small tunnels and caves appear to give you a glimpse. 

 It would have been so easy to stomp on past and not take the time to notice it, and within hours it would have melted away without anyone ever knowing of it's existence.  

Life is precious -  temporary and fleeting.  It's the small things that make life rich and memorable.  Take the time to notice what's around you, you never know when it might be disappear forever.

Project #40 STAINED GLASS (Finally!)

I finally got my stained glass project photo done! I only had to go all the way to Iceland to get it, hahaha. This was in the church from the previous post. 

And speaking of glass, my next post will be on a building in Rekjavik made of colour-changing glass -  but more on that in the next post.

 Happy Friday everyone!

Project 39 - European Church

May I present one of the most recent additions to the Reykjavik`s skyline ......

Hallgrimskirkja!

Pronounced ``hal-grim-skir-cah``

Thanks to this church, with its 75 metre high tower, we were able to navigate the city quite well since it could be seen from almost everywhere! My flat was on the same street, so thankfully even with my severe lack of a sense of direction, I could always find my way home =)

The statue in front is the viking Leifur Eiriksson, one of Iceland`s first settlers.

Project 38 - This One`s For You, Serena!

 

The Icelandic Horse

Now, some of you may hate me after I admit this, but truthfully, most horses don`t impress me. Don`t get me wrong, I have a healthy respect for this powerful animal. Oh who am I kidding, I`m downright terrified of them!

I WAS impressed with the Icelandic horses, however.

Short but sturdy, the Icelandic horse arrived in Iceland with the early Norse settlers, and the country`s breeding stock is pure. This gentle animal is put to work during the country`s fall sheep roundup. (Which, let me tell you, is quite a job considering the abundance of sheep in this country!)

MY favourite thing about these horses?  They POSED for me!  I have never had such willing participants, hahahaha! I stopped along the side of the road, and they came right over and posed while I snapped away. They totally made my day.

If you`re curious about the title of this post, my friend Serena loves horses, and since I couldn`t exactly bring one back for her, I thought I would dedicate a blog post to her.

 This one`s for you, Serena =)

Project 37 - MYSTIC CLIFFS



And speaking if all things magical and otherworldly......

These cliffs and obscure rock formations lined the southeast shoreline along the famous Ring Road.  I loved how the atlantic waves breaking along the base of the cliffs sent plumes of mist into the afternoon sunshine, casting a mystical radiance over them.

Project 36 Nature's Rock Fortress (?)

Fun Fact: More than 60% of Icelanders believe in the possible existence of elves.

Well, I think I found their fortress, haha =) On the drive following the Ring Road along the southeast coast of Iceland, I came across this rock formation that seemed so unnaturally flat and symmetrical. It rose majestically from the flat plains on either side of the road, almost appearing ethereal by comparison to the surrounding landscape.

Project 35 - THE ICEBERG

Jokulsarlon, or "the iceberg lagoon" is seriously one of the most magical places on earth, particularly at sunset. I don't need to give a long description for this one.  After all, a picture says a thousand words.
Enjoy.

Project 34 - VOLCANO

Because Eyjafjallajökull is SOOOOOO easy to pronounce.....

This is the volcano known as Eyjafjallajökull, or more commonly known as "that big volcano that erupted last year and caused massive air travel problems for Northern Europe".

I personally found it incredible that the farm resting peacefully at the base of the volcano went completely unharmed, even though destructive mudslides of ash and meltwater raced down the mountain side from a glacier near the summit. The south side of the volcano where the farm sits was mostly untouched by last year's eruption.

Project 33 - GEYSIR

This is the original Geysir that all other geysers were named after, in Geysir, Iceland.
The scalding water (about 80 - 100 F) would erupt every 4-6 minutes, shooting the piping hot water on average about 10 metres into the air, and as luck would have it, sending a wall of steam blowing in the direction I was standing =)

Project #32 - GLACIER

A glacier on top of a volcano, in Skaftafell, Iceland.

I got to stomp around on this glacier (it was my first time getting to wear cramp-ons!) which was the most incredible experience ever. Which was also slightly unnerving considering the glacier was atop one of Iceland's active volcanos. But it was amazing.

 Here's more photos of my glacier adventure.....

Tying on my cramp-ons......

Project #31 GHOST TOWN

This is the abandoned ghost town of Molson, WA. (USA). It made for a fantastic photo adventure!.  

You can go into all the buildings, the bank,  the lawyers office, the shingle mill, the mining company's shop, and a couple homesteads as well. 

I added a few photos so you can see it as well.....

The bank......

The printing press....

A homestead.....

What was probably the main (and only) street.....

A typical one room cabin homestead....

Inside the cabin....  I'm sure the historical society thought that adding the mannequins would make it somehow more realistic,but I personally thought it would have been better without them.....  

This sign made me laugh.....

Not the very first schoolhouse, but still an original structure from when the town was functional.  It now exists as the historical society's museum.

I hope you enjoyed coming along on this historical adventure,  a step back in time to the year 1901.

Ghost towns and distant ringing school bells,

-J

Project #30 - Bell Tower

This very bell tower once graced the top of the very first schoolhouse in the pioneer town of Old Molson, WA. (USA) in 1901.

Now it sits alone in the center of the abamdoned ghost town.

Which leads me to my NEXT project.....

-J

Project #29 :Vintage

Doesn"t it just make you want to reach out and plunk a few keys, just to hear that clickety clack sound? As much as I adore this vintage typewriter ( from the year 1900!) I'm not sure I would have gotten along with one of these very well, I use the backspace button on my computer far too regularly, hahaha.  They didnt have white-out liquid paper back then either, so it probably would have taken me an hour just to type a paragraph the size of this post here!

Well, I'm off to post another photo project for you, and type a post to go with it,  while probably hitting the backspace key at least 2,467 times, hee hee =)

Wishing my computer keyboard made loud clickety-clack sounds,

-J

Project #28 The Randomly Bizarre Part II - the Tin-man!

Once again, it was a case of driving along when I saw this and went "whaaaaaaa....?"" So I pulled over to get a closer look. Yep, its a tin man alright. It was an advertising gimmick. ( which I have to say, it caught my attention! )   and no, I did not follow a "yellow brick road" to get there, hahaha.  

Tin Men and regular asphalt paved roads,

-J 

Project #27 - Rooftop Statues

This is one of many statues which can be seen around the Spirit Ridge Resort.  I was up on the roof to get this photo, which was sort of fun in itself. 

Since I am posting alot this week, adn since it is getting late I will be keeping these posts short and sweet.

(I'm pretty sure I just heard a cheer go up, hahaha)

Rooftops and Statues,

-J

Project #26 Waterfalls Part II - Helmecken Falls

I took this one not specifically because of the waterfall itself, but becuase of the awesome looking bowl shaped cavern behind it, caused by thousands of years of erosion.

I will be posting all week to catch up on my projects here, as has become my usual frantic pace when I realize I've done a little too much gallavanting and not enough posting!

I hope you are all enjoyng your summer, or in other parts of the world, your winter! 

Project #25 The Steam Engine

Train travel has always been my favorite transportation of choice.  But a vintage STEAM ENGINE?  Now we're really talkin'! I can't explain my endless fascination with steam trains. I love the sound of that whistle too! 

My sons loved trains from a very young age also,  Partly because when my oldest son was barely a toddler, a train went by our house almost 6 times a day.  So to keep him from being afraid of the loud racket and the house shaking, I would run him to the upstairs window so he could watch the train go by.  He loved waving and yelling ``choo choo``as it went by, and this began his childhood obession with trains. Of course when his brother was born, he naturally followed suit.  They still have their wooden track  and train set ( thank you, makers of |Thomas the Tank Engine, hahaha) and  all their 6,452 trains and accessories that went along with it , hehe.

I took the boys on a 90 minute train ride just a couple weeks ago, and they loved it!  They were given "bingo" cards and pencils to try to spy as many things along the trip on the cards as they could.  There was also a guy playing the banjo for entertainment as we rode!  The view through the valley we rode through was breaktaking. Wine country really is stunning.  Here are a few more photos of our train adventure day

I`d love to sbare more about our fun train adventure, but it:s 12:30 am and I`ve already accidently selected and erased this entiire post TWICE already, and I have a killer headache already that I just don`t feel I can stay up to deal with any longer: hahaha

 I need to get to bed before I fall asleep with the computer on my lap.

Lots of Advil and not-too-loud  train whistles,

-J