Catch up

Assorted photos from the week:


Chris Isaak song stuck in my head all day, a perfect sound track for these views: "Thinking of the one I love, you're the one I'm dreaming of, San Francisco days, San Francisco nights."


Happy birthday, Virgil!


The pear trees in the front yard have buds.

This hula girl was a gift from a student my first year of teaching. She brought humor and whimsy to the classroom, reminding my students (well, ok, me) not to take things so seriously. I was upset that she got broken, but honestly, it's a miracle she lasted nearly 9 years in a middle school classroom!

Feb 24

Crocuses have begun to bloom!

Feb 23

Isn't the first day back after time off just so hard? Knowing I'm not a morning person in the first place, Mr. Time on Her Hands knew I'd be extra cranky this morning. He surprised me by making a coffee run while I was getting ready. My students should probably send him thank you notes.

Feb 21

Yuck! Those grey bumps in the center of this cabbage is a mass of bugs! I've lost three plants to these pests... so frustrating.

Feb 20

We played in the far end of this field for about an hour before we walked around to the front where we could read the sign. Ooops.

Feb 19-Darwin Day

It's been sunny today and yesterday so I got some weeding done in the garden and threw some Black-eyed Susan seeds around near the lemon tree. Mr. Hands came home, saw the seed packet, and said, "Oh, it's Darwin day." Well, I hope they come up. I bought a seed packet when he was getting the sheetrock only to discover I already had one. At least I know I'll still like this plant in a few seasons since I liked it enough to buy seeds twice!

Feb 18

Love the pretty foam swirl the baristas at our cafe make. I'm off work for the week, so I got to drop by for brunch. I just felt unsettled the whole time, like I was going to get caught for playing hookey!

Feb 17

There's a swanky fusion restaurant in our town; it opened about two years ago and got so popular the owners decided to move into a bigger space across the street. Renovations took forever and by the time they opened again, the economy changed and, sadly, the restaurant doesn't seem to have the same bustle or energy as before. 'Course, the old place was so small, the dining spilled out on to the sidewalk in nice weather, so the bigger place may just keep things more contained!

We hadn't been to see the new place, and since I had a post-Valentine's day date rain check, plus we usually go out to commemorate the day we began dating but hadn't done so yet, here we were. The food tastes great and the spectacle of it all is fun--our appetizer came to our table in a cloud of dry ice! My camera phone just isn't up to the task of capturing something like that.

Feb 16

"Let's go letterboxing," I said.
"You've got to be kidding me," he said.

He's really a very, very good sport!

Feb 15

Rainy days make for interesting times at the Farmers' Market.

Feb 14

I got sheetrock for Valentine's Day, which is pretty much the most perfect, romantic gift.

Feb 13

Feb 12

The book I am currently wrestling with--I mean, reading.

Feb 11

Winter out my window.

Feb 10

Permission to indulge! Hair salon. Six week intervals. Totally necessary for my mental health. It's the kind of thing I would have scoffed at not so long ago. But then one day I had a hair emergency and literally wandered into this place. They fixed me up and I happily repented my evil once-a-year-maybe bargain hair cut ways.

Feb 9

Cows on my commute.

Feb 8

Via the Panama Canal Webcam, we were able to watch my parents travel through the Miraflores Locks! They are in the channel farthest from the webcam. In the forefront is the stern end of a ferry boat followed by two sailboats rafted together. Behind that are three sailboats tied together, and they are in the center one.

Going through the Panama Canal requires having several "line handlers," so my parents volunteer to be line handlers for friends traveling through since they intend to keep sailing their catamaran along the Gulf.

They tell me the most challenging part of the whole thing is the awful bus ride back!

Bon voyage, Mom and Dad, and smooth sailing to your Pacific-bound friends on Garamar.

Feb 6

Yin and Yang.

Feb 5

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Feb 4

Winter on my street.