August, 2003's logo. From the Sacramento, California Train Museum

Splash page...

The Thursday Threesome...

Onesome--Happy When you think about being happy, what comes to mind? Is there something that always gives you a smile no matter how down you may be? Music. There are some songs that can make me smile no matter what...

Twosome--Thanksgiving In the US, it's Thanksgiving. But we can all be thankful. Tell us, what are YOU thankful for? That someone came home safely today...

Threesome--2003 It's getting close to the end of another year. As you begin to reflect back, pick out a couple of good things that have happened this year. Yeah, we all have the bad, but today, just focus on the good! I've made some new friends, developed some new skills and been able to share both...

How about you? Drop by and let us know, over on The Back Porch...

Come on over and chat!

Happy Thanksgiving from the gang at the Back Porch!

11/27/2003, 1218

Splash page...

Sure, why not...

11/27/2003, 0031

Any thoughts on that?
Thursday 11/27/2003, 0015

Runways on the Aztec plateau?

The roof of the car this morning....

Nope, just the obligatory frost photo...

11/26/2003, 0157

Any thoughts on that?
Wednesday 11/26/2003, 0012

Night and day...

Out for a walk after dark...


On the way in to work...

Not a bad day for pics...

11/25/2003, 0025

Any thoughts on that?
Tuesday 11/25/2003, 0012

Sunset...

...behind the trees.

A larger, broader picture is available in the desktops...

I thought maybe something a little bit peaceful to start off what might be a hectic week for some...

11/24/2003, 0005

Any thoughts on that?
Monday 11/24/2003, 0001

First frost...

While we were waiting for the early game to start, Daniel and I wandered over the next field. The sun was slowly taking its toll on the frost line, but there was still some exploring to do as the shadows abandoned the white to its fate...

Sun and frost and shadow...

A last chance?

A plant within the white zone...

Daniel's find, a spider web within a critter burrow...

(Slightly enhanced for clarity)

11/23/2003, 0118

Any thoughts on that?
Sunday 11/23/2003, 0005

Corner kick...

That little goalie in blue is about to 'sky' and get that ball...

11/22/2003, 2222

Any thoughts on that?
Saturday 11/22/2003, 2215

The metaphor for the past week...

As the sun rises over the fence...

Whew...

11/21/2003, 2205

Any thoughts on that?
Friday 11/21/2003, 2130

The Thursday Threesome...

(From the Blatant Plug Division of the Back Porch)

Onesome: Holiday Sweets-- What is your favorite holiday sweet? You know, the one you only really can get your hands on once a year? Homemade almond roca. Oh, yeah, baby!!! Shelley's mom used to make it before she passed on; now I get it from Shelley's brother's wife's mother. Finest kind...

Twosome: Recipe-- ...and can you get the recipe for it? ...or is this one of those closely guarded family secrets handed down mother to daughter. ...and hey? What about us guys? How are we ever supposed to figure out how to do this stuff? ...or should we even try <g>? I haven't tried yet, but I suspect this is something I'll have to learn to do myself! But hey...

Threesome: Exchange-- But if you do have that recipe and you can bear to share, why not stop over at the exchange and drop it off? Barring that: do you routinely exchange sweets at holiday time? Yeah? What kinds? ...maybe someone out there has a recipe for it and can pass it along over at the exchange? That would be cool. I mean, I've already contributed!

Holiday Sweets Recipe Exchange

How about you? What satisfies your sweet tooth? Drop by and let us know, over on The Back Porch...

Come on over and chat!

11/20/2003, 2219

Season's end?

From my favorite bush at the neighbor's...

The miniatures one house further away don't seem to think so.

Lower to the ground seems to be working...

11/20/2003, 0045

Any thoughts on that?
Thursday 11/20/2003, 0030

Easily amused...

Really, I am. ...especially if I can catch a free moment and not have to be doing something. I just came back from the store where I ran across a chicklette who reminded me of a TV ad I saw last night. (Shelley came in and turned the Evil Box on while I was working here; I don't watch much TV, so I'm endlessly surprised by ads I haven't seen. ...which is most of them.) The ad showed a goth gal receiving a 'gift card' to an upscale ladies dress shop. She didn't fit in well there, what with the overly solicitous sales staff and the clothes only her mother and her friends would wear. ...and then the scene shifts to what would happen if she had received a prefilled credit card gift card as she wanders into a shop more to her style. ...and where the sales gal from her own age bracket more are less just nods at her as she enters. I'm not sure how accurate that is, but then I got to thinking that neither goth chicks nor I are the target demographic for the ad; they're really after the ladies who frequent the first dress shop and who have little goth chick nieces and no clue what to get them!

...and that bring us back to Miss "I'm Working On My Attitude" at the store, as she shepherded her wayward younger siblings towards Mom, which freed her up to revert from 'helpful big sister' to 'teen chick who doesn't give a rip'. ...and I thought about that ad. ...but even better was the bit where her family got in line behind me and she wandered off from "those people" and moved in front of me, dragging herself toward the exit as every teen chick has since time began. ...just as a bag boy came in the door.

...and I so loved the next twenty-two seconds. ...as her body posture changed radically. ...and his face lit up ("chick my age" was all I think his brain registered) and he dropped into the current teen swagger. ...and he cheerfully greeted me as he went by (so she could pick up on his new voice, 'cause I sure didn't know him). ...and she dropped back into her 'posture of oppressed teen' and headed over to check out the Thanksgiving bears.

For those keeping score: mine are twelve and nine...

11/19/2003, 2312

Night school...

Playing at school after dusk...

11/19/2003, 0005

Any thoughts on that?
Wednesday 11/19/2003, 0001

Shameless shilling...

Let's see... Close enough. Here are a few Christmas links in case you are in need of something different than what you'll find at the local Target!

Hmmm... Sarah has added candles to her soaps and bath products:

Loveland Soapworks

...and Lori is now selling cards in addition to her other artwork!

Art cards from Lolo!

That crazy neighbor lady, the one with the chocolate fetish, has her annual List-o-Links up for the places she shills for (I have to admit to using one or two of them myself <g>).

...and if you are interesting in just a little give and take, the Back Porch is putting on a recipe exchange. Nope, nothing to buy; just enjoy...

Holiday Sweets for all!

That may give you an idea or two...

11/18/2003, 2235

Somehow it seems fitting...

Autumn, on the way to school this morning...

11/18/2003, 2110

Any thoughts on that?
Tuesday 11/18/2003, 2049

Signs of the times...

At the store...

Rough day, rough hands?

On the way to the store...

Definitely how to kick back...

I know: easily distracted...

11/17/2003, 2322

Any thoughts on that?
Monday 11/17/2003, 2301

Distance...

Well, since Moosie is safely back home from Anchorage, I guess I can post the answer to last week's guessing game. I'm sure you'll understand I wanted all the distance I could get... I mean Kenai is far enough away I think I'm safe; Anchorage was just too close!

You'll recall how dirty the air has been here? When it finally rained, the accumulation of dust on the open weave umbrella over the patio table made its way onto the table. Quite a mess...

Not quite level...

Now do you see why I wanted some distance <g>? Not to mention that fence in the background is on the north side of the property. ...which makes those vertical streaks more or less "Northern Lights".

I'll be going now...

11/16/2003, 2211

Any thoughts on that?
Sunday 11/16/2003, 2133

Parallel universes...

Friday was a day of lines, both inside...

...and outside.


11/15/2003, 2141

Any thoughts on that?
Saturday 11/15/2003, 2133

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