Pictastory: In which I almost get kicked out of a museum

This actually isn't exactly a good Pictastory entry as I don't have a picture to go with the main idea. But that's precisely the point.

Back in nineteen ninety something my family took a trip out east and stopped in Washington, DC. My mom, sister and I spent part of the time in the National Gallery of Art. I remember gazing with reverence at paintings that I had studied in my college Humanities class. I wanted to document the experience by taking pictures. A near-by guard kindly explained that I was welcome to take pictures as long as the flash was off. He helpfully suggested that if I stood at an angle to the picture, I would likely not have a glare when I had them developed. (Yes, this was before digital cameras. Call me ancient!) I have a number of pictures of paintings I had either studied or just liked.

Fast forward almost ten years and I'm in the British National Gallery of Art. Based on my previous experience I have my digital camera ready to go and excited that I would be able to document the paintings I would see. Being the upstanding citizen that I am, I approached a museum employee/volunteer to verify that I could take pictures.

I still remember the look of absolute horror on her face. It was like I had offered her a plate of fried eyeballs--curry or sweet and sour? I slunk away completely embarrassed. How was I to know the British considered taking pictures of paintings akin to treason? Sheesh!

It hadn't helped that when we had visited the British Museum the day before I could take pictures of whatever I wanted. Like this copy of the Discus Thrower:

Or the Rosetta Stone (focus isn't that great):

Or how about sections of the Parthenon:


Feel free to takes pictures of any and all. Just don't point anything at a painting.

Pictastory: Happy Birthday Munchkin!

I have the pleasure of living close enough to my sister and her family to see them fairly often. The result is that I have lots of pictures and videos of the kiddos. Since today is my niece's birthday, I thought I would post some of my favorite pics and movies beginning with the earliest. Enjoy!


Three Months: Baths are great!



Six Months: Roll over, Baby!




Six Months: Yep, you'll get lots of nutrients from that!


Six Months: Chug that rice cereal!


Six Months: Mom, is this what I'll look like when I grow up?


Eleven Months: Yeah, I can walk, sort of.





One Year: My First Cake


One Year: Grandpa, I love this slide thing.



One Year and Three Weeks: I love to accessorize!



Twenty-Two Months: Gotta get this cleaned up for Daddy's birthday!



Twenty-Two Months: Now lets see, yesterday I watered the tomatoes . . .


Twenty-Three Months: I love to help!



Twenty-Three Months: Leaf anyone?




Twenty-Three Months: Oma, that thing's kinda big.



Two years and Eight Months: Got Sand? I'll take it!


Two Years and Eight Months: Look Dad--the rock splashed!


Two Years and Eight Months: If I do it just right, maybe it will go in.



Two Years and Nine Months: Just chillin'


Two Years and Nine Months: Posing with Great-Grandma



Two Years and Nine Months: Daddy's lap is the best!


Two Years and Nine Months: Impromptu Swim in Zion



Two Years and Nine Months: Clue to what's happening here-- "I don't think we should keep daisies in the garden. They really are drab little flowers."


Two Years, Eleven Months: Pure Happiness!

I love you sweetie!

Pictastory: The day I fixed the dishwasher

Since it takes me almost a whole week to generate enough dishes to warrant using the dishwasher, I usually wash my dishes by hand. I still use the dish washer, but as the dish drainer. It holds a lot more and doesn't clutter the counter. I know previous roommates have had differing opinions on the process, but I like it.

There are time when there is justification for using this machine--as long as it is working. I don't remember what the occasion was, but some of my Utah roommates and I wanted to use the dishwasher and it wasn't working. The water would not drain from the bottom of the thing causing stinking standing water.

Not willing to pay someone else to fix it unless I absolutely had to, I undertook to figure it out myself. As you can see from the picture, I pulled out the washer and fiddled with the tubing underneath. I managed to unhook a bunch of things before discovering that the problem was a plastic tie that jammed the fan and could be removed without pulling the dishwasher out. Oh well. I'm guessing that the candles were there to alleviate the smell generated by standing water. Savvy, on the other hand, was no help at all. I tell you, cats these days!

Pictastory: Cat in a Box

My cats are pretty silly which is a good thing considering how often I have to take cat hair out of my eye or clean up a hairball off the carpet. One of their antics is that they love getting into boxes, bags, baskets, anything that is small and confined. I bought them cute little cat tents and fluffy liners for boxes, but they seem to prefer the straight up box and one that's not intended for them. Most recently, Sambo decided to hang out in the empty pint jar box while I was working on tomatoes. Here's Savvy in a bag:

Sambo and Savvy hanging out in baskets:
And Sambo, hiding out in an empty water bottle box with the plastic still on.Thank goodness for the laughs!