Friday Fun

Friday stock photography has to be put on hold this week, as I have done NO reading with any decent shots and can't bear to think of spending the time. (I have the first eleven verses of Phil. 2 bearing down on my head like 1000 pounds...)

SO, instead you'll get something even better: Charlie Day's kitten mittens. (click through the image for the goodness) You're welcome.

Friday Fun with Stock Photography

This week has been mostly studying for midterms, and not a whole of new, exciting reading to pick from. BUT, I did remember this gem from a few weeks back, and thought it might make for an interesting thought exercise.


What is it do you think that these two gentlemen are discussing? From the fashion, it is most certainly the early 90's... maybe the new Boyz 2 Men album? Perhaps Clinton's approval rating? Maybe about something 'rad' and/or 'tubular'. These are the riveting possibilities of a windowless office 16 years ago...

How I Spent My Winter Vacation, by the Blogsmas

Having a snow day is almost as awesome as an adult as it was as a kid, and Wednesday night found Jo and I watching the weather, checking the tv, and of course, jumping up and down when the phone rang (even better than having a snow day is knowing the night before so you can stay up late). We spent the day doing pretty much what kids do on their snow days, with hot cocoa, art projects, movies, and board games. We fit in a half dozen games of Settlers of Cattan, our new addictive board game, and JoAnna and I crafted to our hearts' content. Jo made some cards and Christmas gifts. We made a pumpkin pie and roasted the pumpkin seeds. I made some homemade napkins from fabric scraps. Doug tried to do homework, but was probably not as successful with two girls dragging craft supplies all over the house and cajoling him into playing games with them. We had warm, hearty dinner of braised short ribs, spaghetti squash with parmesan, and braised carrots, then went back to playing games and watching movies. All in all, a very successful day. And last night, I got a call that school would be canceled AGAIN today, so I have time to chronicle these adventures (and clean up the mess from yesterday). Because we don't have this kind of weather all the time where we live (especially not in October), it is nice to settle in and watch the snow fly, knowing that in a week we will be back to sunshine and fall weather.

just in time for Halloween

This just in: local bear is covered in snow. He is reportedly feeling "beary chilly" and wanting to go inside for a "cub of hot chocolate"

More at 6. Back to you!

Friday Fun with Stock Photography

Ok, so the above guy is not a piece of stock photography, but a curious little bugger who got incredibly close to the work truck this week in North Dakota. I asked him his name, but, instead of waiting on a reply we bid a hasty retreat.

And come to think of it, the image for this week isn't technically a piece of stock photography either, but a very specific picture of Ethologist Konrad Lorenz hanging out with the geese he tricked into thinking he was their mama. So, no, while it doesn't exactly fit the bill of the post title, the shot was too fantastic not to share. Happy weekend, all.

Fact: Autumn is the Best Season.

We got a somewhat last minute visit this weekend from dear friend Laura. You might remember her from such episodes as Liz's college years, Liz and Doug's wedding, and every trip Liz ever takes to Boston. This time it was her turn to come to Colorado. She arrived at the Denver airport Thursday just a few hours before our local boy-less weather balloon landed (ridiculous).



We took full advantage of the sunny warm weather without working too hard. There was the (new and improved) New Belgium Brewery tour, mini golf, lunch in Boulder followed by tea at the Dushanbe Tea House, games of cribbage and Settlers of Cattan. Friday, I finally used the two fondue pots that I have had for over 3 years without ever pulling out the boxes. Zach and Ashley added their fondue pot to the mix, and voila! Cheese fondue with bread and apples; beef, chicken, and mushrooms in a beer batter, and caramel with apples and cookies for dessert. Fondue makes you work for your food, but also makes for a pleasant hour sitting around the table eating.



Saturday brought friends Jevon and Becky (another roomie from Gordon) up from Denver. We lost ourselves in a local corn maze and picked out some sweet pumpkins for carving. I've never been able to carve much more out of a pumpkin that a triangle features and a very angry looking smile, but we were inspired by this creation at the farm.



Here are our renditions: Joanna's monster, Becky's haunted house, my owl, and Laura's recreation of some obscure painting (how sophisticated!).



It was the kind of fall weekend that rekindled my love for fall (after last weekend's early winter blast).

A Day Late, A Dollar Short, etc etc

So, it took all of one week to get off the habit of new Friday posts, but, I have a good reason:

I was busy dominating a game of Settlers of Cattan last night, and was unable to post.

But here we are now, and for you today I offer an image with no explanation whatsoever! Happy weekend!

Snowbound Concerts

For the last two years, our CSA farm, Grant Family Farms has put on the autumn festival event of the season: HARVESTIVAL! We attended last year and enjoyed hearing some music, picking out some pumpkins and corralling goats.

We've been looking forward to this year's celebration, if only for the headlining act of the David Grisman Quartet. The only catch was waking up on Saturday to a few inches of snow, and a continuing curtain of white throughout the day. Undeterred, we showed up before the show, enjoyed some food, picked out a pumpkin and enjoyed most of the set before the lack of feeling in our toes forced us home. Hopefully next year it won't be so ridiculously freezing out!

Friday Fun with Stock Photography

I love stock photography.

No, really. It cracks me up, thinking of how a company picked out an image for their advertisement, or billboard, or pamphlet that originally had nothing to do with whatever it is they are hocking. I also love the idea of these photographers just coming up with as many possible scenarios and mixtures of people doing different activities and displaying different emotions so that someday they can make it onto the back of a cereal box. (has anyone ever had the experience of pulling out your frosted flakes and finding yourself beaming back at you from across the table? That would be awesome!)

Of course, the best use of stock photography lies in textbooks, and I feel like I need an avenue to share the best of the best that I see on a weekly basis. So, from here on out I'm going to try and spend a moment every Friday sharing the picture that made me giggle the most. Most certainly, they will involve 80's haircuts. Oh look!


This is for the beginning of a chapter about listening to people. Obviously, right? The book that this is from was recently reprinted in 2008 - nice to see that they made an effort to keep it hip with the kids.

Wowza

In reality, where most people live and work, this site would be an empty room with a live microphone. Coming in from the darkness of stage left, I would shuffle quietly, shoulders hunched and with a hand over my eyes peer into the void in front of me, quietly asking the vacant chairs in a hushed voice if anyone was there.

*ahem*

Life has changed a bit around these parts. A lot, really. I'm writing this morning watching the first snow of the fall season come down on our patio furniture. It's falling lazily, big wet flakes that melt rather than accumulate with any proficiency. A large mug of coffee is in front of me, a kitty cat on my lap. I've just finished studying for a quiz, which I am now putting off by creating this missive. The house is empty except for myself, Bailey (said kitty cat) and the sounds of the Hush Arbors album that a good friend just introduced me to. I am quite happy to be here.

I mentioned (in passing) that I have started a program at Denver Seminary in the last post. The fact is, I am going full time and it has taken almost this much time for my brain to adjust. Lectures, notes, papers and group projects have invaded my calendar, and it really has only been the last week or so that I have gotten to a point of equilibrium with it all. I have gone down to a severe part time employee for my old employer, and while still occasionally get in some wonderfully technical work, for the most part I have been reading about human development, counseling theories and biblical textual criticism. It's a trip.

This is all to pen a hope that we will be better with adding thoughts and memories to our little blogspot account. This coming weekend is the Harvestival, our CSA Farm's annual party for the community. A few weeks after that is the Annual Big 10 Flag Football tournament. Between them will be a visit from friends, afterward the beginning of the holidays. I've also been toying with the idea of starting a new Friday feature here, which I hope to kick off tomorrow. Keep your toes crossed.

With that, I'll leave some of the fun photos from the last month around our neck of the woods. I hope and trust that you and yours are well and warm. Cheers.