Cookies for sale

Cookies for sale, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Reputable Business Owner

Reputable Business Owner, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Sunday is "Cookie Day" at our house. Every week Jacob bakes from scratch at least four dozen cookies (he has two weekly two-dozen customers) and sometimes up to six dozen when his less frequent customers kick in. We usually coerce him into making an extra dozen for us.

Being 15 means he wouldn't give me a normal face for the posed photo, but he did spend about twenty minutes clicking shots of cookie set-ups for me and the one I chose above, he did shoot. (I arranged the cookies and he worked on the camera settings and then we kibbitzed about the best angle, lighting, etc. Very fun! He loves photography as much as he loves cookies.) He's really good with our digital camera - the only person in the family to read and apply the instructions in the camera manual.

Liam bird watching

Liam bird watching, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I took this photo this morning too. Liam is using his new binoculars to birdwatch.

Here's our list of birds we spotted:

Red Tailed Hawk (in flight!)
2 nuthatches
dozens of sparrows
1 titmouse
7 cardinals
5 chickadees
10 male mallards
1 morning dove
4 robins
a flock of Canada geese overhead in a V
1 goose who took off into flight right in front of us!
3 downy woodpeckers

AND 1 unidentified bird that hitched its way up a tree trunk and disappeared into a little hole in the tree right before my very eyes! I am going to try to find that one in my birding book.

We had a glorious time! I've got wet jeans up to my ankles but a warm heart. Liam and I must have exchanged a dozen hugs; he was quick to ask if we could do this every Sat. I'm inclined to say yes!

Nature walking: good for the soul.

January 6, 2007 Sharon Woods

January 6, 2007 Sharon Woods, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

My camera had a dead battery so this is a cell phone photo. I had no idea how colorful winter would be if I paid attention. Liam and I went birding early this rainy morning in Sharon Woods and I was blown away by the yellows, blues, tans, browns, greens, and even oranges! The mushrooms were endlessly fascinating.

Teddy Bear Tea

Teddy Bear Tea, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I discovered that my younger kids hadn't had the fun of making bread bears like my older kids. We spent the day kneading dough, shaping the bears and finally eating them with honey and jam.

I posted a series of photos here if you'd like to see the whole day's project, including cute children. :)

Rainy day jewelry

Rainy day jewelry, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

My sister turns forty next week. I bought her a pair of earrings and a necklace at this jeweler's. It's raining today and I liked the way this sign looked through the window of my car.

(Also, troll bead necklace comes from this jeweler.)

Three of my favorite things

Three of my favorite things, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Photo credits to Caitrin; last night, January 3.

My time online yesterday required a cab like few other days. Oy vay!

So, what are the three fave things? My new Macbook Pro, a good glass of wine and my brand new troll bead necklace (given by dah-ling husband for Christmas).

Edited to add: Can you believe what nice typing form I still have after all these years? I watch my kids fly with three or four fingers and wonder how they do it.

Using my crainum to build a zoo

Cranium Zookeeper, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Caitrin and I eased back into the New Year with several rounds of Cranium Zooreka. She won the last game and named her zoo: The San Diego Zoo. Yeah, original. :)

Don't you love homeschool?

New Year's Day 2007

New Year 2007, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

USC is up by 8 over U of M, the fire is glowing, the stockings are looking a bit forlorn. Time for a New Year.