Timed Essay Writing at the Learning Tree

Timed Essay Writing at the Learning Tree, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

These are some of my advanced composition students at our co-op called the Learning Tree. They are writing timed essays practicing for the ACT. From back to front: Susan, Lee Ann, and Allie.

Snow day love: Sunday

Snow day love, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Girls caught smoking, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Have to record what may be the only snow play day left for these three. Johannah heads off to college next year and this is the first snow (and perhaps the only) of this winter. They have the pinkest cheeks!

January 21, 2007: Colts are AFC Champs

Take a look at those comments! Ampersand (Kim) and I turned the blog into a chat room and talked our way through the whole, exciting game. Too fun!

Morning Blues

Morning Snow, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

SNOW! Finally.

Woke up to a winter wonderland scene. This is the view out of my back sliding glass window where we watch our birds feed. I loved the quality of light.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Jon took this photo last night when we ushered at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's studio series: "Women of Troy" by Euripides and "The Dumb Waiter" by Harold Pinter. This lovable Cincinnati pig is dressed as Hamlet, naturally, and is wearing a yellow construction hat as they remodel the lobby.

My inner Brit

My inner Brit, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

soothes my inner bitch. :)

This teaset comes to me via garage sale. Four ceramic mugs and a teapot for only $3.00! Keeps the tea hotter than any pot I've owned. Tea tastes better in these than other pots and mugs too. I heart my morning tea.

Tried to do a close up that was as interesting as Nikki's are. She inspired me. I took about twenty five shots and didn't expect this to be the one I picked. Funny how that works.

Trip to Fabrications

Trip to Fabrications, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

This is our favorite yarn store.

Caitrin Knits, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Caitrin is hooked on knitting. About the photo: The Jawelensky print in the background is called "Madonna and Child" even though it depicts a girl and her doll. I love the way the colors coordinate with the knitting needles, the scrunchy on Caitrin's hand, her striped t-shirt and the flecked yarn.

Morning Sun and Evening Twilight

Morning Sun, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Took this on the way home from taking Jacob to school in the morning.

Evening twilight, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Took this out the back window at twilight.

Wanted to show the wonderful, glorious Ohio sky. It's become as soothing to me as the ocean. I can't stop looking at it in awe.

Jacob's fall

Jacob's fall, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I had planned to post some amazing photos from our ski day yesterday, when as I slid down "backstage" (one of the ski runs at Perfect North), Jacob called out "Mom!" I looked up to see him, skis off, left wrist cradled in his right hand.

The next thing I knew, the ski patrol arrived with a tobaggen to take him down the hill. As I stood there watching, I thought, "I can't take a picture of this. That would be heartless." Right at that moment, the patrol member with a delightful European accent said, "If you have a camera, this would make a great picture."

I laughed! "As a matter of fact...." Click. Click, and click! (One more at the bottom of the hill.)

Yes, his wrist is broken. We'll be seeing the orthopedic surgeon today for a full cast. Spent yesterday afternoon in the ER.

Blue and yellow

Blue and yellow, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

In playing with our camera, Jacob and I tried every setting we could think of for this photo. I ended up using no flash, high saturation and the museum setting (for indoor shots). The first few had too little contrast in the warm tones, so I turned on the TV to catch the reflected blue light to add contrast to the reds, yellows and oranges. It worked! I love the way the reflections on the glass look different from the reflections on the picture frame.

Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Guess where we were today?

Cincinnati Art Museum

Cincinnati Art Museum, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

We have our very own Chihuly chandalier at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Every time we visit, we stand like this in awe of it!

Chihuly Chandalier, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

This photo is what it looks like from below when you look up at it.

Liam suggested the trip to the museum; Caitrin and Johannah tagged along. Such a great day! Taking the camera with us meant everyone wanted a chance to look through the viewfinder. So, I've included more photos from the trip to the museum on my Unplugged Homeschool blog.

Fairfield Pizza

A little window into the pizza-making kitchen.

Sipping soda at the Pizzeria, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Last night we went to one of those delightful pizzerias that boast signs that say things like "This is Bengals Country" and little posters made by second graders warning us to use matches safely. I like this photo because of the way the reds off-set the grey hoodie. Love the Coca Cola tiffany lamp in the background.

Meant to say that the photo credit for the Jacob pic goes to Johannah (I gave her the camera and asked her to shoot some shots from her particular angle. Loved this one.)

African violets in winter

African violets in winter, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I keep a table of violets. These are the three in bloom. I wanted to capture a bit of winter outside (which is not snowy as I wish it were) and the blooms inside. I like this photo better bigger.

Homeschooling pays off!

The Buckeyes want her!, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

The first acceptance letter arrived today: Ohio State! So the question is: Does Johannah want the Buckeyes? Let the acceptance letters roll in!

Stalwart Farmhouse

Stalwart Farmhouse, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

Every day I drive by this "last of a dying breed" farmhouse. It is across the street from Jacob's high school and houses several cows and one deer who thinks he's a cow. The land is ideal for development due to its location. But these farmers have said "no" repeatedly.

Because of this 365 project, I realized that I needed to get a photo of it to remember it by because it will not always be there. Here's the amazing thing. I was driving while I snapped this shot. I literally held up my right hand, glanced at the screen and clicked. One take.

I didn't even realize until I uploaded the photo that I had such good composition with barbed wire, the house to the right, the balanced trees. I love the sense of movement as though time is trying to catch up with and overtake the farm.

Caitrin through a glass....

Caitrin swims, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

We had a ski day planned with fifteen kids... and they all called one at a time to cancel last night when it was discovered that more than half the runs at Perfect North would be closed. Caitrin was heart-broken.

Then she said, "Well, if we can't ski, can we swim?"

And of course I said yes.

So this is Caitrin through the glass while I worked on my computer. I love the way the reflection shows up on her face and the heel of her hand is pressed against the window. We're at our local YMCA's indoor pool. You can see the "New Year's Resolution" runners on tread mills in the reflection if you look closely.

I used the blur effect on the edges.

Shadow self

Shadowy self, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I like the way the shadow highlights the colors in the treetrunk. We've had unseasonably warm weather outside and the light in January is gentle and clear. Notice the red lines in the tree and the white bark at the base. If you click on the photo, you can choose a larger size in flickr which makes the colors show up even more.

I also love seeing my own shadow in afternoon because my legs look longer than they are.

Red-headed beauty

Red-headed beauty, originally uploaded by juliecinci.

I took a hundred shots of birds at my feeder which all looked washed out, tiny and blurred. Then I looked over at Johannah (17) doing Sudoku on the couch and snapped four perfect shots. This is my favorite. We've always said she was photogenic. What I loved more about this shot is her conspiratorial smile.

Cookies for sale

Cookies for sale, originally uploaded by juliecinci.