Photo Project 2012 - Days 188 to 201

What I love about this year of photos is that when I finally get around to working on a post and selecting the pictures for each day, I'm often reminded of little things we have done together that might otherwise be forgotten.

Day 188

The Saturday night following vacation, Ron helped the girls make a fort in the family room. We got smart and used the boca clips to hold the blankets in place. The girls slept in it for several nights before we took it down.

Day 189

While in China to adopt Zelda, we spent a good deal of our time with two families. One family has since moved out of state. This was the first time we had been together since last summer. We met up in Chinatown for lunch and a walk-about.

Day 190

On July 9, the girls began two weeks of summer camp at Worlds of Wisdom and Wonder. Here they are getting ready for their first day.

Day 191

I finally remembered to freeze the blueberries I bought on our last day in Michigan. What's not to love about fresh frozen Michigan blueberries?

I just had to take this picture of Annalee sleeping with her life-long pal, Googlie. Oh wait, this might be the extra Googlie we had in reserve that recently came out of hiding; Annalee named this one Gannalee.

Day 192

I thought Zelda looked like a very cute VERY short adult all dressed up with her little skirt and sweater sleeves pushed back going to brain camp.


Day 193

We met up with our 'China' friends one more time before they headed back home. This visit was to Bass Pro Shop where the kids made themselves at home with their Pokemon cards in the open bow of a boat.

Day 194

Our priest called a little panicked the day before she and her family were going out of town for a night. She had made all the arrangements for their getaway - except for care of their dog, Reilly. She didn't even have the request out of her mouth when I agreed. The girls always are thrilled to have Reilly for a visit. In this case, it was giving them a little practice in anticipation of our new kittens coming home.

Day 195

The next day, Zelda was helping me bake goodies for coffee service at church the next day. Still in her pajamas and apron, Zelda took Reilly for a walk around the front yard.

Day 196

These are Zelda's creation for our church friends: cone cakes. They were a huge hit!

Later that afternoon, we attended a cousin's daughter's Christening party. A face-painting, music-singing, guitar-playing magician kept the girls entertained.

Day 197

Our first Sweet 100 tomato came in!

Day 198

One week after my dad Bob went into the hospital, my dad Ken and my stepmom surprised him with a visit. Here the girls and their cousins, along with Nana, are entertained by a game on Annalee's DS while we dine in the hospital cafeteria.

Day 199

The girls like to hole up in Zelda's bed with their electronic toys. I can never quite understand why they squeeze into Zelda's twin bed when Annalee has a more spacious double bed. Go figure.

Day 200

I found this banana treat in Family Fun magazine. I thought it would be something fun and easy that the girls and I could make. I was half right.

Somehow, ours didn't quite end up looking like those in the magazine (they rarely do). The bananas were falling off of the sticks, so we laid them down on a pan and tried to stick the toppings to them.

Day 201

Even though they weren't as pretty as the professionals', they were super delicious and a fun way to start our Friday!

Photo Project 2012 - Days 165 to 180

I've got a lot of catching up to do!

Day 165

Thursday night is Cruisin' Night in Westmont. Even better, it was Chevy night. One day, I'm gonna get me a 1953 Chevy pick-up...

Day 166

The girls and I finally got back to our public water-park community pool on Friday afternoon.

Day 167

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, my how your garden has grown in the 10 days we were out of town. And, this is just a view of the lettuce section!

Ron and the girls couldn't pass up a perfect day for a car wash. It's something they all get into, especially Annalee when she's in charge of the hose (and squirting everyone).

Day 168

We took a drive to see Dad and Pat. A mother robin made a nest in the wreath on the back door, so my folks cordoned off access to the door and let the robin lay her eggs. We had a wonderful view of the babies from inside the nine-pane window of the back door. This is just one of the four babies.

Day 169

Late in the afternoon, I remembered I needed a photo for the day. These are two wooden 'heads' that are in the back bed. I was also enjoying the view of the bed since it had been weeded and mulched. So much prettier than it had been...

Day 170

On Monday night, I was holding Zelda while we were talking with Ron in the office. Suddenly, we heard this very loud thump. My first, crazy thought was that someone was trying to get into the house. Then again, we were having a windy rain storm outside. And, the noisemaker was a large branch that fell off our neighbor's cottonwood tree that hangs over our house. Thankfully, only a tiny corner of our roof was damaged.

Day 171

After a couple hours at the pool, Zelda was tired. So tired, she didn't last the few minutes it took to drive out of the pool parking lot before falling asleep.

Day 172

We finally had a morning when the girls could relax. They decided to do it in my bed where they could watch TV.

Day 173

On June 22, we went to Swedish Days in Geneva with our friends. Maia and Annalee always hold hands or arms together when we are at this event (at least, I notice it most when we go to this). It was hard to capture, but I just love the way they are arm-in-arm. It almost seems like it's in their Chinese blood.

Day 174

As I was getting ready for bed on this Saturday night, I turned on the TV and found the classic Pretty Woman movie. At the same time, I realized I hadn't taken my photo for the day. So, I grabbed the camera and took some pictures of the TV. Didn't you all know exactly what this picture was without my even saying the name? I love that about this movie!

Day 175

Ron has gotten really good at roasting peppers on the grill (to go with our steaks). This was the bowl peppers before they hit the grill.

Day 176

I asked the girls to water some of the plants this afternoon. It was this day that I realized that asking them to water the plants absolutely meant that they would be watering themselves, too. In the heat we've been experiencing, I'm all for it.

Day 177

On our way home from an evening at the YMCA, I captured the setting sun peaking between houses and trees as we drove down the road to our home.

Day 178

I wish I could have really captured how worn down the girls looked after a full day at camp through our park district. They looked so hot, disheveled and exhausted. I wasn't sure we'd make it the six-minute drive home without falling asleep.

Day 179

We baked a chocolate ginger cake for a friend. Zelda loves to bake with me, but she loves licking the bowl better.

Day 180

It was the Friday night before we left on vacation. We decided to order in and really wanted some Middle Eastern food. The first local place I drove to had a sign that said it had changed from Kabob & Falafel to some BBQ chicken and ribs place - even though it was all closed up. The second place I went was closed due to some health issue (with the workers, not with the restaurant itself). So, I ended up at Taco Express, which is reliably good. I took this while I waited for my order.

Photo Project 2012 - Days 140 to 152

Day 140

Zelda's hip-hop dance recital will get more blog time (along with Annalee's piano recital) than this little picture. But, I just had to include this in the Photo Project.


Day 141
 

On May 20, Annalee and I 'did' the 1-mile race in the Darien Dash. Annalee found some friends and posted a 12:35 mile. I was pretty proud of my own 15:16-minute mile, considering I hadn't been in training for this walk/run. Afterward, we went to Lemont Street Cafe, where Annalee ate a burger as big as her head.


 Day 142
 

I just thought Annalee looked so pretty with her hair half-up that I took this picture with my phone.

Day 143
 

An end-of-the-day picture of Zelda's recital bouquet.

Day 144
 

On Wednesday, Zelda and I were out in the yard planting some containers. As I walked back to the patio from the shed, I was wowed by this cascading rose bush under my bedroom window. In nearly 14 years of living here, I've never done a thing to this plant. And, I was greatly rewarded this year!

Day 145
 

Annalee's birthday request this year was to plant a garden. We started out planning a 4x8. When that looked too small, we pushed out to an 8x8. Included are collards, cabbage, buttercrunch lettuce, tomatillos, black cherry tomatoes, early girl and sweet 100 tomatoes, green beans, red peppers and jalapenos. And, don't forget the many flowers all along the edges. We definitely overplanted it, so when push comes to shove the flowers may have to go...

Day 146

I think...I forgot!

Day 147
 

My dad and step mom, Pat, came over to celebrate Pat's birthday with us. It seems like it had been a long time since I'd taken a picture of the girls with any of their grandparents. This was a nice one!

Day 148
 

A true reader in the making...Zelda laid out on the couch, covered by a cushion, to 'read' a book while the rest of us finished getting ready for church.

Day 149

I cheated a little for this picture. I actually took it on Sunday, May 27, which was day 148. But, I took it knowing it would be great for Memorial Day. For the project's sake, I did take a picture on this day - a picture of my Aunt Pat with her birthday cake - but it's on Ron's phone and it would be near impossible for me to get him to download his pics.

Day 150

Another end-of-the-day photo - Ron's computer screen. It has a picture I took of the girls in August 2010 underneath one of the lions outside the Art Institute.

Day 151
 

Annalee is dressed for Hawaiian day on one of the few remaining days of third grade.

Day 152
 

OK. I was really slipping this week...another last-minute photo...Ron in the office - in his jacket. Oh, wait, that's his shirt.

Red Beauties

We planted strawberry plants late in the season last year. They gave us nothing for all the loving care we provided.

But, this year, we were treated to a small but oh-so-tasty bowl of berries. We were amazed at how sweet they were. And, the skin was so tender and easy to bite into.


We can only hope that the remaining flowers will produce some more berries for us before they shut down for the season.

Guests in the Garden

I was watering the hanging plants today when something started crawling out from the ivy geraniums to escape the downpour. I ran to get the camera, then had to search to find him again, since he blended in so well. Just after I took this picture, he just eased his way back down the flower stem to be covered again by leaves.


Then I moved on to our other planters and this guy crawled out of the regular geraniums. Once he curled up onto the leaf, I almost couldn't detect him. Can you?