2012 Project 365 – Week Seven

It was a quiet week in the Bug household. I made fun of Dr. M having Manflu, but he really was sick. He still took pictures for us every day (thank goodness), but he stayed home & recuperated. I think that today he’s finally starting to feel better.

Sunday, February 12^th    

Our neighborhood hawk. So pretty - & deadly!

Monday, February 13^th

There’s a moon in the sky!

Dr. M took a picture of this almost frozen pond. I love that tree.

Tuesday, February 14^th

Squirrels, birds…something you just never see around here. Ha!

Cardinal in a tree – they’re just so cheerful in the winter.

Look! This cardinal gave us a heart for Valentine’s Day! Can you see it?

Wednesday, February 15^th

Our doves are back – looking fat & contented.

Thursday, February 16^th  

The State of the Bug. I’m listening to another tender vittles audio book. This week it’s Sarah’s Key – about a Jewish girl in occupied France in 1942.

Friday, February 17^th   

Doves on a wire. Love how the sun hits them up there.

I took a number of pictures at work today. I was reading Ruth’s blog about her special place to write (check it out here if you’d like), and I realized that most of my poetry gets written at work. Here’s my view – it’s not too bad. I’m looking out at the main entrance to the building & I have to laugh because the windows are reflective – so people walking in & out are checking out their looks (and sometimes making “adjustments”) & don’t know that I can see them. Ha!

I don’t know if you can see, but the guard is in the left of the picture getting ready to chase the geese away. He spends half his time chasing geese.

The company that owns the building (not the one I work for) is having a special initiative this year. The person who “wins” gets a new car. They’ve had signs in the lobby, but these just showed up in the bathroom this week. I don’t know about you, but I think I would be offended by them. They aren’t even aimed at me & I’m offended! What’s really funny is that the ladies that work for the other company don’t ever loiter in the bathroom that I can tell.

Saturday, February 18^th  

This squirrel is getting ready to ice skate.

Winter sun.

I met a friend for lunch today - & did I get a picture of her or our meal (at Jason’s Deli)? No – I took a picture of the Trader Joe’s sign. I’d never been to one before so I wanted to commemorate the occasion.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Most of our photos are taken with a 12 megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, using a 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera that Dr. M takes with him most days. He also takes pictures with our old reliable 7 megapixel Canon Powershot A710.  The Bug uses our new Nikon Coolpix S6200 most of the time. If you’re interested in which camera was used for a particular shot, just ask! 

Feeding Her Heart

She blames the caffeine for

that thunderous thrumming

coursing viscous flow.

She peers at her wrists,

wonders why she can’t see

the cells whitewater rafting

through her veins.

Mindlessly, she eats

another cookie,

wonders if maybe sugar

is the stampeding culprit.

The answer is, “fine.”

It’s always fine and

sometimes even dandy.

And she wouldn’t even worry

except for that thrumming.

The lapping at her ears

keeps her awake at night.

It sounds like a thousand crickets

or one bursting heart.

The cookie is a distant memory

as she pops a french fry

into her mouth.

It’s all fine and good

but she really needs

new pants because these

ones are old, yeah, old.

What would happen

if the thrumming stopped?

If the chewing slowed?

If her mind sat still

on that flat rock?

If, instead of crickets

she heard the truth in her ear?

What would happen

if she stopped trying

to feed her heart?

The Doldrums...

It's cold outside and warm inside & thoughts meander through my head without actually making it out for public consumption. And in fact, one might argue that there aren't really thoughts inside my head at all at the moment. It would probably be a good idea to just turn this computer off & head for bed. After all, Dr. M is sacked out on the futon because he claims that I gave him my cold (which is mostly gone - thanks for all the good wishes). Only he has the manflu & it will be much worse than what I had. In case you haven't seen it, this video explains:




Anyway, I thought I'd just share my facebook status from tonight & let you guys be just as grossed out as my facebook friends. You're welcome.

2012 Project 365 – Week Six

Well, I’m sad. I caught a cold & didn’t get to go to Rita’s place to spend time with her & Sara today. I’m actually feeling a little better now, but didn’t think they needed to be around my sneezy self. Darn. Oh well, here's a look at our week.

Sunday, February 5^th    

Dr. M started the week off right by taking the obligatory squirrel shot.

At church this morning a group of us were “commissioned” as Lay Eucharistic Visitors (I’ll be taking communion to shut-ins). We each received these crosses to use in our portable communion kits.

This year I’m sending out birthday letters to friends & family & asking them to send me a letter back. I got my first one back yesterday, but didn’t get a picture until today. My niece sent a really nice note – three pages worth!

Dr. M & I went out to drive around & visited a park in Yellow Springs. Here he is taking a picture of a tree.

Here's the picture he was taking.

It was a gorgeous day.

Monday, February 6^th

The Tax Time Pig is ready for Valentine’s Day!

Dr. M took this picture of sparrow – so pretty in the shaft of light.

The moon!

Tuesday, February 7^th

The State of the Bug: Skunk!

Our dinner Tuesday night – yum! [Note: that’s Jiffy corn bread – my favorite kind]

Wednesday, February 8^th

We had some snow today. I took this on the way to work. It looks more impressive than it was.

In fact, there was just a bit left when Dr. M left school.

And nothing left here on this road. I love this tree!

Thursday, February 9^th  

It’s a smorgasbord!

This guy looks very crafty :)

Got my oil changed.

Friday, February 10^th   

Mallard couple on a partially frozen pond. Dr. M took the picture & he seemed to think that the Mister convinced the Missus to come in (the water’s fine!) but that she wasn’t too thrilled with it.

Saturday, February 11^th  

To cheer me up Dr. M took me on a ramble this afternoon. We had more snow overnight & this time it's sticking around a little longer (it's so cold!). We liked the look of this wagon in the snow.

I love this sign – I made Dr. M stop so I could get a picture of it.

Donkeys!

Sheep!

The Biggest Squirrel Feeder in the World! Ha!

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Most of our photos are taken with a 12 megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, using a 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera that Dr. M takes with him most days. He also takes pictures with our old reliable 7 megapixel Canon Powershot A710.  The Bug uses our new Nikon Coolpix S6200 most of the time. If you’re interested in which camera was used for a particular shot, just ask! 

Snow Lies

Snow Lies

The snow lies softly
on the curve of the bare branch
as if its touch might arouse
as if this frozen blanket
might cause the sap
to burst through the
wound of your heart
as if you might awaken
to find my hand
on the curve of your bare arm
as if I might melt into
dark dormant bark
and wait for spring

I'm Cold! No, I'm Hot! No, I'm....

You know how Dr. M always has to pack a long sleeved shirt for me because I’m hot & can’t ever imagine being cold again? This same principal applies to weather patterns. Last week I was moaning about how warm it was & WOULD WE EVER SEE WINTER AGAIN??!! This was the thermometer when I left the house this morning. That looks a bit like winter – don’t you agree?

[Note: 64 is the indoor temp - just in case you were confused]

So of course I broke out the penguin hat because OH NO I’LL NEVER BE WARM AGAIN! Heh.

By noon I was shedding layers & wishing I had worn a tank top to work. And no, I am not having hot flashes! 

Anyway, enough whining – here’s a picture to help with your daily meditations. This is from our ramble yesterday. It was warm in the sun & chilly when the wind blew. Pretty perfect for a reptile like myself who needs outside forces to affect my body temperature. 

My goal for the week: 

Enjoy the days - 

all the days - 

every last one of the days...

2012 Project 365 – Week Five

I’m spending an unexpectedly leisurely Saturday at home. I got my wires crossed & thought that I was going to Rita’s place to spend time with her & Sara today, but it’s next week. I had a good laugh at myself this morning when I figured it out. Wouldn’t Rita have been surprised if I had shown up at her house later today? Ha!

Sunday, January 29^th    

I had church this morning and then spent a nice quiet afternoon at home. Dr. M took these pictures in our back yard. I love them all, but most especially his groupies in the tree. They sit up there and “yell” at him while he’s filling their feeder.

Monday, January 30^th

I tried to get a picture of the sunrise on my way to work. As you can see, I don’t have a great view of it - & in fact when I get to that stop sign I turn right & don’t see it at all anymore.

Dr. M’s aunt & cousin made these Tower ‘o Towels to give away at Christmas. The one we got matched his school colors so he took it into work to decorate his bathroom there - & now he has spare towels if he needs them.

On his way home he stopped at a local cemetery to take pictures. I took one look at this one & started imagining the tale of the Champaign County hobbits – doesn’t it look like Bag End?

Tuesday, January 31^st

You can read about this picture here. I’m so glad I had a really interesting audio book to keep me company while I waited!

And you can read about this picture here. Really – you need to go check it out because Dr. M is just the sweetest thing. Sigh.

Wednesday, February 1^st

Dr. M took this picture. I don’t know why it pulls at me so, but don’t you want to go walking in those woods? Can you see the deer?

Today was a beautiful day.

I had to take a picture of our pitiful ancient sheets. Fortunately Dr. M bought new ones on this day so I don’t have to worry about sticking my whole foot through the hole now!

The State of the Bug, with her most favorite friend in the whole wide world. Snort.

Thursday, February 2^nd

I love this picture of a sparrow – one of Dr. M’s groupies I’m sure.

Friday, February 3^rd   

Dr. M took a lot of pictures on his way home from school. Yes, this is how I started the description of this day last week too – ha! Here is the kestrel formerly known as a peregrine falcon. She finally sat still long enough for Dr. M to get a good picture & identify her. We’re still calling her Perry though.

Dr. M took this one just for me – love me some bare branches against a blue sky.

LOLOLOL – makes me want to go to this church just in appreciation of their sign. Well, that & the fact that it’s across the road from my favorite ice cream place (Young’s Jersey Dairy).

A murder of crows. Dr. M could do a whole post just on the great crow pictures he took today.

Yes, the world thinks it’s already spring.

Saturday, February 4^th  

If you read Dr. M’s post that I referenced above then you’ll know that the (correct) print he ordered came today. So finally, after 2 ½ years we decided to put pictures up in the bedroom. I took a few pictures.

This is one of Dr. M's paintings. And you really should check out a closeup of the small picture - it has flying penguins! Go here.

Go to Sara’s blog here to see the blogs of all the other Project 365 participants. Have a great week!

Most of our photos are taken with a 12 megapixel Nikon D5000 DSLR, using a 55-200mm zoom lens. This is the camera that Dr. M takes with him most days. We also take pictures with our old reliable 7 megapixel Canon Powershot A710. This is the camera that the Bug uses most of the time. If you’re interested in which camera was used for a particular shot, just ask!