Help needed.

Our law office pitches in to give Dean (our boss) a Christmas gift every year. Last year, we gave he and his wife a gift certificate to a restaurant. This year we wanted to be slightly more creative.

Any ideas?

What do you want for Christmas?

Sneakity-sneak.

I couldn't wait until I was finished studying to play with some pictures. So, I snuck on here to post a couple pictures from the other day. Just for kicks, I put my own little logo on the pictures (I'm pretending to be a real photographer).

Fire in the house!

Shortly after I woke up this morning, I moseyed on downstairs and peeked into our fireplace. To my dismay, it was dark and cold. So, I took the empty bin, slipped Luke's over sized shoes on my feet, and trudged outside to the woodpile. I sorted through the precariously perched wood in an effort to find dry pieces and after having filled my bin, I brought it back inside with less ease as bringing it out afforded. Then, I returned to the outdoors to hunt for some twigs to use as kindling - a handy piece of information taught to me by my brother after I failed at making my first few fires. After having gathered some sticks, I went inside and stacked four pieces of wood into the fireplace in a log cabin shape - a handy piece of information taught to me by my Eagle Scout boyfriend, a.k.a. Andrew. Then, with patience I didn't realize I had, I sat there for the next half hour watching the little flame leap into a bigger flame and then engulf the four pieces of wood. It's mesmerizing staring at a fire - especially one that you built and brought to life. After the coals were blazing red and the flames high enough, I settled into the recliner nearby with some cran-grape juice and began working on my homework - toasty as toasty can be.

In my future home, I want a fireplace and not just one that you can turn on with a button. I want the entire experience from stacking the wood to seeing it burn a year later in your fireplace.

Mmm, mmm... yeah!


And because my Blog posts are boring w/o pictures, I'll feature Tiger today:

Favorite people.

This is Josh S. B., talented artist and, by far, the best carver at the Waterfowl Festival.
This is his beautiful girlfriend, Sarah D. H.

(:

Port ten.

With the frigid air blowing directly against us, Andrew and I soared over the Lewes waters for probably the final time this year. It was quite a bit colder than our summer boat trips and we ended up in a huddled mass behind the wind breaker on the boat as the sun slowly began to set.

As the light dimmed, everything seemed to get extremely quiet and peaceful. The water reflected the colors of the sunset and was perfectly still until our boat ripped through it causing ripples to trickle out. The story-book description of "glassy" was a perfect adjective for the way the water looked as we glided along. Even though we were shivering, I wouldn't have traded those moments for a warm fire because I was with my Pilot and he was showing me one of the prettiest sights in the world.

My pictures do not do the views justice.

Guess who I get to see today?

Huntin'

I've never been one for hunting or the whole "camo" thing. Some people seem to take it to excess, and I used to make fun of the people who had those tendencies. However, now that I am dating someone who enjoys hunting, my outlook has changed significantly. I've begun to appreciate the beauty involved in outdoor activities. Thanks to Andrew, I've had a myriad of opportunities to be out in nature.

On one of our first dates, when Andrew started calling ducks from the middle of a field, I wondered what on earth I had gotten myself into. But, eleven months later, I appreciate that he knows how to do that and enjoys it. It's a hobby, just like photography, and Andrew is talented when it comes to the art of hunting. It's not all about the kill for him - he eats what he shoots. It's more about the experience.

This past Saturday, Andrew took me deer hunting and I was surprised at how much fun I had. Upon arriving at his farm, we snuggled up into warm jackets, gloves and orange hats to ward off the chill in the air. Then, we carried the necessary equipment down a lane and up into a deer stand. From there on out, we sat there quietly scanning the horizon of trees hoping to see a deer make its way out into the field. Unfortunately, the deer were being tricky little buggers and decided to inhabit the far end of the farm property (out of our view). So, as dusk fell, the only creatures we saw were various birds and two groundhogs that amused us for a while with their funny looking fat bodies. Despite the disappointment at not seeing a deer (which, I compared to the feeling of losing a soccer game), the evening was very relaxing. We were able to see the sunset and just take in creation for 3 solid hours and enjoy each other's company. On our way home, we saw about ten deer and I shook my head at them in frustration - but, it's okay - we'll get them next time.

As time has gone by, I've come to find that Andrew has the perfect combination of skills, one of which is hunting. I appreciate him opening up my small world and showing me that my presumptions about certain activities aren't necessarily true. And now, utilizing my hobby, I'll let you in on some of the adventure:

I volunteered Stephanie to be my subject for some random pictures today without checking to see if rain was in the forecast. Despite the wet weather, Stephanie was a real trooper and showed up with cutie-patootie Mason. Not only did I drag Stephanie and Mason out into the rain, I also brought along Hope who dutifully attempted to hold the umbrella over my camera as I moved around. It didn't work out very well. But, Stephanie and Mason were such great sports and a somewhat water-logged camera is not a big deal. Thank you, Stephanie for being crazy enough to come out and let me take pictures of you. One of the reasons I asked you to be my subject was because you don't take a bad picture, which makes it very easy for me.






Can I please be this beautiful of a mother someday?

This past Saturday, Andrew took me canoeing on a small river. With the temperature somewhere in the mid-sixties, it turned out to be a perfect day to be on the water. Every bend we went around, I'd clasp my camera and exclaim, "oh, look at how beautiful those leaves are over there!" There wasn't an ugly spot to be seen. The scenery along the shore was absolutely gorgeous decked out in its fall colors. The reflection in the water was even more breathtaking. I was so content gliding along the water with Andrew piloting and I gazing at the varying views that Andrew would sometimes have to gently remind me that I needed to paddle. If someone were to ask me what my favorite season is, I'd reply, without hesitation, "Fall." And this is why...

Reformation.

Saturday was our annual Reformation Childrens' party hosted by PPC. Andrew and I were assigned to "Calvin's Miniature Golf Course," complete with score cards and miniature pencils.

Luke Downes used to be one of the kids that would run around and play all the games. Now he's a helper - when did he grow up?!

They never grew up.

Krue was, by far, the most suitably dressed for playing golf. He looked like a pro in his red jumpsuit.

Milan was our youngest athlete.

"Give me the five tickets."