Roxy in repose
Ginger, motionless
Dollie in motion (as always)
I've decided to start featuring posts about my favorite blogs. I'm often a silent observer of other people's blogs, always hidden in the shadows and being amazed by what others are blogging about. I often take ideas or inspiration from them, yet rarely do I leave comments about what I've seen. I do always share these blogs with my friend Georgia, but I'd also like to share them with a wider audience (you!). So I'm starting a feature called "Blogs of Note" with one of my recent favorites, Look Away.
Being a somewhat avid amateur photographer of pets and animals, I am always amazed by other photographers' ability to capture their subjects in sharp focus. I'm especially impressed by Paige and the never-ending portraits of her cat, Roxy. No matter what the setting or the situation, Roxy is always rendered in razor sharp detail, down to her whiskers.
How does Paige do this? I am utterly stupefied. Because, as you can see, my pets are never still. Wait, I take that back—Spanky is a little bit of a supermodel, but certainly not the rest of them (Max, Dollie, and Adora). My cat Ginger is also a rather good model, but she lives with my parents, and when I am over there she is often hard to find.
So needless to say, I'm a serious devotee of Paige's blog. I check in weekly to see what beautiful images she has captured of Roxy, among other things, since Paige is an awesome photographer and has just started her own photography business. I'm jealous, yet I'm also inspired to continue working hard at my adopted craft, trying to remember to use that tripod and lay off the caffeine to avoid the shakes, although I admit I do like some of the blurry shots I capture. Then maybe one day I'll have my own series of pet photos that blow the viewer away, like Paige's pictures do.
(Photo of Roxy the cat courtesy of Look Away)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Random pix from previous camping trips
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Group shots from previous camping trips
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Vespa LX50...one word: yum
I want one of these. They are so, so beautiful and cool and neat and stylin'. I saw a guy at Whole Foods with one a while ago, and the thing is absolutely gorgeous. The color is even more vivid in real life, if you can believe it. I can totally picture me tooling around Warrenville on one, doing errands or running to Starbucks. If they were $1,500 or something, then I might have a chance to save up for one. Or if I suddenly come into lots of disposable income, then I would certainly run out and purchase the sweet and lovely machine. But alas, neither is the case, so I must admire from afar.
4-minute Inflatable Bed
I got a set of inflatable beds from JCPenney last night. Jenny was kind enough to pick them up for me at her local store because they're sold out everywhere else. I think I've bought 3-4 air mattresses over the last five years, each at about $20-30 a pop, and they always end up leaking or disappearing. Last year we would go to sleep on a nice, puffy mattress and wake up in the morning laying on a deflated rubber balloon, rocks digging in our backs and feeling achy all over. So I decided to go with this particular model for its ease of use and comfort. Can't wait to try it out!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Camping countdown
Well, it's here again. Time for the annual family camping trip. This year we're going to Nelson Dewey State Park in Wisconsin. Yesterday afternoon Pete, my dad, and I were setting up tents in my parents' backyard, airing them out and checking for any needed repairs. Seems like a lot of the camping equipment has disappeared yet again, like it does every year. My stove has reappeared (Steve has it) but I'll need to go buy an air mattress and some other supplies. I already had my mom pick up some lanterns and flashlights too. I swear I've bought like six lanterns in the last five years, and I only go camping once or twice a year. But stuff just keeps disappearing, so what else can you do?
It was funny though. Otto saw us setting up the tents and ran outside to see all the action. He was so excited he tried to run into my tent, but the door was zipped shut and he just ran smack into the canvas. Luckily the structure was fairly sound and it didn't collapse from the force of his massive head.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Carnage!
The infamous headless dog treat jar, showing the breach of security
Half-eaten dog treats on the counter
Dollie next to the dog head, pre-breakage
Dollie relaxing on the counter during happier dog head times
But then on Saturday morning, I walked into the kitchen to find the temporary aluminum foil lid pushed aside and a couple of half-eaten dog treats out on the counter, along with numerous crumbs from other already-eaten treats. I was surprised to find out she was actually EATING the dog treats. When I mentioned this to Iz, she confirmed my hunch, saying that Dollie had stolen a dog treat right out of Iz's hand when Iz wasn't looking and was about to reward Spanky and Adora for doing a trick.
Last night I came home late and found more half-eaten pieces of dog treats out on the counter again. So now I realize Dollie has a serious hankerin' for those treats, which I find very weird but funny and cute. She seems to prefer the chicken strips and the little steaks over the bacon pieces and the pizza slices. I am finding more and more that Dollie is one of the most colorful and loving pets I've ever had, especially for a cat.
(Dollie photos courtesy of Iz)
New pedicure
(Sorry about the blurry picture. And yes, I do seem to take a lot of pictures of my feet, don't I?)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
See ya!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Sneezy
Anyhow, I just spent the last hour tinkering with our iPhones, installing updates and syncing them to my Mac. I showed Pete how to send text messages, but I'm not sure if he'll really use that feature. Best of all, I set up an email account for Pete—yes, seriously!—and synced it to his iPhone. Whew! I've been a busy tech nerd. I'd keep going, but I'm getting tired and feel like drifting off to sleep on the couch while I watch "The Dog Whisperer," our favorite Friday night show.
Tomorrow morning I have to paint a Cubs logo on Matt's corn hole box (a.k.a. beanbag toss), then go home and get ready to go to Pete's aunt's memorial service in the afternoon. On Sunday I have lunch and a pedicure scheduled with Jen, and I might do some grocery/camping shopping too. Only a week to go before we go on our annual family camping trip to Nelson Dewey State Park!
(Image courtesy of AllPosters.com)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Rosy glow
Tomorrow I have a half day of work, then I might try to change my name at the Social Security Administration, go through our camping gear, and return the cake tiers to the cake lady. And since my mom and dad will be around in the afternoon, I'll pick up Pete from our rendezvous point and stop by their house to show them the wedding pix on my computer.
Ah, it's good to not feel like crap!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
STILL sick
Anyhow, I'm just at home, hanging around in my lounge wear and trying to change my name on all these things like SS, driver's licence, etc., which is a pain (just like my throat). Hint, hint, that's what my post will be about tomorrow, if I'm up to it.
Well, I'm going to rest now and wait for my hubby to come home from work....
(Photo courtesy of Corbis)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Sick
P.S. I'll be starting up The Bitchy Deli again, hopefully tomorrow or Thursday, so look for new posts appearing there soon.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Home at last!
Adora seemingly waving a friendly "hello"
Anyhow, it's good to be back home, hangin' with Iz, and just relaxing in our normal, wedding-free lives. Well, except for the thank you cards we have to make and send. But otherwise things are almost back to normal, and harmony is restored in the Hoogestraat household.
(Photo courtesy of Iz)
Slimy Hoover
Today Iz and I went to Petsmart and bought a snail for my fish tank, to help keep things a bit cleaner. We brought home a Blue Mystery Snail and named him Slimy Hoover. Slimy, because he's slimy, and Hoover, because he cleans like a vacuum (and that's my maiden name).
At first, Kayo (the red and white calico fish) was sucking on his shell, thinking he was food. Feeding the fish helped this problem. Scrappy didn't even notice him, which is good, because he likes to suck on big rocks and spit them out. I would hate for Scrappy to mistake Slimy for a giant, tasty rock.
Slimy settled in pretty quickly and started right to work sucking on the rocks and the aquarium walls. At this rate, he'll be maximum size in a matter of weeks. There's a lot to clean and eat in there, that's for sure.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Last day in Maui, homeless
Friday, August 15, 2008
Haleakala National Park, part five (ending at the hotel)
Haleakala National Park, part four
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