I have pretty eclectic music interests. Perhaps my favorite genre, however, is Bluegrass. Having a Chinese-American daughter, I have explored some Chinese music, and found it very fascinating. I stumbled onto this YouTube video, which brings together both music interests, and thought it to be worth sharing. Enjoy!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
my kind of day
Sunday was one of those days that might have been the perfect autumn day in Ohio... sunny, dry and breezy; with temperatures in the upper 60's and leaves near their peak color, both on the trees and crunching underfoot. After church and dinner, it was obvious that hiking would be a must.
We used to live in an area that was abundant with local hiking options, but when we moved here (only about 40 miles) we discovered that we are in a hiking dead zone. With few trail options under a half hour drive, we get a little bored with the same trails. I got on the internet to search for more options, and, to my surprise, I found something I had previously missed. Less than a half hour from our home, I discovered a large property, owned by a private college, but open to the public. With two main trails, the shorter of which is 2.4 miles, it seemed worth a try. The GPS took us straight to the trailhead, and we loved what we found... a mature forest of maple, beech, oak and evergreens, with well maintained trails and no crowds.
Benny usually rides in the backpack carrier, but I decided it was a good day to introduce him to actual hiking. We hiked the 2.4 mile trail and I started off with the carrier empty to see how he would do. Jen was a little aprehensive about letting him roam on his own (his walking and balance is still delayed and he is fairly unsteady on his feet). But, since he goes to physical therapy sessions two days per week, I figured we'd do some physical therapy, Daddy style. After all, what could be better developmental physical therapy than negotiating the tree roots, dry stream beds, inclines and declines of a hiking trail? I held his hand only when I felt it necessary for his safety, but basically let him hike and explore on his own. He fell many times, but he had a blast. He loved the crunchy leaves and stopped to explore many aspects of nature along the way. It was so fun to watch him come alive in the woods, and he hiked over 3/4 of a mile before I put him in the carrier... not bad for a just-turned-two year-old!
We used to live in an area that was abundant with local hiking options, but when we moved here (only about 40 miles) we discovered that we are in a hiking dead zone. With few trail options under a half hour drive, we get a little bored with the same trails. I got on the internet to search for more options, and, to my surprise, I found something I had previously missed. Less than a half hour from our home, I discovered a large property, owned by a private college, but open to the public. With two main trails, the shorter of which is 2.4 miles, it seemed worth a try. The GPS took us straight to the trailhead, and we loved what we found... a mature forest of maple, beech, oak and evergreens, with well maintained trails and no crowds.
Benny usually rides in the backpack carrier, but I decided it was a good day to introduce him to actual hiking. We hiked the 2.4 mile trail and I started off with the carrier empty to see how he would do. Jen was a little aprehensive about letting him roam on his own (his walking and balance is still delayed and he is fairly unsteady on his feet). But, since he goes to physical therapy sessions two days per week, I figured we'd do some physical therapy, Daddy style. After all, what could be better developmental physical therapy than negotiating the tree roots, dry stream beds, inclines and declines of a hiking trail? I held his hand only when I felt it necessary for his safety, but basically let him hike and explore on his own. He fell many times, but he had a blast. He loved the crunchy leaves and stopped to explore many aspects of nature along the way. It was so fun to watch him come alive in the woods, and he hiked over 3/4 of a mile before I put him in the carrier... not bad for a just-turned-two year-old!
golden beeches
my little hiker
Not sure who uses this fire pit in the middle of the woods?
walking the log
really large chicken feet?
nature's playhouse?
my favorite people
Sunday, October 24, 2010
witchy wife
Title got your attention, didn't it?
It may not be quite the juicy post you expected, but friends of ours had a Halloween party and bonfire at their home Saturday evening. It was a perfect fall evening, and, of course, costumes were required. See where the title came from?
It may not be quite the juicy post you expected, but friends of ours had a Halloween party and bonfire at their home Saturday evening. It was a perfect fall evening, and, of course, costumes were required. See where the title came from?
the Ben-osaurus
the indian girl
Captain Zach
the ballpark snack vendor
the witch (and a cute witch she was)
The used car salesman (and, for the record, the beer gut isn't real, but I did actually wear these glasses in the late 80's)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
three letters shorter
For now, I'll call him Zachary. Over the course of his eight years, though, he has been known by a number of names in our home: Zachary, Zach, Zachy, Zacharini and Zacharini the Great (sometimes morphing into Zacharini the "Grape" by the younger members of our crew). For the first three or four years of his life, I mostly alternated between Zach and Zachary, not sure which I preferred.
However, when he started learning how to write his name, he meticulously (with great penmanship) and proudly wrote every letter of his name, and made it known that he preferred his full name, Zachary.
OK, Zachary it is. And, Zachary it has been... until recently.
Just new this school year, I've been noticing "Zach" at the top of his school papers. I recently inquired of this change, and was informed that he has decided that he likes Zach just as well, and it is three letters shorter than Zachary... almost half as many. He figured with the amount of times he would have to write his name over the course of his school career, shortening his name from seven letters to four would save a lot of time and effort. He told me I could still call him Zachary, if I preferred, but, at least at school, he was going to go with Zach.
Wow, I'm not sure what to make of that. Is school really so busy that he feels the need to shorten his name to pack everything in a day? Is cutting his name in half the epitomy of laziness? Is he to be praised for his efficiency for pondering the effort saved in writing half his name? It could be any of the above, but it's more likely just a kid experimenting with a little independence and finding his identity.
Well, Zach... ary, I fondly remember you being proud of meticulously writing every letter of your full name, and you have conditioned me over the past few years to call you Zachary. So, although I will still alternate between Zach and Zachary, I think I will continue to prefer Zachary. (But, you may never escape Zacharini... at least when your friends aren't around!)
However, when he started learning how to write his name, he meticulously (with great penmanship) and proudly wrote every letter of his name, and made it known that he preferred his full name, Zachary.
OK, Zachary it is. And, Zachary it has been... until recently.
Just new this school year, I've been noticing "Zach" at the top of his school papers. I recently inquired of this change, and was informed that he has decided that he likes Zach just as well, and it is three letters shorter than Zachary... almost half as many. He figured with the amount of times he would have to write his name over the course of his school career, shortening his name from seven letters to four would save a lot of time and effort. He told me I could still call him Zachary, if I preferred, but, at least at school, he was going to go with Zach.
Wow, I'm not sure what to make of that. Is school really so busy that he feels the need to shorten his name to pack everything in a day? Is cutting his name in half the epitomy of laziness? Is he to be praised for his efficiency for pondering the effort saved in writing half his name? It could be any of the above, but it's more likely just a kid experimenting with a little independence and finding his identity.
Well, Zach... ary, I fondly remember you being proud of meticulously writing every letter of your full name, and you have conditioned me over the past few years to call you Zachary. So, although I will still alternate between Zach and Zachary, I think I will continue to prefer Zachary. (But, you may never escape Zacharini... at least when your friends aren't around!)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
ahhh...saturday
Saturday is a good day to shop for a car. I, therefore, have worked every Saturday since beginning my current job. However, since I'm coming up on 6 months of employment, I figured I was due to ask for a Saturday off. And, I did just that.
I originally took it off because my extended family had an annual fall hayride and weenie roast today. We planned to go. The weather was great. But, life is generally busy, Benny had a slight fever yesterday, and we were just in the mood to spend a beautiful Saturday closer to home.
Since Jen wanted Benny to get a good nap this afternoon, and Lily was on the whiny side around lunchtime, I decided to spend some needed quality time with my two oldest sons in the afternoon. I asked them what they wanted to do (outside), and, of course they couldn't choose the same activity. Dylan has been bugging me to take him fishing for months, so he, naturally, requested fishing. I don't really fish, but helikes it LOVES it. Zach fishes a little, but he's not crazy about it. He chose hiking. So, we did a little of both.
I originally took it off because my extended family had an annual fall hayride and weenie roast today. We planned to go. The weather was great. But, life is generally busy, Benny had a slight fever yesterday, and we were just in the mood to spend a beautiful Saturday closer to home.
Since Jen wanted Benny to get a good nap this afternoon, and Lily was on the whiny side around lunchtime, I decided to spend some needed quality time with my two oldest sons in the afternoon. I asked them what they wanted to do (outside), and, of course they couldn't choose the same activity. Dylan has been bugging me to take him fishing for months, so he, naturally, requested fishing. I don't really fish, but he
The leaves were starting to get colorful at a state park near our home.
Silly boys...
Sillier boys...
Come on guys, give me a decent picture!
trail time
My boys are getting big
And, we finished the afternoon fishing at a friend's stocked pond.
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