R's Photo Spot

Hi, Everyone.

Over the last year, I've developed a keen interest in photography.  I had to make do with a cell phone camera for a long time, until my sweet Uncle Neal gave me a new camera that took much better, bigger pictures.  Add to that a penchant for playing with filters and effects and a full-blown hobby was born.

I don't have enough room to post my photos here, or on Facebook.  I've started developing another blog to showcase them, and you can access it at rsphotospot.net.  Eventually, I'd like to publish my photos, or take orders for prints.

Have fun strolling through my virtual gallery, and look for new photos to be added often!

Christmas is two weeks away. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This one is cool, too, just because of the conservatory.  Do you know how many plants I could fit in there??

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/552-Glen-St-Glens-Falls-NY-12801/32918683_zpid/

http://www.oldhousedreams.com/2011/02/01/1910-classical-revival-glen-falls-ny/

My Dream House

I am a total sucker for storybook cottages.  This one is my dream house...



http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/14-Vanderbilt-Ln_Hyde-Park_NY_12538_M44747-15182

Last week I pulled my daughter out of school and started homeschooling her. In the course of figuring out her curriculum, we started discussing science.

"I hate science," she said.

I was horrified.  I was horrified because, just a couple of years ago, she loved it.

"Which science do you hate?" I asked.

"I hate all science."

And I was upset.  Not at her.  I was upset at her teachers, because science is so cool, and there are so many wonderful things about it, that someone, somewhere, should have brought some enthusiasm to the table and shown her how amazing it can be to discover things.  Considering that she accompanies me to almost every rock, gem, and mineral show I go to, we decided to stick with geology. She showed me the lesson she had been on at her previous school.  There was a list of words that she needed to know.  She was completely bored and didn't have a clue what any of it meant.

And that's when I put the book down and told her why I loved it so much.

Earth science involves materials that we use in everyday life.  If you drive on a road, live in a house, wear makeup, wear a wedding ring, use anything made of metal, or dig in a garden, then earth science affects you.  A lot of scientists squirm at the mention of "God" in relation to any scientific discipline, but the fact of the matter is, God created the earth.  We just don't know the mechanics of how He did it. If you look at a cross section of the layers of the earth, it's like being able to read the backstory of creation.  Learning about the materials that compose the place where we live is fascinating.  I've said it before:  It's God's diary.

Of course, after I explained this to her, all I got back was:  "Hmmm..".

Sometimes your work is just cut out for you.

Alternative Solutions

(image from telegraph.co.uk)

Every year I tell myself that I will get my Christmas shopping done early.  I tell myself that I will do the smart, thrifty thing and buy the presents all year long and stash them away somewhere until it's time to take them out and wrap them.

This is what I tell myself.

Myself doesn't listen.

Christmas is almost here and I'm still not done with it.  There's a part of me that wants to hide at this time of year.  The crowds and the social obligations are sometimes almost too much.  I remember when I worked as a travel agent, I had a client once that booked a one-week trip to an all-inclusive place in Mexico.  Single occupancy.  For Thanksgiving!  I was really young when I worked there.  I had just gotten married, and the idea of going someplace like that for a major holiday was really foreign to me.  At the time, I thought that lady was strange and wondered why in the world you'd want to travel to a foreign country when you were supposed to be at home, cooking and eating a feast and visiting with family.  Fast forward to now and I can totally see the appeal.  The idea of transplanting myself to a different location with beautiful scenery and making a true vacation out of the holidays has never been more enticing.  Imagine a cabin in the mountains with a simple Christmas tree and no phone.  Or a beach and 80 degree weather during November.  It sounds great, right?

So, I tell myself that next year will be the year that we spend Christmas in the mountains of Logan, Utah or rent that beach house in Galveston.  Maybe this time, I'll listen!

So exhausted. That's all I've got to say tonight.