Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Morning 2009

Sara, Cameron and Erik all left before Christmas morning and it was just the four of us. Walker actually slept over so he could wake up and open gifts like the old times. Starting last year, we draw names and only buy for one person in the family. Here Jake presents Franklin with his gift - a handmade table from scrap wood. The top is glass and will hold a topo map that Uncle Mickey gave us.
 
Susan gave Walker a slack line. It's awesome what he can do on one. If you don't know what slacklining is, look it up on You Tube. You've got to see it.
 
Walker got Jake a spear gun and a T-shirt. He's ready for the Bahamas now. (Not shown: Susan got a pedicure from Cameron at Sensibilities in downtown Asheville. It's luxurious! Susan wants to use it to herald the beginning of sandle weather in 2010)
 
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Christmas Time Shennanigans

Annie Louise and daughter Sydney - their family runs Flying Cloud Farm, maybe the best CSA around.
 
Jake, Tucker Stone & Sammy Stone in the Big House living room. Tucker plays soccer at UAB and Sammy has graduated from Yale and is considering nursing school.
 
Cameron opens her gift from Franklin.
 
He got her a chicken waterer and feeder but clued her in by nabbing one of my chickens and wrapping it for a hint of what was to come.
 
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Christmas Cheer 2009

Cameron & Grace make a dessert so rich, none of us can eat for 24 hours afterwards. It is Cappuccino Fudge Cheesecake from Bon Appetit, February 2002 if you're so inclined.
 
Cameron & Walker sport the bells my mom sent for decoration. Yes, Mom, they're hanging on our porch!
 
The whole gang, except we're missing Sara.
 
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Erik Brings Snow !!!!

My oldest son, Erik, came for the week before Christmas and we didn't leave him alone a minute. He had to hike up the road the entire time he was here because of the snowstorm that hit us just after he arrived. We got almost a foot of snow and it's being called The Blizzard of 2009 - even though it fails miserably by Northern standards. Here we are getting around via pickup truck.
 
We were able to scrounge together enough clothes to keep him warm.
 
We even scrounged up a newborn for him to hold. This is Molly and William Hamilton's new son, Heyth (sp?)
 
Erik always brings a few addicting things to tempt us with and this online game was one of them. Surprisingly, the goal is to learn geography. They worked in groups, with each person being more knowleddgeable in a different area. Sara is pretty good with Africa and Cameron is pretty good with Central & South America. I plan to try it this winter and brush up on my mapping skills.
 
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Friday, December 18, 2009

Erik Joins In

Erik could no longer remain a spectator. He digs in bare-handed.  
His was the size of a snowman's head!
 
Finally, a fire, food and a game of Quest.
 
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The Wind-Up

Jake winds up. He throws.
 
 
 
The TARGET.
 
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The "Blizzard of 2009"

Or, that's what we're calling it. Walker hid behind the cold frame today to attack Jake, Erik and Tucker as they came up the hill to play a game of cards (Quest).  
Counter attack - and Walker runs for cover.
 
Tucker and Erik watch and try to remain innocent bystanders.
 
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Honey, I Blew Up The Woods

I was inside, minding my own business - not a good idea when you have a porch full of guys shooting guns into your woods. I heard a BOOM and saw flames as if someone had shot the potato cannon. Upon further investigation, they had shot into something that they put in a box that explodes when you shoot it. It exploded a little too well and started a good little fire in the fall leaves. Luckily it had rained recently. This photo is after it had died down quite a bit. Good fireman's daughter that I am, I made Walker go and put it out, only to find them doing it all over again a few minutes later. The first photo is of Philip, innocent bystander from Ireland who had never shot a gun.
 
 
 
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A Lamp For Ellie

Austin wanted to make a lamp for his girlfriend, Ellie, out of a Starbucks drink bottle. He and Jake got excited about the idea and went to tinkering around in the basement. Franklin either couldn't resist or he was worried they'd blow the place up or that the final product would electrocute the girlfriend. He kept dissapearing into the "man cave" and this is what they came up with. They canablized Jake's dorm lamp to get some of the parts and Franklin's copper box to get other parts. All in all, a fair day's work.
 
 
 
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Oswald Chambers Quote

"The entrance into the Kingdom is through the panging pains of repentance crashing into a man’s respectable goodness." Oswald Chambers

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Action Shots - Available for $19.99

 
 
Zoe saves the day.
 
Ruth makes a clean break away.
 
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Get Your Signed Photos NOW

Spectators.
 
And yes, there was ACTION !!!!
 
 
 
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Powder Puff Continues

The "Crouching Tiger" team eaves drops on the "Hidden Dragons" team. But we caught them.
 
The "Hidden Dragons" lineup.
 
The rainbow at intermission.
 
Zoe, our captain.
 
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