first fruits

I'm home, not even unpacked (that's what the extra day off is for, right?) The camera hasn't been downloaded, but I do have a couple pictures from the 2009 Q Family campout. My cousin (actually, cousin in law) Russ is the designated photographer for our family when we all get together. I eagerly await the rest of his photos from this past weekend!

This is my Dad's generation. In the yellow is his sister, my Aunt Alice. The others are cousins (seated) and spouses (standing). On the far left is Uncle Robert, the eldest of the family. At 87, he is just as spry and delightful as ever.
Here's my generation. My sister, brother, and my cousins are seated. Standing are some 2nd cousins - the children of my Dad's cousins. Not pictured: 2 of my brothers, 6 other cousins and at least 40 other baby boomer relatives!

Finally, my kids and their generation. These are a few of the multitude... Jenny (mine), Keith and Kevin (Charlie's boys), Aaron (mine), Trevor (cousin Dale's boy), Faith (cousin Barb's daughter), and Ben (my 2nd cousin Reed's son - so maybe that makes him my 3rd cousin?)

All photos courtesy of Russell Hyde

vacation commencement

I accomplish so little when I stay home. I don't know why; perhaps it's habit. (It may be laziness.) It is relaxing, to be sure, but it can also be quite frustrating. Especially towards the end of the day, when I look around and realize that this opportunity has frittered away, once again.

Not sure what to do about that. The relaxation ~ down time ~ sure feels healthy and right at the time, but one does not wish to slip into utter slothfulness, either. It is, indeed, a slippery slope for me.

Today ~ today! ~ is the first day of a very brief vacation for me. (I will return to work on Tuesday, so it's really only 4 days off.) It's 11 in the morning, and I'm off to an okay start. The dishes are done, the bed is made. Floors vacuumed (a BIG deal for me, it's a chore that I nearly never accomplish) just a few days ago. I have some work to do at my desk, including this note, which will take me until about noon to accomplish. And then ~ and then! ~ I am free.

I have plans to tend my garden all afternoon. If all goes according to plan, there will be pictures by the morrow!

Tomorrow I plan to check the camping equipment, plan a menu, grocery shop and do some baking and pre-cooking for the long weekend. Thursday after lunch I'll head south, towards Santa Cruz, for the annual Quickert reunion campout.

I'm so eager to see my extended family!

(group photo of the 1999 campout -- those kids are a lot bigger now!)

in the pink

Looking forward to all that the weekend will bring, and a vacation on the near horizon... may your day be blessed!

hopes for the day

a.k.a. "the day-off to do list"

1. settle my stomach
2. go to the farmer's market/get flowers for sunday
3. head down the coast to the half moon bay nursery (to replace the nursery packs I bought about 6 weeks ago, never got planted, and now are mostly... dead - sigh)
   
4. replant my hanging basket - really this time!
5. vacuum and mop
6. get the bills paid
7. choir @ 7:30

what are the odds that even half of those things will be accomplished? I don't know. but here is opportunity, all things are possible. time to step over the threshold and get going!

devotional

I swear, I was not looking for this, it just came to me as a gift.