Thursday, April 29, 2021
I with her Magnolia leaf. I and E with Live Oaks more than two-hundred years old. I and the sugar kettle. We still have her great-grandfather's thesis on sugar cultivation somewhere at home. Following the silent hedges. Only children and cherubs allowed. Only the continued labor of many human beings will hold back Mother Nature.
Saturday, April 10, 2021
E. is dedicated to his car washing practice. His sister follows his example. Whatever E. does, I. will also do.
Saturday, April 10, 2021
We drove five hours and crossed several state lines to camp at the Gulf Islands National Seashore, our favorite camping spot. We had not been away from home for four days in over a year. We took lots of walks around the Fort Pickens Campground at the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It was chilly but could be warm in the sun. We came back to this outdoor cooking and eating space several times during our hikes.
Monday, March 1, 2021
We visited the Barataria Preserve south of New Orleans last weekend. We walked a long trail consisting of an elevated and rickety wooden platform across a Cypress swamp. We were warned about the alligator by the park ranger and several excited visitors. We kept our distance. But that didn't stop E from taking several photographs.
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
We had a historic ice storm and hard freeze for days. We ran our heater and spaces heaters. We dripped our faucets. We huddled together in small rooms to share our collective warmth and celebrated W's birthday.
Sunday, October 18, 2020
I tends E's (second) fig tree while I water it. The first one dried up over the summer. This one may not make it either.
Friday, July 17, 2020
My buddy Z- spent all afternoon and some of the evening driving to a nearby city, checking out the camper, helping me tow it, backing it in. I really owe this guy! The boy was captivated. Four humans, four Mardi Gras cups. These were left over from the prior owner. The wasps have had their fun.
Friday, July 3, 2020
My biggest fans.
Sunday, June 14, 2020
We found this beauty on the side of the road during our ride this morning. Rusty and neglected? Yes. But I see potential. And Kent Bicycles makes replacement parts. Maybe we will get lucky.
Saturday, May 23, 2020
This stroller has been around the world and back again. Only one-way walking allowed during Phase 1. No socializing or chance of close passage. A little accommodation for this Cypress knee. It was here first. Wild berries.
Sunday, May 3, 2020
E after being brutally awoken from a car induced nap. The image is a metaphor for how I feel at least once a day since all of this began. Just a bathtub. With the toys that the kids and I play with each night. Out of dinner ideas? There's always eggs.
Friday, May 1, 2020
A sign in front of the Trader Joe's in our city. I went inside of a grocery store for the first time in about 45 days. I arrived with all of my Corona virus supplies: a small JanSport fanny pack filled with hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes, mask, credit cards, keys, and my wireless earbuds. we all went together in the family car and upon arrival saw a line that stretched past several of the adjacent stores.
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Cars, cars, cars. Pancakes! In an unexpected twist, we had family members join us. The children played together in a feverish spasm. The adults enjoyed the quiet aftermath later that evening. Real Lysol needs to come from the Lysol region of France. Otherwise it's just sparkling bleach.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
I a little too close to the AC plug for my liking. We spent much of the afternoon here while I fielded work calls and emails. E and I have been reading Mother Goose. He loves the nonsense rhymes and has a terrific memory for them. When he saw this one he said, "That's mommy". E likes to hand off his camera after each round of shots.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
E took this photo of the excavator during our afternoon bike ride today. Thanks, Nabor! What's good for the goose is good for the gander. E exploring his kingdom. I loves slides. After dinner feats of concentration.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
My old doll house my dad made for me makes a fine garage for E’s cars.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
We pass by Goodwood Park every day on our morning walk.St. Alban's produced a beautiful Easter video service. We watched it this morning together in the living room. It was a lean back experience but I followed along with the prayers while I was holding our children.E is a meticulous organizer.
Monday, April 6, 2020
Our backyard and patio are seeing a lot of activity these days. So is this play pen I picked up for I.. E. enjoys playing in it, too. He especially likes to put pillows and blankets in there and tuck in himself and his sister to “go night night”. It’s kind of funny because he’s been waking us up every morning around 3 am. I wish his enthusiasm for sleeping would show itself around that time instead.
Saturday, April 4, 2020
A life sized iron bigfoot silhouette at the "Bee Nice" house and music venue.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
E. invited a friend for lunch. I found him quite dull, but the kids seemed to enjoy his company.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
I (foreground) and E (background) enjoying a freshly mowed backyard. For a little more than 2 weeks now we've been waking up and walking out the door at 9:00 a.m. to head to a local park to play in the large soccer fields. Today we took a long walk through the neighborhoods going down the streets we haven't haunted yet admiring the thick stands of bamboo trees and other gardening projects that have all become far more beautiful in recent weeks.
Monday, March 30, 2020
We used a very simple recipe for the cornbread. But now we're out of sugar. Today was LSU's first day of classes for the main campus after the one week pause and spring break. I'd been hoping to slide right in to a little work on my one undergraduate class but things went different differently rather quickly this morning. Oh well. Both K typing out and I are learning how to work at odd times during the day and during the evenings as well.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Our ~40" LCD TV, my laptop, a webcam (later moved from the top of the TV to top of the furniture), and Zoom. K's oldest brother scheduled a zoom video conference call with K's parents, her brother and his husband, and us today at 5:00 p.m. E was shy for the camera again just as he had been on the video conference call to my parents and with K's mom a few days ago.
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Small flowering weeds from the park near our house in a tiny antique vase. As is our custom these days, we walked to the park close to our house at around 9:00 a.m. When we go on these walks we always pack along the necessities for a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old: a few small boxes of raisins, a plastic pouch of applesauce, some nuts, water for everyone, and today a smoothie that K didn't like very much.
Friday, March 27, 2020
E is lord of all he surveys at the park near our house. He can clear three standard-size soccer fields in short order. Sometimes, he just needs to roll around in the grass and let it all out.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Cooking has become much simpler since we started buying everything in bulk. The remote work orders for LSU began on Tuesday, March 17th but by that date, I had already been self-isolating since the day before due to news we received that a child in E's daycare was being tested for COVID-19. We have eaten every meal--breakfast, lunch, and dinner--together at this table since that date.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
This is where we talk about humidity, being human, and four humans that live together. Our journey begins here, with this child's drawing of an imaginary vehicle.