Attempts at Family Pictures

I like to do group shots of us at least once a year. And every year I remember why we hardly ever took family portraits when I had all five kids at home. It's just fine when it's me and the girls. My girls are focused and ready for action when it comes to taking pictures!





Somehow when the boys enter the mix, it just isn't quite as easy though. I'm not quite sure what the problem is. I can't quite put my finger on it.



Notice the super model who stays spot on, regardless of the distractions!

She's a pro!



Can you guess the drama star of the family?



It doesn't help any when Dad is on the other side and I'm taking the pictures.







That's ok. Someday they will have kids and I can always teach them to do the same!



At least they are old enough to take pictures of us now. That is one sign they are growing up. As for the rest, I have to laugh because they are still such kids at heart at times. I hope they never lose that. Even if it does mean I can't get great family pictures of us all.



Ashleigh, we missed you today! It's just not the same without you. Although as you can see, they can act just as silly without you! Happy Holidays from the silly family!

She's Got the Sweetest Little Baby Face

Little Miss Lana is growing up, and she is losing the kitten face some. She's still so cute though, that I think she still has a baby face.



Not only is she the cutest thing, she is so helpful. She is willing to join in and lend a paw wherever she can.





Don't tell the other pets, but she is my favorite by far. This week, at least.



Well, apparently the boy and the dog are jealous over this post, so I have to add a few shots of them too.





The dog is awesome too. She is by far the most affectionate of all our pets. She gives slobbery kisses all day long.





Now Mimi is so cool, she isn't even jealous that I said Lana is my current favorite. Mimi just sits in the corner and rolls her eyes at all of us. Which makes me extra fond of her the days I am trying to get something done and the other two are wanting attention. They are all pretty fabulous in their own ways. Just like people.



Living the life in Virginia!

The Big Chili

Meet the sponsors.The "Big Chili", Steve Foster, came out from the UK.Matt Adams came up from Sydney.And I took the day off work.



Photo: Lee CujesTeam ChiliWe talked shoes. We climbed. Matt crushed. I ate carbs for lunch for the first time in yonks.

What a perfect day!





Matt knocked off Screaming Insanity in no time at all.























How much do I want these little beauties? I got a special preview today. I love them. I want them.

So much rubber, so much style.

The new Matador lace, by Red Chili of course.

I can't wait to test drive them.

Click the photo to enlarge the image.





In the mean time I've got these sharp new Caronas.



What to wear, what to wear?







Thanks guys, I love them. jj

Covering Distance

Last week I did two 100 mile rides several days apart. The first I rode on my own bike, with my camera, stopping along the way. That was really nice. The second I did on an unfamiliar demo bike, riding the course straight through except for a lunch stop. That was really nice too. The rides didn't take all day and they didn't wipe me out, allowing me to work before and after.Had time been no object, I felt as if I could have kept going.



To me, it is this private moment of realisation that "I have it in me" to do this kind of distance, casually - that feels like an accomplishment. More so than, say, an official brevet finish. It is not that I don't value organised events and their objective measures of performance. It's more that when doing an event, I already know that I can do it; I would not attempt it otherwise with all the logistics involved. In that sense, it feels not unlike taking a test based on material I've already learned. It's the learning itself that's thrilling. That "A-ha!" moment. Doing well on the test? It's nice, and often necessary. But it's not the same as the learning itself.



Maybe this line of thinking just means that I am hopelessly non-competitive. Or maybe it is simply not a good analogy. In fact almost certainly not. But there's a grain of something in it, somewhere.




Covering new distance, covering new material. And along the way that feeling of having truly grasped, understood, internalised something new - something that had previously seemed unattainable.

Cow Rubbed Tree Knot

This is my favorite knot of those on the trunk of the old juniper tree that I like so much and tell the story of in the following photos, and posts.

Exploring Mathews, VA

Today Diana and I took the kids to explore some things in Mathews. Our first stop was a farm named Eastfield Farms and Oysters. We had hoped to see and hear about the aquaculture that they do here. They grow oysters from seeds as part of their farming practices. They also have no spray blueberries that you can pick when in season.

We were able to spend some time talking to the owner, who so graciously shared some very interesting things with us. Only 1% of the oyster population is still in the Chesapeake Bay and this gentleman is doing his part to counter that. You can read more about his farm and efforts here: Eastfield Farms and Oysters



After we left the farm, we stopped to snap some pictures of a beautiful church. I love church architecture and so many times comment on buildings, but rarely stop to snap pictures.

We wandered around the cemetery in the back and chatted about what we saw. There were many military tombstones so we talked about that some. We left here and headed to the library. The main reason we went to the library was to stop and ask where the lighthouses were here. We got distracted before we got around to asking and spent some time hanging out there.



The librarian sent us to Mathews Beach which was a really neat spot. We didn't see the lighthouse but we did some hands on learning, which we always love.

We met this beautiful creature:

And we met his beautiful owner, who shared that he was going to be put down in a few days. Her grief was very raw and it was so touching to me that she let us share some of their last moments together with them:

We left the beach to head back to the campground because Karen and Tom were hosting a happy hour. I'll have to grab pictures from everyone else for that, because I forgot my camera.



We had a great day together! Living the life in sunny Virginia!

Ooops!

Seems like I made a wrong turn somewhere in Utah and 1700 miles later have ended up in Indiana!!

The journey isn't over, it has simply been detoured for a little while.

I'll be back...