New Blog Location

Yep. I've jumped ship over to WordPress.org and consolidated my blogs into a nice big ole' fat one! All on one page: WackyAuntie. 2009 is my Creatively Organized year and a spanking new blog was in order. Also not using a great software, Windows LiveWriter (a freebie!)and it's so much easier to post!

My 2008 Project365 Wrap Up Mosaics

 

A look back at 2008 in pictures. Last year, thanks to the Ravelry Project365 group and StudioD, I got my photo-mojo back. For first time in years I snapped photos creatively and often experimentally. Now I've fun mosaics to relive our year at at glance with just some of the best of 4000s+ pics snapped during the year. That's a lot of snapping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Day, Another Historical Cemetery

One of our family resolutions for 2009 is to seriously track down local history and Aaron's family history. Little did we know when moving back here to my hometown that he had very deep ancestral roots in the region. Not only did his great-great-great-granddad migrate west in 1850 (along with massive amounts of others seeking their fortunes in the gold mines) but we've discovered that his first stop was the very same small town where we now live!



As we sit downtown at our favorite cafe, surrounded by historical buildings, we think about young John Dabney Perkins pulling up on Main Street in his covered wagon (along with his Uncle David and about 1500lbs of tobacco) sometime in 1850, ready to set up shop and hopefully strike it rich in the gold mines of Calaveras County. Alas Murphys didn't yield the anticipated wealth and eventually (twenty odd years later) J.D. settled in Ione, over in neighboring Amador County. And now some 159 odd years later, his descendants have returned to their ancestral roots in the Gold Country once again.

What does all this have to do with that pretty picture above? Well...in a round about way it does relate...in my typically round-about-fashion. The picture is of a tombstone in an old cemetery in Stent (no longer exists as a town...just a cemetery), the birthplace of Aaron's maternal grandmother, who married J.D. Perkins great-grandson in the 1920s. They never lived anywhere near Murphys but did end up in Sonoma County, where Aaron was born and raised. Where he and I met, had a son and then moved back to my hometown...that really is more like his hometown. Hence the circle closes...eventually...

To see why I'm posting a picture of pretty little tombstone read about it over on my other blog. I'm toying with the idea of merging these two blogs...but for now... head over there if you're not yet thoroughly bored with all my ramblings! Right now I've got a date with a 5 year old and some bedtime stories.

The family that dances together...

What did you all do on Christmas Night? We went dancing!! First we hit the Elf Club...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Then we were off the local Barn Dance for a Ho Down Country Style...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The night ended with the bright lights and techno sounds of the Disco!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

We had a blast dancing the night away. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Time for a Haircut!

Yep, Mom finally gave in to Dad's (and Mey-Mey's, Grandma's, Papa's...) nagging and gave me a haircut today. I was looking pretty shaggy before...but not now!














Now I'm fiesty with my new shorter do and I've discovered something else: I have ears!














Look here's the second ear. Mom did try to cut my earlobe off, but only once. I yelped pretty good but no blood was drawn.



Now discovering I have ears doesn't mean I'll take the bananas out that seem to grown in there. Or at least that's what Mom's always saying... "Hey Boy, take the bananas out of your ears!" Not sure why she says that so often...but she's always saying it.


One thing I do know: My ears are now cold! Mom needs to knit me a new hat just to keep them warm. Or better yet some ear muffs...yeah, that'd be cool!

But I do love Mom. Just wish she'd learn to cut my hair faster because it sure takes her forever. My bum goes numb sitting there for a whole hour while she snips, snips, snips. Good thing she only gets around to cutting my hair every three months or so. Now I'm good until at least next year!

Aqua, Aqua, Aqua everywhere!

What is it about the shade of aqua blue? Or for that matter, any blue. I'm drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Lately it's the darker form of peacock, with it's deep rich tones perfect for autumn days and wintery nights. Come summer my thoughts turn to lighter shades of blues. Looks like it's more than just because I like the color...it's because my personality is blue...a lovely light seagreen aqua shade at the moment.

you are lightseagreen #20B2AA

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well. Your saturation level is higher than average - You know what you want, but sometimes know not to tell everyone. You value accomplishments and know you can get the job done, so don't be afraid to run out and make things happen. Your outlook on life is brighter than most people's. You like the idea of influencing things for the better and find hope in situations where others might give up. You're not exactly a bouncy sunshine but things in your world generally look up.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Now come tomorrow will I still be light seagreen or a deeper shade of aqua, maybe my beloved peacock! Guess I'll have to take the quiz again to see if I'm predictable or not.

He's Here!

Today was a busy day at Chez Wacky Auntie! It entailed an early morning dash to the hospital, then a few hours wait, a Denny's breakfast (actually, not half-bad...I was ravenous). More waiting, bit of knitting and then he was here!!

Name still under negotiation but that's fine. He's so adorable we don't need a name yet. It was love at first sight and the feeling's mutual! See, he took one look at me and smiled!

Yes...an honest to goodness smile. At me, his beloved Auntie! (I refuse to believe it was gas...it was not gas...it was a smile...really it was!). See he did it again later on,

He knows which side his cupcake is frosted on! And that Auntie is so cool he can't wait for his first playdate! ;)

Labor a bit longer than with my Niece (but that wasn't hard seeing hers was all of 45 minutes active labor!). Sis did fantastic! So well the nurses were not convinced she was in "real" labor! I recognized the tell-tale signs (moans, grimaces, heavy breathing, a few curse words popping out...) and knew things were getting fast and furious...even if the nurses were still gabbing about sending her home! What? Send her home when the contractions are 2 minutes apart and she's obviously in great pain?!! (Sorry folks, no photos documenting this phase of the day...I honored my promise and kept the camera tucked in my bag...)

Two hours later, this little bundle of Baby Love was being passed around his adoring family. Yep, Big Sis held him,

Cousin held him and of course...

so did Gramsie!

Daddy had him for a good bit for some male bonding...with a blurry J-Man dashing in and out, making sure the baby was still really here!

But Little Miss Mosey made sure to get her equal share of cuddles!

Most important of all...Baby was held by Mommy!

Yes an excellent day!