Kids

A Quiet Life, A Full Life

~ Tonya ~ 2 Comments

We recently picked up a book from the library entitled “Dear Mr. Washington”
by Lynn Cullen. It is a humorous look at the story behind Gilbert Stewart’s famous portrait of the first President. This one.

The book follows Stuart’s children as they attempt to follow George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior on Company and Conversation while the President sits for his portrait. These rules (110 of them) were copied down by Washington by the time he was 16. Continue reading →

Science Observation: Bird’s Nest Day 7

~ Tonya ~ 1 Comment

Gazelle has been sticking very close to the nest the past couple days. As in…she’s always on the nest when I take a peek around the rocks. I try not to disturb her as I’m sure keeping eggs warm is  serious business. Nobody likes to be bothered at work. Especially this girl. She gets very antsy if I get close to the nest while she’s on it. Which is all the time. All. The. Time. I wonder if birds store up fat for brooding like other animals do for hibernation. She did seem a little, um…fluffy when I took her portraits a couple of days ago. Unless Gazelle has a man bringing her food, I don’t see how she’s getting anything to eat. Poor thing. Growing babies while on a diet? That life is for the birds. Hahahaha! Continue reading →

Science Observation: Bird’s Nest Day 6

~ Tonya ~ 3 Comments

The bird known as Gazelle had her agent contact me late yesterday afternoon. She complained that her client’s reputation as a Dark-Eyed Junco, and image as a beautiful, multidimensional creature were seriously jeopardized by the release of my “completely unacceptable and unauthorized photographs”. She called my photos shabby, grainy and insulting to the very nature of the Dark-Eyed Junco. She informed me that Gazelle would be more than happy to come in studio to sit for a few portraits if I would treat her with the consideration and care a bird of her elevated neighborhood status deserved. Terms were reached. Gazelle proved to be a most accommodating model. Continue reading →

Science Observation: Bird’s Nest

~ Tonya ~ Leave a comment

I have never seen my kids more excited than when they came bounding in from the backyard yesterday. They were jumping up and down, giddy and full of exuberance. So much that I could barely understand their squeals of “Mommy, Mommy! Come outside quick! Hurry!”. I trekked after them, down the path that runs along the rockery and quickly understood their enthusiasm.  There, hidden in a crevice between two rocks, was a bird’s nest with a single pale egg nestled inside.

Bird's Nest Continue reading →

Work It Out For Yourselves

~ Tonya ~ Leave a comment

Siblings fight. It’s the nature of life. My children adore each other most of the time. They spend hours reading, going on imaginary adventures, coloring, “cooking”, playing card games and creating entire worlds for themselves. They are mostly considerate and kind to each other. However, in the midst of all the love, there are times when they go after each other like Ali/Frazier. Is that a good reference? I hope so. It’s pretty much the sum total of my knowledge of boxing. So, really, I have no clue if it even makes sense. But I’m pretty sure those two were fighters, who fought each other at one point, as my kids did today, so I’m going with it.

Continue reading →