Susanne's 365 Extras

2010-10-21T23:19:00.001-07:00

New Family Photos

2010-06-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

At Elizabeth's high school graduation from Heritage Christian School, our homeschool group.

New profile photo

2010-04-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

Shape Poem from Poetry Class

2010-02-10T21:17:00.000-08:00

Paraphrase Card

2009-09-20T16:03:00.001-07:00

Summary Card

2009-09-20T16:02:00.001-07:00

Quote Card

2009-09-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

Day 27: Up a Tree ... By Guest Photographer T

2009-01-27T21:54:00.001-08:00

Guest photographer T ran outside when he saw a tree squirrel in our yard. He got some fairly good photos of the bushy-tailed fellow, a quite unusual visitor in our yard which is often overrun by pesky ground squirrels. This was his favorite shot ... although I liked two other photos of his better.

Vorpal Sword

2009-01-22T17:53:00.001-08:00

An assignment for my online writing class.....

Student Free Verse

2008-10-01T17:00:00.001-07:00

Student Haiku

2008-09-25T18:31:00.001-07:00

More student poems....

2008-09-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

Student Shape Poem

2008-09-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Shape Poetry

2008-09-14T23:56:00.001-07:00

Just posting this here so I can post it to Brave Writer for the Poetry Class I'm facilitating....

Shakespeare Project

2008-05-09T14:27:00.001-07:00

This is the result of one of the assignments for the Shakespeare workshop I'm teaching through Brave Writer. One of the moms asked me to post it to the forums, so I'm hosting it here on the Web so I can post it on the Brave Writer site. Isn't it cool?

I'm really enjoying teaching this class!

Balboa Park Extras

2008-03-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

Balboa Park architecture is so gorgeous! I love the Spanish mission/gothic style.

Margie, our docent, tells us about this portrait of Queen Henrietta of England.

Is this work a painting or a sculpture? From a distance, it looks like a recessed sculpture, and only as we came within five feet of it did we see that it was indeed a painting. It was so amazingly like a three-dimensional work, though -- the kids and I were rather boggled by it.

T enjoyed the girl scout cookies we packed in our lunch today. Cookies in our lunch is a rarity, especially those delectable Thin Mints! He couldn't resist clowning around with them on his birthday....

At the zoo we took a look at this gharial sunning himself in his beautiful enclosure.

Easter Egg-stras

2008-03-24T01:11:00.001-07:00

My parents' little cabin on Mt. Laguna

E finds an egg.

Mom always sets a gorgeous table!

T's favorite egg.

Papa helps T with his birthday gift.

Extras from Our Orange County Trip

2008-03-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

Here are a few extra photos of our Orange County Trip to Knott's Berry Farm and the Discovery Science Center.

We watch a Native American dancer perform an eagle dance at Knott's.

One of the Calico Railroad Trains at Knott's.

T hugs the replica of the Liberty Bell in "Independence Hall," across the street from Knott's.

My mom, Cousin T, and J check out the laser harp at the Discovery Science Center.

B, T, and J pose on a replica of a triceratops fossil at the Discovery Science Center.

More Beach Shots ... And What We Came Home To

2008-02-16T19:16:00.000-08:00

People enjoying a stroll along the Pacific the day after the storm.

The kids and my mom admire the view. From L to R: my mom,, E, T, J, B.

The Pacific Beach Pier, south of my parents' place.

A lone surfer comes in after surfing some pretty good waves. However, getting into the water for 72 hours after a major storm is not considered a healthy thing to do as so many chemicals and other things get swept into the ocean as well. Only a few diehards were out Friday morning.

When we made it home around 5 PM, we were greeted by a frantic dachshund and a few patches of snow left from the Valentine's Day Blizzard of 2008.

Norm Daniels

2008-01-16T20:04:00.001-08:00

Norm works on the sky behind the Hotel del Coronado.

Yep, he works barefoot, even in the library's community room.

This painting is entitled "Rebuilt engine. Some rust. Make offer."

Christmas Day at the Cabin

2007-12-26T13:54:00.000-08:00

A little patchy snow remained in shady spots around the cabin. With the temperatures mostly in the high 20s all day, it certainly felt like Christmas!

The exterior of the cabin -- my dad just finished putting up vinyl siding as the woodpeckers were having waaaaaaay too much fun with the previous wooden exterior. I love the stone fireplace especially.

The interior of the cabin -- the whole cabin measures around 600 sq. feet, but we still somehow manage to seat 16 for dinner and enjoy the Holy Day together. My parents' best friends came; they lost their home in the October fires, and everything they owned except for their vehicles and Francie's jewelry. I've known them since I was around eight years old, so they're really extended family to us, and we all loved having them with us.

The boys received (refurbished) Nintendo DS games for which my parents, Keith's dad, Keith and me, and some dear friends all helped to purchase for them. They are ecstatic with their gifts, practically the only one they received. I'm not sure that they've put them down since receiving them; they would barely stop playing when pie was served. E already has one, so now they can picto-chat with each other besides playing games.

Christmas Morning at Our Home

2007-12-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

The boys disembowel their Christmas stockings.

T opens his gift from E.

Christmas breakfast includes lemon scones, bacon, eggs, and our Christmas morning prayers and Scripture readings.

We light the final Advent candle, the white Christ candle, and read our celebratory Scriptures while Keith finishes scrambling the eggs.

Christmas Eve at Our Home

2007-12-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

Our home, just before the family arrives.

The "kids' table" and the tree, just before the family arrives.

Keith bakes the most delicious apple pies, with over four pounds of apples per pie; this year he used half Granny Smiths and half Ambrosias.

Dad Barrett read the Christmas story from Luke's Gospel to the entire family, a long-standing tradition on Christmas Eve.

Holiday Art Fair

2007-11-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

An overview of the hall and vendors of our Second Annual Holiday Art Fair.

Ann Larkin's jewelry is simply fantastic, and she did very well tonight. Judith, knowing that our Christmas is a little thin this year, gave me $40 to purchase a gift for myself. I made a beeline for Ann's display and found a gorgeous crystal and gold bracelet that I adore. She does more than just string beads; she cuts and polishes the crystals and cuts the stones and other materials she uses in her remarkable pieces.

Another jeweler shows her work as well -- all very nice.

Another of Margo's incredible art pieces.

Smashing Pumpkins

2007-11-03T20:11:00.000-07:00

Smashing pumpkins is one of our family traditions. On the weekend after Halloween, the kids (usually with Keith joining in) smash our jack o' lanterns with unabashed glee. They hold this family tradition out in the meadow behind out house where the little animals can enjoy the pumpkin pieces to their little hearts content.

T always enthusiastically smashes the pumpkins each fall, especially with his dad's Toothy Jack up for destruction....

Keith can't resist joining in with the kids. Here he prepares to fling his jack o'lantern as high as possible. To the kids' delight, Jack flies high against the beautiful sunset then splatters spectacularly on the compacted dirt of the meadow path.

All four kids come together in a huddle to deconstruct their personal Jacks. Poor Vampire Jack and California Jack are splattered around the meadow to become squirrel food....

B doesn't want to destroy his Vampire Jack at first, but he soon joins in the mayhem....

Smoke Gets in Our Eyes....

2007-10-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Further photos from the Harris Fire still burning in the East County portion of San Diego:

I took this from the sidewalk in front of the kids' favorite pet shop in Alpine.

href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WItC8ScDc90/RyK6vlWnGhI/AAAAAAAABQE/5_JzYp7JcRc/s1600-h/smoke+from+freeway.jpg">

E took this while we were driving east on Interstate 8, just before exiting into Alpine.

We made a quick stop at the View Point just east of Alpine/Viejas to get this photo looking down through the mountains toward the ocean. Usually a glimpse of the blue sea can be spotted from this overlook; today it's mostly smoke and haze from the week of fires....

Pumpkin Patch....

2007-10-13T00:47:00.000-07:00

Mini-pumpkins are so cute!

B tumbles off his disc and down the hill of fluff while "sledding."

Some of the dairy cows....

The boys carefully choose their own "jack" pumpkins.

Some of the decorations and "for sale" pumpkins available ... I like the background here, too.

Sailing....

2007-10-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

The sails of our rented Coronado 27 (27-feet long).

My dad and brother love sailing with the family. We had a couple of tricky tacks, but they're pros.

T took his turn at the helm as well.

A small portion of the downtown San Diego skyline ... our view the entire time we were sailing.

Sailing...

2007-10-03T22:25:00.000-07:00

As we sailed under the Coronado Bridge, a navy destroyer followed us into the harbor.

Elizabeth enjoys the view from the back of the sailboat.

J at the helm as we motored back after much tacking with tricky winds.

We sailed past the Midway Navy Museum, as did another sailboat. On a weekday, only a few sailboats are usually sailing about which makes it lovely and relaxing.

More Town Festival....

2007-07-29T23:01:00.000-07:00

A long line of fire trucks from around the east county....

This medieval dude saw me snapping photos and cheerfully posed for me.

Judith enjoys free barbecued ribs which were given out by a local restaurant to advertise their new grill. She's a fascinating woman: an accomplished poet, a gifted photographer and artist, with a heart for sharing Christ and art with others. She delights in sparking people's passions and in serving the community. Judith wears many hats in our small town (co-editor of the newspaper, associate director of the arts council, member of the town council, volunteer in the public school, etc.), and I am fortunate in counting her as one of my dearest friends.

B and J pet a miniature horse just outside of our arts booth. My kids rode their bikes, scooters, and skateboards all over town today, rubbing elbows with friends and neighbors and enjoying every second of our town festival.

This is one row of our crafters area. I was particularly attracted to the lovely jewelry, especially by Ann Larkin, who has been one of our art council's Featured Artists. And the tea booth called my name; Judith treated me to some Apricot Tea that smells absolutely heavenly! Without the rodeo this year, business was rather slower than in the past, but overall it was a very fun but tiring day.

HP Party #3: After Midnight!

2007-07-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

The sign we passed just before going in at five minutes past midnight...

The queue in front of B&N as we drive away, precious book in hand, at 12:13 AM....

Even More HP Party!

2007-07-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

E in the costume parade....

Madam Hooch parades by....

One of the costume contest winners brings out the first purchased books!

T took this of me waiting in line in my wheelchair.

E is buying her book!

More HP Party!

2007-07-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Rita Skeeter, Professor Trelawney, Professor McGonagall, and Tonks

E stands in line outside the store ... we were # 44 in line, thanks to my friend Julie who gave us her number while she went to Wal Mart to get her SIX copies (for neighbors and such).

E and her new friend, who is just as devoted to the series as she is. They spent most of the party discussing every single in and out of the six books and their predictions for the seventh -- and have already e-mailed each other to discuss the last book.

Rita Skeeter poses with her adoring public.

Tonks comes by in the costume parade through the store.

Beach Day!

2007-07-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

A palm for Julie....

For safety, the ocean here is separated for swimmers and surfers by this flag....

T and Cousin M dig for sand crabs along the shore....

My mom's cousin, Rick (a dedicated surfer), E, and my mom chat as we enjoy the salty ocean breeze and watch the boys swim and play....

July 4

2007-07-06T20:52:00.001-07:00

My brother, Tom, as we hang out watching the sunset and waiting for the meat to grill.

My dad and T grill for us on the rooftop deck.

My mom as she jokes with us at the table over sangria, white wine, beer, and our traditional onion dip and chips.

Mom's cousin, Rick, hangs with us each 4th; he and my brother went out surfing together on the 4th and also before leaving the next morning.

The view from my parents' rooftop deck. Lovely!

More June Gardening...

2007-06-30T20:24:00.001-07:00

What our flower bed project looked like before we got started: burned and wilted irises and lots of foxtails. Ugh!

The flowerbed after -- no weeds, new compost, and plants donated by Miss Sandy in San Antonio (the honeysuckle in the middle) and by Judith, our blessed neighbor....

The tools of the trade ... including some from my great-grandmother.

More Balboa Park....

2007-06-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

A hydrangea leaf in the Botanical Garden...

Architecture in Balboa Park

A flower in the Botanical Building...

Koi in the Reflecting Pond -- it had just jumped up out of the water...

The Botanical Building and Reflecting Pond....

More Cuymaca Photos....

2007-06-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

Here three of the kids stroll along the shore of Lake Cuyamaca. lakes are a rare thing in our county where the Pacific Ocean and Colorado River hold the most sway for water-lovers.

T found some quartz rocks at the Stonewall Mine. He obviously had to leave it behind, but it was fun to dream that perhaps a small vein of gold ran through it....

Here's Stonewall Peak as seen as we drove back from the mine toward the highway. I used to gallop our horses across theis field on our way back to the horse camp, which used to be behind that grouping of pines. We also used to hike through this field at twilight and count the deer we saw. The effects of the fire still remain almost four years later....

More Cuymaca Photos....

2007-06-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

This is a shot of the equipment from the old Stonewall Mine, which was in operation from 1869-1892. The shaft has been mostly filled in, but at one point it went 800 feet down. The mine brought in over $2 million in gold over its lifetime, and a city of over 1000 people once lived in this spot which only blue jays and other wildlife call home.

Another of the mine. I remember hiking up to this mine all the time as a kid when we camped at the nearby equestrian camp, which was destroyed by the Cedar Fire
of 2003.

This was taken in the mine parking lot. The fire moved through here so quickly that some trees were burned and the ones next to them left untouched....

T took this of Stonewall Peak as we drove back down the mountain and home again.

2007-06-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

J enjoying his ice cream cone...

B isn't used to soda...

This is our kids' favorite animal: Michael, the Children Zoo's otter. We usually get some great photos of him cavorting about, but this day he wasn't coming out of his shady den and we could only get his head....

A mama and baby settling down for a nap in the sun....

San Diego Zoo Additional Photos

2007-06-13T16:11:00.001-07:00

Love the interplay of light on the turtle's shell...

This hippo was a fast swimmer -- we couldn't catch up to him to get a full facial photo. He was on the move!

Near the zoo entrance is the Terrace Lagoon where we watched ducks, turtles, and some of the largest koi I've ever seen from a Japanese-style bridge. Lovely!

The meerkats were adorable. Guest photographer T could get a far better view of this guy than I could from the wheelchair.

Happy Birthday, J! I think he had a great birthday celebration....

More Duplo Creations...

2007-06-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

The boys rock out to their own custom-Duplo guitars!

Balboa Park, Part Three

2007-06-05T22:10:00.000-07:00

There's another bunch of photos below -- don't miss!

E and T at a science station -- using reflections of each other to merge into one person....

J and T at a science station, rubbing the handles of this brass pot full of water to make a deep gonging noise....

A mountain lion at the Natural History Museum; this one may have been done by my great-great uncle who was a taxidermist for the museum back in the 1950s-60s.

The theatre near the Natural History Museum -- love the architecture!

Balboa Park

2007-06-05T22:02:00.001-07:00

Three boys watching a science activity...

A golden eagle at the Natural History Museum...

Three boys goofing off, and a patient elder sister...

This pendulum used to be in the entrance before the remodeling of the Natural History Museum. I remember watching it as a young girl, and so does my mother. It's now in the back of the museum but still a treasured memory.

This science activity was the kids' favorite. By covering the holes in the poles, a tornado-like effect is produced. The kids spent a very long time at this station...

More Memorial Day --

2007-05-30T00:14:00.001-07:00

From one of the oldest sections of Greenwood Memorial Park -- and changed to B&W....

Memorial Day Extras

2007-05-29T20:54:00.000-07:00

The boys' feet at my grandparents' grave...

My great-great grandparents' grave in Elk's Rest.

Statue markers in cemetery...

Another...

The elk statue at Elk's Rest in Greenwood cemetery

Around the house....

2007-05-17T21:00:00.001-07:00

Dash likes to play fetch with the soccer ball. Never mind that it's very nearly his size....

I also photographed some blooms from our locust trees. I had never noticed that they bloomed at all; this photo blog is really helping me to notice what I don't usually see....

Major's Diner

2007-05-17T20:55:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed lunch at Major's Diner today -- we were really there for a Creative Arts Council board meeting, and the boys came along and did their schoolwork at a table nearby, munching on french fries while working.

Major's is a tourist stop mostly, but some locals do hang out there, just for lack of another place. With only three restaurants in town, and one of them being a hamburger joint with picnic seating only, the choice is limited. Definitely an aspect of living in a town of 1200 people....

Around the house today...

2007-05-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

My only yellow iris....

An old Mother's Day hanging; J made this in school two years ago, and it hangs in my kitchen.

More San Diego Landmarks....

2007-05-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

E and I attended the San Diego Homeschool Expo downtown today. After we finished selecting school books for next year, we drove three blocks from the Expo at Golden Hall and passed by the building in which I used to work. Back then, the entire building was owned by Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich Publishers, Inc., and I worked for HBJ in the bookstore in the basement right after graduation from college and again after grad school. Just as I was leaving the bookstore to start teaching at Point Loma, we found out that the bookstore was being closed and that the publishing company was moving to a nearby skyscraper. This may not be a tall building in the San Diego skyline, but it's a personal favorite of mine, both for the architecture, the paint job (looks like a birthday cake!), and for several pleasant years spent in a bookstore with 50,000 titles, the second-largest bookstore in San Diego at the time (before B&N and Borders, etc.).

First Presbyterian Church, built in 1898, is also a downtown landmark. Vera, Johanna, and I attended church here while we were neighbors, and we used to sneak in (late) and sit right in front of the GORGEOUS stained glass windows in the second shot. Best of all, Vera was married here, with Johanna and I as attendants and E as flower girl. It was extremely appropriate to take part in an 1890's style wedding in an 1890's church! Remind Vera to post a photo of her wedding dress; it's truly a work of ART.

More Summers Past Farms

2007-05-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

I'm toting around....

2007-05-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

Before I left for my chiropractor's office today, I snapped this photo of my Sonlight book bag I brought "down the hill": stuff for Bible study, homeschool, plus my own reading on saints. It's quite a load to tote....

Spring Day at the Park

2007-05-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

B on the swing...

J jumps from a swing ... not an easy shot to catch!

Silly B!

Three little monkeys hanging from a ... whatever?

Friday's Extras

2007-05-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

An overblown rose outside Dr. Adema's office.

I drove J and B past the home I grew up in. My parents owned this house from 1972-1988; I lived here from age six until I married, and my parents sold it three years after that. I had the bedroom at the far, far right window.

I do have to say that the front yard looks MUCH nicer than when we took care of it! Oh, the HOURS I spent weeding that yard!

The first primrose!

2007-05-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

While I was gone, my garden went bonkers. Everything (especially the weeds!) seem much taller than they used to be. And my first primrose is blooming! They are taking over the garden, and I love 'em.

Topsail Retreat....

2007-05-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

Rachel, Carol, Carrie

Dali, Jess, Donna

Introverts....

Sisters...

The camel says, "Let's do this again soon!"

Topsail Retreat...

2007-05-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

Karen and Carol

Laura and 7 on the beach....

My tea cup on deck rail

Topsail Retreat...

2007-05-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Becky, Dali, 7 making jewelry

Carol at the Green Turtle

Outside the Green Turtle

7 taking photos outside the restaurant

Topsail Retreat...

2007-05-01T21:14:00.000-07:00

Carol and Claire

Rachel, Claire, Carrie, Laura

7, Dali, Jess

Dali at Work

Topsail Retreat....

2007-05-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

Carrie's House

Carol's Passion

Stairs to the Beach...

Pet Stop

2007-04-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

We had to stop by the pet store and get dog food and an exercise rolly-ball thing for Ronald, E's rat. While we were there, E made a very good friend, a boxer pup who obviously liked her back.

An Extra from Yesterday

2007-04-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

This one I took yesterday (Thursday) in the post office parking lot. I kinda liked it but was afraid to post it because it didn't have a focal point. But Keith appreciated the texture and color, so here it is!

Around Town...

2007-04-19T23:46:00.000-07:00

This may be the last daffodil in town. It's been blooming in front of the post office, which is the hub of our town as we're too small for door-to-door postal delivery. So we run into lots of people to chat with at the post office; in fact, today I saw my friend Jeannette there for the second time in five days. I didn't notice the insect inside the daffodil until I downloaded it.

So here's goodbye to the daffodils that thrive in our small mountain town in early spring as the last big storm of the season (most likely) rolls in tomorrow.

More Birthday Barbecue Photos....

2007-04-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

My dear husband, Keith, chatting in front of the stone fireplace.

This was taken out of the sleeping porch window, looking out at the snowfall on pines.

T apparently doesn't much care for his cousin's smelly wet things drying before the fire....

Silly B!

My brother, Tom, chatting away at the table that once belonged to our grandparents; my parents have filled this little cabin with furniture and memorabilia of our family -- part of the reason we all love it so!

Dad's and E's Birthday Barbecue...

2007-04-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely fruit salad as part of our dinner. Dad and E open gifts and cards while the snow continues to fall outside. And B and his cousin play hide-and-seek under the sleeping bags in the sleeping porch of the 600 sq. ft. mountain cabin.

A Extra Vinca...

2007-04-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

I liked the two vincas together better than just this one, but the color on this one is a bit brighter and I love the water drops from my daily drudgery of watering a Southern California garden....

In Front of Dr. Burns' Office

2007-04-13T23:52:00.000-07:00

I debated long and hard whether to make this photo today's blog, but the story behind the other photos won out. But I loved this flower, which I took right outside my chiropractor's office.

Around the yard...

2007-04-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

Our mountain home, circa 1928 and onward...

The treehouse Keith built for and with the kids...

A budding branch from our Pippin apple tree...

A Spanish lavender I planted last month...

Easter Egg-stras

2007-04-12T14:35:00.000-07:00

J willingly climbed a tree in his quest for hidden Easter eggs at Kevin's place in Ramona.

Karen made friendship bracelets for E and T for their birthdays, and started working on one for another niece. Watching her work was fascinating for this craft-impaired person!

Extras Since Thursday....

2007-04-12T14:22:00.000-07:00

This bird bath is in my front garden; it's a very small one I bought a couple of weeks ago at Summers Past Farms. But the little birds seem to like it....

These stocks are in my back garden -- they are my favorite scented flower, so spicy and fresh!

This is Lake Murray Ev Free, our home church of the past almost 14 years.