One Vote

I 'm so proud I could be a part of her first time to vote.

I had the day off on Tuesday so the city-girl daughter and I went to the polls together. I snapped pictures with the pride of a mother sending a well-dressed daughter to the prom. I didn't want to miss a thing.

We voted at a local church.
What's that about separation of church and state again?

She was given a sample ballot to review.

A volunteer verified her identity.

And she took her place in front of the touchscreen,
in preparation of casting her vote for change.

Blended Families

We visited Austin Nichols and his family last evening for our Friday night get-together.

He's quite the bird, living the good life as a housepet. My little friend has the patience of a saint. It's all I can do to pull the leaves and small branches out of Blue's hair after he's had a good run outdoors.

I can't imagine what daily life would be like with a turkey perched atop your china cabinet.

But I guess we all make allowances for the animals (and people) in our life. We adjust.
We share our space. We readjust so everyone's comfortable.

We do this for the GREATEST GOOD FOR THE GREATEST NUMBER.

Mr. Haji-Mo is a good example. He's the one with the little-dog complex that JB and I took in some 4 years ago, because we couldn't bear the thought of what his fate might be if we didn't.

He looks like Blue, but isn't at all like Blue, but he and Blue have learned to live with each other. Blue wasn't happy at all when Haji first came on the scene.

But then, I don't imagine Thomas was too happy when Blue came either.

So how do do think Haji feels about Lina?

Cultivating Goodness

Every day provides a new treasure.

Some are just beginning, like this peony.

While others are overwhelming...
and require much more care and attention.

The Cat's Meow

I think he's alright now.

We've officially become a networked family. We're like all those geeks I use to giggle about during my networking classes. Why on earth, I thought, would you need a network in your own home?

Well, I guess you'd need a network if there are two users and one of them has distance learning classes and is doing a bit of XHTML. So there you have it.

But would you believe, the biggest obstacle to overcome was the cat's involvement in all of this?

Thomas has always slept comfortably in the chair in front of my sewing table as we banged away on the keyboard. When I push the sewing machine and serger back to do required reading, he goes and naps in the big over-sized desk chair.

But when we set JB up in the front room, the big over-sized desk chair went with him to his workstation.

This means the chair at the sewing table now does double duty at the computer. That means there is no extra chair. Fine for me--but what about Thomas?

He has spent most of today glaring at me for taking his chair. Every time I sat in front of the keyboard, there he was at my feet, waiting for me to leave. But I 'm too smart for that waiting game. I know: You move your feet, you lose your seat.

I think we have finally reached a compromise. I put his blanket on the sewing table in front of the window. He'll have the benefit of the morning sun... with a view.

I'll just have to be extra neat so he has a clear path to the window.