It was Time for a Change…

Wait! It’s not PURPLE! So how can it be my blog?

I got very tired of the ribbons in my last WP theme covering my gravatar and anything else they pleased. The default font was wonky and made my sidebar look like pulled taffy.

I saw custom design and name your own domain packages, thought about site hosting, and looked at most of the fonts on type kit. Am I going to start a stand-alone eCommerce extravaganza to sell Nik’s photos and my junk? Do I want to spend hours messing with CSS and shopping carts and lay-out strategies? Am I going to waste money buying into the custom design “make all your own fancy fonts” thing?

No. Yawn. Next…

I’m more interested in saving money for a new travel adventure. Wanna go on another trip.  Or 2. Or more! Rome was just the beginning…

Have new doggeh to love on, too. Disa, the beautiful Finnish Lapphund who has blessed our lives!

I know the day is looming nearer when I’ll have to get all serious about my online sales again. Nik needs business experience and exposure for his art. I need to sell the vintage junk, uh, lovelies overflowing my house. Creativity must occur. Creativity must occur.

Creativity.

Creativity…

AHHKKK!                       PZZZTTTT….

That was the sound of my brain shorting out.

We sprang forward today. There’s one less hour in the day and it’s almost gone…

So in the interest of time and abating a bit of my frustration, there’s a new theme. Pretty paisley, unadorned by any tweaks, headers or customizations.

And I still missed the end of the day. It’s tomorrow already…

Here are some more pics of Disa… Enjoy!

This is the Day Nik Learns to Blog

Another oldie not published at the time due to Nik’s reluctance. Since he’s happily blogging away on his own (Amphisbaenian’s Blog: http://amphisbaenian.wordpress.com/) & is 14 1/2, I can now share his first attempt at learning to blog (and being very snarky in the process!)

Nik turned 13 last month. It’s now time for him to have a blog of his own. He’ll use this to record his observations of nature, books, current affairs and anything else that sparks his interest. Homeschooling rocks!!

Today I’m teaching him the basics in my blog, which include typing, formatting and adding images.

We’ll also learn about categories, tags and PAY ATTENTION, NIK!!!!.

We’ll keep Nik’s blog private for now. He needs to decide what his blog name will be & which theme he likes. I think that’s about enough for one day.

So, the rest of this post is Nik’s (and my grammar check!)

Titmice are such liripoops  .

They are leptorrhinians  using their beak to crack tough seeds and nuts and the occasional pismire.

That being so,  they’re probably quite saprostomous.

Chances are they’re rather jumentous as well.

Condition: Something that needs to be true or to happen for X to occur or be true. because

Subjunctive: Future possible occurence that is dependent on a condition. were to, will, can

Also I hear they are rather dasypygal. Well,  I guess they’d need to be if they were to survive the winter .

Titmice’s life-spans are so short that the oldest Titmouse’s atmatertera wouldn’t be half mine or your age.

But other than  //  all the mature males being twiddlepoops  //  having feathers as soft as balbriggan  //  being so timid that even the slightest noise will cause it to burst will cause it to burst into a collieshangie as if it had just been cornobbled  / / and of course the other previous facts  / /  the titmouse is just one of those  incredibly annoyingly difficult to classify tiny brownish-gray birds.

All the mature males are twiddlepoops.  These shy birds have feathers as soft as balbriggan and are so timid that even the slightest noise will cause it to burst will cause it to burst into a collieshangie as if it had just been cornobbled. Without all these features, the interesting  titmouse would be just one of those  incredibly annoyingly difficult-to-classify tiny brownish-gray birds.

“Ta-Da‰”®

Does “Unschooling” mean letting Nik run wild?

Well, that’s what my Dad thinks. He’s certain I give Nik too much freedom & not enough “discipline” (whatever that means – I seem to remember belts & yard sticks…).  That is, until he need him to do something in the middle of the day, like walk the dog. Then he’s sooo glad Nik is there….

*In reality, Nik needs very little “discipline”. Well, in the evening after his meds wear off, he does get kinda goofy & loud – but he also respects my migraines or times he really has to be low-key. He’s (as I’m sure I’ve said a few times before…) an old soul; quite wise for 14 1/2. These last few weeks, after Dad’s surgery & Mom was dying, he stepped up & took on a lot of responsibility.  This is a child who whines if he doesn’t get to weekend meditation at our Won-Buddhist temple. Where did he come from???

*As for running wild? Nik uses his freedom (from the routine of the robot-producing public school system) very well. He continues to do wonderful photography. We entered 2 photos in every category of the NC Wildlife Magazine photo contest. We’ll find out by the end of October whether he got any recognition. I think several of his pictures have a “wow” factor that will at least attract the judges’ attention. Last year, a 16 yo girl won the Grand Prize – bet there were a bunch of miffed pros!! I’m posting several of the photos at the bottom.

*So, you might say “but what about academics? How is he going to learn about history, government, English literature?”  & all those other wonderful little boxes schools like to put “knowledge” in? Hmmm… 2 years ago we did that critical comparison of Lord of the Flies & To Kill a Mockingbird. Faulkner is upstairs beside his bed. “The Pearl” is in the van. A stack of Marvel comics is in his closet. Is normal kid, rly! Writing is becoming a pleasure, not a chore. Today he was blogging about the current conflict about taxes/war/social services.  Something about being a BBC & NPR addict…. Even though I told him to write 5 reasons to go to The Rally to Restore Sanity & 5 reasons to go to the March to Keep Fear Alive. Well, I guess that will have to be tomorrow. He needs to know why we’re going. (I think he does…)

*Science? Besides knowing practically everything about living creatures & plants, he’s gotten very enthusiastic about medical subjects. Loves anecdotes. Yesterday, I got him a book with anecdotes about famous & difficult patients. He read the one about Hitler to me with glee. “Blood & Guts: the history of surgery” is in the van & the pictorial “history of surgery” is on a cabinet in the living room. At least it’s not on the mantel…. We’ve also been working on electricity & history of inventions. This started because he wanted to know about microchips – figured he needed background before we got to semi-conductors & micro-micro chips.

*Yesterday, he spent time explaining to his father how a barometer worked. Was a good exercise in putting technical terms into language a layman understands (his dad had no idea how the thing worked – he can’t even figure out an ipod).  Out in the common area, he’s been figuring out that this area has geology different from most of the state – and finding various forms of hematite & other iron-containing rocks. (hint: what makes red clay red?) He’s had a couple of meetings with copperheads (nice photos) and met a nice black racer who came right up & licked his camera lens!!  (even nicer photos) Recently, he’s been experimenting with light effects on plants, trees & leaves. Salamanders & frogs should fear him, but they don’t seem to have problems letting him pick them up & photograph them. Same with butterflies & various other bugs.

*

Art? He wanted to draw people & start with faces. “Oh, great”, I said, “You want to start with the second hardest part to draw.” Not one to be second-best, he wanted to know what first hardest was. “Hands”, I told him. Good thing I’m an artist, among a zillion other things – and I’m good  & have education in this one! We started with the basics – how to see the shapes & then put them together. Darn if he didn’t get it almost right away. Except for a thumb placement problem, he drew a hand! A GOOD hand!  We’re going to get together with another “gifted” home-schooled teenager, who’s also interested in art. Should be fun!

*There are many more things we’re going to explore, especially now we don’t have to worry about Mom’s care. One of the first is going to DC the end of October. Hey, isn’t that when those rallies are? Sure is a coincidence, huh?

Here are some of Nik’s Pics, as promised…

See, I told you he licked the camera!!

 

Update: Nik won 2nd place in NC Wildlife Photo Competition Invertibrate category with the Ant!!!

LOLz need “mediafication”!

“Scary Mother”…that’s what Wonderboy calls me when he thinks I’m…

“Gosh! Stop calling me Wonderboy!”

…So what DO you want me to call you?

“Nik…or the intergalactic awesomafier.”

How is that better than “Wonderboy”?

“I made it up and it doesn’t make me sound like some washed-up DC Comics hero wearing underpants.”

OK. Fair enough. Nik it is.

“You can still call me Wonderboy if you want to….if you do it behind my back and if I don’t know about it.”

Anyway, he was calling me “Scary Mommy” because I used his neologism “mediafication“. Isn’t that a derivation of “to mediafy”?

New word. Definition: To bring [x] into the minds of the public through the conversion to another medium and/or placement in/on another medium. Related words: “multiple mediafication” – to convert to multiple media.

The purpose of mediafication is usually to make something famous or infamous by exposing it to larger portions of the population.

Thus, Nik believes his (our) LOLz need mediafication.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with LOLz (Funny captioned photos), Check out the LOLcats on: icanhascheezeburger.com

We need to mediafy our LOLz so all you wonderful blog readers in interwebs land can click on them and vote for our “cheeseburgers”. You can also comment on them and paste/link them to your blogs etc. If you think these guys are funny, pass it on and vote for us!!!

Here we go!! Enjoy and vote….

The mediafication begins!!!

(Nik says “Vote for mine vote for mine vote for mine” Has taken medsin. Rhly.)

Dragonmum LOL, Nik Pic

Ever ting tase lik chiken. Has flavors.

Nik's first and best!!

Nik's most popular!!!

 

Skip today – Please!

Migraine. Won’t.  Go.  Away. Can we please skip today? I want to move on to tomorrow.

Will anyone let me?

Did it do me any good to cancel all my patients and stay home?

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!   That cell phone went off every time I drifted off. It’s a conspiracy!

The Excedrin Migraine kicked in after a couple hours. Caffeine. No sleep. Sh#$T. Awake and HA not quite gone. Grrrrr…. Usually they don’t drag on like this.

Chuck watches with amazement as I clean!

I really am concerned. Now will you feed me?

I guess I’ll do some “cleaning” (i.e. consolidating more of my clutter) Wow! There’s the top of the ironing board!

Haven’t seen that for months….

It’s really hot up here. What the??? The AC isn’t working??? Cr*(*7P.

Chuck’s been following me around like a dog. I think he knows something isn’t right (my mind, obviously!!)

Here’s Chuck…. Staring at me and showing cat concern!

He’s a good cat! Active word – cat.

Time to go downstairs where the AC is actually working.

Oh No! Dad has decided it’s time for Mom to walk and do her exercises. Good thing Annie’s here. Dad fusses less when someone else is around. I don’t count!

No quiet down here. Think Think… Maybe I can hide behind my computer screen.

What’s this the OLA chatters are discussing? They announced a new postcard campaign for the holidays, so need some ideas.

Things were getting really creative! Perhaps under the influence of very early egg nog,  one suggested using the song “Feels like the first time” … to hark back to the days when we first listed on that other place, and it was fun. I think she’s been sleep-deprived or something, too!!   OLA is supposed to be a family-friendly sort of place, right? I ran that lame idea past 3 20-somethings who snickered, and my 29 yo adoptee, who made retching noises. No, I don’t think that one’ll fly!!

Someone suggested an OLA Santa and OLA gifts under the tree – I like that one… and was mildly inspired.

So what did I spend the next hour or so doing? Listing items? Sleeping? Teaching Nik?

No, making up jingles! I came up with a Christmas one and a “non-denominational” holiday one, which I definitely like better.

Here they are:

“Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus

Right from OLA…

Jewelry and comics and all the gifts dear filling up his sleigh!

All the toys that Santa’s bringing
came from OLA

Christmas shopping will be a breeze

cause Santa’s got OLA !”

This one rips off “Auld Lang Syne”

Should you need gifts for holidays
and don’t know where to look

You’ll find them all on OLA
toys candy jewels and books

They’re all on OLA, my dear
on OLA

You’ll find that special gift you need
on Friendly OLA!

Don’t think anyone else cared, noticed or liked them. Sigh. Mope. Self-Pity.

Bunny has no fear!

Dad!  Stop those dogs from barking!! Too much noise for my brain. Migraine coming back.

That dumb little bunny who lives in the Salvia right beside the driveway  has no fear. Doesn’t care if we’re standing right there. Bunny believes it owns the yard. Nik shooed it away so Dad could get the dogs out without being dragged through the grass. Darn if the rabbit didn’t hop right back into the yard the minute the dogs were out of sight!

I was standing on the front porch. I could have been a tree for all that bunny cared!!

Oh, wait, it’s another severe weather front coming in!!

Thunderclouds approaching - Migraine approaching too!

Can I just skip tonight?    Please? (Whine whine whine) Nooo………….

Barbara wants to know what to fix for supper. Nik wants me to look at all his new photos. Dad’s yelling at Mom not to feed the dogs. Again.

Bad head. Bad stomach. Imitrex is my friend!!!

Now I can eat supper without loosing my lunch.

Here’s another couple of that bunny.

Will curiosity kill the bunny?

I thought curiosity killed the cat but this bunny sure seems determined to find out what’s in our garage!!

Nah, it just found more to eat!

Hope Chuck didn’t escape through the laundry room door;

he’d love some rabbit tartar!!

Photos all by Nikolas Wall. All rights reserved under the same CC license as all my other stuff!!!

WonderBoy’s Photographic Genius

Dragonflies rest with their wings spread open.

In my this, the first blog entry, I want to brag about Nik, the WonderBoy.  Homeschooling a 12 yo genius has been an enlightening experience for both of us. One of his favorite activities is photography – and BOY is he good!! 😀

I want to brag with a few of his photos!! Nik has been taking awesome pictures for the last couple of years.  His Dad bought a fancy camera to play with, and Nik promptly appropriated it. My Darling Husband (know forthwith as DH) wouldn’t have done more than play with it a few times, so it was practically a present for Nik!

Nik loves to play with light and color.  He took these pics in the last couple of days.  They are un-retouched.  Every photo of his I post is just as it was taken.  He’s using a Sony CyberShot Digital Camera that has lots of features.  He had to teach me to use it for my photos for my on-line selling. These flowers are wonderful studies of the interplay of light and color. Whenever he gets the chance, that camera is around his neck!

Magnolias are some of his favorite flowers. They are incredibly complex, so there is no shortage of variations!

We have magnolias everywhere around here in the “Southern Part of Heaven”. Hillsborough, NC is a small town 10 minutes north of Chapel Hill (yes home of the famous Tar Heel “we almost win the NCAA every year” basketball team). We’re pretty close to Duke too, but in our house Duke is a four-letter word 😀

Experimenting with light in the garden next door

Some of his other subjects are the insects he finds all over the plants. He’s found butterflies, damselflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, bees, moths and lots of other 6 and 8 legged creatures. We live in the country, so he gets to “shoot” hawks, song birds, lizards, bunnies, and anything else his heart desires! Here are some of his creatures….

This Hackberry Emperor likes to lick the sweat off your skin!

A more traditional butterfly meal!