Detail in “The Sistine Madonna” by Raphael, 1513-1514.

David dressed as a cowboy on a cloudy afternoon, 2010.

George Ranch, Saturday 17 April

Cowboys

(Larry made these chaps himself.)

Outdoor cooking class at the 1830’s Jones Stock Farm

Getting used to the camera, and multitasking picture-taking/mothering/talking/breathing.  First several pictures were on a crazy-high ISO; Matt had been playing the Thursday before and the camera retained the settings.  (N.B., always check the settings before shooting!)  Also need to understand how I can use the camera’s light metering quickly and to my advantage; the subject was too dark in some of the pictures.

Got an Amazon box today.  UPS guy kinda tossed it on my step and then when David picked it up he dropped it.

I peeled back the packing tape and opened the box.

It had a Pentax digital SLR inside.  Huh?  I looked at the shipping receipt.  To Matt, from Matt.  To Matt, from Matt?  Why would he . . . ?

Oops, I had just opened my birthday present.

“Well, you wanted to be surprised,” Matt said when he got home forty minutes later.  “And you were, weren’t you?”

Oh, yes. 

So we gobbled up dinner and ran out to the park to play.

C&D have a set of Danny and Sally dolls that I bought from REI before C&D were even born.  I loved their size and simplicity.

C&D have renamed Danny and Sally David and Carmen.  They have been busy having all kinds of adventures.  During the week Carmen (a.k.a. Sally) and David (a.k.a. Danny) generally fence in and care for their farm animals; lately they’ve gone swimming in the lake (a blue bucket on the balcony) and even ridden a boat (the rubber bands are seat belts to keep everyone in place).

When C&D aren’t planning adventures for their dollies they’re making music and dancing.  David can’t find his paper microphone, so he makes do with masking tape and a random piece of plastic tubing.

Recently C&D  upgraded to their larger bikes.  Carmen was initially reluctant to move from her pink kitty-cat Specialized to the larger Schwinn, but the Schwinn’s tassles won her over.

Now David is the one with a Specialized.  He loves going fast and applying the brakes (if he even bothers) at the very last moment.

We have been so happy with the Specialized kids’ bikes that we’re going to keep an eye out for a (used) Specialized for Carmen.  They’re much lighter and easier to handle than their 16” Trek (slightly heavier) and Schwinn (heavier than even my bike!).   Maybe for now we can at least get her on the Trek.

On the other hand, we might want to do what we can to keep C&D from going too rocket-fast.  Even at a full sprint Matt can hardly keep up.