Nature In All It's Glory

Some interesting juxtapositions in flora around my house.

Hanging On

Letting Go

Homesick

I can't wait to move back home this weekend, right now I feel like an outsider looking in.

Outside Looking In

My Side of the Bed

Turning Japanese

So ever since Friday afternoon I have suddenly decided to become crafty.  The focus of my craftiness? Oragmi boxes of all sizes and patterns.  Here are some of my favorites:

P.S. These boxes are available for sale.  Email me at cathryn.esten@yahoo.com if you are interested in purchasing any.  There are many more than what is shown here and I am willing to do custom orders.  Great for wrapping small gifts, gift cards, shower an wedding favors.

Halfway

So kind of a crappy day, car accident, late for work, etc., but some good news in that I've improved my eating enough to lose weight.  Here it is:

This means I have lost a total of 13.6 pounds and am less than half a pound away from losing 10% of my body weight-my first major goal.

Not Ready Yet

Today I took a walk around Babcie's back yard and found some flora that is not ready to give up summer and wither into fall.

Happy Birthday Noreen!

Today was my mother-in-law's birthday.  We went to a charming place in Winsted called The Tributary to celebrate.  Here are some highlights from dinner.

Berkshire Chicken



Salad for an Army

Lobster Lights



Pigs in Space

No, just kidding, Eels in Boston.

By Day

E



Kool G Murder



The Chet

By Night

On the Map

Here is my lazy way out of today's piece, though I do think it's kind of funny and cute.

Austin/Texas

Cliched

Today I begin a new occasional series of photos illustrating various cliche, song titles and lyrics, movie titles and quotes, or anything else that may pop into my head. Suggestions are very much welcome. Here is the first of the series:

Up Against a Brick Wall

Truthfully this was inspired by a tweet I saw a while ago where someone, in summary, tweeted that he would give Rick Astley his Pixar collection including Cars, and Toy Story, but he was never going to give him Up. Ha, ha.

Step, Step, Fall...

Blah, blah (generic statement about where the summer went. Yada, yada (generic statement about how it's fall already.) Just enjoy the colors and celebrate the change.

A Lot of Pain, A Little Gain

For those of you who have been following my weight loss progress, tonight I hit a little speed bump. Here is tonight's weigh in, no head on and profile shots as they would probably be pretty much the same as my last weight loss post.





So I am up less than a pound from my last weigh in but still down over ten pounds since the start. So far today I am back on track.

Babcie's House

Here are some interesting little nooks and items from Babcie's house that will always make me think of her.

Kitchen

Cabinet Pulls

Babcie and Dzgia

My Hobo Life and Celebrating C.J.

I have been living out of a suit case since Wednesday. Here are a couple representations of my life as a "hobo".

Hanging Around

Suitcase

Tonight was also a celebration of my mother's 6 and a half years of service at St. Paul's Episocpal Church in Southington. (The usual term of service at the same church is 2-3 years before you move on.) St. Paul's was a second family to my mother and were a major support network for her when we lost her husband, my father, two and a half years ago. Tonight they came out in full force to celebrate the faithful, steady, and enthusiastic service of the Reverend Deacon C.J. Puskarz.

The Second Coming of C.J.

The CJCJ PhD

The Devil in Disguise

Exit

Shopaholic and Strange Fruit

No I've never even heard of Etsy, why do you ask?

Shopaholic

Strange Fruit

Apology

I have unintentionally, yet profoundly wronged the man I love. Let this piece serve as an apology and a pledge to honor and cherish him to the best of my ability from today forward.



Apology



Please click on the YouTube link and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TejHesd-aNU

Welcome Somewhere

Welcome to Babcie's

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

So as some of you may or may not know I just spent a week in the hospital. No photography allowed in the nut house but I did manage to write 3 somewhat decent poems which I will share with you now.

The Cemetery View

Like sands through the hourglass
Days are numbered for my sorry ass
The dull white walls begin to close in
I am stuck on the floor, held by a specimen pin
Like a freak in a sideshow display
Come watch me ruin my last given day
I've been through eight of my lives
In the ninth one only misery thrives
I am the undisputed queen of second chances
Those who pass by my cage cast me pitiful glances
I wait with muted hope for a last minute reprieve
It isn't granted they think I'll still lie and thieve
I lay pinned waiting for the final blow
The spectators crowd in for the morbid show
The end will be painful and slow
Line up my shards in a neat little row
The first cut will be the worst
I'll consider putting this plan in reverse
But each glistening shard begs for more
So I'll continue until my blood flows to the floor
At first the crowd will be mildly aghast
But they will remain until the cut that's last
They will stare at me in amazed wonder
As my life force seeps out, my skin ripped asunder
Before they leave they turn for a final look
You wouldn't believe it if it was written in a book
A fiction it would seem
As the bloody glass gleams
My final breath escapes
Against my back the cement floor scrapes
My time is over, the deed is done
Oh well, at least the crowd had fun


Deep Breath and a Smile

I thought I saw through your disguise
I thought I went deep into your eyes
Once again I have a foolish heart
There's more than destiny keeping us apart
I hope to see you soon, not in a while
In the meantime I'll take a deep breath and smile


Distance

I just want you to reach out and touch
I don't know why I want it so much
Your crossed arms and pulled down cap
Sting much worse than a harsh slap
I'm not looking for sex or for love
When you ignore me it feels like a shove
I'm only looking for a touch of friendliness
I shouldn't be mad as you're dealing with your own unhappiness
I merely wanted a comforting touch
I didn't think that was asking too much
I will leave you alone and let it be
I just hope that somehow you'll see
The hope and happiness you've brought to me
I hope this understanding won't make you flee
So I hope it's "see you later" and not "goodbye"
I hope when you realize you'll want to try
Take care of yourself my dear, brief friend
I'll wait patiently until the end

Labor Day

Today was the annual family Labor Day picnic at Babcie's house. Here are some highlights:

Elizabeth

Chloe

Croquet

Front Door

Bubbles


Weather Vane


Elizabeth and Janine

Day at the Zoo

On a perfect late summer day, we took a family trip to Southwick's Zoo. What a great place with some cool animals.