It Wasn't Me...

After using my new (used) sewing machine (thanks Margie :) !!) to sew an envelope out of a shower curtain for part of a wedding present, the pressure foot refused to remain or even raise up. I wonder if this is a common problem. Anyway, I hope to finally take it to the sewing machine store this week to get it looked at and repaired!

House Hunting

House hunting is an interesting process. In my mind, we are going to find a 1900 or 1930's home with all of the charm and none of the problems of an old house, at a most attractive price. Sadly, I believe that is not going to happen. Reality keeps trying to sink in, but I think my head is like clay soil sometimes, wanting to keep the water out. On the other hand, I have so much to be grateful for. For the first thing, we are able to buy a house, and it will be a nice house. Isma and I have been out two weekends and a Wednesday evening now with a realtor looking around northeast Fort Wayne at houses. We've found some promising homes and hope to make a decision before our lease is up in December. We'll keep you posted!

Home I saw on a bike ride near St. Joe River. Charming. Not for us, I do believe.

Fishing Expedition

This summer was Isma's first time fishing - ever. After learning how to use the rod and finding crickets for bait with Colin, we witnessed the first fish being caught (and subsequently released). Oh, the joy.

Pimientos de Padrón

One thing that is very different going from country to country is food. Certain produce items that are not available here are part of a cultural identity elsewhere, such as padrón peppers. There is even a phrase in Spain about them: "Pimientos de padrón: unos pican, otros no." (Pimientos de padrón: some are spicy, some are not.) My parents were kind enough to plant some in their garden that I had started indoors from seed. Wash, fry, add salt, and you're set to enjoy and laugh at those that get the spicy ones.

My Plant's New Home

This week was the first time this fall the temperatures were forecasted to dip into the 30's. That meant, of course, that my plants needed to migrate to their winter home, just as retirees fly to Florida for the winter. I have accumulated some plants, you'll notice, from the last migration. See here for the comparison.

Summer home - plant bench I built with Dad.

All ready to be filled.

Florida - plant style.

Last Light

Last picture, sun setting, time to leave the mountain.

King's Canyon - Part 2

After we finished our hike, met the park ranger, and browsed the nature center for magnets and postcards, I managed to convince our group to head down to the Hume Lake for a few minutes. Convince, I say, because we had to time things perfectly to be down off the mountain before dark. None of us wanted to be going down unfamiliar mountain roads without guard rails or street lights at night. Scary! The lake was beautiful, though, and definitely worth it. Can't you see it in the happy faces?

Light at the End of the Tunnel

At first it seems like the tunnel is all that is, or ever will be. 

But if you look closely, there is more. There is a reality in the distance.

I just wonder if heaven is a little like that - a beautiful reality you see when you focus outside yourself and the physical reality around you. 

King's Canyon

After a night in the outskirts of LA (we didn't get to see the city due to a fender bender the evening we had allocated for tourism), we drove through the fertile San Joaquin Valley and up into the mountains, to Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks. Kings indeed. Once the narrow windy road (with no guard rails I may add) broke through the clouds, we could see the immense trees towering over us. We had grabbed burritos and hamburgers at a roadside stand and sat outside without jackets, snow surrounding us, to eat lunch. Sometimes in February, the roads are closed to those without chains on the tire, but this year's lack of rain and snow left the roads and trails fairly clear. After lunch, we took a short hike to mingle with the ancient residents.

  

Ghost Town

(Disclaimer - these posts are still from February.)

The day we went to the abandoned mine town, Calico, I must have sabotaged my camera because all of my photos came out burnt by the light. I managed to salvage three.  

Our visit here was a stop off the highway en route from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. It was pretty kitschy and small for a not so small fee, but it was interesting to see the remnants of an old mine and imagine what life might have been like there in another time. I'm sure it was not that much fun, full of work, heat, and booze.

Zion National Park

Last February, Isma's parents came to visit. With sub-sub-sub zero temperatures, we took them on a trip out west instead of showing them the charms of the coldest winter in 100 years in Indiana. Our first stop was Las Vegas, which I do not like, so there are no pictures. The hotel room, however, was phenomenal. We spent our first Vegas day on a road trip to Zion. Below are some shots I took while we were there. A few more images of our trip are here: http://arenzanaphotography.com/blog/2014/03/06/some-news/.

Isma was cold and not wanting to pose for my picture.