Along the banks of the St. John River, playing in last year's grass.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Well Then
On the same visit that produced the typewriter, Dad stumbled upon a second well on the property. Having previously seen the ends of these rotted and be-mossed planks under the hay on the hill, he decided to dig them up and clear them out. What he found was this:
And then this: A very old and beautifully executed fieldstone well.
Then he decided to clean the debris out. In the absence of a net, he climbed down into the well, bracing his feet against the loose stones. I thought, "Maybe not such a good idea." But if YOUR dad was about to fall into an old and frigid well, wouldn't YOU want to be there taking pictures too?
Anyway, he got out safely and we put a new covering on the well. Here now is a shot from the ecosystem on top of the old planks:
It had been raining off and on that day, and this little fellow had filled his raindrop-catching quota (the quota being 1); happy was he.
And then this: A very old and beautifully executed fieldstone well.
Then he decided to clean the debris out. In the absence of a net, he climbed down into the well, bracing his feet against the loose stones. I thought, "Maybe not such a good idea." But if YOUR dad was about to fall into an old and frigid well, wouldn't YOU want to be there taking pictures too?
Anyway, he got out safely and we put a new covering on the well. Here now is a shot from the ecosystem on top of the old planks:
It had been raining off and on that day, and this little fellow had filled his raindrop-catching quota (the quota being 1); happy was he.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Big, Silent Type
Was up at Mum and Dad's Saturday. Helped purge the sun porch. Uncovered this Remington 30 banking typewriter, of which Dad was trying to unburden himself. I was only too happy to assist:) This old beauty weighs a tonne, and everything on it works smoothly.
The Remington 30 has a fascinating history, dating back to its first recorded use to draw up a contract between Noah and the Post-Diluvian Ararat Zoological Society. Over the years the considerable heft of this machine has made it useful in sundry other lines of work, from mooring small boats to chaining down flight-risk criminals.
The belly of the beast: this is a view across the inside of the typewriter (assisted on the other end by the light of a match).
The famous bell that makes that satisfying "ding."
The inclusion of the "@" key (seen here) was instrumental in writing pre-WWI commerce-related emails.
The famous bell that makes that satisfying "ding."
The inclusion of the "@" key (seen here) was instrumental in writing pre-WWI commerce-related emails.The Remington 30 has a fascinating history, dating back to its first recorded use to draw up a contract between Noah and the Post-Diluvian Ararat Zoological Society. Over the years the considerable heft of this machine has made it useful in sundry other lines of work, from mooring small boats to chaining down flight-risk criminals.
Friday, April 11, 2008
We may not have mentioned it.....
I don't know if we've told you that Simeon can roll over now. Ummmm, surprise. Anyway, this morning I had him on the floor and he was reaching for a toy and he actually pulled himself forward to reach it! I couldn't believe it, he must've pulled him self a good 6 inches. I though it quite impressive. Of course, when I got the camera he wouldn't do it again but he does roll over in the video at least. {I apologize for the annoying voice in the background}
A drake and his duck
The weather has been absolutely wonderful in old SJ this week and Simeon and I have been enjoying our daily walks tremendously! I took a few shots along the way to show you the signs of spring in our neck of the woods. The crocuses in this picture are the first blooms in my (Ruth) mother's flowerbed. 
Sidenote: did you know that crocus is Latin for saffron? Saffron is made of the stigma of the saffron crocus. Hmm.
We also met a couple of mallard ducks on our journey.
We've seen them for over a week now and I'm hoping they'll stick around. Sadly, Simeon wasn't quite as interested (as you can see).
Sidenote: did you know that crocus is Latin for saffron? Saffron is made of the stigma of the saffron crocus. Hmm.We also met a couple of mallard ducks on our journey.
We've seen them for over a week now and I'm hoping they'll stick around. Sadly, Simeon wasn't quite as interested (as you can see).
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Duh! ; )
Husbands create 7 hours of extra housework a week: study
Fri Apr 4, 2008 7:27pm EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - For married women who can't figure out why they always have so much housework researchers may have the answer -- husbands.
A new study from the University of Michigan shows that having a husband creates an extra seven hours of extra housework a week for women. But a wife saves her husband from an hour of chores around the house each week.
"It's a well-known pattern. There's still a significant reallocation of labor that occurs at marriage -- men tend to work more outside the home, while women take on more of the household labor," said Frank Stafford, of the university's Institute for Social Research (ISR), who directed the study.
"And the situation gets worse for women when they have children," he added in a statement.
Stafford's findings are based on 2005 time-diary data from a study on income dynamics that has been conducted since 1968 at ISR.
The researchers studied diaries to assess how people spent their time and questioned men and women about how much time they spend cooking, cleaning and doing basic work around the house.
They found that young single women did the least amount of housework, at about 12 hours a week. Married women in their 60 and 70s did nearly twice that amount, while women with more than three children spent 28 hours a week cleaning, cooking and washing.
But it's not as bad as it used to be. In 1976 women did an average of 26 hours of housework a week, while men did about six, according to the study.
Fri Apr 4, 2008 7:27pm EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - For married women who can't figure out why they always have so much housework researchers may have the answer -- husbands.
A new study from the University of Michigan shows that having a husband creates an extra seven hours of extra housework a week for women. But a wife saves her husband from an hour of chores around the house each week.
"It's a well-known pattern. There's still a significant reallocation of labor that occurs at marriage -- men tend to work more outside the home, while women take on more of the household labor," said Frank Stafford, of the university's Institute for Social Research (ISR), who directed the study.
"And the situation gets worse for women when they have children," he added in a statement.
Stafford's findings are based on 2005 time-diary data from a study on income dynamics that has been conducted since 1968 at ISR.
The researchers studied diaries to assess how people spent their time and questioned men and women about how much time they spend cooking, cleaning and doing basic work around the house.
They found that young single women did the least amount of housework, at about 12 hours a week. Married women in their 60 and 70s did nearly twice that amount, while women with more than three children spent 28 hours a week cleaning, cooking and washing.
But it's not as bad as it used to be. In 1976 women did an average of 26 hours of housework a week, while men did about six, according to the study.
Everyone should wake up to this song
That's what I think of when I see Simeon smile at me first thing in the morning. And here's what early morning grin looks like:
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
If you like a little spice...
...I thought you might enjoy this recipe for what I call Mexican Lasagna. You'll need 6 tortillas (store bought are fine) which are very simple to make with the following instructions ~
Tortillas
2 c. flour
1 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 c. oil
3/4 c. boiling water
Mix dry and wet ingredients separately and then mix together; form into six balls. Roll them flat (very thin) and lay in fry pan at low/medium heat (no oil in pan!) until brown bubbles appear.
But on to the lasagna~
2c. ground beef spaghetti sauce
1 1/4 c. salsa
1 roma tomato
1/2 yellow pepper
1/2 onion
(any other vegetables you choose)
grated cheddar cheese
Mix sauce and salsa together. Lay 2 tortillas on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish and spoon 1/2 of the sauce on top. Sprinkle with vegetables and repeat. Lay last 2 tortillas on top of second layer and sprinkle cheese. Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes. A dollop of sour cream goes great on top if you need to cool it down. What I like is that it's such a forgiving dish and it's a great way to use up leftovers. Last time I made it I used extra sloppy joe filling I had in the fridge :) I also made a loaf of cheese and onion bread topped with roasted garlic and a quick tossed salad.
Bon appetit!
Tortillas
2 c. flour
1 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 c. oil
3/4 c. boiling water
Mix dry and wet ingredients separately and then mix together; form into six balls. Roll them flat (very thin) and lay in fry pan at low/medium heat (no oil in pan!) until brown bubbles appear.
But on to the lasagna~
2c. ground beef spaghetti sauce
1 1/4 c. salsa
1 roma tomato
1/2 yellow pepper
1/2 onion
(any other vegetables you choose)
grated cheddar cheese
Mix sauce and salsa together. Lay 2 tortillas on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish and spoon 1/2 of the sauce on top. Sprinkle with vegetables and repeat. Lay last 2 tortillas on top of second layer and sprinkle cheese. Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes. A dollop of sour cream goes great on top if you need to cool it down. What I like is that it's such a forgiving dish and it's a great way to use up leftovers. Last time I made it I used extra sloppy joe filling I had in the fridge :) I also made a loaf of cheese and onion bread topped with roasted garlic and a quick tossed salad.
Bon appetit!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday Afternoon
A few of us went up to Sussex to have a shower for Brayden who is looking very cute relaxing with Krista on the couch. And here he is again in his mommy's arms! 
Thanks for letting us come over, we had a great time :)~Love, Ruth & Simeon.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Volleyball is fun. Mostly.
On Wednesday night Sean's sister was kind enough to babysit Simeon so we could go to sports night at the church. Sean's been going once in a while but it was my first night and I was pretty excited because I've always loved sports and games even though I'm not the best athlete (at all!). Anyway, we had a great time playing volleyball but at the end of the night my arms were pretty red and I knew that I would have a few red spots where the capillaries had broken. Fairly routine for me when I haven't played in a while. What I didn't expect was this:
Today all the red spots have turned a lovely shade of green and the bruise on my thumb has extended around the back. So basically.....here's hoping we play basketball next week. :)
Today all the red spots have turned a lovely shade of green and the bruise on my thumb has extended around the back. So basically.....here's hoping we play basketball next week. :)
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I love Easter!
Friday night our church choir held a Tenebrae service which I was able to take part in. It's the second time I've sung in it but until now I didn't know what the word meant. Here's the definition for anyone else who isn't familiar:
–noun (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Roman Catholic Church.
| the office of matins and lauds for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Holy Week, sung respectively on the afternoon of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week, at which the Crucifixion is commemorated by the gradual extinguishment of candles. |
[Origin: 1645–55; literally: darkness]
It closes in complete darkness and the people are asked to exit in silence; I find it very meaningful and a lovely time of meditation.
Sunday we went to Sean's parents' and stayed until 10:30 pm when we realized that we (ahem, Sean) forgot to bring our overnight bag - so it was back to Saint John and a return in the morning. We got to visit with the whole family and even had a trip to his aunt and uncle's farm. They have a beautiful old farmhouse with a lot of handmade pieces in it. In fact, his aunt just started up an Etsy shop that you can check out here to see some of her work.
After a great visit indoors we headed for the barn where they keep their sheep and cows. I was curious to see how Simeon would like the animals and didn't have to wait long for my answer. As soon as the first lamb was taken from its pen the sheep started bleating and Simeon started screaming. He wasn't too impressed with the cows either as you can see here - I was trying to reassure him but he remained pretty skeptical.
I hope you all had a happy Easter and got to spend it with family. There's no better thing :)
It closes in complete darkness and the people are asked to exit in silence; I find it very meaningful and a lovely time of meditation.
Sunday we went to Sean's parents' and stayed until 10:30 pm when we realized that we (ahem, Sean) forgot to bring our overnight bag - so it was back to Saint John and a return in the morning. We got to visit with the whole family and even had a trip to his aunt and uncle's farm. They have a beautiful old farmhouse with a lot of handmade pieces in it. In fact, his aunt just started up an Etsy shop that you can check out here to see some of her work.
After a great visit indoors we headed for the barn where they keep their sheep and cows. I was curious to see how Simeon would like the animals and didn't have to wait long for my answer. As soon as the first lamb was taken from its pen the sheep started bleating and Simeon started screaming. He wasn't too impressed with the cows either as you can see here - I was trying to reassure him but he remained pretty skeptical.
I hope you all had a happy Easter and got to spend it with family. There's no better thing :)
Thursday, March 20, 2008
So-and-So and What's-His-Face
Saturday, March 15th, 2008.
So Mark, Caitlin, Simeon, Ruth and I all packed ourselves into our miniature automobile to attend the wedding of some girl and this guy she met. It was a good time, and the car - which is meant for two people really - only complained a little bit during the three-hour drive to that place there.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Daddy does the 'do
"Daaaadd, are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"No way, they'll think it's a toupe!(Still, I am a handsome devil, aren't I?)"
"I think this is the one; Wolverine meets Ace Ventura. Nice."
"Team Carroll, lookin' good!"{Narrated by Simeon D. Carroll}
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Trained Responses
Here's one for you: this morning in church I was walking down a hall with an unoccupied baby carrier - Ruth and Simeon were elsewhere. I had a coat and a shoulder bag in the carrier. I passed an elderly lady who looked down into the carrier and went, "Awwwwww."
I didn't stop... just smiled and kept on walking. It got me thinking.
I didn't stop... just smiled and kept on walking. It got me thinking.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Tumble
Yeah... tubing at Mom and Dad's. That last bit? That was a stream. Ruth landed safely on the other side. I landed in it. Brr.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Asparagus sandwiches and clean kitchens..
...make us happy! Sean: asparagus, Ruth: kitchen. We've had a wonderful March break so far! Today was especially nice, after doing some work around the house we left for a doctor's appointment for little Simeon, who apparently isn't so little for his age - between the 75th and 90th for height and weight. After he calmed down and decided to forgive us for letting the mean lady give him his shots we headed over to Nougatine et Chocolat; an amazing café
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Last Weekend
It was fantastic to get out in the fresh air again; before last weekend it had been an unacceptably long time since we were by the sea. This was our last outing with Beth before she left for Korea. What a beautiful day! 
Ruth picked up five yards of fabric a little while ago, with which she now very effectively transports Simeon.
This is how it looks from the front...
... and from the back.
I haven't tried carrying him like this yet, but she says it's extremely comfortable, and it makes being outdoors infinitely easier and more enjoyable. (We're getting positive reviews from the passenger too:)
**Note: we are not on a real road in this picture (if you're wondering what Simeon's doing out of his car seat). We were simply moving the car down the shore a little ways.
Ruth picked up five yards of fabric a little while ago, with which she now very effectively transports Simeon.
This is how it looks from the front...
... and from the back.
I haven't tried carrying him like this yet, but she says it's extremely comfortable, and it makes being outdoors infinitely easier and more enjoyable. (We're getting positive reviews from the passenger too:)
**Note: we are not on a real road in this picture (if you're wondering what Simeon's doing out of his car seat). We were simply moving the car down the shore a little ways.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
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