June 2011 – Page 2 – Thimbleanna

Kowabunga!

40 Comments / June 11, 2011 September 6, 2011 / Chat

It’s another demolition weekend here in ThimbleannaLand, and while TheManoftheHouse was off to rent the tools of destruction, I decided to type up a quick post, just to tell you a new tip I learned from my camera. (Wait…here’s the tip: I hate using the flash on my camera ’cause it always looks like I’ve used a flash. I discovered this really cool button though — it lets you reduce the intensity of your pop-up flash. Do you know about it already? Here’s a picture of what it looks like on a Nikon DSLR…)

You just pop up your flash and then hold down that little button and adjust the intensity in your viewfinder by turning the dial on the front of your camera. Other DSLRs have the same feature, but I don’t have pictures of them. Try it — it’s really cool!)

Anyway, just as I was about to take before and after flash pictures to show you, the phone rang. It was TheManoftheHouse returning home — “Quick! Grab your camera and meet me on the driveway!” (I have him well trained LOL.) I jumped in the car, and off we ran down the street to check out this giant snapping turtle on the side of the road.

I’ve never seen a turtle this big around here — it was pretty cool. The only problem was, that he was on the side of the road — nowhere near any water. Several people stopped and after much discussion, it was decided that we should try to move him so he wouldn’t get hit by a car. Have you ever tried to move a giant snapping turtle? They’re Mean. They SNAP! I always thought a turtle would stay completely in his shell if he was even remotely threatened. I wish I could have caught a picture of him snapping — and look at those claws!

One neighbor lady brought out a recycling bin and we threw a towel over Mr. Turtle and TheManoftheHouse sort of grabbed/pushed him by his tail until he ended up in the bin.

Then we took him to a creek that was in the direction he was headed. We felt he would have been better off in the pond in the direction that he came from, but he probably would have just ended up back on the road again.

Poor turtle — he wasn’t very happy. Hopefully he will figure out where he is soon. And hopefully we saved him from being a spot on the road.

Must run. The jackhammer-thingy is back to work and I better go help. Have a good weekend!
XOXO,
Anna

Phot Scaventer Hunt: May

22 Comments / June 6, 2011 June 6, 2011 / Photo Challenge

I seem to be establishing a pattern with the monthly photo scavenger hunts hosted by Kathy. Late, late, I’m always late. This month I’m blaming it on the tile dust, ’cause a girl has to have excuses.

I had two trips this month, so several of my photos came from other locations:
A Cartoon Character: A Goofy phone that one of the kids won in a white elephant gift exchange years ago.

A Streetlight: Up the mountain road from Park City.

An Interesting Local Building: An old Pea Factory in Utah. (It was local to me at the time!) I think women made parachutes here during WWII.

A Butterfly: The only butterflies I’ve seen so far this season. I was in the car at the time and couldn’t get out to take a closer picture!

A Bicycle: From the Riley Blake booth at market.

Think Vintage!: Confederate cannons at Gettysburg (where we spent Saturday — the carriages aren’t old, but the gun barrels are vintage).

Something Blue: A car at a hot rod show this weekend in York Pennsylvania.

Texture: Grasses, stones, and running water.

A Red Door: On a restored pioneer house in Utah.

A Sign of the Zodiac: Libra? ;-)

A Portrait in Black and White: Our A.Mazing tour guide at Gettysburg.

An Emergency Vehicle: Our local life flight helicopter.

I think Kathy was hoping that the list for June would be easier, but i’m not so sure. (An elephant is on the list. Maybe I can use the first picture from this month — a white elephant gift, ’cause our little zoo doesn’t have an elephant!)

XOXO,
Anna

Back to Reality

30 Comments / June 3, 2011 June 3, 2011 / Around the House

Oh BooHoo. All the market fun is over and it’s back to real life here in ThimbleannaLand. We had a HARD, long weekend last weekend, ripping tile out of the kitchen. Remember this picture of one naughty kitty from last winter?

I’m only showing you that picture for a “before”. Here’s a shot of the “during”.

Ouch! For the most part, the tile popped up … well, not easily, but ok, with the help of a sledgehammer and that long pole on the left-hand side of the picture. But see those six tiles still stuck in the middle? Those, along with about 10 others, were stuck down with something that was meant to survive some sort of nuclear blast. TheManoftheHouse spent a whole day chipping those tiles out little piece by little piece with a sledgehammer and small chisels, while I removed the rest of the tiles.

“My” tiles left a nasty adhesive behind, which required some sort of DIY tile jackhammer thingy for removal. You can’t tell by the picture but that steel paddle jumps up and down like a jackhammer and chips away at the cement-like stuff. We still have another full day of the jackhammer-dump-more-dust-all-over-the-house tool work to do. I can’t wait. Ha.

Meanwhile, the kitties are liking the new industrial look. Maybe we should just stick with that. How come painted concrete flooring in kitchens isn’t all the rage? It would sure be easier if floors were like walls and you could just change the paint color.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good weekend. Do a little sewing for me. And if you happen to need tile removed, here’s a little tip: there’s a reason why contractors want a LOT of money to remove it for you. And a LOT of money is probably a really good deal! ;-D

XOXO,

Anna

Month: June 2011