Makin' bank

For the past few months, Annabelle has been hard at work designing a new website for Leavenworth Main Street, a civic organization that functions kind of like a chamber of commerce with a focus on downtown businesses and organizations. It has been a service project and a great learning experience for her, but they're so happy with the final product that they also presented her with a fat stack of LMS bucks today:



Check out the website here!

Squirrelly

My neighbors down the street really like squirrels. Over the course of the summer, they have transformed their yard into an amazing squirrel sanctuary.









My favorite part of Ginger's daily walk has become seeing what the latest addition is to their project. It makes me really happy to see that people are willing to go out of their way for animals (and the squirrels seem to really enjoy it as well).

Party like a law librarian

Last night was a fabulous party hosted by Thomson Reuters at the Experience Music Project Museum! This little one wasn't shy about getting down to the sound of the 80s tribute band:



Fred and I had a great time wandering around the exhibits. This guitar tornado is pretty cool:



Space Needle at night:



Last night we were in party mode:



Today we're in a much more casual mode but still having a blast:



I'm really glad Fred came along on this trip!

Seattle Saturday

Today was CONELL, the Conference of Newer Law Librarians, which is kind of like freshman orientation for law librarians. Lots of fun activities and networking, and then after lunch they put us on motor coaches and showed us around town.

Hello, Space Needle:



Right this way to see the salmon on the fish ladder at the Lake Washington Ship Canal:



One of my fellow newer law librarians suggested that the Vine app might be a cool way to film the fish. I gave it a try and decided I liked it:



The area around the locks is really lovely:



This view from Kerry Park is supposedly the one that Frasier Crane had in his eponymous TV show:



This evening Fred and I figured out how to take the bus out to Ballard for their famous seafood fest:



One our way back to the hotel, we took a detour to the same restaurant where we had supper last night (Icon Grill). A microbrew and a mojito:



Perfect ending to a perfect day!

Seattle friends

Fred and I are in Seattle for the annual meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries, but this afternoon was all about getting together with some of my Pacific Northwest message board buddies:

Eddie and the iPad

I bought the Paint for Cats iPad app. Harvey couldn't care less, but Eddie is obsessed. Anytime I pull out the iPad, he comes running and tries to get a turn.

Here he is painting:



Here is he just doing some general web-surfing:

Harvey takes time to smell the roses

And sometimes he eats them:

Not tired, just REtired

What an exciting weekend this has been! We had Fred's retirement ceremony Friday afternoon in the park across the street from our house and his party that night. His parents and all 3 of his brothers were able to join us, which made the event all the more special. Here are some photo highlights from the day (click to see 'em bigger).

Mike and Annabelle:



Fred and his brothers:



Taylor family photo:



Handsome dudes in uniform:



The 4 of us:



Me with some of my friends:



Jennifer wins the prize for coming the farthest for the event (she is on her way from Korea to Virginia):



Fred receiving his award:



I love the perspective in this one of me receiving an award:



Fred's brother James took these of the kids receiving their "Brat" awards from LTG Perkins:





Fred giving his post-ceremony remarks:



That night at the party, we played this amazing slideshow that Fred's deputy, Luisa, put together:



I smiled my way through the ceremony, but the video gets me every time!

Somebody's gonna retire today!

Retirement festivities have begun!

Today was Fred's retirement luncheon. Lots of presents, some funny, some sentimental:



Can't have a party without cake!



It has been a great 3 years here at Ft. Leavenworth, and I know that Fred and I are both going to miss all the great friends we have made through the JAG community and our neighborhood.

Animal hijinks

Buddy sometimes has crazy ears (sorry 'bout the crappy image quality):



Don't make Mom mad, or she'll use her laser-eyed cat on you:



"Who, us? We've been sitting in this chair the whole time. Whatever it is, the dog probably did it."

Who has peephole face?

Annabelle, Jenny, and Buddy have peephole face (still playing with the iPhone):

Well, hello, Arlo!

Playing with toy soldiers at Disney Hollywood Studios

Pancakes, pretties, and panoramas

We went to DeLeon Springs this morning to cook our own breakfast:





While we were there, I messed around with my iPhone a bit, experimenting with taking panoramas and closeups (as always, click to see the photo bigger):







This panorama shows what a lazy afternoon (my favorite time!) in DeLand looks like: