Halloween has changed – what am I to do with all this candy?

Well, it must be getting close to an hour since the last two trick-or-treaters were here. I still can't leave my vigil, though.

It's raining outside. Do you think that has anything to do with it? Maybe, but I don't think so. When we first lived out here and the kids were small, there were years that we had to go back to the store and buy more candy because our original generous supply was not enough. And we commonly took them out in snow and cold weather – sometimes below zero. So what's a little rain?

No, I think things have just changed. I'll bet in the rich neighborhoods there are carloads of kids going in, though. We noticed that a few years back as we drove past a rich neighborhood after taking Kalib and Jobe to a Halloween gathering at the Alaska Transportatian and Industry Museum, so they could wander among airplanes and get candy. Or was it just Kalib?

Hmmmm… No trick-or-treaters, but lots of candy… hmmmm.... And look at Jim! The good black cat looks really scary tonight! 

Text added at 9:06 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues. Day 40 and counting...

National Cat Day: black cat on my shoulder

I just learned from my friend @michaelkircherphoto that today is National Cat Day. Michael posted a picture of himself with a friend's black cat on his shoulder. As it happens, there is a black cat on my shoulder at this very moment, positioned to assist me as I work. So, in honor of him on National Cat Day, here is Jim on my shoulder.

Text added at 12:27 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues.

Jealous Jim

 I exited my office, thinking I might go to bed, but Margie was watching TV so I sat down on the couch beside her and slipped down into a comfortable position. Chicago spotted me right away, came and claimed the space on my chest and settled down onto it. Then Jim came in, having stopped to get a bite to eat after we left my office and saw Chicago in what he considers his rightful place. This happens every now and then. Jim always feels exceedingly jealous, but Chicago is too tough for him to do anything about it.

Text added at 1:16 AM. The Squarespace nightmare continues.

The day ends just as it began…

The day draws near to its end, just as it began - me sitting here at my computer, working away with the help of Jim. I don't like too many of my pictures to get out on the net ahead of the publications I make, but I'm not too worried here because there are a few better frames from this dance, including one I believe to be a true knockout photograph.

How I love this work! I cannot tell you how much I love it! How fortunate am I, ever to have been able to stumble my way into it? I am a stumbler, a bumbler, timid, shy and weak and yet all these wonderful experiences just keep unfolding in front of my camera. I think I will work for another hour to hour-and-a-half and then go to bed.

Hello to all my friends who are gathered in Fairbanks tonight. Wish I could be there too, but it just didn't work out this year. 

Text added at 10:56 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues.

At work, with Jim's able assistance

With Jim's able assistance, I sit at my computer working and that is all I want to do. I don't want to do anything else. I don't want to take pictures. I don't want to make posts. So I might not make any more today - no, I will put up at least one school bus post. This image could almost qualify because there is a converted school bus at the left edge of the picture on my screen, beneath the airplane, but I will post another. I might yet post other pictures, too. No telling how I might feel later today. One way or the other, though, I just want to stay on this and be disturbed as little as possible until I take Margie to the movie tonight.

Text added at 12:25 PM. The Squarespace nightmare continues.