 |
| I guess we're really Boring with no heads. |
Yesterday, we all converged on Wally's apartment for a visit. He lives about halfway between Theo and us, so it was a good meeting place for all. We had a pleasant visit and it was during lunch that Theo said something interesting. We were chatting about this and that when he said, "I just realized how boring we are as a family. We've just talked about tax laws, zinc, and computer security." He had a point. Those were't usually topics that most (any) people found interesting, but we were perfectly happy discussing them. Let me introduce us--We're the Borings. :)
After lunch, we moved onto the main goal of the afternoon--taking a family picture for the Christmas letter. We didn't have anyone to take it so we used the timer on the camera while it was sitting on top of the car. A method that worked pretty well. While we were doing this, something occurred to me. It would be awfully hard to set a phone camera up to take a picture like this. They really don't have a base to stand on their own. Maybe that's one small reason for the vast world of Selfies. Someone has to be holding the camera to take a picture. Actually, I think there's a lot more involved with Selfies, but that's a discussion for another time.
Then it was time for us to part ways. The brothers wanted some "bonding time"as they call it or as it can also be called--time for playing video games. Ward and I left in search of a place to take a hike.
We stopped at a place we had driven by many times on the way to Wally's place-- Soldier's Delight which had a nature center (closed) and hiking trails. Never really figured out why it's called Soldier's Delight but it may have something to do with the King's soldiers naming it that. Hopefully, the nature center will be open next time we stop and we will get a better answer to this interesting name.
Here are a few pictures from our walk.
 |
| This area was made into a National Environment Area trying to preserve some of the rare plants that grow here. Also, as you can read, this used to be an area of chromium mining. |
 |
| A Haunted Hike was scheduled for that evening and these "spooky eyes" were set up along the trail. This one is housed on greenbrier vines. As you can see, they are no more that eyes cut out of a cardboard tube with a glow stick inside. |
 |
| Mushroom that had just pushed its way up through the forest litter. |
 |
| A shaft opening into one of the old chromium mines. |
 |
| Blackjack Oak |
 |
| Oaks are the primary tree there, so the changing leaves had more oranges than reds and yellows. From this point you could see a lot of far away places on a clear day. It was not a clear day. |
I think most (okay, some) families discuss topics which may appear boring on the surface. Last night's dinner, my husband wanted to know how much we spent on groceries for the month -- not exactly riveting conversation material.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope your family picture for the Christmas letter DOES have heads in the photo!
I think there is one we can use that does have our heads in it and we all happen to be looking at the camera. When your using your car as a tripod and running into place after the timer is set can produce some interesting results.
DeleteSo nice that you all live fairly close together and can get together for headless pictures! ;)
ReplyDeleteThere's an old quote that says "Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people" which is credited to Eleanor Roosevelt. At least you aren't small minded! (although if you are discussing happy events like weddings and pregnancies, I think you can be forgiven for discussing people, but maybe that's my small-minded take on the subject).
I know it won't always be like this, but yes, it is nice that we're fairly close together. Wally is about an hour away for both Theo and us. That makes it so we can have an afternoon together without too much driving.
DeleteI view small minded as gossiping about other people. Of course, you have to talk about family happenings such as weddings and pregnancies.
We are equally boring, just differently boring. Our boring topics are books, music and food, but we are not talking about impressive intellectual conversations here. Ours are things are debates over who is the best Christopher Moore character. Or Ella vs. Sarah Vaughn? Or even things as silly as black eyed peas vs lady peas. Though we are all boring we are all very opinionated and more than willing to share our opinions with each other.
ReplyDeleteYour conversations don't sound boring to me, but I've been talking about tax laws and zinc. And where do you come down on the Ella vs. Sarah questions. I think I'll go with Sarah.
DeleteI fall smack on the Ella side because I think she had perfect pitch and a very clear voice, but I would never dismiss Sarah who was also pretty darn amazing.
DeleteActually, that choice is a win-win, isn't it?
DeleteI wouldn't call you boring, I'd say you are intellectuals. :-) I look forward to the conversations I have with my oldest son because these are the types of things we talk about too.
ReplyDeleteLove your nature hike. and the oranges of the oaks is lovely. We don't have many oaks here, mostly maples so it's nice to see them.
I didn't see one maple there and I was surprised because they are plentiful elsewhere. Maybe it has something to do with the "barren" soil of the Serpentine Barrons.
Delete