This & That

Although Danielle's volleyball team has not improved this season, Danielle has. Her personal goal this year was to learn to serve overhand. Ideally they are suppose to be behind the blue tape, but they can move forward a little if they need to. Some of the girls stand much closer...and it still doesn't help. I cut this video off after 2 points, but she personally scored 6 in a row here. She served for 5 points (her serves weren't returned) and then she volleyed the ball back over when the other team served.

Both kids were invited over to their friends' houses after school yesterday, so Ron and I found ourselves unexpectedly alone for the evening. I have to admit that I almost shed a tear! We went out for dinner and then went to the store. (That's how old people let loose, you know.) While we were at the store, we saw this zebra striped nightgown. Danielle recently picked out zebra bedding for her bed and had talked about needing a zebra nightgown. We amused ourselves buy buying it for her and "hiding" it on her bed. She didn't see it at first, but thought it was pretty funny when she found it.

I found this meadow katydid on my shepherd's hook the other day. I thought it was pretty cool looking. I found another one after dark, but it was more like the typical leaf shaped ones. I think that's what's making all the noise in our trees at night, too. I couldn't find "our" praying mantises today, so I think they may have moved on. They were entertaining.

I haven't been very diligent about keeping my bird feeders full lately. When I filled them the other evening, our 2 resident chipmunks were pretty sure I put the food out just for them. It was nice of me to help stock their cupboards for the winter. They are probably doing terrible things to the ground under our patio, but they are so cute to watch.

Danielle and I have our entries ready for the metroparks' photo contest. Her picture is the 5x7 in the middle. We're going to take them in tomorrow. I can tell I've improved over the past year, which makes me happy. Even if I don't win, it's fun to see my pictures posted in a forum where lots of people can enjoy them. I do hope Danielle wins. It would mean a lot to her, although when Tyler told her he thought I took the picture, she felt pretty good already.