Spring is springing...

...you know, as opposed to "Spring has sprung."

Ok, I tried.

Anyway, this is the view from my bedroom window, and I love seeing the tiny buds on the trees! They're trying their hardest to have a little life and Texas just can't decide what kind of weather it wants to have... freezing temps overnight one day and 85 degrees the next!

When, oh when Spring will you be here to stay? I need a playdate with the great outdoors.

Brrrrrrrrrr

I've been in Connecticut for a few days, and it's soooo cold! I've had a great time hanging out with Diana, and she's been a fantastic tour guide.

Tuesday, we had several inches of snow, which is way exciting for this Texas Girl. So yesterday, we hiked through the woods behind her house to this great sledding hill she had spotted earlier. Here's the video of our great adventure!


Sledding from Ann Pasquini on Vimeo.


Today, we went into Boston for the day. It sounded like a great idea, until we got there and it turned out to be 15 degrees!! It was unbelievably cold. So cold, in fact, that I only took 3 pics all day long!! I couldn't bare to take my hand out of my glove & get the camera out. Here's my Boston debut:



Tomorrow: NYC!!

Mammoth Men Ride Again!

Seriously, these guys totally have the right idea!! Traveling the country together several times a year on a really cool bus... I mean - can it get any better?! But really, I'm completely envious of their adventures and wish we had a Mammoth Women Bus! Who wants to join me?!

So, they're a group of 12 photographers, who make a vague itinerary and then post a "Choose Your Own Adventure" poll on their blog, determining what they'll do the next day! It's so much fun to follow along, and they are all terrific photographers.

Lilly Meets Cooper

 A few weeks ago, my cousin Janey & little Lilly flew into Dallas for a visit to the Homeland. On their way out of town, they made a quick stop to meet baby Cooper.  Acting as chauffer for the day, Aunt Patti met us there, too. 

I happen to catch the cutest moment when Lilly noticed Catherine's kitties going in & out of their little kitty-door to their food & litter box.  Lilly got down on the ground for a closer inspection of this tiny door-in-a-door, and Patti then joined her to get the same vantage point!  Too cute.  And kudos to Patti, grandmother to 5 (and 1 more on the way!) for laying on the floor!!  Never an easy task after the age of ...Oh, say... 15!  

Patti caught this great picture of Lilly & I utilizing Catherin's chalkboard wall.  Oh, how Coop will enjoy this one day!!  

And the cousins meet for the first time!  It was so good to see you, Jane, if only for a few hours.  Next time will definitely have to be a little longer!  

Maybe this is my chance!

For those that know me well, you know that I have an affinity for natural disaters... well, not at all in the sense of actual damage to people or property, but just in the excitement & anticipation phases!  

I've always wanted to see/be in a hurricane!  I know; it's crazy.  I don't think I really want to experience a hurricane, as much as just a tropical storm maybe.  Sooo... it looks like I may finally have my chance this weekend.  YeeHaw!  Who wants to come campout with me?  Bring your flashlights and all the ice cream from your freezer :) 

And since it's always better to have a picture with each post... here's a favorite pic of seashells underwater in La Jolla.  

I'm getting good at fire evacuations!

So I'll be the first to admit that I get easily excited in times of pseudo-crisis... and I don't mean excited in a good way!  Yesterday, there was black smoke rising from the canyon that my neighborhood overlooks.  I drove down the street a bit to get a better look and see if I could determine exactly where the flames were coming from and ... more importantly ... if I should be worried!   There were a dozen cars & twice as many people standing atop the cliff overlooking the canyon.  We could see the fire burning on the other side.  Everyone was attempting to determine which way the wind was blowing and how high the flames were.  Someone estimated they were 15-20 feet high and only a mile away!  From our most recent experience this past October, that is all to fresh in our memory, we knew that wasn't good.  And with the combination of the wind blowing, it could mean disaster quicker than we knew.  

I returned home, making phone calls along the way to friends in my neighborhood who were also potentially in the path of the fire, attempting to get some insight from them as to what their plans were: pack & evacuate or wait it out.  That is one of the most difficult things for me during fires such as this, determining exactly what to do!  When do you decide to start packing, waiting, watching? When do you actually leave & take the pets? Where exactly IS the fire and what direction is it heading?? And it always seems so difficult to get true answers to questions such as these.  The Internet & TV stations only had minimal information and nothing for those of us in the affected area.  

So I set out again with my camera in tow.  This time, I found an even better canyon overlook, directly across from the flames.  Once I saw with my own eyes that the *incredible* firecrew had things under control, I calmed down & was able to just enjoy capturing the moment.  It was fascinating to watch the guys in action!  The helicopters were actually landing in a field just below where I was standing to refill and take off for the next water-drop.  I felt like I was on top of the world with a real bird's eye view.  

Sorry for the panicky voice mails I left for those of you in the neighborhood.. :) and thanks to everyone who called reassuring me that things would be fine.  The final outcome was 100 acres burned and only 7 hours to put it out!  Gold stars for the brave firemen!  Thanks, guys!!