January 12 of 12

It's time again for 12 of 12 started by Chad Darnell. You take 12 pictures of your day on the 12th day of the month, post them to your blog, and share the permalink with Chad.

Here goes:


11:30 am: The wetland behind my house. I got a late start today, sleeping in rather than going to zumba. This time of year, the wetland is usually frozen over, but we've had unseasonably warm temperatures, so it's all wet.

11:30-ish am: Our composters. We've had the black compost bin "cooking" for a couple of years.


11:45 am: I bought a couple of avocados last week to make guacamole, and have kept the seeds to try to grow avocado trees.

12:00 pm: An old warped piano bench my dad threw on our fire pit in the backyard.

12:15 pm: Toby playing with a squeaky toy.

12:15 pm: Andy checking out the neighborhood.

2:00 pm: We've started participating in 5 Rivers Metroparks "Hike for the Health of It" program. Today's hike was at Carriage Hill Metropark. This is the boardwalk on the pond, the beginning of our 3-mile hike today.

2:00-ish pm: The pond at Carriage Hill Metropark.

2:00-ish pm: The pond at Carriage Hill.

2:30 pm: Carriage Hill Metropark.

2:30 pm: Andy wearing his doggie pack during the Hike for the Health of It at Carriage Hill.

4:00 pm: My cousin Anna, Toby, and Andy post-hike.

The Swedes are coming!

A couple of months ago, I was driving south on I-75 on my way to Nashville. As I got closer to Cincinnati, I saw a familiar blue and yellow building--the new Ikea that is being built. I was very excited, because I've felt the absence of Ikea in my life since I left Prague in June. I was a bit spoiled in Prague, because there were two Ikeas--one on either end of the B metro line. Since I've been home, the closest Ikea to me was in Michigan, and I never roadtripped to it. This morning as I was reading the paper and eating breakfast, I saw an article stating that the new Ikea will be opening on March 11. How exciting! Now I won't have to lug my purchases home on the metro, then tram, then 10 minute walk to my flat--I can pack them in my car and be on my way.

Brand Spanking New

Happy (belated) 2008! My new year is starting off pretty well--I have had a photo of Karlovo namesti in Prague chosen to be shown in Schmap's Guide to Prague. How exciting! I've also included a widget on the sidebar reflecting this. They chose my picture from my flickr page, and asked me to submit it. I had never heard of Schamp before, but now I'll definitely be checking it out next time I travel.