Collecting anything to the extreme is a mild form of insanity. I ran that statement by a psychiatrist (who happened to be a beer stein collector), and he didn’t disagree. So, if collecting antique drinking vessels is a crazy behavior [Read more →]

Never have I had a dog who dislikes water so much, but is so willing to take a shower. Maximus loves his showers. And to his credit, he’s finally learning to swim in the lake at the cabin with his cousin, Koda. Click the photo(s) here to see a larger version.

Gretchen, was always the giver and seldom the taker. She had surprised her husband with birthday parties on five occasions. So it was Tom’s turn. Surprises are always much work just to keep it a secret and to get the crowd to attend without giving it away.

On Aug. 25, friends Allan and Marie Stone took the McClellands to the Old Spaghetti Factory in Roseville for a casual dinner. When Gretch got off the elevator at the second floor, she was greeted by 35 well wishers, all shouting at her. Gretchen cried. Then she saw all her pals who were there, including sisters Sue and Wendy who flew out from Minnesota.

After skipping the California State Fair at the Cal Expo for two years running, we managed to drag our tired feet through the scalding heat and hit up the event this year. Overall we concluded that we hadn’t missed much in the years that we skipped, but we did get a few good family pic’s for the photo albums.

Victor showed Patrick how to finish concrete recently as we poured our concrete counter tops (really just the fireplace mantel.) Yes, this was the most recent step in the continual remodel of the McClelland estate. Here are a few more snapshots from the day.
Click the photo(s) here to see a larger version.

At nearly 7 pm, baby Wyatt Norman peered into the bright lights of the delivery room and shortly thereafter joined the family. Proud parents, Sara and Wes shed a brief tear as they welcomed the 7 pound, 13 ounce newcomer who stretched out to a long 21 and a half inches on the table. Sara sent out occasional text messages to friends and family who couldn’t [Read more →]

With fires burning all over California, the smoke in the Sacramento valley is as thick as something that is really thick.  I refuse to name any time of soup. But even at 7000-foot elevation the smoke in the air made for gray skies over the Independence Day week, a dismal sight. The sunsets, on the other hand, were magnificent. Here’s a time-lapse of a 1-hour shot that I shot looking off the deck.

Emily’s gone away to a 4-day summer camp with the Girl Scouts near Calaveras Big Tree. Here’s the email-letter she sent home. Before she left home, Emily made Lisa and I both write her a note and then kiss the paper below the note in a circle. This is the “paper” that she refers to (and that she’s holding in the photo. Click the letter here to see her full version. And click the photo above to see a larger version too.

I’m thinking of changing my name to Surrounded by Incompetence. Just think, I could walk up to anyone at work and say, “Hi, I’m Surrounded by Incompetence. [Read more →]