Woman and Machine.......

The large storm drain replacement work that has been going on in downtown Lexington has been inconvenient for motorists and harmful for businesses in the area. However, it did give me a chance to snap this photo of Miranda during a recent trip to the Farmer's Market. She's showing her mastery over this machine and excitement about being the subject of yet another photograph.

A "Good Lift"......

Last night I discovered that Miranda has a secret talent that will hopefully NOT serve her well someday. We'd just completed a trip to the local Kroger and were on our way home when I discovered that she'd successfully "lifted" two $50 gift cards and was examining her "take" in the back seat. I'd seen she was carrrying something when we went out the door, but in my haste to get to the car and steward us safely through the parking lot I did not look very closely. I thought it was just another apartment guide or related article that she frequently grabs. She likes looking at these kinds of things. But no, this time she'd grabbed the real goods and managed to make it out the door. I thought of that scene in "Oceans Eleven" where George Clooney's character tells Matt Damon's character "that was a good lift," after he witnesses him stealing a wallet on the subway. Anyhow, I returned the gift cards and on the way to school Miranda said, "I'm sorry daddy for taking those cards at the store." Our sweet kleptomaniac wunchie.....you better keep an eye on her if she shows up at your door!

Cheerleading Wunchie!

Our community has had monthly picnics at a downtown park, and some of the ladies got into the school spirit. Miranda was intrigued with their antics, and so was able to join them at their top of their pyramid. You go girl!!

Bringing them up right....

Maria and I were happy this week to have an opportunity to teach our daughter firsthand about the time honored Christian tradition of snake handling. As you can see, she is a natural at it and we're expecting great things from her...ha,ha,ha...seriously, we really love our home and the rich landscape of plants, insects and animals that the orginal owners of our home created. We've tried to continue adding to the richness of our little ecosystem and doing this with Miranda has been a real treat. She absolutley delights in snakes, praying mantis's, squirrel's, spiders and the various other creatures that we find. Occassionally she will step on or otherwise disable or antagonize them....but she loves most all of them and that has been really neat to see and experience (make sure you click on the picture to enlarge it-unless snakes make you uneasy).