Graduation photos

This past Sunday we did something we've been putting off far too long due to scheduling conflicts, weather, and the seemingly endless quest for a dress that met with Taylor's approval. It is done. Praise God. Allahu Akbar!

Jen served as driver/stylist/art director/wardrobe assistant, and I pushed the little silver button on my new camera as we spent the morning strolling through a local park. The preliminary results are below. Be kind people, I'm still learning how to use the camera. This is just a sampling, mind you, since with digital cameras it's easy to just NOT know when to quit. Like 220+ photos worth of not knowing when to quit. So, now it's time to make the final selection(s), do a little color adjustment and retouching. Friends of the HornHaus will be receiving her graduation announcement in the near future (don't hold your breath if it goes anything like the dress selection process).

And there you have it!

A Busy Week

Here's a quick look back at the past week.

Taylor was the recipient of a Magnificent Marauder award this past week. Each grading period every teacher is allowed to select one student who they feel is exemplary. The students are recognized during an evening ceremony, are given a certificate, and on the back of the certificate the teacher writes up why they selected the particular student. Taylor's award was in her anatomy class, and the teacher really had some nice things to say. She's won a few of these this past year, so at this point, we get more satisfaction from the award than her.

She didn't even want to hang around for the reception. 

I made her pose for a photo, just because I can.

Marlo enjoying a nice quiet Mother's Day.

Schooner wondering when it will be time to eat again.

Taylor was out riding her horse, Chance, in the back pasture earlier this week. 

He's an American Saddlebred, and was a gift to her from a woman down the street. 

He's a great horse, well trained, with good manners.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

And there you have it!

Checking the Hive

 It's been 2 weeks since we hived the package of bees. This morning Taylor and I went out to inspect the hive and refill the hive-top feeder. The queen was there doing her thing, and there was evidence of brood, pollen and honey cells. Not as much brood as I'd hoped, but it's only been 2 weeks.

 Taylor sporting Grandma Joan's well traveled bee veil.

A look down into the hive. The ladies were busy and didn't seem too agitated.

The frames had plenty of drawn comb. 

About 3 frames were all they've managed to get to so far.

Popping the lid off the hive-top feeder.

  1 gallon of water to 4 pounds sugar.

 Closing it back up.

And there you have it.