Day 31 - Rosebud

Today Tammy and I got out in the snow with the boys. What I anticipated to be a 15 minute "do my duty as a father" kind of thing turned into two and a half hours of fun with the neighbors. Besides getting pulled around by their four wheeler, they also let me try out their Radio Flyer. Let's just say they don't call it "Flyer" for nothing. There has been talk of an after dark event as well.

P.S. Click here for those of you who don't get the rosebud reference

Day 30 - Snow Dudes with their Quiver

Snow Dudes with their Quiver
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Here are my two snow dudes, reluctantly coming in after an hour and half of sledding out on the street in front of the house. Every good snow dude needs more than one option depending on the conditions. This was their second trip out of the day. The best part - they spent the last twenty, thirty minutes working together.

Day 29 - Ghost Tree

Ghost Tree
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Yesterday morning as I was heading out the neighborhood, this tree jumped out and caught my attention. All the hardwoods are bare, then suddenly this ghostly white tree stands alone. It's hard to tell if it's an ancient guardian, forest nymph, or something more ominous and evil.

Day 28 - Full Moon before Snow

Full Moon before Snow
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Tonight's sky was beautiful. Clouds are rolling in, preparing for tomorrow's winter storm. Right now they are evenly spaced rows of cotton. The sky itself looked like a blanket of snow. I tried to capture it with the camera on my phone and got this result. It looks more like something the Hubble Telescope would take, which is kind of a cool effect. Sometimes not having the best equipment gives nice results too.

Day 27 - Sunset Commute

Sunset Commute
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

On my drive home everyday, I literally head off into the sunset. It can be a fairly treacherous drive, depending on the height of the sun. Despite the "danger", it's always a beautiful drive. I love the color of the sky - the blue was heightened in it's last few minutes before transforming into orange and red.

Day 26 - Curriculum

Okay, so I didn't take this pic, but it is what I've dealt with all day in some form.  Evaluating, developing, using, and discussing my curriculum has been my sole task today.  And it was not as boring as you might think.  At least not the way I do it.

Image from http://www.wordle.net/ licensed .

Day 25 - Homemade Armor

Gourd Helmet
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

No, it's not a scene involving the Lost Boys from the movie Hook. This is my youngest son, reluctantly showing off his latest creation. He is in the process of creating his own suit of armor constructed out of gourds. You can't tell from this photo, but you can actually raise and lower the visor.

Day 24 - Chaos

Chaos 2010/01/24
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Today was another one of those days where I awoke in a funk. Today was not as dark as it was chaotic feeling. Everything felt and looked out of control. I knew that it was better and brighter on the other side, but my path there was blocked. Finally I got close enough to catch a glimpse and I found love, joy, and best of all peace. These pictures taken today tell that story.

Day 23 - Recycling

Recycling
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Here is our first load of recycling since moving to the Garner/Clayton area over three years ago. This is the first place I've ever lived since college (a long time ago) where I hadn't recycled, until now. In every other place, whether urban, suburban, small town, or rural, it was relatively easy to recycle. It was either picked up for you or a recycling center was close by. We finally made the commitment that we would not let such obstacles stop us from doing what we wanted to do anyway. So, this morning I drove eight miles to the nearest drop off and did the right thing.

Day 22 - What's missing in this pic?

Me & the boys
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

This weekend is Tammy's annual scrapbooking weekend. She goes away to the beach with two of her friends and all they do is scrapbook. They literally have to rent a UHaul trailer in order to get all their stuff down there. It's unbelievable how much stuff they have.  You think I'm kidding.  I'm not.

So, it's just the boys and me. They look forward to it each year, thinking it's going to be a testosterone festival - burping and other rude noises, improper eating, guns, power tools, video games and movies that mom won't approve of. We get a little bit of all it in, but not to the extent that any of us will get arrested.

It's *usually* a lot of fun. But I'm always glad to see Sunday night.

Day 21 - Robins in a Tree

robins in tree
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

When I pulled into the parking lot this morning, robins were converging on this tree. The temperature was dropping and they were hunkering down to get warm. Apparently they didn't like getting their pictures taken because when I came out later in the morning they had made quite a mess all over my car. Glad it rained!

Day 20 - Relief supplies

Relief supplies
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Here you see all the dry beans and rice collected by the sixth graders at my school. I will deliver this and a few other bags collected by the other two grades to a church coordinating local collection tomorrow. I'm very proud of the sixth graders. They did a lot in a very short amount of time. I'm anxious to add up the weight when I'm loading up.

Day 19 - My Heroes

Day 18 - At the Dentist

Fish Mural
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Today I had my six month cleaning and dental check up. This is the view from the chair. I guess it's suppose to relax you, but going to the dentist doesn't bother me. For those of you looking for a more traditional view of the dentist, here's a picture of his instruments of torture.

Day 17 - Sights of Home

Sights of Home
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

While spending a few days at my mom's, I decided to drive down to where I grew up - Harkers Island, NC. I took some pics of the sights and places that mean home to me, including the no-longer-owned-by-my-mom-house-I-grew-up-in. Locals will immediately recognize the bridge that took me home everyday and the daily cruising destination of Shell Point. Our old elementary school still looks the same. My siblings will recognize the volunteer fire department where my dad served as chief for many, many years.

Close friends will note the two things that are glaringly absent. The Cape Lookout lighthouse - there was just too much mist on the sound today, plus my phone would not have been able to capture it - and the Free Grace Wesleyan Church where I grew up. The buidling was destroyed in a fire two years ago after it was struck by lightning.

Day 16 - The Curious Cat

Curious Cat
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

This morning as I was writing, I watched a stray cat walk across the fields behind my mom's. I love cats. Dogs make better pets. I enjoy watching dogs play. I enjoy playing with dogs. But I LOVE watching cats. There is something regal and majestic about them. There is something about the way their face is shaped and how they look at you. There is something about the curiosity that sometimes directs their paths. I especially love how no matter the size, whether the stray behind my mom's or the cougar high in the mountains or the lion on the plains or the tiger in the jungle, they all look the same. They each carry the same qualities that I love in them all.

I watched this little gray cat follow his curiosity. He stopped at a couple of holes along the way and furiously clawed at them. I thought for sure he was going to bring up a small mouse or a mole. Eventually his curiosity led him up the steps of my mother's deck. As long as I stayed on the other side of the glass door, he was content to watch me. He so wanted to give in to his curiosity and investigate further, but his instincts saved him. When I finally slid the door open very slowly, he scampered down the steps, but not far. For a few minutes he continued to deliberate about whether he should give in and see what I had to offer. I love how you can see his little head just above the step and below the gate.

Instinct took over and my friend ran away. But it was a nice visit.

Day 15 - Beyond the Fence

fence 2
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

This morning I left for a four day weekend at my mom's. The purpose - spend some concentrated time getting my "aspiring writing" groove on. On my way out of town, I stopped to take a picture of this fence. This fence, near the back entrance to our neighborhood, inspired the story I'll be working on all weekend.

Unfortunately, three years after seeing this fence for the first time, I'm really only halfway through the story. But I've never stop imagining what lies Beyond the Fence. This weekend I'll discover more about the land and people who live there. It's an adventure I can't wait to take. . . and share.

Day 14 - Beans & Rice

Beans & Rice
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Tonight we had a simple meal of beans and cornbread. My wife has this wonderful recipe where the beans slow cook all day in the crockpot, seasoned with the required ham bone and also with diced tomatoes and green chilis. It is sooo delicious.

Today I helped my homeroom create collection boxes for each hallway in the school. A local church sent a plane load of medical supplies and clothing to Haiti today. Now the urgent need is food. In the aftermath of Monday's devastating earthquake, this already impoverished country is literally crawling out from under the rubble. The same church has issued a call for food - specifically dry beans and rice. Our goal as a school is 300 pounds by Tuesday afternoon.

While I enjoyed the wonderful taste of my beans tonight, I thought deeply about the beans the Haitian people will be eating in the weeks to come. Chances are they won't be slow cooked and seasoned just right. My guess is that they will be cooked just enough to provide sustenance. Tonight I am deeply saddened by their plight but perhaps more thankful for my own blessings.

Day 12 - A Pound of Bacon

bacon
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Believe it or not, this is a pound of uncooked bacon. The pack had to be 90% fat. My wife, ever conscious of such, trimmed quite a bit away. What you see here is the result of retaining the meat and cutting the fat.

Why can't the government do that?

Day 11 - Like Pulling Teeth

Pulled Teeth
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Well, not only like, but exactly pulling teeth. Saturday, Noah kicked out one of Joshua's loose teeth. Today, Joshua went to the dentist to have these two pulled because the permanent teeth under were completely out and had these two wedged in. Looking at the lack of roots (absolutely NONE!), you'd think Noah could have kicked those out as well. At the very least we should have received a discount. Oh well.

I decided to try my SmallWonder cam for this one.  Neither it nor the phone works to well with close up images.

Day 10 - Darkness sets in

Rafters
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

I set out to do this blog for diverse number of reasons. First and foremost I thought it would be fun. Second, it would give me a chance to learn some new sw and tools. Third, I genuinely wanted to document my year one picture a day, picking the image that best described that day.

Not every day can be fun, colorful, artistic, or heartwarming. Some days you wake up and you feel like darkness has set in. That's how I felt this morning. As someone who struggles with depression that's just how it is some days. Today was one of those. And this image best sums it up for me.

Day 9 - "He kicked my tooth out!"

Missing tooth
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Another testimony to having two boys in the house. My oldest son has resisted pulling a loose tooth. That thing was barely hanging on. This afternoon as he and his brother were "fighting in slow motion" (think The Matrix meets Kung Fu Panda), he exclaimed the phrase giving us the title of today's photo. Again I say, it's never a dull moment.

Day 8 - Burgers

Burgers
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Despite the sub-freezing temps, I braved the cold to grill three fabulous 100% ground beef burgers. It was a trifecta of all-American good taste.

Day 7 - Moon in the Morning

Moon in the Morning
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Here's a view of the moon as I left for school this morning. I wish i could've gotten a closer shot of the moon itself, but this was the best I could do with my phone.

Day 6 - Brrrrrr!

morning temps
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Curse you Canadian air. Return to the frozen hell whence you came! We people of NC are a warm loving folk.

This is actually warm compared to the first half of the week. The official temp at the airport was 19, slightly chillier than at the house. The good news is that it will be even colder this weekend :-)

Day 5 - Thru the Water Bottle

Day 5 - Thru the Water Bottle
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

This is a view of my Star Wars lunch box through my water bottle. Note the direction of the x-wing fighters (they're going left to right). They are actually going in the opposite direction. The image was reversed as it passed through the water bottle. Gave me a great idea of some things to try in the classroom next month when we do light.

Day 4 - my messy workspace

1st day back - my workspace
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

This what my classroom looked like when I returned today after Christmas break. Notice how messy everything is. I probably should have taken a photo of all my counters as well. This is what happens when you don't start the year off with good systems in place. I blame it on coaching a fall sport. The goal is to get everything straightened up and in place by next week.

Technical note: The picture was taken with my Palm Centro and the collage was put together using Picasa.

Day 3 - Scout Uniforms

Scout Uniforms
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

Both of my boys are active Scouts. My oldest was just awarded his Tenderfoot rank (I need to put on his new badge) and my youngest is working on his Bear rank in Cub Scouts. We were getting ready for our den meeting this afternoon so I decided to take this pic. *Most* of the time they live up to the ideals of Scouting. It's a great organization and I'm thankful my sons can be part of it.

Learning New Tools

Part of the fun of this project is learning all the new ways to do it.  I have created a Flickr account to store my photos.  On Flickr, I joined the edtech365/2010 group, a group of educators that are all participating in this project.  All our photos will be tagged edtech3652010.  You can even map your photos, marking where they were taken.

As I continue to learn and use new tools for this project, my Flickr account is now linked to Picnik, used for editing the photos.  Once the photo is edited, I can then post it to this blog from Flickr itself.  When it's all said and done, I then use Share This to post links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts.  It's really quite easy.

The next step in all this fun is to incorporate all of this in my classroom.

Day 2 - The Neighbors' Bunny

Bunny
Originally uploaded by mattguthrie

This is the neighbors' pet bunny. Yes, that's right - PET bunny. They let him run free through the neighborhood. If you look closely at his back, you can see the scar from where he met one of the hawks that also lives in our neighborhood. I believe he spends more time at our house than anywhere else.

Day 1 - 01/01/10 Chair Wrestling

This is pretty indicative of life at our house.  It's always high activity.  Here you have the two main culprits enjoying some brotherly love instead of doing what they were sent into the kitchen to do in the first place. :-)