Rob's family

It's spring break in Chicagoland.  The daily high all week has been in the low 30s.  Snow once; rain three times.  Great spring weather. Necessity is the mother of invention (and boredom is the father of creativity)... Melinda (and just yesterday Gretchen) have discovered that with a digital camera and some simple software they can make stop motion videos.  Below are are couple samples of what they've built. I think it's great that this sort of activity no longer requires a BS in Computer Science to make - that it's really available to anyone who has the interest.

I am the ghost of Town Severe Bearing a story that you must hear A tale from Halloween night That I am sure that will give you a fright The ship I boarded on was dark The ship of the voyage I would embark Behind me I heard a howl Making me let out a loud yowl I prepared for something obscene But 'twas only a ghost, Yelling "Happy Halloween!" -G. Coleman

In September 2010, Gretchen was babysitting for the editor of the neighborhood newsletter.  So she wrote ...

"Dad! Can we make homemade ice cream?" ask Melinda With considerably less trepidation than several years ago I decided this would be okay. Off we go to the store to buy ingredients. Whole milk, vanilla yogurt, frozen berries. $14 / quart for frozen yogurt - cheap. Halfway through production Gretchen (sweet tooth girl), Melinda and me (king sweet tooth) try the stuff. "Yum!" says Gretchen. "Yum" says Dad. "Yuck, I hate yogurt" says Melinda. "What?" I just laughed. Turns out frozen yogurt - she loves, just not (all) the ingredients. Still churning - but it's looking good.

Melinda posted this the other day...