Susie Slithers

A while back Rochelle and her husband Justin decided to get a ball python. Her daughter named her Susie Slithers. Here she is enjoying a little adventure outside of her enclosure and around the kitchen table. 

The Tomato Plant

Rochelle gave me a tomato plant on April 5th for my patio garden. I put it in the backseat of my car and forgot about it until I had driven it all the way to St. Pete for Easter weekend. Luckily, the little plant survived sitting in my car for five days. 

April 10th.

Back home on my patio.

April 14th.

After trimming a few leaves and repotting it, I set it out on the patio with my other plants. For a very brief time it was my smallest plant.

April 18th.

Within a few days it grew astonishingly fast.

April 26th.

May 1st.

The first flower.

May 10th.

The tiniest little tomato.

May 11th.

May 11th.

Wildly outgrowing its original pot.

May 15th.

May 16th.

Repotted in its new and much larger pot.

May 17th.

May 22nd.

A second tomato.

June 1st.

June 14th.

June 19th.

First tomato finally turning red.

June 20th.

After some rain.

June 21st.

June 21st.

Ripe for the picking.

June 22nd.

Made into the best caprese salad! 

Trimaris Memorial Tournament 2023

A lovely day at the Trimaris Memorial Tournament.

Myself and Rochelle. She had been coming to our weekly fighter practice for about a year, but this was her first SCA event.

Will getting authorization to fight in tournaments.

Myself, Tiger, and Rochelle.

Giovanni (Ryan) wearing his daughter’s hat discussing serious business with Ja’far (Sergio), with Aedric (Ed) and Rochelle in the background.

Photo by Edward Stapleton.

Since it was Rochelle’s first event I got to walk her into court. The court likes to recognize everyone who came for the first time and offer some gifts to choose from. Rochelle picked a lovely ceramic mug.

Photo by Edward Stapleton.

Getting ready to walk Ja’far (Sergio) into court.

Photo by Edward Stapleton.

Ja’far (Sergio), receiving his award for winning the cut and thrust tournament from Queen Catherine and Master Robert.

Myself and Rochelle.

Aedric (Ed) and Hiroshi, the event photographers.

Aedric (Ed) with his wife Janet.

Freyja (Sunny) with Xena. 

Brian on the monkey bars in deep discussion with Ja’far (Sergio).

Tiger relaxing under the pavilion.

Will.

Ja’far (Sergio) and Freyja (Sunny) being silly.

Ja’far (Sergio) going through his gift basket and dividing up the spoils with the household.

Late into the evening Oskar (Keith H.) hosted a secret fencing tournament. Brian competing against Octavian (Johann).

Luke with Octavian (Johann).

The final round between Brian and Luke. Brian emerged as the victor.

Oskar (Keith H.) and Brian with a picture of the prize. A lovely wood carving of an owl, befitting the Night Owl Tournament. The actual wood carving did not make it to the event, but would be delivered to Brian at a later date.

The Blackberry Harvest

Rochelle with her youngest daughter Morgan in the backyard picking the blackberries she planted.

Afternoon Adventures with Ellie and Morgan

Rochelle invited me over to her place to spend a lovely afternoon hangout with her and her daughters.

The beautiful winter blooms in her garden.

Ellie showing off her adorable Pikachu collection.

Rochelle and Ellie.

Morgan and Ellie playing with a toy microphone.

The sunlight catching the silver streak in Morgan’s hair.

Morgan trying the edible flowers from mommy’s garden (they tasted like sweet cucumbers).

Ellie blowing bubbles.

A close up of the edible flowers.

Enjoying the hammock with Morgan.

Rochelle picked a flower from her garden to adorn my hair.

We took the girls for a walk around the neighborhood. They both wanted to be pushed in the little pink toy car but it only fit one. Ellie decided to ride a bike but I figured out how to push them both at once by having Ellie ride in front.

Ellie decided to make an emergency stop for some sidewalk chalk art.

Back at home Rochelle was in the middle of watering her plans when she decided to water her daughters as well.

Morgan and Ellie, soaking wet and giggling.