Admiring // Jose’s first deep space photograph! Isn’t it amazing? This is M27, also called the Dumbbell Nebula. Maybe the coolest part of all is that he took it from our relatively light-polluted suburban backyard! He used my Canon 70D, his new 80mm refractor telescope, and his motorized equatorial mount. It’s made from 20 30-second exposures that he stacked and processed in some astrophotography software.
Patting // Myself on the back after a seemingly successful move to a new webhost and domain registrar. For anyone considering doing this, here are a couple pointers. First, the biggest hurdle I encountered was importing/migrating my WordPress database to the new host, and I went through several fits and starts before getting things sorted out. In the end, the UpdraftPlus plugin saved the day. I had already been using the free version to make occasional backups but when it came to moving from one WP installation to another, I ended up having to spend $30 on its “Migrator” add-on. However, it was $30 well spent because it did exactly what I was having trouble accomplishing on my own.
Second, my biggest mistake by FAR was doing the domain transfer BEFORE I had set up WordPress on the new account. My URL started pointing to the new site before I had figured out my WP migration issues, which meant my whole site was unavailable for ~18 hours. Not the end of the world, clearly, but I should and could have planned better.
Considering // Buying this bookcase (left photo, taken from West Elm’s website) for our living room. We need something a little larger (and higher quality) than the Target bookcase we’ve been using for years. I’ve found several options in recent months but keep waffling on what would work well for the spot. I’ve gotten to the point where I just want to make a decision and go with it, and I think this one would fit nicely without looking too heavy. I’m waiting on a response from West Elm customer service about whether these come with anything to anchor them to the wall; if not, we’d have to figure out our own solution.
(I’m also debating whether I should order one, or just bite the bullet and order two, since the ultimate plan has been to flank the TV console with bookcases.)
Tiring // Of all the construction on my way from our house to the highway…and its impact on our tires! A few weeks ago we both noticed that one of the Camry’s tires had a slow leak, so Jose stopped by the tire place one day after work. They found a nail, removed it, and patched up the hole. Mere days later, we noticed it was still(?) leaking so he took it back. That time they found THREE nails, including one in the sidewall, so we had to buy a new tire. On top of that, Jose also spotted the head of a screw in one of the Highlander’s tires last week! That one hasn’t started leaking — yet — but of course we now need to take that in to be patched also. And the construction has just begun, so there is no real end in sight either. Ugh!
Feeling // Like I live in an oven. Houston weather in August plus 37+ weeks pregnant = UGH.
Wow! Jose’s photograph is incredible!
Texas weather is no joke. When I lived in Huntsville for a year, I turned my AC on as soon as I walked into my apartment and never turned it off until I moved out! Here in Ohio, I was so hot during my pregnancy that I wouldn’t let Niels turn on the heat until the house temp dropped to the 40s! I have mad respect for you enduring that Houston heat while pregnant!!
Awesome shot by your husband! I remember getting a telescope as a kid and being very disappointed that that photo was not what I saw through my telescope! LOL
I am about to have to migrate two websites to be put under another website account for hosting and am very nervous. One has WordPress, my blog, the other doesn’t. Should be fun to figure out…blargh!
Just make sure to back up everything before you start, and be methodical about moving it!
Off-topic – we’re thinking of getting a Camry. Do you like yours?
We just buy L-brackets to attach our bookcases.
If I ever switch hosts, I’ll definitely ask for your guidance!
We do! It’s a 2014 and it’s the “sport” version or something like that. I should note though that the Camry is primarily a to/from work vehicle — we don’t use it as a kid car since we only have 1 car seat for Emma and it’s in the Highlander.
We’ll be putting kid(s) in it for the first time while I’m on maternity leave…either we’ll move Emma’s car seat to the Camry for Jose to take her to daycare, or I’ll put an infant seat base in there for me to use with baby while on leave. So we’ll see how well it works for that, although I’m certainly not expecting any issues.