Last day of February!!

Hello busy Monday and the end of my Joy of Love challenge Month!

Today was the assignment: Future.
In some way show how you imagine the future will be for a loved one!

Sigh! I didn't want to even take this one on...but then, I walked into my daughters room to wake her this morning and found this!!!

I asked..."Is Barbie marrying Batman?"
giggle giggle giggle..."Yes Mom, she is!"

"Is that little tiger cub their pet?"
giggle giggle giggle..."Yes Mom, she is!"

Problem solved!!
I just know my little princess will meet and marry a batman someday!
There is no doubt in my mind that she will have pets of some sort, though I should hope it won't be tigers!

Oh, boy...gotta go. I have to finish supper and feed the fam!

My photos today...

Here in the South we participate in Leadership Training for Christ through our church youth group.
There are many categories where children from grades 3-12 can grown their skills and knowledge base. This year the book of the bible being covered is Revelation.

I choose to help with the Bible Quiz portion of the training for our congregation.
We work every week leading up to the conference which is held Easter weekend.
This is our 4th week now!
I got this cool new app for my cellphone...just for Bible Quiz!


The kids take a 12 minute, (timed) open book, 50 question test each week.

Then they also take a closed book test, which is timed at 8 minutes.
Nothing like a stopwatch to make that easy and accurate!!

That's it folks!
No telling what this week will bring, but I will be here...everyday!

Ladies Retreat

Tired

Picture of a bowl


Bed!

Off to work!

My JOY photo challenge today???

When do you love them best?

Okay...way easy!!!

I nonchalantly grabbed my camera this morning and positioned myself to take pictures of my husband.
He was not fooled and caught on quickly, but loves me and let me take a few shots after my explanation of the challenge.

He loves to be loved too!!

Every morning my precious husband gets ready for work and after giving a hearty good morning to each child heads out the door.
He is not heading any place that he "wants" to be, but goes because he knows for this family he needs to be there.
Work.
A place that takes up most of his life, for the support of our family.

I love him best...when he is loving us!










Of course...we love him walking back in too!!

3 unrelated items

Whoa, I need a nap!!
I don't suppose 4:30 in the afternoon is time to be thinking about that, huh?

I have 3 things to talk about today, including my JOY assignment.

I came across this funny site yesterday!

That is the new blanket Santa brought to Shelby for Christmas.
She likes to snuggle up on it and has even chosen it, over sleeping in her bed several cold nights.

It obviously ranks 2nd though to her favorite place on the stairs!
When she lays there she can see out the windows next to the front door and out into the backyard through the living room windows which are directly behind her.
That is one ugly blanket...what was Santa thinking??

This is a tree in our backyard and the woodpecker who is moving in!!

I shot that with my telephoto lens set as far out as it would go.


This next image is one I composed for my JOY daily challenge.
The topic for the day: Where!
Well, when my husband woke me up at 4:30 this morning snoring incessantly I began to think through this assignment.
I went through so many ideas trying to figure out how to show in a photo where I "first met my loved one".
Some thoughts led me to the file folder which holds all my kids ultrasound pictures. But that didn't feel quite right. I mean...for me, I "met" my babies.. at least emotionally, when I first learned I was pregnant.

I tried some shots with the sweet ultrasound images and a little stuffed lamb, which 10 years ago used to play Jesus Loves Me every single night to soothe someone to sleep!!
In order to reach the lamb I had to move a tiny little pink bible.
All of this somehow led me to began to think about when I first met Christ.

I was blessed enough to be able to meet Christ as a child going to bible class.
It was just a normal part of my growing up life...we went to church, period.
I was baptized in my teen years and have never looked back!
I then went to a christian college and got some education and learned even more about this mysterious Christ.
Then I had babies.
When you hold a baby and realize what God did for you in letting his son be born, in order to die...wow!
Somehow for me, that seems to be when I came that much closer to really meeting him.
Seeing him and his sacrifice for the first time with clarity.

It has been almost 14 years since I held my first sweet baby, smelling that heart wrenching scent which comes off of them in waves, somehow causing unexplained tears in my eyes.
In that time, I cannot tell you the number of times I have met Christ.
I hope to continue to find him daily!

Something fishy!

Hey, don't hate me for that last post!
I felt it would be a fun challenge to take while knocking out one of my "to do's" by just ramming right on through without a lot of forethought or care. It ended up being stressful, but it is done.

I also knew I would have time today while the laundry is spinning to work on the post from Friday that I never was able to get back to.

Oh wait...I almost forgot!!!

Those of you who have been around awhile know that I got snails for my pond when we moved into the new house.
Ninja snails that hide and reproduce!
I have seen a bunch of the little babies but haven't come across an adult until today!!!

I hate to tell you this...but that is the PHOTO of the DAY!

Ahhhh I had to come back and edit here!!!
I am still keeping up with my joy challenge! Today's project was to take a picture that you love that has been loaded to Facebook and print it to cherish it more in your daily life.
Well the picture I found was not one I could share!!
Tho, if you are my fb friend I will post it to my wall so you can enjoy it.
So, I took a picture of me printing the picture!!

Well, technically that is my printer printing the picture.

Now on to prettier things!

You know I reference my "cooking buddy" often around here when it comes to food!
Well, last Friday I got to go to her house for a photo shoot and lunch!!!
When Janice says "Come on over and I will fix you lunch!", there is to be no hesitation on your part whatsoever!! You just ask when and start hoping it isn't next week so you don't have to wait that long for her yummy cooking!!
She specifically asked me to bring my camera, and set about to make it a fun growing photography time for me!
Can I just tell you that was so way past excellent fun!

She knows I am growing my skills and was very patient with me as I changed settings and adjusted and felt completely incompetent, except when I was feeling totally competent!!!
A big part of the fun was getting to shoot photos while she was cooking!
The only other time I get to do that is when I have a sous chef in my kitchen who is trying to follow my directions to the best of his little 10 year old abilities while I am trying to shoot and not mess up the recipe in the meantime!! It can be stressful and frustrating.
A cook knows what another cook is gonna do, which made taking the photos just really, well...fun!!

She set about to cook our Meyer lemon sauteed Swai fish!
Here are some things she told me along the way.
First, melt 1T butter and 1T oil in a pan and get it nice and hot.
Meanwhile grate half the zest of a lemon, orange or lime onto the fish.
Gently lay the fish in the hot pan and season with salt and pepper.

Cook on first side until browned, shaking the pan to be sure it doesn’t stick! What a great tip!

Okay, so this fish is in the pan cooking away!
While the first side cooks take the time to grate the rest of the zest on the side facing up and still needing it.

I can't get the wording on that right enough to make sense...
just...make it look like this!

Janice also added some fresh lemon thyme at this point too!
Okay, now when that first side is browned, gently give the fish a flip!

Just before the fish is almost done, squeeze the juice from your citrus fruit on the fish.

It will have just long enough on there to caramelize and give some extra yum factor to this fish!!
I don't think she said Yum factor...that was me speaking there.
Hey, I tasted it...I would know!!
This whole process shouldn't take more that 6-10 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.

She served our lovely fish with a gorgeous all green salad and yummy sweet potatoes!


Oh and BREAD! Delicious homemade wheat bread with unbelievable French olive oil for dipping! That stuff was sweet and creamy and dreamy!!

I almost licked my bowl.


The lemon came off of this tree off of the back deck...just steps away from the thyme!


Ahhh, yes. Here is a picture of the thyme!

She took the time to put it in a cute container...knowing I would seek to photograph it!!!

This onion caught my eye and almost made me miss the lemon squeezing part of the preparation. See how the dots on the squash are the same color as the onion.

They were meant to be together.

If you have any interest at all in cooking...you should have a cooking buddy!
Someone who knows their stuff!
If that person can be someone who is like a sister and lifts your spirits almost daily...well then I think probably God was involved in making sure you got together!

Thank you my sister/friend cooking buddy Janice for our fish tutorial, a fabulous onion, and a healthy yummy meal!!!

You are beautiful lady, inside and out!

Caution!

Super fast tomato salsa post for you!

Boil some water.
Put a jalepeno in there and don't let it cook too long like me. It should still be bright green.



When the water has come to a boil slowly and safely add your tomatoes.

Keep them in the water until the skin bursts!
You will probably have a late bloomer, it is okay!


Cut all tomatoes in half and remove the tough insides and as little or as many seeds and juice as you want.


Do the same with the jalepeno!

Get some cilantro and lime and other seasonings like garlic, salt, pepper and cumin!

True lime is a packet of dehydrated lime juice which does in a pinch if you haven't been able to get to the store!
Throw all that into the food processor and pulse til ya like it.

Taste for seasoning



Behold the destruction!


Are you unsettled?
Was this to fast and unorganized? It was even for me!
Are you lost on the details, and the photos are okay?
This my friends is fast cooking with a 10 year old and 7 minutes to blog it.

Off to take Shelby to the vet and I will be back with a pretty well organized blog!!

Catching up

Oh My...I have so much to catch up on.
I really have to decide what to keep and what to just leave be!!

I will start with my daily assignments for my photography.
We are going to pretend that Saturday and Sunday just didn't happen at all.
No, really I mean it.
I am not gonna try to catch up, I simply can't and not get farther behind.
I just have to acknowledge that days will come along when I just cannot get everything done and I am gonna have to be okay with that.
Now, I am not gonna go getting lazy on you though, I am talking about extremes! Okay!?!

Day 21: Hands




Would you believe that my husband doesn't like having his picture taken?
Okay...to be totally fair. My husband doesn't like to have his picture taken after a long day of work when he just wants to relax and not have to "do" something else....or be "on".
I really don't blame him.
He especially doesn't want his picture taken when he is sitting in a hot room, at 10:30 at night, working on taxes!!

I snuck one in anyway! hee hee...pretty impressive hands right??!
Whoa...I can't even see my veins, let alone make 'em bulge like that!
This has always intrigued me about my husband!!!


Today, Day 22: Portrait

Ohhhhh, don't you know Shelby was so excited to see the camera today!!!
I woke at 3:48 am and this assignment hit my mind. Just how in the world was I gonna accomplish a portrait with my self set restrictions? I started thinking about who might owe me a favor and could pose for this for me. I decided my Sweet Tea friend who got me into this in the first place, was gonna be my target!!!
Then after getting my kids off to school and realizing that it was going to have to be another stay at home sick day....well, who was left but the Shelbster!!??

I wanted classic Portraiture and set out to accomplish that...Doggie Style!!

Here is the gently look over your shoulder shot, while looking dewy eyed!



And then there is the edgy, out of the box shot, a little angled, a little over exposed, a little drama!

Huh, it is amazing what having a treat in your hand with do for focus!!
Dog focus that is!

Well, a portrait session just wouldn't be complete without a "looking off into the distance longingly shot" right??


And finally, an evenly composed straight forward portrait for those more conservative types.


Shelby hasn't placed her print order yet, but I think she will like the first shot best. It captures that little roll of fat around her neck which garners so much attention around here from the children.
I will take payments in constant adoration and give her a discount for not having a say in the matter!!!
Not everybody gets such a cheap photo session!

Ahhhh, it is good to be back!
I think I need a nap.

i took my camera out

i took photos...of hands. that was the assignment

i sit here now, dog on my lap being the lovely assistant as we work on taxes

i have no idea why my dog is panting so heavily, but she is shaking both of us and she has stinky dog breath

i find that blogging from my cell phone is quite tedious

when i say we...i usually mean my husband is doing the bulk of the work not because i am a loser but because it is not my expertise

gotta run he needs my expertise

Falling Behind

Oh friends I have been sick.
Sit on the couch and watch tv all day unless you are sleeping sick.
Too achy and tired to get out the camera sick.
Really thought I could post a fun blog but I just can't sick.

Climbing the stairs makes my heart race and I break out into that cold clammy sweat that we all love.

I am doing TONS better today, but still just can't face typing for much longer than this.

Oh wait, let me at least find a picture to post.
Here ya go.
This was the moon on Friday night.

That's all I've got folks!
I am going back to my sofa to dull my brain some more, till I fall asleep!
Maybe tomorrow!

I don't eat onions!

Friends, this was a good day!
I got all of my laundry put away.
Well, I got it put into the basket anyway...and delivered to my room.
Maybe I will put it away tonight, but I doubt it.
Friday nights are not for chores!!

I spent the day with a buddy of mine who cooked us lunch and let me shoot pictures the whole time!
It was so fun not to have to stop and put the camera down to stir or mix or blend or anything else.
Just look at her delightful onion. It was begging for a picture!

Lucky thing I don't eat onions, or this beauty may have been in the pan instead of on the veggie stand!!
More about all of that later.
I am off!!

Day 17 done!!

I am feeling like all my posts lately are pictures.
Sorry about that... it is just where I am right now.
I only have so much time in a day and it is amazing how much of that time can be eaten up by laundry, cooking, homework, child delivery to events, sleeping, grocery shopping, dishes and other assorted things. You know...MY JOB!!!
And I am not even counting general house cleaning...not sure when that is gonna get done!! ;)
So forgive me as I get through this time in my life.
I am hoping at least it is staying partially interesting with something different to look at each day!!

As you know I am desperately trying to keep up with my Joy of Love assignments each day!
We are on Day 17 and I have succeeded so far. I am pretty proud of that. Not sure that there aren't but a few handfuls of people who are on track...which by the way is not a requirement of the challenge but one one I have put forth on myself.

Today was things you do when you stay in...at home.

Ha, when I stay home it is usually to do chores and I didn't want that to be my topic.

Instead, I had the rare event of only having my daughter home for a short while after school today. Just she and I for a few quiet moments.

I bribed her with a root beer float to take some pictures with me!
Actually, right when she walked in I said..."Hey, I need your help with something!"
She quickly responded, "Sure Mom, you know I will help you with whatever you need."
She was glad it included root beer and icecream!!



I couldn't ever get it to look exactly how I wanted with the two of us, so I switched to just her.
Girls!!



Ooooooohhhhh, aaaaaahhhhhhh. Sparkly Bokeh!!!!

I have got to get!

Photo!

Look at this!
Just look at it.

Totally, right in the middle of a jump, in focus picture!
Gotta love it!
That is all I wanted to say.
See ya later for a real post...gotta take my pictures first!

Unwilling Partner

OH boy!!!
Today's assignment: Together, self portrait.
Meaning you and another living being in the picture.
The only requirement was you, yourself in the photo!!

I had vision of my dog running across the yard to calmly sit in my lap while the camera did it's work. HA!!
Here is what really happened!

First we tried outside.

Which was fine for exactly 20 seconds until the neighbor dogs heard us and set to barking on the other side of the fence.
Strike one!
I then tried several other locations outside, none of which I liked, strikes 2 and 3.
But I didn't give up, no I did not!!
We came inside and I decided to just try to get pictures of myself in a mirror, while the Shelbster took a break.
A photo shoot can be hard on a puppy!


I found that it is hard to make yourself not look like a crazy person who is taking a picture of yourself trying not to look like you are taking a picture of yourself. You know what I mean??

And....
It is hard to know where the camera is looking and what it is focusing on.

Or if you will accidentally push the button while talking to the dog as if she actually cares what is going on.

Sigh!
I literally loaded 80 pictures and most of them were like this!!


I finally decided that I didn't hate this one!


Then it was back at it with my trusty companion.
Can I tell ya, she was just as unwilling!!

Come on Shelby...please just take a picture with me...

...PLEASE!


At this point in my day I was out of time and had to be out the door for an appointment.

But, I was determined not to give up yet!
And, after reading the tutorial again, got a fantastic idea!
So I set up the tripod again and let my 10 year old act as my remote shutter release!
That means he got to push the button!
Genius, right?!?

So, I requested the presence of my dog once again.
She just wanted to look at the squirrels out the window.


Come on Shelbster...just look at the camera already!

Don't ya just hate it when their lips get stuck up on their gums and they have snaggle teeth and they look like they are insane and ferocious!
Yeah, I hate that too!
But everyone at my house is very familiar with this face and insisted that I include it in this chronicle.
Alrighty then, now here she is just about to spring off of my lap.

I just tried to ignore her as I coached my son to keep pushing the button as I tried to not look insane and ferocious.


Deep heavy sigh!
Oh well, you get what you get!!

I learned a ton today despite all of the craziness.

The two shots on the stairs were taken with the lens that came with my camera...a 30-75 something or other.
All the other shots I took with my new lens!! Oh, I really really like it!
It is a bit temperamental...but hey aren't we all.