Houston, I have a problem

I was in downtown Houston late last night and half the day today.

I couldn't help but take the opportunity to shoot from the top of a building into the night sky.


Nothing fantastic by any means!


This reflection stopped me and cried out for the taking.


I took lots more pictures which I won't share with you and learned something about myself again today!
If it really matters, suck up the pride and shoot on automatic!
Leave the Manual mode for when it doesn't matter or I have plenty of time to get it right!!
So many of the moments that could have really made great memory pictures for this weekend are just junk because of my stubbornness!!!
Very valuable lesson!!! Arg!!

That said, I took this one of the cuff, in haste with no thought of settings or design. It just captured my attention and I clicked.

It is a light fixture a full 2 floors straight up from where I was standing.


We read this in our daily Bible reading tonight, I hope you will take the time to read it too.
It is so beautiful, especially verses 15 and 16!
Pslams 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.

8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.

12 They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.

16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
These shirts took me 4 hours to accomplish!!! I had planned for 2.
(Photo quickly taken with cell phone.)

These are for my middle son's soccer tournament tomorrow.
They have be close to unbeatable this season, so we felt pretty confident on our title of "The Flu".

I am running far behind and still have so much to do in the next hour.

later!!!

Orange!

Pound Cake

It is recipe day!!!!!
C.D. I am warning you ahead of time, aren't I kind??

I was out Krogering last week, shopping with my, just for me special offer coupons.
Do you get those in the mail?
I AM a Kroger Mastercard holder, so I do get special perks!
The coupon was for 1.00 off 2 Kroger brand sour creams!
There were several 16 ounce tubs with a quickly expiring date; marked down to $1.08 each.
I knew they wouldn't be used in time for tacos, or enchiladas, or nachos, or quesadillas...but I did think I could use them for a pound cake recipe that I really like!

This recipe is easy and full of simple ingredients that you probably don't have to go to the store for.

I made a printable for you here, so I probably won't specifically type out each and every specific ingredient needed in the recipe again in this post.
Just go and print it already...that is why I took the extra trouble to do that for you!!!

I have a need for a yummy, yet hearty and able to travel well, goody for this weekend; as well as dessert for next Tuesdays luncheon, and a little something tasty for my kids who I love!

(I am perplexed by the semi colon...Nicoll, someone, please give be a run down cause it has been too too long since I studied about that!)
d i s t r a c t e d again!!!!!

What I was trying to say with that was that I tripled the recipe!
And that worked out just fine!
When you are looking at my photos though, don't get all worked up that yours doesn't look like as much as mine in the bowl.
I would have quadrupled it, but I knew my mixer could only do the three!
Okay...on to the recipe.

This is a recipe from a previous edition of Joy of Cooking.

My newest book doesn't have it in there. Curious, no?
I was bummed, and just copied the recipe to one of the empty back pages before giving the old book away.

Begin by melting 5 Tablespoons of butter.
I always do this sort of thing in the microwave, but you do what floats your boat best.
I also always use my stand mixer for mixing.
If you only have a hand mixer, then that will work just fine.
My hand mixer died about 10 years into my marriage. I am not quite sure what I did in the years between hand mixer and stand mixer.
I may have to be hypnotized to get the real answers to that.

Pour that butter into the bowl of your choice.
To this add 2/3 cup sugar, 1 t. vanilla, 1/4 t. salt, 1 cup sour cream and 1 egg.

I am including this really awful picture for your perusal.

Why is it awful you ask?
The bowl and the lump of sugar are fighting for focus, causing your eye to shoot back and forth uncomfortably across the picture. Neither one takes priority over the other, making one feel a little uneasy when looking at it.
I think had the lines of the melted butter gone the other direction and gave us lines to lead us back and from one to the other it may have been okay.

Please remember at this point that you choose to be here and put up with my crazy artistic pondering. Hey, at least it is free.
Leading lines are important, the rule of thirds is important, and color is important. Get all of those worked out in one photo and manage to shoot it...and you are golden!!
Golden...hmmm, that reminds me of another phrase, The Golden Mean.
If you have any interest at all in making good photos or drawings, google that!

d i s t r a c t e d again!!!!!

I am gonna tell you right now that I love this little kitchen tool.
You must have one!

It is completely pertinent to small sifting jobs.
I never, never make my pumpkin bread without it, or this recipe either!!
I only sifted in my baking soda and baking powder. (My recipe page says to sift the flour too.)
We want NO lumps, and this is the way to achieve that.

Stir all of the required ingredients around until combined.
My recipe says to use 1 1/2 cups flour.
I have gotten to where I really miss the heartiness of the wheat flour if it isn't included, but I also didn't want it to be a big old dense yuckness.
You do what floats your boat, we have plenty of water around here!

Then came the chocolate chips. I just poured in the whole bag.

I truly, with all my heart, believe that mini chips must be used.
I don't care if you have to make an extra trip to the store and pay full price for them even though you have perfectly good extra large, dark chocolate Ghiradelli chips in your pantry....use the minis!
You know if I paid full price for them that I must be sincere.
I implore you.

Pour the batter into the greased pans and bake at 350* for awhile.


Would you just believe I did not include that in my written recipe.
Ahhhhh ha ha ha, I have no idea how long to cook these, nor did I really keep track today because I was managing laundry, and about 8 other things while they baked.
I would say be on the alert around 40 minutes.
A toothpick inserted must come out clean!!!

My kids who are used to the wheat flour all gave this a hearty thumbs up.

I may have to put a simple glaze on it to make it fly as "dessert", maybe.
I would like a lemon, or even and orange glaze to go with that miniature chocolate wonderfulness.

And that is it my friends.
I simply must leave you now and go feed The Shelbster.
It is 4 minutes past her official supper time and she is letting me know it!!!
See ya tomorrow!

Coffee and cows

Hello Blog world!!!

I have hastily taken pictures for you, but that is about it!!!
My day was packed full, I like it like that. (most of the time)

Every night I set about to grind the beans for my morning coffee.

I am not that much of a snob, that I must have it fresh ground within minutes of drinking!
I am more of a set the timer so you can wake up and not have to wait to pour kind of gal.


As I was wrestling with the settings in my dim kitchen...guess who happened by?

He kind of insisted that it was fantastic, so here it is for him.

That is a piece of a trombone, for those of you still wondering.
Which would make the passerby, my oldest child.
Who was "practicing"....

I just remembered that I never posted my longhorn pictures from the baby horse picture day!!!

I stopped by a Longhorn Ranch that had been beckoning me for some time to capture images of these serene creatures.

I was innocenty taking pictures by the fence, when a fellow pulled up and said hey!
I went into defensive mode proclaiming myself an amateur and blah blah blah about beautiful cows.
He gently waved me off and explained people took photos all the time, in fact a set of grandparents had their Flat Stanley hanging over the fence just last week.




He then asked if I wanted to get closer shots and told me to head on back up the road.

We made our way to the animal pen and as we walked he let me know that a baby had been born just yesterday.
I was shocked, after just photographing the new foals!

He kept the momma distracted while I got in for a few close ups!
I only had my 50mm lens available so I needed to get in there.


She had enough of being distracted and came in to check on her baby.


She gave a little nuzzle....


then a little glare!!!



I stepped back a bit,

as is my custom with momma's giving me the evil eye!

And that is the short version of my exciting time with the cows!
See ya tomorrow!

Not her again!

Photos of the day!!
I know you don't need another photo of Shelby, but she is just so cute sometimes!!!

She was absolutely desperate to go outside to defend the bird feeder today.

I mean just look at that face....pleading for release from captivity!


She was not thrilled about being the object of my camera's venture today, but put up with me.

For a while anyway.

So there you have more Shelbster, but I couldn't leave you with just that.

I decided to try to capture the twirling of a hula hoop!
With my big lens
inside
shooting on manual
then shooting on aperture priority
then shooting on sports mode
then to manual again.
Aye yi yi...not many good shots were accomplished, but learn I did.

I am not even really sure what I wanted...but I think it was this, except sharp and in focus without the grainy look to it.
My other lens would have been a better choice!


I didn't have all day to goof off with this, and my girl had real work to do, so a few more pictures were taken with a few more adjustments.
I never really got anything to write home about, but I did like this.

You know for color and movement!

Okay...off to spend some time being a Mom....rooms have to be cleaned to my standards and that takes some intervention!!!

Band Trip

YAWN, big yawn!!
I am still not feeling fully recovered from my busy Saturday, but must press on.
Obviously I didn't post yesterday. The truth is, I was either at church, eating or sleeping yesterday...the basics were all I could handle.

I ended up getting to bed later than I wanted to on Friday night (10:30) and then woke every hour leading up to my Shelbster waking me at 2:45 needing to make a trip outside.
Both my alarm clock and coffee pot were set to go off at 3:05, so she wasn't far off of my schedule.

I chose not to bring my camera on this Jr. High Band trip, as I didn't want to have that constant responsibility.
I did snap a few pictures with my cell phone, which unfortunately began dying around 3 o'clock despite the full battery charge!

So, I had many other things I wanted to capture but couldn't.
I began with trying to shoot the glorious sunrise, eehhhh not so great with this camera phone.


I must insert here that this was THE most organized trip I have been on in my life.
I am a detail girl when it comes to making a journey, as were these band instructors.
Every little detail had been thought out from extra trash bags to tape to affix the sign to the windows. It made my corralling job, super easy...and fun.

And on top of that, the kids were for the most part...well...awesome!!!

We arrived right on schedule and the kids filed into the practice room to warm up before heading in to compete.


I dunno, maybe it is just my mommy sense, but they sounded amazing!!!
Actually, I will blame it on that mommy in me.
How do I know??
Well, when my kid is joined together with a band to create music, it gives me chills, breaks me out in goosebumps and brings a tear to my eye.
I can't say that the band your kid is in would do the same thing for me.
Sorry, that is just the truth of the matter.
It is something about my offspring bringing me joy!
Hmmm, would that fall into the love category???
Yeah, I think it would.

I had my phone out ready to take a picture during their performance but had to put it away, because that was one of the rules read off prior to their playing.
I am a bit of a rule follower!
This was the one time during the trip that I wanted my real camera with such a desire that I could almost taste it!!!
All of the shiny brass instruments were catching the red, blue and green stage lights on their reflective surfaces calling out to be frozen in time.
I kept clicking away in my mind, hoping to hold on to that image.

Ha, crazy artist!!! That's me.

Amidst my goosebumps, chills, tears and brain clicking, I was able to pick out the distinct sound of a real shutter clicking.
There was a fellow behind me who had his ginormous camera out, shooting with a super lens.
I couldn't help but wonder just what in the world his settings were for shooting in such a dark auditorium with only the lights on the stage to work with.
As soon as the kids finished playing and were heading off of the stage, I headed back to ask him.

Sometimes I can be so shy...and other times I surprise myself at my boldness.
I told him that I just had to know what his ISO was set on.
He quickly told me that it was set to 3200, which made for a grainy shot, but was pretty much the only way to work in such a dark room.
Ahhhh ha!!! Of course!
My highest ISO is 1600, which really makes me wonder if I could have gotten anything worth keeping.
I asked him a few more questions, wondering specifically why he had his settings done just so.
He finally just handed me his (very heavy) camera and encouraged me to take a few shots!!
It was too late for the colorful shiny picture I desired, but I was able to get a few of my kid!

I gave him my email and sure enough those images where there for my viewing this morning!
Too cool!
I can't say that they were great shots, I was soooooooooooooooooo nervous holding his majorly awesome camera, but...good enough for a mom!

Our next stop was a professional photo op for the band as a whole.
I couldn't help but be distracted by this!!!

All of the kids wildly threw their music binders and drumstick holders down so they could only have their instruments in the group shot.
I didn't think to watch their scurrying when they tried to figure out which was theirs after the photo was done! Yikes.

I hope this isn't boring you to death!!
I only have 3 more images, hang in there.
The kids have just been set free to return their instruments to the bus, I love the reflection.



After everyone was done playing and had discarded their fancy uniforms for shorts and the trip t-shirt, we loaded the buses again to head to Fiesta Texas!


I did some inquiring among the other Moms as the morning progressed.
I was specifically looking for someone who would run around the park with me like a sophisticated crazy!!
I partnered up with a super fun, bundle of energy 5'2" glamor girl.
She was also a Mom of three (girls) who is into healthy eating and being a housewife, so we had plenty to talk about as we waited in line for extended periods of time.

You know what I am talking about, right?
You get in the queue and wait 40 minutes to an hour to enjoy 60 seconds of thrill, then you do it all over again because it was so much fun!!!
We chose to ride the Superman roller coaster first!

Ohhhh, man!!
I hope I still enjoy roller coasters as I get older, cause this was still super fun to me now at 40!
I do believe even more so than when I was younger.
So much of the "fear" was gone, replaced with anticipation and that surge of adrenaline which can only come from speed and being whooped uncontrollably upside down and hurled down hills!!!

8 o'clock finally rolled around which was the time for the awards presentation.
Whoa, thinking about how long I had already been awake after a very short night of sleep was starting to make my head spin more than a roller coaster.
I am so proud to say that our bands did amazing, even taking away the coveted Overall Outstanding band, as well as raking in Best in Class for all three of our separate categories.
So, mommy sense or not...these kids could play!!!
10 p.m. saw us driving away from the park and 11:40 saw me unable to keep my eyes open any longer!!!
I would say I slept about and hour and 20 minutes on the bus with dream of ice storms because the air conditioner was set so cold that I was a constant popsicle for hours!!!
We pulled into the school parking lot to unload at exactly 1:29 a.m.
What a whirlwind!
I laid my head on my pillow at 2:30 glad to be home and able to catch a few hours of sleep in a bed.
So there you have the tale of my weekend.
Today is Laundry Day, so I will be catching up on that as well as heading to the grocery store for our weeks worth of food.
I have my camera ready and willing for our photo of the day when it presents itself.
Cross your fingers that it can be something of interest!