I live in rural Cedar Falls Ia.
I have 2 sons - Brian & David. They
are both out on their own. (?)
I have a full time job at a photography lab and a part-time job as a photographer & digital artist. Love all things digital, hence the blog
name.
Bruce and Kay have complained that my last post was not very flattering to them. Soooo..... I dug
through my pictures and came up with a better one. I didn't post it at first cuz I really thought Kay should've covered up a little - we were only playing cards!
It "looked" so pretty out this morning! It was lightly snowing too. Cars are moving slowly . . . I tried to straighten the horizon on this picture - but I think it's just the garage falling over. ;)
Wow, that's scary! Me, my brothers and 3 of my cousins. Tonight my boys came and lasted with me and Bart for about 3 hours. We're boring - - - played a few games of cards and ate, of course.
I got a new blu-ray - James Bond - Casino Royale. Yeah! I'm staying home tomorrow while Bart's at his brothers - gonna watch Pride & Prejudice and sleep a lot! Merry Christmas everyone.
Amanda and kids visited for a few days. We wanted to get pics of the kids - but Abram was all broke out and Malia - well she's a cheeser! This one's my favorite. Posing for her Papa (and a treat!)
Yeah, I can see my countertop -and my tabletop! Brian came over and wrapped 24 presents for me - - something I always dread doing. He also moved some furniture and plants and put my ribbon on the top of the tree! Thank You Brian - I still have a stairway to decorate and lots of cleaning to do, but there's light at the end of the tunnel. And it's only December 6th!
which started at 3:15 am - Since I couldn't sleep - I got up and worked on this project for my friend Jolene. This is her Sis and it's going to be a Christmas present for her (the sis). Not finished yet - and if anyone has any suggestions, I need them. I also watched the last "Flash Forward" on Hulu , love that show - (altho Joseph Fiennes makes some very strange faces) Did some shopping about 8 am and then cleaning - decorating - cleaning etc. Also worked on my "painting" on my breaks! Hope to have a before and after of my house tomorrow - It started out a disaster as Bart and Brian brought up all 12 totes of Christmas stuff at the same time . Brian is gonna come tomorrow and wrap presents for me - as I HATE that part and he kinda likes it, and is good at it! I've got a few out a town boxes to get sent off. Well, now it's 8 pm and I'm going to bed.....zzzz
So - here's what a 10 foot Tree looks like - I haven't shaped it yet - obviously, but wow! It's lighting up my whole house. I'm gonna have to dig for old ornaments to fill this tree. Can you believe I had this in my car?!
Brian posted this on Facebook - we are "friends". I made a reply -my brother got in on it - I answered back and Brian told ME to get off his facebook. So his friend posted this video. I guess I wasn't following the FB rules for Moms! (and yes Amanda - that's Abram in Brians avatar)
This is Megan and Lance' newest lil girl - June. I took pictures of all 3 girls and this is the only one that turned out. What a photog I am. Okay - I only took 3, and accidently deleted one and the other is bad. They just need to come back!
Bart thought for sure we'd have a corn "fence" to stop the snow drifts this winter. Didn't look like the farmers were gonna get this field behind our house done - but they showed up yesterday and down it went. Looks like a big ole' dinosaur back there, doesn't it?
I've been ignoring my blog - - too much on the brain! Maybe this would help - Make your own Baileys! Bailey’s Irish Cream 2 cups half and half, 1/8 tsp coconut extract, 3 eggs, 2 tbl hershey’s syrup, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 1 1/2 cups whiskey (Irish if prefered), Blend, refrigerate, shake. Keeps up to 3 weeks
And you better eat something with that Whiskey!! CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
1 Tblsp butter 1/2 c chopped green onions 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 (4 oz) can cream of mushroom soup 1/2 c sour cream 1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken breast meat 1 c shredded chedder cheese, divided 6 (12 inch) flour tortillas 1/4 c milk Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease large baking dish In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the green onion until tender. Add garlic powder, stir in green chilies, cream of mushroom soup, and sour cream. Mix well Reserve 3/4 of this sauce and set aside. To the remaining 1/4 of the sauce in the saucepan, add the chicken and 1/2 c of shredded cheese. Stir together. Fill each tortilla with the chicken mixture and roll up. Place seam side down in the prepared baking dish. In a small bowl combine the reserved 3/4 of the sauce with the milk. Spoon this mixture over the rolled tortillas and top with the remaining 1/2 c of shredded cheese. Bake in pre-heated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
Bart & I did something we haven't done in a long time yesterday! We used to go "dinkin" all the time on a Saturday. Just get up early and do errands and have fun - together - So it was fun to dink around for awhile. Here's our day! Started at CF Farmers Market - the next to last this year - Bart bought a couple peppers - but they mostly had pumpkins! Next to "Toads" for a Bloody Mary - Yum.... then to the library - my Favorite place. To Simpsons factory outlet - we bought a recliner. Time for lunch at "The Edge" - probably haven't been there for a year - I love their subs, we watched about an hour of the IA cyclones football game. Stopped and saw Brian for a minute - Then to Lowes AND Home Depot, then to Gilbertville to deliver some work (carpet cleaner) and some books to my mom and dad. After that we went to the casino. I think we were there 2 hours - which is pretty good on what we allotted to spend. I lost $40 - Bart won $50! Then to the grocery store and home where David was waiting to take my car! Good thing maybe or I might have had to go somewhere else! Total time - about 8 hours! We used to sneak a movie in too - or some pool playing but I think we both were ready to sit on the couch (and recliner) and relax. And Bart even said "Maybe we can go dinkin next Saturday too?"
Is anyone watching "Glee" with me?! I was hooked from the 1st episode. It's on Weds at 8 on Fox, so check it out tonight! Bart's girls - you would LOVE this if you haven't watched it. Including Barts girl Lori.
Saturday was my Dads 80th Birthday. We had a party on a sandbar in Lansing and ended up having a perfect day! Louie, Helen, Bruce and Kay organized a "shrimp boil" for the feast and let's just say they are Organized. It went off without a hitch! The cake was done at HyVee and you can see my dad was tickled with it. Thanks to all that came out to celebrate! I'll have some more pics later.
I took pictures of Lisas daughter Stormy tonight. I think she was getting a little tired of us after 3 hours. I always take way too many. Here's a few favorites.
Malia is 3 today! Here she is with her pretty Mom. Amanda has posted a video on her blog also if ya want to check it out! Malia is lil' miss personality for sure. Happy Birthday Mali - have a fun day!
Have to give equal time to the guys! My son David was an usher and he was lovin' his tux. And Cole who has always hated getting his pictures taken was a real trooper. He had to get ALOT of pics done yesterday and did great.
Loved their dresses - Ashley's sister is on her left and also the junior bridesmaid is her sister. Her cousin is on her right. The rest are good friends. Aren't they pretty?
