Jameson


This is Ryan and Shays little guy... What a good little boy! We put him through a lot of work tonight but he was pretty happy through most of it. He's also very strong for so young - 6 months!

Senior Pics



Senior Pictures tonight with Tray - I've done both of his cousins sr pics also. He's very handsome and what a personality! Got a lot of fun ones. I work with his Mom - Deb.

Perfect Visit!


What a great night with great friends! Mark & Gretchen were home from Florida so Rick and Pam had a cookout - yumm…. Steak, baked potatoes etc. etc. and some of Barts homemade wine. ( Not that I'd drink it )  Ashley & Cody came with Braelyn and got a few of her - cept' she's on the move now and didn't hold still long, that's Bart that got in the way.  She's gettin' so big! Here's Rick, Bart and Mark too. Looks like Mark is hitting Bart upside the head!

'Lil' Stinker!



My friend Jolenes niece . . . She did NOT want to pose for pictures ! But what a cutie, I got a lot of good ones of her and her bro!

Happy Fall (y'all)

Officially Fall…. not MY favorite time - I prefer the summer heat! Rick came over and we put up the haystack, now to put my mums in the wheelbarrow, get a fresh hay bale and I'll have a set for Saturdays shoot. Pumpkins are homegrown - our garden- and the only 2 we yielded.

SrPics - Issac




Lots of Fun tonight, Issac was our next-door neighbor when we lived in W'loo. He was just a little boy… and now he's a lil cutie. Teen idol material!

Perfect Light!

Poor Bart  - my senior for tonight postponed until Friday night and it would have been a PERFECT night for pictures, so he had to fill in for a pic. I'm getting a few 'real' jobs this month. 2 seniors next week and a family the week after. Woohoo! Can I hope for such perfect weather??

My little Friend

He's very friendly! I was within a yard or so and he held still for a series of pictures…. this was my favorite.

Football!

Another blowout tonight for Wapsie….. Not sure what Tyler was so tickled about it but I love the picture!

Puppy Love!

                                   Afton and their new puppy- Lola 
          LOVE this picture, Lori was the photographer, I did a quick paint.
                                             Precious…...

Ahriana Marie Odneal

I have a new 'great'-niece - Born today to Justin & Sam.
 (Colorado Odneals ;) )  My brother Larry is Grandpa!      
Congratulations! I bet Andy will like being a big brother…..

Another try on the hummingbirds!

Actually set up the tripod with a remote - works much better as I could take from a better position this way with light on the bird instead of backlighting.

Another Caley Birthday!

Bart is definitely one of the brightest spots in his Dads life! And I like him too  ;) 
Happy Birthday Bart!

Tyler Football

Video > Wapsie Valley vs. East Buchanan < Video

What a 'hot dog' my nephew is! He had Five Touchdowns - and that great pass in the video!

Ricks kittie!


The guys went almost 500 miles to go fishing for a week - but Rick caught this 9lb 6oz catfish in CF this morning.  (No Photoshop) hmmm ….  He could look happier!

Happy Birthday Lori!

My pretty DIL - We had such a good time with Lori, Bart & kids this summer. I enjoyed our talks and she was a good sport and even went garage saleing with me. Happy Birthday Lori!
I've had the house to myself since Saturday afternoon. Bart went fishing with the guys to Northern Minnesota -  I can't believe he's lasted this long! They took a generator to run his 'machine' at night and it must be working out okay cuz they're still gone…. maybe catching fish and no-one will bring him home???  Anyway I've found a few jobs that Bart does that I take for granted - and are quite disgusting. First off one of my dogs - I suspect Duke- has had the poops! Yay - I'm working long hours and that greets me right off. yucchh! of all weeks. And I refilled the hummingbird feeders, where do all the dead flys come from? disgusting… Plus - I don't like the garden. Who needs 20 tomato plants? Really?! I took 2 buckets to work and could probably go out and get two more today. We already have about 60 jars of salsa. So I guess Thank You Bart! You're good for something ;)

Summer

I've not blogged for so long, I forgot how. Rather blogger has changed and I haven't used the 'new' format yet. I told Kay since NO-ONE comments but her I'm gonna give it up but I'm giving it ONE MORE SHOT! IF you read my blog please comment and I'll get some posts up in here. But if I'm doing this for Kay only - I'm done (sorry Kay) but she can read my facebook. 

 So after my crappy day at work, I'm just trying to get a few pics of the warring hummingbirds. They don't cooperate much and I really need a longer lens, but here's my best one which isn't very best. 
My windmill isn't windmilling anymore because of the vines - weeds!
This little guy was peeling with his teeth and spitting the 'peel' out.
So there you go - at least a reaction check mark would work!

Happy Birthday Ava!


Tyler & his Grandpa Odneal

I took this picture of Tyler at Avas birthday party and when I posted it on facebook - Tyler commented "I look like Grandpa" Ya Think!!? This is Dad at age 14…… do you have curly hair under that hat T?

Ricks Morel

Nothing like ignoring my blog! I'm about ready to shut it down - I get hits but NO comments except from Kay (THANK YOU KAY) so….. whatcha think?
Here's Ricks mushroom - almost finished - Bart is supposed to put a clear coat on it - He's "thinking about it" I like it!


Unicorns?

I took my camera to church this morning hoping "my" horses would be out - Can horses give you dirty looks? cuz I sure felt the evil eye! Wasn't the best light - where's the sun? but still pretty. I think they need horns - wouldn't they both be good unicorns?

Easter Sunday


Brian and David came for dinner on Easter and afterwards we had a rousing game of ladder golf. Can you sense the excitement as they put it together?! David beat us both - Bart wouldn't play. :( Sadly this is the only picture I took that day. After they left we took a trip to GVille for dessert with Mom and Dad. Bart brought home Dads beer making supplies. Thanks Dad - Barts found a new thing to obsess about besides wood. oh goodie. It was a great lonngg weekend and
I got a lot done including my taxes....

pheasant back mushrooms (and Morrels)


Rick picked these on Friday - Bart has yet to fry them up but I had to read about them before we eat them.( HA - Like I would eat it anyway)


Preparation Once you have found tender specimens, they are best cooked straightaway. Like many other wild mushrooms the aroma is ephemeral often disappearing within hours. Tempura frying will retain some of this "watermelon" character. Sautéing or pan frying is a good way too. Slice them thin and cook them hard and fast. Overcooking will create toughness. I have tried drying them. They come out as very white, crunchy chips that are pleasant to eat dry. They retained more of that unique smell than I expected. I have made a powder with them but have not tried cooking with it yet but it looks and smells good. The microwave produced something you could make shoes with. I have had pretty good luck with tough ones though. I cooked them and put them in the blender with chicken stock blending until they were the consistency of a smoothie and then made mushroom soup. Really very good and not like any other. Nothing else tastes or smells like this mushroom. It is really very good when prepared correctly. I could easily identify it by the smell with my eyes closed. Maybe it would taste "mealy" if it was stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days. Actually, since different people perceive smell and taste differently your experience could be different.

Happy Birthday Cap'n



Have a great Birthday Brother Louie! Arrrrrr........

Miss Ava at 9 months


Lovin' the new prop - but I better put it away - think Ava might have driven off in it! She liked to be outside.

Another lil' hunny


Braelyn at 9 months! Her mom and Grandma dress her in style.

One!


1 year olds are tricky! Took the truck off the shelf and finally used it for a prop. Love it!

Turtle


So no-one questioned the size of that snapping turtle? I only made it about 4 sizes bigger than it really was! I don't think even Rick would have been so close to one really that size..... and did you notice the missing fingers?? I might have to give out prizes to the most observant. (HA HA Rick just told me that the guys at work were asking him "HOW BIG WAS THAT TURTLE?" And they didn't believe him when he said about 20 lbs. He didn't catch on either.)

Happy Birthday Bart!....



Rick brought him a present, but he thought the dogs might get eaten so he took it back tothe creek. Pam brought us supper, lasagna , garlic bread and CAKE! Yum! and then Brian showed up with Carlos O'Kelleys. Double Yum! We'll have that tomorrow! Thanks Rick, Pam, Brian for a great day for Bart. And 2/3 rds of his kids called too. Oh and Kay your post would have made him cry but Rick was here making fun of him if he did. Thank you too!

Duker

I think the snowman on the porch can go away - record highs - up to the 70's this week!


Duke could not believe I put a cat on my blog and insisted I take his picture.

Some signs of Spring. . . . .


from Bruce & Kays last Sunday. What a beautiful week this has been for March! Oh not sure if Gizmo is a sign of spring but I liked the picture..

Out&About


Went 'dinkin' with Rick and Bart for a few hours - - I should've been driving cuz I would stop more places - like sales :) We did find tons of eagles - this one was on cottage row.
Bart & Ricks ice-fishing spot - umm - done for the season :) lol

Basketball


Cyclones :(
Hawkeyes :) :(