Week 7: Love

It doesn't matter what language you say it in.......

and I know my "e" isn't quite right...but my thumb doesn't bend so well anymore....

Peanut Butter Frosting

Ever since I read that Annie made peanut butter frosting I had been waiting for the perfect time to make it. This week was the week and I can tell you right now, I've fallen in love with a sweet treat and I never will again live without it. I searched and searched for recipes and I think I've found the perfect one.

It's easy peasy.

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar

Mix well until creamy.

That's it! Try it, you will be in love too!

Jello Cake

This is a recipe is from my cousin all the way in Saratoga (3 hours away). This is also a super easy recipe but tastes just fantastic! It's cool and breezy and it's a good thing I made it on a day when it was 50 degrees outside, because it made me feel like it was summer just for a minute (it so happened to have snowed six inches that night as well, so my happiness about the weather didn't last long.)

This can be made with any kind of jello and any kind of fruit that you want. I think she used strawberries, but mentioned it would be good with peaches, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I jumped right on the peach train and made it with peaches.

Thanks Kara for the tastelicious cake recipe!!!

Jello Cake

1 white box cake
1 box of jello of choice
1 container of whipped cream
Fruit for topping of choice

Cook box cake according to directions. While cake is baking make jello and refrigerate until cake is done. When cake is done, poke holes into it with a straw. Pour jello over the entirety of the cake. (She only used part of the jello, I used all of it to make sure it was super moist.) Top with whipped cream and fruit. (I pureed my peaches and mixed them in with the whipped cream)

Enjoy!!

Chocolate Rum Cake

****Warning**** Not a kiddo friendly recipe, so if you have guests over for dinner, don't let them feed it to your kids :)......

I try to make this every year for Valetines Day, but since I decided not to cook on Valentines Day, I made it the day after. (Yes we still ate, just not home cooked food.)

This cake seriously warms you up as it goes down. It's so perfect for cold nights when you're craving something sweet. It's soooo easy too. But if you eat it all in one sitting..just forget the wine you were planning on drinking with it, you won't need it.

Chocolate Rum Cake
1 Devils food cake mix
1 package instant chocolate pudding mix
4 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup white rum (I've used both kinds and it still works out)

Glaze
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup rum (or less depending on your tastes)
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup water

Mix pudding, cake mix, eggs, oil, 1/2 cup water, and 1/2 cup rum on high speed for 2 minutes. (makes it kinda fluffy) Pour into bundt pan and cook at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

Make rum glaze by melting butter, sugar, rum and water. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Pour over still warm cake.

Serve to salivating guests.

Grumpy Pants Has a Bad Hair Day Too

Clearly he did not want to be awake.
Clearly he did not want me in his face with my camera.
Clearly he would have karate chopped anyone trying to take Elmo away from him.
Clearly he did not care about the style of his hair.
Cleary he's still adorable even with bad hair and an attitude.

Another Day, Another Wall

On the eve of Valentines Day I vowed to find a red wall and use it to it's best abilities. Found it. Used it. My model was a little solem as he was more interested in the green apple in his hand than making cute faces for me. (Or he would turn away from the camera and smile...his new trick). Photogaphers out there...it is HARD to photograph a kiddo in red against a red wall. Too much red. Got any tips?

Howard

Since it is nearly impossible to buy a sock monkey in this day in age, I took it upon myself to make one. Let me tell you something.......I have a new found respect for the people who work at Mattell. I would like to shake the hand of the person who meticulously pieced together my son's ragety Elmo he drags around with him. Santa's elves also deserve kuddos for all the work they do as well. Also, I'm really glad I didn't go into the medical field, I don't think people would appreciate the shapes I would concoct with their stitches. Anyway, I thought to myself, "how hard could it be?"......5 hours later, as I was sewing on the last little ear, I thought a little differently. This poor little monkey has lopsided ears, he'll never be able to hear properly. No nostrils in which to breath from (because I forgot them.) His arms are freakishly built....and looks as if he could win a stongman contest. We collectively decided to name him Howard. (actually Parker really wanted to name him Elmo, but I talked him into Howard instead)

Just in case you feel the need to waste an afternoon...here's directions on how to make them.
http://lennytaylor.freeyellow.com/Monkey.htm They are made of Rockford socks, which you can buy online as well. Craft stores also sell the kits.

Perfect Shape

In my quest to find all the letters of the alphabet in the metropolis of Cheyenne, which entailed too many hours in the car with a whining child and a dog who loves nothing more than car rides, I happened upon this. Fitting for this week, which I will reiderate is not my favorite holiday, but seems to be everywhere. I'm sure the people who own this fence might be wondering what I was doing. But as long as I'm not questioned, I offer no explanations as to what I'm doing and lead people to believe I'm just a little quirky...which I am.....so that's okay.

By the by...if anyone can find the letter "B" for me, I would be forever grateful.

Land O' Funk

I'm constantly trying to do something different with pictures. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for a day to go outside to play a little and it came today....for about 10 minutes. I found this delicious blue colored wall that I just wanted to try. I wanted to jump into the land of funk with this wall, and many others I've scouted out, but today was its turn. Reminds me of summer. Did I mention I have cabin fever earlier?
Welcome to my colorful world.

Week 6: Aperture

I know, I know I'm a total girl posting more flower pictures. Sorry. What can I say? I have cabin fever to the max right now....and...... I love flowers. I have them all over the house right now. Makes me happy.

I know I've talked a little of aperture before, but basically all it is, in the end, is how much of the picture is in focus. The lower the number, the less is in focus it is. I normally shoot at a very low aperture. The following photos are shot at the lowest my lens can go......f1.8. I had to have a very steady hand for these. The only thing in focus is the one flower, the rest is blurred (depth of field) For those of you who've been here....that's my kitchen wall behind it and the light is coming from the door.

Give It Up

There are so many reasons it's a good idea to give blood. There are so many real life stories that I've heard first hand about the good it can do. The main reason though...IT SAVES LIVES.
Right now, this minute is the East/Central blood drive challenge in Cheyenne. If you live here, go give blood up at the mall. Plus you get a free t-shirt for the school you choose to support, and who can't resist a free t-shirt? Even if you don't have time today, go another day. It makes a difference.

Corny

My intention was to post this before the superbowl, but I just didn't get it done. This recipe came from clear across the country from Holly. I happen to know she's a pretty darn good cook and birthday cakes...Martha Stewart look out..... she's a pro for sure!
This is a great dip! Pretty healthy. Tastes good. Looks gloriously colorful. My kind of recipe! Holly got this from a guy named Troy...so Troy, even though I don't know you, thanks for passing this along, and Holly, thanks for keeping the food chain alive!!!


Troy’s Corn Dip
2 cans Mexican or fiesta corn, drained
1 can diced green chilis
Diced jalapenos to taste ( I used pickled jalapenos last time and they were delicious and not too hot)
1 small container sour cream
1 cup mayo
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 bundle green onions

Week 5: Vertical vs Horizontal

Vertical shot....seemingly uninteresting. It breaks one of the first rules of photography...the rule of thirds. If you wonder why you're not drawn to it, that is probably the reason.


Horizontal....a little more interesting. Makes your eyes move.

Or cropped in close not really horizontal or vertical because of the square crop, but much more interesting.

Listen to the Music

For nearly ten years now I've been listening to this guy sing. He's one of those people that understands the incredible power of music. He understands the tingling that goes down your spine when you hear that one song. The song that the words or melody or bass line turns your world upside down and inside out and makes you loose yourself in it. He understands the power of art, whatever it may be, and embraces it and encourages it. He sings with conviction. He sings with his eyes shut and his heart open. He makes tie dye cool.
Last night he sang his last gig. I danced until the wee hours of the morning. I sang along to almost all the songs because I've heard all the sets before. I cried when he announced the last song. Thanks W. for all the wonderful music.

PS...if you're reading this, I'm still not afraid.

Belated

Hoppy b'lated birfday Uncle Tevy!

Beyond my control, I was not able to take Kevin's picture on his birthday. Luckily he stopped by for a quick afternoon reading session with park this week! Happy 32 Kevin.

29 Too

A Blooming Picasso

Parker painted his first oil painting today. It was a collaborated effort between to two of us....but I'm just tickled with the end results. I gave him three colors and told him to fill in all the white area....and he did just that!! He swooshed and whooshed and made all kinds of artist noises. It was wonderful. I finished it with the heart. Very little work on my part. Valentines day is my least favorite holiday, but it doesn't stop me from decorating for it!

And Baby Makes Three

She was my first.....my first maternity shoot. Poor thing I think I wore her completely out...stand here, stand there, sit here, sit there, climb these stairs...oh and help me move this trunk because I think it would look perfect.....I hope she took good long nap after I left. She was a beautiful mother-to-be. First time mother to be. Oh the excitement in that! The joys of the unexpected and the unknown. Look how peaceful and serene she looks...... I am so thankful I got to capture this for her, because in 6 short weeks her life will be completely different.

Shawna's Zucchinni Bread

I got this recipe from a friend of mine....and little did she know how much I love zucchini bread. These two loaves were gone at mine house in less than a day. I know, I know, we were hungry sugar monsters this past weekend. I want you to admire the beautiful chocolate chips in the moist beautiful bread. It's making your mouth water isn't it? After she sent me this recipe she asked....is "Pay it Forward" from the movie?....my response "Yes...have you seen it?" It the occurred to me that not everyone would know what "Pay It Forward" was.

"Pay It Forward" was a movie from about 8 years ago that little Haley Joel Osmont played in. About the same time he was seeing dead people. I'm one of those people that cry uncontrollably at movies. I used to try to hold it it as to not be embarrassed or to embarrass the poor soul sitting next to me...but I just can't do it anymore. I cry. I cry rivers at sad movies. Anyhoo...the movie is about a little boy who starts a movement to help other people. He helps three people do something big and those three people help three other people and so on and so on. Here is the full synopsis: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0223897/

Anyway..enough about sappy movies. On to the good stuff. Thank you so much Shawna for the Zucchini Bread recipe!!! I don't normally put chocolate chips in with bread, so thanks for making me see the light....it makes it FANTASTIC!!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

This recipe makes 2 loaves
3 Eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 to 2 1/2 cups shredded zucchini
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 package (6 ounces) miniature chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Beat together eggs, sugar and oil
3. Add zucchini and remaining ingredients, mixing well
4. Bake in well greased loaf pans for 1 hour

Week 4: Words

I fudged a little this week and changed it to "letters", but at the end of my project I will be able to spell any word I want. I have decided to help Parker with learning letters by trying to find every letter of the alphabet made out of things that aren't really letters. I'm sure you've seen this many times by several photographers, (you can find the one endorsed my Oprah and Martha Stewart here http://www.createsticksandstones.com/ ) so...... I had to try my hand at it as well.

I decided this week I needed Parker's initials. The "P" and the "J" were a piece of cake. The "K" was another story. I found it at the Eagles Nest, and if any of you have been to Cheyenne, the Eagles Nest is a grungy, dirty bikers bar. All I could think of when I was standing outside was that some HUGE biker man would come outside and ask me what in the world I was doing. I would have to explain that the nasty, rusty scaffolding I was admiring made the perfect letter "K" and I had to have a photo. And then I would have been thrown with one hand into oncoming traffic for seeming so ridiculous. So...I waited until bright and early Sunday morning when I knew that the biker men wouldn't be there and got the perfect letter "K".