{January 31, 2011}

A quick moment in between games. Years ago I never would have thought I'd be the type to enjoy a first-person shooter game, yet here I am...playing and enjoying it thoroughly. It all started with me finally agreeing to join Ryan and Ian in playing Gears of War. I was shocked to find that I actually had fun--course the fact that I always chose to be "Cole" helped tremendously as he is, quite plainly, super cool. Then Ryan talked me in to playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare and I was hooked. This particular one, for those who do not recognize it, is Call of Duty Black Ops. Almost every night, Ryan fires up the XBox, we sign in online, and let the de-stressing begin. Occasionally my cousin, or one of Ian's friends, will join us in an online party making the dynamics all the more interesting and fun. So I guess you could say I'm a bit of a nerd, and I'm okay with that.

Taking with my iPhone using the Instagram app.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 30, 2011}

My first attempt at true, handmade, tempered chocolates. I am not new to chocolate as I worked at my family's candy store, Libs Candies, from the time I was 15 up until I left for college. Course what I did there was package, wrap, and sell the already handmade chocolates so I wasn't familiar with the actual creation process. However, as a kid I did spend a fair amount of time running around the back of the main candy store (where all of the chocolates were crafted), marveling at the huge copper kettles, the enrobing machine, the naked creams waiting to be hand dipped in to luscious chocolate, and--with clean hands and only dipping ONCE--sticking a finger in to the melted chocolate for a taste (with permission from my uncle, of course). Stepping in to that store was like a blast from the past and to this day I still have fond memories of it all. And I still crave the hell out of that candy--some of the best I've ever tasted...and believe me, I taste A LOT of chocolate.

In the past I've made things like buckeye balls, cake balls, etc. yet I've never tempered chocolate nor have I ever attempted to create my own recipe. Recently I've been hooked on chocolates that have hardly any added sugar but are loaded with flavor from things such as goji berries, flax seeds, nuts, and spices. After partaking of a (new to me) chocolate bar I said to Ryan, "I want to make chocolate like this." I had him taste it so he could both see what I'm aiming for (and subsequently critique my future endeavors) and so that he would understand just how good this stuff tastes. Yesterday we ventured out to Butter's where I picked up some Extra Bitter 64% cacao chocolate pistoles and got some flax seeds from the grocery store. I already had dried cherries and slivered almonds at home which I knew would make a good addition. Last night I poured over websites looking for recipes only to come up empty handed. Today I continued the process yet was still unable to find what I was searching for. Undaunted, I watched videos on tempering, gathered my ingredients, and went to work. I'm quite pleased with the end result although we all agree that the roasted flax seeds are a bit too overpowering. It's possible I roasted them too long giving them a somewhat off-putting flavor (even though they aren't a true golden brown they sure taste super roasted). I think next time I'll go with unroasted flax seeds and throw in some crisp rice as well. I also need to bump up the spices as they are far too subtle. Still, I got the nice snap of a well tempered chocolate along with the sheen. They may not be perfect however it's definitely made me want to create more! For now I'll happily enjoy my Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Roasted Flax Seeds with Nutmeg, Clove, Ginger, and Cinnamon chocolates.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 29, 2011}

Recently, my dad gave me a bag containing some items that my grandmother had specifically requested he give to me after she passed away. The story that he was told, and subsequently told me, was that some of the items belonged to my grandma, but most of them had belonged to her cleaning lady. Apparently, the cleaning lady wanted my grandma to have these things rather than her own family who were, according to her "not very good people." Now which items belonged to who I am not sure, but there are several pieces that are both unique and fun--this being one of them. I'm almost positive this ring is not real and is instead costume jewelry, yet I love it all the same. Amazingly enough it fits on the ring finger of my right hand, left whenever my hands are swollen, which is rare given I have teeny fingers.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 28, 2011}

25 years ago I watched in horror, as did many other people around the US, as the space shuttle Challenger exploded. I was 9 at the time, yet the memory of that exact moment has not faded, even though I learned today that my recollection of where I was is apparently wrong. In talking with my dad I learned that I was not at my grandma's house, sick and missing out on watching it with the rest of my classmates, glued to the TV when that fateful moment happened. For now I have no idea if I did indeed view it at school, or where I was, but I do know that I saw it live. My aunt was a teacher at the time, so the excitement of having "one of her own" going in to space was palatable. Caught up in the history-making, I watched with wide-eyed wonder as a "regular" person was chosen to become an astronaut--if only for one mission. We followed Christa McAuliffe's story closely and when the day came for her to finally head towards the stars, we all felt as if a friend was on that shuttle. And up until that moment we all felt as if space travel was fairly safe, so there was no reason to think that anything would go wrong. That day changed everything for many people. When we moved here I was not aware that Christa had been a teacher at Concord High School. After learning that she had not only taught and lived here, I discovered she had been buried at a cemetery not too far from our house. I wanted very much to visit her gravesite and pay my respects to the woman who touched not only my heart as a child, but the hearts of many, many others. Today I did just that. I drove to the cemetery, unsure if I would be able to locate her marker (the cemetery is quite expansive), yet after a couple of turns I found her. Before I got out I wrote her a short note, grabbed my camera, then placed the paper at her grave behind a wreath. I took two photos to remember this moment. Whenever I look back at this picture I will recall the day I was finally able to thank the teacher--who died far too young--for teaching us all to dream. Thank you, Christa McAuliffe, for your bravery.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 27, 2011}

My first attempt at making homemade fries. Yum! I went for sweet potato ones as we all love them around here, and I found this tasty sounding recipe from my new favorite food blog: Our Best Bites. Given it's been awhile since I last had to cut up sweet potatoes, I had forgotten just how tough they are. My poor hands still bear the pressure marks from my knife. :o/ Ah well, they were quite delicious so I think all the work was worth it. The kids gobbled them up (Ryan hasn't eaten yet as he had to take Megan to her school concert--I am home recovering from an awful migraine) and I went back for seconds. The leftovers are being kept warm for Ryan in the warming drawer and I may or may not have snuck a few since they went in. Hopefully they'll be even better when he gets back...or at the very least, just as good.

I took the picture with my iPhone, then edited it in TiltShiftGen and added the border using the Photoshop app.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 26, 2011}

Lexi (a.k.a. "Big Dog," a.k.a. "Lexi-Meister," a.k.a. "Fluff Dog," a.k.a. "Lexi-con") does not like having her picture taken for some reason. Usually she won't look at me and acts as if she's incredibly unimpressed with it all. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that whenever I show any attention to Lexi, Kya does whatever she can to get me to look at her. Definitely some big sister/little sister drama going on there. Lexi came to us when her original owner needed to re-home her and asked if we would be interested in taking her in. Although we knew we wanted at least two dogs, we were still getting over the loss of Toli and dealing with a new puppy (Kya) in the house. However, after much discussion we decided that it would be nice to expand the family and agreed to take her in. Plus, the fact that Lexi is Kya's half-sister (they share the same dad) and was also Toli's half-sister (they share/shared the same mom) made it feel like kismet. At the time Lexi was two and although the car ride home seemed like a great adventure to her (even with her new little sister biting her much of the way home), as soon as we arrived at our house and let her outside to go potty, Lexi got really, really scared. This was not the home she was used to, and although the "new people" seemed nice, they weren't "her people." She stood in the dark yard searching for anything recognizable, for her people to come get her, something...anything. After much coaxing, whining, tears, and broken hearts, we convinced her to come inside and over time she settled in. That was over five years ago. Now at the "ripe old age" of seven, Lexi is truly a member of the family. She has never met a person, or animal, she hasn't liked and does not understand the meaning of "personal space." She wants to be your friend, up close and personal, to the point of jumping up to get a better look--something we've been trying ever since we got her to break her of...to no avail. Lexi adores my dad and we joke that she'd probably gladly go home to live with him forever if he let her (if for nothing more than to escape Kya). Her disposition is super sweet and very mothering. When we got the guinea keets, and later the chicks, she would sit over their brooder whining softly at their peeps. Gently she'd nuzzle them, never trying to bite, just wanting to be sure they were all "okay." Even now with the ferrets she is ever the mother hen. It's a shame her hips did not pass thus taking away her chances at becoming a mom--I think she would have been an amazing one. She is the quintessential Chinook in that she has the large head, nice bone structure, solid build, fluffy tail, and beautiful coloring. People always remark how gorgeous Lexi is and you can see her beam with their compliments. Sometimes Lexi will do things that makes us all shake our heads, but she always brings a smile to our faces. I can't imagine not having her be a part of our family and although I'm sure she misses her first owner and two kids, I can only hope that we've made her very happy since she came to us.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 25, 2011}

Nothing special about this one...I just love the light that comes through this window. The candles and pear ornament I've had for many years, and yes those are technically Christmas lights you see. They're white, however, so I leave them up all year long and occasionally turn them on when I want the house to look warm and inviting. I also have them strung on our railing along the staircase. Ryan thinks I'm crazy but it really does make it even more cozier in here when they're all lit up.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 24, 2011}

I snapped this photo of my iPhone before Megan and I headed down to wait for the bus. It's a crappy picture but I wanted to document just how insanely cold it was. We waited almost 20 minutes for the bus (that never showed up) in weather that was even more freezing than what the screen shows (wind chill brought it down another -10 degrees). I later learned that many buses were having issues with their fuel gelling and on our way to Megan's school we saw a bus in the break down lane. While it was no fun standing outside in this weather, I am so grateful I work from home as I was able to drive Megan to school myself. I can honestly say that I hope I never, ever, see another negative degree day like today...but I have a feeling I will.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 23, 2011}

Boots. A necessity when you live in snowmaggedon country. On the right are Megan's snowboots, handed down from her brother who can now wear his father's boots. On the left are mine. Originally I had been using my snowboots that I've had since we lived in Oregon, however I quickly learned that they would not work well when doing chores around the chicken coop...or in snow two feet deep. What I needed was a seamless, waterproof, heavy duty boot that would keep my feet warm and dry, while also being easy to clean. I checked in to several brands before ultimately deciding on Bogs. This pair was purchased at a local outdoor store, but of course I found another pair of Bogs online that I absolutely loved--and thought would work better as the entire boot is made of rubber, whereas the original pair I purchased is half rubber, half neoprene. I ordered the cute Bogs...ummm...I mean more functional Bogs online, got them the next day because of an amazing deal, and then discovered that being made entirely out of rubber equals stiff and uncomfortable to me as they dug in to the middle of my calves both in the front and back. In the end, the pair in this photo won out as they are very comfortable and much higher than the "cute" pair.

In taking this photo I see how badly our door needs to be repainted and the mat replaced. But neither of those things are going to happen until spring...which feels like a long, long, long ways away.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 22, 2011}

I found these statues in a box of Christmas items given to me by my father--who "inherited" it from my Grandma. I'm not sure why these were classified as "Christmas-y" but they've since been moved out of the box and put on display. **Side Note--they aren't normally "posed" like this, I just wanted to have some fun with them.** My Grandma was quite the crafter (which is where I think I get my love for the arts from) and one of the things she thoroughly enjoyed was painting ceramics. I remember she had lamps, plates, statues, mugs, and many other items she'd created over the years scattered throughout her house. After she moved in to a retirement home I started going to ceramic classes with her on the weekends. We'd go down to the community room, pick out a bisque piece, paint it, then they would fire it offsite and deliver it to us later. I truly loved spending that time with my Grandma...course I felt that way no matter what we did. Many of my most treasured childhood memories involve "MeMaw." Summers spent at their log cabin, her teaching me how to cook, picking vegetables from her garden, watching old movies, and being spoiled rotten--I relished every moment of it. I'm not sure if these guys were from any of the classes we took together as I don't remember them, but I do know she painted them. They may not be "art of the highest form" yet they are priceless to me.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 21, 2011}

Two simple and yet two very important, and wonderful, pieces of paper. The blood test results for Megan came back...and they were all normal. I was overjoyed to read this as we were checking to see if she had inherited either of the two genetic blood disorders I have--Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AD) and G6PD Deficiency (G6PDD). While I haven't seen the actual numbers (I will), it looks as if she got the one good gene from me in regards to the A1AD, and did not inherit the G6PDD. Granted, there's still a chance she has A1AD and her levels are currently normal, however the news from these tests are (at the moment) a huge sigh of relief. Next we'll have Ian tested and I'll once again hold my breath and hope for the best. But now, now we celebrate with the happy news. Today is a very, very good day indeed.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 20, 2011}

This candle is the BOMB! A few years ago I went in to a Bath & Body Works and found a Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream candle made by White Barn. When I opened the lid and took a whiff I was instantly transported back to my childhood days, eating my favorite ice cream at Baskin 'n Robbins. I had to have that candle and have it I did. As soon as I got back home I lit each wick, letting the scent fill the entire upstairs of the house. The kids came home from school, sniffed the air, and remarked how awesome and delicious it smelled. Ryan, on the other hand, thought it stunk...but that's only because he doesn't like mint chocolate anything (crazy, no?!). Of course it couldn't last forever and soon there wasn't much of my yummy candle left. I began frantically searching for more to replace the one quickly dwindling away, yet kept coming up empty. Bath & Body Works no longer carried it and I couldn't find anywhere online that did. Then by sheer luck I happened upon a website that had three of them for sale. As it was close to Christmas, and my dad had requested a wish list from me, I added one Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream candle to the "wished for" items. Upon learning that these candles were both hard to come by, and also my favorites, my dad shocked me by ordering all three! I've already gone through one, but I'm trying to burn the second one less often so I don't have to move on to the third any time soon. I hold out hope that by the time they're all gone I will have found a suitable replacement--or maybe I'll get really lucky and White Barn will start making them again.

I think I picked up that adorable candle holder at the Canterbury Shaker Village gift shop, but it's possible I got it somewhere else. I do know that I bought it when my in-laws were in town and we hit multiple destinations and stores as we all played "tourist" throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Either way the candle fits perfectly in it and it looks oh-so-quaint!

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 19, 2011}

Roasting day...again...happens every week and today went by too fast, so I was left with this quick Instagram snapshot of my roasting notebook (denoting roast #17), my stopwatch, and a pen. This is a relatively "new" recipe in that I've only used these beans in those amounts one other time. I really liked how it turned out and for now it is "The" roast. Unfortunately it won't last. I'm running low on my Columbian and Brazilian beans, and knowing my luck (and the reality of coffee), my supplier will be out of either one or both of these beans. This is the love/hate relationship of home roasting. Once you find a blend you love it is almost guaranteed that the next time you go to order the same beans, you're going to be out of luck. The upside is that it pushes you (me) to try new blends and see what you (we) like and don't like. The downside...well that's obvious, right? Nothing like thinking you've "got it" only to discover that once that bag (or bags) of beans is gone, that's it. At least until you find the next "it" blend.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 18, 2011}

I finished the gloves I blogged about HERE on Sunday evening, much to Megan's delight. Adding five more stitches to the pattern ended up being exactly what I needed for the gloves to fit...well...like a glove! Time-wise it probably only took me about 2-3 hours of knitting, however I'm apt to put whatever I'm knitting down to do other things. But I am happy to report that they knit up fast and are super easy! Luckily (depending on how you look at it as I liked them too) she LOVES them! When we went to the lab yesterday, she happily sported them, along with a short sleeved shirt--despite the freezing cold temps--so she could show them off. It worked, too. The lab tech complimented her on them and asked if someone had made them for her. Megan smiled and pointed at me, "She did," she told the tech. The tech and I then discussed the pattern and how I made them. I have to say, the worst part about creating the fingerless gloves was the seaming. I truly hate seaming knit items. Give me some fabric and a sewing machine or needle and thread and I'm a happy girl. But knitting...iy yi yi! I had to rip out the seam on the first glove a couple of times before I got back in the hang of it. Once the second glove was finished being knit and ready to sew up I was much more confident--and did a better job. Still, I think they turned out nice and will keep Megan's arms, wrists, and (most of) her hands warm. I kept asking her if she was sure she wanted fingerLESS gloves, yet she was positive that's what she wanted. I'm just happy that I have a kid who asks for me to, and appreciates when I do, knit things for her. She is definitely "knit-worthy!"

On to the pics...{click to view full size}

{January 17, 2011}

Today's photo might not be very inspired and the light is awful (despite using the Instagram app on my iPhone), but it is an important one I want to remember. Megan got her very first blood test, at age 11, this afternoon. I also had to have blood drawn as well and let Megan decide who was going to go first--she chose me. Hopping up in to the chair, Meg sat to my right side and watched it all. My blood draw went smooth, just as it always does. Then it was Meg's turn. Unfortunately, unlike me who has great, easily found veins in both arms, Megan's veins like to "hide." The tech did her best to get Megan's veins, or even just ONE, to stand up--she moved the tourniquet, she switched arms, she put a hot pack on the crook of Meg's arm and begged the vein to behave--but alas, none of it worked. So we were at an impasse. The tech could either attempt to go for the one "tiny, flat, hidden" vein on Megan's left arm (the right arm was out as the tech couldn't find a vein there), or she could draw from the more easily found and felt vein...which was much lower (on Meg's forearm)...and much more sensitive. Now having had multiple IV's in that spot I knew that this was going to hurt a lot, yet I tried to hide this from Megan and remained calm for her. When the tech got ready to stick the needle in to her vein, I looked at Megan and told her to take a deep breath in, then blow it out. I did this with her and waited for, what I was sure was coming, the crumpling of her face in pain. But it didn't come. Megan didn't even flinch, although after we had left the area she said, "That REALLY hurt!" I sympathized and told her I knew it was going to and felt so bad that the tech had to draw from that spot. Here I had been assuring her that the blood draw would hurt less than the shots she got last week only for that not to be the case. The tech put a rainbow heart band-aid on Megan, and she has specifically requested I inform all of you that she hates the thing! hahahaha Her arm is still sore but she handled it like a champ! Poor kid, between shots and now this I think she's done with needles for a long time.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 16, 2011}

Oh how I adore thee, woodstove! You make my home all warm and toasty, filling the room with a subtle orange glow, and providing quite the conversation piece for all who see you. It can be said that the woodstove was yet another big reason we purchased this house. A central chimney with an open floorplan, along with our Mitsubishi Mr. Slim (I am so blogging about that wonderful investment come summer), means we've yet to have to turn on our baseboard heaters this winter even with temps in the single digits. Getting wood, starting fires, and tending them makes me feel even more "country-fied" and brings me back to days spent at my MeMaw's and PaPaw's log cabin, sitting next to their two story fireplace. Man I loved that cabin. Plus, I think the woodstove is beautiful. The picture doesn't quite capture the color of it sadly, but it's a deep merlot shade that matches nicely with the brick chimney. We have a fire going pretty much everyday for most of the day, so it can get quite dusty in here--but it's worth it. Another benefit of all that wood ash is that I can spread it around the chicken run and the chickens and guineas will dust bathe in it, providing a natural lice/mite deterrent. On the mantle sits some candles I picked up from Michael's, a decorative tin watering can filled with dried flowers, and a ginormous "L" that my dad purchased for me last Christmas from The Back Porch Shoppe on Etsy (I had specifically asked for it). Since we've moved in, the items on the mantle have changed due to two separate accidents involving items getting knocked off...and subsequently broken. We've since fixed the issue but I learned not to put glass up there ever again. Picking shards of it out of all the crevices in the woodstove was not fun. The kettle was left behind (presumably on purpose) by the previous owners and serves as a humidifier for the room. Each day we fill it with water and let it do its thing.

I don't care for the perspective of this shot, however Ryan and Ian were playing a game at the dining room table (which sits directly across from the woodstove), and made it difficult to get a "straight on" picture. Ah well, good enough for this project.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 15, 2011}

This is Kya--also known as: my shadow, my sweet little puppy dog, my "Pito Lito Lemon Squeeto" (don't ask), my "Wooker Bear." Kya came to us after we lost our first Chinook, Toli, due to an incompetent vet who botched his neuter. At that point we were grieving considerably, but fate was on our side and the family that was originally supposed to take Kya was turned down. Her breeder, Anne, (who coincidentally had Toli's brother and whom I met when I flew to get Toli) was convinced that Kya was meant to be with us. After Toli's breeder, Amanda, flew with Kya all the way from Chicago to Portland...she was ours. In the beginning we called Kya "Alligator" since she liked to chomp the air--and us. I thought for sure she'd never stop biting, but once we got Lexi (whom I will feature soon) that all changed. As time went on Kya grew more and more attached to me, and I to her. I've never been around a dog who loves to cuddle and who will stay in one place while you hug her...for hours if you'd like. She is goofy as can be and despite being 5 1/2 still retains her puppy playfulness. One of her favorite things to do is play "bone toss" which consists of her literally tossing her bone in to the air, letting it fall, jumping at/around it, and repeating. It's quite fun to watch...until she gets close to our TV...then it only serves to make Ryan incredibly nervous. Kya is more shy around people she doesn't know and will always look to me whenever she meets someone new. Once she gets to know you, however, you have a friend for life and she will greet you with all the fervor in the world. She LOVES the snow and would be happy to stay outside playing in it forever. As soon as the first flakes start to fall, Kya starts whining to be let out. When we finally give in she races around the yard at top speed, ears laid back, grin on her face, and then bounces in the air, triumphant with joy. Kya is also a huge fan of car rides and makes a great co-pilot. All I have to do is say, "Do you want to go with me?" and she knows exactly what I'm talking about. She'll bounce up and down, her sign that says "Yes, I definitely want to go!", then patiently waits for me to get my purse. To say she has healed our hearts would be a huge understatement. While the conditions in which she was brought to us was filled with sadness and despair, I am so glad she became a part of our family. Kya is, quite simply, my little lovebug.

I snapped this photo tonight as Megan and I were headed out to run some errands. She was looking at Megan and I could almost hear her saying, "How come I can't go?"

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 14, 2011}

I was so busy today that I didn't have a chance to get super creative and/or play with pretty light. So while waiting in the exam room to see one of my specialists, I snapped this picture with my iPhone and then added a filter to it with the Instagram app. I'm always intrigued by how doctor's exam rooms are decorated. Carpet, linoleum, chair rail, uncomfortable chairs, comfy mismatched chairs, nice color schemes, ugly color schemes...they run the gamut. Today, while the decor wasn't especially attractive, I was treated to something I don't normally see in medical offices--a room with a view--of the interstate, highway, and Lowe's but whatever...it was appreciated nonetheless. I feel I should mention my boots since they take sort of center stage in the photo. I purchased these from a small footwear store in Bend, Oregon and they've been worn more times than I can count. Sadly I can't remember what brand they are and any identifying marks have been rubbed off, but I do know they are 1.) leather, and 2.) expensive (but worth it!) They have about a 1" heel which makes me feel tall and I've been known to wear them while I'm cooking since it "lowers" the counters for me to a more comfortable level. For boots they're quite comfortable--a must for me--and stylish too. I've noticed that as I grow older I am getting more and more in to shoes, but I plan to wear these boots until they fall apart. Literally.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 13, 2011}

Back in 2004, if memory serves, I had a bone biopsy in Portland coming up and I wanted something to do while we drove up, and then while we waited before the procedure. I decided to teach myself how to knit and bought a simple kit of needles (aluminum ones that I cannot wield to save my life), doohickies, stitch holders, gauge, and some yarn. I also grabbed a book and watched videos on the internet. **Side note--when I was younger my grandma taught me how to crochet a bit, however I'd lost all memory of how to do this, sadly.** By the time the trip came I was knitting away, thankful for the distraction. I still love knitting, although I'm slow in that I'll get too tired or bored with a project only to put it away for a later date. Of course the slow knitting "disease" does not dissuade me from coveting--and buying--beautiful yarn even without having a project in mind. This gorgeous mohair wool yarn comes from Persimmon Tree Farm and was purchased after Megan chose it for some fingerless gloves she wants me to knit her. I started the gloves the other night but soon realized they would be too small width-wise. I then ripped it all out and began again this time altering the pattern in hopes that these will fit just right. The color is stunning, in my opinion, and should Megan decide these are "too itchy" for her--as I'm guessing she will say when they're completed despite her saying they feel fine now--I will happily take them.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 12, 2011}

And the snow keeps coming and coming and coming and...you get the picture. New England has, once again, been hit by a blizzard, however, this time over 16" have fallen at our house. Even now at 3:00 p.m. there aren't any signs of the snow letting up and I'm hoping that the weather forecasters have it correct in that we should see an end to the madness by 6:00'ish. The kids are out of school and we've been weathering the storm nicely with a fire roaring in the woodstove, mint chocolate hot cocoa with whipped cream, and a couple of DVR'd shows. I dug out our birds first thing this morning and am headed out to dig them out again after I post this. Our dog Kya LOVES it and has been begging to go out pretty much all day just so she can run around the fluffy stuff despite it coming up to the top of her shoulders. Lexi, on the other hand, prefers to stay indoors by the fire and thinks that going outside in this mess is crazy talk. Today I'm bending the rules a bit in that when I awoke this morning I realized that the trees I photographed yesterday for the "before" shot do not have many needles/leaves on them. As such it doesn't look much different today--save for the rising snow levels around the trunks. I snapped another shot the two bushes in front of our house. To give you an idea of how deep it is, the space between the bottom of the bush on the "left" to the ground is over 2.5'. There is a walkway buried underneath everything and as much as I hate to say it, this time it looks like we won't get away with not shoveling this section. Sigh...is it spring yet?

On to the pics...{click to view full size}

{January 11, 2011}

I am calling today's photo "Before" as I'm sure after the Nor'Easter that is supposed to come through tonight the "After" shot will be much different. This was taken from my front door looking out in to the front yard which is still covered in snow from awhile back. Having lived in Bend, Oregon for 7+ years I am not "new" to feet of snow--quite the contrary--although I am new to Nor'Easters. Another thing I'm learning to live with out here is that once we get that first decent accumulation you can forget about seeing the ground until spring. At least that's how it is at our house. Granted, it all may have something to do with the humongous pine trees around us, but still. In Bend the sun is almost always out which means that even after a "dumping" you can be snow-less in a matter of days. I'm still wading through a good 4-5" around our property and am now expecting that to rise if this storm lives up to its expectations. I will admit that the one nice thing about living in an area that receives a ton of snow annually...they are awesome at getting the roads cleared FAST! Even my semi-rural street is usually snow-free within a day (or two at most) after the snow hits. So despite being surrounded by the white stuff at home, I can still get out (and away) from it should the desire hit me. For now I'm planning to hit the grocery store--not in a panic but simply because we're out of food and it's my "day" to shop--stock up on hot chocolate, keep the fire going in the woodstove, and watch the news to see if the kids and I get to sleep in tomorrow. Stay safe and warm New Englanders!

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{Another Boudoir Write-Up}

I am honored to have had my Boudoir photography once again featured in a wonderful article! I do think more women should do this if for nothing else than to see just how beautiful they are! You can read the write-up here:

Economic Downturn Makes for Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts Like Boudoir Photography but here's a quote from me:

"As a photographer, I see all women as beautiful in some way shape or form. The problem is that they don’t always see themselves that way. So my desire, and job, is to change that focus and put them in a light that reveals just how amazing they are.”

{January 10, 2011}

In this digital age, receiving a card or letter in the mail is like a little unexpected present that gets me all giddy. Getting one of these surprises from a client who is thanking you for your work is, quite literally, the highlight of my week--and usually longer. I cherish each thank you letter, card, and email I get, and proudly display them in my office. So when I received this sweet "Thank You" card from April & Elijah (whose maternity sitting I featured recently), I was doubly excited both in the sentiment and in seeing their adorable new son, Eric, on the front--what a cutie!! Knowing that April, who is undoubtedly much busier these days, took the time out to handwrite me a card means the world to me! I am thrilled you guys loved your pictures and most definitely cannot wait to photograph the three of you + Lucy!

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 9, 2011}

After 16+ years together, I had no idea that my husband loved crepes in the way that he does. But recently he started going on and on about me making him some crepes, but given I have 1.) never made them before, and 2.) do not own a crepe pan, I wasn't able to fulfill his request (re: badgering). I guess his craving became too difficult to ignore as he started searching for a place where he could partake of crepery goodness. Knowing that I had a similar, albeit far less strong craving for bubble tea, he was quite pleased with himself when he located a small shop that sold both crepes AND bubble tea. Huzzah! Over Christmas break we made the trek to Manchester and ate at Crepes Island where we all got our fill of both crepes and bubble tea. Then, while at the grocery store, I came across pre-made crepe "shells" which somehow found their way in to my cart. I also grabbed some frozen strawberries for Megan and I, as well as some Nutella for Ryan and Ian (and me). Later Ryan picked up some cream cheese and pointed me in the direction of recipes containing this favorite item of his (seriously I think he could live off of cream cheese). Today I whipped up filling consisting of cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, fresh lemon juice and zest, and crafted Nutella and Cream Cheese crepes, Strawberry and Cream Cheese crepes, and Nutella, Strawberry, and Cream Cheese crepes--all topped with whip cream, naturally. They were a hit although I don't think they were quite as tasty as the ones from Crepes Island. Next time I plan to make a sort of bananas foster style crepe and see how that goes. Today is the photo of my crepes--of which I only ate one and gave the other to Ian as they were quite filling. Mine consisted of Nutella, Cream Cheese, and Strawberries. Yum!

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 8, 2011}

Imagine Ian's surprise last night, as he went to put the chickens up and check for eggs, only to find this beauty! Turns out our "Easter Egger" chicken named Lily is finally laying...and what a beautiful egg it is! Easter Eggers (or EE's as they're called) can lay either blue, green, or a pinkish colored egg, however you won't know what color you'll get until the day finally comes. And no, they don't switch colors along the way (but wouldn't THAT be cool!). I was really hoping for a nice blue or even blue-green egg as I plan to get Welsummer chickens down the road. Welsummers lay a deep chocolate egg that would contrast nicely with a blue/blue-green egg. Seriously, I love color and the mere thought of having a carton full of chocolate brown and blue eggs makes my day. Yes, I know that's weird but what can I say? Plus, I think they'd make excellent gifts for people as well. It's not everyday you can get blue, green, pink, and/or chocolate colored eggs. I will admit that I had a very difficult time getting the color right in this picture, and truth be told it's still a bit off for my color-calibrated monitor. Lily's egg (on my screen) looks more blue when it's actually a bit more green that what I'm seeing. Still, it's a fairly close representation and will have to do for now. Yay Lily!

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

 

{January 7, 2011}

mmmmm...coffee fresh from the roaster. Ever since we went to Italy, Ryan and I have become super passionate about coffee. Okay, that's not entirely true...more like Ryan, my engineer husband, decided to look in to roasting our own coffee and I came along for the ride. I'm not complaining, mind you, but it should be said that pretty much any time there is some sort of gadget involved, Ryan is behind it. So enter coffee roasting and our quest to create the perfect batch of espresso, leading to the perfectly crafted cappuccino--otherwise known as "Laura's Obsession." I have to have my daily cappuccino or I get very grumpy. Also, I get a headache. At first Ryan was the one doing all of the roasting, but I convinced him to let me give it a go seeing as how I work from home and he doesn't. Control freak that he is it took a bit, however he finally agreed and I've been roasting ever since. I've gone through several different formulations of espresso due to 1.) not being able to consistently get the same beans from our supplier, and 2.) the whole searching for the perfect blend thing. I believe this batch is Espresso #13 and I'm very pleased with it. It has a nice balance of chocolate, fruit, and a bit of spice. Of course I'm almost out of one of the coffee beans I use in this blend and if I had to guess our supplier no longer has it either. Coffee is fickle like that.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 6, 2011}

There's not much of a story behind today's photo, but I really like the texture. This...ball thingie...came in a bag of a bunch of other ball thingies, pine cone halves, dried mushrooms, and other flora looking pieces from Michael's. I also purchased a large glass vase that I filled with these decorative "gems" and placed it on the mantel above our woodstove. What I didn't know at the time was that the mantel was not attached to the large brick cornices it sat upon. I discovered this precarious situation when a friend of my son's rested his hand upon the mantel only to have it tip...and everything come crashing down. Of course the vase shattered into a billion pieces and I've yet to replace it. For now the ball thingies and their friends are living in a gorgeous handmade wooden bowl a former co-worked crafted for me. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, although they do make for some interesting photographs.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 5, 2011}

Today I'm cheating a bit (although I've read there really aren't any rules in Project 365) as I took this photo over the summer. My computer is still down which means I'm stuck using my iPhone, but I truly love this picture and want to share it. Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers and I've longed to have huge bushes of them scattered around our landscaping. The last house we lived in--back in Portland--had beautiful, large hydrangea bushes in shades of blue, green, and pink. Every time I drove up I was greeted with big, vibrant blossoms that always brought a smile to my face. Naturally, when we bought this house one of the many things I planned to do was buy some hydrangeas and plant them so that the they were the first thing I, or anyone else, saw when pulling up to our home. While out at Lowe's one day I found some, already in bloom, brought them home, and placed them in the ground. I envisioned them growing over the months and years and wondered if the plants would give any other colors than the azure ones already on the stems. Of course I snapped some pics throughout the process, not realizing how glad I'd be that I did so at the time. Not long after I planted my beloved hydrangeas a freak cold snap came through and froze all of them...killing them in the process. I was so sad but I'm holding out hope that by some miracle they'll come back in the spring. In the meantime, I make do with this photo which also serves as the background for my iPhone so I can see it everyday.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 4, 2011}

Today's picture was taken using the Lo-Mob app on my iPhone (my main computer is down for the moment--which means no processing images from my 5D--insert sad face) and is of the window seat in the addition the previous owners added to the house. Side Note...When we were looking at houses to buy we almost passed even viewing this one as the photos on the website were small and poorly lit making the rooms both difficult to see and uninviting. But something in my gut said to check it out. The first room we walked in to was the addition and the first thing I saw was the gorgeous window seat where I pictured myself reading, knitting, drinking coffee, and watching the inevitable snow fall outside. From there I continued to fall in love with the wide plank hardwood floors, the open living space, and (as we already know) the land. Oddly enough I haven't used the window seat that set my heart a flutter nearly as much as I had pictured myself doing so. However, when I do use it I always say to myself, "I should do this more often."

The giant fish pillow has its own backstory. Many years ago I was hired to do a wedding in Sweet Home, Oregon which is a very tiny, but very quaint, town. While trying to find a place for me to stay overnight, I ran across a bed and breakfast located on the banks of the Santiam River. Ryan and I decided to travel together and spend a weekend there while the kids stayed with my dad. Our room was tastefully decorated with a fishing theme and on our bed was a pillow exactly like the one now gracing our window seat. Seeing as how Ryan and I both love to fish, and Ryan having learned to fly fish for Steelhead, we thought the pillow was tres cool (Ryan more so than me). So when Christmas came around I searched high and low for a duplicate of the fish pillow and lucked out when I won one on eBay. Ryan was surprised, to say the least, and got quite the laugh out of it. The giant fish pillow has found its place on our futon, Ian's bed, and now the window seat prompting smiles from just about anyone that sees it.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{January 3, 2011}

Today's photo is of my kitchen window. I have always wanted a window above the sink that overlooked the yard and was thrilled when I saw that this house had one. And in actuality there is another window right beside it--two for the price of one! When I look out I see towering pines and (at the moment) lots of snow, and sometimes the kids, or the guineas and ducks, and ever so often wild turkeys. Along the windowsill there is a plant of unidentified species in a terracotta pot that Megan decorated for me at school when she was in third grade, a candle that I've probably had forever, and my beloved cast iron sheep the kids call, "Baabara." The plant is one of the few things I haven't killed despite it moving with us four times in four years--once being across the country--and has actually grown to "epic" proportions. While it hasn't produced any flowers for a long time, in the beginning it was dotted with bright pink blooms that stood out against the lime green leaves and stems. "Baabara" is my consolation prize for us not having the proper land for a small herd of sheep like I had dreamed of when I agreed to move to New Hampshire. We could, if we had the money and were so daring, clear cut a portion of the back acreage and place some sheep there, but I love our woods and am resigning the dream of sheep until later days.

On to the pic...{click to view full size}

{A Day Late...}

...and a dollar short, but I'm doing it anyways. In the past I've tried to do something similar to Project 365 and usually lost interest...or got far too busy. This year, however, I'm trying it again in hopes of finding even more new ways of "seeing" things and to share a bit of the "behind-the-scenes" of my business and personal life. Seeing as how I missed January 1st, I'm showcasing two photos today but will feature just one--except in cases of Sneak Peeks for clients--from here on out. Enjoy!

On to the pics...{click to view full size}

This first one is of the ornament I purchased this year. We have a family tradition between the kids and I in that we always get a new ornament to add to the tree every December. I found this one, hand-carved from Peru, at a quaint little shop at the mall. It makes me happy looking at it.

The second one of the first "remodel" projects we did on the house. We removed the old chandelier and hung the new one in its place. Behind the light is a piece of art done by my Grandfather. It is made entirely out of wood and is modeled after a hall in St. Meinrad's. My Grandfather went to seminary school to become a priest, but changed his mind and decided he wanted to get married and start a family. Still, St. Meinrad's always held a special place in his heart. I love that it graces our wall now.