{May 6, 2011}

Crummy photo tonight as we were in some serious low light...tres romantic. Ryan and I went to The Common Man for dinner and I snapped this pic of the killer oil lamp, my water glass, and part of the menu. Even after editing it in various apps it still looks awful, but it's late and we're about to watch a movie so this is it.

Taken with my iPhone and edited using TiltShiftGen, Photoshop, and Lo-Mob.

On to the pic...{click to enlarge}

{May 2, 2011}

This is Geraldine Hazel Conley...otherwise known as my MeMaw, or paternal grandmother. When my mom found out she was pregnant, my dad's sister also learned she was pregnant as well. MeMaw told them both, "I don't care which one of you does it, but one of you better give me a granddaughter." My mom had me and my aunt had my cousin John. MeMaw got the best of both worlds. She and I were super close and I adored the hell out of her. Many days were spent either picking strawberries (and eating them) out of her garden, or running through the woods surrounding their log cabin. She made the best fried chicken ever, had an incredibly impressive garden, was a hard worker, and loved her family dearly. I could go on and on about my grandmother, but suffice to say, I learned so much from her and miss her terribly.

Today my dad gave me a book containing many items that belonged to my grandmother. Inside I found three photos. Two of them were of my grandmother as a young woman. The other was of her dressed as Santa holding me, around age 2. I look unsure of who the person is under the beard, but you can't miss that huge smile on her face hidden under the white fluff. I'm not sure how old she was when this photo was taken, yet that sparkle in her eye never faded.

Taken with my iPhone using the Lo-Mob app with the 30's Contact filter applied.

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

{May 1, 2011}

I love a good pot roast, even though my daughter really can't stand the stuff. Because of her aversion I don't make it very often but when I do...yummmmm. Tonight's version was pretty good although the meat wasn't marbled enough so it wasn't as tasty as usual. I always add in some parsnips as it's the only vegetable in the pot we all agree on. Carrots and onions are added in for taste, although the kids and I eat those as well. As a side I make mashed potatoes, another big yummmmm in my house, and let out a little sigh of content whenever I take the first bite. nom nom nom.

Taken with my iPhone using the Lo-Mob app with the Photocard II filter applied.

On to the pic...{click to enlarge}

{April 28, 2011}

This bracelet belonged to my mom, who wore it in the 60's and 70's. Although it's not my style per se, I've always thought it was really cool.

Taken with my iPhone using the Lo-Mob app with the Photocard Two filter applied.

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

{April 17, 2011}

I realize today is not the 17th, but I took this photo last night and meant to post it, but was too exhausted. So you're getting two today as I'll be posting another photo later.

This tiny green circle, no larger than a pencil eraser, screwed up the shawl I was knitting causing me to have to rip the entire thing out to start over. Without getting too technical, there is a part in the pattern that when completed creates what is called a "yarn-over." The yarn would wrap around this circle, called a stitch marker, and if all goes well you get a perfectly straight "spine" in the shawl. At a couple of points in the "spine," the stitch marker shifted causing the "spine" to shift as well. Basically, it became crooked. I ripped back to where the pattern was correct, but unfortunately I'm not good enough to pick up lace stitching, so I'm starting over. I'm annoyed but also relieved that I was only about 5" in to the shawl rather than 5'.

Taken with my iPhone using the Lo-Mob app with the Photocard Two filter applied.

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

{April 14, 2011}

Apparently she missed him a lot. Although truth be told, she does this all the time so maybe she didn't miss him. Ryan just got back from a business trip to Nevada. I kept telling him to go do some gambling, but despite seeing slot machines in the grocery store, and a full on casino in the Vegas airport, he didn't listen. I told him he left our millions back there. I think he felt like he hit the jackpot when he found Deschutes Brewery's Black Butte Porter and took great delight in texting me a picture of it...to taunt me. Naturally he only took a carry-on bag so there was no way for him to bring any back with him. Naturally.

Taken with my iPhone using the Lo-Mob app with the 30's Contact filter applied.

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

{March 29, 2011}

We're watching "Winter's Bone" tonight, a movie that I didn't put in the Netflix queue and Ryan doesn't remember putting it in there either. Hopefully it's good.

Taken with my iPhone using the Lo-Mob app with the Vintage Instant - Reframed filter applied.

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

{March 17, 2011}

May your joys be as bright as the morning,

And your sorrows merely be shadows that fade in the sunlight of love.

May you have enough happiness to keep you sweet.

Enough trials to keep you strong.

Enough sorrows to keep you human.

Enough hope to keep you happy.

Enough failure to keep you humble.

Enough success to keep you eager.

Enough friends to give you comfort.

Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish sadness.

Enough wealth to meet your needs.

And one thing more: enough determination to make each day 

a more wonderful day than the day before.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Taken with my iPhone, Lo-Mob "Photocard Three" filter applied

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

{March 1, 2011}

My dad gave us this little sampler pack of Vermont syrups and tonight we cracked them open to enjoy with our "Brinner" (Breakfast for Dinner) pancakes. They were all delicious and I found it impossible to choose a favorite. I'll probably keep the little bottles when we're done as they are too cute for words.

Taken with my iPhone with the Lo-Mob Vintage Instant Reframed filter applied.

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

{February 12, 2011}

My new "hobby" continues to grow. I've already blogged about my first attempt at tempering and making chocolates HERE, but I picked up this very in-depth book a couple of weeks ago in an effort to get better. Today I made some chocolates using bacon and figs. I sampled one earlier but the chocolate wasn't quite set up enough for my liking. We'll see how they are tonight.

Photo taken with my iPhone using the Lo-Mob app.

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}