Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Challenge Day 27 - "Signage"

Two of my favorites...
 Just how sweet is "Freak 'N Sweet?"
This is always a good reminder - to always SMILE!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Challenge Day 26 - "Fashion"

Fashion... is an individual style statement!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Challenge Day 25 - "Warning"

You might just want to check on who is flying the plane!

Challenge Day 24 - "Water"

Water, water everywhere.  We're gonna get wet.  
You probably aren't familiar with that song, but it was one that my daughters sang ALL of the time.  It was on a children's video about water (and amusement parks).  But how true it is!
Florida rain
 Feeding the ducks at the lake
 A man made dam
 A day at the pool
 Water fountains
The ocean

Right?  Water, water everywhere.

Challenge Day 23 - "Sport"

My house is "sports challenged."  In other words, I don't usually watch sports on TV, not a big fan of sporting events.  I do like them and will go if given the opportunity but it is not high on my list of things to do.  I did, however, encourage my daughters to participate in sports while they were growing up.  There was track, basketball, gymnastics, cheerleading (yes, that is now considered a sport), dance, tennis, and probably more.  Those pictures are old and not on my computer, so I pulled photos taken of Kylee playing basketball.
This also would have been a good photo for "movement."  That's Kylee, playing basketball.
A little bit better photo.  Quite the basketball star!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Challenge Day 22 - "Culture"

Okay, I did not take these photos.  They were taken by my daughter, Kate, when she went to the Dominican Republic between her junior and senior years of high school.  She went with a group from church and it was organized by the organization Leader Trek.  They were obviously immersed into the culture of the DR and it was a life-changing event for Kate.
 This is not Kate; this is Sondra, her very good friend.
 They assisted in building a school in the community and then held Bible School in the afternoons.
 It was hot, very hard work.
 A little picture of the culture.
 I love how this group connected with the children in the community.
A different culture.  A life experience.

Challenge Day 21 - "Movement"

I know.  I know.  I am behind.  I have been swamped at work, so the blog has taken a back seat.  No worries.  I will catch up.  Soon.
Movement.  What comes to mind is when you try to snap a photograph of a child or a pet, or a car passing, or whatever is moving and all you get is a blur.  So with the help of my daughter, Kimberly, I tried to re-create that with my little dog, Sophie.
In the first photo, she is being teased with her toy.  She looks a little "wild" there.
This is the effect I was looking for.
Sophie proved to be faster than the camera and it took me multiple attempts to get the "blur."

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Challenge Day 20 - "Door"

I love the photos you see of doors in the French countryside or European homes.  However, the doors I go through most often are the ones I pass through for work.
 Looking just west of the doors, there is a fountain.
 And across the plaza from the doors is...
another set of doors.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Challenge Day 19 - "Animal"

Well, you know what my picture is - anyone who knows me can figure it out.  Because...
These are MY sweet animal(s).
Jack and Sophie.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

More Symmetrical...

This photo would have been perfect for the "Symmetrical" challenge, but I just didn't think of it...
Thanks again, girls!

Challenge Day 18 - "Assymetrical"

When I thought of examples for "assymetrical," I noticed that these skirts are everywhere now!
The hi-lo skirts have become very popular.  Meet my model, Kimmy's very good friend, Alisa.  Thanks so much for helping me out!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Challenge Day 17 - "Symmetrical"

Tonight is family night!  We don't have a designated night for family night, but tonight my sister, Susan, and her husband, Jim, are coming over for dinner.  So of course, I want my two daughters, Katie and Kim, to be here - and Tiffany, Kim's really good friend who happens to love what's on the menu:  roast with carrots and potatoes fixed in the crock pot.  While cutting the potatoes this morning,
 it dawned on me that we can have symmetrical potatoes.

Yes, my crock pot is sitting on top of the washer.  I have very little counter space in this townhouse and so I discovered that I really like putting it on top of my washer during the day while it is cooking.  It is definitely full to the brim.  I could not find one of my usual ingredients - Campbell's Golden Mushroom Soup.  My mother always used this and now I always use it.  Over the past few years, it has been increasingly difficult to find.  I will have to stock up next time I see it in the store.  So today, I had to try a couple of different things.  We shall see if anyone notices. 
Later today, I will show you the end results.  Mmmm.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Challenge Day 15 - "Gear"

When I saw today's theme, the word that came to mind was "gearhead."  Another thing I thought of are the metal gears offered by Tim Holtz and used for crafting.  They are definitely popular.  But "gear" for me today is appropriate since I am on my way this morning to get my car fixed.
While driving home the other day, the undercarriage, or skid plate, cracked in half and was dragging.  Driving down the freeway, the sound was awful and of course I didn't really know what was going on - not until I got home and checked with my neighbor. Then I was able to do some research.  As it turns out, it is really not an expensive thing to fix, so I am happy.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Challenge Day 14 - "Luxury"

When I think of "luxury" I don't think of jewels, yachts, or servants.  I mean, I do think of those things, but since those things do not pertain to me, "luxury" is something like:
extra time to craft, sew, or read,
a bubble bath, TRAVELING, or
quiet time for myself.
In a few short weeks, I will be in Croatia and THAT will be my luxury.

What's your luxury?

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Challenge Day 13 - "Nature"

For those of you who read my blog today, you probably realized I did not show a "nature" photo.  I started it, but forgot to finish the entry.  My plan was to share a photo of my girls when we went to the Payson Zoo.  Not really a zoo, but more like an animal sanctuary.  
What they do is rescue exotic animals that have been abandoned - or will be abandoned - in the Payson area.  It was very low key and we were given a personal tour by the owner of the zoo.  It was however, our time in nature and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Besides the photo challenge, I have been doing some other things.  I actually tried a new recipe:  baked eggs in a baguette.  I saw the recipe on my friend's blog, The Paper Turtle.  It looked so good I had to try it.  You hollow out the baguette (not too thin).  In a bowl, mix eggs, milk, and meat (I used bacon), cheese, zucchini, salt and pepper.  You also add back in the bread that was cut out.  It helps soak up the egg mixture.  You obviously can change it up and make it to your liking.
This first picture was taken as I placed it in the oven to bake.  Mine took 45 minutes to bake at 350 degrees.  (Directions said 30 minutes, but it wasn't quite done.)  Let it cool just a bit.
This is after it came out of the oven.  Scrumptious!
Mmmm. Breakfast!  So good.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Challenge Day 12 - "Portrait"


This is one of my favorite family "portraits."

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Challenge Day 11 - "Landscape"

Yes, I know.  I am late getting this one posted.  It has been a busy weekend.  I went to Diana's house to work on another quilt.  This one is the Zippidy Do Dah fabric - reds, creams, tans, and blues.  Diana lives in Buckeye, which is a little bit of a drive for me.  But I listen to my book on CD and away I go.  Diana and her husband own horses so they live out, away from the freeway.  There is so much to see and the mountains are beautiful.  This is the landscape picture I took on my way out there...
Those are the White Tank Mountains and they look much farther away than they really are.  Getting ready for Saturday's quilting session, I finished the top and back of my quilt.  Sophie just had to be in on the action.
The next pictures were taken after my quilting day...
I now need to trim it and sew on the binding. My intention is to give this one to my father.
Diana taught me how to free hand quilt and I had so much fun!  I am very fortunate she is willing to teach me how to use her quilting machine.
After laying it out to look at it again, Sophie still likes it.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Challenge Day 10 - "Glass"

Glass-es!
Do any of you remember these?
They are jelly jar glasses saved by my mother from when I was growing up.
That makes them pretty darn old.
Yes, jelly actually came in them, then you had a glass to keep.
Somehow, my mother managed to save 11 of them,
and she gave them to me several years ago.
I use them almost everyday.
They are my "go to" glasses.
Special?  Yeah.


Friday, August 9, 2013

Challenge Day 9 - "Pop Culture"

Okay, so this is a hard one.  I have been thinking about it, trying to figure out exactly what "pop culture" is all about.  Well, Kimmy (my youngest) said "let's just look it up for you, mom.  So she did.

Pop Culture:  Cultural activities or commercial products
reflected, suited to, or aimed at,
the tastes of the general masses of people.
(emphasis added by me)
Now I know.

 
Here's MY pop culture!
For those of you not familiar these items, they are Vera Bradley (purses, wallets, and bags).  Love it!
In fact, they are almost addicting.


Thursday, August 8, 2013

Challenge Day 8 - "Filthy"

I like birds.  I really do.
 But you can see why I picked this photo for...
Filthy.


Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Challenge Day 7 - "Clean"

Girls, I hope you don't mind...
but this is the best representative of "clean" I could think of!