Scavenger Hunt

1. Classic Still Life

2. Self Portrait

3. On the Floor

 4. Lines

5. Fresh

You can't get any fresher than that!

Am I right?

I hope y'all are having a great weekend!

Fabulous Friday

Water tastes so much better from the sprinkler!

Scavenger Hunt

This time last year I was writing my very first blog post (well, if I was posting this on Sunday :) 

At that time I had no idea what a great experience it would be... I've learned a little and laughed a lot!

My blog is still just snap shots of fun, everyday life but I believe that I've grown because of the influence of my amazing, obsessed passionate photographer/blogger friends. I've learned that it's so much better to just be real (although for me it's easier said than done :) and I am inspired by the wealth of talent and creativity all around me.

My very favorite part has been Scavenger Hunt Sunday- I love having an excuse to get out my camera each week and I love the camaraderie!

Unfortunately, my writing has not improved over time so I'll quit trying and jump into the photos:

1. My Passion

 Ansel Adams said "A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed." that's my passion, to take a great photograph.

 2. Sound of Music

do you hear it?

3. Inner Beauty

 4. Ethereal

 5. Sharp

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!

The weather has been really, really beautiful around here. Each morning I open the windows and a lovely cool breeze blows through the house and beckons us to play outside. 

How could we resist?

We get into all kinds of mischeif

 

and we have all kinds of fun!

This is the kind of weather that makes us want to bake bread together. Banana Bread is our favorite and this is our recipe:

3 or 4 bananas, mashed
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine all ingredients and pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour.

Serve warm with a little butter and take it outside to play some more!

Scavenger Hunt

Well, I'm putting this post up on Monday. Again. I really like to have it done early in the week but ALL of these photos were taken on Saturday or later! oh well, better late than never, right? 

I had so much fun hunting this week, but that's the beauty of the hunt because it's always challenging and fun. So here we go...

 1. Give Me Flowers

On Saturday I cut some flowers. I always shake the Hydrangea bunches gently before I put them in the vase because apparently they are a great hiding place for bugs, spiders and... frogs? This little guy held on even though he was shaken. It's like he was saying:

"Give me the flowers lady, and no one gets hurt."

I called his bluff and he wisely chose a different bunch of flowers to guard :)

2. Visual Contrast

Can we say opposite? Mr. Cheerful and Miss Grumpus.... but don't believe her for a second!

3. Friendship

...they are both sweet!

4. Before & After 

need I say more?

5. Dark  

My husband is something of a car fanatic (he's so awesome :) -this weekend he and his brother changed the whole suspension system and the brakes on my husband's BMW. They started Friday evening and were finished by late Saturday afternoon- I'm so impressed! P.S. I took this photo around 1:30 Saturday morning, and then went to bed.
They kept working 'till 3.
Hmm. If I need coffee so desperately, I wonder how the guys are feeling? 

Friday Flowers

 These photos were taken last night between 11:30 and midnight... not what I would consider an ideal time for photography but the light in my kitchen was so cool- almost eerie. What do you think?

ISO 400. 1/200 sec. f/1.8

Chinese Salad

Hi there, folks! 

I wasn't able to finish my tasty Tuesday post yesterday, 

but this salad is so yummy that I must share it. 

It's super simple: Cabbage, green onions, almonds, Ramen noodles and sesame seeds.

My sister in law made it when our families got together for a cook-out last weekend and 

it was scrumptious!

I've already made it a couple times since she gave me the recipe (she got it from Paula Deen) and I just can't get enough. I even ate some for breakfast this morning (maybe that's going a bit too far?) 

Anyway, this is a fabulous recipe that goes with anything. 

Salad Ingredients

Finely chop a couple heads of Napa or Bok Choy cabbage

Yes, chop these too, and not just the white part! The green is also delicious. 

Crush up the Ramen noodles and roast them with the Almonds and Sesame seeds.

Dressing Ingredients

Beautiful!

Chinese Salad (Paula Deen)

Serves 12

2 heads Napa or Bok Choy cabbage

6 green onions

Two 3-oz packages ramen noodles with seasoning packets (I always get chicken flavor but she doesn't specify)

One 6-oz package slivered almonds

2 tablespoons sesame seeds 

1 cup vegetable oil 

1/2 cup sugar

6 tablespoons white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Chop the cabbage into bite-size pieces and slice the onions. Combine them in a large salad bowl. Crumble the noodles into a broiler pan, add the almonds and sesame seeds, and broil for 2 minutes, being careful not to scorch the sesame seeds. In a jar with a tight lid, combine the oil, sugar, vinegar, and salt with the contents of the seasoning packets. Cover the jar and shake to blend the dressing. Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.

Try it. I know you'll love it!

Scavenger Hunt

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow mom friends!
My day has been really weird because my entire family is sick! I've been reading sweet, comforting books like "Bear feels sick" and wiping runny noses. Not exactly what I was imagining... but what better occupation on mother's day then... mothering?
Anyways, here we go!

 1. SOOC (Straight out of the camera)

(yeah, it could use a little editing, I know! :)

2. Sprouting

3. Isn't it Ironic?

We've had the MOST lovely weather of the year and we spent it inside because of sickness so I had to be satisfied with open windows (and sneaking outside for a little photography :)

 4. Lazy

Why, oh why do I avoid folding laundry like the plague?

5. Smells like spring!

Check out Ashley Sisk@Ramblings & Photosfor more Scavenger Hunt entries!

Is it finally Friday?

It's been a really long week. I'm tired... and I'm so relieved to see the weekend! 

Here's my favorite photo from this week:

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet... 

Have a great weekend!

Horse Sense

Remember Chocolate? We are having a good time. Well, I don't know about the horse but I'm having the time of my life! I'm also learning a lot as I pick up riding again. 

"Your horse can only be as brave as you are."

I'm learning that Choc hesitates the very moment I feel doubt. I have to tell myself that we can and we will. I'm talking about little stuff like picking up the canter from a walk 

or going through a puddle, 

nothing awesome like a 6' oxer.

This mental exercise is really good for me because I'm not the most confident... 

...maybe I shouldn't admit that. Agh, see what I mean??

"There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humor and the other is patience." -John Lyons

My awesome trainer Jess with one of her horses, Fancy. 

One of my trainer's other horses, Frankie :)

Here he is jumping a pole on the ground!

Are you familiar with the fight or flight instinct? Well, in Choc it expresses itself in sorta freaking out at anything new! Perfect example: a pile of rocks "appeared" outside the ring a couple weeks ago. Jess let Choc run around before our lesson to get comfortable with the change and even though she had seen them earlier in the week she still snorted and ran as if she was being chased by a lion. Apparently that was the scariest pile of rocks she had ever seen and she refused to go near that side of the ring. Jess ended up leading her around slowly and patiently, closer and closer, talking and patting her until they were standing beside the 

Dreaded Killer Rocks. 

And believe it or not, they didn't attack her!

Jess says that Chocolate has gotten a lot better over the years...

wow.

Fear of the unknown. I feel it sometimes, and it doesn't make sense.
God holds the universe in his hand, he made me and takes care of me.
Why should I fear?