MK Challenge ~ Dreams....

So many aspirations for just one blog, it was hard to choose what exactly I wanted to "dream" for the year 2011. I chose "peace". That seems so general, peace between countries, peace between families, peace in the neighborhood, peace at work. However, I am choosing to focus on my own inner peace. I want to be at peace with myself and who I am or have become. As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, women tend to lose themselves while focusing on others. It is fine, for there is a time for every season of our lives. It is my season to find that inner calm where I don't feel guilty for directing my free time and energy on things I enjoy doing. For today, I am dreaming of inner serenity.

MK Challenge - Decorate...

I look forward to bringing the Christmas decorations out of storage. Although, I must admit it takes longer to put them up than it used to. Each box brings memories of past Christmas'. I have always believed that Christmas is best enjoyed through the eyes of children. Which is why I chose to post a pic of one of my favorite decorations. It is a music box, made up of toys that come to life and move with Christmas carols. It is fashioned to look like a toy box. The inside lid is a mirror. Lights flash with the music and reflect in the mirror. I love seeing the kids and now the grandkiddies open up the toy box to find this holiday band. Their eyes light up and they know this is special. Something about toys, toy boxes, Christmas songs, and a band of familiar friends.

Reindeer...

Well, I'm pretty sure they are just mule deer, but so fun to think that Santa is just letting them graze!! Wait, isn't that Donner and Cupid???

Christmas Lights...

I love venturing out to see the Christmas Lights in our small town. Just looking at the unique displays lifts your spirit from bah humbug to bright and cheerful. These shots were taken at a few houses decorated for the holidays, the city park and the fire station.  It is nice to see that even in a struggling economy, the ritual of adorning our homes and public sites with these illuminations has not totally been discarded. Another glimpse into the small town life.

It's Here... Bubble Tutorial

OK, I have never posted a tutorial, but I will do my best not to confuse anyone... I have received several requests to post the directions for these fun bubble pics.

First ... gather your supplies:

Set up your shoot by balancing the glass dish, 9x11 size, between your two chairs, of equal height. Put your bright fabric piece on the floor in the middle, under the dish. Shine your light source on the fabric - I used a halogen work light. Pour the water into the dish, about an inch or so deep.

Pour about 1/2 cup oil into the water (we all know that water and oil do not mix). I found olive oil works best. I tried vegetable oil, and it works, but the bubbles are smaller.

Stir together with a straw. The straw is important for many bubbles.

Basically, you will need to shoot on manual focus. On auto-focus, the camera tries to focus on the fabric and the effect of bubbles just doesn't happen. I have shot with "A" mode - aperture only and get pretty good pics. Use telephoto - I used anywhere from 50mm to 200mm, try different focal lengths to see what you like.
Shoot your pictures in the corners or top or bottom, around the logo on the dish (i.e. Pyrex or Anchor Hocking). Shoot a bunch, then change your fabric. Shoot with several different fabrics for different looks and dimensions. (Why waste your set-up.)

Download your pictures and use your favorite editing program to crop to your favorite bubble configuration. You will also need to crop out any logo that might have made it into your photo. Experiment with different editing effects to find your own style. Try sepia, black and white, chrome, color boost, etc. You may find your best bubble pics are those you just edit to crop and enlarge.

Below are some of my favs. I love the reflections, the bright colors and some of the editing effects. This is a fun to way to experiment with your camera and find a use for that bag of scrap fabric.

Have fun making your very own bubble pics. If you have any questions on the process, please leave a comment and I will try to help you.

I would love to see some of your bubble pics. Leave a link in the comment section.

Happy Bubbles (who doesn't love bubbles??)!

MK Challenge ... Tradition

One of our favorite traditions is our bears. This tradition started quite accidentally, when my husband bought our first born son a teddy bear. We put it under the tree and it looked quite cute. Well, it "accidentally" got packed up with all of the Christmas decorations, and the next Christmas it founds its place beneath the tree again. Before I knew it, there were teddy bears galore. Hanging on the tree, sitting on branches, resting under the tree. It all seemed so innocent at first; a cute bear ornament, a fluffy, stuffed bear. It became a tradition to get a new bear or two every year. I have inherited bears, so rudely discarded by my children. Now the bears have taken over... run for cover!!! Approximately 300 bears now live at our house. I've considered changing my Christmas theme, but I haven't the heart to tell my bears they cannot come out to enjoy the holiday, their noses pressed against giant, clear plastic bags. Just makes me melt... Everyone looks forward to the bears, and now even the grandkiddies look for them at Christmas time. The bears will stay... for it isn't really Christmas without them!

Little Sweet Feet...

This is the most perfect way to start the holiday season. Enjoying these sweet kiddies that are attached to these little legs and feet. If only everyday we could see life through the eyes of children. I cannot think of a better way to spend a weekend.

Bubbles...

For all of you that showed an interest in what I call the "Bubble Project", I will post the super, duper easy directions after we get through the Thanksgiving Holiday. Love you all....

Jerry...

Jerry is Jerry. He is an EMT, known throughout our county. He gives his time 24/7, to help those who are hurt or sick. He is a father of four wonderful children. He is a grandfather of six beautiful grandchildren. He works hard. He loves to hunt. He loves to go on ATV rides. He loves to play poker on the internet. He loves baseball and basketball. He always has a pen hooked on his shirt. He always has a hat upon his head. He enjoys growing a garden, especially gourds. He loves to chat with people. He makes me laugh. I make him laugh. He is sensitive and sweet. He tries to be tough and burley, but I see him in a different light. He is loving and giving. He enjoys spoiling me. He loves to go on trips with me. We will stay up for hours just talking and analysing things. He is supportive of my interests. Although he doesn't like me to take his picture, I do catch him off guard occassionally. Jerry is my best friend and has been my companion for 31 years.

I cannot imagine a day without him.

More Bubbles...

So fun to do.... I think I'm addicted!!

Bubbles...

Who doesn't love bubbles? Something new I learned how to do....

MK Challenge... Give Thanks

I am giving thanks today for freedom. At the risk of dating myself, in high school I diligently wore a copper bracelet, engraved with the name of a soldier who was MIA in Viet Nam. I haven't thought about that for years, and I, like a million other kids, never found out the outcome of that soldier. It was a fad.

I believe that we take for granted freedoms that we enjoy every day. Do we know how many soldiers have paid the ultimate price, of giving their lives for our freedom? For the Iraq Conflict alone, since the beginning in 2003 to May 28, 2010, there have been 4404 USA Military deaths, and 31,827 wounded. In visiting our local cemetery and the cemetery in the town just west of mine, I found a handful of veteran grave markers. All wars and conflicts were represented, as well as all branches of service. My heart was touched as I wandered through these cold, quiet places where we bury our loved ones. With it being the weekend after Veterans Day, some of the markers donned flags. I noticed that some flags were bright and new. Other flags were faded, well worn, with tattered hems, not unlike the spouses that have faithfully decorated the graves.

"It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you." Author Unknown

I sincerely hope that we will show gratitude to our soldiers and that honoring them is not a fad. I hope that my children and my grandchildren will never be without freedom and liberty. I also hope that as a nation, we may give the highest honor to those who fought to give us this gift. I give thanks to them.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Something New...

OK, something new is a bit deceiving. But it is new to our house. Persimmons. Yes, I have heard of them. I have seen the color in a giant multi-color crayon box. But not once made a purchase of a persimmon. Until now. As an avid participant of Bountiful Baskets fresh produce co-op, today we received not one, but five, orange persimmons. I am told they are somewhat like a pear (I think they look like a tomato). I was also told that my five, orange persimmons are not quite ripe, and need to rest on the kitchen counter for a day or two. I looked them up online (what did we ever do without the internet - oh yeah, encyclopedias!). They are a tropical fruit, grown on trees, but are actually in the berry family. I found many recipes using persimmons, anywhere from a sorbet to a cheesecake. So, I am anxiously awaiting the ripening of one to try...

Beautiful Berries...

Where I work, we have the most beautiful trees. In the spring, they are covered with wonderful white flowers. We watch birds build nests, just outside our big plate glass window. In the fall, they are covered with beautiful red berries. The birds eat the berries off the trees. It is so fun to watch them, and a nice change of pace from the stresses of work. Today, they are covered with snow. I'm not ready for winter, but I have these photos to remind me that the snow is only temporary.

MK Challenge ~ Together

Something everyone recognizes. Something in everyone's cupboard. Eaten in the morning, in the afternoon, at midnight. Something that definitely goes together. Smooth or Crunchy. Peanut Butter and Jelly. PB&J. The grandkids love 'em. My hubby loves 'em. Hmmm.... time for a snack!

Morning Trains...

We have lived in our little town for about 25 years now. Every morning, when we arise and get going for the day, we hear the coal train on the tracks, just west of town. Today, I realized that it is a familiar, comforting sound. I hear the "whistle" as it comes through town. This is the sound of home.

MK Challenge ~ Shape

Each day, I awake and go about my routine, and everything I do has some kind of shape. I see cylinders, retangles, ovals, and squares. What shape does my day represent? Some days I find myself running in circles. I wonder why?

Hmmmm.... Shape

Hmmmm - shape. We look around, things are circles, squares, rectangles, triangles and more. Is one better than the other? We use the word "shape" every day in one manner or another. Examples: "This used car is in great shape.", "I love the shape of those clouds.", "My garden is in sad shape.", etc. We are bombarded with icons of getting a better shape. You've seen them - "improve your shape" by doing this. Why isn't round the best shape? There are many beautiful photographs showing the many shapes in nature. Everything is a shape of some kind. The dictionary defines shape as the quality of a distinct object or body in having an external surface or outline of a specific form or figure. Interesting... I am choosing a humorous approach, hoping for the very least that people will say, "She is great shape for her age !"

Happy Halloween...

I used to love Halloween. Helping my kids find costumes, hosting parties for teenagers, passing out treats to decked out kiddies. Now, not so much. Last year alone, we had 600+ persons (kids, older kids, and some adults) ringing my doorbell, chanting trick or treat. That is a heck of a lot of candy! Maybe, I'm becoming a Halloween Scrooge?!! I have decided to take a spooky approach this year!

So "oooooooooooooooo" Happy Halloween!