Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Beer Bread {6/52 M3B}
We got a bottle of beer bread mix for Christmas from Ma & Pa. All of us did. Everyone was intrigued and we were looking forward to making it. All you do is take the bottle of mix, add baking soda and a bottle of beer, stir it up real good, pour it in a loaf pan and bake! It is the easiest thing to do. We contemplated using a Honey Moon, but after Shiner came out with their new 102, which is a wheat brewed beer we decided that would be the best choice. So I made the bread the other day and it was divine. A bit dense, but really good! So, here's my pic for the Feb. 7-13 (late post!).
How Great Thou Art {6/52 MCP}
I have a memory that stands out in my mind. It is very special to me. It is probably one of my favorite, most fond memories. It includes smells and everything. I honestly can't remember how old I was when it happened.. I couldn't have been too terribly old. Maybe 5 or 6? I was with 
Dad. I'm sure we had been running errands and had to make one more stop. It was when he was still driving his old Rambler. That was probably one of the crappiest cars. However, I remember it fondly. There was this bumpy plastic cover over the seats I used to push on the bumps of. And it had this smell... Such a distinct 'old car' smell. Motor oil, old vinyl, and nature that seeped in all mixed together to have such a comforting, interesting scent. I loved the smell of that car. Still do. Dad sold it a few years back. 
I was sad to see it go, but it had long been put out to pasture and needed an owner who would bring it back to its 1960's glory. I would love to see it these days. I wonder if it looks any better. Hope so. Anyway, we were riding around in the Rambler. I do not recall why or how it began, but Dad decided that I needed to learn the words to "How Great Thou Art." he told me that it was one of his favorite hymns. My dad has a really pretty baritone voice. It resonates when he sings that song because it means so much to him. I recall him patiently going through the verses with me having me repeat them an sing them back to him as we drove. We ended up at my Granny's house. Dad ushered me in and after we said hello, he anxiously and excitedly asked me to sing what I had just learned for Granny. I think he ended up singing with me. He was super proud of me that day. I think he was happy to have spent the afternoon with me. It was a great day and will stick with me always. I now love the song, too. It makes me happy, not just for it's meaning, but for the memory it envokes.
When the theme for photos this particular week (Feb. 5-11, I'm late posting again!) was "Words." I, once again, wasn't sure what to photograph. I looked at my bookshelf. Saw my hymnal and thought, "Hymns have words. I'll do that." So here is what came of it. I was going to randomly open the book and find anything that looked good in the lens, and then remembered some of my favorites. This one won out.
(Thanks to Google Maps for driving through neighborhoods taking shots of all the homes. This will be the last picture to have been taken of the Rambler.)
Dad. I'm sure we had been running errands and had to make one more stop. It was when he was still driving his old Rambler. That was probably one of the crappiest cars. However, I remember it fondly. There was this bumpy plastic cover over the seats I used to push on the bumps of. And it had this smell... Such a distinct 'old car' smell. Motor oil, old vinyl, and nature that seeped in all mixed together to have such a comforting, interesting scent. I loved the smell of that car. Still do. Dad sold it a few years back. I was sad to see it go, but it had long been put out to pasture and needed an owner who would bring it back to its 1960's glory. I would love to see it these days. I wonder if it looks any better. Hope so. Anyway, we were riding around in the Rambler. I do not recall why or how it began, but Dad decided that I needed to learn the words to "How Great Thou Art." he told me that it was one of his favorite hymns. My dad has a really pretty baritone voice. It resonates when he sings that song because it means so much to him. I recall him patiently going through the verses with me having me repeat them an sing them back to him as we drove. We ended up at my Granny's house. Dad ushered me in and after we said hello, he anxiously and excitedly asked me to sing what I had just learned for Granny. I think he ended up singing with me. He was super proud of me that day. I think he was happy to have spent the afternoon with me. It was a great day and will stick with me always. I now love the song, too. It makes me happy, not just for it's meaning, but for the memory it envokes.
When the theme for photos this particular week (Feb. 5-11, I'm late posting again!) was "Words." I, once again, wasn't sure what to photograph. I looked at my bookshelf. Saw my hymnal and thought, "Hymns have words. I'll do that." So here is what came of it. I was going to randomly open the book and find anything that looked good in the lens, and then remembered some of my favorites. This one won out.
(Thanks to Google Maps for driving through neighborhoods taking shots of all the homes. This will be the last picture to have been taken of the Rambler.)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Little Burro {5/52 M3B}
We had a fabulous couples bridal shower for my wonderful sister-in-law and her fiancee a couple of weekends ago. We had a blast! 
We ate, visited and played a newlywed game with the bride and groom to be, the groom's parents and the bride's grandparents as the contestants. We laughed so hard! Since it was at a Mexican restaurant, my other sister-in-law decided to go with the most adorable and fun traditional Mexican decorations and themes. We had awesome, huge margarita flavored cupcakes served in margarita glasses. Lime garnish and straw included! Our table decorations were streamers and miniature pinatas. There were stars with streamers on the points as well as the best little miniature burros! They were so cute! I wanted to keep a set just for the heck of it! I took this shot of one of our pinata pals sitting on the table waiting for the festivities to begin. He's my picture for this week. I love how the colors are so vivid and bright!
We ate, visited and played a newlywed game with the bride and groom to be, the groom's parents and the bride's grandparents as the contestants. We laughed so hard! Since it was at a Mexican restaurant, my other sister-in-law decided to go with the most adorable and fun traditional Mexican decorations and themes. We had awesome, huge margarita flavored cupcakes served in margarita glasses. Lime garnish and straw included! Our table decorations were streamers and miniature pinatas. There were stars with streamers on the points as well as the best little miniature burros! They were so cute! I wanted to keep a set just for the heck of it! I took this shot of one of our pinata pals sitting on the table waiting for the festivities to begin. He's my picture for this week. I love how the colors are so vivid and bright!
Adster {5/52 MCP}
For week five on the MCP group's P52, the theme is ''Muse." I wasn't sure how to go about this one (I never seem to) I found some decent subject matter. A number of people went with their pets and their kids. some even played with different definitions of the term 'to muse.' I really wanted to do something really artistic and brilliant. But when my girlie came walking up to me wearing her daddy's glasses that she had just taken off of his sleeping self, she was just too adorable and mischievous looking. I grabbed the camera and snapped a few shots of her. She makes me want to take pics of her ALL THE TIME! I guess that truly does make her my muse. So, here is my muse, my Adster!
Rachel & Ava {4/52 M3B}
A couple of weekends ago I had the privilege to help Rachel and Will watch their little girl, Ava. She's adorable. They are moving into a new house and weren't going to be able to get much done while having to watch her also. After the work was done we hung out in the backyard for a while and I caught this pic of the two of them. Rachel is an actress and always gives good face in a photo, who would have thought that it's genetic and Ava is just as awesome? I think they're great, but I'm not sure I like the editing of it. The sun was escaping from us and I had the ISO bumped way up to be able to get the shot. There was a lot of graininess to the pic because of it. I tried to get as much out as I could, but it still bugs me a bit.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Leaves all in a Row {4/52 MCP}
This week's MCP Project 52 theme had me overwhelmed for ideas. We were slated to photograph "Soothing Repetition." I thought of all sorts of things. The ever repeating sunrise and sunset every day that is so calming, the ritual of bedtime with the Adster every evening. Unfortunately, I never thought of those things when they presented themselves, so they never got photographed. While on my afternoon lunch break walks through the historical district here I had so many ideas. I took pics of a number of them.
There was the even repetition of a fence along a yard. Then the soft arches of an iron gate repeating itself in actuality as well as in its shadow drew me in.
Neither really spoke out to me when I looked at them later on. I contemplated how the not so even repetition of the soothing, tangled branches of ancient oak trees would be a wonderful representation of 'Soothing Repetition.' 
However, once I went through my walk photos, they didn't have the impact that I felt about them when I was taking them. As I clicked through the pics, the one that did end up jumping out at me was just as repetitious as the previous contemplations. It drew me in and made me want to edit it into a better composed photo. I decided that it was to be my weekly submission for this theme. It's technically winter here in the foothills of the Texas Hill Country, but it's been looking like fall this past week. I happened upon this pile of leaves blown up against the curb of the street. Closely knit together, the row of them continuing on and on. They were lovely and made me happy. They were soothing. I knelt down and clicked the camera a few times. I didn't think they would be my chosen shots for the theme at the time. They simply made me smile. So here they are, this week's "Soothing Repetition," my leaves in a row. Repeating themselves along the curb, knowing they will soon blow away when spring arrives, only to come back to the same place in a year. They are a true representation of our world as it repeats itself in the seasons of our lives. That may sound a bit poetic for a pile of leaves, but I like it.
There was the even repetition of a fence along a yard. Then the soft arches of an iron gate repeating itself in actuality as well as in its shadow drew me in.
Neither really spoke out to me when I looked at them later on. I contemplated how the not so even repetition of the soothing, tangled branches of ancient oak trees would be a wonderful representation of 'Soothing Repetition.' 
However, once I went through my walk photos, they didn't have the impact that I felt about them when I was taking them. As I clicked through the pics, the one that did end up jumping out at me was just as repetitious as the previous contemplations. It drew me in and made me want to edit it into a better composed photo. I decided that it was to be my weekly submission for this theme. It's technically winter here in the foothills of the Texas Hill Country, but it's been looking like fall this past week. I happened upon this pile of leaves blown up against the curb of the street. Closely knit together, the row of them continuing on and on. They were lovely and made me happy. They were soothing. I knelt down and clicked the camera a few times. I didn't think they would be my chosen shots for the theme at the time. They simply made me smile. So here they are, this week's "Soothing Repetition," my leaves in a row. Repeating themselves along the curb, knowing they will soon blow away when spring arrives, only to come back to the same place in a year. They are a true representation of our world as it repeats itself in the seasons of our lives. That may sound a bit poetic for a pile of leaves, but I like it.
To understand the point of these '52' posts, see the inception of it all: http://www.kathyodam.blogspot.com/2011/01/back-on-horse.html
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Princess Dancer {3/52 MCP, M3B}
~Disclaimer: I am, once again, tardy in putting this post together. I promise! No more!!~
Last Monday, we had a holiday from work. Thank you, Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for making an impression on our world and the way we treat and see others. I appreciate your contributions to society as well as the fact that kids don't go to school on the day we honor you.
The Adster and I set up an impromptu photo shoot in the kitchen. I have a large picture window in my dining area that is great for natural light. It is probably the best/only place in my house that is prime for this kind of lighting. I hung a neutral colored blanket from the ceiling and let it drape onto the kitchen table. Adster put on her dance clothes and brought out all her princess crowns and wands. She stood and sat on the table posing for me until she was over it. We got a number of fun shots, but this one is my favorite.
For my MCP P52, the weekly theme was 'Shades of Grey.' I took the photo and created a black & white version of it. I think it gives it a softness that you wouldn't otherwise find in an unedited version of the picture.
I am combining my posts for both of my project 52's this week because of two reasons. First, I'm behind and playing catch-up. Second, I used the same photo for both of them.
For M3B's P52 I left the photo in its colorized version. I did very little editing. I evened out her skin tones a bit in a spot where she had a rash and lightened the bags under her eyes. Poor girl and her allergies! I made her eyes stand out thanks to a photoshop action from The Pioneer Woman. Love that now that I know how it works!
Please let me know which version of the shot you like more. I'd like to hear what you have to say.
Last Monday, we had a holiday from work. Thank you, Mr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for making an impression on our world and the way we treat and see others. I appreciate your contributions to society as well as the fact that kids don't go to school on the day we honor you.
The Adster and I set up an impromptu photo shoot in the kitchen. I have a large picture window in my dining area that is great for natural light. It is probably the best/only place in my house that is prime for this kind of lighting. I hung a neutral colored blanket from the ceiling and let it drape onto the kitchen table. Adster put on her dance clothes and brought out all her princess crowns and wands. She stood and sat on the table posing for me until she was over it. We got a number of fun shots, but this one is my favorite.
For my MCP P52, the weekly theme was 'Shades of Grey.' I took the photo and created a black & white version of it. I think it gives it a softness that you wouldn't otherwise find in an unedited version of the picture.
I am combining my posts for both of my project 52's this week because of two reasons. First, I'm behind and playing catch-up. Second, I used the same photo for both of them.
For M3B's P52 I left the photo in its colorized version. I did very little editing. I evened out her skin tones a bit in a spot where she had a rash and lightened the bags under her eyes. Poor girl and her allergies! I made her eyes stand out thanks to a photoshop action from The Pioneer Woman. Love that now that I know how it works!
Please let me know which version of the shot you like more. I'd like to hear what you have to say.
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