tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72893113990195349522024-03-13T22:42:11.987-04:00ToadMama's Web Abode40-something chick fighting the "you don't really want to run" demons, surviving a mid-life crisis (or is that just life?), sharing pics and funny finds with friends, and writing 'cause she likes to.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.comBlogger476125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-79832119986142519312011-01-16T10:45:00.000-05:002011-01-16T10:45:45.240-05:00This Blog Has MovedWait! This blog has moved. <br />
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I have embedded code that should redirect you automatically to my new address. If it does not go within a few seconds, <a href="http://toadmama.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CLICK HERE</span></a>. The new Blog address is <a href="http://www.toadmama.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">http://www.toadmama.com</span></a>.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-28688830954128609332010-01-15T08:30:00.001-05:002010-01-15T10:32:51.858-05:00The Change is HereHi there. I have embedded some code that should redirect you automatically to my new Blog. If it does not go within a few seconds, <a href="http://toadmama.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CLICK HERE</span></a>. The new Blog address is <a href="http://www.toadmama.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">http://www.toadmama.com</span></a>.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-81725118085630832332010-01-13T20:20:00.016-05:002010-01-13T21:18:44.553-05:00Change is Coming...As early January creeps toward mid January, I have continued my food and photo experimentation. In case you were wondering.<br /><br />Food first... A couple of nights ago, we tried Pioneer Woman's recipe for meatloaf (I got her cookbook for Christmas). Neither of us were crazy about it when we ate it for dinner, but I must say it <span style="font-style: italic;">does </span>make a pretty good sandwich. Tonight... Chicken Spaghetti. We loved it. Her recipe for pot roast, which I made on Sunday, makes really good pot roast (a really big mess on the stove, too).<br /><br />The book, while a best-seller, has gotten mixed reviews. Personally, I love it. It's not the best cookbook in the world, but it's Pioneer Woman. It's full of comfort food, and amazing pictures, and critters (inclusing my all-time favorite cow photo), and her family. It's like I have my own piece of her with me right here in my house.<br /><br />I've been a PW fan for a while now. She takes awesome <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pioneerwoman/484969448/sizes/o/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">cow pictures</span></a>. She gets me into trouble though. With posts like <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2010/01/my-current-favorite-lens/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this one</span></a> about her new favorite camera lens. Just one more piece of equipment to work toward...<br /><br />Speaking of working toward stuff, I really am determined to master this camera setting adjustment thing. Not all of my experiments are worth sharing. But today, I caught something I thought was very cool.<br /><br />After I'd finished working, I was on my way downstairs to get dinner started. As I passed the front door, I just happened to notice a pink tinge to the sky. This time of year, you'll see some amazing pink and blue skies. But the riot of color is fleeting. So I ran and grabbed the camera, walked outside and started snapping away. All in Manual mode, thank you very much.<br /><br />I only had socks on and my feet were freezing. By the time I went inside to grab shoes, the color drama was gone. But not before I got these shots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057Auno-bI/AAAAAAAAJ64/xdMVOr5Lh8w/s1600-h/sky-ablaze-with-color.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057Auno-bI/AAAAAAAAJ64/xdMVOr5Lh8w/s400/sky-ablaze-with-color.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426409853472537010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057H_wK_lI/AAAAAAAAJ7A/7qovEJXHt6o/s1600-h/sky-ablaze-with-color_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057H_wK_lI/AAAAAAAAJ7A/7qovEJXHt6o/s400/sky-ablaze-with-color_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426409978330807890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057UJ99r7I/AAAAAAAAJ7I/6cx2SjuC2dk/s1600-h/sky-ablaze-with-color_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057UJ99r7I/AAAAAAAAJ7I/6cx2SjuC2dk/s400/sky-ablaze-with-color_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426410187231440818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057bqqTxaI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/UrZEgtOm4G8/s1600-h/sky-ablaze-with-color_4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057bqqTxaI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/UrZEgtOm4G8/s400/sky-ablaze-with-color_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426410316266456482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057mxr-19I/AAAAAAAAJ7Y/9O1LGnhNIvQ/s1600-h/sky-ablaze-with-color-5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S057mxr-19I/AAAAAAAAJ7Y/9O1LGnhNIvQ/s400/sky-ablaze-with-color-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426410507131082706" border="0" /></a>It's not art, but it's a start. Right?<br /><br />Actually, I could have tweaked the color with post-processing, but I liked the way it looked as it was.<br /><br />Now that I'm just about at the end of my post, are you even a weensy, teeny tiny bit curious about what is changing? Just a little?<br /><br />My blog. I'm moving it in a slightly different direction. I want to incorporate more photography stuff, which will completely alienate most of my current followers, so I need to make some modifications. But it will all be good. I promise.<br /><br />I'll be unveiling a new look soon, which I think will definitely be a change for the good.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-55138014203810813342010-01-12T00:01:00.001-05:002010-01-12T00:01:00.315-05:00The Experiments ContinueHey, wanna guess what <span style="font-style: italic;">THIS</span> is?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vav6SHddI/AAAAAAAAJ5A/7mqmEl1FBgA/s1600-h/IMG_8257_cropped.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vav6SHddI/AAAAAAAAJ5A/7mqmEl1FBgA/s400/IMG_8257_cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425670692731844050" border="0" /></a>Come on, I bet you can't guess. I bet you have NO IDEA.<br /><br />If you guessed dog puke (or people puke, for that matter), you are wrong.<br /><br />It is soup. Broccoli Cheese Soup to be exact.<br /><br />I decided this season to be a bit more adventurous with soups. My old standards, which are all pretty darn good, are: Maryland Crab Soup, Beef Vegetable Soup, Chicken Corn Soup (that's a PA Dutch thing) and, occasionally, Bean Soup.<br /><br />Recently, I have tried French Onion Soup (the recipe in the Joy of Cooking Cookbook makes <span style="font-style: italic;">DELICIOUS</span> soup), Cream of Crab Soup and now Broccoli Cheese Soup (a copycat recipe I found online for Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vdIK8kXDI/AAAAAAAAJ5I/f7y3UIHtx24/s1600-h/IMG_8257.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vdIK8kXDI/AAAAAAAAJ5I/f7y3UIHtx24/s400/IMG_8257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425673308544982066" border="0" /></a>Here's a shot of the Broccoli Cheese Soup in the pot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vdUlvWFtI/AAAAAAAAJ5Q/5Dj83-JrLhQ/s1600-h/IMG_8256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vdUlvWFtI/AAAAAAAAJ5Q/5Dj83-JrLhQ/s400/IMG_8256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425673521895708370" border="0" /></a>And here it is in our giant soup mugs. I served it with toasted rosemary focaccia bread. Oh. My. God. The soup is good. With the bread it was tres magnifique, which I think means really damn good. The recipe is <a href="http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/1833/Panera-Bread-Broccoli-Cheese-S79119.shtml"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>.<br /><br />Speaking of recipes, I forgot to share the link for that <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Karyns-Cream-of-Crab-Soup/Detail.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cream of Crab Soup</span></a> recipe that I tested. It is really, really, really good. And super easy to make.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vjIy2XwAI/AAAAAAAAJ5g/waNkJP4B1oA/s1600-h/cream_of_crab_soup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vjIy2XwAI/AAAAAAAAJ5g/waNkJP4B1oA/s400/cream_of_crab_soup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425679916326174722" border="0" /></a>According to my mother-in-law, it is "to die for." If you make it, go ahead and use the cheaper crab from Indonesia or China or wherever the "blue swimming crab" comes from. The more-expensive meat from <a href="http://laterallineco.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/chesapeake_bay_bluecrab1.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;">blue crabs</span></a> should be reserved for crab cakes. In my opinion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vgHuvqp5I/AAAAAAAAJ5Y/LVN-REzoVaY/s1600-h/fr_onion_soup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0vgHuvqp5I/AAAAAAAAJ5Y/LVN-REzoVaY/s400/fr_onion_soup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425676599509559186" border="0" /></a>I just remembered that I took pictures of the French Onion Soup the last time I made it. The recipe called for Gruyere cheese, but I used Asiago and it was delish. It takes almost two hours to make this soup, but it is so worth it. Someone else transcribed the recipe for their blog, so <a href="http://cookbooksmasher.com/?p=37"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here's a link</span></a> for you. I usually use more than 3 tbsp of cheese and I put the bowls under the broiler to melt the cheese. So make sure you use oven-proof bowls!<br /><br />I'm going to have to get more creative. All of my soup pix are starting to look alike!<br /><br />Here's my (New England) <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2008/10/swamp-dogs-made-from-scratch-clam.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">clam chowder post</span></a> from 2008. It shows cooked blue crabs, too. And a pissed-off cat. That recipe from the Joy of Cooking was time-consuming, but so good.<br /><br />I keep threatening to make the clam chowder again. Hubby doesn't like clams, but this chowder is extraordinary, so maybe I can convert him. I'll let you know if I am successful.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-7471440137827926622010-01-11T00:05:00.003-05:002010-01-11T07:33:59.868-05:00On Taking Better PicturesA little over a week ago, I wrote a post about <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2010/01/camera-talk.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">cameras</span></a>. The general gist of that post was that having a fancy SLR camera doesn't necessarily mean you will be able to take better pictures. Taking good pictures takes work. And practice.<br /><br />I practice a lot. On Saturday, while Hubby was home baking <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2010/01/homemade-goodness.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">cinnamon rolls</span></a>, I decided to drive over to the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge to try out my new teleconverter (think of it as a booster that increases the power of your lens).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qmvY77wvI/AAAAAAAAJ3c/m8zFIO2pvuE/s1600-h/IMG_8232.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qmvY77wvI/AAAAAAAAJ3c/m8zFIO2pvuE/s400/IMG_8232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425332034199077618" border="0" /></a>The reason I wanted a teleconverter was to increase the power of my zoom lens. So I can get clearer pictures of stuff that's far away. When you use a zoom lens, every teeny tiny movement of the camera will make your image blurry. That means, in addition to a zoom lens, you really need a tripod. Even with a tripod, if you are not careful pushing the shutter, you'll shake the camera and blur your image. A cable release or remote (wireless) shutter release button is good to have, too.<br /><br />Often, I don't have the time or inclination to drag all of that stuff out. Saturday, I did. And I managed to get a few good images.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qn4EfimeI/AAAAAAAAJ3k/fuOH9SFl0CE/s1600-h/IMG_8222.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qn4EfimeI/AAAAAAAAJ3k/fuOH9SFl0CE/s400/IMG_8222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425333282841729506" border="0" /></a>I was really just playing around to see how well the teleconverter worked, i.e., does it really bring subjects that much closer? Will it allow for clear focus? Will I be able to use autofocus or will everything need to be manual? That sort of thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qotdOwNCI/AAAAAAAAJ3s/9wnUY1deuoc/s1600-h/IMG_8200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qotdOwNCI/AAAAAAAAJ3s/9wnUY1deuoc/s400/IMG_8200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425334200015270946" border="0" /></a>With the tripod and remote shutter release, it worked pretty well. There weren't a lot of critters around to try the long-distance bird shots, so I was just shooting pics of the grass and trees and stuff. That's when a bluebird couple decided to drop by.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qpVXmLktI/AAAAAAAAJ30/gwSjOdl-LKA/s1600-h/IMG_8190+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qpVXmLktI/AAAAAAAAJ30/gwSjOdl-LKA/s400/IMG_8190+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425334885697688274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qpcYCAW9I/AAAAAAAAJ38/21KZOMcHYV4/s1600-h/IMG_8192+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qpcYCAW9I/AAAAAAAAJ38/21KZOMcHYV4/s400/IMG_8192+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425335006073478098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qpmOfJKXI/AAAAAAAAJ4E/DzbUMGXrlxI/s1600-h/IMG_8193+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qpmOfJKXI/AAAAAAAAJ4E/DzbUMGXrlxI/s400/IMG_8193+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425335175310027122" border="0" /></a>They were far enough away that I couldn't see them well with my naked eye. I am pretty sure there was a Mr and a Mrs, but the Mr was being elusive. The Mrs sat still a tad bit longer, so I was able to get a few nice pics of her. (This might be a male. Females are usually much duller than the males. This bird is much duller than the elusive one, but the more I looked at these shots, the more I realized it isn't as dull as most of the females I have seen. But it could have been the light making her chest look more orange. Her head <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> sort of on the dull side. Here's an old pic of mine with a male and female side by side, with the male on the left. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toadmama/2494516721/" title="Bluebirds by ToadMama, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2041/2494516721_c66b57abec_o.jpg" width="600" height="454" alt="Bluebirds" /></a><br /><br />The camera was on the tripod and I used the wireless shutter release for all of the above shots. Those two pieces of equipment really do make a huge difference.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qqVEYUAUI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/E6OsyOoWFfs/s1600-h/IMG_8237.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qqVEYUAUI/AAAAAAAAJ4M/E6OsyOoWFfs/s400/IMG_8237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425335980050874690" border="0" /></a>I snapped this image of the woods as I was walking out, then I edited it with Photoshop Elements.<br /><br />As I was shooting pics, it was getting darker and darker. I had to stop shooting when the flash kept firing and I realized I don't know enough about aperture and shutter speeds to capture any really good low-light images.<br /><br />That's because I have become lazy. I have been relying way too heavily on my camera's automatic settings to do most of the work for me.<br /><br />So, this morning I decided that I was going to limit my SLR shooting to the camera's manual mode. That will force me to become aware of and practice using the various aperture and shutter speed settings. I told myself I would not revert back to automatic until I'd mastered those two things.<br /><br />And then this bird landed in our backyard...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qsOs9D6pI/AAAAAAAAJ4U/SfX7cX9HJ0c/s1600-h/IMG_8340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qsOs9D6pI/AAAAAAAAJ4U/SfX7cX9HJ0c/s400/IMG_8340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425338069706599058" border="0" /></a>It is a Red Shouldered Hawk. I was fortunate to catch a glimpse of it as it swooped in.<br /><br />They don't land in the yard often. And, when they do, they never stick around long. Luckily I still had the teleconverter and zoom lens on the camera. I did not have time to set the tripod up or use the remote shutter release. And, I had to shoot through the window. I also didn't have time to fiddle with manual settings I know so little about, so I went back to automatic temporarily.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qtFCUqIiI/AAAAAAAAJ4c/BpL3m6cWN7s/s1600-h/IMG_8344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qtFCUqIiI/AAAAAAAAJ4c/BpL3m6cWN7s/s400/IMG_8344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425339003155653154" border="0" /></a>I did tweak the shots with Photoshop Elements slightly, but overall I was pleased with how well they turned out. Considering I was standing at the window just snapping away.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qtbsxZw2I/AAAAAAAAJ4k/HI3ffJwpflA/s1600-h/IMG_8345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0qtbsxZw2I/AAAAAAAAJ4k/HI3ffJwpflA/s400/IMG_8345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425339392507626338" border="0" /></a>It wasn't exactly close to the house either.<br /><br />Since I started feeding the birds again yesterday, the yard was pretty busy with birds and squirrels today. I thought it would take the hawks a while to notice the smorgasbord in our backyard, but was very pleasantly surprised when this one showed up. Usually, it's Redtailed Hawks that we see.<br /><br />Anyway... this year I am going to be working on learning how to use aperture and shutter speeds manually. That means you'll probably be seeing a lot of pictures of odd stuff. But hopefully they will be good pictures. Then maybe by next fall I'll be able to take good eagle pics when they come back to Conowingo.<br /><br />Speaking of eagles, have you checked out the nest cam yet (there's a link in the navigation bar on the right)? I just added a link to the osprey cam today. My favorite nature photographer, Jon the <a href="http://natureandwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nikographer</span></a>, was kind enough to let me use one of his osprey images for the link button. If you haven't looked at his stuff before, you should <a href="http://natureandwildlifephotography.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">check it out</span></a>. He's really very good. You'll have to remember to check the nest cams periodically to catch a glimpse of the birds.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-4848367318401522922010-01-10T06:59:00.025-05:002010-01-10T07:44:27.717-05:00Homemade GoodnessI have an awesome Hubby. It's been awhile since I told you that, so I think it's about time.<br /><br />Wanna know what inspired this particular gush of Hubby-gloat? If you are still reading, you must. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll show you...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nBv_YgznI/AAAAAAAAJ1c/pvEXEZpfI1Y/s1600-h/IMG_8162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nBv_YgznI/AAAAAAAAJ1c/pvEXEZpfI1Y/s400/IMG_8162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425080256356732530" border="0" /></a>I jumped to this photo on purpose. I think it's a cool shot AND I wanted to keep the suspense going, at least for some of you. Others, I know, probably know where this post is heading. (Like Shannon, who I should just apologize to now, because there's a pretty good chance this post might make her a teeny bit homesick. Or hungry. Or both.)<br /><br />Let me back up a bit...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nCYE_h4DI/AAAAAAAAJ1k/EjrdYEj_ZMo/s1600-h/IMG_8154.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nCYE_h4DI/AAAAAAAAJ1k/EjrdYEj_ZMo/s400/IMG_8154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425080945057325106" border="0" /></a>Does this shot help? I doubt it. I mean, I took the picture. I know what this is, but you can't really tell just by looking at this shot, which I think sort of resembles a mud pit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nC8Ee7J1I/AAAAAAAAJ1s/N0ErC7w1DQI/s1600-h/IMG_8155.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nC8Ee7J1I/AAAAAAAAJ1s/N0ErC7w1DQI/s400/IMG_8155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425081563395860306" border="0" /></a>How about now? Is this better?<br /><br />That amazing Hubby of mine made CINNAMON ROLLS yesterday. From scratch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nDRm_rI3I/AAAAAAAAJ10/N5RnQBzBZd4/s1600-h/IMG_8156.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nDRm_rI3I/AAAAAAAAJ10/N5RnQBzBZd4/s400/IMG_8156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425081933437281138" border="0" /></a>His cinnamon rolls are quite tasty. Very. Heck, they're downright delectable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nDb6kbMxI/AAAAAAAAJ18/QyO7sall6sQ/s1600-h/IMG_8157.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nDb6kbMxI/AAAAAAAAJ18/QyO7sall6sQ/s400/IMG_8157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425082110490391314" border="0" /></a>As I was taking these pictures, I was thinking to myself, "My blog is going to end up looking all Pioneer Woman-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ish</span>." Which is cool, 'cause I love the <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pioneer Woman</span></a>. That wasn't my goal, though. I just love the way food pictures turn out when shot with my 50mm prime lens (if you are at all into photography, there's a good discussion on the lens thing <a href="http://www.vothphoto.com/spotlight/articles/forgotten_lens/forgotten-lens.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nEzEzznwI/AAAAAAAAJ2E/Tvx19ce9puk/s1600-h/IMG_8159.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nEzEzznwI/AAAAAAAAJ2E/Tvx19ce9puk/s400/IMG_8159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425083607887879938" border="0" /></a>Hubby didn't even complain that I was all in his way as he carefully rolled the buttery-cinnamon-sugar-laden dough. He's nice like that. Or he knows that after almost 17 years of marriage it's best to just shut up sometimes (i.e., often) and humor your wife. Maybe it's a little of both.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nFPXYbP1I/AAAAAAAAJ2M/jjtLTL8spOQ/s1600-h/IMG_8160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nFPXYbP1I/AAAAAAAAJ2M/jjtLTL8spOQ/s400/IMG_8160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425084093909647186" border="0" /></a>Look at that focus!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nFtbKPjSI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/Jh_BZpRDD3Y/s1600-h/IMG_8162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nFtbKPjSI/AAAAAAAAJ2U/Jh_BZpRDD3Y/s400/IMG_8162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425084610319977762" border="0" /></a>Yes, this image is a repeat. But I like it. Not only do I think it is sort of artsy, it's a great example of where the "roll" in cinnamon rolls comes from. If you've never seen them made, you may not have known that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nGFsEBZFI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/5iRfXnTwreY/s1600-h/IMG_8163.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nGFsEBZFI/AAAAAAAAJ2c/5iRfXnTwreY/s400/IMG_8163.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425085027174147154" border="0" /></a>Let's say you knew that the dough is rolled as part of the cinnamon-roll-making process. Did you know how the soft, squishy dough is cut without being all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">smushed</span>? A knife would totally <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">smush</span> the things so you'd end up with oddly misshapen ovals instead of circles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nGz22bFzI/AAAAAAAAJ2k/otooXSvG_LQ/s1600-h/IMG_8164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nGz22bFzI/AAAAAAAAJ2k/otooXSvG_LQ/s400/IMG_8164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425085820343883570" border="0" /></a>The cutting tool of choice for this particular baker (aka Hubby) is dental floss. Not the minty kind either. Just plain, ole dental floss.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nHQQKoNxI/AAAAAAAAJ2s/CeZCQo-IhUc/s1600-h/IMG_8165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nHQQKoNxI/AAAAAAAAJ2s/CeZCQo-IhUc/s400/IMG_8165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425086308175853330" border="0" /></a>See how neatly it slices the dough?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nHdpqCnXI/AAAAAAAAJ20/9L6cQj7mLY8/s1600-h/IMG_8166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nHdpqCnXI/AAAAAAAAJ20/9L6cQj7mLY8/s400/IMG_8166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425086538356792690" border="0" /></a>Here's another artsy shot. Click on the image so you can see the big version if you really want to appreciate the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">artiness</span> of the shot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nH1J-i4PI/AAAAAAAAJ28/XbewsBQ497c/s1600-h/IMG_8168.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nH1J-i4PI/AAAAAAAAJ28/XbewsBQ497c/s400/IMG_8168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425086942169719026" border="0" /></a>See how nice and round they are?<br /><br />The next step is baking. You may need to let the rolls sit for a while first. I'm not sure. The baker is not downstairs yet, so I can't ask. But it doesn't really matter because this isn't a how-to post, it's one of my I-bet-I-can-make-you-hungry posts.<br /><br />Because I had to leave, I was not able to get a shot of the steamy, fresh-from-the-oven rolls. I missed the whole making of the cream cheese icing, too. In all honesty, I even forgot to take a picture of the finished product until after I'd consumed one (okay, two) and was going through these pictures.<br /><br />However, knowing at least some of my faithful fans would want to see the end product, I did what any good blogger would do and made sure I got at least one good shot so I could include a shot of the ready-to-eat cinnamon rolls in today's post...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nJDXTcf4I/AAAAAAAAJ3E/VKLo3NUhXmw/s1600-h/IMG_8260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0nJDXTcf4I/AAAAAAAAJ3E/VKLo3NUhXmw/s400/IMG_8260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425088285776838530" border="0" /></a>Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go grab myself a cinnamon roll. Or two.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-32818293787785031372010-01-09T13:30:00.001-05:002010-01-09T13:35:49.485-05:00The Real ToadMamaA post written by one of my favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bloggers</span> recently got me thinking. I'll tell you the name of this blogger, which is important because names are the issue here, but I must warn you that she exercises her right to free speech a bit more than I do. By that I mean she cusses. A lot.<br /><br />That's fine with me. I mean, it's a free country, right? I choose to keep my blog relatively clean. Mainly because my Moms read it. So it's a respect thing. Even if I am almost 43 years old (gasp!). I guess even the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ToadMama</span> can be old-fashioned...<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Anyhoo</span>... <a href="http://booshy.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Booshy</span></span></a> did <a href="http://booshy.com/2010/01/08/i-am-the-real-booshy-dammit/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">a post recently</span></a> that was basically about there actually being other people in the world known as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Booshy</span>. Which is pretty odd, considering <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Booshy</span> is sort of a unique moniker.<br /><br />But then, so is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ToadMama</span>, right? Right? That's what I was wondering when I turned to Google and learned that, much to my dismay, there are other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ToadMamas</span> out there!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0ixDJsINSI/AAAAAAAAJ1U/z1jFegmVdkk/s1600-h/real+toadmama.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0ixDJsINSI/AAAAAAAAJ1U/z1jFegmVdkk/s400/real+toadmama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424780418866492706" border="0" /></a>Of course, I had to be all nosy and check these <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">impostors</span> out. Since they're totally stealing my name. So here's the skinny, in order of their appearance on Google. By the way, I'm the first hit on Google, which is proof that I am the REAL <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ToadMama</span>. Agreed?<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">IMPOSTOR</span>(s) #1: The <a href="http://www.toadmamas.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ToadMamas</span></span></a><br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ToadMamas</span> are a band, based in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Charlottesville</span>, VA, who describe their style as "hopping Celtic, New England, French-Canadian and American roots music."<br /><br />Um, what?<br /><br />It's a good thing their site has some sample <a href="http://www.toadmamas.com/Tunes.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Toad Tunes</span></a>.<br /><br />There's a schedule of appearances, too. Oddly enough, the closest one to me seems to be in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Shepherdstown</span>, West Virginia on February 6, which just so happens to be the REAL <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">ToadMama's</span> birthday.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">IMPOSTOR</span> #2: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://ourmomolga.tripod.com/index.html">Doris "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">ToadMama</span>" Pearson</a><br /><br />This nice lady appears to be an <a href="http://ourmomolga.tripod.com/id15.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">upstanding citizen</span></a> from Minnesota. She's a bit older than me, but seems relatively normal. Our <a href="http://ourmomolga.tripod.com/id11.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">pets</span></a> would not get along, that's for sure. My <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpF_tRKBSI/AAAAAAAAJtQ/2wYLnGmPw9I/s1600-h/our_girls_2.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;">three dogs</span></a> would probably eat her five cats and four guinea pigs. But, get this, <a href="http://ourmomolga.tripod.com/id2.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">hazelnut coffee</span></a> and creamer is her favorite. So, we could hang out. She'd just have to leave her pets at home. I think <a href="http://bmindful.com/users/13380"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this is her</span></a>, too. AND she's on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Toadmama"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Facebook</span></span></a>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">IMPOSTOR</span> #3: <a href="http://www.cafemom.com/photos/view.php?photo_id=1068438&ct=user"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tobey</span></a> aka "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">ToadMama</span>"<br /><br />This particular <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">impostor</span> appears to be inactive. But I thought it worth mentioning that she's married to a guy named Mike and, in 2007, they were planning a move to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Downeast</span> Maine. I'll have to see if I can dig up more pond scum on this particular individual. 'Cause I love <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Downeast</span> Maine. And, if she's cool, I might just have to go and meet her. Huh, guess what? Upon further examination, I have determined that she's <a href="http://www.justin.tv/toadling/profile"><span style="font-weight: bold;">still active on the 'net</span></a> and looking for friends. Should I send her an e-mail?<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">IMPOSTOR</span> #4: <a href="http://www.gaiaonline.com/profiles/?u=13627593"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unidentified</span></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">ToadMama</span><br /><br />Not much info here, but there's definite coolness potential. Although, she could be like 12.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">NOT REALLY <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">IMPOSTORS</span>, BUT RELATED</span></span><br /><br /><embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid305.photobucket.com/albums/nn237/laughingtodeath/toadmama.flv"></embed>Someone that goes by "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">laughingtodeath</span>" at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Photobucket</span> site created this particular <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">toadmama</span>, which is cute and definitely worth sharing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">LURVELY</span>:</span> Oddly, I found this <a href="http://www.lurvely.com/index.php?owner=24432984@N07&faves=1&page=1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Web page</span></a> , which somehow or other gathered all of my favorite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Flickr</span> pix for public presentation. Weird.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ART:</span> I now know where to buy a one-of-a-kind polymer clay <a href="https://www.artifactsgallery.com/art.asp?%21=W&ID=19214"><span style="font-weight: bold;">horned toad sculpture</span></a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SELLING OUT:</span> There's a <a href="http://myworld.ebay.com/toadmamma"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Toadmamma</span> </span></a>on eBay, but she has nothing for sale at the time of this writing.<br /><br />So... after much time spent wading through and following links on seven Google pages, that's all I've got. There aren't as many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">ToadMama's</span> as I feared.<br /><br />And I still say I am the REAL <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">ToadMama</span>.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-30944896020746705372010-01-08T08:13:00.000-05:002010-01-08T09:18:57.833-05:00I'm At a Loss for WordsMost days, if I woke up to this, I'd be all excited.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0c9uHWhqEI/AAAAAAAAJ1I/JtOpZKLxDS8/s1600-h/IMG_8135+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0c9uHWhqEI/AAAAAAAAJ1I/JtOpZKLxDS8/s400/IMG_8135+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424372138647857218" border="0" /></a>I mean, it snowed!<br /><br />I <span style="font-style: italic;">love </span>snow.<br /><br />But it's been snowing so much lately, it just feels like more of the same.<br /><br />My first thought, of course, was to turn the dogs loose in the backyard and grab the camera.<br /><br />But just how many snow pictures can one person take?<br /><br />How much can one person say about snow?<br /><br />Sigh...ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-87649215163526486932010-01-07T08:14:00.029-05:002010-01-07T09:35:39.237-05:00Our Ski AdventureAs mentioned here on Tuesday, Eric and I went skiing yesterday. The trip was a success, even if things did not go exactly as planned.<br /><br />Here's what was planned... drive to the WV place on Tuesday night. It's about an hour from Wisp. We would leave there early on Wednesday to ski, spend the night at the WV place on Wednesday, then drive home this morning (Thursday).<br /><br />Eric got off work late on Tuesday, so we didn't leave my house until 11:00 PM. It's a three-hour drive to the WV place. So we should have arrived at about 2:00 AM. I say <span style="font-style: italic;">should have</span> because we hit a bit of trouble. Nothing horrible, but we were definitely delayed.<br /><br />Before I tell you what happened, you need a bit of background. The WV place is not far east of Wisp. It's more in the foothills than the mountains, so it's not subject to the extreme mountain weather that hits the mountains not far west of the cabin. We haven't been to the WV place since Thanksgiving. They were hit with the same blizzard as us in December. But that was like three weeks ago, so we figured the snow would be gone.<br /><br />We were wrong.<br /><br />Hubby wisely convinced me to take our big, bad four-wheel-drive truck instead of my car (wimpy little sedan).<br /><br />Unfortunately, not even the big, bad 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wd</span> truck was a match for the foot of compacted icy snow on Turkey Hollow Road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xg-yKb2KI/AAAAAAAAJzQ/GrfocWJrtNo/s1600-h/ski_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xg-yKb2KI/AAAAAAAAJzQ/GrfocWJrtNo/s400/ski_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423988695459682466" border="0" /></a>We got stuck. A mere 100 yards down Turkey Hollow Road. We were only about 1/4 mile from the house at that point, but...<br /><br />It was 2:00 AM. It was dark. It was COLD.<br /><br />It didn't take long for us to realize the truck was not moving an inch in either direction, so we grabbed our essentials and walked the rest of the way. Lucky for us there were flashlights in the truck!<br /><br />I did mention that it was cold, right? About 20 degrees. The heat at the cabin stays set at 50 degrees when we are not there. It felt absolutely balmy at first. Because it would have taken hours for the radiant heat system to kick in, we just slept in the back bedrooms, which each have their own baseboard heating systems. It was 40 degrees back there. By the time we went to bed at about 3:30, it had warmed up to 45 degrees. Eric had an electric blanket and I had lots of layers, so we were okay.<br /><br />I seriously had no idea there would be that much snow left at the WV place. Here are some pictures I shot on Wednesday morning...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XprXha8yI/AAAAAAAAJzY/VSWPFmIBHrg/s1600-h/ski_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XprXha8yI/AAAAAAAAJzY/VSWPFmIBHrg/s400/ski_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423998257495470882" border="0" /></a>Our (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">undrivable</span>) driveway.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xpzl9FvVI/AAAAAAAAJzg/TrtKgkL9U3Q/s1600-h/ski_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xpzl9FvVI/AAAAAAAAJzg/TrtKgkL9U3Q/s400/ski_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423998398808571218" border="0" /></a>The house surrounded by snow.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xp7GB6fZI/AAAAAAAAJzo/GYKB3xQVEqs/s1600-h/ski_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xp7GB6fZI/AAAAAAAAJzo/GYKB3xQVEqs/s400/ski_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423998527677824402" border="0" /></a>Another shot of the driveway from just outside of the garage.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqCT5DR0I/AAAAAAAAJzw/eDTyU8SAY4w/s1600-h/ski_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqCT5DR0I/AAAAAAAAJzw/eDTyU8SAY4w/s400/ski_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423998651657832258" border="0" /></a>The big hill on Turkey Hollow Road, heading back toward where the truck was stuck. Notice all the critter tracks? It's a mix of deer, turkey and people tracks (Eric and me).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqLv_861I/AAAAAAAAJz4/gOUfLAdRnJc/s1600-h/ski_6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqLv_861I/AAAAAAAAJz4/gOUfLAdRnJc/s400/ski_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423998813821791058" border="0" /></a>Looking down Turkey Hollow Road toward our driveway.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqWqP4jzI/AAAAAAAAJ0A/5SpnaYmul1A/s1600-h/ski_7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqWqP4jzI/AAAAAAAAJ0A/5SpnaYmul1A/s400/ski_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999001256562482" border="0" /></a>Eric with shovel and rake in hand. Those were all the tools we had to work with to free the truck.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqchR0LlI/AAAAAAAAJ0I/Ddx-PW4tX6Y/s1600-h/ski_8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqchR0LlI/AAAAAAAAJ0I/Ddx-PW4tX6Y/s400/ski_8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999101927960146" border="0" /></a>More people tracks, me and Eric, going and coming, taken from right in front of the truck looking down Turkey Hollow Road.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqpCFPlUI/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/vaB5F3zE3VI/s1600-h/ski_9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XqpCFPlUI/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/vaB5F3zE3VI/s400/ski_9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999316892030274" border="0" /></a>That's Romney in the distance.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xqv1So8OI/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/naiUkJ5j9zY/s1600-h/ski_10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xqv1So8OI/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/naiUkJ5j9zY/s400/ski_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999433717641442" border="0" /></a>Just after we crossed the Potomac River back into Maryland, south of La Vale. Notice the pretty blue skies? It did not last long.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xq44nHw4I/AAAAAAAAJ0g/Hg_vefOS-cY/s1600-h/ski_11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0Xq44nHw4I/AAAAAAAAJ0g/Hg_vefOS-cY/s400/ski_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999589227676546" border="0" /></a>Not far west of La Vale on I-68.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrAI77XBI/AAAAAAAAJ0o/H5carNoAMLs/s1600-h/ski_12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrAI77XBI/AAAAAAAAJ0o/H5carNoAMLs/s400/ski_12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999713868995602" border="0" /></a>The highway exit ramp from I-68 onto US-219 at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Keyser's</span> Ridge.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrHlnOjMI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/TYG76EewIdg/s1600-h/ski_13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrHlnOjMI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/TYG76EewIdg/s400/ski_13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999841825885378" border="0" /></a>Eric (dude in center) adjusting his boot.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrOX26zAI/AAAAAAAAJ04/b7WJpANZU8A/s1600-h/ski_14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrOX26zAI/AAAAAAAAJ04/b7WJpANZU8A/s400/ski_14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423999958392687618" border="0" /></a>Here I am. I felt like a mummy. I was warm, but being so bundled up made it hard to take pictures, which is why there aren't many action shots. Plus, it snowed all day. They'd gotten 5 to 8 inches of snow the previous day and were predicting another 4 to 8 inches yesterday. The snow was awesome. The wind was bitter.<br /><br />Skiing in powder was quite a treat, once we got used to it. It's a bit different than skiing on packed snow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrVdHtpTI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/sY9I714f2Gc/s1600-h/ski_15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0XrVdHtpTI/AAAAAAAAJ1A/sY9I714f2Gc/s400/ski_15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424000080064390450" border="0" /></a>The ride home was quite scenic with all of the snow stuck to the trees. (The farther east we traveled, the less snowy it was.)<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />All in all, we had a good time. Aside from the 30-40 minutes required to free the truck, that is.<br /><br />We will definitely try to do it again. Wisp has a special on Wednesdays where you can ski for $21 all day, 9 am to 9 pm. The same lift ticket costs $39 per person any other non-holiday weekday and $59 per person on weekends and holidays. It was quite a deal. And there were NO lift lines. None.<br /><br />Hopefully it will be a little bit warmer next time.<br /></div></div>ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-17851401720542252302010-01-05T07:03:00.008-05:002010-01-05T07:33:46.393-05:00ReadjustmentNow that the holidays are over, it will be interesting to see just how long it takes the girls to readjust to my work schedule.<br /><br />This scene was repeated over and over yesterday. It's a good thing I wasn't busy...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxJXp_t9SMmGshlMKVX4XZuOmn4Plf_pf6bJkmrIefwEMB0Cq35aVjpoUJkhsmjarjCoFg57R_4DIT5VHLLLQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div><br />My girls can be quite demanding at times. After I'd let them out a gazillion times, all K wanted was to sit on my lap. Having her there tends to put a crimp in my typing speed, however.<br /><br />With my handy new point-and-shoot, which I <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>keep by my side at all times, I snapped a couple shots of K on my lap. Then, last night, I did some editing with PS Elements and this is what I ended up with...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0MtHJFXHqI/AAAAAAAAJzI/yBHY5Vi9NVI/s1600-h/artsy_mama_n_k.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0MtHJFXHqI/AAAAAAAAJzI/yBHY5Vi9NVI/s400/artsy_mama_n_k.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423227977004949154" border="0" /></a>I applied some different lighting, color and texture effects. Then I framed it. What do you think?<br /><br />I took Wednesday off to go skiing with my baby boy. I am determined to take advantage of some $21 all-day lift ticket specials this year.<br /><br />Wish me luck. It's still damn cold. Tomorrow's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">forecasted</span> high is 20 degrees with snow showers and some wind, so it will feel like 8 degrees. If I dress appropriately, all should be fine. Right?<br /><br />Snow conditions are great. They've had 63" so far this year and expect some more overnight tonight. We'll be driving out to the WV place this evening if all goes as planned. That's about an hour away from Wisp and just outside the snow belt, so we shouldn't have any problems.<br /><br />If you want to see how things are going for us on Wednesday, check out the <a href="http://www.wispresort.com/wisp/info/w.webcam.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wisp web cams</span></a>.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-23019469435600603082010-01-03T16:00:00.002-05:002010-01-03T18:34:56.148-05:00I Got to Hold TWO PuppiesThe family that served as K's foster family while she was still in rescue are fostering a young <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany_%28dog%29"><span style="font-weight: bold;">French Brittany</span></a> mother and her two pups. I have always wanted to see a Brittany puppy. Other than Max, a friend's yellow lab, I'd never held any puppy, much less tiny little 4-week-old puppies like these!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0D9-bU-lLI/AAAAAAAAJyw/WYHBNLS94Yo/s1600-h/IMG_8089+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0D9-bU-lLI/AAAAAAAAJyw/WYHBNLS94Yo/s400/IMG_8089+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422613200283538610" border="0" /></a>Comet (shown on left) is the bigger of the two. He's a boy. Dancer, shown on right, is a girl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0D-mjmxJZI/AAAAAAAAJy4/54fyPm_j1b8/s1600-h/IMG_8101+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0D-mjmxJZI/AAAAAAAAJy4/54fyPm_j1b8/s400/IMG_8101+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422613889700406674" border="0" /></a>I like Dancer's little freckled nose. Here she is all wrapped in a towel after I rocked her to sleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0D_BtXxwoI/AAAAAAAAJzA/7ooQiSxOFUQ/s1600-h/2Jan2009_puppy_visit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0D_BtXxwoI/AAAAAAAAJzA/7ooQiSxOFUQ/s400/2Jan2009_puppy_visit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422614356178354818" border="0" /></a>The first time we went down to see the puppies, we left K upstairs. She was not happy. She cried the whole time I was gone. So, when we got back upstairs, she wanted to hang out with me. Emily sat on the floor, too, and soon we were surrounded by critters. Other than me spinning K around to face the camera, this shot was not posed. Isn't it hysterical that even the cat got in there?<br /><br />K was such a good passenger. On the way home, after stopping at my parents' house, I stopped at a pit beef stand to get dinner. I asked if I could have a couple of little scraps for K. They gave me a bag with at least a pound and a half of beef, ham, turkey and corned beef scraps. Thanks to K, all of the dogs ate well last night!<br /><br />I created a slide show using some of the pix from yesterday. I did it with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Photoshop</span> Elements, and it was super-easy. If you are looking for an inexpensive but powerful piece of image editing software, that's the one I would recommend.<br /><br />I had hoped to stop at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Conowingo</span> Dam on the way home for some eagle pix, but, as you'll see in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">slideshow</span>, it was ungodly cold. Most have left the dam to head for their nests. Eagles lay their eggs in mid-January. Wanna see some Eagles nesting, laying eggs and hatching the chicks? Follow the Eagle Cam link I just installed in the right navigation bar at the bottom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwHIjk668GJvI5RVFjyu-owAnZpDVDIWir6fHtaW5kH8pR09f_OYcgBJXc9eaQ5n2JHIcAl20iRutXPNUSG' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"><br />NOTE: There's an error in my slideshow.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">The picture of two dogs labeled Hannah and Brandy</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">should read Bella and Brandy. Sorry, Jenn!</span><br /></div>ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-255072279852819232010-01-03T07:53:00.006-05:002010-01-03T08:24:48.035-05:00The Big 2009 RewindSo, it's 2010. Not just a new year, but also a new <span style="font-style: italic;">decade</span>. Dag. Where'd the last decade go?<br /><br />While that is a completely rhetorical question, it seems, as a blogger, I am obliged to do a year in review post. I'm not talking about going over what happened in the world, just what happened in my world. So here goes...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz89jYwyAaI/AAAAAAAAJxg/sqC_WRBgh_M/s1600-h/puppy_luv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 91px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz89jYwyAaI/AAAAAAAAJxg/sqC_WRBgh_M/s200/puppy_luv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422120154529137058" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">JANUARY 2009</span><br /><br />The biggest event in January was <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/01/cutest-little-dog-in-world.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Belle joining our family</span></a>. We adopted her from American Brittany Rescue. She was 18 months old at the time. I fell in love with Belle immediately upon meeting her. It took Hubby about 3 minutes to become completely smitten. She really is the cutest, most lovable little dog. That's when this Blog started to become <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/01/two-whole-weeks.html">flooded with doggie pics</a>. But, you know what? That's my world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">FEBRUARY 2009</span><br /><br />It was a quiet month. The biggest news was <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/02/shameless-self-promotion.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">my birthday</span></a> (I turned 42). The next-biggest even was when <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/02/no-more-tv-woes.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">we got a new TV</span></a>. I told you it was a quiet month.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz9CI355hBI/AAAAAAAAJxo/J3qD1Rm-kPc/s1600-h/belle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 182px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz9CI355hBI/AAAAAAAAJxo/J3qD1Rm-kPc/s200/belle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422125196590547986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">March 2009</span><br /><br />Belle <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/our-princess-scored.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">caught a squirrel</span></a> in our backyard.<br /><br />Shannon died her hair <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/military-order-magenta-style.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">magenta</span></a>.<br /><br />Meg got <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/not-entirely-truthful.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">new eyeglasses</span></a>.<br /><br />Amy (our youngest daughter) <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/03/special-day.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">had a birthday</span></a>.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">APRIL</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);"> 2009</span><br /><br /><a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/04/on-being-boy.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joey visited</span></a> the WV place.<br /><br />Hubby and I celebrated our <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/04/on-being-hitched.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">16th wedding anniversary</span></a>.<br /><br />My <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-girlfriend-tried-to-kill-me.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">girlfriend tried to kill me</span></a> (convinced me to attempt a 10-mile run).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">MAY 2009</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz9E7DL9ljI/AAAAAAAAJxw/DkuApiURpv8/s1600-h/OK_2009+138.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz9E7DL9ljI/AAAAAAAAJxw/DkuApiURpv8/s200/OK_2009+138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422128257635817010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hubby and I visited <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/05/oklahoma-arkansas-trip-report.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oklahoma and Arkansas</span></a>.<br /><br />We found a <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-i-keep-camera-handy.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">painted turtle</span></a> in our backyard.<br /><br />I captured some really cool <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/05/everything-here-is-so-green.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"welcome Spring" pictures</span></a>.<br /><br />There was a first ever <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/05/girls-weekend-in-wv.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">girl's weekend</span></a> at the WV place.<br /><br />Belle <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/05/parenting-failure.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">killed a groundhog</span></a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">JUNE 2009</span><br /><br />I struggled with <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-training-partner.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">my attempts at becoming a runner</span></a>.<br /><br />The <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/06/hot-humid-gross.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">weather was gross</span></a>. (Not exactly exciting, but there are cool pics.)<br /><br />I snapped my best ever picture of a <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/06/its-only-natural.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Blue Heron</span></a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">JULY 2009</span><br /><br />Joey, our youngest grandson, <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/guess-who-just-turned-two.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">turned two</span></a>.<br /><br />We enjoyed quite a few awesome motorcycle rides, like this one to <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-amazing-weekend.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tygart Lake</span></a>, and my trip to <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/wanna-know-where-ive-been.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Greenland Gap</span></a>, and this one where I found the <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/wanna-know-where-ive-been.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Paw Paw Tunnel</span></a>, which we still have not visited.<br /><br />My <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-are-words-for.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dad</span></a> celebrated his birthday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz9LsbqxBHI/AAAAAAAAJx4/y6TGRCkAHH8/s1600-h/anniv-party3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz9LsbqxBHI/AAAAAAAAJx4/y6TGRCkAHH8/s200/anniv-party3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422135703090824306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">AUGUST 2009</span><br /><br />My parents celebrated their <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/08/happy-anniversary-mom-and-dad-ii.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">50th wedding anniversary</span></a>.<br /><br />We declared the WV place <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/08/finished-done-caput-finally.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FINISHED</span></a>.<br /><br />There were more <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/08/other-peoples-cows-stuff.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">nice motorcycle rides</span></a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/08/remote-vacation-navigation.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">MOMstar Navigation</span></a> system was introduced.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">SEPTEMBER 2009</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CFGys-QFI/AAAAAAAAJyA/oa9Iz1KU-t4/s1600-h/helens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CFGys-QFI/AAAAAAAAJyA/oa9Iz1KU-t4/s200/helens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422480303090188370" border="0" /></a><a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/09/toadmama-capitol-tours-um-no.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Annelies and Yves</span></a> visited from Belgium.<br /><br />I captured a <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/09/that-one-sweet-shot.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">picture of the grandkids</span></a> that just might be my all-time favorite.<br /><br />We had the <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/09/septembers-thirsty-third-thursday.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">last Thirsty Third Thursday</span></a> before Shannon left.<br /><br />There were more great motorcycle rides <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/09/it-doesnt-get-any-better.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">like this one</span></a> and <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/09/motorcycling-at-its-finest.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this one</span></a>.<br /><br />I posted a cool <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/09/its-all-about-light.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">photo slideshow</span></a> showcasing some Fall pix.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CLlCh58KI/AAAAAAAAJyI/LUOwugotbc0/s1600-h/gaige_bday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CLlCh58KI/AAAAAAAAJyI/LUOwugotbc0/s200/gaige_bday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422487419804577954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">OCTOBER 2009</span><br /><br /><a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/and-shes-off.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shannon left</span></a> for her journey.<br /><br />There were lots of birthdays: <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-birthday-gaige.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gaige</span></a> (October 11), my <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-birthday-mom.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mom</span></a> (October 7), <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-birthday-hubby.html">Hubby</a> </span>(October 4) and <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/happy-birthday-eric.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eric</span></a> (October 1).<br /><br />I finally visited the <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/glorious-october-friday.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware</span></a> and <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/10/seeing-is-believing.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conowingo Dam</span></a>. Two of the places my Flickr photographer friends frequent. At the dam, I captured one image that included 36 Bald Eagles!<br /><br />I did a 5k run/walk, too, but didn't post about it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CPdzSFPTI/AAAAAAAAJyQ/ACmq8LFMUNk/s1600-h/k_waves_hi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 146px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CPdzSFPTI/AAAAAAAAJyQ/ACmq8LFMUNk/s200/k_waves_hi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422491693499104562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">NOVEMBER 2009</span><br /><br />Our newest dog, K, <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/our-special-k-made-it-home-today.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">joined the family</span></a>. We adopted her through the <a href="http://www.nbran.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">National Brittany Rescue Adoption Network</span></a> (NBRAN). There were lots and lots of posts about K in November. In December, too, actually. If you really want to review all of those, <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/search/label/k"><span style="font-weight: bold;">click here</span></a>.<br /><br />My <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/horrible-timing.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">mother-in-law</span></a> celebrated her birthday.<br /><br /><a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/it-finally-happened.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Amy and all of the grandkids</span></a> visited the WV place.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DECEMBER 2009</span><br /><br />Christmas happened, of course. You can read about <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-2009-recap.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">how we celebrated</span></a> AND the <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/friends-in-all-right-places.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">cool gifts we received</span></a>.<br /><br />We had a <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/catching-up-is-hard-to-do.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">blizzard</span></a>!<br /><br /><a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-birthday-brianna.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brianna</span></a> and <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/its-big-three-one.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shannon</span></a> celebrated their birthdays.<br /><br />I snapped the below image of Belle, which is now and will forever remain one my favorite images of all time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CSB7bJxOI/AAAAAAAAJyY/5WUD1GYX1DQ/s1600-h/funny_dog_shot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/S0CSB7bJxOI/AAAAAAAAJyY/5WUD1GYX1DQ/s400/funny_dog_shot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422494513183180002" border="0" /></a>And that was my year. I hope you enjoyed the summary.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-73856848144086289882010-01-01T10:03:00.057-05:002010-01-01T13:03:35.612-05:00Camera TalkHappy New Year to all of my Blog fans. If you're not a fan (yet), please pop back in every now and then to visit. Maybe you'll be inspired to bookmark this Blog. Or (gasp!) maybe even become a follower.<br /><br />I won't go all into my personal list of resolutions for the year (there aren't many), but I will say that one of them is to take more and better pictures. "More" and "better" go hand in hand. Because, in order to capture great shots, you have to take a lot of pictures and/or know how to use photo editing software.<br /><br />If you could care less about taking more and better pictures, just stop reading now and come back tomorrow because this post will bore you to death.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On taking MORE pictures...</span><br /><br />Here's <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25745338@N08/4207597687/sizes/o/">a unique image I encountered</a> </span>recently...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/25745338@N08/4207597687/sizes/o/"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz4PO9o_8AI/AAAAAAAAJwA/LwYvS3wQISQ/s320/Peace+by+Monstergirlee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421787751139766274" border="0" /></a>Cool, isn't it? It was taken by <a href="http://monstergirlee.blogspot.com/2009/12/december-greeblepix-contest-entry.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Monstergirlee</span></span></a>. It's just a Christmas ornament on a tree, right? Here's what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Monstergirlee</span> had to say...<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">I took 36 pictures of this ornament, something I'd been planning for 3 or 4 days. Or at least thinking about it, how to set it up, etc. I really wanted some nice <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bokeh</span></a> and a warm light. I edited 6 of them, and finally decided this was the best mix of all that was desired.</span>"<br /><br />She'd been planning the shot for 3 or 4 days and took 36 pictures of this one, stationary ornament. I'd say that's a lot of pictures, wouldn't you?<br /><br />Here's one of my favorite, recent, dog pictures...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz4WYrNWQzI/AAAAAAAAJwo/AgIB3Qn4J8o/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz4WYrNWQzI/AAAAAAAAJwo/AgIB3Qn4J8o/s320/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421795614572036914" border="0" /></a>I took about 30 images of the dogs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wrastling</span>. I just clicked away as I watched them play. I know they make goofy faces when they play, so I figured if I just kept clicking I'd catch at least one of them looking silly.<br /><br />Instead, I got lucky and captured them both looking "psychotic" as one friend described.<br /><br />That means there were 29 other images I threw away. I might employ a different strategy if I were using film. All that developing would be expensive. (This is where Hubby would tell you, like he's told 50 other people and tells me about once a week, he's the one that had to convince me to use a digital as opposed to film camera. And he's happy because if I hadn't switched, we'd be in the poorhouse.)<br /><br />Here's another recent capture that I love.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz4Y7dJwpzI/AAAAAAAAJww/ofLAn27rsiA/s1600-h/got_your_back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz4Y7dJwpzI/AAAAAAAAJww/ofLAn27rsiA/s400/got_your_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421798411117569842" border="0" /></a>Shots like this cannot be planned. And 99% of the time, you need to click the ole shutter many, many times to capture something like this. Not only that, you need to know how to do some editing (more on that in some other post).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On taking BETTER pictures...</span><br /><br />Quite often, when people see me with my digital Canon Rebel SLR camera, they say, "I need to get a good camera like that so I can take better pictures." So as not to sound like a know-it-all, I have resisted explaining what I am about to explain here.<br /><br />SLR cameras like mine are not the best camera for everyone. Unless you work hard to set up the proper shot, the less-expensive point-and-shoots take better pictures.<br /><br />What's an SLR camera? A single lens reflex (SLR) camera has one lens used for picture taking and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">viewfinding</span>. What you see when you look through the viewfinder is what you capture in your shot. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">SLRs</span> have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">interchangeable</span> lenses, too, which is both good and bad. Good because you can have a wide range of image options. Bad because lenses are expensive. Also, when swapping lenses, it is easy to get dirt inside your camera. They are not easy to clean and it is very risky. One wrong move and your very expensive camera becomes a very expensive paperweight.<br /><br />A point and shoot means just that. You point your camera and you shoot. There's no swapping of lenses. Most have zoom features and lots of different settings like macro (for close-ups), landscape, portrait, etc. Point-and-shoots are typically less bulky, too, so they are easier to carry in your pocket or your purse.<br /><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;"></span><br />Here's some proof that you don't need an expensive SLR camera to take great pictures:<br /><br />Look at this shot of <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/violaaragon/4198380105/sizes/m/">Ernie in the snow</a></span>. It was taken with a Blackberry camera phone.<br /><br />A very <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayepalmer/4193125267/sizes/l/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">nice landscape shot</span></a>, captured with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Vivitar</span> 6300.<br /><br />All of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/slkirkpatrick/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shannon's travel pics</span></a> were taken with a Nikon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Coolpix</span> L18.<br /><br />Shown below is a Nikon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Coolpix</span> L20...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz4wJhigeJI/AAAAAAAAJxI/g4kI1EJVe2g/s1600-h/nikon_l20_coolpix.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sz4wJhigeJI/AAAAAAAAJxI/g4kI1EJVe2g/s400/nikon_l20_coolpix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421823941580716178" border="0" /></a>I just bought it and an 8 GB memory card for less than $100. It's an awesome little camera that I can easily carry with me everywhere. And it takes videos. So you know I'll have lots more interesting content here in the future, right?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On choosing the right camera...</span><br /><br />There are tons of things to consider when choosing a new camera. Tons. If you are considering a switch, here's a great article that <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/should-you-buy-a-dslr-or-point-and-shoot-digital-camera"><span style="font-weight: bold;">might help you out</span></a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">On what you should focus on first...</span><br /><br />Composition is the most important thing you need to master. If you just think your images are as interesting as those shot by other people, I bet composition is your issue. There are many aspects of composition that are important. Where in the picture is your subject located? Is your background too "busy"? Are you focused on the right thing?<br /><br />Lots of stuff has already been written on <a href="http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-composition-tips"><span style="font-weight: bold;">composition</span></a>, too. Do yourself a favor and try to work on this sort of stuff before spending even one cent.<br /><br />I'm sorry if I have bored you fans that could care less about cameras and/or how to take pictures. I promise my next post will have more of the fun and excitement you typically find here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> - - - - -<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">To learn all kinds of cool stuff about digital photography, just visit the </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" href="http://digital-photography-school.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Digital Photography School</span></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">. It's free and contains just about everything you need to know about digital photography.</span>ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-8141144967831356532009-12-31T05:00:00.005-05:002009-12-31T05:00:04.026-05:00Um, Is That Normal?Sometimes, when I post pictures like this of my dogs...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwUXKMUGXI/AAAAAAAAJvQ/P9IcryB5DhA/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwUXKMUGXI/AAAAAAAAJvQ/P9IcryB5DhA/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421230439552784754" border="0" /></a>...people wonder if they are vicious killers. They probably wonder about me, too, posting pictures of what might look to many like two dogs fighting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVCv_wIrI/AAAAAAAAJvY/HDCdZYrcCMM/s1600-h/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVCv_wIrI/AAAAAAAAJvY/HDCdZYrcCMM/s400/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421231188435018418" border="0" /></a>Normal people might not post pictures like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVOTbBd5I/AAAAAAAAJvg/mBWTMBMJoKE/s1600-h/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVOTbBd5I/AAAAAAAAJvg/mBWTMBMJoKE/s400/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421231386923202450" border="0" /></a>Some people might think this behavior and these images are inappropriate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVgYlPYzI/AAAAAAAAJvw/pnB2p04Rxjw/s1600-h/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVgYlPYzI/AAAAAAAAJvw/pnB2p04Rxjw/s400/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421231697545880370" border="0" /></a>Personally, I find the behavior entertaining. And the pictures! Some of the pictures are hilarious. I find them so hilarious specifically because they make the girls look so ferocious and mean.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVZ07Av4I/AAAAAAAAJvo/txQrNQktT2o/s1600-h/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwVZ07Av4I/AAAAAAAAJvo/txQrNQktT2o/s400/30Dec2009_doggiecam_candid_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421231584894304130" border="0" /></a>These dogs are not fighting. They are playing. Wrestling. (Or "wrastling" as my Dad would say.)<br /><br />They may look like blood-thirsty killers at times, like in this shot, which just might be one of my all-time favorites (yes, it's the same as the first image in this post)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwXFPwJhKI/AAAAAAAAJv4/1dVVKQGCI8Q/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzwXFPwJhKI/AAAAAAAAJv4/1dVVKQGCI8Q/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421233430342501538" border="0" /></a>...but both Belle (on left) and K are complete and total sweethearts. There's not a mean bone in either of their bodies. They just really like to wrastle!<br /><br />Here's some proof for you. An actual video of Belle and K in action, which was taken earlier today. K does emit one short bark in the beginning, but other than tags jingling and a little growling, the sound is minimal.<br /><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/aXL_YUNFq30&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/aXL_YUNFq30&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object><br /><br />I wish I'd had a video camera when we had all of that snow on the ground!ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-55082603538062183172009-12-30T08:25:00.024-05:002009-12-30T09:59:51.296-05:00What Will They Think of Next?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztVcKp4-AI/AAAAAAAAJtY/hk5qmMmFsw4/s1600-h/doggie-cam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztVcKp4-AI/AAAAAAAAJtY/hk5qmMmFsw4/s320/doggie-cam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421020518855276546" border="0" /></a>In yesterday's post, I mentioned <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/friends-in-all-right-places.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">briefly</span></a> that I got a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doggie</span> cam for Christmas. I also shared this shot of Meg wearing said <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doggie</span> cam.<br /><br />Surprisingly, no one called me a geek. All of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doggie</span> friends (people with dogs) thought it was cool. And since many of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">doggie</span> friends are regular readers, I thought I would share some pics today.<br /><br />But first, some background.<br /><br />Hubby stumbled across this camera on the Web a while back. Of course, I said, "Awesome! You totally have to get me one of those!" And then I promptly forgot about it.<br /><br />Since I have such an awesome Hubby, he actually remembered. Imagine my delight when I unwrapped my very own <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/cameras-photography/afbc/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pet's Eye View Camera</span></a>.<br /><br />I tried it out on all three dogs yesterday. But I was having technical difficulties. It took me a while to figure out that you need to delete and/or reset the camera after you download the pics. So I didn't get nearly as many cool shots as I wanted. Like I for sure thought Belle would have captured several images of me with the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100068796&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100068796&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D29X-_-100068796">Little Green Machine</a> sucking dog puke out of the carpet. And I just knew Meg would have pics of me retrieving the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">poopsicles</span> from the yard. But, no. I'll have to try again today to see if I can catch some similar excitement.<br /><br />Here are some closer views of <a href="http://www.gizmag.com/pets-eye-view-camera/12187/gallery/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">the camera itself</span></a>. It is a low-resolution camera. LOW RESOLUTION. That means it needs lot of light to work well. Images will not be crystal-clear (think grainy security camera images as seen on COPS.).<br /><br />I knew this, so was not surprised that many of the images were too dark or blurry to decipher. But the pups did manage to capture some fun (sort of) stuff.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzteoLBGRzI/AAAAAAAAJtg/3V4kxAFXkeI/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzteoLBGRzI/AAAAAAAAJtg/3V4kxAFXkeI/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421030620715697970" border="0" /></a>This is the door to my office as seen from a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">doggie</span> bed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sztevb4kkoI/AAAAAAAAJto/eOfS7AuAbKQ/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sztevb4kkoI/AAAAAAAAJto/eOfS7AuAbKQ/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421030745502421634" border="0" /></a>This is K's nose. The camera does hang from their neck. So if your dog sniffs the ground a lot like mine do, you'll see a lot of this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szte1Sw2b6I/AAAAAAAAJtw/j1KHF31jgqg/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szte1Sw2b6I/AAAAAAAAJtw/j1KHF31jgqg/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421030846133333922" border="0" /></a>Here you can see the yard relatively clearly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szte7CnUuaI/AAAAAAAAJt4/3V69UTTRzBU/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szte7CnUuaI/AAAAAAAAJt4/3V69UTTRzBU/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421030944877623714" border="0" /></a>This is Belle's nose. Don't you just love the way the sun hits her whiskers and her hairy little little lips?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfFuQPJoI/AAAAAAAAJuI/UCNbzR69eUs/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfFuQPJoI/AAAAAAAAJuI/UCNbzR69eUs/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031128390641282" border="0" /></a>I'm pretty sure it was Belle who captured this lovely image of K's feet as she flew down the hall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfAY3PYWI/AAAAAAAAJuA/p_m1whNvT0Y/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfAY3PYWI/AAAAAAAAJuA/p_m1whNvT0Y/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031036749308258" border="0" /></a>This is a very clear image (probably as clear as it will get), which I know was taken while the photographer was sitting on the top step, waiting to be let back into the house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfNSl5vbI/AAAAAAAAJuQ/ZpVRPXgQpzs/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfNSl5vbI/AAAAAAAAJuQ/ZpVRPXgQpzs/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031258404273586" border="0" /></a>This is one of those fun images that take some concentration to decipher. Seriously. It is clearly inside the house. But what is it? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hmmm</span>.<br /><br />Hubby gets the prize for figuring out that it is the bottom of my office chair. From a pet's eye view, of course.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfTdBQHUI/AAAAAAAAJuY/XfUKG49wotY/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfTdBQHUI/AAAAAAAAJuY/XfUKG49wotY/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031364282555714" border="0" /></a>Here's a clearer image for you.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfZArYPoI/AAAAAAAAJug/SrMIRT_OKuE/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfZArYPoI/AAAAAAAAJug/SrMIRT_OKuE/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031459753836162" border="0" /></a>Not all images will be clear, or even remotely clear. If your dog sleeps a lot and has floppy ears, chances are good you'll get a lot of black images, which are actually the inside of the dog's ear flap while it sleeps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfevfTzXI/AAAAAAAAJuo/l9e0zJuC3sU/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfevfTzXI/AAAAAAAAJuo/l9e0zJuC3sU/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031558219025778" border="0" /></a>You'll also get lots of images like this. Unless you have a dog that sits still a lot. Low-resolution cameras do not handle motion well.<br /><br />If you look really hard at the above picture, you might realize that's me in the upper right-hand corner, bending over. Or maybe not.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztflGxDIUI/AAAAAAAAJuw/EwUGS8HtWLY/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztflGxDIUI/AAAAAAAAJuw/EwUGS8HtWLY/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031667546661186" border="0" /></a>I'm pretty sure K captured this one. She often sits at the top of the steps, just outside my office door, because she can see out of the window.<br /><br />Anyway... as you can see, none of these shots are great. But it's a toy. That's all.<br /><br />You will not catch lovely candid images like this one...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztqHRQ6eDI/AAAAAAAAJvI/nIRFh05ntBo/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 336px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztqHRQ6eDI/AAAAAAAAJvI/nIRFh05ntBo/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam_candid.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421043249596495922" border="0" /></a>...which was not only taken with my very high-resolution camera using a flash, but was also edited with PS Elements.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfqMH7pNI/AAAAAAAAJu4/aBBvTHuoiyI/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam10_ART.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztfqMH7pNI/AAAAAAAAJu4/aBBvTHuoiyI/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam10_ART.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421031754884162770" border="0" /></a>Of course, if you are creative like me, maybe you can use some of your pet's images to create abstract art. Like I did above.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztmC21JHvI/AAAAAAAAJvA/4YPhCziFGyk/s1600-h/29Dec2009_doggiecam_ART.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 110px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SztmC21JHvI/AAAAAAAAJvA/4YPhCziFGyk/s400/29Dec2009_doggiecam_ART.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421038775734705906" border="0" /></a>You just might be able to find someone willing to pay a lot of money for this shit. I mean, for this <span style="font-style: italic;">art</span>.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-29778864711676411072009-12-29T08:31:00.039-05:002009-12-29T21:03:31.802-05:00Friends in All the Right Places<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo3Wd7VOiI/AAAAAAAAJro/ld6RCUo1Rdg/s1600-h/santa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo3Wd7VOiI/AAAAAAAAJro/ld6RCUo1Rdg/s320/santa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420705960623946274" border="0" /></a>Gift-wise, this has been an interesting Christmas.<br /><br />I mean that in a good way, of course.<br /><br />The first gift Hubby and I received came all of the way from Alaska. And, it arrived in the middle of a <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/oh-weather-outside-is-snowy.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">blizzard</span></a>, which was awesome. It, by the way, was a box of home-made goodies from Mike's cousin, <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2008/06/making-connections.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">June, and her family</span></a>. The box contained yummy cookies--oatmeal, pecan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">sandies</span> and chocolate chip (made with pretzel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">stix</span>)--trail mix (a variety of nuts and dried fruits) and some homemade soaps.<br /><br />There's nothing like homemade goodness. The oatmeal cookies served as Hubby's fuel on Sunday as he shoveled a path down the driveway through the 23 inches of snow we had. And Joey LOVED the trail mix. We all liked it, but he loved it!<br /><br />Another very nice surprise gift was this intriguing and way cool object <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">d'art</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo8TQZb9oI/AAAAAAAAJrw/RX3wjfSEhSU/s1600-h/pencil_art.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo8TQZb9oI/AAAAAAAAJrw/RX3wjfSEhSU/s400/pencil_art.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420711403010651778" border="0" /></a>It is made out of super-compressed graphite. That's the stuff they make pencils with. So, not only is it cool to look at, <span style="font-style: italic;">every surface of the object</span> writes like a pencil. Neat, eh? I LOVE stuff like this.<br /><br />The leaf is about 6 inches long and fits perfectly in my hand, for when I need to write something of course.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo9aebWyRI/AAAAAAAAJr4/Io1tzRpZ2ZE/s1600-h/frog_gift.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo9aebWyRI/AAAAAAAAJr4/Io1tzRpZ2ZE/s400/frog_gift.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420712626547509522" border="0" /></a>This bath scrubby of mine was selected and paid for by my granddaughter, Brianna (age 9).<br /><br />Our oldest grandson, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gaige</span> (age 6), shopped and paid for Hubby's gift...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo-oZtEWZI/AAAAAAAAJsA/_GyDE7fCXBs/s1600-h/dog_gift.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo-oZtEWZI/AAAAAAAAJsA/_GyDE7fCXBs/s400/dog_gift.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420713965309417874" border="0" /></a>... a small, ceramic dog. It's about 5 inches long and 3 inches tall, at its tallest point. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gaige</span> apparently knows that Pop loves dogs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo_dmJJVrI/AAAAAAAAJsI/yIPs6ohZgfk/s1600-h/doggie-cam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szo_dmJJVrI/AAAAAAAAJsI/yIPs6ohZgfk/s400/doggie-cam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420714879181477554" border="0" /></a>Meg is wearing one of the gifts I got from Hubby. The big blue and white thing hanging from her collar is my new <span style="font-style: italic;">Pet's Eye View Camera</span>, also known as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">doggie</span> cam. We can't wait to go to the WV place so we can see what she sees on the way to and from Buddy's house. Hubby also got me a digital picture frame, which I have wanted for years. Oh yeah, and a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">teleconverter</span> lens for my camera, among other things.<br /><br />My parents really surprised me with 3 bags of Seattle's Best <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hazelnut</span> Coffee, which Mom had shipped direct from Washington state with the help of a wonderful friend. I got some shopping money, too. And a short story book. I'm addicted to short story books, in case you didn't already know.<br /><br />A dear friend sent Hubby and I a gift, which was accompanied by this card...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpBw0QInXI/AAAAAAAAJsQ/aEZQuXBBtOc/s1600-h/ho-ho-ho-frog.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpBw0QInXI/AAAAAAAAJsQ/aEZQuXBBtOc/s400/ho-ho-ho-frog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420717408409656690" border="0" /></a>...that for some reason made her think of me. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">LOL</span>!<br /><br />As awesome as the card is, the gift is even cooler...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpCLSMRa_I/AAAAAAAAJsY/l6NYbMx9iLw/s1600-h/chocolate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 343px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpCLSMRa_I/AAAAAAAAJsY/l6NYbMx9iLw/s400/chocolate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420717863123119090" border="0" /></a>... real Belgian chocolate. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">YUUUMMMMMMM</span>.<br /><br />Oddly enough, we received it on the same day we received this...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpCgdAt3MI/AAAAAAAAJsg/wzn0oCkg_mA/s1600-h/chocolate2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpCgdAt3MI/AAAAAAAAJsg/wzn0oCkg_mA/s400/chocolate2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420718226804694210" border="0" /></a>This is the chocolate <a href="http://swissmacs.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-new-weakness.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mrs. Mac posted about</span></a> that inspired me to try, and quickly become addicted to, <a href="http://www.typetive.com/candyblog/item/trader_joes_dark_chocolate_sea_salt_caramels/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels</span></a>.<br /><br />According to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Lindt</span> Web site, this stuff "will surprise your taste buds with an unexpected alliance of nicely bitter, silky dark chocolate refined with tiniest crystals of "Fleur <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">du</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Sel</span>" - the flower, or the crown of the sea salt."<br /><br />It was personally hand-delivered by Mrs. Mac, who came all the way from Switzerland just to see us, and her family, and her friends, and her former co-workers, etc.<br /><br />It is quite delectable. You have to like dark chocolate, though, which I do. Hubby and I may be fighting over this one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpEI4fvG1I/AAAAAAAAJso/GsTMP7C62fg/s1600-h/rhebs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 369px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpEI4fvG1I/AAAAAAAAJso/GsTMP7C62fg/s400/rhebs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420720020888951634" border="0" /></a>Speaking of chocolate... I couldn't resist taking a picture of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Rheb's</span> candy, which Hubby and I gave several folks for Christmas. We bought ourselves a box, too, of course.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpEcNVWvgI/AAAAAAAAJsw/fKptVUBpJQ0/s1600-h/me_like_chocolate.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 342px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpEcNVWvgI/AAAAAAAAJsw/fKptVUBpJQ0/s400/me_like_chocolate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420720352900070914" border="0" /></a>This image shows chocoholic Meg who is simultaneously wondering "Why, oh why, is Mama taking pictures of all of her chocolate?" and "Is she going to give me some? Is she? I like chocolate!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpFHqUkOrI/AAAAAAAAJs4/XRY6xxBPyUM/s1600-h/snowman.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpFHqUkOrI/AAAAAAAAJs4/XRY6xxBPyUM/s400/snowman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420721099415763634" border="0" /></a>This is a snowman ornament I've had for years. I can't remember if it was given to me by one of my girlfriends, or if I bought it myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpFYOl9UQI/AAAAAAAAJtA/IdSq6ktM088/s1600-h/snowman2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpFYOl9UQI/AAAAAAAAJtA/IdSq6ktM088/s400/snowman2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420721384030294274" border="0" /></a>I have the same issue with this ornament. Though I am pretty sure this was a gift from a girlfriend in a previous year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpFsNg742I/AAAAAAAAJtI/BPT-p0Hj6T8/s1600-h/our_girls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpFsNg742I/AAAAAAAAJtI/BPT-p0Hj6T8/s400/our_girls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420721727338177378" border="0" /></a>I couldn't resist sharing this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">doggie</span> picture. K and Belle were jealous that I was taking Meg's picture. So they joined in.<br /><br />Wanna know why K looks so short?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpF_tRKBSI/AAAAAAAAJtQ/2wYLnGmPw9I/s1600-h/our_girls_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzpF_tRKBSI/AAAAAAAAJtQ/2wYLnGmPw9I/s400/our_girls_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420722062279443746" border="0" /></a>It's because she sits on the steps with her butt on one step and her front feet on the step below that. We think it is easier for her to sit that way because of her very long forelegs.<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed this little gift recap. I hope you have friends in fun places, too.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-38771521719449281312009-12-27T22:28:00.041-05:002009-12-28T08:05:55.059-05:00Christmas 2009, the RecapI finally managed to go through all of the Christmas pictures taken at various family gatherings over the past few days.<br /><br />I didn't take nearly as many people photos as I should have. I realized that after having captured some particularly delightful (to me) kid pics at my mother-in-law's Christmas gathering.<br /><br />The beautiful children pictured below belong to Mike's nephew, Curtis, and his wife, Candice.<br /><br />First Adriana...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzieJqgCWWI/AAAAAAAAJpw/Rhugu4U4cRk/s1600-h/IMG_7819+B%26W+copy.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzieJqgCWWI/AAAAAAAAJpw/Rhugu4U4cRk/s400/IMG_7819+B%26W+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420256040405064034" border="0" /></a>Do yourself a favor and look at it large (click on the image). She just has the most beautiful blue eyes and this angelic face that just melts your heart. Unfortunately, she spent most of the party napping. But this one perfect shot makes it okay. One time soon, we'll have to arrange a special photo session for this little cherub.<br /><br />She has a brother, too, which you probably would have figured out for yourself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzifRwD7e2I/AAAAAAAAJp4/3ZHdNUiu-PA/s1600-h/IMG_7834+B%26W.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzifRwD7e2I/AAAAAAAAJp4/3ZHdNUiu-PA/s400/IMG_7834+B%26W.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420257278848367458" border="0" /></a>Mason also has big blue eyes and a little cherubic face that just screams, "Take my picture!" I couldn't decide which shot of him I liked best, so here's another. In color...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szif787ZJjI/AAAAAAAAJqA/FuFiogLT-CY/s1600-h/IMG_7837.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szif787ZJjI/AAAAAAAAJqA/FuFiogLT-CY/s400/IMG_7837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420258003856729650" border="0" /></a>The little guy on the left is Mike's great nephew, Ryan. He is Chris and Steve's little boy.<br /><br />Ryan is not the sit-still-and-pose type. Actually, he doesn't sit still. (Don't worry, Chris and Kathy, I deleted the crazy pics of him.) But look at this boy's skin. Have you ever see such creamy, flawless skin?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szig1MFHWxI/AAAAAAAAJqI/n2k3B83pNKA/s1600-h/IMG_7840.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szig1MFHWxI/AAAAAAAAJqI/n2k3B83pNKA/s400/IMG_7840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420258987176581906" border="0" /></a>He is sitting with his paternal grandmother. Her name is Kathy, which is really quite funny. Why funny? Well, my name is Kathy, and I am married to a guy named Mike. Ryan's maternal grandparents, my sister- and brother-in-law, are named Kathy and Mike. So this is Kathy #3 in our family.<br /><br />The above images are from the day after Christmas. The day before Christmas, aka Christmas Eve, was at our house. For whatever reason, I didn't take many pictures at all. Most of the ones captured by my camera were taken by my daughter, Amy.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SziiTGL2HJI/AAAAAAAAJqQ/6xlCgcBqV0I/s1600-h/IMG_7727.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SziiTGL2HJI/AAAAAAAAJqQ/6xlCgcBqV0I/s400/IMG_7727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420260600501902482" border="0" /></a></div>I did capture this shot of Joey, our youngest grandchild, digging the very yummy, homemade trail mix, gifted to us by June and her family (Mike's cousins) in Willow, Alaska. I practically had to pry the bowl away from him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sziivp5caqI/AAAAAAAAJqY/VlOxV5_0io8/s1600-h/IMG_7728.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sziivp5caqI/AAAAAAAAJqY/VlOxV5_0io8/s400/IMG_7728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420261091124734626" border="0" /></a>I did slide it away from him at one point (he wasn't paying attention). But he politely grabbed the bowl with <span style="font-style: italic;">two </span>hands and pulled it right back. Notice how he's holding on tightly with the right hand?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzijP2rS9ZI/AAAAAAAAJqg/GzaGHsdw_eI/s1600-h/IMG_7732.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzijP2rS9ZI/AAAAAAAAJqg/GzaGHsdw_eI/s400/IMG_7732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420261644310869394" border="0" /></a>Here's Brianna with the Shrinky Dinks Hubby and I gave her. I used to <span style="font-style: italic;">LOVE </span>Shrinky Dinks, and I think it's super cool that she likes them, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzijsKoWsMI/AAAAAAAAJqo/Idu080TORBs/s1600-h/IMG_7730.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzijsKoWsMI/AAAAAAAAJqo/Idu080TORBs/s400/IMG_7730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420262130703577282" border="0" /></a>This is the only full-face shot of Gaige captured all evening. He's trying to make Meg say "cheese" I think.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szij_3o5DAI/AAAAAAAAJqw/pbMk4IoDNy0/s1600-h/IMG_7740.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szij_3o5DAI/AAAAAAAAJqw/pbMk4IoDNy0/s400/IMG_7740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420262469202938882" border="0" /></a>Here's Joey in his cute Santa apron. He knows how to say "cheese" for sure.<br /><br />I got zero pictures of Amy and TJ. None. What a bummer. I was going to remedy that at our post-Christmas gathering, but the whole family was sick and had to stay home.<br /><br />I did take a few shots of the parents on Christmas day. Here's my Mom...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzikoxhsM3I/AAAAAAAAJq4/XYsItMiC628/s1600-h/IMG_7805.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzikoxhsM3I/AAAAAAAAJq4/XYsItMiC628/s400/IMG_7805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420263171936760690" border="0" /></a>And my Dad...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szik0jCjwYI/AAAAAAAAJrA/7-AM-L5bIqo/s1600-h/IMG_7803.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szik0jCjwYI/AAAAAAAAJrA/7-AM-L5bIqo/s400/IMG_7803.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420263374206517634" border="0" /></a>... who can now grow upside-down tomatoes without being called a <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/06/your-father-might-be-redneck-if.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">redneck</span></a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzimEHAXDlI/AAAAAAAAJrI/49A4q7qy8bU/s1600-h/IMG_7812.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzimEHAXDlI/AAAAAAAAJrI/49A4q7qy8bU/s400/IMG_7812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420264741070638674" border="0" /></a>And here's Mike's mom. My mother-in-law. We camouflaged her candy in this box full of packing peanuts, trying to trick her into believing we forgot to get the one gift she looks forward to most every year. She dug, and dug, looking quite perplexed. Then, as soon as she hit the box, she said, "Oh, is <span style="font-style: italic;">this </span>my candy?"<br /><br />That totally cracked us both up. She LOVES that candy and knows we would have enough sense to warn her in advance if we weren't able to procure some.<br /><br />And that's it for the highlights. I told you I didn't take many pics. If you want to see the rest, you'll have to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toadmama/sets/72157623083708294/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">go to my FLICKR site</span></a>.<br /><br />All in all, it was a nice Christmas. Even if Shannon is halfway around the world.<br /><br />I'll try to get more shots next time. I promise.<br /><br />I did take a few cool pics yesterday...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szint1JtzRI/AAAAAAAAJrQ/KHFp31f_mAk/s1600-h/IMG_7846.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Szint1JtzRI/AAAAAAAAJrQ/KHFp31f_mAk/s400/IMG_7846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420266557344173330" border="0" /></a>This is K, who was sleeping beside me, on her back, on my chair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzioIy_fs4I/AAAAAAAAJrY/-7bBzKUY350/s1600-h/IMG_7859.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzioIy_fs4I/AAAAAAAAJrY/-7bBzKUY350/s400/IMG_7859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420267020620903298" border="0" /></a>This one shot I took while testing my new 2x teleconverter lens. Doesn't this image just scream <span style="font-style: italic;">COLD</span>?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzipCEuxONI/AAAAAAAAJrg/90FSYJ-VtOs/s1600-h/IMG_7864.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzipCEuxONI/AAAAAAAAJrg/90FSYJ-VtOs/s400/IMG_7864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420268004635130066" border="0" /></a>A teleconverter increases the focal length of a lens. So, if you have a 300 mm zoom like me and use a teleconverter, you effectively can have a 600 mm zoom.<br /><br />That's how I got this close-up shot of the moon.<br /><br />You will not achieve the same quality you would get with a true 600 mm zoom lens, but it costs <span style="font-style: italic;">ten times less </span>than the cheapest 600 mm zoom. The more-expensive 600 mm zoom lenses cost many thousands of dollars. For one lens.<br /><br />That's it for now. I hope to get more people pictures later in the week. Stay tuned!ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-12035166344767625942009-12-27T11:10:00.018-05:002009-12-30T22:43:58.747-05:00Catching Up is Hard to DoThe blizzard of 2009 hit just over a week ago on December 19, 2009. I love snow. I have always loved snow. But I REALLY love watching the dogs play in the snow. They absolutely love it.<br /><br />Between Hubby and I, we took hundreds of pictures of the dogs playing in the snow.<br /><br />With all the stuff needing to be done in preparation for Christmas, I haven't had a lot of spare time to go through all the images, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">re-size</span> them, tweak as needed, etc.<br /><br />These may seem a bit untimely since the snow has pretty much all melted. But, so it goes.<br /><br />My favorites are posted below...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeWlKJ9AhI/AAAAAAAAJow/7zlq0U-TRSY/s1600-h/belle_snow-covered.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeWlKJ9AhI/AAAAAAAAJow/7zlq0U-TRSY/s400/belle_snow-covered.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419966241689109010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeW_JkbOMI/AAAAAAAAJo4/-_p8lK2cr5c/s1600-h/dogs_playing_25.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeW_JkbOMI/AAAAAAAAJo4/-_p8lK2cr5c/s400/dogs_playing_25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419966688208304322" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeXQEXC1RI/AAAAAAAAJpA/PYpfOeyk6Ng/s1600-h/dogs_playing_28.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeXQEXC1RI/AAAAAAAAJpA/PYpfOeyk6Ng/s400/dogs_playing_28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419966978867778834" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeXxa9TaQI/AAAAAAAAJpI/mhnp2TkUW50/s1600-h/k_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeXxa9TaQI/AAAAAAAAJpI/mhnp2TkUW50/s400/k_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419967551869511938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeYD3VGHmI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/RKXsxHfKfY0/s1600-h/k_and_belle_playing_11.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeYD3VGHmI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/RKXsxHfKfY0/s400/k_and_belle_playing_11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419967868723142242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeYTaLCGPI/AAAAAAAAJpY/IL6D8rHvECE/s1600-h/Belle_7.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeYTaLCGPI/AAAAAAAAJpY/IL6D8rHvECE/s400/Belle_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419968135774214386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeYhdS9PwI/AAAAAAAAJpg/kvHd0-ASfyQ/s1600-h/meg4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeYhdS9PwI/AAAAAAAAJpg/kvHd0-ASfyQ/s400/meg4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419968377130925826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeZPwBwsiI/AAAAAAAAJpo/UlKF_ha32uM/s1600-h/k_and_belle_playing_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzeZPwBwsiI/AAAAAAAAJpo/UlKF_ha32uM/s400/k_and_belle_playing_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419969172433056290" border="0" /></a><br />If you want to see the whole set of snow dog pics, you can <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toadmama/sets/72157622954802525/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">go to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">FLICKR</span> page</span></a>, or watch the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">slide show</span> embedded below.<br /><br /><object height="300" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftoadmama%2Fsets%2F72157622954802525%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftoadmama%2Fsets%2F72157622954802525%2F&set_id=72157622954802525&jump_to="> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftoadmama%2Fsets%2F72157622954802525%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftoadmama%2Fsets%2F72157622954802525%2F&set_id=72157622954802525&jump_to=" height="300" width="400"></embed><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a><a class="yibpgkooqftjfzswjyja" href="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></a></object>ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-14994703944927119592009-12-25T20:14:00.002-05:002009-12-25T20:29:47.788-05:00Merry Christmas!It may be a bit late in the day for me to say Merry Christmas, but I'm saying it anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzVj1AtDghI/AAAAAAAAJoo/LzIkkVaE7m4/s1600-h/IMG_7750+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzVj1AtDghI/AAAAAAAAJoo/LzIkkVaE7m4/s400/IMG_7750+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419347488983450130" border="0" /></a>After all the mad (as in crazy, hurried, rushed, etc.) preparation, it is finally time to kick back and relax.<br /><br />Ah...<br /><br />I hope that your day was safe, pleasant and merry!ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-82898367706552069692009-12-24T10:44:00.002-05:002009-12-24T10:45:09.444-05:00Merry Christmas EveShannon made it safely to <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/does-it-get-any-better.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">my co-worker's house</span></a> in <a href="http://whereisshannow.blogspot.com/2009/12/4am-alarms-stink.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bangalore</span></a>, India. Amy, TJ and kids will be coming here for dinner this evening. Eric will be spending Christmas Eve at his father's house this year, but we'll see him tomorrow.<br /><br />Are we ready for Christmas? Yes and no. There are just a few last-minute things to accomplish. But work is first.<br /><br />Before I get cracking, however, I thought you'd enjoy this little skit that Hubby, Meg, Belle, K and I put together for your viewing pleasure.<br /><br /><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNjE2NjI3Njk*OTQmcHQ9MTI2MTY2Mjc3OTcxMiZwPTQxODgxMyZkPTIwMzUwNSZnPTImbz1mYzRmOGRkZjRkYTg*NDE5YWUzMmQ4M2Y2NTg3MzU4ZSZvZj*w.gif" border="0" height="0" width="0" /><div style="background-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); width: 425px;"><object id="A105399" quality="high" data="http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=jFUbmYS5W3VY3pvq&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="319" width="425"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=jFUbmYS5W3VY3pvq&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself"><param name="scaleMode" value="showAll"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="FlashVars" value="external_make_id=jFUbmYS5W3VY3pvq&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object><a class="wktbkpedlijdyzgqvurn" href="http://aka.zero.jibjab.com/client/zero/ClientZero_EmbedViewer.swf?external_make_id=jFUbmYS5W3VY3pvq&service=elfyourself.jibjab.com&partnerID=ElfYourself"></a><div style="text-align: center; width: 435px; margin-top: 6px;">Send your own <a href="http://www.elfyourself.com/">ElfYourself</a> <a href="http://sendables.jibjab.com/ecards">eCards</a></div></div><br /><br />Merry Christmas eve!ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-10919020666935433752009-12-23T07:09:00.019-05:002009-12-23T07:59:36.258-05:00Happy Birthday, Brianna!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzII3VKDc-I/AAAAAAAAJn4/6dqz3YJrfmU/s1600-h/brianna_turns_9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 311px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzII3VKDc-I/AAAAAAAAJn4/6dqz3YJrfmU/s400/brianna_turns_9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418403048345269218" border="0" /></a>Our oldest grandchild, Brianna, turns 9 today. Nine! It just doesn't seem possible...<br /><br />It is fun to watch kids grow and see them mature. Especially when you can watch from afar as grandparents! When Mom and Dad get to deal with all the unpleasantness of parenthood and we just get to enjoy all of the fun stuff.<br /><br />Brianna is a very smart, bubbly, funny, vibrant child. And she's a fantastic big sister. It has always tickled me to see how she watches out for Gaige, even when he is being a PIA little brother. And she is great playing with Joey, too. I know she's been a big help to Amy.<br /><br />It wasn't all that long ago that she was only 5, younger than Gaige is now, and we were getting ready for Amy's wedding.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzILLj4kkHI/AAAAAAAAJoA/PSiYcrrSarY/s1600-h/Brianna_at_5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzILLj4kkHI/AAAAAAAAJoA/PSiYcrrSarY/s400/Brianna_at_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418405594919112818" border="0" /></a><br />Not that I want to dwell on her being 5, but just look how cute she looks in this picture...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzIMA0BjEkI/AAAAAAAAJoI/0Sb4D9qLJoc/s1600-h/Brianna_at_5_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzIMA0BjEkI/AAAAAAAAJoI/0Sb4D9qLJoc/s400/Brianna_at_5_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418406509784797762" border="0" /></a>It's always fun looking through pics to post on days like today. I inevitably stumble across shots like this one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzINMeX8AzI/AAAAAAAAJoQ/AgNON8sh9Mc/s1600-h/Brianna_at_8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzINMeX8AzI/AAAAAAAAJoQ/AgNON8sh9Mc/s400/Brianna_at_8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418407809643184946" border="0" /></a>I admit, it's not a great picture. But it's one of those candid, slice-of-life shots that captures the essence of Brianna. She has a very expressive face and the picture just makes me smile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzIOQ5ATu7I/AAAAAAAAJoY/HcQTY1wIZrU/s1600-h/grandkid_surprise_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzIOQ5ATu7I/AAAAAAAAJoY/HcQTY1wIZrU/s400/grandkid_surprise_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418408985022938034" border="0" /></a>Here she is with me doing a word search puzzle. She was beyond excited to know I like word search puzzles, too.<br /><br />I like this picture, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzIS0aDZNDI/AAAAAAAAJog/_NhCePEUfow/s1600-h/Brianna_at_6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SzIS0aDZNDI/AAAAAAAAJog/_NhCePEUfow/s400/Brianna_at_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418413993236182066" border="0" /></a>She was only 6 in this shot. It wasn't long after Joey was born.<br /><br />I have tons of other pics, but I need to finish this post. Because I am pretty sure Amy, Brianna's Mom, is thinking I forgot about her birthday post. I didn't, of course, I've just been having too much fun sifting through all of the old pictures.<br /><br />So...<br /><br />Happy Birthday, Brianna!ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-61842090908347062972009-12-21T08:47:00.002-05:002009-12-21T09:37:10.381-05:00Blizzard AftermathSo, wanna know what my world looked like the day after the blizzard dropped about 23 inches (58 cm) of snow on us?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-BbtE6UBI/AAAAAAAAJmQ/0vJMfkKmkc4/s1600-h/7_fd_cow.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-BbtE6UBI/AAAAAAAAJmQ/0vJMfkKmkc4/s400/7_fd_cow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417691189706641426" border="0" /></a>People tend to get cabin fever and do weird stuff when trapped by snow. I decorated the Christmas tree (finally!) and, while doing so, took some pictures of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">FibroDuck</span> with some of our more unique ornaments.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-B2z_ADWI/AAAAAAAAJmY/6KPwwdhhNxA/s1600-h/day_after.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-B2z_ADWI/AAAAAAAAJmY/6KPwwdhhNxA/s400/day_after.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417691655417367906" border="0" /></a>I also took lots of pictures. Lots and lots, I should say. A blanket of snow just makes things look so much more interesting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-CJ8B-vsI/AAAAAAAAJmg/Kk3F8fYlhNM/s1600-h/day_after_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-CJ8B-vsI/AAAAAAAAJmg/Kk3F8fYlhNM/s400/day_after_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417691983994863298" border="0" /></a>I took the above shot around 6:30 AM from the front window of our house. On the far left, covered in snow, is my car. In front of that, toward the center of the frame, is Shannon's car.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-ChCmfv-I/AAAAAAAAJmo/HRfMlZuEva0/s1600-h/day_after_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-ChCmfv-I/AAAAAAAAJmo/HRfMlZuEva0/s400/day_after_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417692380895625186" border="0" /></a>This is the view from our front door.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-CrqgxnSI/AAAAAAAAJmw/TTfxwazrCd8/s1600-h/day_after_4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-CrqgxnSI/AAAAAAAAJmw/TTfxwazrCd8/s400/day_after_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417692563407740194" border="0" /></a>And here's what it looked like from inside our garage moments after Hubby started to shovel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-DgzyyOKI/AAAAAAAAJm4/aoC2VKqSzFE/s1600-h/day_after_5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-DgzyyOKI/AAAAAAAAJm4/aoC2VKqSzFE/s400/day_after_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417693476432263330" border="0" /></a>That's my car in the foreground. It's still snow-covered. So is our front sidewalk. I might have to clean my car off soon so I can get all my last-minute Christmas stuff done.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-ESGpXMsI/AAAAAAAAJnI/regM8p_QX8M/s1600-h/day_after_6.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-ESGpXMsI/AAAAAAAAJnI/regM8p_QX8M/s400/day_after_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417694323306607298" border="0" /></a>Here's my happy Hubby in the newly shoveled driveway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-Ehor7x5I/AAAAAAAAJnQ/1CNKoimuySk/s1600-h/day_after_7.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-Ehor7x5I/AAAAAAAAJnQ/1CNKoimuySk/s400/day_after_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417694590142236562" border="0" /></a>The view of our street from the bottom of the driveway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-E459YfKI/AAAAAAAAJnY/kB8S3LDP58Y/s1600-h/day_after_8.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-E459YfKI/AAAAAAAAJnY/kB8S3LDP58Y/s400/day_after_8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417694989915815074" border="0" /></a>One of MANY dog pics I have to share. Belle and K have been chasing each other and having a blast in the snow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-FEx0BhnI/AAAAAAAAJng/LASVjSEmQjM/s1600-h/day_after_9.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-FEx0BhnI/AAAAAAAAJng/LASVjSEmQjM/s400/day_after_9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417695193887508082" border="0" /></a>Meg has fun in the snow, too, despite the grumpy look she has in this picture. (I'll post more snow-dog pictures eventually.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-HPuAepCI/AAAAAAAAJno/W_EB8cVtXew/s1600-h/day_after_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy-HPuAepCI/AAAAAAAAJno/W_EB8cVtXew/s400/day_after_10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417697580867822626" border="0" /></a>I actually took this photo at about 11:00 PM on Saturday night, not too long after the snow had stopped. Because it was nighttime, the camera shutter stayed open for about 4 seconds. I am not sure why the sky is so pink, but I think the overall effect is pretty cool.<br /><br />And now, I need to get to work.<br /><br />Happy Monday everyone!ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-47394651416657219052009-12-18T21:45:00.001-05:002009-12-19T21:50:54.552-05:00Oh, the Weather Outside is SNOWYWhen I went to bed last night, the weather man said we might get about three inches of snow overnight. That was to be topped off by up to 12 inches on Saturday.<br /><br />Not too long after I came downstairs this morning (Saturday), I decided to take a picture of Shannon's car.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy17P32VyII/AAAAAAAAJjY/-cWdKa41mmg/s1600-h/shan_car_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy17P32VyII/AAAAAAAAJjY/-cWdKa41mmg/s400/shan_car_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417121439416699010" border="0" /></a>The snow was a bit deeper than a few inches.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy1_eBIiQcI/AAAAAAAAJjo/5M4GG8PKR0Y/s1600-h/shan_car_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy1_eBIiQcI/AAAAAAAAJjo/5M4GG8PKR0Y/s400/shan_car_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417126080473612738" border="0" /></a>This image was taken five hours after the first one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy1_vf6YYWI/AAAAAAAAJjw/L_zwGWugOV0/s1600-h/shan_car_5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy1_vf6YYWI/AAAAAAAAJjw/L_zwGWugOV0/s400/shan_car_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417126380793520482" border="0" /></a>This shot was after another three hours had passed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2ACbZE6GI/AAAAAAAAJj4/Sl_JnXB3Gts/s1600-h/shan_car_6.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2ACbZE6GI/AAAAAAAAJj4/Sl_JnXB3Gts/s400/shan_car_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417126705997604962" border="0" /></a>And this was taken after another two and a half hours (around 7:00 PM).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2MXxHJeBI/AAAAAAAAJmA/ihSg7nd2TFs/s1600-h/shan_car_7.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2MXxHJeBI/AAAAAAAAJmA/ihSg7nd2TFs/s400/shan_car_7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417140266744772626" border="0" /></a>By just after 9:00, the door handle could no longer be seen and the mirror had almost disappeared. The entire car had almost vanished. But it may have FINALLY stopped snowing.<br /><br />Wanna see my car? It's much bigger than Shannon's, after all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2AdymzRqI/AAAAAAAAJkA/ucKuw_qAmNY/s1600-h/my_car.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2AdymzRqI/AAAAAAAAJkA/ucKuw_qAmNY/s400/my_car.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417127176085653154" border="0" /></a>Good thing there's a mirror on the side, eh?<br /><br />The airport won't release the official numbers until after midnight. I'm going to guess we got at least 23 inches of snow in less than 24 hours.<br /><br />But, you know what? I LOVE snow. The dogs and I had a blast outside today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2BokzGSVI/AAAAAAAAJkI/4Mp9aOof05U/s1600-h/meg_airborne.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2BokzGSVI/AAAAAAAAJkI/4Mp9aOof05U/s400/meg_airborne.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417128460869323090" border="0" /></a>Here you can see Meg completely airborne. The snow brings out her inner puppy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2CRj7bViI/AAAAAAAAJkQ/fRVGLrEttYY/s1600-h/dogs_playing.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2CRj7bViI/AAAAAAAAJkQ/fRVGLrEttYY/s400/dogs_playing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417129165010458146" border="0" /></a>She's even in the lead as the girls all cavort around the yard. (This picture was shown on the local TV station -- ABC2News -- after I submitted it by e-mail.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2C5EBm_5I/AAAAAAAAJkY/pliQRdRmTls/s1600-h/dogs_playing_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2C5EBm_5I/AAAAAAAAJkY/pliQRdRmTls/s400/dogs_playing_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417129843641221010" border="0" /></a>You know I had to include at least one picture with Belle's ears flying, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2D2yp6tcI/AAAAAAAAJkg/rwCqSzJyWE8/s1600-h/dogs_playing_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2D2yp6tcI/AAAAAAAAJkg/rwCqSzJyWE8/s400/dogs_playing_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417130904130336194" border="0" /></a>The previous four shots were taken around noon. The snow wasn't very deep then. Yet Belle still looked like this...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2EIKviW7I/AAAAAAAAJko/-jtfOl00HXo/s1600-h/belles_snowballs.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2EIKviW7I/AAAAAAAAJko/-jtfOl00HXo/s400/belles_snowballs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417131202654133170" border="0" /></a>We didn't go out again until about 4:00. The snow was so deep by then, Belle's body created a plow effect as she ran.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2ErO4ufVI/AAAAAAAAJkw/UwnC2rhPDNI/s1600-h/belle_plowing.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2ErO4ufVI/AAAAAAAAJkw/UwnC2rhPDNI/s400/belle_plowing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417131805061840210" border="0" /></a>That doesn't help her snowball issue at all.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2FKzRHGwI/AAAAAAAAJk4/nZ9JbmotKRs/s1600-h/belle_plowing_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2FKzRHGwI/AAAAAAAAJk4/nZ9JbmotKRs/s400/belle_plowing_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417132347403737858" border="0" /></a>But she sure enjoys running through the snow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2FeTIFokI/AAAAAAAAJlA/9H4josRUYZc/s1600-h/snow-covered_wall.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2FeTIFokI/AAAAAAAAJlA/9H4josRUYZc/s400/snow-covered_wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417132682373341762" border="0" /></a>The snow was so deep by 4:00 that our wall was almost completely hidden. Belle is the only one that cleared the wall cleanly. Meg did a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">face plant</span> into the snow. Poor K forgot the wall was there and ran right into it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2GwwHqkZI/AAAAAAAAJlI/MQ0zZNiv8aQ/s1600-h/shaken_k.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2GwwHqkZI/AAAAAAAAJlI/MQ0zZNiv8aQ/s400/shaken_k.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417134098905469330" border="0" /></a>She was a bit shaken by that, and was slow to get back into the swing of playtime.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2HT6u6dDI/AAAAAAAAJlQ/TOu_pQO3zJE/s1600-h/k_breaking.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2HT6u6dDI/AAAAAAAAJlQ/TOu_pQO3zJE/s400/k_breaking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417134703049864242" border="0" /></a>She even went and sat on the step for a bit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2HhKI3BQI/AAAAAAAAJlY/1YByjZLDEMw/s1600-h/k_back_to_normal.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2HhKI3BQI/AAAAAAAAJlY/1YByjZLDEMw/s400/k_back_to_normal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417134930523522306" border="0" /></a>But soon enough she was back to normal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2IAYAQb3I/AAAAAAAAJlg/XmCJr8eInpU/s1600-h/k_back_to_normal_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2IAYAQb3I/AAAAAAAAJlg/XmCJr8eInpU/s400/k_back_to_normal_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417135466821480306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2IMXD2FJI/AAAAAAAAJlo/hCXwjk9lytg/s1600-h/k_back_to_normal_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2IMXD2FJI/AAAAAAAAJlo/hCXwjk9lytg/s400/k_back_to_normal_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417135672726525074" border="0" /></a>Even Meg was still feeling pretty feisty. That's her inner puppy again. She is absolutely exhausted now, though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2KDuSzESI/AAAAAAAAJlw/VzK6sKAXlQ0/s1600-h/dogs_playing_4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2KDuSzESI/AAAAAAAAJlw/VzK6sKAXlQ0/s400/dogs_playing_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417137723367690530" border="0" /></a>The dogs really do love the snow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2KnmrGEMI/AAAAAAAAJl4/41c8y3rzBJA/s1600-h/snowy_belle.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2KnmrGEMI/AAAAAAAAJl4/41c8y3rzBJA/s400/snowy_belle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417138339797405890" border="0" /></a>So I had to let them out to play again after dinner. Even if that did mean I would have to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span>-ball Belle yet again. She's pretty good about not giving me a hard time while I brush the MANY snowballs out of her hair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2OfzTetKI/AAAAAAAAJmI/wXOaFOCCdh8/s1600-h/snow-covered_wall_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Sy2OfzTetKI/AAAAAAAAJmI/wXOaFOCCdh8/s400/snow-covered_wall_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417142603795575970" border="0" /></a>After K's wall incident, I shoveled out a spot so the wall could clearly be seen by all.<br /><br />I think it's a really cool picture. It was taken earlier this evening. Since it may have actually stopped snowing, perhaps I can go out and get some more nighttime snow shots.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-78113362768587815022009-12-16T07:25:00.001-05:002009-12-16T07:25:32.595-05:00Does It Get Any Better?I really have not been in a very Christmasy mood this year. I don't know why exactly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyjIskOo4kI/AAAAAAAAJjI/sNHeuUODVks/s1600-h/our_tree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 301px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyjIskOo4kI/AAAAAAAAJjI/sNHeuUODVks/s320/our_tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415799219877896770" border="0" /></a>Maybe it's because this is our first Christmas with no children left in the nest. Perhaps it is that Shannon is halfway around the world. Or, maybe I've just become an old Scrooge.<br /><br />As a parent in a blended family (parents and step-children), Christmas has always been a struggle. Trying to arrange where the kids will be and when for the holidays was never easy. It always added an extra bit of stress.<br /><br />Now that Amy is married with a blended family of her own, that pressure hasn't gone away completely. But she and TJ always manage to work things out nicely. She and the kids will be coming here on Christmas Eve. We're hoping Eric won't have to work so that he can join us. Or maybe he'll want to be here on Christmas morning. Maybe both.<br /><br />But that still leaves Shannon. In India of all places for the Christmas holiday. I might be revealing some ignorance here, but that's okay. I am not afraid to admit that I don't know everything.<br /><br />I always thought India was a Hindu and/or Muslim country. While the majority of the population is Hindu or Muslim, about 25% of Indians are Christians. Christmas is actually celebrated with quite a lot of fanfare in India. It is even a national holiday, so everyone, irrespective of their religion, gets to enjoy it along with the Christians.<br /><br />Of course, that begs the question of whether it will it be harder for Shannon to be alone on Christmas in a nation that actually celebrates Christmas. Or would it be better in a place that doesn't celebrate the holiday? So she doesn't miss her family too terribly much?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyjMS7vsviI/AAAAAAAAJjQ/fDfYTfId-Uk/s1600-h/my_family.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyjMS7vsviI/AAAAAAAAJjQ/fDfYTfId-Uk/s400/my_family.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415803177560489506" border="0" /></a>We'll never know. Because, although Shannon won't be with us, she will not be alone for Christmas.<br /><br />The way things have worked out, she is only in India now because of her visa delay (she had a hard time getting a visa). She is currently making her way across the northern parts of the country. By the time Christmas rolls around, she'll be in the south, in a city called Bangalore.<br /><br />The company I work for has a sizable operation in Bangalore. I don't know many of my Indian coworkers well since we don't speak often, mainly because of the time difference. But there's a woman named Joyce who works in the Bangalore office doing the same job as me. We do interact by e-mail occasionally, so I sent her an e-mail asking if she had any recommendations to share with Shannon for her pending visit. <br /><br />Shannon will be arriving in Bangalore on December 23rd or 24th.<br /><br />While Joyce was more than willing to give Shannon some recommendations, she did even better. She invited Shannon to stay at her house and spend Christmas with her family.<br /><br />Hubby and I were both quite touched by that very kind, generous and completely unexpected offer. I mean, Joyce has a husband and two daughters (ages 10 and 16 months). Who would ever think she would invite a stranger to her house for Christmas?<br /><br />Well, Joyce did invite that stranger (Shannon) to stay. And Shannon accepted. So Shannon will get to spend Christmas with a family after all.<br /><br />Not just any family, either. A very special family with children. A Christian family that celebrates Christmas like we do.<br /><br />While I know Shannon will miss everyone over the holidays, I think it is her niece and nephews that she'll miss the most. Because children are what makes Christmas so magical.<br /><br />As I have told Joyce, we will never be able to thank her enough for opening her home and heart to our daughter. Of course, knowing what a special person Shannon is, I know Joyce won't be sorry. And apparently Joyce's oldest daughter is already making plans for Shannon's visit.<br /><br />I don't think it does get any better. I've got some Christmas spirit now!ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289311399019534952.post-20588381872664945892009-12-15T08:09:00.042-05:002009-12-15T09:34:58.287-05:00A Great Day for SoupWinter is finally upon us. Even if we haven't gotten to the winter solstice yet, it's been cold and wet (mostly rain). Great soup weather!<br /><br />I've made soup each weekend. And this time, I had help.<br /><br />As I have reported here previously, our oldest grandson, <a href="http://toadmama.blogspot.com/2009/01/saturday-morning-smackdown.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gaige, is a wrestler</span></a>. Wrestling is not like soccer or baseball where you show up, play a game and are done. It is played in tournaments and can be an all-day thing. I don't know who that is more torturous for, Amy, since she has to keep track of a very energetic 2.5 year-old in a gym full of people, or Joey and Brianna, who need to occupy themselves while their brother is off doing the Hulk Hogan thing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeNgBnjoeI/AAAAAAAAJgw/oc0YEEKQChU/s1600-h/Joey_and_Brianna.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeNgBnjoeI/AAAAAAAAJgw/oc0YEEKQChU/s320/Joey_and_Brianna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415452658265989602" border="0" /></a>So, knowing there was a tournament scheduled for Sunday, Hubby and I offered to keep Brianna and Joey.<br /><br />It is quite a different dynamic with two kids here instead of three. Or, to be more precise, only one of the older kids. Brianna and Gaige tend to bicker a lot, like any brother and sister. It drives me crazy. My old brain can only take so much noise and chaos. They tend to run (literally) through the house chasing each other, too, which also drives me crazy.<br /><br />Anyway... we had a very nice and relatively quiet visit with the grandkids this past weekend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeRS4fn7iI/AAAAAAAAJg4/8KyvSxRHX7A/s1600-h/fire_and_rescue.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeRS4fn7iI/AAAAAAAAJg4/8KyvSxRHX7A/s400/fire_and_rescue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415456830525009442" border="0" /></a>Joey just LOVES all of the emergency equipment we have here. It is all battery-operated with flashing lights and sirens. I have my parents to thank for saving all of the stuff, which was Eric's when he was little. That means most of the stuff has been around for 17+ years!<br /><br />Amy said that as soon as Joey heard he was coming here, he was saying "Pop and G firetruck. Firetruck at Pop and G's. Etc."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeSbOBMoxI/AAAAAAAAJhA/eiQJCtcbKuY/s1600-h/puzzle.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeSbOBMoxI/AAAAAAAAJhA/eiQJCtcbKuY/s320/puzzle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415458073253552914" border="0" /></a>We keep the emergency equipment with the other toys in our formal living room, which we call the library (it has also has bookshelves full of books). You can see some of the books in the background of this picture, which Brianna insisted I take to show that she and Pop finished this USA puzzle.<br /><br />At one point on Saturday evening, Pop told Joey they had to put all of the trucks back into the "firehouse." What he meant was, before you (Joey) go to bed we need to put all of these trucks away.<br /><br />Well the next day, while Joey was eating lunch, I said something to Brianna like, "You can leave that in the library when you leave." And Joey said, "Not library G, the <span style="font-style: italic;">firehouse</span>." He'll remember that, too. So from now on, we'll be referring to that room as "the firehouse" when the kids are here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeTqONmTpI/AAAAAAAAJhQ/F9EUCjTTj0g/s1600-h/all_lined_up.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeTqONmTpI/AAAAAAAAJhQ/F9EUCjTTj0g/s400/all_lined_up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415459430515232402" border="0" /></a>He really does <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> those trucks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeT3VpQ6FI/AAAAAAAAJhY/ZsVv95W1Z6w/s1600-h/flannel_pjs.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeT3VpQ6FI/AAAAAAAAJhY/ZsVv95W1Z6w/s400/flannel_pjs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415459655848618066" border="0" /></a>He loves this ride-on train, too. All the grandkids do. It also belonged to Eric, who was on it all of the time. Who knew that it would get so much mileage?<br /><br />As a quick aside... is there anything cuter than a little boy in red, flannel pajamas? Flannel pajamas, period?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeUebYyOVI/AAAAAAAAJhg/htf1hi0UUuM/s1600-h/soup_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeUebYyOVI/AAAAAAAAJhg/htf1hi0UUuM/s400/soup_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415460327405009234" border="0" /></a>Sunday was soup day. As you can see, Brianna helped me make a big pot of beef vegetable soup. The pot you see above ended up being too small, so halfway through the process, we had to switch to a larger pot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeVCRh_LBI/AAAAAAAAJhw/M6sG6SPRauY/s1600-h/soup_2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeVCRh_LBI/AAAAAAAAJhw/M6sG6SPRauY/s320/soup_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415460943234542610" border="0" /></a>She was really enjoying helping me. It's not often that she gets to be the center of attention. It's hard being the big sister/oldest kid all of the time.<br /><br />She was telling me how "so not fun" it is playing hide and seek with Joey. First, he only counts to about two before he starts looking, so she has to hide FAST. Then, when he does find her, he decides that was a pretty good hiding spot, so that's where he'll hide for the rest of the game.<br /><br />Pop must have overheard this conversation. When it was Brianna's turn to be the seeker, once she started to look, walking slowly and taking the high road to find him, Pop ran and grabbed Joey without her knowing it and plopped him in the recliner. She was quite surprised when he wasn't in the spot where she expected him to be. We all had a pretty good laugh when she finally saw him sitting in the chair, smiling away!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeZbumjuyI/AAAAAAAAJh4/SgH8LAtnng8/s1600-h/soup_3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeZbumjuyI/AAAAAAAAJh4/SgH8LAtnng8/s400/soup_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415465778581584674" border="0" /></a>She really did make a pretty good helper. See how full the pot is? And we still have more stuff to add!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeZvSW2HzI/AAAAAAAAJiA/QxMH38ObMA0/s1600-h/family+photos.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeZvSW2HzI/AAAAAAAAJiA/QxMH38ObMA0/s400/family+photos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415466114596871986" border="0" /></a>While Brianna and I were cooking, Pop and Joey were looking at family photos. Something else the boy loves to do. A couple of times, when he saw me in a picture, he'd get all excited and say, "That's G! Look, there you are, G! Pop, there's G!" It was very cute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeaLuVXo9I/AAAAAAAAJiI/8ljzcIT6r50/s1600-h/family+photos2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeaLuVXo9I/AAAAAAAAJiI/8ljzcIT6r50/s400/family+photos2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415466603143209938" border="0" /></a>Joey really is the smilingest 2-year-old I've ever encountered.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeayaAsv7I/AAAAAAAAJiQ/o-gUwFntiWI/s1600-h/soup_4.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyeayaAsv7I/AAAAAAAAJiQ/o-gUwFntiWI/s400/soup_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415467267702702002" border="0" /></a>After we got the soup transferred to a larger pot, and Brianna got dressed, the soup-making continued.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyebQRfcgyI/AAAAAAAAJig/50uY3RCbiOM/s1600-h/bugs_life.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyebQRfcgyI/AAAAAAAAJig/50uY3RCbiOM/s400/bugs_life.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415467780811817762" border="0" /></a>While Brianna and I continued to cook, Pop and Joey watched <span style="font-style: italic;">A Bug's Life</span> and ate some snacks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Syebg7MeXGI/AAAAAAAAJio/tJDuwMbMu90/s1600-h/soup_5.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/Syebg7MeXGI/AAAAAAAAJio/tJDuwMbMu90/s400/soup_5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415468066884443234" border="0" /></a>In this shot, she's adding the diced cabbage, which she had cut up by herself (mostly). I would have taken pictures of that, but she was using a chef's knife as long as her arm. So I figured I'd be better off paying very close attention to that. I mean, documenting this stuff <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> important, but so is keeping all of her digits and limbs intact.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyecD0qa8eI/AAAAAAAAJiw/eMpwAM4lAhM/s1600-h/bugs_life2.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyecD0qa8eI/AAAAAAAAJiw/eMpwAM4lAhM/s400/bugs_life2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415468666426421730" border="0" /></a>Joey was quite engrossed in the movie. Shortly after this was taken, we fed him lunch and put him down for a nap.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyecU-5fiAI/AAAAAAAAJi4/sSzJRuyQ9QU/s1600-h/soup_6.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_fKIf85p1PD4/SyecU-5fiAI/AAAAAAAAJi4/sSzJRuyQ9QU/s400/soup_6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415468961231767554" border="0" /></a>By then, the soup was finished, so that's what Brianna and I ate for lunch.<br /><br />Afterward, we worked together sewing a holiday outfit for Klondike (her dog).<br /><br />I would have made Hubby take pictures of us sewing, but he was napping, too!<br /><br />This grandparent stuff is tiring. Wonderful, but tiring.<br /><br />We are both looking forward to doing it again. Soon.ToadMamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04873763565941746536noreply@blogger.com1