Welcome 2009!!!

And here we go into another New Year!!

The New Year has always been exciting for me. Not only does the year start fresh, but I have my birthday just 3 days before the start of the new year, so I feel a sense of an exciting new adventure too. Well I think it was more exciting when I was 6 turning 7, or 15 turning 16 or the much anticipated 17 turning 18 and the epitome of all birthdays 20 turning 21. But still, that exhilarating feeling of a new adventure has never left me, so I'm still excited about both my birthday and the new year.

This year is the year to cut the clutter. Stop laughing. I mean it. No I mean stop laughing. I have a whole year. By the end of that year my desk may be cleaner. Stop laughing at me!

I've already started.

See? I cut my hair:

And there is nothing more exciting than starting a New Year with a new haircut. Well, except starting the New Year with a new baby. And I've already done that. And so have my Mom & Dad.

Cheers!

Making Christmas

Trimming the tree with ornaments that cost litte....



...but holds a lot of tradition....




...a lot of love...



....and a lot of memories.

May your Christmas...

...be merry and bright!

Leipers Fork Parade

Today was the 5th annual Leipers Fork Christmas parade.

First we stopped to see Santa:

Then some free cookie decorating:

Waiting for the parade to start:

Here it comes!

And just in case you're interested in joining the above group:

Not everyone can pop a wheelie on their zero turn mower!

No parade is complete without the septic truck:

The human snow globe man (singing Mala Kaliki Maca):

And that's how Leipers Fork does Christmas.

Snowy, Snowy Day

The morning started out with the first snowflakes of the season.



Kitty cat wasn't quite sure. Should she catch the flakes or go inside?



In came the firewood and in came Kitty Cat.



And a cup of hot coffee to start the day.



The snowy, snowy day.

Fall Pictures

I have been slow in editing the pictures from November.
I usually love editing, but for this shoot the light was just a little tricky and many of my photographs did not come out as sharp as I like, which is frustrating for me.

But here are a few that I liked for one reason or the other.








Regina understands my frustration with black and white digital photography. I try, but I'm never really pleased so much with the results.





I can't believe that it's almost time for Christmas card pictures.

I always wish for a nice snow day so I can get a wintery picture for the Christmas card, but it never seems to turn out that way.

Baking with Butterscotch

This month's Bunko included a cookie exchange. I needed to come up with 6 dozen yummy somethings. Fast, easy and different.
I dug out my Step Mom's family recipes book and this one caught me eye. Not only was it easy, but it noted that it was my sister's favorite, and my sister only likes the most excellent of things, so I decided that this was the thing to make and take.

You will need:

1/2 cup butter
1 package graham crackers (not the whole box)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup butterscotch morsels
1 can coconut (I know right? Who knew coconut even came in a can?)
1 can sweetened condensed milk.
1 9" X 13" baking dish
1 oven at 350*

And here's how you do it:

First you melt the butter in the dish.
Then crumb up the graham crackers.

Put the graham crackers in the dish.

Sprinkle the walnuts over the top.

Sprinkle the butterscotch pieces over that.

Then the coconut goes over that.

And the can of sweetened condensed milk over that.

Pop in the oven for about 25 minutes.

So easy that even a brother can do it.

With out an apron!!

Amazing!!

Still Around

We're still here. Just been busy with football playoff and friends coming to visit.

So I'll leave you with a little snippet of Amanda and one of her kittens.

The Pro-Quo Model

Today I decided to get some fall pictures in before the rains came.
Amanda likes getting her picture taken as she loves to pick out the outfits to wear.
We haven't gone out for "picture taking" for a while now, and she became just a bit Diva-ish.

We started at the log pile:



Then to the top of the hill where she had to sit to catch her breath.
She won't mention that she made me carry her half of the way.



But eventually she let me stand her over here:



Then she insisted on a picture with her pink fluffy hand muff...


... and nice fluffy hat with the pink tails:


Then she demanded that if I didn't let her take pictures of me then she was walking home.

First she told me to "look beautiful"...

...then cross my feet over like this....

...then stand like a ballerina....


...then "get down low like this".....

Then Mama said, "OK give me back that camera."

And we headed on home anyway.

Until I can talk her into going out another time.

Leaf Raker

When trees turn pretty colors like this:

They leave big messes on the pond like this:

So Amanda and I grab some rakes and prepare to clean out the pond.

First some ballet poses to limber up:

Say hello to kitty...

...and get to work.

Yippee for stretch jeans!

Get those leaves out!

Then rest after a job well done.

For at least another couple of days until the pond fills with leaves again.