OOPS!

 I totally blanked on the fact that today is Saturday. I like putting a post out on Saturday and I just totally missed it. I will save my soup post for Monday and just do a quick recap of yesterday.
  Yesterday was bitter sweet in some ways. We all went to Wheaton Village. Hubby and I had been there in Oct. and thought Madeline and Mom would enjoy so we made plans to come back on black Friday to see the world largest glass fruit cake being made. We saw it in progress but never saw the finished product.

 We were just too tuckered out to go back at the end of the day and see it. It was a fun day for all concerned. Madeline was really into looking at all the glass in the museum, much more interested then I had hoped for.

 We came home happy and oh so tired.
  The bitter sweet comes in to play with my camera. Naturally I took my camera with me. Now I am always trying out what I learned this past month about speed and light and getting a good clean shot. Well do you remember back to last year and the beginning of this year when I would take 100's of pictures and only a handful would be clear and crisp. Well that is what happened yesterday I took 100's of pictures and most of them are blurry. I didn't let it ruin a lovely day but it was disappointing. I feel a little frustrated like I am back at square one. Well it should be easier this time, I am after all familiar with the path.

   Hope you are enjoying the extra long weekend as much as we are. 

Happy Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you have a day planned that brings you happiness. For us it is an early dinner and then the EAGLES play this afternoon. The hubster is past happy it is like an extra Sunday for him. A day off, a full blown turkey dinner and football whats not to love.

   Since it is only the 3 of us we will be having a turkey breast. Even that seems a little big. We will have plenty of left overs for sandwiches.

 I will put the turkey in the oven in a few hours, the soup is already made and it came out as good as I was hoping. I will tell you more about that Saturday. I have a 5 lb give or take Sweet potato that I am going to bake and the green bean casserole is  a must or Mom and I won't know we are eating Thanksgiving dinner. Green bean casserole is a tradition that must never end.Hubby says I can stop there but it isn't a turkey dinner without stuffing so while stuffing isn't my strong suit I will give it a try and make it from scratch. Just because it is just us 3 that doesn't mean we can't have a good dinner packed full with tradition. ( every time I write the word Tradition I hear the beginning lines to the Fiddler On Roof.) 

The pie is coming from the Amish shop in the farmers market so it is sure to be fresh and good. I am hopping for peach but I bet he gets apple. We just had pumpkin pie at the start of the month and the soup is pumpkin soup so I opted for a fruit pie. I am making myself hungry. 
  Other then making dinner which pretty much makes itself I plan on doing nothing more today then to curl up on my comfy couch in front of a roaring fire and read my book maybe watch a movie. Mostly however I am going to be thankful for my wonderful life and family.

  The pictures scattered through out this post are a few of my favorites from this past weeks assignments and my walk in Center City last Saturday. I took what I call a 3 hour pleasure tour in the city with my camera and came home one tired happy camper.
                        Happy Thanksgiving!

Something Deliciously New In Mount Holly!

Good Morning everyone. Today is going to be the last day of warm weather. It is being said there will be snow on the ground for Thanksgiving. That is fine with me I am staying home this year anyway. It will be just the 3 of us for dinner and a football game and I am actually thankful for that. I have my turkey breast thawing and I will make the pumpkin soup tomorrow so it has a day of rest before we eat it. Other then that I have no real menu set. How about you what do you have planned for Thanksgiving?
  On Sunday morning that sweet man of mine took me to breakfast. I almost didn't go because of where he was going. I am so so so glad I changed my mind and went. I didn't want to go at first because the last time I was in that building I was served cold eggs and bacon so cold the grease had congealed on it, when I complained the waitress screamed at me stopping short of throwing the plate at me. Needless to say I never returned again. So when the husband said lets go to breakfast and he told me where I was reluctant thinking that they really hadn't sold the restaurant just changed the name. I went anyway thinking if just one person on the wait staff was from the old restaurant I would just turn around and get back in the car. 
  Like I said I am so glad I went. Not just the name changed, but everything has changed. The way the place looks, the wait staff, and how the customer is treated.
 Lets start with the name. Kitchen87. When hubby first said the name I thought he was taking me to center city. Trendy,catchy to the ear and eye the name is something that you would expect to find in the city. When you hear how the name was picked it is something simpler and much warmer then trendy. The name was picked because 87 is the street numbers and Kitchen because the owner Melo wants you to come to her kitchen sit down and relax and enjoy.

 The trendiness doesn't stop at the door with the name. The shabby chic interior in the soft shades of gray, black, & red are very welcoming inviting you to sit and relax. The entire staff  greets you as you walk in and the smiles never leave their faces. The friendliness of the staff and the open room makes for a friendly happy atmosphere. I think we talked to every person in the place, staff and customers a like. There was a lot of laughter and comparing of plates. When she wasn't busy the owner Melo chatted with every one like they where her oldest best friends. Everything about Kitchen87 was welcoming. It has only been open a week but she already has regulars and Sunday morning regulars which I will be. Before long Kitchen87 will be standing room only. Sharing tables and squeezing together to make room will soon be the norm. It isn't a big place and there is no waiting area, in fact if you didn't know it was there you would pass right by never knowing you had passed one of the best breakfast and lunch joints in town. Mount Holly got lucky when Kitchen87 decided to settle here.
  I bet you are all ready itching to go and try it out and I haven't even gotten to the best part. What comes out of the actual kitchen and the menu.The menu is small and simple. Breakfast on one side and Lunch on the other. I only slightly glanced at lunch. Enough to know I will be giving it a try. The breakfast menu has the normal breakfast foods, eggs, bacon, sausage and such but then on the right of the menu is the treasure chest of goodies. Things like Shrimp and grits, Huevos rancheros, Stuffed french toast with bananas or strawberries. There was more these just stuck in my head. I like the slight southern flair to the menu,it is both comforting and different at the same time. He had the Stuffed French toast with eggs on the side. See for your self what he thought of it.

 I had the Huevos Rancheros I didn't stop for a picture I just dug in. It isn't how I make it but that is okay because it was darn good. Chorizo sausage makes a great addition to the dish, the homemade tortilla shells were really very good and my eggs were cooked perfectly. I will order it again, a breakfast favorite for me, or dinner, lunch, even for a snack, anytime will be fine. I was glad mom was still sleeping when we got back it gave me time to get a picture of the Stuffed French toast before she demolished it,

 and demolish it she did. For her it was finger licking, lip smacking can I please lick my plate good.
  Unlike the trendy restaurants in center city I think Kitchen87 has staying power. They certainly have the beginning of a success story. The fact that the intent is to be homey, happy, and friendly not trendy makes all the difference in the world.  For me leaving full and happy is always better then just leaving full. When I left Kitchen87 I was full and happy, I felt like I had just had breakfast with friends instead of a room full of strangers.  
  For those of you that remember and liked Silk City before they redid themselves you should check out Kitchen87 I promise you won't be disappointed. Any one who loves a good breakfast you should check it out too.
 Kitchen87

A Story of Bravery and faith!

   

     In a world far  from here lives a brave little princess. She is a beautiful and smart and very happy. Her days are filled with laughter and love. She likes nothing better then coloring rainbows and unicorns and running and jumping with her brother. This sweet princess awoke each day with a smile on her face with not a worry in the world. Her life is grand and she loves it very much just the way it is. 
  One day while the princess was outside playing a deadly dragon came in the yard, sneaking in the side gate he knocked the little princess right off her swing. The brave little princess didn't cry or even get mad, she just got up and started playing all over again in her happy world. Not long after the first visit the dragon came back sneaking once more into the yard where our happy princess played. This time he knocked harder and the princess was hurt. Still she didn't cry or become sad, instead she sat happily in her family's arms and like them simply believed. The king and queen called to the castle all their very best dragon fighters and with the brave and courageous princess leading the way they pushed the dragon back allowing his long sharp claws and fire infused breath to hurt no one. 
   The princess hung her dragon fighting armor away and returned to happy days of play. Just not as happy as the play time she enjoyed before the deadly dragon came. For everyone knew they had only pushed the dragon back and one day he would return stronger and much harder to fight. The days were sunny and long and our little princess enjoyed them all. She continued to enjoy coloring and playing with her brother most of all, but she sure wasn't unhappy with the special trips outside the castle to places like the zoo. Feeding a giraffe can be a lot of fun the princess found out, she thought riding the lead pony in the rodeo was pretty special too. I am sure the vacation to the home of all princesses  had to top the list of fun for our brave and beautiful princess.
  All too soon the princess and her family and the kingdoms best dragon fighters prepared themselves to once again fight this deadly and ferocious dragon. As hard as it was for the princess and her family they continued to believe and hold their faith as they fought this difficult and painful battle. Through it all no matter what the dragon threw at her and no matter what the dragon fighters had to do to her to keep her safe the princess smiled and continued to spread love, faith, and yes even happiness. Days that should have been dark and gloomy this special princess always seemed to manage to keep bright and happy. After a long hard battle that left lasting scars and tired bodies the dragon was pushed back once more. 
  The princess went back to enjoying a princess's life. She dances a happy beat and enjoy the holidays like only a child can. School is a real treat for her, each day bringing something new she never knew. She never lets the sadness show. She loves harder then most children, plays harder, and  fights harder each day to keep the dragon away.
  Even with all her faith and all the prayers from the kingdom and many surrounding kingdoms,the vigilant fighting and all the knowledge of the best dragon fighters, the dragon has returned he stands at the gate ready for a fight once more. No one not even the wisest of dragon fighters knows how to kill this dragon. The best that can be done is to keep pushing the dragon back. The fight leaves the little princess tired and worn but she isn't giving up. Her family and all the kingdom around her will fight and then fight some more to allow this little princess the chance to live without fighting this ugly deadly dragon any more.
  

    There is no ending to this story because this is a true story and the princess is fighting her fight as we speak. There are very few weapons left to be used for the cancer the princesses has and she is way to young to have to fight this fight at all. Too young or not she is fighting it and fighting hard. I have no idea how this story will end, all I know is how I want this story to end, how I pray it will end. 
  This holiday season please when you say your prayers or your what have yous to the God that you believe in and love please add this princess and all the other prince and princesses who fight the dragon everyday, to your prayers. If you are the kind of person that likes to give freely of them self during the holidays please consider the "Make A Wish Foundation" and "St Judes." Both good ways to help young children like this princess to fight a hard and difficult battle that they shouldn't even have to fight.
 If you do want to donate to St Judes and would like to do it for this princess. She regularly raises money for St Judes. Team Ava
Want to know more about the little princess in my story and the cancer she is battling.
pray for Ava

Its Wednesday

This week has been interesting to say the least, not exciting but interesting. I am still working hard at my photography and the photo 101 class. It has been fun and a real challenge too. 
  If you read my post last Wednesday it was the Computer held hostage post. I got some feed back from Avast they at least I think it is Avast reached out on twitter and then in the comments here in this blog on the post itself. They asked for some information and I was only willing to give the info that I used to contact Avast on that fateful day. I haven't heard anything back so I don't know if they are still looking into it or my unwillingness to give a total stranger from a company I really no longer trust my personal information led them to just drop it all together. 

 Over the weekend the darling husband came across a real good deal, so we now have a new living room furniture set. We have hated the lazy boy set we had from the moment we bought it. It is nice to have recliners that actually recline.

 Now I have a house to put back together but I am smiling as I work. The living room looks bigger and is much more welcoming. Happy camper that's me.

 Machinery and I are not in sync at all this week. First it was my computer, and slowly the bottom rack in my dish washer is disintegrating, the wheels are breaking one by one and each day more of my silverware tray falls away like it is dry rotting. 

On top of that Monday I go down to do the laundry, it took me more then a minute to realize that the machine was not spinning. Not spinning even a little bit. It has been a lot of years since I was last in a laundry mat. Let me tell you it is nothing like it once was. The machines no longer take coins you purchase a card to activate the start button on the washers and driers. The price is way past reasonable how in the world do people afford that every week. I didn't use the driers and only 2 washers and I still spent over 10.00. The 30 minutes I sat in the laundry mat waiting for my cloths to spin their final spin was more then entertaining. I went during the dinner hour thinking it would be dead. Nope that place was popping. 

As much fun as that little experience was I will be happy when the parts arrive and my washing machine is fixed.
  I had the pleasure of baking cup cakes with Madeline over the weekend. She did all the measuring and added everything into the bowl, she even got to start the mixer.

 She was very proud of herself and was the loudest singer with the biggest smile when we sang Happy Birthday to her dad.

  Thanksgiving is up and coming, this year it will be just us 3. We have decided it would be easier this way. Planning a menu for 3 for Thanksgiving is not as easy as planning a big ole dinner. Cutting the amount of food down is the hardest part. What do I leave out? I may decide to go less traditional and try a few different dishes mixed in with the classic. See I am talking making less food and and adding to it as I speak.
 On a high note, I was invited to add a photo to a web site called You Pic.com. I am sorry to say it is a photo on my hostage held computer, but the site itself is amazing and to be invited to post there made my day. Turns out I am wrong and the photo is on this computer. Here it is.

 The pictures scattered in this post are assignments from the past week. What do you think am I getting better?
 Happy Wednesday! Thank you for stopping by.  

A week in recap

 Good Saturday Morning! I am sitting here curled up on the couch a hot cup of tea in my hand and a lovely warm fire burning in the stove. The sun is shinning bright and later today I will have Madeline with me. My idea of a perfect day. As I was sitting here organizing my day in my head I was thinking I had no post today to write, I really haven't been in my kitchen much this week. As you know I spent the first part of the week fighting with Avast and replacing my computer. The rest of the week was spent catching up with my photo assignments and really getting to know my camera. May I just say I hate this new Acer computer. The mouse pad is giving me such a hard time I feel like screaming at it sometimes, not that it would do any good. I will get use to it sooner or later. So any way while sitting here thinking all this it dawns on me it really doesn't matter that I didn't do any playing in the kitchen because we ate well all week and I am not a food blogger. I write what I feel and what is on my mind, meaning no matter what I have been up to if I feel like it I always have something to post. 
 Today I told myself I wouldn't be so wordy, well it is to late for that. Today I was planning to let my pictures do the talking for me. This weeks assignments were not as easy as last week but they weren't too difficult either. They certainly do have you thinking and using your camera in new ways. It wasn't what we photoed that was important but how we took the photo. We were using light and our ISO, shutter speed, and the AV to capture a feeling or idea. 
 I thought I would give a recap of my photography for this week and let you decide am I learning anything and getting better. 
 Monday was connection. Show a connection in life. Lots of photos were posted of people holding hands, a few telephone lines as well and some cars even. Me I was a day late to submit because I just couldn't think of something unique to fit the assignment. I finally gave in and went with my first thought when I read the assignment. 

It got a few likes and some encouraging feed back. I don't think it is my best work or most imaginative. What do you think.
  Tuesday was Landmark pick a landmark and picture it from different angles. Get low to the ground, try different spot to get the picture. 

I picked Kirby Mill and I am happy with what I got I just don't think it is sensational.  
 Wednesday was Nature. Again it was use the light and get up close or stand back to get the shot. I chose up close and as always I love this type of pictures and this one is no different.

 I couldn't help myself I had to post 2 photos that day. 

I climbed a tree hung upside down over a creek to get pictures so you know I just had to share.
 Thursday was warm, go outside and use the sun to light your subject and make it warm, or use other light sources to show warmth. I went for obvious.

 We had no sunshine that day and what is warmer then fire.
 Friday we worked with mystery. Using light and your settings to show mystery. I was clueless on this one. So I found a subject that could be a mystery and placed it on the counter under a harsh kitchen light. I used white cloth and back drop and then used my ISO, shutter speed and AV to turn the harsh light into a soft illumination. I used yarn because it is colorful and you never know what it is going to be made into. A non knitter might think how does the thin soft string turn into a sweater or mittens and a knitter would most likely look at this photo and wonder what they could make with that pretty skein of yarn. So there is the mystery. I like the crisp clean lines of shadow from the needles. 

I posted 2 pictures for this assignment because I couldn't chose one.
 Then I did a mystery do over because what is more mysterious then fire and my dear husband made a doozie of a fire last night. I spent 1/2 an hour with my camera setting the light settings in a dozen different ways. I took 55 pictures and had to pick just 1.

 It was the hardest part of my day. 
  I have learned so much this week about how to set my cameras light setting to get the mode I want even when the light is not there. I am no means an expert at this but I feel like I made big strides this week. What do you think?
  Have a wonderful weekend! Thank you for stopping by.