Dog rules for Christmas

Colorful Days

Here it is the middle of November and there is a definite nip in the air.  Half the trees on the block are empty, the other half are filled with glorious fall colors.  I guess some of our trees needed the really cold nights, for them to change color.  The past 2 days the sky has been a beautifully brilliant shade of deep blue.  It makes the leaves stand out even more.  Yesterday I went out into my back yard to observe the beauty God has bestowed us.  Here is what I observed. (all images are sooc {straight out of camera})

I feel so blessed to be able to not only recognize God's beauty, but to have been blessed with the gift to be able to capture it to share with you.  Alot of people get so busy in their every day life, that they fail to stop and notice.  I know my husband would probably be blind to this, if not for me.  He gets so busy with his very important job, and with his classes that he sometimes forgets to stop and see, and smell and hear all that is around him.  I think alot of us are guilty of the same.  So take time today to stop and see.  Even if its only through this blog, see Gods beauty.

Autumn part 2

After Hurricane Sandy hit us, I didnt think there would be any leaves left on the trees.  Its an unusual thing for me.  Coming from Michigan, it seems fall comes and goes so quickly.  Here it is, November, and there are still green leaves.  Granted the green leaves are less and less every day, but they are still there nontheless.

I am going to enjoy it while I can.  Winter comes all too quickly.  Its getting colder here in Virginia, and soon the leaves and color will be gone.  Rest assured though, this photographer likes to play in the snow and cold.  I dont stay inside, just because its cold outside.  I even bought myself a beautiful new wool coat, So I can enjoy my winter.

Christmas Crafts

I saw this idea on Pinterest, and decided to try it on my own, with a few modifications.  I saw people using Modpodge, and wondered what ever happend to using good old fashions Elmers?  I bought the old light bulbs from the thrift store, for .99 a box.  All the other supplies I already had laying around the house.

Glitter bulbs

Supply list 

Elmers Glue
Paint Brush
Old Christmas Light Bulbs
Glitter
Clear coat, or clear nail polish (if deisred)
Ribbon or pretty string







First as set up, I used a plastic table cloth to lay down and then put a pizza box lid on top of it.  This was my work surface.  It made clean up so much easier.  I did this craft with my 7 year old daughter and my husband got in on 2 bulbs himself.

First I put a little bit of glue on my paint brush and covered the glass on the bulb completely with a thin layer of glue.

Then we sprinkled the glitter evenly over the bulb.

I layed the bulbs out to dry on the pizza box.  You can spray them with clear coat to seal in the glitter is you wish.  I like things to look more folky, so I left them as they were.

After the bulbs are completely dry, I used a little bit of glue around the metal of the bulb and then tied ribbon around them. The glue helps secure the ribbon. You can hang them individually as ornaments. or string them all together as garland.  You can also just put the bulbs in a pretty bowl or vase for decoration on your table.

Keep in mind, I had help from a young one, so the bulbs are not all perfect.  It was alot of fun doing this, and pretty easy.  I am sure you can get more perfect results if you do the craft alone, if thats what you wish.  Personally I like my kid crafts, not quite perfect, but perfect to me.

Still Life Photography.

As a photographer, I am always thinking or seeing the next image I want to create.  Sometimes I concentrate of big themed portrait sessions, sometimes I just concentrate on small details of things I find interesting.  Could be a fall leaf, a summer flower, jewelry, even every day around the house items.  Here is my latest collection of still life images.

Autumn Part One

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the colors and the smell of fallen leaves.  I love the cooler weather and pumpkin picking.  I love apple cider, apple picking, and  roasting pumpkin seeds.  I love walking through crunching leaves.  How could anyone not like fall?

October is always filled with fun family activities for my family. To start with we took a nice long drive up to the mountains.  I am in love with Skyline Drive. The shenandoah mountain range has a special place in my heart.  Last year after first moving to Virginia, I wanted so desperately to go see the color change in the mountains. I had heard how beautiful it was up there in the fall and had dreamt of going.  But we couldnt make it.  This year, it was worth the wait.

here is a panorama view of the moutain tops.

the colorful mountains

My daughter looking out over the view.

We also went pumpkin picking at our local nursery.  We usually visit a farm and cut our own, but they were closed on Sunday.  It was fun regardless, because the nursery has a haunted bus for decoration!

Then to round off our weekend, my husband has every other monday off at work.  So him and I went to the local reservoir to take a hike through the trails.  Even though the color of the leaves had not yet hit peak color, it was still beautiful.

who knew there would be such a vibrant shade of pink among the fall leaves.

Vibrant reds popping out from the green forrest

this one actually reminds me of Christmas.
which will be here before we know it.  But as for right now, im enjoying the weather, the colors and smells of fall.  I hope you are too.  Get out there and breathe it in. It will be gone before you know it, and soon winters cold drab world will be upon us.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

Its no suprise I love this season.  I love apple picking, and breathing in the smell of drying leaves on the ground. I love the cooler weather, and beautiful colorful leaves.  The smell of cooking apples brings me back to my very happy childhood, and my mothers kitchen.  She made the best hot apples, that you ever tasted.

We went to the apple orchard last week.  Since I have extra apples on hand, and had already made my attempt at my moms hot apples, I figured I would try something new.  My mother used to say I made "concoctions" I could throw a great many random things together and make a delicious meal of it.  This is one of my concoctions.

I decided to use No bake cheesecake, because its quicker and cheaper than making it from scratch.  I love homemade cheesecake so much more, but this was a really tasty dish, and who doesn't like quick and cheap?

Ingredients

2 boxes No Bake Cheesecake
1 jar of caramel ice cream topping
4-5 apples
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp corn starch
2 tbsp vanilla extract

Peel and Dice apples.  sprinkle sugar and corn starch over apples, and stir to coat the apples.  Cook on medium heat in a cast iron skillet (or frying pan), for about 15 minutes, or until the apples are tender, but not mushy.  Turn off the heat and add Vanilla.  Stir gently.

in a 9x11 glass baking dish (small lasagna pan) make crust as directed on the box of cheesecake.

Set apples in refrigerator to cool.

When apples have cooled add HALF the apples to the top of the crust and drizzle some of the caramel over the apples.

Make Cheesecake as directed on box.

Pour cheesecake mixture OVER the apples. smooth cheesecake mixture.
add remaining apples over the cheesecake mixture and top with more caramel drizzle.

Allow to set in refrigerator for 1 hour.

Enjoy.  this is a fantastic Autumn treat for your family.