Baseball

Photo Sessions

For a while I was thinking about having a small studio in my house to take new born and child photography.  A few months ago someone asked me to take their infants photos and I decided that this was not for me.  I do like to take family photography and action photography but NOT infant photography.  There are certain poses for infants  that every mother wants and they are extremely hard to produce.  I've decided that the photographers who charge $200 plus for those sessions deserve $200 plus.  Sessions can take between 2-4 hours long.  Plus what was I thinking . . . I don't have time with the twins to do something like that.  Here are a few pictures from that session. I honestly couldn't tell if the mom even liked them.



Then I had a friend recently ask if I would take her 6th month old photos.  I was anxious about doing it because I have no backdrops and props but she said it was fine.  I had A LOT more fun taking Porter's photos.  Here are a few from that session.





I think that for now I'm happy to take my own children's photos.  Photography is a lot of work!!!

May Happenings

Color Vibe Run

I SOLD one of my pictures, does that make me an artist?

I have this picture hanging up in Brandon's office at work



And this week a very wealthy man asked if I would sell him one of my prints!!  How exciting is that!!!!  Made my day so much brighter.  I took this photograph in Yellowstone a few years ago.  We were driving down the road in the morning when I saw this view and asked Brandon to pull over.  He gave me all but two minutes to hurry and snap this shot.  I was so excited when I pulled it up and saw how gorgeous it turned out. 

May

Food: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

I love Salads and I have a handful of salad recipes that have been past down from my mom that I just love, but I want more.  Pintrest is flooded with salad recipes and so I thought it would be fun to try a new one every week.  My experience with Pintrest recipes has been a good one.  Most of the recipes I have tried are really good, so good my children and picky husband like them.  I'm hoping that the salad recipes are just as good.

Today I tried a recipe claimed as the "Best Salad Ever".  You can find it through this link http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-grape-pasta-salad-50400000115388/

Three of my children and I really liked the recipe.  In fact, I put leftovers in their lunches.  If you have ever had the broccoli slaw salad sold at local groceries stores the dressing made in this recipe has the same taste which is yummy.  I was a little worried because I usually don't like grapes in salads, but I thought the grapes added a wonderful taste; though cranberries would be a great substitute.

I did not have bacon on hand and bacon would add a yummy touch to the salad but not necessary.

 

 It Makes about 11 cups of salad and has:
356 calories per cup
54 carbs per cup
(this does not include bacon)

 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 (16-oz.) package farfalle (bow-tie) pasta                
1 pound fresh broccoli                

1 cup mayonnaise                               

1/3 cup sugar                

1/3 cup diced red onion                

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

 

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1 teaspoon salt

2 cups seedless red grapes, halved                

8 cooked bacon slices, crumbled                

 

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Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.

2. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

3. Meanwhile, cut broccoli florets from stems, and separate florets into small pieces using tip of a paring knife. Peel away tough outer layer of stems, and finely chop stems.

4. Whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add broccoli, hot cooked pasta, and grapes, and stir to coat. Cover and chill 3 hours. Stir bacon and pecans into salad just before serving.