You Know You Are Up Too Early When....

You are the ONLY one on the entire planet pinning on pinterest. That's what I've been doing for the last hour, two hours, heck....may even be three hours.

Hubs had FiNaLlY stopped snoring and I was able to doze off JUST long enough for Charlie, the nervous Cocker Spaniel, to put his paws up to my face while shaking uncontrollably. I thought 'what the heck, it's not even storming' then CRACK-BOOM! Oh, yes it was. How he knew that thunder was about to hit is beyond me but the little guy jumped up on our bed...something we though he wasn't able to do anymore. Luckily he had run over and was on hubs side and finally settled down by him. I just decided this nights sleep wasn't happening so I went ahead and got up.

Needless to say, this is HIS cushion. The big sissy.

The last several nights I will be in a sound sleep and then my eyes will just pop open and there I am wide awake. So, I've been getting up at, oh 3 or so, for several nights this past week.

I never sleep well. I haven't in years but, boy, is it getting old. It would be one thing if I worked from home or didn't have a job to get up and go to. The not being able to sleep more than 2-3 hours at a time takes it's toll.

I was listening to a podcast this past week, one that I highly recommend. Pull it up on Itunes. It's called "Life, Love and Family". There is one that I've listened to a few times because I find it so interesting. It's called "When Women Believe and Pray" I could relate to so much she was saying. Like, how often our prayers are really just worry with some holy words at the beginning and end....
'Dear Lord, worry, worry,worry,In Jesus name Amen'. I had to laugh because she is exactly right. Which actually made me feel good..to hear that someone else does the exact same thing I do.

She talked about 'Vision Praying' when we pray and instead of praying out of worry we should pray the vision we have for our children, work, home whatever. Like "Dear God, I pray that my children would find spouses that love and cherish them..." etc..the actual VISION we see for their future. I pray A LOT out of worry...as everyone does and that in and of itself just doesn't seem right because we are told, in the Bible, that we shouldn't worry(Matthew 6:27-29)..that it adds nothing to our lives. I think women, especially, are prone to this.

So, all that to say to you and to myself is "Worry replaced by prayer equals trust". Now, I just have to figure out how to implement that. LOL

On another note...On Saturday I had a FIVE hour lunch with an old high school friend I had not seen in 30!! years. Holy crap! That's a long time. We could have talked for a week. Donna is such a sweetie. She and I had only one class together...art..with an art teacher named, and I know I'm going to butcher his name, Mr. Ntukidem(say Nuhtookeedim). He was from Nigera and we loved him.  Now, I can't remember a darn thing he taught us but I do remember laughing, pretty much, constantly in his class while sitting with Donna.We were just silly teenage girls. She would draw the most amazing pictures of Paul McCartney on, well, everything. She was quite smitten by him (even in 1983). The next year I graudated and she left that school to attend one close to her home. We didn't reconnect until a couple of years ago on facebook.

Donna was probably the only good thing to come out of my time on facebook. I have long since deleted it and have been much the happier.

She made me this sweet bracelet that I just love!!! Especially the owl charm. (You know I'm an owl fanatic. They fascinate me.)

 

I gave her one of my framed pictures in return.

So, that's it. Maybe I shouldn't let my blogging lag so badly as I have this past month. This was a long one....

Ooops..almost forgot. My friend, Donna, has started blogging although not much due to her RA. Please check out her blog here.

Lori

New Blog Launch

I've been tossing around the idea of a new blog based on the hikes we do. So, a few weeks ago I started one and kept it 'secret'. I decided to go ahead and launch it today. I've only posted one hike so far...our Cummins Fall hike. I'm going to try and get one uploaded every week. I wanted the hike one to be separate since I really use this blog more for photo contests and just life, in general.

So, if you are inclined to please check out the new blog:

Trekking Tennessee

Thanks!
Lori

Simplicity--Photo Challenge--CLICK ON PHOTOS TO VIEW LARGER

Nature is what we see-

The hill-the afternoon-squirrel-eclipse-

the bumblebee...

Nay-Nature is heaven-

Nature is what we hear-

The Bobolink-the sea-thunder-

the cricket

Nay-Nature is harmony-

Nature is what we know-

Yet have no art to say-

So impotent Our wisdom is

to her Simplicity

Emily Dickinson

1. Bumblebee-I used one of Kim Klassen's textures on this one. She is amazing. Please check out her site and look into the Beyond Layers class. I learned a ton in that class so if you are really wanting to understand textures that's a cheap must-do class. 2. Tree in Field--again a texture but this time one of my own. This was one of the first textures I actually made. You can download it here. (at least I hope you can...this is the first time I've given one away so not sure how it all works)
3. Woodpecker--Kim's script texture for the background. I don't know how 'simple' this looks to anybody else but me.
4. Window-I took this inside a little cabin at Cheekwood looking out of the window. I added the wet-plate effect through Alien Skin.

Well, that's it! Hope I didn't overdo it.

Lori

Spring Has Sprung

And not a day too early. Since we didn't have a winter to speak of in middle Tennessee I would just as soon get on to spring since there were just about zero photo ops this past winter.  While the temps have been a little chilly this week the flowers and pretty weeds are beginning to show off. Am I the only one that finds some weeds just really pretty? I can't tell the difference in some weeds and flowers.

Unfortunately along with the flowers of spring there also comes road construction and Nashville is notorious for beginning these at every possible rush hour area at the same time and lasting for weeks. This year is no exception. It's taken me over an hour to get home a few nights this week. However, sometimes I take one of my famous 'long cuts' home. I'm of the mindset that as long as I'm moving I don't care if it's ten miles out of my way if it means not sitting still in traffic.  These 'long cuts' are usually through some pretty countryside that lies just a couple of miles outside of downtown Nashville. If you can manage to get there through all of the traffic it's really a nice little drive home.

When I first passed this on my way home earlier this week and saw it I had a 'dang it' moment because I didn't have my camera. So I rushed home grabbed my camera and went back to take the picture. I'm always nervous taking pictures of abandoned houses. You never know if the owner lives in the newer house next to it or not.  In this case I decided to take my chances and park at the high school right next to it and walk on over.

Click on picture to see larger

The field next to it was just as pretty

 

And there you have it. Sometimes it pays to take the long way home.

Later,

Lori

Simple Sunday Post

http://www.historiccragfont.org/Historic_Cragfont/History.html

Photo Challenge-Black and White

I so wanted to get out and get some new shots before Saturday but looks like I'm getting shots ON Saturday so some oldies but goodies will have to do for now.

This first shot was taken at the Shelby Bottoms Greenway in Nashville. You can take this greenway ALL the way over to Percy Priest Dam. I know, because I did it. It's a heck of a hike but beautiful and full of lots of photo ops.

I took it in color and then changed it to black and white. I honestly can't remember which program I used but it looks to be possibly Alien Skin. It's one of my favorites. Check it out for a free demo. You will love it!

Here's the data:

Camera: Nikon D3100
Shutter Speed: 10/5000 sec
F stop: f/11
Max Aperture Value: f/3.4
ISO: 400

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This next one is one of my favorites. It's of my backyard. I definitely used Alien Skin on this one.

 

Taken in color and changed to black and white and then pulled it into Alien Skin and changed the film to Fuji Provia 100F (modified) and then added the Wet Plate Damaged (with a hint of blue and peach). Was all that gibberish to you?  Well, in Alien Skin you can change the actual 'film' you use to just about anything that has ever been including Kodachrome. As far as the 'Wet Plate'....that's just a filter that you use to make it look old...like what an old metal plate picture would look like. Check out real Wet Plate (Collodion Process)photography. I soooooo want to try it.  Just google wet plate photography and hit images. WARNING: there are some nudity photos that will show up..just fyi. There are also videos on youtube on the process.

Here's the camera info on this one:

Camera: Nikon D3100

Shutter Speed: 10/300 sec

F stop: f/3.5

Max Aperture Value: f/3.4

ISO: 360

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This final one was taken at the trail head at the dam...the opposite end from the greenway pic at the top. It's called the Stones River Greenway if you ever get a hankering to walk it.

For some goofy reason I did not save this as a psd so I don't know exactly what I did but I'm pretty sure I used one of my HDR settings on this. Let me just say if you have not tried HDR you have GOT to give it a go. Check it out here. It will change your life. Seriously......it's biblical (well, almost)

I can give you the camera detail though:

Camera: Nikon D3100
Shutter Speed: 10/2000 sec ---I can't figure out why in the world they are varying so much. I must have had something set a little wonky with it.
F stop: f/7.1
Max Aperture Value: f/3.7
ISO: 100

 That's it. I'm going on a hike SOMEWHERE today. Just haven't quite decided where....hope to get some shots for the next challenge.

Thanks Donna for hosting this!!! Can't wait to see what everyone does.
 

Here's a video on real wet plate photography that you might find interesting.




Later,
Lori

Ode To A Carrot Cake

My husband is a carrot cake fanatic. It's his favorite.

A few weeks back my sister in law, Ellen, gave me her recipe so I decided to make it for him today. I have to confess that carrot cake is not my favorite. I'm more of an all chocolate type a gal. My husband is just fine with that since that means he gets an entire cake all to himself.

 

I didn't take pictures of the cake making process. I did, however, take pics of the glaze. 

Almost ALL of the carrot cake recipes I've ever done have been very difficult and drawn out. However, this one is very easy and, according to my husband, is delicious and just as good as any of the others he's had that take forever to pull together. So, that's all I needed to hear to know that this is the recipe I'll be doing from now on.

So, with my sister in laws permission, here is the recipe:

Ellen's Carrot Cake

3 Eggs

2 cups of sugar

1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil (although I use coconut oil--you have to melt it down)-more on this at the bottom

3 cups of all purpose flour

2 teaspoons of soda

1 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1 1/2 cups of grated carrots

1 cup of chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

1 20 oz. can of crushed pineapples well drained

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine eggs, sugar and oil in large mixing bowl...beat well. Gradually beat in flour, soda, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots, nuts, pineapple and vanilla. Pour in to a greased and flour 10" tube pan.  Bake at 350° for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Mine only took an hour. 

A note about the oil. I do not own vegetable oil. You can replace all recipes with coconut oil in the exact same measurements. Coconut oil is extremely healthy. In the winter it's hard and has to be melted. Here's some info on the health benefits. There is NO coconut flavor to the food. None, at all. Just give it a try. I think you will be surprised at how much you like it.

Now, the glaze.

This is my own little  concoction. I have no idea if this is the correct way to make this or not. All I know is that it's delicious. It's the same glaze I use on my biscuit pudding (I'll have to post that recipe too...oh.my.word)

2-3 cups of confectioner sugar

1 stick of butter

Orange Liqueur 

 

Yes, Orange Liqueur

I don't drink but I do cook with it. This really adds a wonderful flavor to glaze but if you aren't sure you can leave it out.  You could actually add a little orange juice concentrate instead.

Melt the butter over low heat:

Next, add the sugar and stir. It'll be a big clump.

At this point just turn the heat off. Now, for the yummy part. Add the liqueur. I ended up using about a quarter of a cup and then had to add a little more sugar to offset it. So, a quarter cup was a bit much....for me....for you, maybe not so much...just taste test. There is no wrong in this. It's just whatever tastes good.

Keep stirring and it will turn into creamy goodness.....

I poured it into a measuring cup so it would be easier to pour over the cake...

At this point I'm hearing the  "Oh Yeah" song from Ferris Bueller's Day off.

You can hear it too....I know you can...

 

And there you have it. You may be wondering why I went ahead and put the glaze on the whole thing. Well, in addition to not using vegetable oil, we've also decided to not use a microwave anymore. So, it really was just a matter of not wanting to dirty up dishes to heat it up on the stove. It won't go bad..believe me, it will all be gone by Monday. So, if you want to just use the glaze as you go that'll be fine too. 

So, enjoy!

Lori