January 28, 2011

My new Avon lip glosses--really like the colors (Apple Cinnamon and Mocha Latte).

January 27, 2011

Healthy cooking is fun! Dinner tonight was Cheese and Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms. It was so quick and easy to make and was absolutely delicious!

January 26, 2011

I went out shooting with my dad today out on Scott Mountain....loving how the clouds are hanging lower and are nestled in among the other hills.

January 25, 2011

Beautiful Morning!!! Gorgeous sunrise as I headed into town--gotta love God’s handiwork. (First picture is from the main road, second picture is from my road.) I could have just sat and watched the changing colors if time had allowed it. (Sorry if they are a little grainy--used the camera on my phone.)

January 24, 2011

I really enjoy burning candles and making the house smell good. Today I thought I would try taking a picture of the flame....so here's what you get when you take a picture looking down on a candle.

January 23, 2011

Had a coupon for Izze sparking drinks so I thought I would try something new......Izze, Sparking Pomegranate. I like usually like pomegranate flavored drinks, but this was a different combination. I'm undecided as to whether I like it or not, may try some of the other flavors before making a decision.

January 22, 2011

Spent a lazy Saturday afternoon playing some Guilty Party on my Wii today.

January 21, 2011

Toys, toys everywhere! Can you tell what Ariana has been doing this evening--well for the last 30 minutes? I don't think she likes to play--she LOVES to play! Tonight she had all the toys, except one, out of the toy basket. I love how she sits on the couch and looks around at the toys, or lays as cute as can be pretending she has no idea where all the stuff came from. Silly girl!

January 20, 2011

Here I am with the cooking again! Sometimes I think I should be banned from watching Food Network, but then again where is the fun in that....and the parents never seem to complain when I cook for them and try out new things. Tonight it was Neely’s Sweet Heat Tri-Color Salad and Shrimp Cakes with Peach Jalapeno Relish--both were absolutely DELICIOUS!

So, the first picture here is the Neely’s Sweet Heat Tri-Color Salad: picture on the left is before adding cheese, picture on the right is after adding cheese (final product, but you can't fully appreciate all the color with the cheese covering it).

The second picture duo is the Shrimp Cakes with Peach Jalapeno Relish: picture on left is before adding peach relish, picture on right is final product with topping.

January 19, 2011

My beautiful Annabelle! Such a great, good-natured dog.....love her to death. We had a visit to the vet today for rabies shots and they said she is looking great considering she is almost 11 years old. I say she stays young because of Ariana (who is only 16 months old)......gotta keep up with the young one.

January 18, 2011

Black-bottom banana creme pie (one of my mom’s favorites)!

January 17, 2011

A little windy at my house today, so I was able to listen to my wind chimes. They were given to me by one of my students several years ago...and I love sitting in the quiet listening to them (so peaceful and relaxing).

January 16, 2011

Photo taken from Shea Point in Sweet Home, Oregon (which is on the edge of Foster Lake). This mountain overlooks the lake....I liked the cloud coverage at the top.

January 15, 2011

Benches at a local park. I like the black and white because it is so reflective of the dreary western Oregon weather we see this time of year, but the color version is nice too with the bright green because of all the wet weather. Two different looks, but both reflective of the rainy weather.

January 14, 2011

Today I received a post card from a friend that was in Brazil. It was a bit amusing when I found the postmark date (November 14, 2010), so it only took 2 months to get here. Part of what she wrote (which I think explains the picture) said, "In the Amazon many rural homes are built to accommodate the fluctuations in river levels. The tropical rains are crazy and can drive one inside for days to avoid the water and heat."

January 13, 2011

My dad works as a freelance gun and knife writer, and I often take the pictures for his articles. I'm always looking around the house and yard for new backgrounds and today I hunted down some leaves to try something new. This was my favorite picture that I took today.

January 12, 2011

A bubbly foot soak at the end of the day makes my feet happy.

January 11, 2011

Besides taking pictures and cooking, I also love reading. My current read: Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks.

January 10, 2011

It is rare that there is a photo of myself that I like, today's photo is an exception. I like the way I look, and love the new necklace and earrings that my mom gave me at Christmas.

January 9, 2011

My 75 cent find at the thrift store. My kitchen has a sunflower theme, so this fits right in.

January 8, 2011

I honestly don’t know how I vacuumed by myself all these years. Ariana used to be afraid of the vacuum, she would hide in the bathroom while I cleaned. Over the last 6 months or so she has decided it is much more fun to attack the vacuum instead. Her constant "help" makes cleaning take a whole lot longer, but it makes me laugh every time.

January 7, 2011

This year was the first time in a long time that I actually wanted to decorate my house for Christmas, but today I was finally able to bring myself to say, "Good-bye Christmas!" I finally took down my tree, decorations, and lights. :-(

January 6, 2011

Mint Truffle Hershey Kisses--YUM!!!! Need I say more?

January 5, 2011

What can I say--I love my Christmas lights! I enjoy watching tv in the dark with the room lighted only by a couple of strands of lights.....and yes, it is January and they are still up.

January 4, 2011

For those of you who don't know me well, I love to cook. Tonight's dinner was chicken marinated in a tuscan tomato dressing, steamed broccoli, and something new that I created.....First I buttered and toasted sour dough french bread. Next I placed a little bit of swiss cheese on bottom, then a mix of finely chopped tomatoes, green pepper, yellow pepper, and green onion (spiced with salt, pepper, and garlic), then topped with mozzarella cheese and broiled in oven until cheese was melted. It was delicious!

January 3, 2011

I am determined to eat healthier this year, so today I made my first 2011 trip to the local produce stand. Here is just a sampling for all the wonderful veggies I bought today.

January 2, 2011

I love the smell (and the warmth) of fresh out of the dryer laundry!!

January 1, 2011

Since I have decided to share a picture a day with any followers, it seems that my computer is the most appropriate photo for day 1. My laptop is such a connection tool. It allows me to further my education, search for jobs, and keep in touch with friends and family (near and far), store photos, and access the internet.