Brain packed weekend!

Dear Blog,

I have neglected you so much in the past few weeks. Believe it or not I have been busy. ( seriously, I have) Work has been crazy with year end and 2010 budgeting and then I packed a photography workshop into it too. Work- not exciting so I will move on to the next subject- WORKSHOP!!  It was a blast, I learned a lot ( hey Lori do you like that ) and I made several new friends.The workshop was hosted by Wendi and Devan ( two great photographers) We met up on Friday afternoon for 4 hours, back on Saturday for the day and wrapped it up on Sunday. I came home and Rick asked me did I learn anything, my answer......."Of course!" I did learn that to be a legal business I have a lot of stuff to take care of and that is already in the works! I learned a lot about lightning and some OCF ( off camera flash) that was a biggie for me!! Now I just have to buy more "toys" and a back up camera. I'm actually looking at the Canon 50D ( save, save, save) Maybe Santa will bring me the winning lottery ticket!! I'm looking at reformatting my blog to go back to just one. It takes me too much time to focus on posting for 2 blogs. The whole purpose of this was to get my personal and business side of life separate. BUT after the workshop and chatting with a few of the photogs, they got me to thinking....people may like to see the crazy side of me too. The reason when I asked why is that it makes the clients feel that they know you better when they meet up with you....hmmm, I think it sounds legit!

Bonnie, I still haven't made those muffins, but I will surprise you one day when you aren't expecting it. BTW - did you ever tell Jess that I helped you make your mind up to get her that Halloween/Iowa decoration?  ( bet not, you wanted all the credit, huh? )
Denny- Sorry no more posting about Rick, he is getting to be way to personal ☺ I have to live with him ya know, you only have to be with him for 10 hours a day. Guess he wins! You will have to ask him whats going on daily ☺
Maryann- I hope you find the pan you are looking for! It was great to hear that voice mail- Rick and Shawn cracked up when they heard it! See you in Vegas ( wink,wink)

OK- I have led myself off track- back to the workshop. We had models on Saturday and Sunday a couple then a family of 5. What a great time!! Here are some pictures from the workshop.
Oh yeah, I meant to mention, we actually are forming a group that will meet the 1st Sunday of each month. Our group name.......Click ! Check us out! 

Here are some of the links to see the other photographers work
http://www.amytobiasphotography.com/
http://memoriesbybrandi.blogspot.com/
http://www.foreverphotographybykelly.com/
http://www.bellarosephotography.org/

Bye-bye to October and hello to November

Whew this has been quite the busy month. Several photo sessions, "B" time at work (budget), Halloween, company at the house and the list goes on......

I did get the "ME" time in a couple weeks ago. I drove around taking beautiful pictures of the Fall leaves. It's a good thing I went when I did 'cause they are gone now! We have had rain and wind like crazy here in the glorious Mid-West.

I spent the last week of October doing a photo challenge. I had to take a self portrait each day with a Halloween theme. These pictures may not be for the weak stomached ones ☺!

                                  

That's it til next year. Vernon, my brother has been staying with us while he's working down in this area. He was my "victim " for the one shot. Gotta love family!
Rick has been putting out tree stands all over the place, getting ready for Shawn's visit and the big hunt.
Me, well I've just been busy as usual, getting ready for a photo shoot as I type. Steph just called to let me know they're on the way. Be sure to check out my business blog for that post later in the week.

                               Have a great November and try to stay warm!

Time For ME

Once again an extremely busy weekend. I had 2 photo sessions, cleaned the house, winterized the pool and yard, hung all the gourds,

cooked all weekend

and now I'm ready for a little ME time.   Hummmm, I'm not sure I know what that is anymore. Next weekend I plan on spending the entire weekend on the road. I want to see lots of fall colors and visit Kathy's Pumpkin Patch. Speaking of pumpkins, Bonnie, no pumpkin mini cakes on Monday, maybe one day this week. Time to hit the couch and watch The Proposal.

Yummmy!!

I have figured out why stores place magazine racks at the checkout lane. Who could resist a cover like this!

Don't those muffins look yummy! I will be making these over the weekend. ( Bonnie I hope you like pumpkin, 'cause you will have one Monday morning!)

If you see this in the store, pick it up! It's packed with tons of great recipes and decorating ideas for the Fall season.

 Mini Pumpkin Cakes

Yield


Makes 8 pumpkins

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Caramel-Rum Glaze*

Or Vanilla Glaze

Caramel Stems, Leaves, and Vines (optional, instructions below)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in pumpkin and vanilla.
2. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Spoon batter into 2 lightly greased pumpkin-shaped muffin pans, filling three-fourths full.
3. Bake at 350° for 24 to 26 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 30 minutes).
4. Cut rounded tops off muffins to make them flat. Invert top muffins onto bottom muffins, forming pumpkins. Drizzle Caramel-Rum Glaze over pumpkins. Decorate with Caramel Stems, Leaves, and Vines, if desired.

*Vanilla Glaze may be substituted.
CARAMEL STEM: Press 1 caramel between fingers, lengthening to 1 1/2 to 2 inches to form a stem. Curl stem gently.
CARAMEL LEAVES: Roll caramels into 2-inch squares on a flat surface, using a rolling pin. Cut into leaves, using a paring knife. Gently press tips of leaves to flatten, if desired. Score leaves, using a paring knife. Pinch bottoms of leaves together.
CARAMEL VINES: Cut 1 caramel into 3 equal pieces. Squeeze each piece gently to flatten, and roll between hands or on a flat surface into a long thin rope. Twist ends to curl

Fall or Winter?

I have completely finished my Fall decorating. The neighbor gave me a bale of old hay (for a dozen chocolate chip cookies) and with a few cans of spray paint ....walla...it's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! Check out the stem on top!

I moved all my outdoor plants in yesterday and finally have my botanical garden complete inside. They say plants are healthy to have indoors so we should be in good shape!

After finishing my pumpkin I came back inside to warm up in the garden when I looked out and saw it snowing. What is this crap!! I just got done decorating for Fall and the Winter is here. I'm about ready to pack up and head South. Maybe when we retire we can be snowbirds!

Help me decide what to do!

Well, I have to start on my new addition to my dining room- does anyone have any crafty ideas? If so I would love  to hear them!!

My Morning Visit with Jack

Jack Frost that is! It is way to early for that stuff. I'm definitely not ready for cold weather and here in Iowa, it gets pretty darn cold! So when I woke up at 5:00 this morning there was a nice coating of frost in the field. Once the sun came up there were a few does roaming on the frost.

Brr, don't that just send shivers up your spine!

Now mentioning deer, they seem to send shivers up Rick's spine. I came home from work the other day looking for him when all of a sudden I noticed him up in the tree. He's getting ready to take the big buck down, I just know it!

The porch is done with decorating for the season. Here's the final addition.

Tomorrow I will be getting one more thing, it's for the yard 'cause it's way to big to fit on the porch. I will post it tomorrow night, considering I get it finished. It will cost me 2 dozen chocolate chip cookies but will be well worth it. So are you curious?

Well, I'm outta here for the day. Taking off for some Fall foliage pictures. I have to hurry before the rain, wind and Jack takes them all off the trees.

This waether map explains it all!

Porch is ready for Fall

Well, almost. I worked on my porch this weekend and have almost finished. After seeing Jess' porch I couldn't wait any longer to share my craftiness. With a little article called  pumpkins with pizazz from an old issue of Souther Living magazine I was able to get a great idea. I have one more crafty thing up my sleeve to put up tomorrow. Have to wait on the glue to dry! (dang glue)
Drum roll please..................

and now for a night shot .........................................................

and now for a look at the whole front porch........................

now don't be looking at the picket fence locking thing on the left, it's history tomorrow night when I get my new decor up.

BTW- what's up with eblogger- I love the new way of posting pictures! Finally I don't have to drag them all over the page!

Well, it's time for a cup of hot cocoa and a little Drop Dead Diva followed by Army Wives! I will post a complete front porch view tomorrow.