heatheraland

This or That Thursday

2012-05-31T07:31:00.001-05:00

BLUE BIRDS

Taken May 26th, Look at that perfect nest, which holds 5 little precious baby birds.

This was Memorial Day I'm glad our babies don't grow as fast as birds.

WRENS

And now the little wrens, I can't wait for them to hatch. I've been waiting patiently for a week. We checked last night and still nothing. And this nest is feathers, snake skin, looks like there is some plastic which is isn't as trashy as a robins nest but still pretty yuk compared to the Blue Bird.

Happy Thursday Fellow Bloggers!

Color Me Weekly

2012-05-28T12:30:00.002-05:00

Higginsville Confederate Historic Site

2012-05-28T08:30:00.001-05:00

We have had a busy two days, Day three is an afternoon with my parents for some BBQ and some pool time.
We went fishing Saturday, One of my favorite places to fish is the Confederate Memorial State Historic site in Higginsville Missouri. The site was once home to the confederate soldiers home of Missouri to about 1,600 civil war veterans. It's a very pretty site, this is the second time we've been there on Memorial weekend with the flags out. It's got ponds, a park, and the scenery is gorgeous. There is a church and a couple other buildings. I have never been inside them. I never think about it till we are gone. I just head straight to the cemetery I did get the outside of the Chapel though.
We fished in the ponds, I caught 8 bass J started catching fish as soon as he started using what I was using because I was just flipping them out of the water. Yay me I can fish! There was no falling on this trip just fish getting hooked. It was a fantastic trip and well worth the little drive and we had fun.
The Chapel

The Cemetery

This was another Cemetery we had drove past.

This or That Thursday

2012-05-25T08:33:00.000-05:00

A little pond that was hidden around the Bass Pro lake. If I never walked the trail I never would have found it.

A wildflower

We finally planted our Garden last weekend. We've got Cherry Tomatoes, Tomatoes, and trying to get our Okra to grow. We have problems with it every yr. We planted at least 15 plants so our fingers are crossed for some okra.

Another year down

2012-05-22T21:56:00.002-05:00

This year vanished before my eyes. My 1st grader is officially a 2nd grader. SECOND GRADE!!! {EEK} That hurts worse then saying shes 7. The grade makes them feel older.
When she started first grade I was terrified. She had a teacher that was new with 1st graders, she previously taught 3rd grade. I was thinking she was going to expect way to much from the kids, and Z was going to have so many problems. Z's kindy teacher I adored, she was the perfect teacher. I wish the kids got to keep the same teacher as they rise to the next grade. I tried hard not to compare the two because we all know all teachers teach in their own ways.
Well, she proved us wrong. I think she's an amazing teacher and every time I had met with her she told me everything I wanted to know and she seemed to really love the kids. She informed me on how well she was doing and she was finished with her work on time and sometimes finished to quickly. I'm Proud of my girl, she's really smart and she loves reading and being creative, her mind is full of stories, she loves to write and draw. I have so many art pictures she'd brought home, and pictures just of our family she drew. She wants to be a Vet, But I'd love to see her write a book. I think she'd make a great author for children's books.
We didn't do anything for teacher appreciation week. I honestly forgot all about it. I wasn't going to forget her end of the yr gift. I waited last minute to think of something. I saw this fun little clay pot turned into an apple posted over at CRAFTY MOODS I knew once I had seen it that was what we were going to make.

Those little pots are popular, two stores to find a pot in the size I wanted, I took the last one. I had a cork top that I thought would work for the stem, I stained it, I tied some green ribbon around the bottom to make it almost look like a leaf and glued it onto the lid. I think it turned out super cute. Z wanted to put M&M's in it. She made her a Button ring and we put a wood rose in with it that held the ring. She said her teacher loved it..
I liked it so much I'm making me a cookie jar out of a bigger one. I need a cookie jar and this project will be Perfect.

Pizza Soup Recipe

2012-05-17T11:58:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite foods is Pizza. Did you know you can have it as a soup? YUM! You could make this many different ways just like you could any pizza.

Ingredients
1lb Ground beef
1lb Italian sausage
1 package pepperoni
1 can sliced olives
1 cup bow tie pasta ( I do half a package 1 cup just isn't enough pasta for this pasta lover)
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
2 8 oz cans of tomato sauce
48 oz of water
pinch of oregano
half of an onion chopped

Mozzarella cheese for topping

Brown your Ground Beef and Italian sausage. Dice your onion while that is cooking.
Prepare your pot with water, tomatoes, pasta, and the sauce.

When the meat is cooked and drained, add the onions, olives, pepperoni, oregano stir and cook for about 5-10 min on low.

When the meat mixture is done, add to the water and bring to a boil cooking pasta till done and bringing to a low simmer until ready to eat.

Pour into a bowl and top with mozzarella cheese.

This or That Thursday

2012-05-17T11:40:00.005-05:00

From my walk along the Bass Pro Lake

This is what a fall looks like from my view.

Over the weekend J and I went fishing. Our first spot was our last. I tried to walk carefully down a hill of gravel and big boulders. I wasn't careful enough. I bounced like a ball, my behind hit the corner of a rock my backpack hit the rock. The backpack my Camera was in without padding.
I didn't care about myself then. I fell hard, heard a loud thump and thought oh crap my camera. (thankfully it was my tackle box that made that thump) I felt little pain with it on my mind, reaching behind pulling it out snapping shots making sure it was still working. Put it back in my bag and get up, Yeah not so easy. After making sure it was working, I felt the pain, I couldn't move I wanted to cry, I heard a car and I was thinking stay put, make it look like you were doing something. I fiddle with my pole (haha) car passes. I try and move after sitting for awhile. Wondering how I'm going to get back up the hill, let alone in the car. That ended our first fishing trip of the yr.
Now almost a week later I am still as sore, getting better little each day but still painful to bend down, sit down or get out of chair without looking like a weirdo.

Happy Thursday Everyone

Edit Me Challenge

2012-05-16T09:07:00.003-05:00

Comes from Nancy over at A Rural Journal

Original

My Edit

What I did
Duplicate, adding soft layer lowering opacity to 75%
Added a color balance layer adjusting the shadows, mid-tones, and highlights to my liking. ( I can't tell you the settings because I don't remember..hmm..)
I added a honey layer
Resize for web

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge

2012-05-12T07:43:00.002-05:00

PINK is the theme for this week. Pink is her favorite color so she is my pick for this week. Shot of my Z from little mini photo shoot we did for her birthday pictures. You want to see another photo you, can go HERE.

Flip Flop Challenge may edit 3

2012-05-10T13:08:00.003-05:00

I have neglected this challenge I'm back. I decided to do something different with this image. Im not usually one for using textures/overlays on people. But I loved the rainbow stripped shirt and decided to give it a go.
Here is the Original Image.

Here is my edit

What I did
I didn't change to much with this photo I think its adorable.
I did a slight Curves adjustment
Added a Rainbow Bokeh Overlay Removing it all from the girl I've got to work on this part which is one reason why I don't add these things to portraits HA, anyway I'm still learning how to do it like the pro's.
I then added a honey layer
sized for web.

Photo comes from Sarah @ The Stiles Files

This or That Thursday

2012-05-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

On my evening drive with the girls, waiting for the super moon to rise, I caught the sun setting.

Got the Super Moon, Not at moon rise like I had wanted, there were some clouds. But I did get it once we were home and it was at it's brightest.

I also got a pretty male Blue Bird, ,my parents have a blue bird nesting in a birdhouse so hoping for more shots soon.

Edit Me Challenge

2012-05-09T07:47:00.002-05:00

This weeks photo comes from Andi - The Hollie Rogue
Original

My color edit

What I did
Curves Adjustment
Adjusted Color Balance
Used a Haze Action
Resize for web

My black and white

For my black and white
I did all of the above
Gradient Map Layer
Added a Honey action and adjusted the bright layer lowering its Opacity

photo is property of Andi please to not copy or claim as your own

Hey Girl..

2012-05-08T09:32:00.000-05:00

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge Theme, Hey Girl! This is my beautiful 7 yr old Z, we drove a round forever trying to find a spot and I fell in love with the location and the morning light.

Texture Tuesday

2012-05-08T05:21:00.000-05:00

Textures used in this photo are Embrace and Confidence!

7 years

2012-05-05T12:07:00.001-05:00

7 years ago I became a mommy. It just doesn't seem like it should be 7 yrs already. Its crazy how you can still remember something like it was yesterday. Shes got two weeks left of 1st grade and moves on to 2nd which is freaking me out. Z turned 7 May 3rd, Born 7:40 in the morning, so she got her Happy Birthdays then. We decided on not having a party this yr, we invited the boys next door over for cookie cake and ice cream and she was happy with that. My parents and brother also came over to celebrate with her.

She decided she wanted a cookie cake. I used dark Chocolate chips instead of the regular chocolate I got them on clearance for .69 can't beat that. I had a tough time with the cookie. I had way to much batter and ended up having to scoop half of it off the pan since it was about to pour over the sides. So it the chocolate was melting and while scooping it off it was turning into a chocolate batter. I got it all figured out and had more cookie then I planned. It will be in lunches for awhile.
My attempt to make a hello kitty face.. horrible attempt! I blame it all on putting the bow in the wrong spot. Oh well, Z didn't care and was happy.

I always make my own icing for my cakes so I made half and bought half. I really wanted to try the Duncan Hines frosting creations. Since I had a coupon to get the packet free I decided why not.I could only find it at Target in our area.
So while trying to decide on which flavor Z would like I picked the blue which is Cotton Candy. I was a little hesitant to try it. I'm not much for cotton candy flavor but It wasn't as bad as I had though. It wasn't as strong of a flavor and I kept eating the left over frosting...bad I know.

Pita Pockets

2012-05-04T13:12:00.001-05:00

I love these things. When I moved in with J and his mom in 2005 I ate things I never would have ate living with my parents. I started eating greens, black eyed peas, ground turkey, pizza soup (recipe to come soon) and lots of other things. When I first had this with them I was like there is no way I'm eating that. I'm a picky eater, well not so much now, but then I was. I made these for the first time on my own last week. I was pretty proud of myself, for not having the recipe on hand but calling her to get what she remember of it because she couldn't find her recipe.

RECIPE

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 tomato (diced)

1/2 of an onion (diced)

1 Package of frozen chopped Spinach (thawed and drained)

2 cans Chopped Olive or 1 can whole olives (i chop whole olives)

1-2 packages of Pita Bread

Package of Monetary Jack Cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Dressing Recipe

1/2cup of Mayonnaise

1 cup of Sour Cream

1 cup of Plain Greek Yogurt

Lemon Zest (optional)

Ground beef in skillet, Dice olives, tomato and onion, and drain the water out of your spinach.

Once the Beef is done drain the grease. (I rinse mine with water to get more of the grease out)

Saute the onions and tomatoes for about 5 min.

Add olives, spinach and beef into the onion and tomato.

Cook till all ingredients are heated.

While your mixture is cooking, You will mix together your dressing. We couldn't remember if the dressing recipe called for sour cream or yogurt with the Mayo, so we used all three. I think the original recipe called for 1 cup mayo and one cup of yogurt. But what we made tasted just the same and was still good so that is w hat I'm adding to the recipe. Mix those three together and set aside.

Add some Lemon Zest about a tsp.

(This recipe makes a lot of dressing so if you are cooking for 2 you might want to half it)

Once your meat mixture is done you will add half a cup of Monetary Jack cheese letting it melt.

Heat your Pitas for 10 seconds and cut in half, They are easier to open if they are warm.

Spread you dressing on one or both sides of your pita

Fill your pita

Sprinkle cheese in bottom of pita, on one side of pita, then your meat mixture or fill with meat mixture first and top with cheese.

ENJOY!!

Edit Me Challenge

2012-05-02T07:09:00.002-05:00

This weeks judge is Kaylene From L'Instant
Oringal

My Edit

What I did
Cropped Image
Added two textures lowering opacity to both
Used a honey action
Resize for web.

French Toast in a mug

2012-04-30T10:37:00.006-05:00

I saw this on Kelly Live last week and I loved the idea and thought it was awesome and something totally easy for breakfast for the girls. My little miss loved it, Big Miss picked donuts over french toast so she has yet to try it.

RECIPE

1 Tbsp of butter

2 Slices of bread

1 egg

4 Tbsp of milk

1/4 tsp of sugar

1/4 tsp of Cinnamon

drop of Vanilla Extract

Melt butter in your mug for about 25-30 seconds (till melted) and swirl the melted butter around the inside of the mug.

Crack your egg into mug, mix in milk, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla. I will add a little bit more sugar and cinnamon next time because it was a little bland for my sweet tooth, Whisk.

Take your bread and cut or rip off pieces and place them in your mug packing them down inside the mug.

Put your mug in the microwave for 5 min.

Mug might be hot, remove with a oven mitt or towel and top with maple syrup and or even some powdered sugar or fruit.

I found 5 minutes a little long, since the top of the french toast was hard to cut. We didn't eat it out of the mug. My 2 yr old enjoyed it cut up on a plate. Super easy and fast to make. And surely a huge hit with the kids.

Color Me Weekly

2012-04-30T05:58:00.001-05:00

Edit Me Challenge

2012-04-26T09:41:00.002-05:00

This weeks photo comes from Butterflies in Time Photography

Original

My Edit

What I did -I did two because I think this is very pretty and I had fun playing with it over and over ;).
Top photo
Duplicated layer adding a soft layer erasing the layer on the flowers and lowering opacity
I used a vintage action tweaking the layers to my liking
I added two textures and lowered the opacity of those making the one with the quote more visable.
Resize for web

Bottom photo which is my entry
I gave it a boost,helped the colors pop I added the same texture with the quote and a diff texture then the one above.
resize for web

Wordless Wednesday (with words)

2012-04-25T06:39:00.002-05:00

Trampoline Fun!
We have this small little thing, we have a bigger one, that I know B would love as much as Z did at 2. But Daddy isn't wanting us to put it it. And after our accident on this one Mommy don't think shes ready for B to be on a big one, or running around with Sis on it, while she can run underneath.

It was all fun and games...

Until this happens.

This just shows me that they are not ready for the big trampoline together, they collided. I took the picture and heard Z's jaw hit B's head. Ouch... We cried for a couple min, everyone checked out fine, Z and I laughed about it for awhile. Neither one of them have jumped on the trampoline together since. {ha} Lesson Learned? I think so! We'll see how long we wait till we put the big one up.

Texture Tuesday

2012-04-24T07:33:00.001-05:00

Color Me Weekly

2012-04-23T09:31:00.001-05:00

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge

2012-04-21T12:03:00.001-05:00

This weeks Challenge is Multicolored.

Check out the other participants and link up your multicolored photo.

This or That Thursday

2012-04-19T07:28:00.002-05:00

J and I went out to the Nature center and walked two of the trails. Of course with Camera in hand. These are some photos I took along the way. One thing I hate are spiders, but the webs are so pretty.

And ending this post with this...

It's Crazy to see how much these babies have changed in a week. You can see pictures from day two to day seven HERE. They have grown! Unfortunately the fourth egg never hatched and somehow we lost a baby. I was sad to look in there one morning and only see two.

Happy Thursday Everyone

heatheraland

This or That Thursday

Color Me Weekly

Higginsville Confederate Historic Site

This or That Thursday

Another year down

Pizza Soup Recipe

This or That Thursday

Edit Me Challenge

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge

Flip Flop Challenge *may edit 3*

This or That Thursday

Edit Me Challenge

Hey Girl..

Texture Tuesday

7 years

Pita Pockets

Edit Me Challenge

French Toast in a mug

Color Me Weekly

Edit Me Challenge

Wordless Wednesday (with words)

Texture Tuesday

Color Me Weekly

The Paper Mama Photo Challenge

This or That Thursday

Flip Flop Challenge may edit 3