What's Your Angle?

I must admit, I don't usually cook breakfast. The hubby usually has a bowl of bran and I often delay eating to the point that I'm fixing lunch instead of eating breakfast. But we're getting ready to go on a trip and there's some things in my refrigerator that I want to use up, one of them are the eggs. Yesterday I fixed omelets and baked a batch of canned biscuits. This morning I knew I wanted to heat up a couple of the biscuits, so I decided to poach our eggs and I also had bacon left over from yesterday and green onions left from my salad fixings that are gone. Below is the finished creation. My hubby said, "Take a picture!" So I took two...

I couldn't decide which one to post. Which one do you think is the better angle?

A little history about my egg poacher. Growing up my mother had a 6 or 8 egg poacher that had removable cups for each egg making it real easy to take out the eggs one at a time. As an adult all I had in my kitchen was a single egg poacher which just wasn't convenient for two people for breakfast. I decided I'd just go buy me a multiple egg poacher. My sil and I went to stores all over Wichita KS and all we could come up with in multiple egg poachers didn't have the removable cups. At home, online, I was able to find some large ones like I wanted but they were in restaurant supply and rather pricey. I was resigned to give up my search for the time being and wrote of my wasted day to an online friend in England. This wonderful lady in England I had "met" when I had responded to a question she had posted on some board concerning publishing a book of her father's letters. She and I were soon corresponding regularly and exchanging pictures of children and grandchildren. Not long after my egg poacher lament she wrote me to expect a package in the mail from her not saying what it was that she was sending. A week or so later the package arrived and much to my pleasure and surprise was the egg poacher that you see in the picture here. I have not heard from my dear friend across the pond in sometime now, but I think of her fondly whenever I have poached eggs.

E is for Excellent Award

Thank you, Anita for the E for Excellent Award! It's always nice to be recognized.

Now to pass on the award.

1. Carolyn is always working so hard to get just the right feel and look to her blogs. I like her homey, country feel to her newest one. Her writing is candid and honest, she just makes you feel at home.
2. Wendy is always a first thought when it comes to handing out awards. She does such an excellent job of photographing my home town, Wichita, and showing me things I either haven't seen in a long time or haven't seen at all.
3. Bob is a newer friend, go to his blog and you might learn something. He's been wonderful in answering all my questions about my new camera and I plan on bugging him even more for help.
4. The_Mrs is another new blogger that I've been visiting. She has two blogs and it's her newest that I'd especially like the award to go to. In her Dirty Little Secret blog she lays the wound wide open, still raw and hurting, for the world to see. A very brave thing for a person to do.
5. Cindy is usually on the list when I hand out awards, what she does to recycle materials is just plain award worthy. More of us should get on the bandwagon and re-purpose items instead of buying new and adding to the landfills. Here's to you Cindy!

I think I'm going to stop at 5 people and post this. I've been busy trying to get ready to go on a trip and don't seem to have time to devote to this that I should. I'll tell you more about the trip in a day or two.

I Love My New Camera

The KMonster had another soccer game today. It was chilly out and I wish I had worn my coat rather than my sweater-coat that didn't keep the breeze out. Yet the kids were out there on the field in T-shirts looking unfazed by the weather. Here's KMonster getting into his goalie shirt.
Just look how bright those colors are in the picture above. The picture below was taken from mid-field and they are close to the goal. This is cropped from a larger picture and had it wide open, no zoom.
I was also using the sports setting that takes multiple pictures one right after the other.

My zoom is only 5x, much less than on my other camera, but the picture is of such a higher quality that it makes up for it. See how much clearer his name is on his shirt? A telephoto lens and a macro lens are on my wish list.
Here's the KMonster in action, drop kicking the ball.
Fighting for the ball when he was playing the field.
On his toes and aware of where the ball is.
They played a good game but lost by 2 points. Better luck next time, guys.

Pretty Bubbles #4

I'm always looking for reflections in pictures. Just ask Wendy at WichitaKsDailyPhoto. I'm always pointing out reflections in her pictures. Also, being a videographer I have to be aware of such things as reflections and shadows to stay out of whatever is being taped. Below is the bubble enlarged, if you click on it you can see an even larger version.
The first thing that stands out is my white shoes. Up from the right side I see my elbow and forearm holding the camera to my face. The large black area is my black sweater that was draped over my arm. I took it outside with me, but never put it on. Do you see me? Remember when you look at pictures to look deeper, not just at what was being shot, but also what was going on around the shot and in the background. There are often "hidden" images in reflections and shadows.

Pretty Bubbles #3

You're all familiar with "Where's Waldo?" New game... Where's Moonshadow? I know you don't know what I look like, but it's obvious that I'm not a child (right?) since the children in this shot are my grandchildren. Can you see me?
One hint - I'm wearing white aerobic Reboks.

Pretty Bubbles #2

I really like the colors in this one. Which one do you like better, #1 or #2, or do they each hold their own ground for different qualities?

Pretty Bubbles #1

I didn't think I managed to get this shot because just as I got the bubble lined up, there was the sun but I pushed the button anyway and I'm glad I did. I love this shot!!

Hoppy Easter!

Easter was spent at my brother's with family and friends all meeting there. I hope I don't bore you to tears with all my pictures, but my new camera just snaps away and has a huge memory card. I took over 240 pictures and was not even close to running out of room. I've chose just 19 of those to place here. Other's I have plans to post later on. The celebration began with a late lunch (my infamous veggie tray is front and center)...
Can you see me in the picture above? I let my sil's best friend try out the camera and I actually got in a shot. That's my ear with the bluetooth headphone in the center of the shot above. : )

After prayer we all sat down for good food and better company.
After dinner the Easter buckets (I don't buy baskets, they just end up getting trashed) make their appearance...
...and the children all go check out their goodies...

...this little princess was very pleased to find a princess figure in her bucket...
...and the younger ones often look like "deer in the headlights" with all the goodies, being fairly new to all this.
We get more toys than candy as a general rule... this little one knew right away that the pretty green ring wasn't a jewel at all but a big hunk of candy.
Contrary to some other families children, ours never believe themselves to be to "old" to get an Easter bucket. I do attempt to find them things that are age appropriate, though KMonster seemed a bit disappointed to find I hadn't gotten him any bubbles.
My sil informed me that bubbles are her princess granddaughter's favorite thing. So out they all went to the deck to produce beautiful bubbles. The weather had a little chill if you were in the shade, but it was wonderful for everyone to be outside on this early Easter day.

The bubbles were scented and they had some coloring in them also which is noticeable in some of the pictures.
These long skinny bubble wands produced an abundance of large lovely bubbles to the children's delight.
You would have to see the series of shots that goes with the picture below. I'm not so sure that he has done many bubbles by himself. In the first shot I took he wasn't smiling as he attempted to wave the wand. Then as bubbles formed out of it the corners of his mouth gradually turned up into the smile you see below.
Then there was swinging, this princesses second favorite thing to do. That's her "PaPa" (my brother) in the background and she's been known to drag him outside in the winter to swing. Of course, being "PaPa" he complied.
Finally there was Easter egg hunting. Notice in the picture below that I have turned over the video taping of events to the next generation. Thanks, KMonster, for stepping up!

The eggs were counted and re hid till they got tired of hiding and hunting.
Even the dog got in on the egg hunt...
Then there was more swinging...
...and even some twirling...
Another wonderful family gathering. I wish you and yours Joys and Blessings that come with the rebirth that springtime brings and those of your spiritual choice!

Happy Easter!

A poem as recited by Judy Heinrichs circa early 1950s:

Pussy Willow

by Rowena Bennett

Turn Off Those Lights!

Here's something simple we all can do...

Earth Hour 2008

March 29

Just turn off all lights for One Hour.

A great way to take advantage of this one hour of darkness would be to dig out your telescopes and go look at some stars. I recall, years ago, the scientists at the large observatories complaining about all the light from earth causing a problem in viewing the stars. I don't know if this is still an issue with the newer equipment, but I know that lots of people that have grown up in or near large cities have never REALLY seen a starlit sky. I recall when some friends had their friends visiting from Kansas City. I will never forget the teenage girls reaction when she stepped outside into the starlit night. She could not believe what she was seeing, she carried on and on about how the sky looked (and this was even with the wash from small town street lights). I told them they needed to take her down to the river, which is a little distance out of town, and let her kick back and enjoy the stars from there. SOOO... in conclusion, check out 1 hour without lights and go enjoy some stars! Sign up HERE!

I Hear That Train A-Comin'

State agrees to study cost of passenger rail service
BY HURST LAVIANA
The Wichita Eagle

Those who have been working to restore passenger rail service to south-central Kansas are calling it the most significant development to date: a promise from the state to put a price tag on the plan.

The Kansas Department of Transportation said Thursday that it has agreed to underwrite an Amtrak study that will determine the cost and feasibility of a proposal that could bring passenger rail service to Wichita for the first time since 1979.

Read the whole article Here...

Go to the link above to participate in their survey:

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

How often would you use the Heartland Flyer, which would run from Fort Worth through Wichita and on to Kansas City?

Often

Sometimes
Rarely

Never

It is in Giving That You Receive

I usually don't post news articles, but this one I felt was worth noting...


Science, Bible agree: Giving is better
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer
Thu Mar 20, 6:49 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Bible counsels misers that it's better to give than to receive. Science agrees. People who made gifts to others or to charities reported they were happier than folks who didn't share, according to a report in Friday's issue of the journal Science.

While previous studies have shown that having more money can increase happiness, the researchers at the University of British Columbia and Harvard University wondered if the way people spent their money made any difference.

Read the whole article Here...

I Can See Clearly Now

I'd been moaning and groaning about my digital camera for a long time. Don't get me wrong, it did a great job for what it was, but I wanted a camera that I could get in close and personal with or long shots of night skies. My older digital just wouldn't do that. My dear hubby has purchased a new camera for me and now I've got a lot of learning to do. I've never used anything but a point and shoot with fixed focus, so I'm even limited on the terms I know let alone how to use them. The picture below is the first picture I've taken with my new Canon EOS 40D and it's also the first spring flower to bloom in my yard.
I've never had a camera that would get in so close and clear.
Now to get out and get to shooting!

There Will Be Peace In the Valley

I was feeling nostalgic and decided to listen to one of the CDs that my cousin had burned from some old 78 rpm recordings that my dad had. These recordings were made in Burlington Colorado at a little recording studio there and are recorded on metal records. All of them were recorded at least a few years before I was born and are over 50 years old. Most of them are sung by my dad, his brothers, their wives and some cousins. I grew up hearing all these old songs and it really takes me back to hear them. That said, I'd like to share the following that I added a little slide show of my dad and his brothers and family.

There Will Be Peace In the Valley

What Can We Learn from the Past

Because this email post can be accessed by the general public at this link....



http://134.129.111.8/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0803b&L=gr-heritage&T=0&P=390



...I am reposting it to my blog via copy and paste.

Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008
12:44:32 -0600
Reply-To: Richard Benert
Sender: GR-HERITAGE Germans from Russia
From: Richard Benert
Subject: Re: Information needed for cutting
manure for heating and cooking

I'm taking the liberty of sending this to the whole list, since I think
that this may be a subject that has engaged the inquiring minds others than just
Joan. It's from P. S. Pallas, "Travels Through the Southern Provinces of
the Russian Empire in the Years 1793 and 1794," 2nd ed, London, 1912 (repr.New
York, 1970), pp. 61-62.

"In these as well as the other colonies on the Karamysh [he refers to
Talovka and Sofnofka], and in some of the lower settlements along the Ilovla,
the want of fuel, previous to the year 1788, had been severely felt. Since that
time the inhabitants have learnt to make an artificial peat, composed of dung
and straw. This invention was suggested to them by Frederic Rish, a native
of the turfy island of Rugen, in the Baltic Sea, and now a colonist of
Ust-Salikha. The colonists can spare their dung for that purpose, as the
loose black soil requires only to be divided into fallows, to restore its
fertility; and they have a superabundance of straw. The dung is gathered
in heaps, and left to putrify during winter. After the first agricultural
labours of the spring are finished, this compost is carried to the water-side,
placed several feet deep, on a dry spot, mixed with a proportionate quantity of
straw, and then trampled upon by horses and oxen, till it form a compact
mass. When it is half dried in the open air, it is cut like turf into
square pieces, which are piled up till they are completely dried, and afterwards
carried home, where they serve as a stock of fuel for the winter. This
artificial turf has long been used by the Crim-Tartars; it burns with a flame
not unlike sea-coal, and imparts excellent heat, particularly to stoves and
ovens for baking. Its smoke, however, is offensive, and is with much
difficulty excluded from the inner apartments. Five or six pieces of it
are sufficient to heat an oven; and a few men, with several pair of horses or
exen, are able to prepare, in the course of a week, sufficient fuel for the
whole winter."

He then says the colonists had "most injudiciously" cut down all the trees
in the area, requiring them now to use manure and straw for heating. They
now would gladly plant slips from the willows and poplars on islands in the
Volga if they could get permission.

Dick Benert

What impressed me about this most was, "a few men, with several pair of horses or oxen, are able to prepare, in the course of a week, sufficient fuel for the whole winter." I do believe it takes more men and/or longer than that to obtain enough wood for a whole winter. Not to speak of the destruction to the forrest. Why wasn't the lesson learned to respect the forrests from this experience.

They're All Princesses

It's amazing how many princesses there are in a country that doesn't recognize royalty of it's own. But every little girl is a princess, especially on her birthday, just ask her. Which is why on Sunday afternoon I picked up my son's youngest daughter and drove 32 miles to my brother's granddaughter's birthday party at My Gym in Wichita KS. They began with some organized activities to get them warmed up.I didn't take my camcorder but I did get some low quality video clips with my digital camera.

They hung padded blocks from the ceiling, swung them and had the girls attempt to run through them without getting hit.

Then they were instructed to try to crawl under them, again without getting bonked on the head.
Here they are all lined up and ready for another challenge.
The birthday girl liked the giant ball that you could get in and roll around with.
Then there was climbing to be done.
The video below is a short clip of story time. They set a couple exercise pads on edge making a walled in area. The leader then gathered all the children inside and told a story using some hand puppets. The children really enjoyed with and interacted quite loudly with the storyteller.

After the story they then played hide-n-seek. The leader stayed in the walled in area telling the children to go hide but not to hide in the ball pit because that is the first place she checks. She then counts to 20 as the other helpers lead the children to hide under the play equipment to the left of the gym. The leader comes out to look and goes directly to the ball pit which is to the front right of the gym. The helper then "sneaks" the children back to the "safe place" for the leader to discover them. Of course they were all giggling and not really fooling anyone. They did this a couple of times before going on to.... Picture time.

They then had cake and ice cream...
Presents from friends and family at the party were then opened...
...and a final short play time...

...before time to go home.

The final farewell in the ball pit.

Back at home, presents were opened that they hadn't wanted to haul to the gym only to haul home again. We had saved our present for opening at their home. See the Sponge Bob bag, that's the one that my granddaughter picked to use (but I didn't have any princess ones or I'm sure that's what she would have picked instead).

More toys than she will know what to do with, I'm sure.
A fabulous time was had by all and it was a wonderful way for 5 years olds to celebrate a birthday. To jump and scream and holler and run and climb and not have any adults telling them to settle down.