tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72741068705929675462024-03-05T08:16:16.186-05:00Paprikas PerchCome and Perch yourself for a bit!Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-35997059499637571692010-12-16T15:13:00.003-05:002010-12-16T15:29:50.269-05:00Busy, Busy, Busy and Some Exciting News!It has been a crazy few weeks over here! My grandmother was in and out of the hospital with dehydration and we originally were told she was going into kidney failure but it turns out to be her kidney functions were "failing" due to the dehydration. Anyways, she is doing much better and I spent a lot of time giving my parents a hand with things around the house and getting ready for Christmas along with getting all my stuff done for Christmas, which still isn't done!! I haven't even started my Christmas cards and I have no picture good enough to use with the boys! Man!! What kind of Mom am I not to send out a picture with my Christmas cards! Hahaha!!<br />I am also puppy proofing my house!! We, I, am finally going to be a <a href="http://www.fidelco.org/">Fidelco</a> Foster Mom!!!!! I am so excited about this! I am picking up the puppy on Saturday. It will be a girl and her name must start with a B which we get to pick. We came up with Bliss, Bindy, Brie and Believe so far. Not sure I am liking any of them. I really wanted to have a name with a really cool meaning behind it since these dogs are born to help the blind. If anyone has any ideas for a name feel free to let me know. I am up for suggestions!! I have 3 days from the time I pick her up to send in 3 names so they can check and make sure they are not in use right now. Oh and the name has to be 1 or 2 syllables. So, Yes craziness is the word for the past 2 weeks. I have not decided if I am going to start a new blog for the fostering or if I will do it right on this blog. I guess it all depends on if you all will like to read about it ;) I thought it would be fun to document all the hard times of raising the puppy and the good all the way up til it is time to hand her back over to become the dog she was bred to be. <br />I have to get back into entering into all the wonderful challenges! I miss them very much!!! I am not sure if I will be back as much I would like to in the next week or two but I will try.<br />Hope you are all having a wonderful week and please let me know if you think of any names and if you are interested in reading about my Fidelco adventure!Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-46228403090187869912010-12-07T14:14:00.003-05:002010-12-07T14:37:42.031-05:00Favorite Photo ChallengeThis is was a very hard choice to pick just one of my favorite photos!!! This picture is pretty close to the top!<br />It was taken when my son was 19 months old and his first trip to the farm. I had not been up to the farm in a VERY long time due to my aunt and uncle getting a divorce and he was my uncle by marriage. Anyways, my cousin got married on the farm and my mom and dad spoke with my uncle after a VERY long time, and one of the 1st questions from him was "How is Karrie?" You see, I was the only niece that loved being on the farm and would spend at least a week up there every summer. I was always up his butt learning and listening. After all this time I thought he might have, well kinda forgotten about me...but nope! So my parents said my aunt and uncle have been divorced for so long now (Trying to keep the peace with her sister) that why don't I call...and my uncle wanted me to call him. It took me over 2 weeks to get up the nerve to call but I finally did. So the rest is history! We have been up there every yr at least once if not twice to visit. It is always like going home for me. My youngest loves it just about as much as I do and this picture shows that. We were only there a few hours and he wanted to go in the barnyard and see the cows, so I took him in and I had to jump behind every cow he just zoomed past since he had no fear of them...at all!!!! As my uncle says "Just like his mother!" <br />At 19 months you think they would be intimidated by these big creatures...not my son! He really tried to make friends with her but she was not interested in the hay (which that doesn't look just hay since he took it off the barnyard ground...hahaha) she was more interested in why was this human so small? This picture always brings back good memories for me not only being back on the farm and getting reunited with my uncle again but to see my son running, playing, feeding the calves, now milking the cows and helping out with so many different chores the older he gets. This is the life I wish I could have but I am happy enough that we can go and spend some time up there and my kids get a taste of what a hard working life is all about. I am also glad my kids know that milk doesn't come from the grocery store ;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4YsjhCULGF-qGn_inFBfqSIA8bPC3iO__R0xA1IkHuOiHkc2UbTM85Lq4v4B1uSrUq-qCO5DPob67LY0jUU7lESUdJdZXwNXfS7ehmaIkpTVq2N2SA-ZqPx6eQzXrYOCc1eAD5j-L0A1/s1600/tcow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4YsjhCULGF-qGn_inFBfqSIA8bPC3iO__R0xA1IkHuOiHkc2UbTM85Lq4v4B1uSrUq-qCO5DPob67LY0jUU7lESUdJdZXwNXfS7ehmaIkpTVq2N2SA-ZqPx6eQzXrYOCc1eAD5j-L0A1/s400/tcow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548021272011705650" /></a><br /><br />Oh and this picture was taken with my old little Olympus. I really did love that camera!<br /><br />Please stop by and see all the other wonderful enteries at Simplicity this week. I am sure there are going to be some wonderful photos! Can't wait to head over there myself. Have a wonderful week!<br /><a border="0" href="http://faith-simplicity.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4989575463_ca09e06f1a.jpg" width="125" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-50431812599783869252010-12-03T08:18:00.004-05:002010-12-03T08:28:13.736-05:00Macro FridayI am using this for my Macro Friday picture. This is one of my favorites and I have several!! It is so hard to choose which one to use!!!! I love the detail and how clear it came out without a tripod. hope you enjoy :)<br /><br />Hope you had a wonderful week and have a great weekend ahead!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGgCsAHI-BCFiGBr-GezKp1-PvdtKw3QBp8t06fSS4gMRir2idi96csMv9cvVB1VGCiZtz_XyT2GCTcefDE32mlCIKk5liPkSKyEmYHOJzGWuGIFyx1F1EKNIf-mDnRAP1OPx1DZT0DHZ/s1600/mantis.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546445899412249634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBGgCsAHI-BCFiGBr-GezKp1-PvdtKw3QBp8t06fSS4gMRir2idi96csMv9cvVB1VGCiZtz_XyT2GCTcefDE32mlCIKk5liPkSKyEmYHOJzGWuGIFyx1F1EKNIf-mDnRAP1OPx1DZT0DHZ/s400/mantis.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bloggingfrombolivia.com"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/4990658393_2486e5cf67_m.jpg" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-61465824475796523652010-12-02T09:21:00.005-05:002010-12-02T09:48:04.491-05:00Clothing and Blankets needed for our wounded!! Please Help! Just 1 would go a long way!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFF2OvVEmfbj9nxygph-00nFCdscRaUy9nXiRjuWF34cWLpxR-LsicvHfdIwcOIXokksrBDj7O6uryZ9pszMrMW8SKemqgLSMvflJxdFkMXh1MdT18Vf8W087zZUSdc0xQNK7bxBzxfMl_/s1600/angeladoptlogo.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546090060006021058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFF2OvVEmfbj9nxygph-00nFCdscRaUy9nXiRjuWF34cWLpxR-LsicvHfdIwcOIXokksrBDj7O6uryZ9pszMrMW8SKemqgLSMvflJxdFkMXh1MdT18Vf8W087zZUSdc0xQNK7bxBzxfMl_/s400/angeladoptlogo.gif" /></a> <span style="color:#003333;">I know things are tough out there for most of us this Holiday season (me included) but I saw this post and needed to spread the word!</span><br /><span style="color:#003333;">I have been apart of Soldiers Angels since September and I have adopted a Hero, sent many TLC request cards and letters and I even got the nerve up to make a no sew blanket! Which reminds me I have to post the pics of that one! It is so rewarding <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">every time</span> I send out a package or letter. Just to know they are going to receive my letter that hopefully puts a smile on their face to know that people back home care about them. Thomas is also very much into helping and loves shopping for our Hero and he includes a picture for every card we send out! I also have recruited his kindergarten class! they are taking donations (which has turned out to be a good size box) and the class is making Christmas cards for some soldiers! We have had a wonderful and generous response from families in the class. Thank you all!!</span><br /><span style="color:#003333;">Anyways, This call out for help right now is for our wounded who end up being flown to Germany to get treatment and the best treatment at that! Most of the wounded are flown in on helicopters which are very cold this time of year. They are in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">desperate</span> need of blankets and sweatpants and sweatshirts. I know it doesn't seem like much but if you <a href="http://soldiersangelsmedical.blogspot.com/2010/12/urgent-need-for-warm-clothing-for.html">read here </a> You will understand why they need them so badly. Next time I run into <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Walmart</span> I am going to pick up some sweatshirts and pants to send out. They aren't very expensive there, and probably at target too. You can ship them in a flat rate box from the post office (which they will give you). i am guessing at this point but I would say the $10 or $12 box would get you maybe 2-4 pair of sweats in them if you really squeeze them in...just estimating tho :) Get your neighborhood involved, get a school involved, a church, your work, anywhere you think people could help. Just think, if everyone picked up just 1 thing...how many wounded soldiers would no longer be cold and they would know how much they are cared about. If you can do anything to help out, I know you will feel good and I know Soldiers Angels would be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">grateful</span>! They are such a wonderful group of people and I couldn't have found a better group to be a part of!</span><br /><p><span style="color:#003333;"></span> </p><p><span style="color:#003333;">If you need any further information or help please feel free to contact me at <a href="mailto:Krem0922@aol.com">Krem0922@aol.com</a> put "wounded" in the subject line just <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">in case</span> it goes to spam. I will gladly help you out, help get you started, help you find a project that fits you or find answers for you if you need them. You can also<a href="http://soldiersangelsnetwork.com/index.php"> Click Here </a>to go to the Soldiers Angels site and make a small donation or read about them and what they do. There are many ways you can help. </span></p><p><span style="color:#003333;"></span> </p><p><span style="color:#003333;">Thank you and God Bless our Troops! Bring them home safe!!!</span></p>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-22555259891814880522010-12-02T08:22:00.003-05:002010-12-02T08:31:58.711-05:00Disney Giveaway!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-7dk6S0NEbrwkweqIb1QDJeEhIexhCVyUficNZfEAg42osJMZ68u3JtTyK-zhzacmqf8802DtPc4JfPyqUZT7GaQABUw6TT6HepxYZ7hgmVjq6SVuBVp0p13NO_Idvlkrbx4dhA4r_R0/s1600/mickey.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546075664564191346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-7dk6S0NEbrwkweqIb1QDJeEhIexhCVyUficNZfEAg42osJMZ68u3JtTyK-zhzacmqf8802DtPc4JfPyqUZT7GaQABUw6TT6HepxYZ7hgmVjq6SVuBVp0p13NO_Idvlkrbx4dhA4r_R0/s400/mickey.jpg" /></a><br />If found this and thought I would share it with you. They are giving away something from Disney everyday!! Today it is a Disney watch. You need to either leave a message on their facebook wall, blog about it, follow and tweet on twitter and/or subscribe to their newsletter. Not too hard!!! Too bad they aren't asking for pictures since I have a million of them from when we went almost 2 yrs ago! So I thought I would share one anyway.<br />So <a href="http://www.magicalmouseplans.com/DisneyContest.html">click here </a>to enter the giveaway and I will hopefully remember to post the new contests everyday!<br />Have a wonderful day!!Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-6599922420021628492010-12-01T12:43:00.005-05:002010-12-03T08:18:24.739-05:00Summer FavoriteNot to sure if it is a little early to be thinking of summer since winter really hasn't kicked in too bad yet for us but on the other hand...who doesn't think of summer all the time! I know I do!!<br /><br />I took this picture this past summer one day spending hours chasing butterflies and bees. I just love how this came out and every time I look at it, it puts a smile on my face. I had it made into a 5x7 and it looks awesome but I really think I need an 8x10 for my wall!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n9hEoGpaAs7xN2ZT6yITqzbJE60hRFa1FkBd9gYHTps6RqCSbng0uuRLJmcbBHJvlxu0NfWroBEOwQarCmCNs987VLgaeoBW9MqP1gfpSEmYcJ_PmBaQFWfw-LBIKigHU9NE4JAIxTyy/s1600/butterwm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545771065966283186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9n9hEoGpaAs7xN2ZT6yITqzbJE60hRFa1FkBd9gYHTps6RqCSbng0uuRLJmcbBHJvlxu0NfWroBEOwQarCmCNs987VLgaeoBW9MqP1gfpSEmYcJ_PmBaQFWfw-LBIKigHU9NE4JAIxTyy/s400/butterwm.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I entered this picture into Simplicity's "Dreaming of Summer" Challenge. Please stop by and look at all the other wonderful entries :)<br /><a href="http://faith-simplicity.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4946460066_f282e2f893_z.jpg" width="125" /></a><br /><br />I also entered this picture into the "Happy Monday" Photo Challenge...also a great blog to cruise around and look at the entries :)<br /><a href="http://alliereid.blogspot.com/search/label/Happy%20Monday"><img src="http://imgur.com/2cGlr.jpg" /></a> </p><p> </p><p><br /><br />Now since I am finding so many photo challenges to enter...how do I keep them all straight and when? I am not a very organized person so this is going to be a challenge in itself for me...lol!!<br /><br />You can also purchase this photo on my <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/BacisCreations">Artfire store</a>. Please stop by and take a look the photos (which can be made into any size print, contact me for other size pricing) and my moms wonderful jewelry which I hope to have some new items listed this weekend!</p>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-62896630096660303322010-11-24T08:22:00.005-05:002010-11-24T08:54:38.715-05:00Happy Thanksgiving!!<div align="center">I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.<br />I am thankful for my friends and family. It has been a rough year with learning who I thought were friends really aren't and family...well...enough said. My friends and family has been very supportive of me and my ideas, thoughts and projects. Thank you all!!<br />I am also thankful for my blog readers and followers! Thank you for standing by me and helping me on my journey to becoming a better photographer and putting up with my bad spelling and proper grammer.<br /><br />Here are some of the things I am thankful for in pictures.<br />Have a wonderful, safe and very Happy Thanksgiving!<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrqvh0UdPVgnggi4Hk4ksVSNtuFHEFKAceAwe4u6_nSrG_O36xRCSGgGy4K7bnatPHCpIBFbRFcSt5XndG5Ns3D6uB8wBSV1rBvdxuPjMGOvMzuMu4yc07HwvkX9nC1I0rYJGGEMUbf35/s1600/k5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543108461680908834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrqvh0UdPVgnggi4Hk4ksVSNtuFHEFKAceAwe4u6_nSrG_O36xRCSGgGy4K7bnatPHCpIBFbRFcSt5XndG5Ns3D6uB8wBSV1rBvdxuPjMGOvMzuMu4yc07HwvkX9nC1I0rYJGGEMUbf35/s400/k5.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>My youngest son for doing so well in kindergarten, getting his first trophy in karate, loosing his first 2 teeth and for just being him! He is such a love and a joy :)<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI1DCpYrL_rtZBKA4jf-Jj2HqH9tn9QPm8DLDJecxyqVVOaPcDKKbnwkMw-S95l4Bb3rQ0LNFkmj8O6BU8ngNg0i9k-Lfgv33N2eSvL4j52K_azXweBnoSnCoMpGAHf8MOy5Y9fG6uhh2/s1600/IMG_5836.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543108451472459890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI1DCpYrL_rtZBKA4jf-Jj2HqH9tn9QPm8DLDJecxyqVVOaPcDKKbnwkMw-S95l4Bb3rQ0LNFkmj8O6BU8ngNg0i9k-Lfgv33N2eSvL4j52K_azXweBnoSnCoMpGAHf8MOy5Y9fG6uhh2/s400/IMG_5836.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a>For my favorite place in the whole world! The Farm<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIEsqXMVDtse7ugmPuQ9DQUXOHW5Ah1O1A8MIwYwJIFn0FpagQ3NHgpnfBwsQ1cwBm9KvETsjxuecL4GmZpi7R9v-kEOIHGdE0JnrawSnU4puni4XnoLWXVi6Mze_hefpWJ2yZDxzP3q1/s1600/mark%2526kiss.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543107421675763970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIEsqXMVDtse7ugmPuQ9DQUXOHW5Ah1O1A8MIwYwJIFn0FpagQ3NHgpnfBwsQ1cwBm9KvETsjxuecL4GmZpi7R9v-kEOIHGdE0JnrawSnU4puni4XnoLWXVi6Mze_hefpWJ2yZDxzP3q1/s400/mark%2526kiss.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>My oldest son for doing very good in school, for being a good kid (except for the mood swings of a 15 yr old) and growing into a very fine young man<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyq7KlU_j2LVRkSZDz3gJvYSPMfB11QQjlJLiYasU-ofQKVIt6p1jx-pRykGxHPnAylFR8pK09Xg3B86dxq_mAHaHuiIQqGAC0VZLUKVgsKmATqgvgts-MB2bNGw-DSMWoXSMXGVq5R5Z/s1600/4612_1161829438739_1017925420_30502777_5937121_s.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 86px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543107412231375810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyq7KlU_j2LVRkSZDz3gJvYSPMfB11QQjlJLiYasU-ofQKVIt6p1jx-pRykGxHPnAylFR8pK09Xg3B86dxq_mAHaHuiIQqGAC0VZLUKVgsKmATqgvgts-MB2bNGw-DSMWoXSMXGVq5R5Z/s400/4612_1161829438739_1017925420_30502777_5937121_s.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a> My husband. My friend, my biggest supporter, my love. Thank you for all you do for us, for me, and being so understanding and supportive of me and my "projects"<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiippqjpiYgaeHTgOLNaFeYr2HuDlut2gW_yH3Zf42ez-KW_YeOFKRYfvW4V6l8Vm7tmw0nrgJVmDgYenYBNQLiNHtXC0nJQMQB8AiWUdc-isXy3rtO6bZYRQrDuGoeHerw2ayN_WZ7mT6_/s1600/IMG_8222.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543107405619660354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiippqjpiYgaeHTgOLNaFeYr2HuDlut2gW_yH3Zf42ez-KW_YeOFKRYfvW4V6l8Vm7tmw0nrgJVmDgYenYBNQLiNHtXC0nJQMQB8AiWUdc-isXy3rtO6bZYRQrDuGoeHerw2ayN_WZ7mT6_/s400/IMG_8222.JPG" /> <p align="center"></a>For Sasha. Sasha went to be an angel this past August. We had the pleasure of having her in our lives for 10 yrs and our family is not the same without her. She was 14 and we saved her from being put down for no good reason. She is missed and will always be in our hearts<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLgzTsA7VENcrHVbEpZicDbEFgAdBubh9vr_jUopMsQJSFeJOLeFczXxy0JtKsJx8XqSVLm6azxS9wpmmFYGW-HEE12nUFb1fAwgkGh9tjhcVkBID-7kJkdTXPOEZZ2XkAXDj-lhQDXe8/s1600/b11.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543107400217799986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLgzTsA7VENcrHVbEpZicDbEFgAdBubh9vr_jUopMsQJSFeJOLeFczXxy0JtKsJx8XqSVLm6azxS9wpmmFYGW-HEE12nUFb1fAwgkGh9tjhcVkBID-7kJkdTXPOEZZ2XkAXDj-lhQDXe8/s400/b11.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>For my grandmother. We just celebrated her 90th birthday last month! I am thankful that she is still here with us and has gotten to see her 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren grow up, well not all the great grandchildren since 2 are 5 and 1 was just born a month ago ;)<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6ISKmnrNguVeLI7RzEzKu6qm00Mu8nERlG-V2_Ju3wis0DP5HCoj9BQ0oweQIiwxScJbeFZmD2Xrj2KEiNEJzeGtogimE5Y5YnGZdkrZNvfEvPW7HgzFg2ZGbAQq8M_EXW8GIB-PgpRS/s1600/d%2526t.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543107388420573506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6ISKmnrNguVeLI7RzEzKu6qm00Mu8nERlG-V2_Ju3wis0DP5HCoj9BQ0oweQIiwxScJbeFZmD2Xrj2KEiNEJzeGtogimE5Y5YnGZdkrZNvfEvPW7HgzFg2ZGbAQq8M_EXW8GIB-PgpRS/s400/d%2526t.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a>and for my mom and dad. I dont have a really good pic of my mom so my dad will have to do. I am thankful that both of them are here for our children and they are always here when we need them. They are the best and when they move to North Carolina in 2 yrs I don't know what I am going to do with out them being 15 mins away. They will be 10-12 hrs away :( </p><br /><div align="center">Happy Thanksgiving!!!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><br /><br /><a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Lovely%20Photo%20Wednesday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/LovelyPhoto.png" align="center" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://manyrandommusings.blogspot.com/search/label/Lovely%20Photo%20Wednesday"><img vspace="none" hspace="none" alt="Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire" src="http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt255/ElvishAuthoress/LovelyPhoto.png" align="center" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-76639644711603479552010-11-22T21:02:00.004-05:002010-11-22T21:46:53.253-05:00My 1st Family Photo Shoot<div align="center">As most of you know, I am not really a portrait photographer. At least the "sit down, stand here, do this, do that, smile now" type of photographer. I used to love when all the kids from preschool would get together so I could just chase them and get them in their natural setting. I love nature and natural. So this leads me to Alicia and her family.\<br />Alicia and I went to high school together and reconnected on Facebook. It has been 16 yrs since I had seen her! I just gave away how old I am huh?! LOL! She has been following me grow into my photography since I post almost every picture I take! She emailed me one day and asked if I would take some pictures of her and her family and of coarse I said yes but I had to explain that I was not a portrait photographer and she had said that was perfect for her! She was is a natural type person and would love for me to just get some shots of the kids running around and her family just being together. Now, for me, I was doing the happy dance and was just honored that she believed in me enough to give me a shot but to be honest I was scared to death!! What if I failed? What if I didn't get any good shots? What if she was really upset with the way my pictures came out? As I am not into photoshop either. I love the natural photos...a little tweak here, a little tweak there...but that is it!<br />So the day came and I was so nervous!! Not only to shoot her and her family but to see her after all these years. Well....I had nothing to be nervous about! Her family was absolutely wonderful!!! Her family was so much fun to be around and to take pictures of. Her husband..such a nice man, fun, patient and pretty handsome I do have to say ;) her oldest son...what a wonderful young man! and a good sport with the little guy and having his picture taken.. and her youngest....talk about adorable!!! He was all over the place!! running here and there but he was also a great sport with the photos. Such handsome boys she has! Alicia must be very tired at the end of the day keeping up with that little man!<br />Anyways...enough jibber jabber.....here are a few of the photos that I took that day in Meridan at Hubbard Park of Alicia and her family:)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySLh7Cp55NhYzgQde958OV1fzgqEUhw1w2D0Jovj1lp6KZqh4DLAsurmZS6liqi8AF10hyphenhyphengft3FWXEjIO7x3ajv58S3gX-cr3Sp2K8hir9ebFfG0vrVI1q1TvFc2TXLi_xQXDnVkoHupX/s1600/a39.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542562144492114130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySLh7Cp55NhYzgQde958OV1fzgqEUhw1w2D0Jovj1lp6KZqh4DLAsurmZS6liqi8AF10hyphenhyphengft3FWXEjIO7x3ajv58S3gX-cr3Sp2K8hir9ebFfG0vrVI1q1TvFc2TXLi_xQXDnVkoHupX/s400/a39.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVQit_ep_BMKPV2dxRaoO97qWv1_lV23p5r6UuxEFA2QYj0PgT4_A3EplCBJgzD55oF9xZPrJ0hZt_rLEZYWFXEM0UO1tawKJxtT6rpDy798I6oZMV5-khaWfLodhRKekOJJUH8t5QtvT/s1600/a33.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542562133572276610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVQit_ep_BMKPV2dxRaoO97qWv1_lV23p5r6UuxEFA2QYj0PgT4_A3EplCBJgzD55oF9xZPrJ0hZt_rLEZYWFXEM0UO1tawKJxtT6rpDy798I6oZMV5-khaWfLodhRKekOJJUH8t5QtvT/s400/a33.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFzC22Cmh36WKgT30leKfwPmHL7uFssPCAR46VhB0BDdlYrTSyBVLpxPhGoyPmXv9TMTi0k5Dv-hY-fiofGu2V9omZGuzkGguJLrLOb8ktSQaoJHC03IlLNFH-hVA4PqOZfCPI670avhj/s1600/a27.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542562125743786578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFzC22Cmh36WKgT30leKfwPmHL7uFssPCAR46VhB0BDdlYrTSyBVLpxPhGoyPmXv9TMTi0k5Dv-hY-fiofGu2V9omZGuzkGguJLrLOb8ktSQaoJHC03IlLNFH-hVA4PqOZfCPI670avhj/s400/a27.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmAPeH4a9LENrLl8zDWaSSVNksus2CGmjvkNrCEAG81552WGwxpuDT5a-X-n1rFtZksoGROB_GlFEVSbZlU0COJGaeh7gjt3iVK__PBlNDuAp4Jx0t_Nv7TlvgtCeNbEVUnHQ_6qHhKs5/s1600/a1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542562116954108162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmAPeH4a9LENrLl8zDWaSSVNksus2CGmjvkNrCEAG81552WGwxpuDT5a-X-n1rFtZksoGROB_GlFEVSbZlU0COJGaeh7gjt3iVK__PBlNDuAp4Jx0t_Nv7TlvgtCeNbEVUnHQ_6qHhKs5/s400/a1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteuFaOo5UrNilLk_diFaohruCQyGbHGsPE5aH97AMe2UNtIv8UzG6iHF6jYv7Hqtva6z8H2woCmOFoHcJc7nPb7QrVCtidq2tMg2rqdNbUOUh-SUkfRvcnj57SaVmsWeahdef7TAllasf/s1600/a30.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542561004879166562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteuFaOo5UrNilLk_diFaohruCQyGbHGsPE5aH97AMe2UNtIv8UzG6iHF6jYv7Hqtva6z8H2woCmOFoHcJc7nPb7QrVCtidq2tMg2rqdNbUOUh-SUkfRvcnj57SaVmsWeahdef7TAllasf/s400/a30.jpg" /></a> This is the photo that Alicia is going to use on her website<a href="http://www.naturawlbeing.com/"> Naturawl Being</a>. Isn't she beautiful!! Please be sure to stop by and check it out. Alicia and her friend Kelly are starting a business that is all about Raw, Organic and Vegan foods! They are in the Beta stages right now but be sure to check out the website and follow them on<a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/naturawlbeing"> Facebook</a>. They have some wonderful recipes and information they are always posting on Facebook!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAHanOp1bVYlbFTy2DHpwCohKKtsPaNDXCXPEvxPy-3y9ldK2siYxqmZnQ-PGof3_JU-hHrSRBVAYo8Wixw0qoRdnzWqtycCVwg2P3WjaR4x3gSaiHVmEgCdKPkIj0LJ0y3NNZmn63PlV/s1600/a22.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542560997413756834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAHanOp1bVYlbFTy2DHpwCohKKtsPaNDXCXPEvxPy-3y9ldK2siYxqmZnQ-PGof3_JU-hHrSRBVAYo8Wixw0qoRdnzWqtycCVwg2P3WjaR4x3gSaiHVmEgCdKPkIj0LJ0y3NNZmn63PlV/s400/a22.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVCC4Yd24dvs4bzqlIMEcwdxIJEMeYW4STbQVxXt_ctdbiJ39E_2IvLaZBVa6oMTtNo8XNBk2DZvPBJ1Ad2RtlHvr-Or4p0PM5vs3rQNtMhxyKSp9DQqi5N3RuGTXoRPSZbefQasne4c3/s1600/a51.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542560987312634306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVCC4Yd24dvs4bzqlIMEcwdxIJEMeYW4STbQVxXt_ctdbiJ39E_2IvLaZBVa6oMTtNo8XNBk2DZvPBJ1Ad2RtlHvr-Or4p0PM5vs3rQNtMhxyKSp9DQqi5N3RuGTXoRPSZbefQasne4c3/s400/a51.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbBBgM7J4S8cn9rAfnOyP7mANmVJHlHI4UKAR0fENOAmfrJnTruVf1108XQmPB74uS-h3Fqv2WrOHkrGkQMn6Qub2T_wZ_eRXwllAZhs7Zbd7QKSp_WxWREw3TxoYCkTPdnmmqrzYHTAr/s1600/a14.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542560982235630146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbBBgM7J4S8cn9rAfnOyP7mANmVJHlHI4UKAR0fENOAmfrJnTruVf1108XQmPB74uS-h3Fqv2WrOHkrGkQMn6Qub2T_wZ_eRXwllAZhs7Zbd7QKSp_WxWREw3TxoYCkTPdnmmqrzYHTAr/s400/a14.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEwc8NpKqaJUi99gsM3nF2YUafWBHyr69X1sA7kF3yzByDyWFWe0fYpu87Fst0YNzzAOcmrkn3j-INjy8qerTgSXypthLHhuYgg_85STNhyphenhyphenUzouk9-KtqTlHcRhE6Og9KkftI1HqbMn9r/s1600/a5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542560967736861026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEwc8NpKqaJUi99gsM3nF2YUafWBHyr69X1sA7kF3yzByDyWFWe0fYpu87Fst0YNzzAOcmrkn3j-INjy8qerTgSXypthLHhuYgg_85STNhyphenhyphenUzouk9-KtqTlHcRhE6Og9KkftI1HqbMn9r/s400/a5.jpg" /></a> This was such a blast to do!!!! It also helps when you have a great family to do it with! Thank you Alicia for giving me the opportunity to meet, hang with and photograph your wonderful, adorable, fun and beautiful family!!! It was also so wonderful to see you after all these years and hopefully it won't be another 16 years until we see each other again!!!!!Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-64937296098569077672010-11-18T19:17:00.006-05:002010-11-24T07:34:31.224-05:00A Big Thank You to All of You!I have decided to take a leap and put some of my most popular photos up for sale in my <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/BacisCreations">Artfire store</a>!! I am very excited about this and if it wasn't for all you wonderful readers/friends, my wonderful friends on Facebook and my wonderful family, I wouldn't have made this leap. I really enjoy taking photos but never really thought about putting them up for sale but with all the encouragement of friends like you and family I am going for it. I also have some other projects I am currently working on and should be putting them up to show off in the next few days.<br /><br />These are just a few of the pictures I have had made up and are currently in my store. The river one is a metallic print and let me tell you this picture does not do the actual picture any justice!! The rest of the photos are all matte prints and all the pictures are 5x7 prints. If you have any questions please feel free to email me here or on Artfire.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.artfire.com/users/BacisCreations">HERE</a> to view my store<br /><br />Thank you to each and everyone of you for the wonderful encouragement you have given me with my photos and for making and teaching me to be a better photographer. I learn every week with the photo challenges I am involved in and gain encouragement from all the wonderful comments everyone takes the time to leave me. I thank you all very much!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIpy2WPq5j3SIPZQnGb9P-oMvMkLLDd-YZll4_vEFGDB2O2W1NNdt0AsYCZFLQfVkYCVR_2Q4EnzR51X-bbUKrvCKN2W-WmhKKNbWO2pM5fLWU3NyxGijzSfv3JGo_yfQFrlJiGcRkInN/s1600/riverwm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541049814340774114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIpy2WPq5j3SIPZQnGb9P-oMvMkLLDd-YZll4_vEFGDB2O2W1NNdt0AsYCZFLQfVkYCVR_2Q4EnzR51X-bbUKrvCKN2W-WmhKKNbWO2pM5fLWU3NyxGijzSfv3JGo_yfQFrlJiGcRkInN/s400/riverwm.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKaDW8-DIEp6dJpKOjaToZ2cLhG5FIRWbXzOgPwC7zBhJjRWj_Bk4Z85o_tt6CR8lJrDlImgus-VPWRauYPV9UYCfoGZPQPN7VgM-OpWPYtB_6S2rzU0OaD47hFM2gn6npMLDTi5tB4_c/s1600/iriswm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541049803714426690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKaDW8-DIEp6dJpKOjaToZ2cLhG5FIRWbXzOgPwC7zBhJjRWj_Bk4Z85o_tt6CR8lJrDlImgus-VPWRauYPV9UYCfoGZPQPN7VgM-OpWPYtB_6S2rzU0OaD47hFM2gn6npMLDTi5tB4_c/s400/iriswm.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxB-AiKdi989DtbZjesllviLbl-Soyh0c34lBADuXBjCBHpGEIGEVHepAuJgZF0a2Z_FvznSWJhDjVmF5-gOm__g_eRlt_6TM5nd6kn3EBYtUUWmpQGyOXvNfPAJgxy5o0JTFeBCvZf1c/s1600/trackwm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541049798783370098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkxB-AiKdi989DtbZjesllviLbl-Soyh0c34lBADuXBjCBHpGEIGEVHepAuJgZF0a2Z_FvznSWJhDjVmF5-gOm__g_eRlt_6TM5nd6kn3EBYtUUWmpQGyOXvNfPAJgxy5o0JTFeBCvZf1c/s400/trackwm.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAX_sex08T6NXsZCyl8RKCvX746ZgHZ3bDisWe0_mSc7-hx3OaSOAfoBkazp-wKuxi0EczS804TGKt4BohWKOPYnN8NmYcTM_F8sYbZ4Nm9cwnJiTNUht6qN6z2Q4knS97tOnk2InifkH/s1600/butterwm.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541049797410034498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAX_sex08T6NXsZCyl8RKCvX746ZgHZ3bDisWe0_mSc7-hx3OaSOAfoBkazp-wKuxi0EczS804TGKt4BohWKOPYnN8NmYcTM_F8sYbZ4Nm9cwnJiTNUht6qN6z2Q4knS97tOnk2InifkH/s400/butterwm.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><center><a href="http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="The Trendy Treehouse" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy216/krissybbe/trendybuttonhome.png"/></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-4796943849339803852010-11-17T11:17:00.002-05:002010-11-17T11:36:05.172-05:00A wee bit of me Wednesday<center><a href="http://www.myleighashley.com/"><img src="http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt244/leighbenner/weebitwednesdaysbutton-1.png" width="350" height="350" /></a></center><p><br /><br />I have been watching this for a while now and thought that maybe I would give it a shot. I think it is a great way to learn more about all of you and you can learn more about me. I think this will be fun. Go ahead and give it a try with me :)<br /><br /><strong>{one} what time do you normally wake up</strong>?</p><p>Usually between 6 & 7 so I can have some quiet time before my son wakes up.</p><p><br /><strong>{two} do you have a go-to song for karaoke?<br /></strong>ummm no! I cant sing and don't think I should put people through the horror of trying to listen to me...lol!<br /><br /><strong>{three} if you could only see black and white except for one color, what color would you choose to see? </strong></p><p>Blue! It is such a wonderful, vibrant color and so I can see my sons beautiful blue eyes<br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>{four} what color best matches your personality?</strong><br />hmmm..probably red...why? I'm not to sure but I do love it :)<br /><br /><br /><strong>{five} if you could choose one meal to cook better than anyone else, what would it be?</strong><br />Anything! I am not much of a cook but I love to bake and I think I am not to shabby at it either<br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>{six} how many keys do you have on your key ring?</strong><br />4. house, car, parents house and hubbys spare car key<br /><br /><br /><strong>{seven} do you give your pets birthday/christmas gifts?</strong><br />Not really. They get spoiled all year but sometimes I will pick up special treats just for Christmas.<br /><br /><br /><strong>{eight} when your plate has different foods on it, do you mix or not?</strong><br />NOT! I can't stand mixing! My husband always says "it all goes to the same place" I can't mix or eat a sandwich or burger upside down and I have to have my meat, veggies, and whatever else on the same place on the plate all the time...yep..totally crazy!!<br /><br /><br /><strong>{nine} if you could hire someone to do one thing for you all the time, what would it be?</strong><br />Has to be a house cleaner. I am ok with cooking even tho I am not good at it but housecleaning...HATE it!!<br /><strong></strong></p><p><strong>{ten} when flying, do you prefer the window or aisle seat?</strong><br />Doesn't really matter to me. I like to look out the window but with no having kids...they get it :( LOL! </p><p><br /><br /> </p>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-68795667214850396912010-11-16T09:56:00.004-05:002010-11-16T10:43:47.152-05:00"DayDream"<div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Day Dreaming of the place I love the most. The place that I can wonder with no worries, where my boys can play and learn like they can't do in the city, the place that I have been going to since I was little, the place that when I get out of the car after a 4 hr ride I take a deep breath of the clean farm/mountain air and love every second of it, the place I call my second home. This place is my uncles dairy farm in upstate NY.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center">This picture is taken from the barnyard looking out at the Green Mountains<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwwNwANQp_Hzhbd4kAI6DgDwAm4MztITrOdtLm-0b2dpwUIHU4hGDzUnHycRI3MqmkiUhl_VEfHrw-06JoBViAqlOSJiSYddHas0kNjgFwHX6ZToIAeEIgGsB35455DhU4jV9LMywdh5d/s1600/P1010043-1.JPG"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540162688388196626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSwwNwANQp_Hzhbd4kAI6DgDwAm4MztITrOdtLm-0b2dpwUIHU4hGDzUnHycRI3MqmkiUhl_VEfHrw-06JoBViAqlOSJiSYddHas0kNjgFwHX6ZToIAeEIgGsB35455DhU4jV9LMywdh5d/s400/P1010043-1.JPG" /></a> <br /><br /><br />Head on over to Simplicity and enjoy all the other wonderful pictures! Have a wonderful day everyone :)<br /><br /><a border="0" href="http://faith-simplicity.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img width="125" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4946460066_f282e2f893_z.jpg" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-60640760777233109452010-11-11T07:46:00.006-05:002010-11-11T09:31:37.567-05:00Veteran's Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYFDtAAtSS-R63Tmi1F7SrvVuHEZ2g8Z-mb86JPhd4gqRcpDmcX8vNB_99uYhWe31MaEqSezJL2YV81JR5vt7NQmnvRJ0JOdp_k8wWFgp7L5reGta7kKjgh5lO6XSnEuwVavuDBp8tnHe/s1600/IMG_8390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYFDtAAtSS-R63Tmi1F7SrvVuHEZ2g8Z-mb86JPhd4gqRcpDmcX8vNB_99uYhWe31MaEqSezJL2YV81JR5vt7NQmnvRJ0JOdp_k8wWFgp7L5reGta7kKjgh5lO6XSnEuwVavuDBp8tnHe/s400/IMG_8390.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538299021910147426" /></a><br /><br />This is a picture of my dad and my son standing next to a replica of the jeep that my dad drove in, lost his hearing to, slept under to stay dry and kept him safe in Vietnam for over a yr. He was very excited to find "his" jeep at a local air show we went to. The stories that followed were the best part of it. Thank you for your service Dad!! Love you!!!!<br /><br />I would like to send out a sincere and big thank you to all of our Vets past and present. I would also like to say a personal thank you to both of my Grandfathers who fought in WWII, my father who fought in Vietnam, my cousins who 1 just retired from the Army, 1 who is in Top Gun Training the the last cousin who just graduated from Annapolis this past May. I would also like to thank my adopted soldier and all the soldiers who we are sending care packages and letters to who are currently serving overseas. We Thank you all for your service and are happy you are home and wish everyone overseas a safe return home. Thank you for protecting us and defending our freedom.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHPzndmQVGwy8eSVr68qF9VKOzvFDj-EdixswXMb2kukv0uHIGS-YJ5DmiNhsGy3mABnngvXDMGp3eGEgzPeOphlvsNoe5H3XMuEyVQXAJ-YzJfhQx-f1XVjphtd0ZueoCT3h_lWF87rb/s1600/vet.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNHPzndmQVGwy8eSVr68qF9VKOzvFDj-EdixswXMb2kukv0uHIGS-YJ5DmiNhsGy3mABnngvXDMGp3eGEgzPeOphlvsNoe5H3XMuEyVQXAJ-YzJfhQx-f1XVjphtd0ZueoCT3h_lWF87rb/s400/vet.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538272786130347826" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is a little poem that I found that I really enjoyed reading and I hope you will too.<br /><br /><strong>They Did Their Share</strong><br />On Veteran’s Day we honor<br />Soldiers who protect our nation.<br />For their service as our warriors,<br />They deserve our admiration.<br /><br /><br />Some of them were drafted;<br />Some were volunteers;<br />For some it was just yesterday;<br />For some it’s been many years;<br /><br /><br />In the jungle or the desert,<br />On land or on the sea,<br />They did whatever was assigned<br />To produce a victory.<br /><br /><br />Some came back; some didn’t.<br />They defended us everywhere.<br />Some saw combat; some rode a desk;<br />All of them did their share.<br /><br /><br />No matter what the duty,<br />For low pay and little glory,<br />These soldiers gave up normal lives,<br />For duties mundane and gory.<br /><br /><br />Let every veteran be honored;<br />Don’t let politics get in the way.<br />Without them, freedom would have died;<br />What they did, we can’t repay.<br /><br /><br />We owe so much to them,<br />Who kept us safe from terror,<br />So when we see a uniform,<br />Let’s say "thank you" to every wearer.<br /><br /><br />By Joanna Fuchs<br /><br /><br />If you see someone in uniform, not just on Veteran's Day, make sure you say thank you! Most of our Vets from Vietnam did not get a nice welcome home, not like our soldiers today. My Dad told me a story of when he landed in CA and when he got off the plane was spit on. Ever since I heard this, I try to say Thank you to those Vietnam Vets. I simply say "Thank you for your service. I know it is a little late but I would like to Thank you" Most of them just look at me funny, but others welcome it.<br />A little thank you goes a long way....lets get out there and thank everyone we can!<br /><br />If you would like more information on adopting a soldier.....<a href="http://soldiersangels.org/">click here</a> or please click the button on the top right hand side of my blog. Every little bit helps :)Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-56087043385138705832010-11-09T11:24:00.003-05:002010-11-09T11:38:13.766-05:00EyesThe theme over at Simplicity this week is "eyes"<br />I know most people are going to show off their little ones and loved ones beautiful eyes but I am taking a bit of a different approach ;)<br />This is a picture of Billy. She is a 13 yr old Jersey cow who somehow is still milking! She is such a sweet soul and you can see it in her eyes. She is very thin and her poor teats are about a half an inch from the ground but when you look into her eyes you can see she knows she is old and not at pretty as the other cows but you can also see her inner beauty and kindness. She always seemed to be off by herself and the first time we met her she just looked at us with such wonder and gentleness. She and the other cows are not used to seeing little kids so when we are out in the pasture and my son wants to hug all of them I am very cautious and I am only a step away to get him out of harms way with them. With Billy it was different. She seemed to welcome my son up to her, almost like she was so much smaller then the herd, so she welcomed a small human. Billy will always be a favorite of ours and she represents how sweet and gentle cows can be and why I love the Jersey breed so much.<br />Also if you look closely you can see a reflection of me in her eye. Not sure if you can see it in this picture but in a bigger picture I am there :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArLmMfjln9mf3CcJZM-Gy6ARqQxSUX_tyiuoHBZhdr8QlZ5uFTsOoGYDzwXdHYLVmqmrf99gz6c1xA4pu1mJA2p68EDBCCxKao2J2bSX0Z_sS_qsScKFA0Spty7Nz7Z7zEiyjGWSNiCtz/s1600/billy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArLmMfjln9mf3CcJZM-Gy6ARqQxSUX_tyiuoHBZhdr8QlZ5uFTsOoGYDzwXdHYLVmqmrf99gz6c1xA4pu1mJA2p68EDBCCxKao2J2bSX0Z_sS_qsScKFA0Spty7Nz7Z7zEiyjGWSNiCtz/s400/billy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537586954040637970" /></a><br /><br /><br />Please stop by one of the cutest blogs, Simplicity, and check out the other wonderful entries. <br /><br /><a border="0" href="http://faith-simplicity.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img width="125" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/4946460066_f282e2f893_z.jpg" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-38282370570580522262010-11-08T13:01:00.003-05:002010-11-08T13:24:44.292-05:00Finally!! Sentenced to Death!!I know this case has been all over the news and not just here at home in CT. We have been waiting on a verdict from the jury who met all weekend to figure out whether Steven Hayes should be <a href="http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/crime/new-haven-hayes-sentenced-death">sentenced to death </a>in the Cheshire Home Invasion Trial. I understand that there are many people out there that do not believe in the death penalty but if you read about what happened to this family...death is not enough for these 2 monsters. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/07/nyregion/07slay.html">Click here to read</a>.<br />Only one man has been tried so far. The other monster is going to start his trial sometime next yr. It has been 3 yrs since the invasion took place and how Dr. Petit keeps himself going is beyond me. He has been to the court house everyday of the trial and for the sentencing. I, Personally, am happy about this verdict but CT will probably never get around to actually doing it. This monster will probably live on death row until he dies on his own!<br />Who knows what will happen but I and the majority of people here in my home state believe this is the outcome that should have happened. As someone had stated from I believe the Petit family "If this crime doesn't deserve the death penalty, then what does"<br /><br />May God bless the Hawke and Petit families and hopefully the girls, Jennifer (mother) and sisters Hayley (17) and Michaela (11) souls can rest a little more peacefully.Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-2139591395818910682010-11-08T08:27:00.005-05:002010-11-08T09:43:52.328-05:00I Heart Faces Week 43 "Orange"This was taken when our preschool class went to the apple orchard for a field trip. Most of the kids were running in and out of the hay maze but when I looked into the pumpkin patch, this little cutie was just sitting on the pumpkins watching everyone. Talk about the right place at the right time :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1UAy1T05I9fxkLcA2rAzBdyntomla8kx1n3Vc1mjsQxCpKK0Aug91QGB2RtXC4EGZMTctEP_OrkIGLP9AqPv3ca76jQ3eKngsvWBvoEDxAuflVrEYvgm-hDJ0ayNIkILeIsibcChpqJQ/s1600/keri.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1UAy1T05I9fxkLcA2rAzBdyntomla8kx1n3Vc1mjsQxCpKK0Aug91QGB2RtXC4EGZMTctEP_OrkIGLP9AqPv3ca76jQ3eKngsvWBvoEDxAuflVrEYvgm-hDJ0ayNIkILeIsibcChpqJQ/s400/keri.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537170381233057538" /></a><br /><br />Be sure to stop by I Heart Faces this week and see all the other wonderful entries! Just click on the button below<br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com" mce_href="http://www.iheartfaces.com"><img src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" mce_src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg"/></a></center>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-58181004317885353332010-11-02T09:22:00.006-04:002010-11-03T21:29:22.444-04:00Tell a Stranger Tuesday<p align="center"><a href="http://soldiersangels.org/"><img src="http://soldiersangels.org/uploads/images/link_to_us/angeladoptlogo.gif" width="400" height="124" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">Today is Tell a Stranger Tuesday at Soldiers Angels. We as angels are asked to tell at least one person about Soldiers Angels. So what a better way to do it then to blog about it.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">There are so many wonderful organizations out there that help the deployed, the wounded and/or our Vets. Soldiers Angels just wraps all of them up into one and you can pick or choose how you would like to help or you can help by adopting a soldier who is currently deployed. To adopt a soldier you just need to make a donation, which can be as little as a $1 or as big as you would like. There are currently over 1600 men and women who are waiting to be adopted! This is a wonderful organization to get your children involved with or if you know of a school that may be able to help out or maybe a Veteran who would like to help. It doesn't take much and I have to say that it is very rewarding! Click on the button above to read more about how you can help.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">Oh! Speaking of schools helping, I have a meeting with my sons teacher tomorrow to talk about how we can get the kindergarten classes to make cards for Thanksgiving and for Christmas to send over. We are also thinking of doing a donation drive to ship out to the Soldiers Angels warehouse in Texas. She says this will be a great lesson for all of the children and she is going to incorporate it into the classes lessons. After my meeting with her I have the joy of talking to a class of about 20 5yr olds...that should be fun! My son is so excited about it!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">Today I am going to finish up the blanket I am making to donate to Soldiers Angels "<a href="http://soldiersangels.org/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=681&cntnt01returnid=15">Blanket of Belief</a>" project. I don't sew (yes I know, sad) but they have a no sew fleece blanket you can make. It seems fairly easy. I will post some pictures later.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">Please, if you can't make a donation or you don't have the time to help out in a group, just take a few minutes and take a look at the Soldiers Angels website and help me spread the word about how anyone can help! </span></p>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-7306178236133507332010-11-01T08:29:00.007-04:002010-11-23T08:11:29.749-05:00Fall in New England<center><a href="http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Shutter%20Love%20Tuesdays" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="ShutterLoveTuesdays" src="http://i793.photobucket.com/albums/yy216/krissybbe/shutterlovetuesday.gif"/></a></center><br /><br />I know I showed this one off a week or so ago but I have to admit it is my favorite fall photo so I have to use it one more time for the "Fall" challenge over at the Trendy Treehouse. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000066;">Living in New England is absolutely stunning in the Fall. The picking up of leaves, the crisper air, the one day of warmth then the next day dropping 20-25 degrees.....Ahh!! The joys of fall. Mark Twain put it best "If you don't like the weather in New England, Wait a minute." That statement is so true and if you live in New England you know it is!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000066;">To me Fall only means one thing....Winter is right around the corner. I do love watching the leaves change color and love driving by houses with all the mums lining the driveways, stairways and walkways but it all goes back to one thing....Winter IS coming!<br />We know when it is fall when... we have to get leave bags to bag all the leaves, get 2-3 cords of wood delivered and stacked so we can stay warm all winter, winterize the chicken coop so the girls are as comfortable as they can be, put away all the deck furniture (I cry when this happens), Get the gardens cleaned out ( and I cry again), clean up anything in and around the yard so no one gets hurt walking or sledding when it snows, fertilize the lawn, and if you are lucky enough to own a boat, get the boat out of the water and on dry dock. These are just a few things that tell us that Fall is here.<br />One of the other things about Fall is, you miss having your windows open and hearing all those familiar sounds. Whether it is the sound of dogs barking, certain birds chirping, the sound of the ocean or the crickets at night. One thing that is a normal sound for us, is the running of the trolley on the old trolley tracks. With its squeaks and screeching on the tracks, you ALWAYS know when they are giving rides. Living very close to the Farm River, the tracks used to run right along the river. Now there is only a small portion left where they continue to give rides during the spring and summer months. The trolley started running in 1900 and ran for almost 50 yrs. It connected New Haven to some of the shoreline towns so people could shop or go out on the town for the night. It was shut down due to the automobile coming into more and more households. It is now kept alive thanks to the <a href="http://www.bera.org/">Shore Line Trolley Museum</a>. The tracks aren't long since most have been removed, but if you walk along the river, across the way, you will see the tracks with the old lines and poles to run the trolley. I happen to be driving by the area where the tracks end. It was a beautiful autumn day and I was lucky enough to have my camera on me. This picture was taken at the very end of the tracks. To the left is an old platform and from what I can see this is the only "bump" in the tracks probably to help the trolleys stop. This picture is one of the reasons why I love living in New England! With its wonderful, colorful trees and history.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_z_59yZrKXQktxGJHRVHBqcMAb_miBxGyby88YXuR1RvWsr_-F2qTNKKO6tHlBZsDkhAjhEXUz-jE7aTUCNw_no63zfKZZaCm5yX27OHdLot6hn3igrqwMDWvrcniudx0uvIoSubGBkO/s1600/saletrackswatermark.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 417px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534557879182918754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_z_59yZrKXQktxGJHRVHBqcMAb_miBxGyby88YXuR1RvWsr_-F2qTNKKO6tHlBZsDkhAjhEXUz-jE7aTUCNw_no63zfKZZaCm5yX27OHdLot6hn3igrqwMDWvrcniudx0uvIoSubGBkO/s400/saletrackswatermark.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><br />Please be sure to take a look at all the wonderful Fall stories at I Heart Faces this week :)<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/" mce_href="http://www.iheartfaces.com"><img src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" mce_src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />and all the wonderful photos at Simplicity :)<br /><br /><a href="http://faith-simplicity.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4989575463_ca09e06f1a.jpg" width="125" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-80231225746839604622010-10-24T18:25:00.007-04:002010-10-25T09:28:00.524-04:00My NewestI have fallen in Love with Photography!! I love taking nature shots of all kinds and I love chasing the birds and butterflies around the yard for hours at a time to get that "right" photo. I have had my camera now for just about 2 yrs and I have gotten so much joy out of it. I have sold some photos to family and friends and had a thought..... how can I incorporate them into my Artfire store. Well....I thought about how nice would it be for some of my pictures to make others happy as a blank note cards!! All my pictures are printed on Kodak paper and are attached to card stock with matching envelopes. The pictures are 4x6 and the cards themselves are 5x7. The pictures are attached to white or ivory card stock and they all come with matching envelope's. They are blank inside so they are ready for your personal touch!<br />These have been so much fun for me to make. It has made me so happy seeing them in a way that will bring a smile to someone Else's face. I hope that every person that receives one will be as happy receiving it as I was to take the photo and make it into a card.<br />I will have many more coming up in the next week or so. They are not currently listed as I am waiting for a supply to come in. I didn't want to list them until I had everything in hand. <br />So here is a sneak peak on some of the cards that are already made up.<br />There is also another project I am working on with the photos that I can't wait to share but I will show them off as soon as they are ready.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrgwaCum8EbMcNhW7arz9IufaZmuguPSArszVs1Kqm3TjVLxyiKNhizjROd3GcwQ0XIqWIEHDFjHu_hKVjE47s6Y2YIh4X9-eppwgCKO0tlQIL0WEOGLIBttK8-xjdb5kL0_bBzM0-E1b/s1600/IMG_8903-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrgwaCum8EbMcNhW7arz9IufaZmuguPSArszVs1Kqm3TjVLxyiKNhizjROd3GcwQ0XIqWIEHDFjHu_hKVjE47s6Y2YIh4X9-eppwgCKO0tlQIL0WEOGLIBttK8-xjdb5kL0_bBzM0-E1b/s400/IMG_8903-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531743029260137858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aZjjk6JH712tJzev02YfbASdu3x3Tw8gBrm1iG5BXxFigqhiH9uyM4X2qjkoY5xJYqIkKFsQqTIfSXl-y3615OZEnqaOprVVCiDlXEzXT6n4PGdQ5GkO5EA-dFD-YDzgQ2tzThwvKrNa/s1600/IMG_8905-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aZjjk6JH712tJzev02YfbASdu3x3Tw8gBrm1iG5BXxFigqhiH9uyM4X2qjkoY5xJYqIkKFsQqTIfSXl-y3615OZEnqaOprVVCiDlXEzXT6n4PGdQ5GkO5EA-dFD-YDzgQ2tzThwvKrNa/s400/IMG_8905-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531743028619959106" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2uLdwsCNqmtSdaD9ykUPTBfdMYf5XDULmeoztN2BgGM4Uc3fTvtpVQuob6d4Wc-N9CqJjEs0CyVjQHt9P3REEICqGAhuuF0BipMNvKhjnt_323pneFC7iPe_AfR3e1ndgk94QZCU_h3Z/s1600/IMG_8904-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2uLdwsCNqmtSdaD9ykUPTBfdMYf5XDULmeoztN2BgGM4Uc3fTvtpVQuob6d4Wc-N9CqJjEs0CyVjQHt9P3REEICqGAhuuF0BipMNvKhjnt_323pneFC7iPe_AfR3e1ndgk94QZCU_h3Z/s400/IMG_8904-1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531743020634271378" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-24608050028434871772010-10-22T08:26:00.003-04:002010-10-22T08:45:39.130-04:00Camp Spann Thank You VideoIf you have ever thought about donating to some of the wonderful organizations out there that support our troops then you must watch this video. It is a video on how the troops are living and them saying Thank you to everyone who sends care packages or letters. This video explains why I have joined Soldiers Angels and the great joy that I have gotten from them in the little time I have been a part of it. Please take a few mins to watch it. You will not be disappointed and if you have been debating on if you should or shouldn't join some type of organization...I'm sure it will shine some light on should! By watching this video it made me see what I do is so special and makes me want to do more. I have sent out many cards to many soldiers who needed a little boost to keep their spirits up. I have not heard back from them but this video proves that they do get them and read them and appreciate them. It makes me feel wonderful to know that! So know it is time to get some more cards and see what soldiers are in need today!!<br /><br />Thank you to each and everyone of our soldiers all over the world for what they are doing and thank you to their families for being so strong, understanding and patient while their loved ones are away!! <br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XJDsxdE-F1c?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XJDsxdE-F1c?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-71465317645825729522010-10-18T08:38:00.004-04:002010-10-18T08:52:47.493-04:00I Heart Faces Week 42 "In The Orchard"I can't believe it has been 2 yrs since my little man started preschool. For the 2 yrs he was in preschool, about this time of year, we all met up at the orchard and spent half a day there taking hay rides, playing with animals and picking apples. They also have a corn maze AND a hay maze! The kids loved it. This brings me back to when the children seemed so small but now to look back on how big they actually were and are still getting to be.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKG6aaMQtXjurimgkZI1iev2jYASFsHdIbPcxwH3x7q7kUYlecKXqihT5jfhPMp32NPlvEVzNtjf0QnZpJMrL0qSNGQ74q_RZpnAqDJp_CoCVF-Z3qZvbUcOqeCHXAJSwmlhum3OkmLjRm/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKG6aaMQtXjurimgkZI1iev2jYASFsHdIbPcxwH3x7q7kUYlecKXqihT5jfhPMp32NPlvEVzNtjf0QnZpJMrL0qSNGQ74q_RZpnAqDJp_CoCVF-Z3qZvbUcOqeCHXAJSwmlhum3OkmLjRm/s400/IMG_4506.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529366090978055922" /></a><br /><br />Be sure to stop by and see all the other wonderful pictures at I Heart Faces for this week. They are so much better then mine ;)<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com" mce_href="http://www.iheartfaces.com"><img src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" mce_src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg"/></a></center>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-9120047839963474802010-10-13T18:50:00.009-04:002010-10-14T11:14:21.678-04:00We've Adopted a Soldier<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXSSzB_0q8xKAWU4bWNTeakqseoNNddvJOXRvR8_VovzTweKJk2CFpiJR3bODb_JrWCRK7HtCZ48JmVnom3AwdYXp-8IaAWSVg5N8BICx6A2v9tB1lnQ6wfgmJIqY_SMvTyhiPZYqnzbd/s1600/angeladoptlogo.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 99px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXSSzB_0q8xKAWU4bWNTeakqseoNNddvJOXRvR8_VovzTweKJk2CFpiJR3bODb_JrWCRK7HtCZ48JmVnom3AwdYXp-8IaAWSVg5N8BICx6A2v9tB1lnQ6wfgmJIqY_SMvTyhiPZYqnzbd/s320/angeladoptlogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527668792352953890" /></a><br /><br /><br />We are so excited to tell our story of adopting a soldier. I know some of you may not agree with what is going on in Afghanistan but the men and women that are over there fighting to keep us safe here at home, believe in what they are doing and so do I and my family. I have been wanting to do something for our soldiers for a long time but I really wanted my son to be involved, so I held off a bit until he got a little older and could appreciate what we were going to do. Not that he is 5 1/2 and a smart cookie I might add, I thought it was time. I 1st tried to get some names from my cousin who is in the Navy but that didn't work out the way I wanted it to. I looked all over for some different organizations that you can get involved with helping our heros overseas. There are many great organizations out there but the one that I kept going back to was Soldiers Angels. <br />Soldiers Angels has many different parts to it, if that is how I would say it. One of the best parts (I think) is that you can actually "adopt" a soldier! You sign up for a donation of as little as $1 or any amount you see fit and you become a verified Angel. When you become verified you can then adopt a soldier. I kept watching and reading all about Soldiers Angels for a few months and decided this was the perfect place for my son and I to join. We became verified angels and received the name of our soldier within 24hrs. I am not allowed to give out specific details of our soldier so all I will say is she is a female and we will refer to her as "D". When you adopt a soldier you are responsible to write your soldier once a week and send out 1 care package a month. Not hard, is it? Nope! We received D's name and address about a month ago and have sent letters and our 1st care package, which she should have received the end of last week or sometime this week. We had no idea what to get her so we sent candy, toothbrushes, toothpaste and a whole bunch of other little things! We are hoping she finds a few minutes to write us back but we are not expecting to hear from her since we are doing this because we want to and believe in them and we also understand that she is working and is really busy with being in a warzone.<br />Soldiers Angels is also a place for you to join different groups like "Blankets of Hope" which if you sew or knit you can make blankets for our wounded soldiers being flown into Germany, or "First Response Backpacks" which makes up backpacks of items that the soldiers may "loose" while being transported with an injury. Sometimes their items never make it back to them since the transportation process is fast for their safety or how about "OperationBirthday Cake" This group gets birthday cakes over to our soldiers on their birthday. These are just a small portion of what SA does. You can go to <a href="http://soldiersangels.org/">SoldiersAngels.org </a>to look around and possibly join to help. To join one or more of these groups I believe (don't hold me to it) that you do not have to make a donation...I'm almost sure of that. As I am writing this there are currently 1387 soldiers waiting to be adopted. I have gotten some of my family and friends to help me and join so even if you can't join right now maybe you know someone that may want to...so pass the word on!! Some of the people that I know that haven't joined but did help me send a 34lb package to the SA warehouse in TX filled with snacks and many, many boxes of toothpaste and at least 75 toothbrushes and other little goodies!! I thank them all for their help!!<br />I know the economy is tough right now and a lot of people don't have a lot of money to be sending care packages and stuff but if you join you can do a 1 time care package. There are addresses you can send items to that they are in desperate need of like the call out right now is for toothbrushes and toothpaste and floss. If you go to the dollar store you can get big things of toothpaste for $1 and a package of 4-5 toothbrushes for a $1. And if you go to your local Post Office they can give you a box ahead of time that you can fill for as little as $4.95. Fill it and send it! It felt really good to send out that first box but now it is a little more personal with having our adopted soldier.<br />Just remember, what they are fighting for and that they are protecting us. Some of them don't get mail and have families that don't support them (yes I have seen this posted on SA about family not supporting their son or daughter!). Each and every one of them deserve to get mail on mail call days, each and everyone of them deserve to know that there are people at home that do care and do support them! Do this with your child, do it in the name of a family member who is a Vet, just do it because you care about the men and women's moral and well being!<br />If I can help anyone get started or answer any questions feel free to leave a comment or email me and I will gladly help you out.<br /><br />God Bless our soldiers and bring them home safe!!Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-17413582902287119822010-10-06T16:51:00.007-04:002010-10-07T08:20:10.009-04:00A Restart?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyOxeIL1RKUdBzForKes0beVikhQ-kaYT3UJBcyW4kQQnBsrecKpOhV1OKh_CXHBxsIS-xmblXSJdYlz4IMZ5gt9IP0Mv7LZpJXKvbVMZHMuimYuJFNmUDzuDoksM2ibHnWDjSJtkgAcI/s1600/dragonw.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525073648928952194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyOxeIL1RKUdBzForKes0beVikhQ-kaYT3UJBcyW4kQQnBsrecKpOhV1OKh_CXHBxsIS-xmblXSJdYlz4IMZ5gt9IP0Mv7LZpJXKvbVMZHMuimYuJFNmUDzuDoksM2ibHnWDjSJtkgAcI/s320/dragonw.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525042593865248450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJq53IT-cVUcJEigO7Uh0PsWaSST38_e7RmcuHAES4_Mt96GUl-4EqY7bok2GKoz26rfxUhj3qc-boA7P4OXNpmCi_OD6Bc-rDjcuQ_ySNESieoND3GvsW_FxXmkswkKLz6rSCEXKwrMf/s320/IMG_5826-1.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">I have been MIA for a long time and to be honest I was trying to hard to keep up with the selling on Artfire, Etsy, Bonanzle and keeping up with blogging, being a mom, wife, daughter, step-mom, sister and friend. It got way to over whelming and I felt as tho I had nothing to say. Who really wants to read something that isn't interesting? </span></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525042590627059554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcG-_x7jq2joTbPRrLhFs50qRBtWs_DygAS6een8oqsaNbJM2jzsFXSQljuzL5D6-yzB3JNbW-0WV0bqSMfYBlOlsQkXKTHuE1Xx07OTv7f1TgMnmS4u9YzAwOVvtJxSKhpIWK6FbtgYk/s320/barn.jpg" /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">So I took a long time off to get back on my feet and to figure out what was important to me. I spent most of the summer taking pictures, bringing my son down to the beach and we went up to my uncles dairy farm twice this year! I love it up there!! I was planning on going up again this weekend but I can't make it :( But I will get back up there soon. We did alot of things this summer as a family which was really nice. I had also gotten a part time job working from 4-8pm and worked alot of overtime. I was let go in Sept because I had gotten really sick and was out of work for almost a week and a half. The drs still don't know what it was but let me tell you...it wasn't fun!! I feel much better but to be honest I don't think my stomach is the same since then. Good news is the drs can't find anything and nothing is wrong internally so i guess I am good to go. I am currently looking for another job and it will have to be second shift due to my son being in afternoon kindergarten. Yes, we are probably one of the last towns around that don't have full day kindergarten. We had a great summer and I Hope that everyone out there did too! </span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;">So for right now I am going to end this with some pictures that I had taken over the summer. I hope you enjoy them and you can always see more on my flickr photo stream :)</span></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4Ea5TKp1s8ujMViwUtsuauI6DgVVSZDDKdFerZYVsPIWYL0Fj7a6Tb28h3Dq33TkjjgiwggVHjpEclqxtnjyFNhAZLOXlNdqOE3QBizV7xqwSnX7pVjDayu4GTMlgd4OECwUdgT6pTeZ/s1600/thomas2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525042612698006162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4Ea5TKp1s8ujMViwUtsuauI6DgVVSZDDKdFerZYVsPIWYL0Fj7a6Tb28h3Dq33TkjjgiwggVHjpEclqxtnjyFNhAZLOXlNdqOE3QBizV7xqwSnX7pVjDayu4GTMlgd4OECwUdgT6pTeZ/s320/thomas2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08ueuEHeoJoirJI0p7yvhTDYjn48r9qD1tHtnHf5ZipNu98NJ5Iir2AFsdXez2K-OnRnfyERGITvKdcBVdKRVc78G1mk5CzXJcu5ENtF4VX2ljmHxuWwMZAzuF-yxzs6NrP-WcMbeZ35c/s1600/IMG_6007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525042608037309650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08ueuEHeoJoirJI0p7yvhTDYjn48r9qD1tHtnHf5ZipNu98NJ5Iir2AFsdXez2K-OnRnfyERGITvKdcBVdKRVc78G1mk5CzXJcu5ENtF4VX2ljmHxuWwMZAzuF-yxzs6NrP-WcMbeZ35c/s320/IMG_6007.JPG" /></a> This picture I think is of the Farm River up in Mass. Funny part is I live where the Farm river and Long Island sound meet. It is only a 3 minute walk for me and this picture is taken about 1.5hr ride away.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8UuBGVJllg8sklDHU2PXnpl1RcLwyqimJm6K8KXmA0AOR1Z_6UUsMSxS7O9k1yNgJZwVwVvSvzj_r0bT3nAwKbO4K1IEKUQf7P_UFIHH6cPuQ8xA_5TJJFfhTv58PZ_C23yP_K1VoHo0/s1600/IMG_5849-1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 256px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525042599334074130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8UuBGVJllg8sklDHU2PXnpl1RcLwyqimJm6K8KXmA0AOR1Z_6UUsMSxS7O9k1yNgJZwVwVvSvzj_r0bT3nAwKbO4K1IEKUQf7P_UFIHH6cPuQ8xA_5TJJFfhTv58PZ_C23yP_K1VoHo0/s320/IMG_5849-1.JPG" /></a> My oldest son...we called him the cow Whisperer. The cow he is with is Red and she followed him everywhere he went while we were walking in the pastures. The he got the honor of her giving him a kiss :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnuJ85SHBkTOIqKS47KAUgXqDIdpDI7eMfnnQAfGNDOyUoB-0E45VmuLYt8zF6aMmmDt3k45xNEdXvU07BYdvL0NiPOrSgkDhfa4OhejZTO-X8SBePluTK2OmyWqhvUunHLhBqf_dO5ZG/s1600/dand.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525073642603622882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnuJ85SHBkTOIqKS47KAUgXqDIdpDI7eMfnnQAfGNDOyUoB-0E45VmuLYt8zF6aMmmDt3k45xNEdXvU07BYdvL0NiPOrSgkDhfa4OhejZTO-X8SBePluTK2OmyWqhvUunHLhBqf_dO5ZG/s320/dand.jpg" /></a> These next pictures were taken at an airshow just outside of Springfield Mass. Took us forever to get into park but it was well worth the wait.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCOi1K9b0pBE-jYb00637H99UzrJpSSHd3AWHL9ATJsgVaA7dCR7aoHhmh86W6pS8ktRtTGcmL1c_JFVlhdKqcYuL_PEEBFrd4svLEoV-n98JWU1Vuo75Fkt6NXdtbxras8jO-aWAePb8/s1600/IMG_8430.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525073635780858706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCOi1K9b0pBE-jYb00637H99UzrJpSSHd3AWHL9ATJsgVaA7dCR7aoHhmh86W6pS8ktRtTGcmL1c_JFVlhdKqcYuL_PEEBFrd4svLEoV-n98JWU1Vuo75Fkt6NXdtbxras8jO-aWAePb8/s320/IMG_8430.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegw2f81iSzrG6oUMB47gOI0kgZgzA2_rx-n_qvFCVbZzz7zCXskileeuRZxBqP3hgZ3BvahO9UPgPvDBaDrFnPfCPHxcvFPH5FbdznKAzQnYsnxssy9Ct_tn94UE2bMbMtgRQgTvTvzPD/s1600/IMG_8390.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525073622023834594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegw2f81iSzrG6oUMB47gOI0kgZgzA2_rx-n_qvFCVbZzz7zCXskileeuRZxBqP3hgZ3BvahO9UPgPvDBaDrFnPfCPHxcvFPH5FbdznKAzQnYsnxssy9Ct_tn94UE2bMbMtgRQgTvTvzPD/s320/IMG_8390.JPG" /></a>This is a picture of my Dad and my son Thomas (My son is named after my father). They are standing next to a replica of the jeep my dad spent almost a yr and a half in and sleeping under when he served in Vietnam. My father was very excited to see it and Thomas was very proud to hear all the stories my Dad had to tell that day.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CVshsUHn0GNgXeD3KgdShU7FUfT3ngIHKzIlajg_usFCeHWaF5xMycKO6To0iYzEWixlw1wpJKyQe1-cAWZEtnsf4QcWY60SzSRk26f6WnLfDbhoP6Yr-cG8STnlG_fUJYzqba1CC2xU/s1600/IMG_8293.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525073617426700642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CVshsUHn0GNgXeD3KgdShU7FUfT3ngIHKzIlajg_usFCeHWaF5xMycKO6To0iYzEWixlw1wpJKyQe1-cAWZEtnsf4QcWY60SzSRk26f6WnLfDbhoP6Yr-cG8STnlG_fUJYzqba1CC2xU/s320/IMG_8293.JPG" /></a><br />I have many more pictures I would like to share from the airshow!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000099;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-34727634195823719152010-01-11T20:49:00.004-05:002010-01-11T20:59:14.038-05:00Week 2 I Heart Faces<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAuSFi1r1e3HgI9llcoSS0yOOrGYDUJUFjSXqW75B0IpuTP_k5WWY_y2qBhNabYB06CETH4udz9tJG8UpeMFzdhxOtfmfIAbQ8WXVncKpiN_2rrqtxRuFgzUTZeYSvgQPOkIEC9GWU_XT/s1600-h/cutie+pie.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAuSFi1r1e3HgI9llcoSS0yOOrGYDUJUFjSXqW75B0IpuTP_k5WWY_y2qBhNabYB06CETH4udz9tJG8UpeMFzdhxOtfmfIAbQ8WXVncKpiN_2rrqtxRuFgzUTZeYSvgQPOkIEC9GWU_XT/s400/cutie+pie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425664777709088530" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;">This weeks photo challenge is "Best Face Photo"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;">I can't tell you how hard it was to choose a photo for this one! I had so many to choose from and I had so many I love. I picked this photo because of the sweetness and pureness in his face. Thomas was about 3 months old in this photo and I think it has to be in the top 3 of my favorites. Even if this photo doesn't win it is a winner in my eyes. My baby will be 5 this March and this picture seems like it was taken yesterday. Time goes by way to fast and you need to enjoy every minute you have with them while they are small.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;">Take a look at all the entries in this weeks photo contest on the I Heart Faces</span><a style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;" href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2010/01/this-weeks-photo-challenge-theme-is.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartfaces+%28iHeartFaces%29"> Blog</a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;">! This is a fun and awesome week to stop by.</span><br /></span></div><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_Photography_125.jpg" /></a></center>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-80052956458148383762009-12-15T11:26:00.002-05:002009-12-15T12:00:49.009-05:00:(<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Do you remember your favorite blanket, teddy bear or something that you held close to you when you were young? Now do you remember when you had to give it up because you were a "big girl/boy"? Well....this is how I feel about giving up my smokes :( </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">To be honest I haven't been doing to well. I have cut back greatly but haven't "kicked" the habit completely. I have been having 2 or 3 cigarettes a day. It has worked well because it is just enough to take the edge off. The part that is making this the hardest is my husband is still smoking. Every so often he will forget and light up in the house and it totally screws me up. It isn't all his fault tho...it just takes so much will power and I just don't have it right now...not with Christmas coming and getting ready for it. I know, I know, just another excuse not to totally stop and to be honest maybe it is but it is just so hard!! My hubby says that since he has the week during Christmas and New Years off it will be a good time for him to quit too....we'll see. I believe it will be easier for him then me, but I am the one who has no choice but to quit. Last Monday I finally asked the doctor for a chest Xray because my chest hurt so bad and I thought at one point I was having a heart attack but come to find out when your lungs are inflamed they can spasm and make your chest hurt. The good news is that the chest xray showed nothing out of the norm and the doctor is thinking that I either have a nasty virus that just doesn't want to leave me or I am in the beginning stages of a chronic lung disease...great!!!! They put me on antibiotics AGAIN and also 2 types of inhalers which seems to be working. This is not fun and pretty scary too. To think that I am only 33 and starting a lung disease already is really scary. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Now to why I haven't just stopped? I have no idea!!!! I wish I could answer that. I know it is bad. I know every time I smoke a cigarette it is making my lungs worse and I am slowly killing myself....still no answer. I have read that stopping smoking is harder then quitting street drugs....if that is true I am not sure. I know what you are thinking, if your not a smoker, "dumbass". Come on admit it you think that I am stupid and should have gotten rid of all of the smokes when the dr told me what was going on...and you are totally right!!! If you are a smoker or an ex smoker then you probably totally understand what I am saying. This is the hardest thing that I have done and I am praying for the strength to stop completely. I just wish I knew if there was a trick or something. This time around I have figured out it is not so much the nicotine that keeps me coming back, it is the habit. The habit is the worst to break. I try not to talk on the phone much because there is something about smoking and being on the phone...don't ask. The morning smoke isn't bad for me. I can get up and go a little bit without having that morning cigarette (unlike my hubby). The after you eat smoke is getting easier. Now after dinner I just go straight to washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen before I really want that after dinner smoke. I now have a bottle of water I carry with me all the time so when I want that smoke I just keep taking small sips. There is a down side to the bottle tho....way too much time spent in the bathroom..Hahaha! But it does take that edge away for a little bit and it gives my hands and mouth something to do...that is the key I believe, keeping things busy. I can't chew gum as it always gives me a headache so I have stuff to suck on which works only for a little bit, but it does help. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I am hoping that I can figure this out soon and be smoke free by the new year! For all of those people out there that have quit smoking cold turkey...I am on my hands and knees bowing to you for your strength and commitment and asking for your help on how to just give it up! I am open for suggestions of any kind. For all you non smokers out there I am willing to hear the nasty comments you may wish to say....as long as they are not so mean you make me want to smoke...hahaha!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Hope you all are doing great out there and are ready for the holidays. I am on my way slowly but I am one of those people that wait til last minute anyways...guess I like the stress. </span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Have a wonderful and blessed day :)</span></span>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274106870592967546.post-60949692986634754232009-12-08T13:51:00.003-05:002009-12-08T13:58:51.777-05:00Sweet Dreams Week<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbksnWEvC5hGozZRkKpi666KGG35tRDoWCz9UR5ckmr3eV-xjT5ks8wtX4fu6ysx3LYy_z2c_gvxokv8DugYW5_lR73sKSggVlfP_1PgSLztBc1TzBTIePk_vKVACI6UwygQsTCR6lymbC/s1600-h/IMG_2043-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbksnWEvC5hGozZRkKpi666KGG35tRDoWCz9UR5ckmr3eV-xjT5ks8wtX4fu6ysx3LYy_z2c_gvxokv8DugYW5_lR73sKSggVlfP_1PgSLztBc1TzBTIePk_vKVACI6UwygQsTCR6lymbC/s320/IMG_2043-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412940270380754370" border="0" /></a>This is my entry for the I Heart Faces Photo Challenge called Sweet Dreams.<br />This is Emily at the end of the yr preschool picnic on the beach. The older kids were playing so nicely together and having fun on the beach, poor Emi couldn't keep up and just ended up falling asleep in the swing.<br />Too Cute!!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/smallbutton.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br />This picture below is just a shot a little further away so you can see her hanging there and she kept moving her head trying to get a more comfy spot.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12cfPtdwQh1tYaTy-axnAzx9F96oi2VcGrkBGG3k5rZd-0DzjqyFv3fbYxr3uRN9f-0EyBVJxlHujq5KMR2vcZmu7pvgI3F49knGqlgS89OavF_tilI4Gg-Ci8yBKXtE5uSkjOmdfhGvR/s1600-h/IMG_2046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12cfPtdwQh1tYaTy-axnAzx9F96oi2VcGrkBGG3k5rZd-0DzjqyFv3fbYxr3uRN9f-0EyBVJxlHujq5KMR2vcZmu7pvgI3F49knGqlgS89OavF_tilI4Gg-Ci8yBKXtE5uSkjOmdfhGvR/s320/IMG_2046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412940263006319906" border="0" /></a>Karriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15199433236992739875noreply@blogger.com1