Birthday Wishes and Dreams

Three years ago on November 5 my lemon drop jelly belly took his first breath



He is a sweet little boy with the perfect combination of bashfulness and boyish charm.

November 5, 2010

With a kind and sensitive nature



November 5, 2011

 His Mommy's green eyes and his Daddy's sense of humour

 

November 5, 2012

 He can melt any Nana's heart!



A Reason, A Season or A Lifetime?

People come into our life for a Reason, a Season or a Lifetime.  When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in our life for a Reason, it is usually to meet a need we have expressed.  They come to assist us through a difficulty, to provide us with guidance or support, to aid us physically, emotionally or spiritually.  They may seem like a godsend and they are.  They are there for the reason we need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on our part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, sometimes they walk away, sometimes they act up and force us to take a stand.  What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled.  Their work is done.  The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Sometimes people come into our life for a Season.  Because our turn has come to share, grow or learn.  They bring us an experience of peace or make us laugh.  They may teach us something we have never done.  They usually give us an unbelievable amount of joy.  Believe it, it is real, but only for a season.

Lifetime relationships teach us life time lessons, things we build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.  Our job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what we have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of our life. 

It is said Love is Blind but Friendship is Clairvoyant.

~Unknown~

 

Thank you for being in my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime!

Things that go Boo!!!



It's October 31, the night when all evil spirits are allowed to return home to visit the living.  Streets resemble zombie land with ghosts, goblins, imps and witches.  But nothing is a match to the Jack-O-Lantern as the true symbol of Halloween.  According to legend, dating back to 17 century Britain, the jack-o-lantern got it's name from an Irishman, Stingy Jack, who tricked the devil into promising him he wouldn't have to go to hell for his sins.  Barred from heaven when he died, Jack was doomed to wander earth for eternity with only an ember of hellfire tucked inside a carved out turnip to light his way.  Thenceforth he was known as  Jack of the Lantern.  It became customary to place a carved out turnip at the doorstep on All Hallows Eve to frighten away the evil spirits.  Eventually the pumpkin became more economical and practical.



Carving the Perfect Pumpkin

The Art of Photography ~ Nikon vs Canon

 Politics has their Conservatives vs Liberals, sports has their NFL vs CFL and photography has their age old debate, Nikon vs Canon. Ask any good photographer and they will have an allegiance to either Nikon or Canon. but rarely to both.  But, does it really matter?  Is one truly better than the other or is it simply a matter of brand loyalty? For me it began years ago with a fully manual analog Nikkormat, the first in the Nikon family.  As the years progressed so did my Nikon, there was no other.  I'm familiar with the Nikon format and comfortable with its system.  But, now I know that comparing a Nikon to a Canon is like comparing apples to apples.  Both are different but as good as each other.  The art of photography is about imagination and image, both must go hand in hand. It is the photographer, the talent and creativity behind the camera, not just the camera that captures the emotion and atmosphere where words cannot.  The proof is here....

Photographer ~ Les Van Staalduinen

Camera ~ CANON 10D



Holiday Recipe

Praline Pumpkin Dessert

1 398ml  can pure pumpkin
1 370ml can evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 c granulated sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1 box golden or butter pecan cake mix
1 1/2 c chopped pecans
3/4 c melted butter

1.  Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13" x  9" pan.

2.  In a medium bowl, beat pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar and cinnamon with wisk until smooth. Pour into pan.

3.  Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle with pecans. Pour melted butter evenly over top.

4.  Bake for 50 to 60 minutes

Summer Memories

When summer begins, I wish it would last forever.  Nothing is better under a warm glow of summer sun than the taste of rich creamy ice cream, the feel of cool ocean water splashing around your feet, and the sweet fragrance of summer blossoms.  But fall is rapidly approaching and with it the end of the warmer weather and lazy pace.  Now, on to thick woolly sweaters, crunchy leaves under foot and the smell of pumpkin spice in the air.  Hopefully, the memories of summer will linger on long after the footprints in the sand are gone!