I Heart Christmas!!

Holiday bokeh I Heart Faces submission.

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care..."

Yes, I am still alive!

Well, hello blog readers. If you are reading this, you truly are a loyal blog reader since I have not updated this blog since November. In any case, thanks for sticking around and I appreciate you sticking with me!!

There have been quite a few developments with me of late. First of all, I would like to announce that I opened an Etsy store. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ktart569?ref=si_shop

Secondly, I have recently become a grandma!! Yay!! My sweet granddaughter, Destiny, was born on June 10. I just got back from visiting her for the first time and got in lots of spoiling! Here she is!!











The last bit of good news I have to share is that in a few weeks (August 5 to be exact) my son will be getting married! I am so excited for him. He will be coming home from Korea next week and then after they are married, him and his wife will be stationed in Colorado which is where my dad and brother are. Just got back from visiting them and forgot how much I love that state. Here are a few shots I got while I was back home.









Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment if you feel so inclined!

I Heart Faces - Fall

One of my favorite things about fall are the beautiful colors that we get to see. My family

recently visited the mountains of North Carolina and the colors were at their peak! This was

taken at one of the many pull-over-to-the-side-of-the-road-for-a-photo stops on the

Blue Ridge Parkway. Gorgeous variety of colors!!

When a baby laughs for the first time....

.....a fairy is born!

Texture

Been experimenting with textures today. =) FUN STUFF!!

I Heart PINK!!

This week's I Heart Faces challenge is pink in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. I thought I'd enter this photo because I just love the location and my beautiful model Josyln (who is only 13 by the way!); and I just love that crotcheted hat!! I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my boss, Marla Osborne, who is currently in the battle. She was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer earlier this year, right after her 50th birthday. It is an uncommon, very aggressive type. She is a strong, courageous fighter and has valiantly underwent her first set of chemo treatments and is currently undergoing radiation. She is a very strong, God-loving woman and I am so incredibly proud of the way she has fought this tough battle. She continues to work every day, coming in after her radiation treatments. She has been a true inspiration to me and so many of my coworkers. It is people like her who truly show just how strong a woman can be, with the help of the mighty hand of God. I have lost a grandmother to breast cancer and earlier this year, I lost my mother to cancer as well (though not breast). Thanks I Heart Faces for supporting NBCA month!

At the orchard

This week's I Heart Faces challenge has to do with orchards, so I figured it was a great time for me to enter since I just visited the Orchard at Altapass in western North Carolina this past weekend. Lots of great-tasting apples and of course yummy apple butter!! We had a great time!

Misc. Monday

Went outside with the kids yesterday because it was just a beautiful day. Took a few random shots of them and found a wasp's nest that I thought I'd explore closer....with my camera of course! :)

Pageant portfolio

I recently had the pleasure of doing a session for my friend's daughter who is going to be competing in our county fair beauty contest! It was so much fun and she is stunningly beautiful. I can only pity her mom for the line of boys that must be stretched out her door!! I wish her the best of luck in her competition!!!

Keens

Just got these in the mail yesterday! I love them. They are so comfy and lightweight. I am excited to test them out on the trails in a few weeks at Nantahala!

When you're bored....

....you do things like this!!

Twinkle...twinkle...

This one reminds me of the old nursery rhyme..."Star light....star bright..."

Got this one of my daughter this weekend. I like it, even though she is not smiling.

Is it strange....

......that I took 45 shots of muffins yesterday? It was my day off, so I decided to bake some blueberry muffins and some chocolate chip muffins. They looked so pretty when I was done, I couldn't resist getting some shots of them. The best part is, they taste even better than they look!!

First the bluberry ones!!

....and here are the chocolate chip ones!!

In case any of you want to try them for yourselves, here is the recipe.

1/2 cup shortening

1-1/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

A splash of orange juice

2 pints fresh (or frozen) blueberries

2 cups milk chocolate chips

fresh orange zest

Cream shortening and sugar; add eggs one at a time and blend. Add vanilla and orange juice. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Fold in berries/chips. Add zest. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 - 30 minutes. Makes approximately 18 muffins. I doubled the recipe to make 2 batches and then just halved the batter before adding the chocolate chips and blueberries.

For the blueberries, I put them in a pan and added about 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 cup of sugar. I also added a little orange juice (a splash) and a cinnamon stick. I let that cook down until the blueberries were soft. Then I drained them before I added them to the muffin mix. I also added a little of the blueberry liquid to the batter as well. That's it!! Hope you enjoy them!! I have to say, I think I like the blueberry ones a little better than the chocolate chip. They are more moist, I think because of the added juice.