THE VILLAGE

We call ourselves "The Village". This picture only represents a small part of us. We consist of 5 couples, 12 children and their significant others, 5 grandchildren, 4 yellow labs, a black lab, a rabbit and an assortment of cats. Our family trees create an orchard within our Village. I like to think of us as an apple orchard, but others would probably say we are more like a field of nut trees. Either way, we don't mind. Together we have attended sporting events, dance recitals, fairs and funerals. We've celebrated birthdays, holidays, graduations and weddings. Some of our favorite memories are made on the days we get together for no reason at all. We all have wishes, dreams and "bucket lists" we share. Life without this bunch would be like sour apples instead of apple pie ala mode.

 

Photo taken at Grand Rapids Lions Club at Kolor For Kids 5K Run/Walk benefiting The Children's Miracle Network. We represented "The Village Women".  

BARGAIN

Today I bought 12 tubes of ChapStick on sale for $9.80 at Target and they gave me a $5 gift card which makes each tube 40¢ each. A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need ... and I need 12 ChapSticks.

SUNSET

BUFFALO THEORY

 

A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo, much like the brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. The slowest buffalo are the sick and weak so they die off first, making it possible for the herd to move at a faster pace. Like the buffalo, the weak, slow brain cells are the ones that are killed off by excessive beer drinking and socializing, making the brain operate faster.

The moral of the story: Drink more beer, it will make you smarter.

CUPCAKE PHOTOGRAPHY

 

There's rarely a time that I don't have a camera with me. If it isn't my DSLR then it's my point and shoot that I always have in my purse. Somewhere in time I began taking photos of my food. After all, the making of and serving a plate of food is an art form in itself. (I'm seldom in a restaurant that has their food plated like you see on the Food Network ... like never.) Chefs consider themselves artist as much as photographers do, so why not preserve the masterpiece before you devour it. Today I had the opportunity to take a cupcake photography class at our local cupcake shop iSparkle, https://www.facebook.com/isparklecupcakes. The instructor, Spyros Heniadis, https://www.facebook.com/selfhelpphotographer was patient with our blank stares when asked technical questions. He worked one on one sharing his knowledge to enrich our quirk for food photography.  The class was a success for me as I had several "ah-ha" moments ... and we got to take our "models" home. I just had another "ah-ha" moment ... I'm going to take what I learned today and use my favorite beers as my "models".

GRIN

 

What's the difference between beer nuts and deer nuts? 

Beer nuts are $1.69 and deer nuts are under a buck.

 

(Disclaimer: I realize this photo is a doe and not a buck, but I wanted to use this joke so work with me and laugh ... or at least grin.)

HOW TO TELL IF YOU'RE MIDDLE AGE

 

Middle age is when you suddenly find that your parents are old, your kids are grown up, and you haven't changed.

 

Middle age starts the morning you get up, look in the mirror and admit that you are who you are going to be. Frightening moment. No more hero, composer, author, athlete or superwomen. This is it. You are who you are. The first challenge is to prevent this moment of truth. Let us keep doubt, paranoia and realism from seeping through the wall of fantasy and adolescent behavior that has kept us moving and laughing all these years. "Middle age" describes a state that does not have a chronology but rather a set of preconditions. One of the reasons we react strongly to it is because it defines a person who has a set of symptoms for which there is no disease. Is there a cure? Here's the bad news: There is no cure. No one is even working on one. The only way to avoid middle age is to become prematurely old or stay in a "forever young" state of mind.

 

Words inspired by the book Middle Age Rage by Fred Shoenberg

PUFF BALL

 

Who remembers spray painting these to preserve them? I usually "borrowed" my moms Aqua Net hairspray for a natural look.

PHOTO CHALLENGE

Take those cameras off AUTO mode and start using them for their possible potential. Whether you're using a Point and Shoot or a DSLR, both cameras give you endless options. The photo on the top was shot in full AUTO mode. For the one on the bottom I only changed my setting to CLOUDY ... because it was a cloudy day. A simple change for a better photo. Get you owner manuals out and start exploring the potential of your camera. 

 

MUSIC CLEANSING

 

I knew I'd enjoy the Don Williams show at the Crystal Grand in the Dells but I didn't realize it would be a "music cleansing" experience. I attended the show with my husband and parents who are life long Don Williams fans. Half way through the first song I had goosebumps and felt as if all the questionable music I've exposed my ears to had been flushed from my soul and I was left with this simple and pure sound to absorb. Music is part of my daily life and I enjoy all genres, but for this week anyway, I'm tapping my toes to Don.