New Toys

Like most scrapbookers, I really enjoy photography and learning new techniques. One of the things I wanted to do was to take near studio quality photos of the grandchildren for framing. But buying all the equipment was just beyond what I wanted to spend for something I would not be using very often.

Then I found this article, "Putting Together a Budget DIY Lighting System" and all of a sudden, maybe studio like photos would be in my purview. And maybe I can even afford to pick up Adobe's Lightroom making saving in RAW a viable option.

I picked up the twin lamp worklight for less than $20, but when you added in the bright white bulbs it pushed it up to nearly $30. Still a deal when you think about it. I still have to pick up some of the other items, but I'm checking for sales :)

To try out the lights, the Princess agreed to be my guinea pig. (She really looks like she's not enjoying it, huh?) We had so much fun together and all we really used was a step ladder. Anyway, you can see some of the results. I did have to do a little tweeking, but not much.

Blog Prompt - Did you go to college

or have vocational training - where and when?

I attended a couple of years of college in NW Florida, getting the prerequisites behind me, then I got married. I did finally go back for evening classes in accounting but ended as a legal assistant for nearly ten years getting my training on the go so to speak. After marrying Pan, I worked as a construction secretary for many a year. When they sold there business I went to work for a newspaper as a receptionist. Within a year I had learned the graphic portion of it so began their graphic artist and office manager.

So while I had some college, it really didn't play a role in my work. And the vocational training in accounting came in handy, but until recently was a relatively small portion of what I did.

Stitches (c)Lisa Carter; Rustic Fields (c)Doreen Stolz; Font: Porcelain

Blog Prompt: Can you survive without e-mail?

How has it changed your life?

Well, I think the last several months has proved that I can successfully live without email. I, even now, have a hard time remembering to check it consistantly.

As far as how it has changed my life... I think it has kept me more in touch with family members who live far away. I enjoy getting email telling me that Honey has uploaded more pictures of the Ballerina for me to download and see. Pictures that would have taken days even weeks to get, I see immediately.

But perhaps the better question should be... Could I survive without my cellphone. LOL

Template by Made By Mitzi; A Breath of Nature by Verena Karolyi; Fonts: Misproject; Baby Boston

Blog Prompt: One thing I want to accomplish TODAY is...

Well at this point I have pretty much accomplished it. But if I had written this earlier it would have been to go to work, get it done and come home.

I have gone to work, got it done, went to the bank and now I am at home. In a couple of hours I will go pick the Princess up from school and spend time helping her with her homework. See if her dad would like to stay for movie night when he gets her. Cook dinner (and since it is all frozen dinners tonight, that ought to be easy enough, right? LOL).

But the thing I would really like to accomplish TODAY is .... Go to bed earlier. We'll see how that goes.


Brenda Miller (template); DigiDiva (Homemade Memories); Font: Summertime

Speaker wires, backpacks and movies

Busy, busy weekend. First the grands all left to spend a week with their respective fathers. Pan decided to run the speaker wire for our surround sound through the wall instead of have it stapled in the corners of the ceiling. Last week he built a mantle (uhmmmm, he was suppose to paint it this weekend). Daughter's ex came by to pick up the Princess' backpack for school and ask me to pick her up after school this week. No real problem since I pick her up anyway. It will also give me and her some one on one time to work on her homework and to watch tv together. In fact, one night this week when her dad comes to pick her up, he may just stay so we can have a family movie night together. I hope that works out, the Princess would be thrilled.


Brenda Miller (template); DigiDiva (Homemade Memories); Font: Summertime

Boy friends vs. BOYfriends

Indy is such a treat to have around most times. Point in fact was yesterday. His mother was trying to get him ready to go spend the week with his father. As Indy bounced around, he jumped onto her lap wanting to know where her "guy" was. "What guy are you talking about?" she inquired. "You know, your BOYfriend." "Do you mean 'C'," she asked. "Yes, 'C', your BOYfriend." She replied, "He is just a friend, he is not my boyfriend." "YES HE IS YOUR BOYfriend." Guess she is lucky he is visiting his dad this week when 'J' comes to visit. :)


Brenda Miller (template); DigiDiva (Homemade Memories); Font: Summertime

End of Year Tribulations

I have been doing accounting/bookkeeping for our hometown newspaper for nigh on 14 years. That's a long time by any standards, only to be told last Tuesday I had been doing it wrong this last year. (bou blink) What changed? Certainly not me. Things have been a little stressful at home and this just about put me over the edge. I was ready to chuck it all, stay at home, play Sid Meier's Civilization and nuke all the other countries when they annoyed me.

Fortunately for me, I did not take that course of action. The boss and I came to an understanding. And with a few suggestions from him and a couple from me, this next year the accounting is going to be a snap. I feel better. Much :)

Now if I can just find those dang felt pads for automatic numbering machines. If you know where to get them, let me know.... (and this is probably why the boss and I do get along)... he was considering just buying another one if we couldn't replace the pads. I told him it wasn't worth it, as a package of the pads only cost about 5 dollars when we bought the a couple of years ago; while the auto # machines run between $40 and $80. I'm cheap, LOL. That's why he keeps me on.... :)


Brenda Miller (template); DigiDiva (Homemade Memories); Font: Summertime

Movie Madness

Ever since Sunday when Pan set up the projector and we watched "Bridge to Terebithia" the kids have been dying to watch everything on it. The Princess wants to watch "Charmed"; Indy wants to watch anything with guns since his mother has said no more gun movies. I guess tonight is going to be a 'movie night.' Pan better make sure we have plenty of popcorn, LOL.

But speaking of 'gun' movies, I haven't noticed any that are completely devoid of guns, fighting, swords, etc. Apparently "Star Wars" and the like are still included in Indy's list of watchable movies even though they have guns and sabers and force powers. Maybe it is the force powers that tipped the edge in favor since he knows that there are no force powers (as in Star Wars).

And when did they take the "Upside Down Show" off noggin. It is one show we could get Indy to watch and actually sit and watch it (participating when required, off course). It was so fun to hear him laugh at the antics or smirk and say "I told you so" when the brothers did anything wrong. We were just watching it last week and now I can't find it. Noggin if you are listening, please, please, please bring it back.


Brenda Miller (template); DigiDiva (Homemade Memories); Font: Summertime

It's Monday Already?

Something happened this weekend to really put a damper on my days. Suffice it to say that I bought something online for my sister, password protected it and put it in a special folder in my 4shared account and I actually had someone write wanting the password. That just tells me I can't do anything online for family and get it to them immediately without others taking what they want.

Okay enough ranting, I guess. So how was your weekend? Otherwise, mine was good. We had company on Saturday and watch "Indiana Jone and the Crystal Skull." Last night we tacked a sheet up to the wall to try out the projector we got for the kids so that we could set up a drive/walk-in theater in the backyard for them (invitation only, lol). We watched "Bridge to Terebithia" and I can't remember a more depressing movie. I was under the impression that it was a fantasy. There was some, but not much.

Okay, dishonest people and a depressing movie... Guess my weekend wasn't all that great.

Brenda Miller (template); DigiDiva (Homemade Memories); Font: Summertime

Wake Up, It's Sunday

It has been a dreary day. Muggy, hazy and foggy all rolled into one. A good day to stay indoors and relax. But that was not to be as just as Indy and I got into a comfortable snuggle under the covers, Bug called. After that it just wasn't the same. His mom came in to give him a good-bye kiss, then I decided he needed some cold medicine as he is pretty stuffed up.

Pan, Indy and I did finally get out of the house and headed over to Home Depot for new doorknobs for the front and back doors. There's nothing wrong with the ones we have except we have lost the key to the deadbolt on the back door and can't get out.

While there he picked up some wire to redo the surround sound through the walls. Gosh is he handy or what? (I'll get some pictures of the mantle he built after we get it painted.) The we headed over to Target for a cheap dvd player (you would think we could get one of the dozens we have here working) and a sheet to hang on the wall. Santa brought the kids a dvd projector for Christmas to set up a "drive-in" theater in the backyard for them and their friends. But we want to check out first. Guess tonight will be a family movie night. Will have to think of a good movie to watch. Wonder if I can talk them into "Tin Man" or "The 10th Kingdom" again...

Well, it's getting onto suppertime down my way. I'm thinking a steak salad may be in order as I have leftover steak from last night. But before I leave you, the two pages below are part of Indy's mini "I am 4 years old" ABC album. That's my sil running neck-in-neck with Indy. Gotta Pixel's Wacky Wednesday is giving away two templates each week.

Brenda Miller (template); DigiDiva (Homemade Memories); Font: Summertime

It's award time again

And this time it comes from a very special person and teacher, Pat of Loonyhiker. She is the mainstay of the blog prompts. The boss, the top dog. Thanks Pat for thinking of me.

Here are the rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs ( if you haven't got 10 on your list, it really doesn't matter)which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

Ten, huh? It is been such a while since I have blogged I am not sure who is still around (and I just gave an award out last week.)

But for a starters, how about:

1. Tammy of Personalized Creations. She has been a might be busy these days and I can't think of anyone who is better deserving. With a daring spirit and umpteen jobs, I wish I could be more like her.

2. I'm going out on a limb here, but I think I will nominate my sister, yet again. Bug over at One Happy Dog Speaks has been dealing with no sleep, every "bug" that has been making its rounds and a child with asthma problems.

3. Then there's Sticks of From Chaos to Serendipity. A woman of extraordinary strength and resolve. A much better person than I can ever hope to be.

4. Beachcomber of Lunar Tide, whose sense of humor and way of writing will leave a smile on your face.

And for now, that's just about all I can come up with, although there are more, very worthy bloggers out there.

Template by Brenda Miller; Homemade Memories kit (c)Connie Prince/DigiDiva Designs

The year in review: January - icicles; February - lunar eclipse; March - flowers in bloom; April - the squirrels come out in force; May - Pool opens; June - living at the pool; July - outdoor cooking; August - Quark's Bar in Vegas; September - on the beach with Pan's sister; October - Halloween; November - Thanksgiving and a Disney Extravaganza; December - Christmas

Yeah, it's Thursday

Oops, spoke to soon. I just remembered I have to go to work tomorrow. Spent today working on end of the year accounting and didn't get the tickets for yesterday entered as I usually do on Thursdays. If I still have this headache tomorrow though, I may wait and go in on Monday. It is soooo nice to be flexible.

Even I have that mean streak. The one that sticks their tongue out at fellow workers because they are stuck in the 8-5 grind. heheheh.

Snuggle Up sampler (c)Sarah Meyer

Applicants step right up

Poor Pan. Just after the holidays the employee manning the help-desk quit. He's now having to interview to fill the position. Those of you who live down south can understand the problems associated with this. First you are either going to get applicants who are not qualified at all or over-qualified. Then the economy down south is on the lower end of the financial statement, so to speak. On the up side the cost of living is lower too. But when people decide to move here for the lower cost of living, they still want what they were making prior. Ain't ever going to happen. Still he has high hopes that the position will be filled this week. Cross your fingers for him, will ya? Thanks

Season's Greetings (c)Rose Li Padoveze and Sweet Digi Scrap

Tuesday's Tribulations

To be honest there were no tribulations today; not even any "see me's" from the boss. Everyone hates to get one of those notes on your desk first thing because it usually means you messed something up. For me it usually means he is going to change the way I do things once again.

But none of those today. I got my work done by noon and went to lunch with a friend to hear about her trip to see her brand new granddaughter. She forgot to bring pictures in so I will have to rap her upside the head on Thursday to see them. (Or refuse to include her in payroll, lol).

Picked the Princess up from school and she is in the living room doing her homework now. I think I will go see if we can turn off the cartoons and put in Charmed. She wants to see the episode where Phoebe turns into a mermaid.

Tootles till later.

Scraplift of SouthAfrican's "Splash"; template by kaledain; Flights of Fancy kit by Cherie Shields

Once a Fool

always a fool, right? That's just about how I feel right now. I still want to make sure I get back into blogging on a regular basis, but really don't have anything to say right now.

November Blueprint template by Brenda Miller; All About Boys Mega Kit (c)Gotta Pixel Designers

How Much are the Ferrets in the Window...

Nuke has four ferrets. Ashi (evil), Fuzen (Mischief), Baito (Bite) and the only little boy, Kaze (wind). Cute little devils. But Pan & I have decided that Baito needs to be renamed to tama no kamu nin, which is the closest Scamp could come up with to Ballbiter.

Nuke has streaming video on his little darlings (and no I'm not going to share it with you until I get the okay to do so). There is about a 30 second delay between our talk on the phone and the video. We are talking and suddenly he is yelling in my ear that Baito has bitten him... 30 seconds later the video catches up and he is flinging himself backwards then forwards again grabbing his crotch and rocking back and forth. Now you really had to hear and see this for yourself to get the full effect, but since I did, I was rolling with laughter and trying very hard to explain to Nuke why it wasn't so funny.

Now I'm going to share my most recent desktops with you, :)

This one was up for ages since I put it up just before I had real problems with my computer. But I love it anyway.

This is my current one. I was so pleased to find out I had taken photos of Indy and the Princess so it looks like they are facing one another with the walkie talkies Indy got from ddpuppies and Bear for Christmas.

This is next month's. It was made for the Rock Your Desktop challenge at Gotta Pixel. The challenge was, you guessed it, another convert color to b&w. I used the channel mixer on this one instead of using just one of the channels. Isn't she a doll?

An Award

From Tee at Tee's Scrap's I received the following award. This was so unexpected and I just wish I had realized it earlier so I could have sent her a thank you much earlier. But better late than never and here is a very big THANK YOU Tee for such a wonderful award.



Here are the rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate 5 other blogs for this award
4. Add links to those blogs
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs
6. Give a reason why you consider their blogs cool

Number 1 - Check
Number 2 - Check (and check out her blog too, gorgeous...)
Number 3 - Thinking (check)
Number 4, 5, 6 - Waiting on number 3 (check, check, check)

Let's start with Linda of Bon Scrapatit. Just stopping by will have me in peals of laughter and talk about beautiful kits. Yummy.

Then there's ArtcTrish. What's not to say... The work she does with the school plays, her photographs, her zest.

Yin of Simply Yin and Yin Designs has the most beautiful boys. It is always a pleasure to see what they are up to. Besides she is one of the few designers who makes multiple picture templates. You got to check them out.

Mrs. Who of the House of Zathras because she is a very good friend and because she, along with my sister, keeps tabs on my blog to see if I post, LOL.

Which leaves us with my sister who really does deserve a TLC award for all she does with so little sleep. So Bug with One Happy Dog Speaks here's your award.

I'm Back (I think)

Well I now have new computer. Brand spanking new. Okay not brand spanking new, it is about three weeks old now. I had a week before we got the cable to hook up the terabyte drive (which by the way is now half full since Pan put my pictures on it). And we are installing programs one at a time, at least a day or two apart; except graphics programs which we will install at least a week between them. But I have been working on it, making scrapbook pages, playing with photos and playing Sid Meier's Civilization (an older version). Caught up with the black and white photography challenge at Gotta Pixel, and will post them here now (hehehe):

July's challenge was to find something abandoned. I had managed to take a picture of this abandoned house while we were visiting Nuke in South Carolina that just seemed to fit the bill.

August was to photograph a flower. This is the one that made the cut and was posted at Gotta Pixel.

This was actually my favorite, but due to popular demand (and the fact that it really is a much better photograph the one above won out).

September was suppose to be a 'skyline' but where to you find one of those on the Gulf Coast, except possibly New Orleans and I wasn't going to drive there. Instead I chose a shot of a nearby town and marina.

Then October was to photograph a landscape. Beach, beach and more beach, lol. I did manage to get this one at dusk as we were leaving Pan's sister's beach house.

November was a month to bring forth those birthday pictures. I really love how this turned out. Doesn't look great with the girls faces smeared but I think I may actually have a larger copy of this one made for my daughter.

Since the challenges are more than just taking pictures, but about converting color pictures to black and white, I tried something a little different with these than I have in the past. Something I use to do when I was the graphic artist at the paper. I separated the photos into their red, green and blue channels and then picked the best one to make adjustments to. For those not in the know, separating photos into red, green and blue channels does not make them red, blue or green, but monotone with each having different contrast, saturation and brightness. Other than the second flower (which I used the red channel) and the beach at dusk (blue channel); I used the green channel.

I'm hoping to get back up to speed on posting soon. But it has been a while so bear with me okay?

Halloween 2008

Dorothy & Batman

Late Afternoon

With Lights on

Gargoyle

Front Door


At Dusk

Bloody Mary

Bush Peepers 1

Bush Peepers 2

Landings of Tribulation

By now you probably know that Pan took me to Vegas for my birthday. A good thing for both of us as the Star Trek Experience shut down on the last day of August. I enjoyed the trip there and tried to get some pictures of the lightning, but it was just to fast for my fingers, LOL.

Although this is not too terribly good, it is one that I got as we were preparing to come in for a landing. The daytime on the way home were much better and you will be seeing some of those in the days to come.

Reincarnation Tribulations

Your result for Reincarnation Placement Exam...

Spy

65% Intrigue, 63% Civilization, 76% Humanity, 30% Urbanization.

Live well, ride fast, and die young, baby!

Well, you turned out to be something of a rogue. This may not be exactly the life you wanted... but it's difficult to place people who want to enjoy all the romance and intrigue of civilization, without actually having a demanding job. Besides, since you enjoy the benefits of humanity so much more than you enjoy the press of humanity itself... you shouldn't have much trouble with your role in life. As long as you aren't afraid of danger there's a place for you in society, even if it's a rather dark and wicked place. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to fulfill the role of a spy.

The good news: You're free and clever, and you can do whatever the heck you want. The bad news: everybody else is free and clever too, and they're not all on your side.

With the flick of a blade, you can change the course of history. Might be fun. Might be a little messy.

Take Reincarnation Placement Exam at HelloQuizzy

As seen at One Happy Dog.

Summer's Tribulations

Well, I sure have been awol haven't I? It has been a busy summer and looks like the start of school is just as busy. I'll try to get back into the grove soon, really....

Of course you all know that Pan's boss died in a motorcycle accident at the end of June and we had that to deal with and the worry about whether Pan would even have a job. That has worked out quite well. Then we ended up with the kids more than I expected (not that I'm complaining, yet, LOL). And Pan ended up out of town more than a few times.

In August we took a trip to Las Vegas (my birthday present from Pan) to see the Star Trek Experience. Good thing too, since they closed it September 1. While we enjoyed ourselves it was disappointing to find all the shops but one on the promonade closed and that one didn't have much of anything.

In order to plan for that time off, I had to work more. Still more when we got back because it was the end of the month.

Pan's sister, who we haven't seen, came into town and we spend the weekend with her and Pan's parents. I also stopped by my sister's and picked up an old photo album to scan.

You know writing it down, doesn't sound like I did a lot, but it sure seemed busy and full while I was doing it :)

Laboring on Staying Safe

This is vw bug stepping in to post for Tink. She is fine. Just keeping out of trouble with Hurricane Gustav sending out Tornadoes and wind and rain her way.

I'm sure she'll be posting more soon!

It is Tink's Birthday...

This is vwbug, Tink's sister. Sneaking over and leaving a birthday post for my sister. She got another year older today.



Wasn't she a cute baby???

Happiest of Birthday's Sis!

Happy Birthday Bugaboo

In case you didn't know, today is the Bug's birthday. It's hard to believe I have actually put up with her for 44 years. You're getting old sis. And I'm old enough that sticking your tongue out and saying I'm older doesn't bother me one bit, LOL.

This is the same child that dumped out an entire bottle of my perfume (it was a gift from a 1st grade class) on her head. Who would peek out her bedroom window when I was coming home from a date and say "I see you." Who thought you used golf balls to take out the overpopulation of squirrels and tennis balls to keep the human population to a minimum.

So dear sister, HAPPY BIRTHDAY from me, Pan, Bombshell, The Princess, Indy, Scamp, Honey, Ballerina and Nuke.

Color Revolution "Boldly Brown" ©Connie Prince; template by Cindy Gilchrist; Fonts: Paperclip, AvantGarde Bk BT

Color My Tribulations

The Color My Pixel challenge had some very interest colors to work with this month, red, blue, cream, taupe, green and seafoam. And I chose a picture of my dad to showcase in it. Isn't he just the cutest?

Oh, did I mention that I bought a new scanner? I did. Now all I have to do is organize all the pictures around the house, LOL.

template by Di Hickman; many thanks to the various commercial use artists; Fonts: Stencil, Times New Roman

Challenging Desktop Tribulations

The desktop challenge at Gotta Pixel this month was to use a font or alpha you haven't used before. And being a day late and a dollar short this entire summer had not changed for this either. The desktop I did would have definitely been better for July and the red, white and blue. Still it is what is up now and probably will stay that way unless I get around to trying the desktop challenge at goDigital.

Just to update though, we are all doing fine. Pan is still working, but traveling a lot more these days and working weekends (as he is doing now. Thank goodness he has an office here at home or I would never be seeing him, LOL). We celebrated our 19th anniversary. The daughter has been working overtime as the girl she was training as manager came down with mono. This means we have had the kids a lot more than we expected.

Pan had already paid for first class tickets and hotel reservations prior to everything happening so we are still headed to Las Vegas at the end of the month.


Stars & Stripes ©Connie Prince and Lynne Simmons; Stitching ©She's Full of Scrap; Template by Misty Cato; font: Birth of a Hero

Tribulations of a Mind Lost

Yep, I have truly lost it. My mind left for LV without me and I won't be joining it for another several weeks. I had totally forgot that I had made a very special card for Pan for our anniversary. Totally.... Forgot....

Anyway, Pan if you are reading here is the card I made especially for you and forgot to print out.

Color Revolution 'Ravishing in Red' ©Connie Prince; sketch by Becky Fleck; Font: LoveLight