OUR BIG SHOW!

The turnout was absolutely AMAZING at our photo show opening last night! You couldn't even see across the coffee shop, it was that crowded. Since I had made the intial contact with the coffee shop and set everything up, I had been a bit apprehensive that it might just end up being the eight of us from the class and our teacher at the show. I was pleasantly surprised (as was the coffee shop, it was their busiest day EVER!)! I had a great time as did everyone in the class. As a group we sold three pieces, I have someone interested in buying one of mine as well, we will see if it comes through or not!

Our first show...hopefully the first of MANY!

Here is the text from the poster we displayed at the doorway.....

Eight random individuals of various backgrounds and life stages come together every Thursday night with a common purpose… to share their love of photography.

On their journey, they conquer the elements and make time stand still. They understand that taking the perfect picture is not for the timid and doesn’t happen by chance.

Tonight they invite you to take an eclectic journey through the help of their steady hands, keen eyes, and relentless persistence.

What once was referred to as eight random strangers now stands before you as … The Thursday Night Photographers : Nancy, Fredrik, Shelby, Debbie, Tana, Laura, Janet, and Wally

Please proceed to the exhibit and freely ask them about their grand adventures.

Tonight’s Exhibit: Eclectography

A special thanks to Steve Floro for his inspiration and dedication to the art of photography.

My First Photography Show!

This Saturday night (Jan 24th) my photography class is hosting a photography show at Heaven's Roast from 5-7 PM. Heaven's Roast is located at 6416 Branch Hill Guinea Pike Loveland, OH 45140. To get there take I-275 to the Wards Corner Exit, if coming from points west turn left at the end of the exit ramp and then turn right at the second traffic light (there is a pool place on the corner)...if coming from points east, turn right at the top of the exit ramp and then right at the first light. Follow the road for a while (maybe a mile or mile and 1/2) and you will see a sports bar (Shooters) and a National City Bank on your left, you need to turn into the driveway that takes you into the strip mall area after you pass the bank, but before you get to UDF (which sits on the corner), if you get to the traffic light, you have gone too far. Heaven's Roast sits straight ahead in the small strip at the far end of that driveway. It sits next to a fitness place (I believe it is called BEAT) and near the carwash (if it is warm out at all the carwash will be packed!).

There will be free food and coffee, specialty drinks are available for purchase.

So if you are bored and have nothing else to do I would love to see you there! If you can't make the show, the art will be hanging for about a month, so feel free to stop in an see it another time!

My crappy day Friday!

I would have SWORN yesterday had to be FRIDAY the 13th, given the CRAPPY day I had.....

It only hit -8 here (I believe that was the low) overnight....so doesn't it figure that our FURNACE DIED the coldest night of the year (overnight Thurs into Fri)???? It got down to 44 degrees in the house on the first floor (I have no idea how cold it got in the basement, but my wet laundry in the dryer FROZE SOLID), luckily we got the repair guy out here yesterday afternoon and it was only a fuse.....but he isn't promising that it isn't a bad blower/motor (OK can you tell I know NOTHING about furnaces) but so far so good, the heat has been back on for 24 hours!

OH, so why was there WET LAUNDRY in the DRYER??? Guess, I forget to mention the dryer we just paid $150 to fix the Monday after Thanksgiving ISN'T DRYING CLOTHES??? It is doing the same FRICKIN thing it did then, it runs, but there is no heat...of course the ass that repaired it (and guarenteed it for 1 year) won't return our phonecalls! Kind of hard to have clean clothes with NO DRYER in the middle of the "arctic" weather we are having of late!

To top off yesterday.....after the girls BEGGED and BEGGED, I agreed to let them go skiing with a friend of theirs--Elaine (the friend is an adult and she was taking her kids) I caved partly because she offered to pay for them and I knew they wouldn't have another chance to go for"free", we certainly don't have extra money for skiing right now! I had SWORN years ago, after Hannah fell and messed up her face really bad, to NEVER let them ski again, especially during competition dance season, but I agreed they could go, I really am losing my mind! So around 12:30 PM yesterday while I am out running around with the other kids (to keep them warm since the heat here wasn't working at that point!) the phone rings....comes into my cellphone as "unavailable" so I almost didn't answer it, but I did, and guess who it is???? the FLIPPIN' SKI PATROL.....Hannah has torn up her knee and they want to transport her to a local hospital. As I listen to the ski patrol, I decide I don't want to take their word for what is going on (figuring they want to cover their own asses!), I ask to talk to Elaine. After our conversation (when I basically ask, if it was your kid would you transport her and she replies "No") we agree to ice it and wait it out and have her just bring Hannah home when everyone else is done skiing, after all it is horribly swollen and I suspect the ER will just say "we can't do anything until the swelling goes down" so why waste the money on an ER/ambulance run?? OK, yes, I am a frugal cheap ass when it comes to medical stuff, plus I HATE waiting in emergency rooms. So Elaine pumps her full of ibuprofen and ices the knee the rest of the time they are there. It looks like SHIT, she can't move it at all today after sleeping on it, and despite my desire for it not to be the case, I think she really has messed it up, but am going to wait until Monday to see and then call the doctor.

The icing on the cake (not that it happened yesterday but to add to my frustration) is that we only have one running vehicle, making it hell to get anyone to anything they need to be at because there are always conflicts in the schedule! Plus the one that runs, is getting about 9 to 11 miles to the gallon right now, so it costs so much money just to run to the dance studio or even to the grocery store. It sucks when you don't have the money anyway to be counting quarters to put gas in the tank of a gas guzzler! Today the schedule was overly hectic...a 9 AM 4-H advisors meeting, the girls had to be at dance at 10:30 AM, Grant had a basketball game at 11 AM, Jacob had a game 25 minutes away at 12 PM, Cade had a game at 2 PM...nothing like spending the day in the car. Brett and Grant had to walk to Grant's game since I was out with the van!

I FRICKING thought 2009 would be a better year than 2008....Yeah, right....I am convinced I am just the running punch line in every one of God's jokes.

New Cincinnati Unschoolers Yahoo Group

Just in case there are any local unschoolers stalking my blog, I thought I would add a link to a new Yahoo Group that I formed. I am hoping to build a local support community for those of us who believe that it doesn't take "school at home" for a homeschooled child to "learn". So if you live in the Cincinnati area, check it out and join us!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CincinnatiUnschoolers

Yummy Potato Casserole Recipe

2 lb. frozen, cubed hash browns
1/4 cup butter
1 can cream soup (chicken, potato, mushroom ... your choice)
1 cup sour cream
1 cup milk
8 oz. shredded Cheddar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 lb (or more) ham, chopped into bite size pieces

Mix all ingredients well and spread into a 9x13 casserole dish. Bake at 350°F for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until bubbly and browned.

I used Progresso's Creamy Mushroom soup in this recipe to keep it gluten free. EVERYONE loved it, usually at least one person doesn't like any new recipe that we try so that in and of itself was amazing! I doubled the recipe , took a small portion of it out before adding the ham (to make a veggie version for Emily). This meal will definitely go into the dinner rotation!

10 Hot Photography Tips and Tutorials from 2008:

If you love photography check out these tips:
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/10-hot-photography-tips-and-tutorials-from-2008/

As most of you know, I LOVE photography and have been expanding my skills by taking photography classes through Great Oaks. I have ended up in a class with 7 interesting and diverse individuals and 1 fascinating teacher! Nancy sent the above link and it is absolutely wonderful!

We are preparing for our first photography show. It will be hosted at a local coffee shop, the prefect, intimate setting! I am so very excited about displaying my work for others to see, a bit nervous too...will it be good enough?

For those with a weight loss resolution:

I was cleaning out my favorite places and stumbled across some really wonderful weight watcher links I saved last year. I know many people have made resolutions to loss weight this upcoming year so I thought I would share these to help motivate you....wish I could motivate myself, but I don't see that happening! I guess for now I will just be happy with the fact that I lost and kept off 20 lb last year! All of these are free and support the Weight Watchers points program.....

A Weight Watchers Support Network: http://www.healthdiscovery.net/links/one_point_list.htm

DeeDee's Page of WW Foods:
http://www.angelfire.com/me/kyoddie/points.html

Dottie's Weight Loss Zone: http://dwlz.com/ this site has amazing recipes and tons of wonderful links

Points Calculator: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kreider/Points.htm

Good luck to you if your resolution is to loss weight! I have rededicated myself to working out every day, not with the goal of lossing weight (although that would be wonderful) but with the goal of being HEALTHY in 2009! After all I have SO MUCH to live for!

Happy New Year!

From our family to yours, wishes for a wonderful 2009!

New Year's Prayer

As the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family and our friends.

Let us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains.

Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way. Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, color or creed.

Let us keep God of our own understanding in our hearts and to chant God's name each day. Let us lead the world from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth and from wrong to right.

Let us remember that we are all one, embracing all, discriminating against none.

May your year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May God's blessings shower upon you and bestow upon each of you a bright, healthy and peaceful new year.

Reverend Marcy "Melchezedek Order"