Ten on Ten: two. ten. thirteen.

February 10th. BSD's birthday. Perfect day for a Ten on Ten. Only problem? BSD is not home. So no birthday birthday cake. No decorations. No pretty wrapped packages in this set. Just a lazy Sunday at home. Doing laundry. Playing outdoors. Catching up on homework. Getting a haircut. Hanging with the puppy dog. Not the day it should have been. But a good one just the same.

January came and went in a flash. Every weekend was consumed with ballet summer intensive auditions. Four weekends. Four auditions. Driving either to Washington, DC or some city in North Carolina. It was fun. At first. By the fourth audition I was cooked. And so was BB. But the results are all in. The intensive has been chosen. And BB is already packing her bags. She's downloaded an app on her iTouch that counts down the days until she gets to go. Summer cannot get her soon enough as far as she's concerned. Exciting times.

Buster continues to be a major source of excitement in our house. He is bigger every morning. And smarter. And sweeter. He's already six months old. And wayyyyy too frisky. He's off to get snipped here in the next few weeks. Crossing our fingers that curbs his enthusiasm. I'm not used to having a boy. yeesh!

I am still waiting for the day that one of my family members is willing to get outdoors with me to let me play with my film cameras. I have a small stockpile of film and am chomping at the bit to explore with it. In the meantime, I'm trying to keep up with year two of my Project 365. But giving myself the freedom to use my iPhone as needed.

One of these days I hope to get back to this space more regularly again. But it's been a welcome break for me. I do miss it. But I also enjoy the freedom. Since I haven't had time to blog hop it hasn't felt right to post. I've been trying to keep up on Instagram. I'm mawlovesbsd. But I'm not sure I've found all of you. If you're on Instagram, and we haven't caught up, let me know how to find you in the comments.

 

 

  

 

 To see what others were up to today, take a peek over here.

One year ago today...

I've been a bit MIA this past week. Focusing more on getting my Project 365 off the ground rather than my dear old blog, I'm afraid. That. And trying to organize my "stuff." If you ask BSD, I haven't gotten anywhere on that front. But there is quite the pile ready for the Samaritan house pickup on Wednesday. And later this week I plan to crawl into my closet and not come back out until a good mountain of excess has been scaled.

I've also had a lot on my mind this past week. One year ago today I said goodbye to my mom. I held her hand, kissed her cheek, and told her goodbye. I knew it was going to be the last time I saw her. She died peacefully in the middle of the night. I know she waited until we were all home asleep. She did not want us to be there. She was stubborn like that. I miss her everyday.

I love you, Mom! 

This photo was taken about 5 years ago? It was taken with my dad's old Hasselblad. I asked him to bring it to our house that Christmas to get some family photos. I'm so glad I did. I had no idea then what they'd mean to me. One of my goals this year is to learn how to shoot with my dad's old cameras. I'm going to start with his old Leica first. It's less intimidating than this one.

Late to the party. As usual.

It's already January 5th. Way past the new year. Especially by blog standards. But I'm finally getting around to putting my "word of the year" out there into the blogosphere. I've let this party rock on without me for the past two years. And this year I decided not to be a wallflower. Party rock is in the house tonight.

I was waffling between two words. But I finally chose one.

Create.

I love this word because it encompasses almost anything. That is. Except pro-create.

Create...a writing piece.
Create...messes.
Create...a sewing project.
Create...memories
Create...a new recipe.
Create...a photograph.

Create...another photograph.

And how about another?

And maybe one more?

And if you keep this up. Maybe. Just maybe. You will be able to actually see a Project 365 through for a whole year?

And if you do. Maybe you can take those 365 photographs. And create a book. For your family. That they will drink in with as much interest as they do their favorite catalogs?

And in doing so. Hopefully you will create....joy.

Disclaimer: I plan to take one photograph each day. But I do not plan to post those photos daily on this blog. They may show up on this blog in one form or another. But this blog is for me. To post when and what I choose. I don't want it to become a monkey on my back because I have to post every day. Instead, I've joined a site dedicated solely to Project 365. If you'd like to follow along, you can do so here. Better yet, join me in this project by signing up here.

Happy Thanksgiving (or rather Happy Official Start of the Christmas Season)...

Whoohooo! Thanksgiving is finally here. I am so excited! Not because of our traditional Norman Rockwell sit-down-at-the-dining-room-table-with-the-fancy-china-turkey-dinner that I so fondly remember from my childhood. Nope. Because it's officially the start of the Christmas season! I can finally come out of the closet now.



Yes. I've been listening to the non-stop Christmas music station for almost two weeks now. If Christmas Carols was the Final Jeopardy category, I'd "Bet it all, Alex!" And I'd blow my winnings at the Black Friday sales.

The Little Ballerina talked me into hanging the stockings by the chimney with care about a week ago.

The nutcrackers have also found their posts above the fireplace.

Even the chickens have gotten into the holiday spirit.

The local grocery store has been selling trees for about a week now. I would have brought one home, but they didn't have the kind I like.

Don't get me wrong though. I do love Thanksgiving. The feast. The fun. The family. Uncle Jimmy will be coming over this afternoon for Thanksgiving "sushi." The ballerinas voted for sushi over turkey. Works for me. I am very grateful and thankful for all the blessings we have. But since our family can't all be together this year, I'm happy to take the easy way out. We will stop to reflect today. To give thanks. To remember those who can't be with us.

But not for too long. Our weekend plans our loaded.

I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful that you have all come into my life...be it on this side of the keyboard or the virtual side. Your friendship and support have been such a blessing. Thank you for being there.

Ten on Ten: November 2011

Happy Ten on Ten! Today started with the typical school routines. And ended with a little ladies night out. And in between we seem to have done nothing but eat. One of these months I'm going to have to try setting a timer to go off at the same time each hour to record more of the action.

Looking forward to peeking in on everyone else's days here. C'mon and join me.

The Nothing Says I Love You Better Than Apple Bundt Cake Recipe

Sorry to be such a drama mama. I hesitated to even post yesterday, but when something is on my mind I need to get it out. Writing has always been a way to heal for me. I don't like to actually talk about these things. "Oh, by the way, here's my bad news..." Just doesn't feel right. The words get stuck in my throat. And with BSD still gone (along with his single suitcase), and accessible only intermittently via email, it didn't seem fair to dump these thoughts on him either.

So, a great big thank you to those who took the time to comment or sent a positive thought my way. I appreciated every single one of them. You were right. I needed to pull my head out of it. And out of Google. I'm still waiting to hear, but in the meantime, it will be no news is good news. I wish I could have each of you over for a drink, a cup of tea, a Diet Coke. Or how about some cake? Cake always makes me feel better.

But since that's not possible, I'll share the recipe instead. It's a winner. *pinky promise* Even the ballerinas and their friends loved it. Kids who were expecting chocolate cake with white icing out of the can when I said cake. Not apple cake. "ewwww..."

Seriously, it couldn't be more moist. More comforting. More Fall. Make it for someone you love.

Nothing Says I Love You Better Than Apple Bundt Cake
Serves 10-12

For the cake:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (or sub 1/2 cup applesauce, 1/2 cup oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups diced raw peeled cooking apples (about 5 small/med apples)
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, I didn't use them.)
2 eggs, lightly beaten

For the glaze:
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar (original recipe called for 1 cup. I cut it way down.)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Peel and dice apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Into a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt and soda. Add remaining cake ingredients and stir together until well-blended. Spread into a greased* and floured 10-inch tube pan. Bake at 350F for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean. (Only took 55 minutes in my oven.)

For the topping, melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the remaining ingredients, stirring constantly, cooking for about a minute. When cake comes out of the oven, pour topping over hot cake, make sure it drizzle down the sides. Don't let it just pool on top. (I only used about half of the glaze on mine.) Let rest in pan for 30 minutes to one hour before removing from pan.

Note...The cake batter will be crazy thick and lumpy, but it will cook. Promise. I used a non-stick pan. Just dusted with flour. Came out pretty well. A few small chunks popped off when flipping it, but not enough to warrant adding extra grease.

thanks bunches...

Thank you to all of you who have commented on my new header. It kind of freaks me out when I log on and see that giant billboard of "myself." But I think it's tons of fun. One of these days I'm going to get a new layout that includes a less obtrusive header. For now though we're all stuck with the super-size meal deal.

Now I can't take all the credit for the header. Actually I can only take a tiny portion of the credit. I took the self portrait. But then this super cool girl. Who many of you already know. Who just happens to have the same name as me. Had the brilliant idea to turn it into a header.  And then she so graciously created it for me. Sending me lots of samples to choose from. So....Kim...

But it doesn't stop there. Blogging is a really interesting animal. You start a blog. You put yourself out there. You find others who blog.

Some you like. Some you don't.
Some like you. Some don't.
Some like you. Then you use words like bitch or ass. And then. Some don't like you anymore.
Some you connect with. Some you really get to know. Some you wish you could create a community where you all lived close enough to hang with IRL.

Kim is one of those people who'd have a house on my street. She's real. She's raw. She's hilarious. And she totally overshares. But she's also sweet. And generous. And thoughtful. Totally my kind of girl.

Not only did she make my new header, but she noticed that I take too many pictures of my beach cruiser.

So she sent me this...

Is that not the coolest t-shirt ever? I love it! You rock, Kim!

thanks bunches.

Ten on Ten: August 2011

It's Ten on Ten. August 2011 edition. Temps still hovering around the 100 degree mark. But we're busy at work on the backyard beautification project. So we spend the majority of our days dripping sweat. And taking multiple showers.

Will post about our exciting projects soon. For now it's all I can do to get these 10 photos up. And my head down on my pillow. Night peeps.