My Weekend, A New Handbag and More Camera Talk!

Okay, so I had a busy weekend. First of all it was Hunter's 12th birthday, so we had a little dinner for him and I talked Shelby into taking photos of him with her "Good" Camera....a Canon Rebel xS These were shot with a 75-300mm zoom lens..Then on the top photo she used a "soft and faded" action on Photoshop to create the affect.
And isn't he handsome? On the wall in my foyer is where I have pictures of all the children. Ashlie, Shelby, Jami, and Tyler's pictures are their senior ones, but the picture of Hunter is one from his 4th birthday :Eight years made quite a difference.

Bless his little heart, isn't he the cutest thing you've ever seen? Anyway, I guess it is time to update the photo on my wall, so I am going to choose one, I love the serious one, but his smile is so precious that I may have to choose the one at the top.

The one below Shelby did using some silly Photoshop filter....but it is still adorable.....
Next, yesterday, Shelby MADE ME (I think she forgot who the mother is!) design a messenger bag. She was in dire need of one, or so she said, and she wasn't leaving until I had made her one!
So, here is the new bag on lfwdesigns.com- the Shelby Messenger, modeled by the gorgeous Jami...You can find all the particulars about the new bag here.

And, just because I didn't want Tyler to feel left out, Shel also photographed him, this is with the soft and faded Photoshop action as well....

My weekend was capped off with Tyler singing two solos at church yesterday, and I know I am biased when I say this, but he was AWESOME.

Now its Monday and time to get back to work....I have a purse party tomorrow evening and am busy getting some new things ready for it....
Y'all have a good day,
Laura
PS: I am still trying to convince Karl (and myself) that I really need the new camera....although I think I want a Nikon (don't tell Shelby!) :)

Hog Wild

First of all, I want to warn you. I want a new camera. I want a really good DLSR, SLDR, RLDS.....whatever it is.....not the "point and shoot" kind that I currently own. Not that there is anything wrong with my camera.....I just want a better one. A much better one. And, I feel the need to justify it...
So, without further delay, here are my photos from last night with my regular-old point&shoot...and while they are OK....I wnat better photos. Clearer ones, brighter ones...




It is fair time in Putnam County, and that is a big deal...Children from all over the county who are in the 4H clubs raise hogs to get ready for the show.
Last night it was time. About 10- 15 hogs run into the ring at a time, the judge eliminates all but 5, and then he walks around and around and around and around and around (do you get the picture?) deciding which of these 5 is the best. Then he announces his choices, and we start all over again......I think they weighed in 139 hogs last night.

Anyway, we sat and we watched for three hours. No joke. Three hours. And the whole reason for that was because this cute little face:
Hunter raised a hog....a 260 pound one.
And, Hunter and his hog made the first cut, and ended up 4th in his group....and was also chosen for best showmanship....
And, so it goes, we were (are) just a little proud of our handsome young man. (Who, by the way, will be TWELVE years old tomorrow!!---HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!!)
So, after Hunter was finished we were headed back to Bostwick. It was fun. And educational. By the time the last 3 groups came out I could pick out what was going to be the winning hog.....I was even right when Karl was wrong....haha....

So, anyway....there were my pics....see I desperately need a camera that can do a better job....
I really really really want one.

Y'all have a great day!
Laura

I Hate Vegetables

I hate vegetables. I do. I hate them. I think they are gross. Well, most of them anyway. Potatoes and lima beans are about as close as I get. Actually once every few weeks I do eat steamed broccoli....
I say all of that to get to this point: a few weeks ago one of my clients came in raving about the cauliflower that she and her sister had made the night before. (I am thinking: "Whatever!") Cauliflower NEVER has had a chance in my house....of all the veggies out there this was one of the most disgusting, or so I thought! Anyway, she and her sister had roasted it, she said it was so delicious that they ate all of it before it made its way to the dinner table! Right. Cauliflower is suddenly so wonderful that people are eating it up before it makes its way to a plate? OK.

For whatever reason (must be like me buying fabric with flamingos and tattoos) when I was at Publix last week I bought a head of ---you guessed it---cauliflower. So, by now you know the rest of the story....I roasted it, and I promise you it is delicious. I LOVED it. I have been converted....although a salad full of raw vegetables still does not appeal to me, I think you could roast just about any veggie and I would eat it! The children too.....even Tyler... and Heaven knows that child is a picky eater! Since the original cauliflower roasting, we have now roasted onions, carrots, asparagus.....and are planning on doing some broccoli this evening. So I thought I would share the simple list of ingredients and how we do it......
Buy some cauliflower.....heat up your oven......and eat the delicious vegetable!

Here is what you need:

Fresh Cauliflower ( I do 2 heads for the 5 of us)

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil ( I like the extra light----but whatever kind you prefer will be fine)

Lawry's Seasoned Salt (I only use a little sprinkling)

Black Pepper (I use tons of pepper---I love it)

Preheat oven to 400*. Break the cauliflower into florets, not too small, but not huge either. The bigger they are the longer the cooking time needs to be. Then rinse in a colander, and spread them on a cookie sheet, drip the oil over the florets, spinkle salt and pepper, then I toss them around on the cookie sheet to make sure all the pieces have oil and seasonings. Pop them in the oven for 20 minutes...turning them after ten minutes, that's all there is.....It will be just lightly browned.

Delicious!

If you choose to do carrots, they take 50 minutes at 425, baby asparagus takes approximately 11 minutes at 400*, thicker asparagus takes about 20 minutes.......the possiblities are endless, and I am eating vegetables. How about that?

AWOL

Ok, I have been absent.

Too much going on....so for a quick update...

LFW will be participating the Bostwick Blueberry Festival as well as the Palatka Blue Crab Festival.....the Azalea Festival was such fun---I had forgotten how nice it is to get out and see everyone at a craft show. Thanks to those of you who read my blog and website and came out to see us.....it is always so great to see you, and so nice to meet out new friends! (the pictures are from the Azalea Fest)



I have brand new fabric this week, a gorgeous Flamingo fabric....flamingos are NOT my thing, however I fell in love with this print.....hopefully the bags will make it to the website this week. Also a new black and white print with just a little red mixed in.....as well as a tattoo print. Tattoos have never been my thing either.....(isn't that a little odd that this week I picked out so many things that have NEVER appealed to me! what does that say????)



As for the wedding plans, they are right on track....we have settled on a photographer out of Ocala....Elle Wedding Photography...his photographs are awesome. Shelby loved... LOVED ...LOVED them....we are so looking forward to working with him. Next we must decide on the catering, and while we think we have chosen the caterer......the menu is still up in the air! So, is the cake...oh yeah, and the invitations! We have spent hours....too many hours to count looking at thousands of invitations.....and still cannot make a choice....I do not even think we have narrowed it down any! Too many choices. Here's a question for you:

When someone sends you a fantastic wedding invitation, do you:
a) keep it forever as a token of the wedding
b) keep it just until the wedding as a reminder
c) write the date and time on your calendar and then throw the invitation in the trash?

Just curious..... :)



As for my two high school graduates....their announcements came in last week....to say they are excited is certainly an understatement. We are busy planning the big party for them....



As for my two soon-to-be college graduates (right, Ashlie and Shelby???) they are busy making sure they have all of their courses lined up.....



Any way, we've been a little busy....

I will try to keep up with you all a little more....thanks for all the emails....

Hope you are enjoying your Saturday.

:)
Laura

PS: Oh yeah, one more thing.....Shelby broke her collarbone this week.....there is never a dull moment around here! But, thank the Lord, she is going to be fine!