Day 31 - Snack

So today's photo inspired by my getting the munchies... Looking at my photos thus far, the more simple the photo, the more I like it.  I gravitate more towards the photos of just a little 'something' than anything 'busy' with lots to look at.  Something I could work on in my project perhaps is to 'refine' my own 'style' in photography.

Day 30 - Blanket Fort

If you have kids, you've seen them make blanket forts.  Under them they play with their favorite toys, read their favorite books, color and create their best master pieces. 

One of childhoods mysteries... WHY the Blanket fort... what about it makes these things better?  Perhaps next time as an adult we are in a funk, or are having trouble completing a task, perhaps a little time under the blanket fort will better the day.

Day 29 - Banana

Even as adults we have to have our vices... for me it was this minion in this claw machine at the grocery store... another dollar down the drain when I would go.  I wanted him so badly LOL!  Logic would tell me that there was a point I could have ebay'd a quality plush one at some point... but there is 'the thrill of the win'. 

Well last night while at the husbands work dinner party at a food/game place they had a claw machine FILLED with minions... *bestill my heart* as we are handed a card by his employers to go 'play games and and unwind' I figure I'll try the game a time or 2... or 3... or 4... ok... draining the card... I GOT HIM!  LOL!  We all need to have goals right? ;)

WIN!

Day 28 - Morning Walk

I woke up this morning to a beautiful blanket of snow on the ground.  I quickly grabbed my camera and went for a morning walk to find something interesting for todays picture.  The sun was coming up, intending on a simple photo of the snow covered streets, I found tracks in the snow and followed them.

Day 27 - Cat Fishing

Yep... that box from day 3 is still in the cats play area... I don't dare take their toy.  It seems great for 'Cat Fishing' :)

Day 26 - Forgotten

As the snow melts away, forgotten toys emerge in the mud to become newly found 'treasures' in the Spring. (hopefully found by the kids & not by the lawnmower) ;)

Day 25 - Crayons

The thrill of a new box of crayons.  A rainbow of possibilities just waiting to be unleashed.

Day 24 - Casserole

So like many people, I see a recipe that 'seems' interesting... then make it my own by taking out the things I don't like & inserting the things I find 'tasty'.  ie. Tator Tot Casserole.  Look around you'll find a million and 1 recipes... originally made famous by the Duggar family & where I saw it made on TV, I decided I would make it for my family as I have a love for the 'tot' as well (tho for its superior cousin, the Crispy Crown)  For my recipe I removed the 'cream of mushroom soup' as *the huz* is allergic to mushrooms & replaced it with cream of onion.  For the cheese, what goes on onion soup but provolone cheese... so I changed the cheese, changed the vegetable to corn... cause my family likes it, Thus changing the entire flavor profile of the dish (I would imagine... never having had the 'original recipe') Mine is QUITE tasty.

Having a family of 6 I make quite a large batch... so one will have to adjust accordingly.

Kuhr Tot Casserole

Preheat oven to 450
Brown approx. 3 lbs of ground beef  (season accordingly, I only use salt & pepper) drain grease.
Put beef on bottom of sprayed 3qt glass casserole dish, mix in one bag of frozen corn & press it down.
Spread 3 cans of cream of onion condensed soup over meat.
Use entire 12/18 pack of provolone cheese slices and cover the top.
Dump bag of frozen Crispy Crowns on top and spread them out evenly.

Cook your Casserole for 20-25 mins (depends on your oven) (until Crispy Crowns are Goldy Brown)
Salt the top of the crispy crowns after you remove it from the oven (hey I never said this was a healthy dish) ;)
Allow Casserole to set for 5 mins before cutting & serving.  Sizes & what does it yield?  No idea ;) We like big pieces.

Day 23 - Twenty Three

I love long exposure and all that one can do with it.  Why not send a message in a photo with lights? ... or write with fire ;)  Day 23... written in fire (only because I could not find a little light, LOL)

Day 22 - Bowling

Bowling is one of those things you forget is actually 'fun' until you end up doing it at your nieces birthday party.  Today I enjoyed bowling with my family at my nieces 8th Birthday Party.  I'm no good, but its a fun activity that I'd like to do again with family and friends.  (maybe next time no kids & some beer & I'll bowl over 75) ;)

Day 21 - Red Wine

 Benefits of Red Wine - Full of amazing Antioxidants

Heart disease: One of the well-known and most studied benefits of red wine is its heart protective effect. Moderate consumption of red wine on a regular basis may be a preventative against coronary heart disease. Scientists believe the red wine reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Blood clots: Red wine produces anticlotting, or antithrombotic, action. Light to moderate consumers of wine have lower levels of protein fibrinogen which promotes blood clot formation.

Hypertension: Excessive alcohol consumption is generally considered a risk factor for hypertension. However, there is some evidence of favorable effects of red wine on blood pressure. Two glasses of red wine (250 ml), taken together with the meal, lower post-meal blood pressure in hypertensive persons.

Kidney stones: Red wine intake reduces the risk of kidney stone formation.

Alzheimer's disease: Moderate wine drinking correlates with a lower risk for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that resveratrol, a red wine polyphenol, produces neuroprotective effects.

Sleep: New research shows that red wine, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, Chianti, and Merlot, contains melatonin. Melatonin regulates the body clock, so drinking a glass of red wine before bed may help you sleep. Melatonin is also an anti-oxidant, which means it also has anti-aging and cancer preventative properties.

Lung Cancer: Researchers from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain found that each glass of red wine per day reduced the risk of lung cancer by 13%.

Prostate Cancer: Four or more glasses of red wine per week has been shown to reduce men's overall risk of prostate cancer by 50% and the risk of the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer by 60%.

Breast Cancer: Moderate consumption of red wine is believed to lower the risk of breast cancer. However, drinking more than 1 or 2 alcoholic drinks per day appears to increase the risk of breast cancer in women, so moderation is key.

Colds: Researchers in Spain found that people who drank more than two glasses of red wine per day have 44% fewer colds than people who abstained.

& SO many more 'apparent' *benefits* attributed to Red Wine.

*I* don't know anything about that, but I find it a great way to kick back and relax with a good glass of red wine in the evening.

Day 20 - Snowy

Delays, Cancellations, Warnings & Early Dismissals.  The Weather brings us an inch of snow an hour as of noon today.  So stock up those pantries, snuggle up by the fire and enjoy a good movie.  Be safe this weekend fellow Chicagoans!

Day 19 - Achoo

Until they have a cure for the common cold these items are my friend right now.  *ugh*

Day 18 - Rescued

"I love you for your imperfections, not because of them"

Norbert says: "Do research on how to care for an animal before you adopt so you know before hand if its the right animal for you.  Pets are a life long commitment love them and they will love you"

This is Norbert - He enjoys being read to, and nice conversation & never turns down a turnip green.
(Norbert is a bearded dragon rescue who came to me with severe metabolic bone disease.  His condition was quickly turned around with basic care he should have had from the start) 

Day 17 - Woodson

Congratulations and a million best wishes to my Sister Sherri & my new brother in law Joe.


"You don't marry someone you can live with, you marry the person who you cannot live without."

Day 16 - Spheres

Waiting for my children to pick out their books at the public library, I find myself against the same wall with the coats.  Through the camera you see things differently, these colorful baubles that my children have flung their coats on time and time again become art. (and maybe I just wanted to say baubles just once this year < make that twice) ;)

Day 15 - Watching

I was taking photos with my long lens with the window open of some animal tracks I saw in the snow in the yard, then I glanced over at one of my cats watching the 'world' out the window as he does for most of his day and I caught the reflection of alot of what I was seeing in his eye.  After watching him for awhile, I snapped a picture & captured a little reflection of his view. ♥

Day 14 - Breakfast

Most important meal of the Day.  Or so they say...

Day 13 - time for photo 13

Being a big fan of Horror Movies, both the good & the bad. The husband & I have friends that come over on Friday nights & we do 'bad horror movie night fridays'  So for my 13th photo on Friday the 13th I had to try something 'different'.

I give you, 'time for photo 13'

Day 12 - Oh Snow

Day 12 - here comes threat of our first 'real' snow in Chicagoland this winter.  Thus far weather in the high 50's near 60's, looking over our shoulder at the weather man knowing that this must be short lived.  Well here it is, our canvas of white, making our towns look crisp and clean.  I wouldn't have minded retiring my snow blower for an entire winter, but then that just would not be living in Chicago.

Day 11 - Puzzling

Day 11 left me a little puzzled as to what to photograph.  I left the house & took some long exposure shots with my son.  I took some photos of the inside of a computer.  But then when I went into the living room & saw what was on the coffee table... the days photo was under my nose all along ;)

Day 10 - Stop

After 'shooting the moon' I got my first 'taste' of long exposure.  I *knew* how to do it, but just never put it to use.  It motivated me to head out more in the evenings to see what I can capture.
Today I headed out with my daughter, my camera & tripod... & a low battery. *oops* 3 shots later i head home.  Oh well, it was a neat stop sign anyway... & car that went by ;)

Day 9 - BLT

It's whats for Dinner. Yum!

Day 8 - Rings around The Moon

A Ring Around The Moon
The ring around the Moon is caused by the refraction of Moonlight (which of course is reflected sunlight) from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere. The shape of the ice crystals results in a focusing of the light into a ring. Since the ice crystals typically have the same shape, namely a hexagonal shape, the Moon ring is almost always the same size.

Less typical are the halos that may be produced by different angles in the crystals. They can create halos with an angle of 46 degrees.

Moon Ring Weather Folklore
Folklore has it that a ring around the moon signifies bad weather is coming, and in many cases this may be true. So how can rings around the moon be a predictor of weather to come? The ice crystals that cover the halo signify high altitude, thin cirrus clouds that normally precede a warm front by one or two days. Typically, a warm front will be associated with a low pressure system which is commonly referred to as a storm.

It is believed that the number of stars within a moon halo indicate the number days before bad weather will arrive. Give it a try the next time you observe a moon halo. 

... are the rings news of whats to come?  I count 13 stars one time 20 the next... how many do you see, maybe enough to get us into spring ;)

Day 7 - Egg Face

For this project to be truly successful my camera needs to come with me everywhere even on a busy day when kids have doctor appointments, running errands, my eye catches what 'would' have been an interesting photo.  Does me no good without my camera at my side.  This will have to change.  For today, I play with the food in our fridge... much to my husbands dismay ;)

Day 6 - Warm Day

I HAD to use my new Tokina lens that came in the mail today.  I took a photo of my daughter who was taking a break by a tree while playing outside with no coat on this unseasonably warm winter day.

Bonus Photos: Testing new lens indoors with bounced flash.

Lens: Tokina 50-135 f/2.8 (discontinued lens)

What do I think?: Initial testing without flash was good, however I found that the lens hunted a bit, then again so can my other lenses, I have had the luxury of having only lenses with USM and HSM thus having a lens with out, I'm going to bring up that the AF motor is a 'little' buzzy, I wouldn't shoot with it in a quiet church for example & there also is no IS or OS.  For the price and if you have steady hands this lens is a true gem.  Definitely the sharpest glass I've put on my camera to date.

 

Day 5 - Pickles

Peeking into the fridge I wondered... what must this look like from the other end.  In went the camera so I could see.  I grabbed various items... made various faces, this was pretty fun. I was never fan of taking 'selfies' however, THIS nonsense was quite fun, I can see myself doing many more :)

Day 4 - Mom

Cleaning up after Dinner I notice on the table a painting one of my Sons had just completed.  If you are a parent you have all over your home art made by your children, sometimes you ponder 'what' to do with it.  As 'sweet' as these little treasures are, they sure start to take up space as time goes on.  I decided not only would my sons new painting be a great 'Day 4' but it also inspired a new idea, to photograph your children's artwork and create individual photo books.

Day 3 - Boxing

If you have cats (we have 4), this may be a familiar scene.  Empty Boxes, Bags, anything they can nestle into becomes theirs.  Today I saw a few of my cats playing with a box we had sitting in our living room.  I decided to grab my camera, for sure they would grace me with something good for Day 3.

Day 2 - Tines

Making dinner I'm inspired by what I set the table with each day.  The tines of a fork... such a simple design, because of it we consume our meals in a more civilized manner.

Day 1 - Ringing in the New Year

I took a few different photos until something seemed right as my 1st 'Day 1' 365 Project photo.  Should it be an object?  Something that has meaning with the project, something personal, something in regards to the years passing or the new year or perhaps just something random, which I am sure the Project will be filled with such photos, thus one of my Sons 'Ringing in the New Year' seemed to be 'just right'... Happy New Year every one.