Apple Bread

So, for those of you that need a background story... a few weeks ago I asked Suzie (my MIL) for a German dessert recipe for a Stake Enrichment Activity for which people were asked to bring desserts from different countries around the world, perhaps to do with our heritage. So, I thought a dessert from Germany sounded good and since Suzie had lived there I thought she would be a good resource. Well, Suzie came through for me and emailed me a recipe for German Apple Bread.

So, I made sure I had everything to make the bread and decided I would make it on Friday since enrichment was on Saturday. However, something told me that I needed to make something in addition to the apple bread. So, I looked online for a simple recipe and found one for Cinnamon Swirl Kuchen. When Josh came home Friday night he asked why I had made two things and I told him I didn't know why I just felt like I should, and I thought that perhaps it was because the single loaf of bread wouldn't be enough or it would be too crumbly or something.

Friday night I had a photo class to go to, so I headed off to my class leaving the apple bread cooling on a wire rack and warning Josh to keep an eye on Jakob because he had been trying to get the apple bread ever since I pulled it out of the oven. I kept telling Jakob that the bread was too hot and that he needed to wait for it to cool before he could have some. But, he is 2 1/2, so that obviously wasn't sinking in. I ate my dinner really fast and told Josh that he and Jakob could have a piece of the apple bread after Jakob ate his dinner, and headed off to my class.

However, the communication flaw occurred when I left the apple bread on the table, because dinner was on the counter, but Josh thought I had put the apple bread in the kitchen where Jakob couldn't get it. So, while Josh was feeding Carly he didn't realize that the apple bread was still on the dinner table where Jakob could reach it if he wanted to.

So, I came home from my class and saw the following picture...

...and I thought to myself, "Ok, so the boys tried the bread, I wonder if they liked it?"
Then I turned around and as I was headed out of the kitchen I saw this picture...


"Oh, your kidding!" I exclaimed, "Jakob took a bite out of the end of the loaf?!" I said to Josh, "Why didn't you cut off that end of the loaf?" And Josh just smiled a great big smile and sorta laughed and said, "Oh no, he didn't take just ONE bite out of it, go and take a look at the OTHER side." And here is what I found..

Yes, that is right, my lovely little son took bites down the entire side of the loaf of apple bread making it completely unacceptable to serve to anyone other than our little family. There was no way that I could slice up this bread and take it to a church function! The funny part is that I wasn't even mad, I just laughed and said, "well, I guess we know he likes it" and knew that was the reason I needed to make two things.

So, on behalf of Jakob, "Thank you Grandma for the yummy bread!"

Photo Assignments

Photo Assignment #3: Picture quality vs. Number of pixels

Ok, so as I was reading my notes I realized that I wasn't taking pictures correctly for this assignment. I took several pictures of the same thing but was only changing the picture quality (SHQ, HQ, SQ, etc,). When I got home and was looking at the picture specs I noticed that the first few all had the same number of pixels, I had thought that changing the quality standard would change the pixel size.

I tried looking through my manual to see if I could figure out how to change the quality & the pixels, but I can't figure it out. So, I am sorry that I did not complete this portion of the assignment. However, I will mention that I always take pictures in SHQ (super high quality) because it really shows when I print the pictures and when I edit them (I didn't know before about not editing in j.peg) and I seem to lose a lot more pixel faster if I am editing a lower quality picture.

Photo Assignments

Assignment #2: Loss of j.peg quality in editing

All I did was vary the color saturation. When I zoom into the pictures the loss of pixels is quickly apparent.

Here is my original photo:























Here is the 10th edition:

Photo Assignments

Photo Assignment #1: LCD Screen vs. Viewfinder

Ok, I took these two shots and I am pretty sure that the first one I used the LCD screen and the second I used the viewfinder, but I really can't tell and I had forgotten to take a pen with me to take notes.

Personally, I like using the LCD screen because I feel like I can see the picture better, when I am looking through the viewfinder my eye has a hard time focusing to see the picture clearly. I do struggle to get a clear picture using the LCD screen and have observed that I brace my elbows on my body to steady myself.

Christmas KissesI just love it when I can capture moments like this, of course I told him to give her a kiss, but still love the tenderness. Something just tells me he is going to be a good "big brother".

Happy Girl!

Miss C is about 4 mo. old now & loves to play, but then again, what girl doesn't love attention?


















I am pretty positive that she didn't wink on purpose, but I still think it is pretty cute!

Triptych
This photo assignment had a dual purpose, in that it completed the photo assignment of taking three pictures I would put up together, and it allowed me to post multiple pictures of my new little girl. Gotta love those chubby cheeks!

This is how we "celebrate"...
With Food, Family, & Fireworks!

The kids are anxiously watching a"snake" grow out of the cement.

Ok, so I must apologize for it having been so long since I have posted any pictures. I have been having internet problems. But, for now I seem to be back on track and going on vacation last week gave me time to catch up on all my picture taking! So, most of these pictures are from Seaside, Oregon.

I want you all to know that I love your pictures, as I have been able to look at them from time to time when the internet would work, but whenever I tried to leave a comment my internet would freeze and stop working. So, kudos to you all for your beautiful pictures!

Time Gone By

I know this is not a comparison of three pictures showing time has passed, but to me it is symbolic of time gone by. I see the little boy, who I still want to call "my baby", but has grown. And though he is small in stature compared to his Dad, I look at their shadows, that seem to disappear at the same point, and it somehow makes me think of the man that this little boy will grow to be. While he is now walking hand in hand with his father, that he will one day grow to his father's height and walk with him side by side.

Art

This is a sign that is for sale in an Omish Collection store in Oregon, I laughed when I saw it, so of course I took a picture.

Lines

Two of these pictures are lines in the sand from the wind. The other is of lines in the horizon, this may be a stretch for the "lines" assignment, but I really liked the lines in the sand.

Licking the Brownie bowl with Dad

This was a new experience for our little boy, as he has never indulged in what many consider the "best part about making brownies", and that is licking the bowl. In my household it is an evil act putting the bowl directly into the sink without giving it to anyone to lick first. :) However, Dad helped him get it all over his face!

Silhouette

This is the Lewis & Clark statue in Seaside, Oregon. If I was taking the time to edit my photos, I would have cropped this one to focus on the statue. :)

Leadership

My husband is the leader of our family in multiple ways, and needless to say, our son loves and adores him, and is always watching him. Jakob ALWAYS wants to be doing what his Dad is doing, he wants to be just like his Dad, and so far, is just like his Dad.

GREEN!

I love the Super Macro setting on my new camera! Just look at those water drops on the grass! Thank You Pat!!!

Self Portrait

This is how you can most often find me...
Sitting at the computer, enjoying a quiet moment.
Taking advantage of nap time to relax, put my feet up with my slippers on, and watching T.V.
Or, being a "Mom", washing dishes in my "never seems to be clean" kitchen with my frog collection looking down on me from the window sill.

I love my life!

Reflections

LOVE

Here is a picture for your imaginations. The other day my husband took me to a job site to show me his current project. When we got there I opened the door to find the truck surrounded by mud, so I turned to him and told him that I was not getting out of the truck and walking through all the mud and that he could simply tell me about his project. Well, he looked at me, smiled half a grin, sighed, and came over and picked me up, right out of the truck, and carried me to high ground. I said, "thank you", but the part that made me love him all over again was the look that he gave me. It was a look that said, "well, I'm not surprised that you don't want to get muddy, but ya oughta know that I'm not gonna give up on you, I'll get you to me."

Any of you that know my husband know that is his forever attitude, to never give up. Oh, and he also carried me back to the truck when we were finished. :)