Learning to Drive

Learning to drive is super great - when you are 15!!!

I'm a bread maker

One of my favorite childhood memories is coming home from school & smelling mom's home made bread. Before I even opened the door, I knew I was in for a hot buttery treat. The best part was ripping the bread apart - no time for slices. Somehow that hot, buttery chunk of fresh bread was better than anything! Mom made bread in bread pans in the oven and lots of it. Well, I don't have hot bread ready after school, but I do have a counter top bread maker and after 3 hours I have (drum roll, please!) one yummy hot loaf of bread! I found this picture of my bread machine online. Then I realized something is definitely wrong!!! If only I can figure out how to get the yeast to do its thing so I have a puffy bread top like this picture...

My bread looks like this when it is done. (Picture of actual loaf of bread I made)

But it sure smells and tastes like home in spite of it's less than picturesque appearance. Inexperienced bread maker or bad yeast?! OK, the yeast is new - so it's not that. Yum. It still tastes good to me.

What will I do with those old bread pans now? Maybe a new home for my cactus...

:) My Camera is Fixed

Fast repair shop! Woo-hoo!!!

:( My camera is broken

The button that I push to take pictures fell off. I should figure out how many pictures I have taken in the past 6 years. Then I will know the life of the new button. New Button??? That's right. It's getting repaired right now. I also found out that the fact that my shutter sometimes does not open is a recall item which canon will pay for. Crappy Sony part. The hitch is that it must be exhibiting the symtom when sent in for repair. Will it do it again??? If you have a Canon Power Shot A70 and the shutter won't open. Take it to a camera repair shop and ask them about the recall.

Trampoline

Jumping on a trampoline: She really was jumping. She was not photoshopped in nor was the background a green screen. The flash just lit her up and caused a weird shadow around her. Crazy fun picture. I've always like it. Below is no flash. Also a fun picture.

08 08 08 Galaxy Zoo

Cool galaxy I've been able to view & classify

Happy 'eight' day. I felt I must post something on this amazing date. In the spirit of the comment I heard on the radio this morning pointing out that an 8 on its side is the sign for infinity I will post about a favorite hobby of mine. If I had made it to work by 8:08, I would have posted then & I fear I will forget or not be home tonight at 8:08 - so here goes.

On my list of sites to visit is the phrase: 'classify galaxies with me'. I think it is completly addicting to classify galaxies & easy to do. It's like getting that universe tour preview before we leave this mortal existence. It also gives me more questions to ask when I get there. Apparently asking questions is a perfectly normal thing to do. Curious? Click here. Go for it, sign up! A dutch school teacher discovered a strange object & it's made quite the buzz in the astronomy world. Who knows what may be seen next?

Another cool galaxy I've classified

"for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless? And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease."

Mr & Mrs Vacation

Too bad summers almost over.
These folks will have to put the 5th wheel on blocks for the winter.

Family History

While I am not currently looking for any dead ancestors... I am scanning pictures of dead ancestors (and living). Sometimes I have to figure out who they all are (that's where the family history part comes in). Here is a picture of people I know. I no longer take for granted that when half of us are dead and the other half live who knows where, someone will be burdened with this fine photograph and wonder who most of the people are. Not long ago, I finished scrapbooking all of my printed photos (a blog post for another time). I fretted over the mass quantities of pictures I had. In going through 'grandma' boxes, I have discovered that collecting unlabeled pictures in boxes is a hereditary disease. I am trying to break the cycle by cataloguing and labeling as best as I am cablable of doing. Hooray for scanners! Hooray for photoshop! Hooray for digital camera's! Hooray for technology! Hooray for a project for me to work on. So - get out there and crack open those dusty boxes and get your pictures organized!!! You will feel oh so much better having the satisfaction of finishing an unfinished something.

Photoshop

BEFORE

AFTER

I didn't darken or lighten or change the overall color of the photo. I noticed when I pasted the before & after pictures the after picture looks lighter overall. Maybe it is because it does not have all of the contrast of the 'noise' on before picture. Prizes worth up to dollars to the person who can identify who is in the picture & where it was taken. Extra points for the year it was taken. Seriously, identify them all or all you get are points.

MORE AFTER
I adjusted the highlights & shadows on this one...
I think I like it best