I have always loved taking pictures, even more so now that I have kids.  I’m not a horrible photographer.  I don’t cut off  the tops of people’s heads…usually.  But, I don’t take really amazing pictures either; and I’ve always wanted to.  That’s how I found out about HDR photography.

HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography allows for a greater range between light and dark.  As a result, the color spectrum of the photo is more like that seen by the human eye.  This lends a sense of  realism to an image traditional photography has trouble matching.

To create this wider spectrum, HDR photography requires the photographer to take a series of the same exact image at different exposure rates (low, medium and high).  At least three images are taken, often more.  Then, these images are layered together via HDR software to create one much more dynamic picture.  The result is astonishing.

Using these techniques, I have been able to create real photographs for our family pictures, which makes me proud to show them off.  I’ve started putting albums together and, I’ve got an entire wall in the house devoted to our family history through pictures.  When people see them, they ask how we could afford such profession pictures!

Many people think it would be hard to figure out how to take and develop HDR images, but it was actually incredibly easy to figure out what I needed to do once I watched an HDR tutorial I found online.

Its been really wonderful to enjoy taking pictures again.  As a result, we’ve got a lot of special family photos to remind us of the fun we’ve had over the years.  HDR has opened up a whole new side of photography for me and I’m excited to keep exploring all the possibilities.

That’s a quote from the legendary musician Bob Marley.   Every time I hear that line (and I love me some Bob Marley, so I hear it often) it hits me hard.

I, like many I know, can easily get caught up in the trials and tribulations life throws at me.  That is not, however, what I should or want to throw back at life and those around me.  Easier said than done though eh?

But, there truly is so much sadness in the world already that it seems overwhelming sometimes; and that is why we must carry the light.

We have a choice.  If you speak your own happiness, it will combat the darkness with your personal light.  If you continue on thinking of your own woes, you add to the sadness.

There is always a light in the storm, even the worst storm you could ever imagine.  The light may seem small and may not touch all, but, that again is reason for the rest of us to speak happiness, be kind, and cultivate more light so those in need can feel its warmth.

So, if you find yourself thinking about the trials in your life with frustration, anger or negativity, try to think and speak happiness instead.  It may take effort.  Hell, it may take a LOT of effort.  But, the world really is sad enough, its important to add to the light instead.

We all have major sweet tooths here in our family and here’ s yet another gem from my stash of desert recipes.  These peanut butter bars are quick and easy to make and taste simply amazing!

Ingredients

1 c natural creamy peanut butter

6 T butter softened

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 white sugar

1 1/2 t vanilla extract

3 eggs

1 c flour

2 C milk chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350

Cream together the peanut butter and butter by mixing for a few min.  Add both sugars, and mix until very creamy.  Mix in vanilla then beat in eggs one at a time.

Butter a 9 x 13 in pan.  Then, pour in batter

Bake for about 20 – 25 min.  ** It will look a bit undone, but like a brownie these are best when just a touch on the un done side.

Now, sprinkle the milk chocolate chips over the top of the peanut butter base and let stand for 5 min while they melt.  Once they do, gently spread the chocolate chips out until they’re smooth and cover the entire peanut butter bottom as evenly as possible.

Let the bars cool until the chocolate has hardened then serve.

I’m about to burst.  I can’t stand it any longer – yet I have to.  I have no choice.  The list of things that must be put on the back burner until that time in the future “when the house is done” is looooonnnnggggg; Frustratingly so at this point.

Thankfully the end is in sight!

We are ready to move forward with the project and hope to be in the house before school starts next fall.

The road from here to there seems like a GIGANTIC one.  Which, I guess, has helped make me that much more antsy for all those things that are waiting until we’re all settled and at home in our beautiful, wonderful, fantabulous dream home.

In a desperate effort to remain grateful while at the same time blowing off some of this steam I figured I’d write a list of all the things I have to wait for so I can dream away now and be sure not to forget anything later!

Here Goes….

1.  A Dog

Since our beloved Bear died and our new pooch Wilson ran away we have been dogless.  Its been nearly a year.   We do have the two awesome kitty cats but, there is a giant hole in the family only a dear doggie can fill.  But, because we’re listing our house and because we may need to get a rental, we have to wait to get a dog….until the house is done.

2. New Dishes

I have been wanting to start scouring thrift shops and yard sales for cool old dishes to make a set for us, but, I can’t do that for obvious reasons, including having more to pack up and the potential for breakage during moving, …until the house is done.

3. Get Our Bed Back

We still sleep with dear O. in our bed.  He’s going to be 2 in a few months and is no small potato.  Plus, Mr. T. and I are getting old and “Doing It” in wildly creative places can cause pain for days.  But O. gets his own new bed in his own brand new bedroom…when the house is finished!

4. Make A Rag Rug

I found these instructions to make a rag rug a while ago online, but, since we were moving soon, just stashed them away.  I really want to use recycled material and clothing to do it and am going to hit up the local thrift shops for their stained stuff.  But, there’s no sense in doing that when I’ll just have to move the stash to a new house.  Plus the basement is going to be my new craft haven, and until then, I don’t need old cloth cluttering up the house I’m trying to sell.

5. The Basement

While we’re on the subject of the basement, this place is home to many things we’ve all been waiting for.  One of the biggest and best bonuses of the basement is the boy cave that will be down there.  Friends over, Sleepovers, TV, music, privacy – all for the boys and everyone else all because of  the glorious  basement!

The basement will also house a full on laundry room complete with indoor clothes line, shelving for cold storage, a big freezer again for veggie storage, not to mention storage storage!!

6. The Dream Gardens

Along with the dream house comes the dream gardens.  I’m trying to figure out a way to plant some stuff at the property while the house is going up; thinking it may be a container garden year.  I’m also trying to figure out a way to take some cuttings of the kick ass lilac bushes, fox glove plants, black berry and raspberry bushes and so much else.  We’ll see how it all goes down, but hopefully this one might actually get to happen AS the house gets built instead of having to wait until its absolutely finished…

7. Lower Heating Bills

We are looking at some seriously great heating options, the best of which is a solar heating system that will provide us with free hot water for our radiant heat in the floor for all but the darkest times of the year.  Compare that with paying for wood and oil and electric and….well, its a fantastic deal!  We’re all looking forward to keeping the thermostat where we want with little care for the “bills”.

8. A Big Refrigerator

We have a cute, efficient little europen fridge in our place now as its the exact size needed to finish of the kitchen the way it needed to be done.   We’ve also added another small fridge in the pantry as we knew as soon as we arrived at the house that that one small fridge would not be enough for us.  In the new house, I’ll have one fridge for everything.  We’ll still be sure to get an efficient one, but, everything can be in one place!  Seems like a minute detail, but it helps me stay organized much more easily.

9. A Dish Washer

That’s not to say we don’t have a dish washer now; its me!  When the house is done, I’ll have an actual mechanical dish washer.  Can you say “time saver”.  Not to mention getting that soaking pile of dirty dishes outta my sink.

10. I. Gets His Own Room

I. and K. can still play with the best of ‘em but, there are also times it would be so nice to send the pre teen I. to his room for some, um, space.  He is also in a place where self expression is something he’s really exploring, and a room of his own is an important piece of this to him.

11. We’ll Be On The Bus Route

I’m still interested in taking the kids to school as I really like that time it gives us.  BUT, the long drive I could definitely do without, so being closer overall will be great, and the option for then to ride the bus as needed is even better!  The other day I had car issues and Mr. T. had to work so, I. didn’t go to school….what a drag.  When we move though we’re on the bus route and, about 5 min from school; a drastic difference to the 15 min we have to drive each way now.

12. I Can Volunteer At The Local Library

Weird to have on the list, maybe, but still – it’s been a dream of mine forever to be a librarian, but not every day!!  Our small village library is entirely volunteer run!  So, once we’re within 3 min drive of the place, I’m signing up to volunteer.

13. We Finally Get To Live On ‘The Property’

We’ve owned “The Property’ now for a year and 1/2.  Again, for Mr. T. and I this place is a dream come true.  10 acres, a river, beautiful trees, a walking path, a great home site and so so much more.  I’m excited to live in the forest again, and I’m excited to live in that specific place too.

14. We’re Back To A Mr. T. Built Home

We’ve had an addition Mr. T. built, the, we got to live in a whole home designed and built by Mr. T. (and I, but really him).  It was so amazing.  We all wanted that again, but, Mr. T. and I wanted to move somewhere besides New Mexico.  Here we are now in beautiful Maine and we’ve got our property and we’re so so close to that feeling of being back in a Mr. T. designed and built home!

15. We Can’t Do Much Else

The house is our everything, our baby we’re birthing if you will.  We have to tend it this year.  Which is awesome, but it takes a lot of time away from many other things that must wait even longer….until awhile after the house is done!

Phew.  That’s a long list.  There’s more too.  But, it all almost sounds ungrateful.  I feel so blessed for the moment we are in right now.  Everyone is happy, healthy, we’re building our own home, Mr. T. and I are still in love after 16 years together, we’re both working and we’re living a good life.

Every once in a while though, it helps to let it all out.

Ahhhhhhhh……

With the dark cold days of winter come some of the best beers in my opinion; Imperial Stouts.

These rich, dark, yummy beers originated because the Czars of Russia loved the English stouts, but, the traditional stouts were too low in alcohol content to make the long journey to Russia.  The brewers needed something with a higher alcohol content to preserve the beer during its long journey.  Also, the malts and hops in Imperial stouts often require a longer fermentation time which is, again, perfect for their long trip from England to Russia.

Today, between micro breweries and the many accomplished home brewers that have arisen, Imperial stouts remain popular beers during the winter months when these dark and flavorful  brews can often be just the medicine ya need to keep the winter blues away!

If you’ve never enjoyed an Imperial Stout, you should!  My favorites I think are Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout and Siberian Nights from Thirsty Dog – Oh, and Old Rasputen – and Victory’s Storm King……I guess there’s just too many to list – so you’ll have to head out and have a taste test of your own; poor you!

Here’s a green business idea for ya.  If you have say, plastics, textiles, building materials, etc that you normally take to the landfill as part of your business you’re going to definitely want to check out RecycleMatch.com.

Or, if you’re in need of say organic vegetable scraps for your farm compost heap, Recycle Match can hook you up with a business that is selling these scraps on their site; veggie scraps they’d normally pay to take to the landfill!

A landfill is no place for useful items!

At Recycle Match businesses (or anyone that has or needs a large quantity of materials really) can post or buy said materials on their website For Free.  The end result is that these materials end up with a second life instead of languishing in the landfill.  No new materials need to be manufactured either because these unused/unneeded ones can do the job.  And, businesses are both making more money for their waste and recyclables while other businesses are able to make better products for less because of these auctioned materials; not to mention the savings in dumping fees!

Its really a win win, and because posting is free there’s no risk.  If you don’t make your ‘match’, you owe Recycle Match nothing.  Its only when there’s a successful deal that they charge a fee.

Avoid the dump and help people reuse instead of buy new by using this great new auction site created to help businesses become more efficient and more green!

Part of having a kid in public school is, and has been at least since I was a kid, participating in fundraisers.  Its usually a total pain in the butt.  Hell, the last one I. had I just sent $30 to the school instead of doing the actual fundraiser because the products just weren’t anything I could really ask my friends and family to buy.  Plus, the amount I’d have to buy/sell for the school to actually get $30 from our fundraising efforts was quite a bit!

Luckily, I. brought home a notice about a fundraiser I was actually happy to participate in and even sell to my family and friends; The Fedco Seed School program!

Fedco Seeds is a company based in Maine that sells both their own seed and seeds that are assuredly GMO free from other companies.  They are a very nice, local company and they’ve sold seeds gardeners really believe in and have done so for some time.

The Seed School program is a special fundraiser for schools, as well as non profits like brownie and girl scout troops.  The children simply get orders for seeds in the winter (the school picks a certain package of some of Fedco’s best sellers) and a % of the sale goes to the school.  The seeds are then delivered to the buyers in the spring.

A fundraiser like the Seed School program gives kids the opportunity to sell something that is green, made in the USA, and provides everyone participating the opportunity to grow their school as well as their gardens!  Its really a win for everyone and I’m definitely one parent that’s really glad I can  participate in a school fundraiser I can actually believe in.

I usually make several different kinds of cookies to create plates for people like our postal carrier, the kid’s martial arts teacher, neighbors, etc.  This year though, I wanted to do something different; so I’m going with tins of peppermint bark and chocolate covered pretzels.

Chocolate covered pretzels are self explanatory right.  Melt chocolate in a double boiler, dunk pretzels, cool on sheets of parchment paper or aluminum foil.  Try to use a good chocolate.  Its worth it.

I use Ghirardelli milk chocolate – and even found some Ghirardelli Chocolate coupons this year to help me save a bunch on my order.  This is the first time I shopped online for the chocolate since I needed so much; its worth it to buy in bigger quantities.  And, I don’t get the extra discounts in the grocery store!!

As for the pretzels, depends on your taste.  I generally use the twists because that’s kind of how they traditionally are, but, the sticks are easier to dunk.  And the medium twists would be cool too.

Now, for the Peppermint Bark Recipe.

This stuff is just amazing!  We first had it when my sister in law sent some up in the Christmas package.  We all devoured it!  Since then I’ve been making it each year since we all enjoy it so much.  I usually include it in my cookie plates too, but this year I’ll be making a bunch of it to go with the pretzels – hopefully that all goes smoothly….and we don’t eat it all here first!!

Ingredients

Makes 1 11×17 in baking sheet full of bark

12 oz chopped bittersweet chocolate

1/2 teaspoon (or more tot aste) peppermint extract divided

12 oz chopped white chocolate

3/4 C chopped candy canes divided (we like the natural candy canes from Pure Fun)

parchment paper

Directions

Line 11 x 17 in baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Melt bittersweet chocolate in the top of a double boiler over lightly boiling water, stirring constantly.  Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract (or more to taste).

Spread chocolate evenly onto the prepared sheet using a spatula, chill until set, about 1 hr.

Melt white chocolate in the top of a double boiler over lightly boiling water, stirring constantly.  Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract (or more to taste).  Then, add 1/2 cup of candy canes and stir to combine.

Spread white chocolate mixture over chilled dark chocolate spreading to the edge of the pan with a spatula.

Sprinkle remaining 1/4 of candy canes over the entire sheet of peppermint bark.

Chill until set, about four (4) hours or overnight.  Refrigerate until just before serving then break into pieces and serve.  Will keep in fridge for 5-6 wks.

For many people, this time of year is marked by waining light, hence all the celebrations!  The dark days can be hard.  We don’t have it as bad as some, but, the days are shorter here in Maine in December than where I grew up, and a lot shorter than those in New Mexico (where we spent 10 yrs).

Its not all bad.

The stars are amazing!

Nights spent cozy around the fire reading books or drawing; I long for those on the hot July days!

But, when you’re driving home from school and its dusk….that’s a little trippy!

Lucky for us northern dwelling humans the light comes back as fast as it leaves us so its not long that we must wait; though it may seem that way some days….

So, here’s to the dark, the light and everything in between!  Surrender to it all we must and it would be wrong any other way….Doesn’t mean we can’t complain a bit about it!!

In an effort to have a Holiday filled with fun and social responsibility you can choose gifts for your loved ones that give to others.

For example, here in our area there is a woman who makes traditional Maine Balsam Wreaths.  With every wreath you buy from her, she is able to fund the cost of vitamins for a Guatemalan child for a whole year!  In an area where many children and their families are battling malnutrition this is a huge help in their fight.

There are also more well known organizations like Oxfam where you can buy a wide variety of things for people in need across the globe in honor of your friend or family member.  From a goat to books for a school you can help in so many ways and give a great gift at the same time.

If you take just a minute to look you can find many different ways to give a gift that benefits others in need as opposed to benefiting the lining of some CEO’s pockets!