Day 19...Cut the Fluff!

 Day 19

So here they are! About to be all cut up into bite sized, poppers of YUM!  I'm thinking (and hoping) this may be the closest thing to snow I see all winter...just hope I don't jinx myself with that comment!

                            

                              Another batch complete!                                       

Marshmallows at their finest (if I do say so myself!)

Day 18...The Pan and the Marshmallows

 Day 18

Once again I'm singin' the song...♪ It's a Marshmallow World at the Kane House ♪ ... and it's not even Christmas nor is there any snow tumblin' down...:)

Valentines Day is almost here and marshmallow orders are coming in.  So this evening, after the grandbabies had gone home, dinner was over, and the kitchen was clean, it was time to get started! But... Oh crap!...I didn't have a photo taken yet! Well, it didn't take me but a second to think it over and I knew what my photo of the day would be...the marshmallow makin' process, a part of it anyway... Photo #1 is how it all begins and I don't mean just cooking the ingredients...It's my pan!!!  I couldn't do it without my pan. Well, ok, maybe I could, but I don't want to, and hope I never have to go on a search for a replacement pan...that would be a sad shopping trip for me. One of the many things my momma taught me (along with how to make marshmallows) is the importance of a "good, heavy, candy makin' pan"...Now this particular pan hasn't always been "my pan"...this was a treasure that my hubby brought into our marriage...:) I had a decent pan before but this one is much, much better (as many older model type items are...like ME!) I tease him all the time that I married him for the pan and his baked bean recipe...lol...

(ah ha, the beans...another photo idea down the road)...anyway, seriously, this is THE BEST heavy duty saucepan I've ever come across and my mom was right! You need a good pan for candy making...one with even heating, a good solid handle to hold onto, fairly straight sides for your thermometer...this one has it all...sometimes the small things really are very important and enough to be excited about... like my pan!!!

Now here's the pretty part! All that marshmallow fluff just getting fluffier by the minute...Mmmm! This is a job that cannot be done without a stand mixer...let it be known that this is my official "don't try this at home without a stand mixer" disclaimer...:)  the hot boiling candy liquid that goes into the mixer splatters EVERYWHERE...(I cover my mixer with a cotton T-towel)...You wouldn't want to be holding a hand mixer when that happens...YIKES and OUCH! Thank goodness I never tried that...(had my momma to teach me that little tidbit of common sense also) ...:)

The really yummy, ready to eat, end result comes about 12 hours after this shot when "wha-la" you have marshmallows!

Hmmm, maybe my photo of the day tomorrow? I think so.

Day 17...A Winter Vineyard

 Day 17

Another beautiful day! This Winter continues to surprise me but I'm still on alert waiting for the "REAL" Winter weather to arrive, (although I hope not!) The grapevines in my photo are on the grounds of Belvoir Winery (The Odd Fellows Home) in Liberty, Mo. After my visit there today I wandered around back to take some shots of the property and while taking this particular one I thought "wow, it's pretty amazing that these barren vines produced the fruit that created the tasty glass of wine I just shared with new friends." To be honest, I'm not much of a wine drinker but I really liked their "Lucky Pierre", a sweeter wine. This winery is such an intriguing place with rich history dating back to the 1800's...I definitely recommend it! ....here are a few more photos of the winery grounds taken today...

Back view of the main building

I didn't walk up this hill to see what was on the other side but next time I will!

This beautiful horse came trotting across the pasture to see me... I'm pretty sure she/he thought I had food in hand!

Front view of the winery. I took this shot one week ago today, 01/29/12

Day 16...Another Rainy Day

 Day 16

No story here, just spotted the RR crossing sign along with the weedy Winter grasses (I'm not thinkin' "weedy" is a word but, oh well...lol) and I knew this was my photo for the day! The rain was really no more than a mist so I actually got out of my car for this one...:) I think the grasses are beautiful! I like their Winter color best! They always catch my eye!

Day 15...My Rainy Day

Day 15

I woke this morning to the sound of thunder rolling and rain water flowing through the gutter...what  awesome sounds! Time to just roll over and go back to sleep, I thought, but one look at the clock told me otherwise. I did lay in bed an extra few minutes enjoying the sounds and thought how easily it could have been sleet pelting against my house! I must say, this is my kind of Winter!!! Pretty much though, my next thought was "well, nice...I'll be getting off work early (meaning while there's still light for outdoor shots) and now it's gloomy, rainy and HEAVY rain at that! Not anything I want to walk around in with my camera...:/ So, another day of "what to shoot for my daily photo?" After work, and on my way home from visiting my mom it was raining as hard as it had been all day...I was quickly starting to think that it might be the day to start photographing my other kitty cat or my dogs (which is always fun for me) and most importantly, they're INDOOR subjects, but I decided that I would give it one last try in finding an outdoor subject, rain or not, and started another drive into the country! This time I knew where I was!!! (lol) Once again I sort of made a circle around some country roads and was about to exit back onto the highway when I spotted this old barn! I was so excited!!! Silly maybe, but I was! I had to make a u-turn and go back to check it out. I LOVED the grasses growing and wondered what it looked like in it's day. I wondered how old it really is and how long had it been since it was actually used as a barn. I could barely see a faded shade of the red barn it was many years ago. It was sitting so close to the highway I felt it must've been abandoned when the highway went in. As I was sitting there in my car, window down, camera in hand with rain blowing in on me, the wind gusted just enough to raise what was left of the old tin roof on the barn..The noise startled me for a second before it settled back down again. I had to wonder just how much longer the old ramshackle barn would be standing. But you never know...just like aging people, old, tired and worn out, the buildings might be stronger than we think!
When I started this 365 day photo challenge my only thought was that picking up my camera every single day would force me to learn something about photography...Which it already has! But my thoughts were completely in line with the technical aspect of photography (shutter priority, aperture priority, lighting, composition, etc) hoping that I would become more knowledgeable and comfortable in all these areas...well, I'm sure I will as the year goes on. I am determined, if nothing else! I know I have years to learn and I look forward to all of it, I just want to feel some progress NOW to keep me motivated and chuggin' along! :)  There is the one thing I can say for sure that I've already learned. Almost ANYTHING has the potential to be a decent shot, indoors or out!
Ahhh, :) ... A lesson learned!

Day 14...Proudly She Waves

 Day 14

After a busy day at work I left the salon about 4:30 knowing I had to "keep the wheels a turnin'" as my husband always says.. I hit the drive through at the bank, ran another quick errand then headed to the nursing home to see my mom all before heading back to the Northland for the monthly meeting of  photography club. As with sooo many other people, rushing seems to be a way of life and not always a lot of extra time to "stop and smell the roses" as the saying goes. Well, as I drove into the nursing home parking lot and saw the flag flying so beautifully, the perfect winds keeping it waving proudly I just knew it was my photo of the day! I know it's not Flag Day, Veterans Day, 4th of July or any other "Flag flying holiday" but does it have to be? Nope, not for me!!! I love the American Flag and everything it stands for! My dad ALWAYS proudly flew the American Flag and was very proud of being a WWII veteran of the United States Navy. I learned a lot from my dad about being a proud American, and that I am!!!

Today may be Groundhog Day but old Punxsutawney Phil is much too far away for a photo by GiGi but I think I caught a shot of something that stands for a whole lot more than just whether or not we'll have six more weeks of Winter....I hope you think so too!

Day 13...The Thinking Chair

 Day 13

Well, here's our family "Thinking Chair"...I assume it came by it's name in a pretty self-explanatory way although I don't really know...This chair has belonged to my husband for years. Long before we were married. As I was sitting in the "thinking chair" (thinking of course,) wondering what to shoot at such a late hour (after 11pm and not a photo taken yet,) I decided on a flower arrangement sitting on the hearth of the fireplace...Nice and easy I thought, let's get this over with for today ( don't ya just love my enthusiasm and it's only day 13)..Well, those pretty flowers were a great idea until it came time to get up off the dang floor...Hardwood floors, my knees and my ankle just don't go well together...So as much as I hate to admit it I turned around to grab onto a dining room chair for a little assistance and there  in front of me was "The Chair"... just waiting to be photographed!

Many thoughts have crossed many minds in this chair, I'm sure. I know I've sat there more times than I could ever count lost in thought, reading, talking on the phone, etc...I can see why my husband has kept it! It's kind of strange really, but all kidding aside, everyone LOVES this chair. I think it has lots of stories to tell, it has history and I think that people can just feel that...:) It has a good vibe!

And right now I'm thinking it's time for me to go crawl into bed...Night all!