"I Put a Spell on You" - Halloween

This week for Natasha's Pinning and Singing Weekend Party I've chosen Bette Midler, the Divine Miss M, to sing her song "I've Put a Spell on You" from Hocus-Pocus!

Here are some really cool Halloween pins from Pinterest, too!

Source: craftpassion.com via Joy on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Joy on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Joy on Pinterest

Source: None via Joy on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Joy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Joy on Pinterest



Click Here to join the Party!

In rememberance of all that have passed due to Breast Cancer, and a prayer that a cure will soon be found!



Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

Oktoberfest

Our little "city", Seymour, celebrates Oktoberfest the first weekend in October every year.  It runs from Thursday noon thru Saturday evening.  This year October 1st was a Saturday, so the party started Thursday, September 29th.  If my calculations are correct, next year Oktoberfest will start October 4-6.

The city actually changes the street signs at Second and Chestnut and Second and Walnut to the German equivalent.  We didn't make it to Second and Walnut for me to take photos.



Second Street

Chestnut Street

I was lucky enough to have my sister, niece, nephew-in-law, and great-nephew join me this year!

Kathy with her camera at the ready!

 

Daddy Mark, Gage (11 months old), and Mommy Krysta

We walked uptown, even though neither Kathy nor I felt like it.  We both have fibromyalgia, which feels like you have the worst possible case of the flu all the time.  But we went as the kids were really looking forward to visiting the craft booths, food vendors, flea market at the First United Methodist Church parking lot, and the kiddie carnival.

We got to see so many craft booths with such a large variety of items.  You could spend all day there and not see everything.  In fact, we didn't get to go down three of the streets.

There were lots and lots of Autumn decorations in front of the booths.  Wish I had some of these at home!

It was still daylight when we left, but by the time we met up with Hubby, the sun was starting to set and it was really getting chilly!



Uncle Doug says, "Gimme Five!" Gage says, "Huh???" pulling his hand back!



Krysta, Joy (that's me wearing Doug's Oktoberfest shirt), and Doug

Lots of people were bundled up!  About 3-4 years ago, Kathy came to stay with us during Oktoberfest, and the temperature got to 108 degrees!  We were both dying by the time we got to the flea market!  I've also seen it snow during the three day festival. 

Our daughter and grandson Garrett showed up, both with chicken and dumplings noodle soup (I stand corrected).  Grandpa had mentioned he wanted some before the evening was over.  Garrett came up to him and said, "here Grandpa, this is for you!" I think Grandpa gave it back to him, after a couple of bites.  I believe Grandpa's heart was swelling with pride and love right then!

Garrett, Tiff, and Grandpa Doug

Then SIL Nate and grand-daughter Kaylee appeared. 


Nate, Kaylee, Garrett, and Tiff

Get a load of this cheesy grin!  

Kaylee - she knows how to pose for the camera!

 We decided to get something to eat from what seemed like a hundred or so different food vendors.  Lots to choose from, and we didn't see all of them this year!

By this time, Kathy and I were pooped.  We rested for a bit, before trying to make it home.  The kids decided to look around some more.  The moon was making its presence known.  It looked so spooky, playing peek-a-boo in the clouds every now and then.  Kathy took a great picture of it, but all the town lights distracted from the eerieness (is that a word? doesn't look right!). Then she tried one closer to home, but the lights and lines were still a distraction.


Near Post Office at 4th and Chestnut



Near 4th and Walnut

I took a picture of it as we got home, into the backyard, trying to avoid lights and all the phone, cable, electrical lines that snake their way thru the skyline.  Kathy was too worn out to try to mess with any more.

The kids got home almost right after we did.  They decided to forego the joys of the kiddie carnival.  There's still plenty of time for Gage to enjoy the rides when he gets a little older.

Well, that's my 2011 Oktoberfest story for this year!  We had a good time, but we were ready to hit the hay.

Sharing this with Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop Party.  Why not hop on over and see what brewing?  There are so many lovely posts, with lots of decorating ideas!

Click HERE for some fun!

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

P.S.  The reason I put "city" in quotes at the beginning of this post:  Seymour is the SMALL TOWN in which John Mellencamp was born (Doug's cousin on his mother's side, something like 3rd cousin).

Earth Wonders - Trees

This week's subject matter at Ana's Earth Wonders Photo Challenge is "Trees." 

The other morning, just after dawn, I went outside to capture the leaves changing to their Autumn dress on our 10 1/2 year old Maple tree. 

We had planted it right after we moved into our new home.  It was just a little bitty shoot, maybe 12-18 inches tall, and the previous owner had tried unsuccessfully to eradicate it.  I dug up the poor little maple-ette from the front flower bed and transplanted it lovingly into the backyard.  Like all of God's living things, it just needed a little love, a little tender loving care!  That little shoot is now taller than our house!  It gives us shade from the southern sun in the summer, helping to keep the back bedroom cooler.  That must have been the reason for it to pop its little head up every year, refusing to die.

The morning sun was so very bright that morning!  You can see the top of the tree is so washed out from the light. 

I adjusted the contrast/brightness/vibrancy and used two of Kim Klassen's wonderful textures for the final result. The first texture is one of my favorites: Pumpkin Grunge. I used blend mode Soft Light @ 100% opacity.  The second texture is Autumn Burst, blend mode Multiply @ 50%.  I wish I had thought to remove the trash can before I took the picture, but to be honest, I really didn't see it! Only when I started playing around with the photo did it become visible to me! ;)  Guess I must have been sleepy?



Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

{Texture Tuesday} RED eDition - Kaylee - May 11, 2011

OK, I had our grandson Garrett in yesterday's post, so I have to have our grand-daughter Kaylee in today's!  Equal time for both!

Here's a photo of Kaylee back in May this year playing baseball. This was taken at one of the many ball fields her Grandpa Doug is in charge of taking care of and getting ready for the kids to play on (among other things to keep all the parks and the Olympic-sized City Pool in tip-top shape - very much unappreciated most of the time).

It was so hot that week!  The poor kids were all sunburnt, as well as the parents.  Kaylee looks like she has a little dirt moustache, too.  Wearing her RED team shirt and RED-skinned, she's ready to catch that grounder!

Here's the photo, after adjusting the contrast/brightness/vibrancy and adding 2 layers of Kim Klassen's portrait texture.  One layer is blend mode soft light @ 100% opacity, and the other is multiply @ 75% opacity.

I'm sharing this with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.  Head on over and check out all the wonderful entries!



Click HERE

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo

Fast-Action Photos of Garrett Pitching May 7, 2011

Here are some fast-action photos we took at one of our grandson Garrett's Little League game back in May.  Hubby used to pitch in high school and in the Navy.  He says Garrett is doing pretty good, for only being 9 1/2 years old at the time!

I'm sharing these priceless photos with Mary at the Little Red House: Mosaic Monday.

Take care and God Bless!


XoXoXo

Enchiladas!

I'm linking this with Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop Wednesday Party!  Give her a visit and join in.  You can post whatever you like.  The party is for newish bloggers, with less than so many followers, or have been blogging for less than a year (I think that right). 

Hop on over to Bunny's page for all the details!  She's such a sweetie!  I know she'll be glad to see you!  Oh, and she has something new!  Check out the BIG blogroll! 


Click for the Blog Hop!

I made some enchiladas the other day, and thought I'd share with you how I make them.  This is probably not a standard or traditional recipe for enchiladas, but we like them.



Enchiladas!



Some of the ingredients you'll need.  Forgot to show the canned diced tomatoes & salt.
You know what ground beef looks like! LOL!



Browning beef, onions, garlic, taco seasoning, salt & pepper, enchilada sauce.
I didn't add the tomatoes to this batch.

Spray baking dish with cooking oil and place on baking tray.
 This will prevent any bubble-over from messing up your oven.

 

Heat tortillas in microwave, cover until ready to use.

 

Spoon beef mixture onto a tortilla, sprinkle with cheese.

 

Roll...



roll...



fold top sides toward middle like an envelope flap and roll...

 

and your done (rolling)!  Place in the baking dish as well as possible.

 

Cover with enchilada sauce (green, in this case)...

 

then with shredded cheese and bake at 400 degrees, 23-25 minutes.



JOY'S ENCHILADAS

1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced, or 2 heaping tsp. jarred minced garlic
1/4 cup taco seasoning (more or less to suit your taste)
1 can diced tomatoes (optional)
1 small can green chilis (optional)
2 cans enchilada sauce, either red or green
salt and pepper to taste
8 taco sized tortillas
2 cups shredded cheese, your choice

Brown ground beef, onions, and garlic.  If there's any grease, drain.  Sprinkle taco seasoning, salt, and pepper over beef and stir in.  Add the diced tomatoes, including the liquid, and 1/2 can enchilada sauce.  Simmer about 5-8 minutes, just enough to warm it through.  Remove from heat.

Warm your tortillas in the microwave for about 3 minutes.  Once warmed, cover until ready to use.  Spoon about 2 serving spoonsful of the beef mixture onto a tortilla, add a sprinkling of cheese, and roll.  Place into a baking dish that's been sprayed with cooking oil and placed on a baking sheet.  Take remaining enchilada sauce and cover the enchiladas in the baking dish, then cover with remaining cheese. 

Bake at 400 degrees F. 23-25 minutes.  Once done, let the enchiladas rest for about 5 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

This makes enough for a family of four, or left overs for the next day for two.

I used to add a small can of green chilis, but Hubby's tummy can't take too much spicyness anymore. 

I hope you'll try this, and enjoy!  If you do, please let me know the verdict!

Take care and God Bless!

XoXoXo