Tick, Tock

Christmas went well, but that's not what I want to share tonight. I'll write a post up about that in the next few days, complete with pictures. 

There are only four days and some hours left in this year.

There is so much to do, to plan, to hope for, for the year to come. I'm sure this is true for you, too. 

The biggest thing in the coming year is moving to Denver.
It's five months away, yes, and there is no 100% guarantee that it's going to happen, but I am already getting excited about it. (Given my history with things like this, that may not be a good thing.)

I plan on getting myself partway established, business-wise, before I move, but it will be a lot like starting from scratch again. 

It will be bittersweet, but I think it will also be a good thing. 

For the last few months, I have been in a rut.
I haven't had a shoot in eight months. That's rough.
Moving is going to force me to market myself more, to take new and different approaches to things.  

Those are good things, I think. =)

There are a ton of personal things that will be good, too. 

I will still be in the Greeley area for five more months, so if there's anyone who's wanting a shoot, schedule it now. 

...I just feel the cold.

I can't feel my senses; I just feel the cold., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

Winter is about hibernating indoors, under blankets, with a cup of warm cocoa in hand as the oven bakes delectable goodness.

It should be noted, also, that there is either music playing (Christmas carols?) or a movie playing while all of this is going on.
If it is the former, a book occupies the free hand and a fire is roaring nearby.

If one dares venture outside, one is greeted with unequivocal beauty, as with any season.
Winter is a season of glitter, ice crystals, fat lazy snowflakes, and skeletal trees.
(One must be quick to witness this beauty, though, for it is fleeting and quickly replaced with the dormant browns and yellows of a sleeping earth.)

The last few years, I have come to appreciate the beauty of this season.
I still hate being cold, but I understand that winter's cold must balance summer's heat. Before, winter was nothing more than surviving the {brisk} walk to the car, darkness, and hiding inside.
But, now, I have reasons to venture outside: the fog as it creeps in along the valley floor at night, the twinkle of frost in the early morning, the Impressionist-style skies...
It is my mission, and my pleasure, to immemorialize the beauty of each season, and winter is no exception.

I'm as free as a bird...

I'm as free as a bird..., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

School is officially over for me for the semester, so I am free, free, free!
I get five glorious weeks of respite before I have to load up the backpack again and trudge all the way across town to finish my degree.
I only need one class to finish, but I'm taking a full load. It just makes more sense to me.
(By the end of these five weeks, I may not see it that way! LOL)

Anyway, with all this free time on my hands, I hope to do more photography.
A friend has asked me to do a family session for her, so I have (at least) that on my to do list.
I also have a bunch of pictures left to take for 111 Photos in 2011, a group I'm a part of on Flickr.

But this month won't just be about photography, unfortunately.
Real life also has to happen.
These weeks are the most solid chunk of time that I will have to devote to getting this house back together, before February, which is when we are to move out.
...so, I'll also be spending a lot of time packing, cleaning, and rearranging.

So this may be a chunk of time without school, but it will not be an idle chunk of time!

Like I said, I hope to devote a lot of time to photography over these coming weeks, but I hope that you will understand if I do not meet even my own expectations. =)

You're gonna be gone before you get found in another boring afternoon

You're gonna be gone before you get found in another boring afternoon, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

The bit of lyrics I chose to include on the photo:
"I can count the years
Everybody now is just counting tears
And plastic bills and their protective pills
And I just took my time"
...is personal.

I feel like I've missed out on so much in my life. I'm 26 with no college degree, no progeny, and no ring on my finger. It feels like I have done nothing to contribute to the world or to my life.

Yes, I know, this sounds like whining.
...but I can't help the way I feel.

I do, however, realize that I have a good fifty years (or so) left to live, so I'm not worried about rectifying those situations. =)
...in fact, I am only 16 weeks away from getting my Associate of Arts degree.
...and then, onto a Bachelor's from there. (I've been --thankfully-- getting some insights into what to major in, too.)

The marriage and kids thing can wait.

One thing at a time.
One day at a time.
That's how things get done. =)

Thanksgiving Table & Christmas Preview

Thanksgiving Table, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

It was amazingly nice yesterday. It was so amazingly nice that we ate our Thanksgiving meal outside.
...and yes, I still live in Colorado!

I can honestly say that was the first time that I remember eating outside for Thanksgiving.

The meal was at my boyfriend's aunt's house in Denver.
We went down on Wednesday night to not only be there to help out on Thursday morning but also to prevent an early morning rush to leave our house, which is an hour away.
We helped with the food prep, food area cleaning and staging on Thursday morning. I even ironed the table linens! Huzzah!
Slowly but surely, the other family members arrived, and we sat down and feasted on turkey, Brussels sprouts, roasted potatoes, grilled root vegetables, homemade challah, cornbread stuffing, and a grapefruit-arugula salad.
A few hours later, after the dishes were done from round one, we went to my boyfriend's older brother's house and had lovely desserts: an apple cake and a classic pumpkin pie.

Thanksgiving always coincides with my boyfriend's uncle's birthday --which is actually November 25-- so there were presents to be had for that.
I also took advantage of the family gathering to dole out Bahamian souvenirs.
(And there may or may not have been child-like crafts with thank you notes in them as well. Ahem.)

My mom was dear enough to feed the cat and let the dogs out during our twenty-seven hour vacation, and I am grateful for her agreeing to do that for us. (Thanks, mom!)
She had a meal with my dad, grandma, and uncle, and they did not eat at home.
It's sad, really. My family never has holiday meals or celebrations anymore. I'd love it if they would, because we'd trade off with my boyfriend's family. I mean, it would only be fair. But, my family probably doesn't do Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday meals anymore because they figure I'll be with my boyfriend's family, not realizing that we make plans based on who asks first. So...there you go. (Mom, if you're reading this, plan on having meals and stuff. I'll be there.)
...or they're just waiting for me to start hosting dinners. But that's a little farther down the road yet.

Now comes the fun part: Christmas.
This year, we are not able to purchase presents, and I am perfectly fine with that.
Christmas has become too commercialized for my preference anyway. And homemade gifts always mean more, because the person didn't go to the florescent-lighted store, pick out a shiny box with shiny machine-pressed goods inside, slap some shiny-printed paper on it and stick a plastic bow on top.
Homemade gifts are more personal. They carry a piece of the person with them. And they are specially made by hand, not by machine.
(Have you noticed that even McDonald's has a machine to create the drinks now? There are too many machine-dictated things in this world. Hasn't anyone seen Terminator?
I have always wanted to give homemade gifts, because of these reasons. Being forced to is a good thing, I think.
...and I guess it all sort of had roots when I gave wheel-thrown ceramic pieces last year. It was an artisanal satisfaction that cannot be explained.

Well, folks, Christmas is coming. I hope you're ready! And I hope everyone reading this had a great Thanksgiving. If you care to, please leave me a synopsis of your yesterday in the comments.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork

I don't even know where to begin or how to say this, so I'm just going to come out with it.

It is always a good idea for photographers to have a signed contract before they do any shoot.
I have never had one, but I am going to start.

I was supposed to be a second shooter at a wedding tomorrow.
The friend for whom I was going to be working called the groom Tuesday to make final arrangements.
Well, yesterday, the bride called my friend and said that she had a cousin with a camera who would shoot the wedding for free and that they didn't see the point in paying my friend that much. (And, honestly, my friend's rate is not expensive! $300 for a wedding is a steal.)
So now, not only is my friend not going to shoot their wedding tomorrow, but she may not get paid at all. She offers free engagement sessions to couples who also book their weddings with her, and guess what? That's the offer they took her up on.

I just hope that she can work out what's going on with them without the courts having to get involved.

So while you're outside looking in, remember what you're staring at is me.

So while you're outside looking in, remember what you're staring at is me., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

It is so easy for us to judge each other.
You stop by my photostream or blog, read some random facts, and form an opinion about me. It's done unconsciously.
I do it too. He does it. She does it.
We all do it.
All the time.

That's what the title of this song means to me.
Most of the people we see on a daily basis are outside of our lives, spectators, really.
A five minute conversation when they see us by the coffee pot at work, a simple rapport when they're ringing out our groceries, a short exchange over the phone... It is so easy for us to forget that we are looking at people who have just as much on their minds as we do.
Someone who has a great week this week will be struggling next week.
Life is a constant roller coaster of ups and downs, for each of us.

Just remember, when you're outside looking in, describing what you see, remember what you're staring at is someone else. A living, breathing, loving person, full of emotions, needs, chaos, and capabilities. We are each tied to each other by thin threads, and we all have more in common than we know.

The sun is surely sinking down, and I still love you.

The sun is surely sinking down, and I still love you., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

November is upon us.
It has been for three days now.

This is when I start thinking seriously about Christmas gifts.
(I know, I know; it's well before Thanksgiving. But at least I have only purchased one gift!)

I am thinking of doing homemade or home-kitchen-made gifts for Christmas this year. I cannot afford to buy presents. Period. The paycheck is really the only thing I miss about my job. Other than that, I am perfectly fine. (Especially seeing as how, for my kids' first ten or so years of life, I'd like to be a stay-at-home mom, working part-time from home, preferably as my own boss.)

I will have some money this year for Christmas gifts -- shooting the wedding on the 11th will take care of that-- but I just know I can't afford everyone a gift. So...handmade and heartmade, it is.

I have found a really awesome site from which to buy presents...but it's something I'll have to keep in mind for next year. Maybe for birthdays?

I hope to find a work-study position on campus next semester, especially since this semester it didn't pan out. That would help the money situation.
...and, next semester, the living situation will be different. Could be a lot different, depending on how things work out.

I am considering taking all night and/or online classes next semester so I can get a full time job.
I told my boyfriend that I don't want my schedule to interfere with his job search. He says it won't. I also don't want him to feel obligated to not look for work when school starts. I don't know what classes to take to help minimize the risk of that happening. (He says one thing, but always insists on taking me, anyway. Lesigh.)

...ok, now that we're at the end, I have some confessions to make.
I have actually been looking at Christmas presents since I tweeted this. (Now I'm really narrowing my focus down, trying to decide what I should give to whom.)
...and here is one reason why the living situation might really change, in the form of a tweet from September 30th. Granted, that won't really take effect until I decide what the hay I'm gonna do, but that requisite move would (ideally) happen next summer.

New Website!!

Since I have re-branded, I have not had a proper website for my photography; I was still using the ol' Rebbecca Romine Photography Site.

Now, I have one! Here's the screen shot for the main page of the new site:

I can't wait until I can afford to put my own domain on this and get rid of the Wix ads.
(Though, Wix makes it easy to make a site, so if you're in the market for a site, have at it!)

Along with this site, I have created a sister site for client proofing.
It features four password-protected galleries. Each password is unique, so only the client who has the proper password can see their own stuff. (This makes it easier for privacy.)
Here's the screen shot of the welcome page on the proofing site:

Please leave me any feedback that you have. I am excited to see what new opportunities these sites can bring. =)

Also, I have a new email address! If you need anything, please drop me a line at: rebbecca.ella@gmail.com

measure for measure

measure for measure, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I have decided to take shots of kitchen utensils and cooking supplies (forks, whisks, spoons, knives, etc.) and then --eventually-- compile them and print them off, and hang them in my kitchen / dining area. (Probably offer them for sale, too.)

Look for more.
They're coming.
Not sure when they'll be here, but they will!

30 Songs in 30 Days: November

On Flickr, there is a group called 30 Songs in 30 Days. Each month that has 30 days, the members are invited (and,  indeed, encouraged) to do a photo each day representing a song. 

Here's a list of songs I'm thinking of doing for next month:

• "Bohemian Rhapsody" ~Queen
• "Roll Away Your Stone" ~Mumford & Sons
• "American Slang" ~Gaslight Anthem"
• "Animal I Have Become" ~Three Days Grace
• "Chasing Pirates" ~Norah Jones
• "The Ghost Inside" ~Broken Bells
• "The House That Built Me" ~Miranda Lambert
• "I Hope I'm Doing This Right" ~Paul Thorn
• "Jenny Wren" ~Paul McCartney
• "The Cave" ~Mumford & Sons
• "Love the Way You Lie" ~Eminem
• "I Gave  You All" ~Mumford & Sons
• "Ordinary World" ~Duran Duran
• "Save Room" ~John Legend
• "The Story So Far" ~Flogging Molly
• "Stupid" ~Sarah McLachlan
• "Awake My Soul" ~Mumford & Sons
• "There Cannot Be A Close Second" ~Copeland
• "This City" ~Patrick Stump
• "What A Little Bit of Love Can Do" ~Jeff Bridges
• "Goodbye Alice in Wonderland" ~Jewel
• "Be Here Now" ~Ray Lamontagne

...those are just some songs I'm considering. (And I'm open to other suggestions, too. Find me on FB, Twitter, or comment here, if you have any to add to my list.) 

Mall-style pretzels.

Mall-style pretzels., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

These were so great! Seriously. I was not disappointed. If you came over from Flickr, then you know that I recommend these with salsa con queso, which means that I recommend them with salt -- the traditional way. But, you can have them with cinnamon sugar, garlic salt, or Parmesan cheese. Whatever suits your fancy.

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/8 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup bread flour
--------------------
2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 tablespoons baking soda
-------------------
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons coarse kosher salt, cinnamon, or sugar.

1) In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast, brown sugar and salt in 1 1/2 cups warm water. Stir in flour, then knead dough on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, for about 8 minutes. Grease a second large mixing bowl (butter works in the absence of lard). Place the dough in the greased bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover, and let rise for one hour.
2) Combine 2 cups warm water and baking soda in an 8 inch square or round pan. Line 6 baking sheets with parchment paper. (I've heard that nonstick spray works, too.)
3) After dough has risen, preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Cut the risen dough into 12 (or so) manageable pieces. Roll each piece into a rope, pencil thin or thinner. Dip into the baking soda, and then twist into a pretzel shape. (I happen to know, from experience, that other shapes work, too: breast-cancer ribbon shapes, knots, hearts, braids, and twists.) Place onto parchment covered baking sheets, and let rise 15 to 20 minutes. (I recommend putting it on the stovetop, over the oven, so it can rise as the oven warms.)
4) Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with coarse salt, garlic salt or cinnamon sugar.

**NOTE: This will require at least two different bakings, to use all of the dough. (More, depending on the size of your pretzels.)
When forming the ropes, roll each one to about half the length you want, then set it aside while you roll the rest. By the time you get back to the first rope, it will have rested enough to roll further.
Also, a 3-foot-long rope will make a pretzel approximately 8-inches in diameter. Plan on using one baking sheet for every 2 pretzels of this size.

breakfast cups.

breakfast cups., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

These are so yum. Seriously.

Preheat your oven to 375.
Spray your cupcake / muffin pan with non-stick spray.
Line your intended serving-number's worth of holes with ham. (If you use thin sliced ham --like the kind from the deli or for sandwiches-- use two piece of ham per muffin hole.) We had three pieces each, so we used six muffin holes.
Crack one egg into each ham-lined hole. (If you don't like to taste any yolk or prefer scrambled eggs, make sure you scramble them in a bowl before you put them in the ham-holes.)
Add your intended ingredients (green peppers, bacon, cheese, etc.). If scrambling the eggs, this can be done prior to adding the egg to the pan.
Bake for 20-25, or until the eggs are just set, if going for the non-scrambled version.
Et voila!

These can easily be made and then eaten on the go. (Especially if you use the scrambled-egg version.)

Ideas & Upcoming Shoots

Hello one, hello all!

I don't really have a specific layout in mind for this post, and I apologize in advance if it is all over the place.

I have two portrait sessions lined up. Both of them are with fellow photographers. One of them does it for work, the other does it for pleasure. I must say that having a fellow photographer choose your work out of all their other options means a lot.
I have also been asked by one of the aforementioned photographers to be her second shooter at four already-scheduled weddings. I'm looking forward to it. The first one is in three weeks.
(I'm still waiting for final confirmation from her, but last I knew, Thundercats are go.)

My Associate of Arts degree will be completed in May 2012, which means that next semester is my last semester at (this) college, and I need to take whatever classes I've been wanting to take.
One class on my "definitely taking" list is studio photography. It will be good to get more experience using lighting techniques and different lights. (I only have my lightstand and bounce / diffuse umbrella right now. Hot lights and an off-camera flash are on my "someday" list.)

There is a lot of chatter going on about my man and I moving to Denver.
The city has more opportunities for him, with his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture. It would also present him with a larger audience to possibly continue working in video game design, which he's been doing as a freelancer for the last couple of years.
Denver also has Metropolitan State University, which is, in my opinion, a better school than the local state university here. (It teaches more in-state graduates than any other university in Colorado.)
...and, with Denver being a bigger city, there are, theoretically, more job opportunities there. There are definitely more job opportunities for people with a creative schtick (like my boyfriend and I) than there are in our podunk part of the state.
(I'm not knocking rural living, or UNC, by any means... They're fine for people for whom they're suited. Creative types are not suited for making a living in the country, and I've already done the UNC route, so....no.)

...so that's what's going on in my part of the world.

That water, that water has tamed me. You can feel that the world is connected to it.

That water, that water has tamed me. You can feel that the world is connected to it., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I love love love the beach.

My first cruise experience was not bad.
(It wasn't as great as it could have been, but that's because it wasn't with a 5-star company.)

I must say the worst part was the rough water.
Every time we were at the beach it was windy and the surf wasn't gently lapping. The ocean was roaring and the waves were larger than ideal. It made the boat rock.

...and it seems like that is the summary of my life at the moment.
Things and situations are kind of rocky, but if I just enjoy myself, I can smile, be happy, and have a good time.

Besides, those rocky waves prepared me for a turbulent flight home.
Mayhaps the rocky-ness of life right now is preparing me for something else.

Surf Lessons

Surf Lessons, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

Every time I go on vacation where there's a beach good for surfing, I tease Jacob that I'm going to flirt with all the surfer boys.

He knows I'm completely lying, of course.
(And even if I wasn't, it's not like the surfer boys would have anything to do with me. They are all incredibly in shape.)

This was the first time I ever actually saw any surfer boys.
They had their boards in hand and were running to the beach.
I imagined it had to be like what goes on here whenever the weather is benevolent: call in sick to take advantage of it. Here, it's whenever there's a decent snowfall near the ski resorts. There, it's whenever the wind is blowing just right to provide the right-size waves.

This photo is dark because it was near the end of our requisite visit to the time-share resort (yes, it was beachfront, and yes, it was gorgeous) and the wind was (obviously) picking up, the clouds were rolling in, and the day was cooling off.

Honestly, though, a few years ago I wanted to learn how to surf. I'd say it was about six years ago. I'd learn how to snowboard, first, obviously. It's closer to home. I even went so far as to research the cost of boards and how long it needed to be. I knew where I was going to buy a board from. I'm not sure why I abandoned the idea. Maybe because it was around that time that my health issues started kicking in and I started to gain my weight back. I figured that surfing (and snowboarding) could help me lose the weight, but I wasn't going to look foolish whilst weighing what I did and "wasting time" up on the mountain.
I'm pretty sure that's what it was.
That's the reason I am not pursuing it now, anyway; that's what I just justified in my head.

Maybe someday I'll re-pursue it.
I do so love the beach.

be still and look at life.

be still and look at life., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I have said it time and again, and it remains as true today as it always has been and always will: there is so much beauty in life.

If we don't take the time, every now and then, to look at the bigger picture, we lose track of our humanity. We become too focused on our "to-do lists."
So, how do we look at the bigger picture?
By paying attention to the little things.

There are numerous stories of how cancer survivors have a bigger flair for life after their battle than they ever did before. I have read about someone whose mother was in the hospital, fighting for her life, but this person noticed a little yellow flower growing in the crack of the hospital sidewalk when they were out taking a break.

I don't think we should have to have a tragedy happen to us before we appreciate the beauty of the world.

Here I am, waxing on and on about appreciating life, and some would think that it has nothing to do with the photo associated with it.

...well, you're right, it has not much to do with nature.
This photograph is the inside of the old chicken coop. It has since been designated a storage shed. The hay on the ground is part of the chicken coop remnants, but nature has done her part, too. Since the predatory chickens have departed, mice, spiders, and wasps and other insects have made their way in here. (This is typical of any outside storage building in the country, especially those that were built in the 1950's.)

I appreciate the distressed, damaged look that this place has acquired.

quiet at-home moments.

quiet at-home moments., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

There is nothing quite like a quiet moment at home.
Some of my favorite moments are the ones that happen when I wake up first, when the tea is heating up in the kettle, the dogs are outside, and I am alone. Don't misunderstand me; I love my boyfriend. I love spending time with me. ...but I also love finding my center every morning. I love having fifteen or thirty minutes to myself, to clear my mind and not think about anything.

That's not what I was trying to capture here, though dishes in a sink very much encapsulates the idea of "home."
No, here I was trying to memorialize the mundane, which can be just as beautiful as the extraordinary.

Phew!

Looking back over my blog, it seems like I post a lot of recipes, huh? =)

...okay, I admit it: I do post a lot of recipes. At least I never post anything that I haven't eaten. 

I know I need to get better on my food styling and props and whatnot. That will come. Having chairs in the kitchen that do not have rollers might be a help, too. o.o 

(And once we are in our own place, completely stocked with our own dishes and utensils, that will make it easier, too.)

I would love to get better at object, room, and food photography. Those are my goals.
I would also love to get better at photographing people, too, but those opportunities are not as plentiful as the opportunities for photographing food, nature, and objects. (Unfortunately.)

I am looking forward to a re-do of that Florida-Bahamas trip in a week and a half. (Two weeks from now, actually, I'll be on a cruise ship heading back for port.)

I just hope that life doesn't change as dramatically when we get back, as it did in May. o.o
No, thank you: I am not going through that again. Not for a long time.

As far as photo news goes, I have expanded to a few other sites than just the ones linked to on here. I will update them shortly.
I am looking forward to a set/series of photos that are suitable to hang in a kitchen. (And no, they're not of food!)
I am about to wrap up the tree series I've been doing. At least for this year. I've considered doing a monthly thing, instead of every three months, but things are so up in the air right now, that I don't know if I'll be in the area anymore. Heck, come May, I could be in Denver, Fort Collins, or somewhere out of state!

I look forward to being able to blog more frequently. I'm not sure what my readers want to read about, if anything in particular, but I will blab along anyway. The randomness seems to be working just fine so far.
If there are any questions you have, or anything you'd like to read about, please let me know via comment or email, and I will oblige. (So long as they are not obscene.)
Thanks! 

Pork Chops with Spaghetti

Pork Chops with Spaghetti, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I love it when he makes this. =)

From the Colorado Cache Cookbook, with a few changes.
Makes 4 servings.

3 tablespoons butter (or margarine)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon rosemary
4 pork chops, 1 inch thick, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups chopped tomatoes
3 tablespoons minced parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 pound spaghetti

Melt butter with olive oil in a large, heavy skillet. Add garlic, pepper, and red pepper.
Sprinkle rosemary on pork chops then brown chops slowly in the skillet. Add tomatoes, parsley and salt. Cover and cook slowly for 20 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 20 minutes or until tender. Cook the spaghetti and drain. Place servings of spaghetti on individual plates and top with the pork chops and tomatoes, adding extra sauce where desired. Top with Parmesan cheese, if you so desire.

Jake's Vaunted Fried Chicken

Vaunted Fried Chicken, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

My boyfriend has been trying to perfect his friend chicken recipe ever since we moved in.
We have it about once a month or so, and each time it has been variations on a theme.

Monday, September 19th, I think he perfected it.

We usually use strictly chicken drumsticks, as we like the legs the most, but I'm pretty sure that any part of the chicken will work. Cooking times may need adjusted, but if you've been baking chickens for a while, then you'll know how long to cook them.

You'll need:
a skillet
olive oil
vegetable oil
2 bowls
flour
soul seasoning
Panko (or bread crumbs)
a baking sheet wrapped in foil

First, preheat your oven to 425.
Put the olive oil and vegetable oil in the skillet; let it get hot while you prep the chicken. (Make sure there is about twice as much vegetable oil as there is olive oil.)
Then, put some flour into a bowl. Add Panko to the second bowl. Add 1Tbsp soul seasoning to each bowl; mix well.
Next, rub some soul seasoning right on the chicken.
Coat the chicken in the soul-seasoning-and-flour bowl.
Cook the coated chicken in the hot oil in the skillet, just so the coat gets nice and brown. (You're not aiming for fowl doneness, just a nice cripsy coat.)
Take the chicken right from the skillet and coat it in the Panko bowl, then give it another quick fry, to set the coating.
Pop it in the oven for an hour.
Serve with whatever you like to eat with fried chicken. (I recommend Jiffy cornbread muffins -they were delicious- and a veggie.) Great with a chilled glass of milk. (Or your favorite brew.)

fuzzy fall fellow

fuzzy fall fellow, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I look forward to autumn, each and every year that it's around. This is especially true ever since I've seen my world through the viewfinder.
(Those who have been following me for a while have heard me say that picking up a camera changed the way I view things, and that is very true. I will not stop saying; I cannot. )
This year I have been looking forward to autumn for more than just her beauty: the temperatures were horrible this summer. (It's even worse when your house is not much more than a glorified tin can lacking a proper cooling element.)
But, ever since September started, the temperatures have been wonderful. Enough warm days to remind me that my beloved summer is still (officially) here, and cool nights to require a second blanket. I'd say my favorite seasons are the transitional ones. Summer has my favorite light, and my favorite nights, but fall and spring are temperate throughout, and I appreciate that.

light of another day

light of another day, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I feel words buzzing beneath the surface of my skin, making my fingertips tingle.
...but none of them surface, as they are still wandering in the silencing fog of sleep.

...can you tell I just woke up? =D

Every morning I wake up, my body is still tired, but my mind is restless. (Maybe it's because I always have 999,547 things on my to-do list every day. I try to stay busy. It doesn't always work. Notice I said "try.")

This school year is my last at the community college I've attended since May 2009. I expect to graduate in May 2012 with an Associate of Liberal Arts degree that can be applied toward anything.

...only, I don't know what to apply it toward.
I have some ideas. Some important people have given me guidance over the last month.

I just want to do it all. I want to be a teacher, a writer, a photographer, a stay-at-home-mom, an artisan who hits up craft shows and makes money that way, a massage therapist, a store operator, a barista, a chef....
Maybe that's my problem. I want to wear too many hats.

Is it a blessing? Is it a curse? Only time will tell.

Soup and Crackers

Soup and Crackers, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I love that it is getting to be that time of year when soups and stews are on the menu regularly.

I could eat them year round (and some soups I do eat year-round, just not on a regular basis), but the rest of the world always looks at me like I'm crazy.

Usually, when I make tomato soup, I fix an entire can of Campbell's Condensed Tomato Soup for myself, mixing milk in with it.
...and then I take crackers and crumble them up in the soup until the right consistency is reached. (In this case, I used the entire package of crackers. Or, 1/4 the total cracker carton.)

...but I don't like chowders?

Weather here today: cloudy, breezy at times, chance of rain, temperatures in the 70s. (In other words: beautiful.)

I hope my fellow Americans had a great Labor Day yesterday.
(And I hope the rest of the world had a great September 5th yesterday.)

it's been a long week.

it's been a long week., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

My second-to-last semester as a full-time student started on Monday.

This semester is going to be so writing-intensive...oy. o.o
A German journal entry is due every Tuesday. Plus a lab report due every Wednesday for Biology. Not to mention the stories/poems due every other week for Creative Writing. And, of course, the 10-12 page cumulative report for Comp 2, and all the random, general essays that the course entails.
Granted, I realize that I am the one who chose the schedule, but I didn't have access to the syllabi before the semester started. Meh oh well.
I will survive.
I may hate my computer after this, but I will survive. =)
(There will probably be eye-strain headaches, but there is ibuprofen -and sleep- to help combat those.)

I have been on the go ever since Monday.
Monday morning was getting my financial aid, paying for books, going to class, and clothes shopping. Tuesday started the night-class schedule, with a five-hour break between classes. (I was kinda hoping for a work study position.) Wednesday and Thursday were the other two night class days, and then today was a kind of chill day, even though I had to run gran to her video visit with my uncle.
...and tomorrow I go to help mom and dad finish packing up their store. (All that's left now are the displays, racks, and other store-use items.)

...plus, we need to go grocery shopping at some point.

Sunday, Sunday, is my day.
I'm staying home all day, doing homework and uselessly surfing the net.

hello, cupcake.

hello, cupcake., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

Jake's aunt had her summer party on Saturday.

After a car complication, we made it there.

It was good to see her and catch up.
(We hadn't seen her since Christmas.)

She also made these awesome cupcakes, which is something I've been meaning to try forever.
It's a family recipe that is traditionally made into a cake, and I've been meaning to turn them into a cupcake variety.
I mean, I have a working oven now.
...but it's just been too hot.

Hopefully I can try this version in the fall.
...there's also the family recipe that Jake always loves for his birthday: four-layer chocolate cake. That needs to be perfected in bite-size form too.

Look for that.
I'm putting it on my to-do list.
It's going to happen. =)

golden hour.

golden hour., originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I've always been a summer girl. My opinion is changing.
We don't have a functioning cooling system in our house, and without it, the inside is a baking tin can. When we put water in the cooler, all it does is add humidity to the factor, and that makes it more of a boiling tin can than anything.
We finally got a window unit AC from my parents' secondhand shop...only to find out that none of our windows are wide enough to support it. So what do we do? Put it on a TV tray table, but that makes it leak water all over the floor. So we suffer through with fans and escapes to places with AC. (Maybe that's why our electric bill last month was only $34?)
So I definitely won't miss summer's heat. (Especially after THIS summer's heat!)
..and I won't miss the mosquitoes. I got so many bites this year, I thought my legs were never going to stop itching.
Oh, and this is the first year in thirteen that I have gotten stung by something. I think this one was a wasp. I couldn't see it. It was caught in the breeze, came flying up over grandma's garden shed and landed on my nose, then stung me. I do not recommend getting stung on the nose. It hurts. There's swelling. And involuntary crying. Dogs tend to look at you funny for the first little while after it happens.
In fact, everyone but grandma has gotten stung this year. Mom twice, dad once, Jake once, me once, and even Jake's brother has gotten stung this year. They're not the worst I've ever seen them, but they are pretty bad.
I will miss the golden hour most of all. Those wonderful times when the sun rises early and sets late, and produces beautiful golden light that fades fast. That light that photographers always strive to shoot portraits in. It's quite amazing, and summer has the best golden hours.
I'll miss the warm nights, too, and the dynamic skies. But most of all, those golden hours.

Via Flickr:
This summer has taught me a lot of things.
The first thing it has taught me is to hate it. (See blog post for more on this.)
..but, besides the amazing nights, early morning and late night light, I will miss the extended golden hours.

Bench Monday :: Last BM of 25

Bench Monday :: Last BM of 25, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I've been 26 for all of three (nearly four) days now, but I've had a blog post in my mental queue for a while now. Here goes...

Over the last month, a lot has changed. I have learned // am still learning how to balance my life and my grandma's life. (Things still aren't quite crystal clear in that department, as laundry still manages to pile up in my bathroom floor and grandma's lawn only gets water on the weekends...)
I am also fairly confident that, at this moment, if I were given all the necessary tools to be my own adult (IE: a car, a job, and a place that is entirely mine) I would make it, alone. But, I don't have a car, which makes it difficult to have a job, and that makes it difficult to have anything else, too, as the fundage doesn't exist.
But, here it is, my life as it is now. Living in my uncle's house with my boyfriend until my uncle gets out of jail (which, honestly, is an unknown quantity at the moment), no working television, no cable, spotty internet, no car, no craft-space, and spending all my time gardening, running errands with/for grandma, feeding animals, and ignoring my life completely.

Please, don't get me wrong. I love my grandma. I absolutely adore her. And I know my time with her is limited.
....but when am I going to get a chance to start my life? I mean, really, when?

Things are so uncertain right now.
Lots of things are in the air: grandma, the living situation...etc.

Atypical Valentine's Day

In case you were under a rock or on another planet for the last six weeks and didn't have a calendar handy, yesterday was Valentine's Day.
...the day when the world stops to recognize love.
...and some expect expensive gifts.
Either way, the stores are filled to brimming with pink, red, and white, and every other commercial is for diamond jewelry. There are candy hearts and teddy bears and chocolate roses and chocolate-covered strawberries available everywhere. (I used to work in retail; I can list the V-Day merchandise in my sleep.)
The day is usually a semi-big deal for my Jacob and I. It's a guaranteed date night for us, and we don't get many opportunities for those anymore. Our first Valentine's Day together, I cooked him spaghetti at my home. Over the years, the night has taken us to a myriad of restaurants; last night --our fifth Valentine's Day-- we ate at TGI Friday's. Not the "typical" restaurant for Valentine's Day, but I'm not the "typical" girl, either. He bought me roses --like usual-- from the little flower shop by his house. (I told him that because his shopping there has become such a tradition, we'll have to get our wedding flowers from there. Ha!) Sometimes he gets me a gift, and sometimes not. (Last year, he got me a journey pendant. I love that necklace.) We usually end the evening watching a movie together.

Well, this year....all of our plans got delayed.
My uncle started serving his jail sentence yesterday; he was taken straight from court to incarceration.
My aunt was admitted to the hospital immediately after her doctor's appointment; she is still retaining water, and, despite being on diuretics for the last two weeks, has actually gained weight. (Not good for someone with a heart condition.) Before her appointment, she went to the food bank to get her and my grandma's share of commodities for the month, and they were still in the van. No one was available to get them --grandma can't see, my grandma's tenent in the rental house has unreliable transportation, mom & dad were at the store, uncle was in jail, cousins are not around-- except for me and my boyfriend. Honestly, I don't care. It was going to be a simple go-get-the-keys-and-go-get-the-van operation. Well, it took an hour and a half to locate the keys. Not only was the spare set MIA, but the hospital had no listing of my aunt being there, and she wasn't answering her cell. So, when we finally get in touch with her, we go to the hospital and try our best to remember which side of the hospital section "A" is on. We chose wrong, so had to walk all the way across the hospital and then go up to level four. The nurse was just getting around to the list of her daily medications, but the list was in her purse, in the van, on the other side of the hospital in the parking garage. So, after another trip across the hospital later, we gave the list to the nurse, asked my aunt what we could bring her, and were off. The van drove like a stone, but I made it home eventually. We carried in all the boxes and bags and put away what we could. After fighting with my grandma's stove --and getting it lit after some time-- we made sure she'd be ok for a few hours and went to dinner.
After dinner, we came back and made sure she had enough wood to keep the fire going through the night and made sure she had numbers for people in case she needed something during the night.

I felt bad.
The boy had done his part --bought me roses and taken me out for dinner-- and I hadn't showered or dressed up or anything special. But dinner was great anyway. And not expensive.
And I'm okay with that.

Homemade Dinner

Homemade Dinner, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

This recipe is so delicious and easy.
The one from tonight was made with chicken, but can be easily made with pork. (Nothing else needs changed!)

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced (or 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic)
black pepper, red pepper to taste (about 1 tbsp each)
2 chicken breasts (optionally cut up into bitesize pieces)
2 tbsp rosemary
1 14oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 tbsp parsley
Spaghetti


Melt the butter in the pan with the olive oil. Once the butter/oil combination is nice and hot, add in the garlic and peppers. After the garlic has browned a bit, sprinkle the rosemary over the chicken, add the chicken to the skillet and slowly brown it. Once it's browned, add in the tomatoes and parsley. Stir to combine, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Put the timer on for 20 minutes, stir after 10. Start the pan of water for the spaghetti and cook the pasta to taste. (Some people prefer al dente, some don't.) When it's all done, serve it up. Meat can go on top, or on the side. Parmesan goes all over both.

See? I told you it was easy! =)

Now for the news.
I had two photos displayed on campus for the Aims Art in Action art club student show, which ran for two months, December 1 to Jan 31. The photography professor who taught my photography professor had some nice things to say about my work. (And he said them to the AAiA club's advisor. =D) It was definitely a wonderful thing for me to hear.

Also, the club wants me to take photographs of the campus to sell! It's so great to hear! =)

So, yay! =)

 

angular

angular, originally uploaded by speckled_beckle.

I fell in love with these shutters in the California hotel room I shared with my mom and aunt in March 2009.
I've been wanting to go back out to that hotel room and use those shutters for a model shoot.
...but you can see how far that's gotten!

.....besides, it's something easily duplicate-able in a studio.
Need a black back drop, a faux-wall with shutters, and a light source.
And yes, this desirous photo does have a song inspiration. (Snow Patrol fans, I'm sure, know what I'm talking about!)

Anyway, I also decided posting something from the last vacation I went on was appropriate because I am going on another trip soon.
This time, it's my grandma, my aunt, my mom and I going for a week to the other coast. Two days in Ft Lauderdale, one day on a cruise ship, a day in the Bahamas, one day back on the ship, and two days in Orlando.

I'm pretty stoked, needless to say.
We aren't going until April, but what a great time it will be.

And it will be interesting to see what things I can photograph in this new place.
(Which reminds me, I need to either buy new memory cards or clean out the ones I have...hmm...decisions, decisions...)

===============================================
Unrelated notes:
School has started up again for this semester; already three weeks in. (Holy crap!)
I'm looking forward to the challenges presented to me.
I'm taking one required class just to avoid a speech class; it's a class that teaches all about Microsoft Office Applications.
I'm also taking the second semester of ceramics, German 3, and creative writing.
If all goes according to plan, I should be eligible for graduation in December, but I'm thinking I may postpone until May just to make sure I can use all the financial aid granted to me and take all the fun classes I want, like Studio Photography. It's only offered in the spring and would have taken it this semester, but my load was already full.

...anyway, if I'm MIA, it's because I'm still in school.
Gonna try to get straight A's again.