m.a.b. - I just got your comment today. I have them emailed to me and for some reason it just sent it. Anywayz, I responded below within the same post. :) Did you change your email?

Wow... life has been busy.. but good!

I have been quickly adding to my photography equipment the past two months. I know have a backdrop support system, 4 backdrops, a softbox light, an umbrella light, a few fun props, business cards that will be done Wed., and a list of clients that I need to get in touch with! The most exciting part (personally) is that my client list is expanding beyond family and friends. I'm starting to get referrals and business simply by word of mouth.

Thank you God for your blessings and thank you friends for your support and free advertising!

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is already here. J and I have had to talk about Christmas plans and trying to fit everyone in. A new adventure for sure... He's so good to me.

Parent/teacher conferences are over... whew... I attened a great conference Sat. We were priviledge to hear Chick Moorman speak.. amazing... really amazing. Some common sense things put in a whole new light and new great strategies to help in positive, effective communication.



Things to smile about today:
:) continuing photo orders from the wedding two months ago!
:) new clients
:) nearly every single aspect of photography
:) the week before thanksgiving and all the fun art work that will be in the room
:) looking forward to going home this weekend

My portfolio is finally up!

Click on the EM Photography link to the right (not the blog link) then click on the Portfolio link from there.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Apple Butter Pie

Baking the pumpkin: Cut pumpkin in half. Remove seeds and the "stringy icky stuff". Cut in half again. Fill valley with a little water. Wrap in foil and place on a baking sheet. Place in 350 degree oven for 45 min. to an hour and a half (depends on the size of the pumpkin and how many you cook at once. Two pumpkins will take longer than one! :) ) Pumpkin is properly cooked when it is completely soft. Once out of the oven, use a spoon to seperate the pulp from the skin or turn pulp side down and peel the skin off.

Pie:
Mix together:
1 cup pumpkin (it helps to beat the pumpkin by itself to make mushy)
1 cup apple butter

Add:
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
3 eggs
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup evaporated milk

Pour mix into a graham cracker crust. (I normally get the crust that claims to have the extra serving. If I make it myself, I use a slightly larger pie pan size.)

Bake at 350 (I only bake at 325 because it is a gas oven) for 30 to 40 min. The longer you cook it the more firm it will set.

I will note that I have found this pie to be better the second or third day. The crust becomes moist from the pie and the flavors seem to blend even more so after some time.

Enjoy m.a.b.!

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Good to see you to Mel. (Ha! I've responded :P )

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Things to smile about:
:) Encouragement in the photographic world
:) fri. night with friends
:) God's protection over Steph
:) the sleep I will get tonight
:) conversations with J that make me giggle

wow.... I've been spending a lot of time on photography. A lot of busy work, but it's starting to look good... at least on the web. It's a big learning curve with how to write "web" language. I should only get faster at it!

School is going well. I can't believe that we are working on conference packets all ready!

It's late.. I need to sleep. Thank you to those who are praying. I actually slept last night for the first time without waking up to recognize the time every hour and a half! Hopefully more of those nights to come.


Things to smile about:
:) tomorrow being Fri.
:) my photo sites (links to the right)
:) pumpkin apple butter pies

Did you know...

Near 730 B.C. was when the "Rule of Thumb" was establish. It was Roman law that a husband could beat his wife in order to keep her from saying/doing things that would degrade his integrety. The law was that a switch could be used and it could be no larger than the base of his thumb. Hence "Rule of Thumb".

Unbelieveable... my jaw hit the floor when I heard that one.


Big dissapointment today... the business cards came in and they look like something I could have printed off. I'm going to a local place tomorrow. Money lost, knowledge gained, lesson learned.



Things to smile about today:
:) the possibility of getting new business cards... quality print
:) photo shoot with B
:) silence since 6 p.m.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few weeks ago I signed up for a photography seminar that was held today... I found myself sitting in a room with people who get $150 for an 8x10! I was blown away when I heard those figures... and then to be able to experience all of the toys that they have to be able to get these quality pics... I was definitely in a thinking mode of wanting to get big, fast. However, this is on God's timing. I can't see myself ever charging that much money for an 8x10, but I would like to be able to get the quality that they have and produce those images for others at a lower cost. The advantage of the situation is that I am in BG and not Toledo so my market already assumes the lower prices. Some people would see that as a negative, but personally... I don't think I would ever pay that much for an 8x10... even if it made me look like a supermodel!

I did learn a lot today. I can't wait to apply some of the knowledge... and I get my first crash course in two weeks with this wedding. I am so excited about it. I ordered business cards yesterday so that I could pass them out at the wedding. I developed my shot list. I'm getting the Bride and Groom gift finished up... I can't wait.

Anywayz, the weekend felt short even though a lot was accomplished.


Things to smile about today:
:) learning
:) being with "family"
:) talking with JW
:) talking with mom (first time in a week... she ran off to GA on me!)
:) business cards
:) prayer