Birthday Cake

OK Folks - - February is big on birthdays around these parts. Nearly 50% of my immediate family has birthdays this month. David, Eric, Me, Carol and Philip all in February, and a close call with Dan and Renay in March . Carol used to make a strawberry cake from the old timey Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls (the recipe is not in the current editions)

It has become a family favorite for David and Eric so I thought I would share it with everyone here. Try it. You will like it. I warn you it is so moist you will eat yourself silly with it, this I know for sure.

1 PKG White Cake Mix
½ Cup oil
1 Small pkg strawberry jello
½ Cup water
3 T Cake Flour
1 pkg froz strawberries (small box) about(1/2 C)
4 Eggs (beat 1 @ a time) why ???? I don’t know
¼ C strawberry juice

BAKE 350 degrees until done

For a 9 x 12 pan I set for timer for 45 minutes and keep checking it every 10 minutes until done and I want to say it takes and hour and 15 mintues – but don’t quote me on that ….. keep doing the toothpick check for yourself

FROSTING:
½ pkg frozen strawberries w/ juice *
1 stick margarine or butter
1 box powder sugar
Beat until smooth…….
THIS MAKES A LOT OF FROSTING - - I usually cut it in half and have plenty to ice a 9x13 cake and not be skimpy
* with the strawberries – generally I use fresh strawberries. I dice them up – do it as chunky or small as you like. I add a little sugar and refrigerate them overnight. That draws out the juices. For the cake you need about ½ C diced strawberries and for the icing about ¼ Cup.

In Memory - MaryJo

Kathy, Gretchen, Jennifer, Mary – your mom will be missed by many, and I was saddened to hear what happened. I feel compelled to tell you a little about the day of the December photoshoot with your mom. She was 2nd up of 12 families in the morning with their furbabies and other critters. She told me a little about Kaiser, being a rescue dog and that he was a little more than timid, it was obvious she loved that pooch. Nothing doing, she did not want her picture taken, just Kaiser. Oh no, that wouldn’t fly with me. A special voice whispered to me insisting that I get her in at least one shot. I was not as persistent with others but I was with your Mom. Why is that? I truly believe it was no coincidence, God whispered to me that day. I heard. I hope this and the other photos I took will be of some comfort to all of you.

I am certain, (considering the little I knew of your mom), that she was the best mom she knew to be, loving all of her daughters with everything she had. Certainly she was blessed to be part of a family that loved her so much. That cool group of folks at her office will miss her tremendously. Everytime I saw your mom, she always greeted me with a kind word and a smile.

She's not here with you now although she'll be in your hearts always. I heard she had a great Christmas with the four of you, and that she took that long awaited trip to Italy with her sisters.......Awesome, she was living life.

As a final note, she's bound to be watching over you from now on with an even more protective eye. I am sure her greatest wish for you right now is peace. Listen for her.
Your Mom will be ok. My love and prayers to you, her sisters and all other family and friends.

Susan

Austin Diaries

Destination : Austin Texas, Jan 18-20, 2008

Oh boy, fun and education, all in one weekend. Woo-hoo.

Attended photography classes on Saturday and Sunday. Pam and I drove up on Friday, made a few photo op stops, but holy moly it was cold and wet. Got to Austin before rush hour, that's a HUGE plus, then checked into the hotel. Laptop wouldn't hook up to internet, wireless works fine, but room is wired. No go. Rough it for a few days. TORTURE. Eric and Hollye came to pick us up, went to dinner, came back to hotel, fiddled with computer some more. False hope, still no go.

Pam and I headed over to Antones bar downtown Friday night to hook up with a band that she had photographed last year. Our mission was to do some live shots inside the club. Got there about 9:30. Once the crowds and drunks started packing in, our mobility was limited. One nice thing: public buildings are non-smoking - - woohoo - - We stayed about 1- 1/2 hrs, went back to the parking garage where we promptly got run off by security for photographing in the garage. Party poopers.

Then........... headed up to Congress Ave., set tripods to photograph the Capitol at night. Only had to dodge traffic a teeny tiny bit, for real. Oh how I love night shots. It was in the low 30's and still drizzling 'a little'.... mighty cold for our old bones, after all, we ain't 20 anymore. Got back to hotel about 1:30 a.m., and to sleep around 2.

Up at 6:30 - yes a.m. - on Saturday. Attended class all day. Cindy and I went to Central Market for lunch - I had the MOST divine salmon dish. OMG.....

Got back to hotel and took a 2 hr nap. Pam and I had a quick dinner with Cindy and then we went out night shooting again.

experimenting with 'texture' layers ..... photographed a bunch of textures a few weekends ago, and thought 2 of these photos would be perfect. Let me know what you think.

experimenting with a little more 'artsy' take on the photo
I love this silouette in front of the Capitol

Sunday was all Photoshop classes for me. When we wrapped up, Eric and Hollye met us again on Sunday for a quick lunch, then Pam and I headed back: destination, Houston ..........

here is a church steeple we photographed on the way up and on the way back

Ok - back to reality.

Anticipation and Reflection

Anticipation :

OK - it's getting close, my new 18-200 lens arrives Thurs 17th. I just checked the UPS tracking and it is already in Houston as I write, loading on the truck ..... oh ....... I can hardleeeeee stand it. Take a deep breath Susan, it will be ok.

Reflection :

On a separate note, Dan and I had a great dinner with long long long longtime friends tonight, Gary, Joan, Carol. Always a treat to get together with you guys. Family and friends. Doesn't get much better !!!!!!

Have been busy processing alot of photos and still have three other shoots to finish up, so not much posting on the ole blog-a-roo. SACVH, Jim, Kayla - thanks for your patience in waiting on your photos. I am off to a workshop this weekend in Austin, signed up for some lighting and photoshop classes, so I can use some new skills to finish your photo processing..... yeah!!! Going up to Austin with Autumn, Cindy and Pam, bound to have a fun time. Autumn took over the prez duties of the photo club this year, she's enthusiastic and is digging in and running with it all. Good news for all of us, thanks Autumn. Cindy and Pam are both on the board too, so we will all have some good girl bonding time. Have been getting some on-going photoshop tutoring from my friend Dianna ..... what a blessing. Too cool the stuff I have learned.

I have updated my website, I switched out some photos ... if you have some time, check it out http://www.susanlong.net/ - it's free entertainment, at least I would hope you think it's entertainment.

More later, when there's more to report.

Til then - um, well, um, be happy.

Good Medicine

OK - who among us doesn't get a chuckle when we see the big guys at the top take the time out of their power jobs to make fun of themselves ..... Well, here's a doosie for ya'. I ran across this video which was done during Bill Gates' keynote address at CES. If you haven't seen it yet, turn up your speakers and be ready to laugh. Wait a minute, Laugher - They call that good medicine right ? Well then, be well.

Destination Baytown

Call us nuts....that would be a pretty good assessment. Sharon and I went on a fun photoshoot Saturday morning. Got up at 4am to be in place by sunrise. Dragged my grandson Tristan to go with us, he is a real trooper. Destination: Baytown Nature Center. Not my cup of tea photographing wildlife, but certainly interested in scouting out new places and spending time with friends. I needed a break, I have been doing lots and lots of photo processing......

http://baytownnaturecenter.org/index.php/bnc_information/history_of_site

The history of this place is pretty intriguing. Originally cattle ranch, then sub-division, and then finally after years of floods and hurricanes, it was 'returned' to nature. There are remnants of the old subdivision still visible. Houses are gone, but slabs, old roads, some structures still exist.

Then I spent alot of time shooting 'textures' to add to my collection that I just started. They are used as 'overlays' in photoshop to enhance the character of photos. Non-photographers really think you're nuts when you photograph walls and dirt.

San Jacinto Monument across the bay from Baytown Nature Center

My longest lens is 300mm, so here is my 'token' wildlife photo for the day

Misty in the morning
Here are a few of the many fun 'textures' that I shot that day

Thanks for coming along Tristan, it is always fun having you around.

Once I had a Dream - HAPPY NEW YEAR

This summarizes my thoughts .... a bit mushy, schmaltzy, whatever you want to call it, take a read anyway.... http://www.poofcat.com/newyearb.html

Posting some photos taken in the last days of 2007 ... Still having fun with that 50mm 1.8 lens. I am very blessed, and wish only the best for everyone here. Enjoy.

Peace.