From the Archives. Gatlinburg Vacation 2007

Today, I watched a photography workshop on kelbytraining.com.  kelbytraining is the brain child and extended enterprise of Scott Kelby.  He became a popular photoshop teacher through his 'how to' books.  Now, he hosts a website where a group of professionals teach instructional videos pertaining to photography, photoshop, lightroom, etc.  I pay a monthly service fee for access to the courses.   

The reason, I reached back to my 2007 Vacation Archives today was because I was reminded of Gatlinburg this morning.  I watched a new course where the video setting was Cade's Cove, Gatlinburg, TN.  Actually, the setting was a frozen wintry 12 degree Cade's Cove.  The premise of the workshop was Intimate Landscape.  The instructor was explaining the way he finds and composes images in places where it seems to be the 'off season'.  He eluded to the fact that during the spring and fall, there are lots of photographers but not during the frozen winter.  He demonstrated that during the frost bitten, bare treed winter forest, there are still interesting photos to be created.  He started the video in the area of the rustic little house and fencing pictured in the top image.  This charming little house is one of the first things I remember seeing when we entered Cade's Cove when Terry and I visited Gatlinburg in early March 2007.  As you can see in the image, the leaves are not yet on the trees but it was still beautiful. 

The Old Grist Mill above is a restaurant now in Pigeon Forge.

The Ubiquitous Tourist, that's me.  Taken by Terry (in 2007 of course).   See that red jacket?  I wore it today.  Do you know how old that red all weather London Fog is?  um. I can't remember the exact year that I purchased it but I remember that same winter the girls received a pink and a purple bike with little white baskets and plastic tassels on the handlebars.  They will be 23 and 21 this year.  I do remember the day that I bought it.  It was Grand Opening week for the Tanger Outlet Mall in Gonzales.  I just can't retire it.  The weight is perfect for our Louisiana weather.  It is still in perfect condition..I think so anyway.  It might be my proverbial Linus Blanket.  I'll probably be a little old lady dragging my red jacket behind me.

I took this picture of Terry reading about the Mountain people in the same area that he took my picture.  This was at the lookout point at the Tennessee/North Carolina State Line.  All of these pictures were taken with a Kodak camera that I borrowed from Mom.  (I didn't get my first dslr until October 2008.)  From what I understand, the Kodak company might be in trouble right now.   I appreciate the history and contribution that Kodak has made to the photographic industry.  The gold and black Kodak brand was the most popular brand of film as far as I remember.  I know that digital has almost eliminated the film development business.  There are some people who still use film.  But, obviously the digital photography age is here to stay.  I hope things turn around for Kodak.  Of course, they had to jump into the digital game and have produced great quality modern products.  I just read about a professional Leica S2 camera that sells for somewhere around 26,000 dollars. 
Can you guess who made the sensor for that camera? 

 Kodak. 
http://www.advancedimagingpro.com/web/online/Image-Processing/KODAK-CCD-Image-Sensors-Power-New-Cameras-for-Professional-Photography/67$5461

Go figure. 

I like to spin a yarn but here is a Master Yarn Spinner! Take a listen...

I heard this Story Teller talk this morning and had to share.  I found myself sitting in front of my laptop.  Then, I began leaning into my laptop monitor.  Then, eventually, I was standing on my feet with elbows on the counter still leaning in because I was completely dialed in to the story delivered by a Master Storyteller.  His name is Jay O'Callahan.  Take a listen.  I hope you have several minutes to give him your full attention.  If not, I am afraid that you will not be able to fully appreciate.  And, appreciation is GOLDEN!

Free your mind...T minus 5,4,3,2,1...PRESS PLAY and be swept away!

Raindrops Keep Falling On My {umbrella that Terry keeps holding over my} Head!

We left the house. 
Destination:  movie theater to watch Green Hornet

Looking through my passenger side glass through the rain bubbles.  This is the corner lot intersection at Amite Church Rd and Hwy 16.  It has been a vacant field for a very long time.  It looks like a development is coming.  I suspect it will look very different soon.  I wish I had old pictures of Hwy 16 when it was a curvy 2 lane highway with trees on each side of the undeveloped land.  Now, we have 4 lanes, 3 red lights and we will soon be getting our very own Walmart!  I remember when Linda's Chicken Hut put up a neon sign in the early 80's, I believe.   A neon sign?!  That was a big deal and great source of pride at how uptown we were becoming! 

 Over the last few months, construction has begun on our new hometown high school & my own alma mater.  From what I understand, it will be the largest school in the entire state.  Oh my goodness.  28 years ago, my HS graduating class totalled 54 students! 

Terry and I went to Chilli's.  As we were walking up to enter the front doors, I saw these twiggy branches full of water droplets.  I asked him to hold the umbrella over my head while I tried to get a picture.  He kept telling me to hurry up.  My point and shoot had a difficult time focusing.  I think he was getting embarrassed because he thought people were looking at us from inside.  He cares about stuff like that.  I don't give a fig.  But, he kept putting the pressure on me so this is the best I could do.  I like the colors and I think the image has a sort of abstract appeal.  I kept the image and posted it because it helps me remember Terry holding the umbrella over my head even though everything in him wanted to escape from the worst possible thing...Someone thinking something about him...!
  He loves me.
But, he needs to get over himself.

p.s.  We ate, felt stuffed, skipped the movie, went to Best Buy for a car charger for Papa T, went home.   The end.

Turkey Pot Pie in a Jiffy!

I made two Turkey Pot Pies tonight from a Taste of Home Comfort Food diet Cookbook.  Actually, I found the recipe titled  'easy chicken pot pie'.  I decided to use turkey in place of chicken.  This recipe is certainly very easy.   To prepare the turkey, I cooked 4 turkey breast cutlets in onion powder, garlic & herb seasonings, salt & black pepper seasoned boiling water then diced into small cubes.  I made a couple modifications to the recipe simply because I wanted to use what I had.  You might like to try the original recipe on page 208.  (image of cookbook cover at bottom of post)  Below is how I put mine together and they came out perfectly delicious. 

For pot pie filling, mix:

1 c. cream of mushroom

1 c. cream of chicken

1 c. peas and carrots, drained

1/2 c. milk

2 turkey breast cutlets or 2 chicken breasts, diced
1/4 tsp. of black pepper

salt to taste

*spray cooking spray in pie plate and fill with mixture

Topping:

1 1/2 c. baking mix (I used Jiffy)

2/3 c. milk

*drop by tablespoon full over the top of the turkey pot pie filling

Bake:

375 degrees / 30-40 minutes

(I lined aluminum foil under the pies in case any liquid bubbed over. It didn't.)

My family enjoys the pot pies that I make with double layer crusts.  I like those too. But, I can tell you this recipe is so easy and delicious.  I simply doubled the recipe above to make these two pies.  When I took the hot pot pies out of the oven, I had to take a quick snap because Terry was waiting in the wings with saucer and fork in hand.  On my, 'go', he dished up a nice serving of Turkey Pot Pie to enjoy while he watched his ESPN on this, relax away Saturday.  

Kayla and Trevor came home from dinner and a movie and stopped for a tasty taste.  After I told them that it was a diet recipe, Trevor went back for another taste!

If you try the recipe, write back and let me know if you like it too.  This was my first recipe that I tried from my new Taste of Home Cookbook.  I'm anxious to test more.  I'll let you know when I do.

WHOA NELLY! Hop off Yo High Horse There Lady!

Today was mani/pedi day.  AhHH... I could not wait to sink my tootsies in the hot bubbly water while I sat in the massage chair.  I picked out my favorite Red polish for my toes, then shuffled through the selection of magazines.  There were the typical Nail Pro Magazines that really do not interest me.  shuffle. shuffle.  ok.  I'll take Time Magazine.  I'll take Herrington Catalogue.  I'll take Charisma.  I didn't know what Charisma was.  As the water began to fill up the foot basin, I chose Charisma.  I was prepared to thumb quickly through the thin pages to see if anything caught my interest.  You know what I mean by flipping through magazines absentmindedly.  It's just a pass time or a way to stay within your own little bubble as you get your pedi..  The first advertisement was  for a Joel Olsteen seminar held in January.  I flipped through.  Then, a title page caught my attention.  There was a large sinister looking face staring straight ahead.  The title of the article read something like Devil in Pew 7.  I was curious about what it was about.  I began to read.  The first paragraph captured my attention as it began with the tension of any good suspense story.  The character was running scared.  In first person, the author writes how she could feel the pain of her bare feet slapping against the black asphalt street.  She could not stop.  She needed air.  She could not stop to breath.  She was running in fear and running for help.  As the story unfolded, the author went back to the beginning to tell of a character named Mr. Williams who sat in the Pew 7.  Mr. Williams was a manipulator within the church.  What he said, went. No one EVER went against his wishes.  Until, that is, her father became the new pastor.  Her father recognized this man for who he was.  He also realized that even though Mr. Williams had been sitting in Pew 7 for many years, he was not even a member of the church.   The new pastor explained to the church that only members are allowed to vote on decisions within the church.  Mr. Williams, realizing that he lost his authority, began to threaten the new pastor and his family.  They found their tires slit, found bomb threats against the church.  One night, there was a glass that was shattered in her baby brother's room even as the baby was in the crib.  Miraculously, with shards of glass all around, the baby was left unharmed.  Then, one night, the Devil from Pew 7 entered the family's home and shot to kill her mother and father.   Her mother died that night.  The author who was a young girl at the time, ran for cover under the kitchen table.  She remembered hiding behind the table and chair legs.  When she saw her helpless father try to lift his arms and could not.   She knew that she was the only person able to run for help.  It took all her courage to try to be as quiet as possible and sneak out the kitchen back door. She ran and ran with everything she had. 

Years later, she received a phone call.  She could not believe who it was.  It was the man that murdered her mother.  During his stay in prison, he was ministered to and found true salvation.  He knew that the first thing he needed to do was seek her forgiveness.  

Wow,  then the next article was a teaching on the Principles of Forgiveness.  Do you sense a pattern here?

Then, the next article was a re-telling about the mad man who went into the Amish School House and fired away at 10 Amish school girls.  5 were killed.   Even though their loss was so great, the parents of the children reached out to the wife of the murderer.  They wanted to let her know that they held no ill will toward her.  After burying their own children the day before, 75 Amish men and women attended the funeral of the man who turned the gun on himself after the massacre.  Along with their forgiveness, they brought food and gifts for the family.   Heartbreaking and Heart Lifting at the same time, right?

Yesterday, I wrote about the bitter distaste that was left with after someone disappointed me.  'Whoa NELLY!   Hop off Yo High Horse There Lady!'.  That was the message that my spirit received loud and clear.  By some 'strange coincidence',  I got the preachin' that I needed through the pages of a random magazine at the nail salon.  That magazine, like most of the literature was probably something dropped off by someone as a donation.  You know the sort of publications I am talking about... previously perused and passed on!  Do you think it was a random coincidence?  I don't.  I think there are no random coincidences.  I know the Word says that God spoke this world into existence.  I think God speaks to us in many ways.  Sometimes a whisper, sometimes He will snatch us by the ear.   I think I got an earful today. 

I received that needed preachin' and I have to say I was properly humbled.  Humbled by how I blew a  situation all out of proportion in my mind.  I blew my cool.  I repent of my own sin of pride and unforgiveness that I was willing to carry.  I need to get over myself because my SELF can only get in the way!  I am humbled by the examples of forgiveness freely offered by the Amish.   In my SELFishness, I realize that I could only see how I felt.  How I was impacted.  How I was being taken for granted.  How I refuse to budge one more inch.   ewe.  yucky selfishness. 

Please forgive me AND my silly SELF, O' Lord.

TRANSPARENCY.
i see you, seeing me.

From Disappointment to Bountifully Blessed...All in One Day!

The cute shoes, 30% off purchase today. 
The big bounty of white?  El Noope'! 

Definition of Bitter-having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste, like that of aspirin, quinine, wormwood, or aloes.  

I don't know if I have ever actually had a physical taste of quinine, wormwood or aloes as referenced in the dictionary definition.  Although, recently,  I have been left with a taste of bitter disappointment.  I can attest, my friends, that kind of bitter after taste can be described as harsh and disagreeably acrid. 

All I can say in this blog post is that over the course of a few days, I have been bitterly disappointed by someone.  I will not express specifics. There are only 2 people who know the instance that I am talking about because one of them was directly impacted. The other is my lifelong confidant. What I can say is that "When you push against me, expect resistance.  I have a low center of gravity and will not back down or give one inch more than I am willing!" That is a promise and you can quote me on it. Enough said.  

And, then today...! Thank you, Good Lord, for giving me today!

I met someone who heard my heart's desire and then blessed me beyond measure. I have been contemplating a set up for a bridal shoot. I want to recruit some models and create a 'Destination Wedding' portfolio. The problem for me is the fact that I would need a supply of wedding gowns. Well, I have my own wedding dress that is now almost 25 years old. Other than that? Nada. Obviously, my starting point is to find some affordable bridal gowns. In photography, sometimes you can fake a few things. You know what I mean. Think about props and backdrops. Sometimes, the setting is real. Most times, the image presents a mere illusion of reality. With that in mind, I was on a hunt for an affordable wedding gown. I figured that I could simply modify it, if need be, by clamping the bodice, etc...

Along my path, I first stopped at a thrift store. blah, blah,.. Nah! Nothing there. I really didn't expect to find anything at the thrift store that I would like to use but I thought to give it a try. So, I left the thrift store and continued down the boulevard. Actually, I knew exactly where I wanted to shop next. I had been thinking about this shop and even picturing myself talking to the owner. The shop I am referring to is a small, well run consignment boutique. Years ago, I purchased two beautiful formal gowns for my oldest daughter. She still has them today. In my mind, I had practiced what I wanted to ask. I was going to offer to rent the dresses if the shop owner was willing.

I went into the store and there against the side wall were an array of white bridal gowns in clear plastic zippered bags. I saw price tags ranging from 299.00 to 599.00. uh oh. That was way out of range for me to purchase as a prop. The owner stepped up to me and asked if she could help me. That is when I asked her if she ever rented out her dresses. In her kind way, she told me no but wanted to know what I was thinking. I told her what I had in mind. Then, she told me that she might have a dress in the warehouse that didn't sell. That's when she said, "If you look at it and think it is something you can use...Then, I can bless you with it." Ummm. Ahem. Did she just tell me she would give me a dress for free? Yes, that is what she said.  My heart was rightly 'blessed' simply by her offer. Just to have someone who is willing to give me something made me feel very, very blessed indeed.

She had her helper go to the store room and pick out a few of her favorite dresses. I picked out my favorite. Then, I offered to purchase a couple more that were left hanging. My intention was to give SOMETHING to the store owner for her generosity. She refused to allow me to pay anything. She said that this selection of dresses were left at the store. They did not sell and the owner never picked them up. She didn't know exactly what she would do with them. Long story short. I left the consignment boutique with SIX bridal gowns! FREE! El Noope'! (no out of pocket expense!) Yes, I was blessed today as I drove home with a back seat chock full of fluffy white bridal gowns! Thank you Lord from whom ALL blessings flow!

Me & Melissa check out latest wedding files at Starbucks



Melissa and I met at Starbucks to share our images from our latest Wedding.  This was Melissa's 1st commissioned wedding.  Because she assisted me on almost all of my Weddings last year, I was excited to help her out. 



ooooh, so lovely!  Don't you wish you could see?

Time for another swig!

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. McQuiddy!



Melissa's daughter is behind the lens!  When I saw that pom-pom on top of my head, I was scared it was a glamour don't... 



So, I 'whip my hair my hair back and forth' to just 'shake 'em off'!  Just whip it, Whip it Real Good! & Got my Swag On!  lol! 

BEWARE, ADVISORY WARNING:  If you watch this video,  you just might feel the need to uncontrollably "Whip Your Hair Back and Forth"! 

Willow Smith - Whip My Hair ( Official Video TyhansTV )
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