Summer Time Grilling!

I am participating in Kelli's of There's No Place Like Home Friday Show and Tell. {Click on this link to read more about it.}
I thought it would be fun to share a grilled meal with y'all. It is hot and humid here in the deep south and I just hate to heat up my kitchen. And I love healthy, low calorie meals!

The Menu (To feed 2 adults, 1 child and enough left over for one lunch the next day)

• 2 Tuna Steaks
• 1 lb Fresh Tiny Asparagus (on sale at the local market this week!)
• 2 Medium Sweet Potatoes

You will also need Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Lemon Juice & Greek Seasonings. And of course, a grill and a Microwave.

Marinade the Tuna in Olive Oil (1-2 Tablespoons), Juice of one Lemon and Greek Seasonings.

Microwave Sweet Potatoes for 3 minutes, slice about 1/2-3/4 of an inch thick and set aside. This will enable the potatoes to cook quicker on the grill and they will be ready to take up at the same time the meat and asparagus are ready to take up.

Wash Asparagus and pat dry.

Place the Sweet Potato and Asparagus on the grill, brush with Olive Oil, sprinkle with Sea Salt and Greek Seasonings.

Add your Tuna to the Grill. If you have never Grilled Tuna before, Grill it just like you do Beef Steak. We cook ours done, but like it moist, tender and flaky.

Make sure you turn your vegetables frequently.

Plate it up and
Enjoy!!!

This is so Cute...

...I just had to share. :-)
I got the pattern from Quilt Taffy. The pattern & instructions for this little cutie can be found here Elephant Tutorial and here is the link to the pattern Elephant Pattern

Y'all, this was fun to make. Fun to teach DD how to hand stitch. And just fun! And did I mention EASY! A good way to use up scraps. A good way to bring a smile to a child's face. The first one I made did go to one of DD's friends who was visiting us at the time. Like DD, she is a collector of 'plush' and she was most impressed with the elephant.

On this particular Elephant, DD added eyes with a sharpie. On the next one, I think we will use buttons.

Y'all go check out Quilt Taffy's Site I promise you will enjoy it.

Photos from a Walt Disney World Trip

I want to thank everyone for commenting on my Grandpa's favorite "inside" chair. (I am also blessed to have his favorite "outside" chair as well!!!) Having that chair has really brought back memories. Now, I need to educate myself on reupholstering and new stuffing. All of it is going to need replacing. The front left leg may need a 'real' carpenter to repair it. So... I will need to find someone who knows what s/he is doing. :-)

In the last few days, I have been looking at some old photos. I am a professional photographer, but when I go on vacation, I like to keep a small camera handy, even when I tote around professional gear. I remember this particular trip to Walt Disney World, I only carried what my little fanny pack would hold. My little point and shoot. My DH has laughed and laughed about buying me this camera. He said he should have done it years ago. It has paid for itself over and over b/c I never print the photos!!!! I just load them on the computer, burn them to a CD and look at them later. LOL! "I can buy you several digital cameras for what you have saved me..." Now I ask, "Where is my Nikon D3x? Huh?" Actually, I was still shooting film professionally. I was trying to get my feet wet and get comfortable with digital. As a film photographer for 20 years, and a medium format shooter, this was a hard transition for me. But, for a little point and shoot, these photos are not bad, not bad at all!
Enjoy!

A couple of photos taken with my trusty point and shoot camera (Cannon A/75). I love this camera because it will fit in my purse and no one is safe ;-D!
I believe this first photo was taken...Well I know it was taken in a gift shop somewhere in WDW.

This photo was taken outside the teashop in Epcot "England" right after Illuminations. I love china, I love tea, I love this shop and I loved the lighting of the wares displayed in the window after the store was closed.

I hope that you enjoy the photos!

My Grandpa's Chair

I am participating in Kelli's of There's No Place Like Home Friday Show and Tell. {Click on this link to read more about it.}

And this Friday, I want to tell you about one my my Grandpa's chairs. My Grandpa had two favorite chairs that he always sat in. His favorite inside chair is a beautiful chair and it has a mate (I have no idea who has the mate). Both chairs were sitting in the living room, in front of the big picture window with a marble top table in between them. Grandpa was a chain smoker and he was always smoking, half turned so he could look out the window and still watch us play in the floor. As we got older and became adults, he would still sit in that chair, look out the window and still be able to turn to face us for conversation.

Grandpa was a carpenter, a builder, a designer and an, uneducated by modern standards, architect. During the depression, building was slow. He would do odd jobs, repair jobs, handy man type stuff to make money, in order to feed my Grandma, Dad and his brothers. Sometimes, people who had very very nice homes and possessions... would call him to come do work for them. After he completed the job, they would not have any money to pay him..... Grandpa learned to never leave without some sort of compensation...

One such lady tried to get out of paying Grandpa for a job well done. When he looked around her beautiful home for something of equal value, that she was willing to part with, the items would be worth too little or too much. He did not want to take advantage her or be taken advantage of. He finally said, "Do you have anything else?" She took him out to the barn. There he saw two very old original Jacobean chairs. Webbing was all that was left in the bottoms. Hay had been loaded into them and the cows were eating out of them....

He knew the chairs were worth more than the job he did. But he did not see the situation as taking advantage of this lady. He saw it as rescuing two antique chairs from the fate of being feeding troughs.

He did what repair work was needed to them. Refinished and reupholstered them, cared for them, loved them. He acquired many antiques during the depression era in this fashion. I have two other side chairs circa 1840's-1850's that came from his estate. I know they were payment for a job as well.

This was one of my favorite chairs because this was the one he always sat in. I did not know what had happened to it until a few months ago my Aunt, (my Uncle's Widow) emailed me. "I have your Grandpa's chair (I knew which one she was talking about) in the attic. Your cousin does not want it... You can have it..." What a present!!!

It needs some repair work. A wheel has fallen off and needs to be put back on. The bottom of the leg where the wheel goes needs repair. (My Aunt kept and gave me the wheel.) Grandpa had it upholstered in a silk brocade. Someone has covered a seat portion in car seat velour. (YUCK!!!) I bought a beautiful silk blend brocade that I plan to reupholster the chair in. I will also need to get all new stuffing.

From my Grandpa's Estate, I have many treasures. But this is one of my favorites. This was his favorite 'inside' chair. He was the only person who sat in it. And I loved hearing him tell the story about when he first saw it, cows were eating out of it. LOL!

This is my Friday Show and Share. I hope you enjoyed it.

Outing with Internet Friend, Belinda

First stop... The Smocking Bird! (Lot's of pretty fabric!) Mary Esther (Missy's DD) was our photographer of the day. :-) She does a good job taking pictures.

Belinda (left) Missy (right) looking at fabric and talking. Belinda is holding a bag that contains the RTS Angel Bishop that Judy (sewneat) made for her to smock for Chloe. Missy is sporting the bag she bought from Pam (Sew Gracious).

Belinda has found some pretty fabric!

Mary Esther and Missy did too!!!

Mary Esther took a lot of pictures of a lot of fabric...

.....this one is in focus. ;-)

I think this photo speaks for itself. ;-)

Missy & Belinda

Thank you to Carol and the rest of the staff at The Smocking Bird who were so sweet and gracious to Belinda and me!

And now it is time for lunch!!! Chicken Salad and Fruit plate. Very good!

Belinda is a sweetie and loves her husband and children. :-)

We had a fun day!

Farmers Market Trip

Friday night, DD spent the night with a friend. Sooo DH and I had nothing to do Saturday morning, but lolly gag around. We decided to load up our cameras and go to the Farmers Market at Ross Bridge.

Ross Bridge is where the Senior PGA Tournament is held every year and is a beautiful. Hotel Spa Resort, golf courses, trails, subdivisions, etc. The Farmers Market is fun. Many vender's of Arts and Crafts, live music, etc.

And Flowers!!!

And I almost forgot.... Fruits and Veggies!!!

I bought the best watermelon I have eaten all season. It is so good!!! DD and I ate some this afternoon. :-)

And guess who else love watermelon?

Zoey Girl!!!!!!!

She can eat her weight in watermelon. LOL! We have to spell the word! She went nuts as she watched me cut it up. She cried and begged for it. Zoey loves watermelon and she gets her own bowl. Is my fid spoiled or what? LOL!

Check Out Old Red Barn's Give-a-way!!!

Dana of The Old Red Barn has made a beautiful quilt and guess what? She is going to give it away!!! Click here to read all the details about the beautiful Micheal Miller fabric Designed by Sandi Henderson... Oh, just click the link and read all about it! You can also get there by clicking the link in my side column. Good Luck!

Piano Camp Concert(s) & Birthdays

Our dear daughter spent all last week at Piano Camp held at Samford University's Preparatory Music Department. It is an excellent program and each participant usually steps up a notch after completing the fun, but crammed full of music week.

Friday's afternoon concert was indeed a treat. DD already had a piece memorized for the concert. However, her teacher would not let her make any changes that a person with a natural ear (later on a gift for writing) will tend to want to make. These Un Music teachers/professors let her do what she wanted to the piece and she did! The arrangement was beautiful. She did play it like a race horse and missed a note. I noticed it. That is something we will have to continue to work on. Faster is not always better.

Her is my tiny little thing in her 'camp attire' on a huge beautiful concert stage play a huge concert grand Steinway Piano.

She was so nervous and excited, she almost forgot to bow when she came on stage. LOL!

Here she is with one of her fellow ensemble and one of her music teachers. This was the evening concert of ensembles. It was wonderful and such talent from so many young people!

DD was in charge of the bowing when the ensemble came on stage and after they completed the number. She was so proud of that. Two other children were playing another Steinway Concert Grand opposit of DD and this little boy sitting next to her. They learn these pieces in just a couple of days and then work on perfecting the timing and technique. Amazing.

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Then we have BIRTHDAY!

Saturday a fun time with a small family cookout and presents. Since weight and calories is always an issue and we will be having plenty of treats on the actual birthday, I did not have cake or any type of dessert. Just fresh fruit and it was very good. No complaints from anyone! :-)

And of course, being in a family of photographers... no one is safe!

Papa-ratzzie!

My Father In Law taking photos of DD opening her presents.

The next day we have her friend party.....

10 Candles

Western/horse theme (no, we don't have horses, but like all little girls, she keeps wishing...) And afternoon of friends ice skating and fun!

What a Busy Weekend!

Mary Esther turned 10 yesterday. We had an exciting birthday party at the ice skating rink, a family cookout party Saturday. Very busy. A lot of fun. I think she is so excited and is still reeling from all the excitement.


She also had a week of piano camp at one of the local universities this past week. 8-5 every day. Friday she had two concerts. Solo on Friday afternoon and ensemble on Friday night. Camp attire was the dress for Friday afternoon's solo. Then we had like 1 1/2 hours to rush home heat up some soup, eat, change into evening attire and have her back for the evening concert. She was in charge of the bowing for her group. Very important job. ;-)


With company and birds, more excitement. Her Majesty, the African Queen, I mean- Grey, loves company and attention. But we have to keep her occupied or she will insist on being the center of attention. I put this empty 12 pack can soft drink box on her play top on top of her cage. It kept her occupied, entertained and out of our hair. She did want to eat dinner with us.


Have a great day everyone!

Balanced Achieved!

I have achieved balance on my mantel and want to "show and tell" you about it! Since I want to start participating in Kelli's of There's No Place Like Home Friday Show and Tell. {Click on this link to read more about it.}
I thought I would tell you all about it and show you a photo. :-)

The mantel displays some of my teapot collection, photos I have taken and hand tinted of Mary Esther, some crochet doilies I have collected, (these may have come from Hobby Lobby or Michael's as I have tons from stores to eBay, from those family have made to some I have made.), candle sticks, snuffer and a clock. The clock was truly a bargain. I think it still has the tag on it. Hobby Lobby Clearance for $6.88 or something like that about 2 years ago.

I could not find black candle sticks like I wanted, so I went to Michael's and bought some wooden ones. Then I painted them...several times.... until I got the look I wanted. The cream coloured candle sticks were sitting on a clearance shelf at Hobby Lobby and were calling my name. I bought them. (I have another on the Piano, it is larger.) I think I paid 2 or 3 dollars apiece for them. The faux pewter candle stick is a Dirty Santa gift that I knew would be perfect for that spot and I waited.... and when I saw my chance, I stoled it when I knew it would be retired to me!

I am a professional photographer and the photos I took myself. (Sorry about the glare in the glass of the large photo, no time to photo shop!!!) The small one is of my DD in her Baby Dedication Gown. The larger one is DD in her Heirloom Party Dress. Both photos are hand tinted black and white photographs. To see more of my work, go to my website Images by "Missy"

The snuffer is from Wall*Mart and I paid waaaayyyy tooo much for it. But it worked and the only one I could find that was black.

Tea Pots (How I love tea pots and coffee pots....sigh) The one on the left is a gift from my In Laws and I think they got it at an antique shop in New England. The tea pot on the right is a gift from my sister in law and goes in any room (except DD's) in the house. And I just love it.

The ribbon is ribbon I buy by the rolls to decorate for Christmas and wrap Christmas packages with. I left it on the tea pot handles and candle sticks because it goes with my decor and I like it. I did take down my tree. ;-)

I am proud of the balanced achieved. It is difficult for me and I tend to fret over it. I can see it and photograph it instinctively. But designing it is a different altogether.... I guess that is why there is always a 'designer' assigned to a photographer. LOL!

Now to get busy! We have a birthday weekend for Mary Esther! She has two piano concerts as today is her last day of piano camp. (Hopefully will post photos.) She has a solo this afternoon and an ensaumble quartet tonight. It will be fun! Out of town company, a cookout..... We are going to have FUN!

I am in Love...

...with Heather Bailey's Sewing Studio , it is to die for. With just the items I have around the house, I could design a room like that with just some paint, these items around the house and a few 2x4's. Maybe just a few of those colors. I have to leave one corner for a man to use.... ;-) Mary Esther does not care for pink either. Maybe she is just tired of the Pepto Pink that is on the walls in her room. Well, she picked it. Of course, she was 4 at the time. She is really afraid I will paint the walls of that downstairs room pink. LOL!

If I had a room like that to sew in, I might not ever come out. I might disappear for ever. I do plan, let me rephrase, Mary Esther and I are re planning the downstairs room. Ed does not know yet so don't tell him. We are coming up with a color pallet. A friend sent me photos of her sewing room with lovely colors. Inspiring ideas. :-) I am having a good time looking, dreaming and thinking.

Heather has some new fabric designs coming out soon. I look forward to seeing them when they come out. They will make a nice quilt, skirt, outfit for ME (if she will be caught wearing it) or chic mother daughter outfits.

Wall Hanging Quilt

I hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th with your friends and family. We certainly did.

This past weekend, I started a wall hanging for a friend. It was going to be a throw, but I realized it would never be used so I decided to make a wall hanging. We grew up together. She was one of my best friends and we are still close. Next week is her 50th. Yep, hard to believe. Everyone around us just keeps getting older and we stay the same.

Here are are the panels that I have started. I am not loving the sashing I selected (navy with stars at the bottom) so I will have to make a trip to Hobby Lobby or Hancock's after aerobics to buy some navy blue Moda or Kona (I think I spelled that right. I honestly cannot believe I could not find one piece of navy 100 percent cotton in this whole place that was not linen or denim. LOL!

It will be lovely when through. And she will have a nice addition for her Elvis collection. And I think I will use the Navy stars for the back and binding.

Happy 4th of July

Visit Sew Gracious!

My buddy Pam is giving away this awsome handbag! Take the time to go by her site to take a look at it. Sew Gracious: Gracious GIVEAWAY : Win a Free Bag! Isn't it just beautiful! I have been looking at it for the past few days myself. Looks like I am a little late now... ;-) Make sure that you check out the other items in her Etsy store as well. For yourself or as gifts. She also makes to order!

I Plan to Take it Back!!!

My yard that is. At one time, I gardened a lot. In fact it became an extension to my studio. I would photograph a client in the studio, then take them into the garden and photograph them some more. Then I became a mom. :D I love it! But something had to go and the yard was it. I would sometimes give it a lick and a promise and that would be all. And look what has moved in during my absence! Well, I have decided to take it back!


Yes, that is a copperhead!!! A very tiny copperhead! I took this photo with my Sigma 150/2.8. It was one of the 1st photos I took with the lens as I just got it that morning. Well, he must have a mama and some siblings around. Ed did kill it. Bro. Jeff was a tad disappointed about that. We told him we would be glad to call him the next time we see one.

Over the next year, I plan to take my yard back. Look here for photos of the progress. Now I need to sign off as I have little birdies on the deck looking for food. (Shouldn't they be looking for fresh seed on their own by now?)