A Moment in Time

I've always been part of a photo taking family.  My brothers and I spent most of our summers helping my Aunt take pictures for her business "PRO Photo".  My parents always had a camera handy for those moments we all want to remember.  My dad had a SLR ever since I could remember, and I will always remember his famous words while on vacation, "KATHY, STOP!  I need to get a picture!" 

I got my first camera around the age of 12, a Canon Sure Shot Owl.  If you've seen my basement... I have a lot of "junky" & "not very good" pictures to show for it.  But I can't seem to throw them away because they are my past, and I've learned from all of them.

Something my Aunt always taught us was to study our picture and find the improvement needed.  I've done that a lot over the years.  Not only with the pictures I took for her, but with my own as well.  They aren't all winners... but there is something to learn from every photo you take. 

As I got older, I got better.  In December of 2003 I bought my very first SLR Camera.  A Canon Elan 7E.  I still have it, and I'm not sure I could ever get rid of it.  It was my baby, I learned so much with it.  In the fall of 2005 I ended up switching to Digital, and bought a Canon 20D which I still use today.

While helping my Aunt at the Utah State Fair, we often would go look at the Photographs people had submitted to be judged.  I loved it!  Not long after I bought my first SLR, I started submitting pictures to the Eastern Idaho State Fair.  I absolutely love walking through those buildings looking at all the art, and pondering each picture... A Moment in Time.

It's almost time to submit my favorite pictures I've taken this past year to the EISF. I can't help but think of the ones I've had judged in the past.  Here are a few of my favorites:

One of the first I ever submitted,

 and my very first ribbon... An Honorable Mention

There were a lot of pictures I submitted and never won anything, but I don't care. 

They will always be winners to me.

I've only won one color... Red. Second Place. 

Here are my three that won Red:

And my favorite picture...

Sourdough Adventures...

As I have mentioned before, Briant's favorite "dinner" (not to be confused with his favorite food, which is Pizza) is Bowtie Pasta.  Since before we were married, he would talk up this wonderful recipe from his Aunt Lisa.  Whenever he mentioned this favorite dish, he always talked about the Sourdough breadsticks Aunt Lisa made to go along with the meal.

While making plans to make this dish again this week, I decided to attempt the Sourdough Breadsticks to go along with it.  I found a recipe in my favortie, Better Homes & Gardens, cookbook and decided it didn't look too hard.

First step, the Sourdough Starter:

I started this on Monday, because the recipe said it need 5-10 days before you could use it (depending on the temperature).  I asked my boss a bunch of 'Sourdough questions' and decide to tweak a few things the recipe said to do.  For instance, the recipe said nothing about feeding it throughout the week.  I decided to feed it because it didn't really look alive (bubby) anymore past the first day.  The recipe also called for Honey whenever you fed it, but I wanted it to be a little more sour so I didn't always follow that.

I didn't really take pictures of the making, kneading, consistancy, etc.  A girls got to keep some secrets.

Here, is the finished result after coming out of the oven:

Ugh!!! So mad at Blogger for turning these pictures and not allowing me to turn it back!!!

The recipe made two loaves of bread.   So the breadsticks took the place of the other loaf.

Briant and I determined that they turned out really well... but they could be a little more sour.

Briant was one happy man!!!

Air Show Videos

I know, it has taken me a while to finally get these up.  I just had to put a few up because they are so cool.  Better late then never... as they say.

Please understand, these guys fly fast, and I am in no way a professional "planeographer".  I'm kind short, and everyone was standing up, so sometimes heads got in the way.  Don't let that keep you from watching, I still think they are cool!

Doesn't that just make you want to put your hand on your hear and resit the Pledge of Allegiance?

I was trying to take still pictures & video at the same time... so I didn't get a ton of video.  I think these are among the best.

Idaho Falls AIR SHOW!!!!

We had a pretty good time at the Idaho Falls Air Show. There are definitely some things I would change if I would have known what was going to happen... but no use worrying about the things I have no control over now.
The Air Show all together was incredibly awesome, and the Blue Angels themselves were AMAZING!!! I was doing a lot of both picture taking (with my Canon 20D) & video taking. It was so much fun! Here are some (I took a lot of pictures) of my favorite pictures from the day:

Missile on the A-10 Thunderbolt

Back of the F-15... DUDE!

Migs...

Check out the flames coming out the back!

Twin Beech

F-16 & P-51

If you look close you can see the crazy stunt women on the top wing.

I'm sure roller coasters or even skydiving don't do anything for her.

Stunt plane... not sure of what its name is,

but it did some really cool tricks!

C-130 Fat Albert.

This plane stopped in 1500 feet when he landed... WOW!

F18 Hornet, Blue Angels

I don't know... maybe this one will go to the fair too...

Thanks Briant, for helping me with all the names... I'm not sure how he keeps them all strait!

Potential Winners

While hanging out with my Aunt the other day, we decided to spend some time taking pictures. These are a few of my favorites... mind you, I took 144 picture total. I'm thinking of entering some of them into the fair along with THIS PHOTO.

Which ones would you pick as winners?

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

Candles & Carpet...

We just got our carpets cleaned! We've been meaning to do this for a few months, we just haven't gotten around to it. Due to a recent experience we decided it was finally time. "Let me esplain. No, there is too much, let me sum up." We spilled some wax from a candle on the carpet.

Before I explain how this happened, PLEASE don't let your kids see these videos... it might give them a bad idea.

Just so you aren't in doubt as to how to play the game, here is a clip to answer all your questions.

I tried again to get the lavender colored candle (the one that ended up on the carpet) put out, I just wanted to do it once more & be done with it. It was really hard... I got really close... but in the end I just blew them out. I would be impressed if somebody could do that.

Thanks to Mike at Sunrise Cleaning & Restoration. He did a great job cleaning our carpet.

PLEASE REMEMBER: This game is only for Adults. Actually more appropriately, 26 & above. Don't let your kids see you play. It's pretty fun, if you don't spill wax on the carpet.

I just turned 25 & they say when you turn 25 your frontal lobe is fully developed. I wonder if I got a recall brain, or if it just wanted one last little spree before maturing, because I've found myself saying two times in the last month, "That probably wasn't the smartest thing to do."

2 Years.....

It's been fun remembering this joyous day two years ago... after all it was the BEST day of our lives.

Yesterday, Briant and I went to the temple with my parents and did SEALINGS. We like to do this on or around our anniversary to remember when we were sealed for time and all eternity! What a special day that was for us, and we have loved looking back and remembering...

I will never forget seeing Briant for the first time in his tux, and walking out of the temple together. I had an overwhelming feeling of love for him.

I can't forget all the people who came short & long distances to be with us on our special day.

I'll never forget the only time I cried all day long was when my Mom told me she was proud of me.

I remember the fun time we spent walking around the temple grounds together. Even though we had videographers & photographers telling us where to stand and when to smile... we found our own special moments together in those first few hours as Husband and Wife.

I'll never forget our first dance...

And of course... who could ever forget this...

I love watching our Wedding video (in fact I watch it far more than I ever watched 1989 Christmas when I was a kid). I love remembering that day. I love Briant so much! He is truely my best friend. I have seen how my love for him has increased beyond what it was the day we were married!