Camping, Mountains and Lakes.... Oh My!

For this Fathers's Day, the kids and I treated their dad to a "back to basics" weekend, in the mountains! Which meant, 3 days of NO electronics. Of course we brought a cell phone, in case of emergencies... but we left it in the van the whole trip.  The weekend was full of a lot of "firsts"... Here's how it went... Photo Overload :)

Mediterranean Chicken Dinner

I've been trying to eat healthier, and my husband has signed on to be my personal chef. I couldn't more thrilled. One night, he made me this Mediterranean influenced dinner and it was delicious. All of the flavors just blended well together. The chicken was so tender. Most importantly, when it's hot out.. this was super light. 

I hope ya'll enjoy!

Saturday... the new 'fun'day

I've been working a lot at work. The kids and I are still a little sick with sinus issues, but I wasn't going to let the stress from the work week and our little illnesses stop us from having some kind of fun today. So I let the kids have a little parental approved mischief. 

I promise... no kids were harmed while filming this ;)

Sweet Pea Rose

As I walk and take photos (of almost everything)... I came across this vine of beautiful flowers.  They look very similar to roses and upon further research... they are a type of rose.  I'd love to have these vine  over my fence. 

PANCAKES!!!

I've always been a fan of pancakes. IHOP, Bisquick, Aunt Jemima... Loved them all! When I got into baking, pancakes was one of the things that I needed to learn. The box stuff has gotten so expensive, plus "things" in the ingredients that may or may not be bad for you... Who has time for all that? I don't. So, instead... I make them.

52 Week Photo_Week 7 - Sunflare

This week was hard for me to get out there and take photos. We've been busy in the Hiser household.
But, in an effort to keep up with my weekly challenge, I've decided to use some I've taken this year, just wasn't from this week. :(

Sunflares

Meanwhile, in Kellville...

In our little world, the new year has brought us new projects. 

What we have accomplished... 

Tim built his fence for his garden. I've got to say, this year's garden is the size of the ENTIRE backyard we had at our old house. HUGE!  So far this fence costed us... drum roll please... $15! But it cost me quite a few nights of massages. All we had to buy (so far) is the wire that's holding the rails to the posts.  What we still need is chicken wire to keep out the not-so friendly neighborhood dogs, as well as other critters.

Me? Well, I've been doing a few minor interior projects. I say minor, because it's nothing compared to building a fence, PLUS it really sounds minor... But, I've been painting every ounce of trim, doors, crown molding and foot boards. Oh, and I gave a fireplace a white boost as well. This house is huge compared to our old one, so it's no where near done. LOL. Soon, I will be and then I will be priming these walls.

Tim has planted this weeks seeds... Spinach, broccoli, peas and lettuce outside. He also has his various tomatoes and various (green, red, purple) peppers and hot peppers growing in his seed boxes inside.

Tomatoes - week 1

We have started the walls in the living, dining and family rooms. The seams are pulled and now the tape is going up. So excited for this project.
Pull seams, tape seams, sand, primer, then paint!

In 2 weeks, I can say "GOOD BYE, ADIOS, GOOD RIDDANCE. PEACE OUT" to this ugly green carpet!

"A person's worth should never be defined by what they can buy, but by what they can build." - Tim Hiser

52 Week Photo_Week 6 - Eyes

I feel this week's challenge should be for Halloween, or at the very least Sting's "I'll Be Watching You" should be playing in the background... eyes can be creepy. 

I think I've captured them in a way where they speak moods. My husband's eyes can speak many words, and he can do that very VERY well!

He hates when I take pictures of him (mainly cause I over do it lol), so for me to be up in his face (and eyes) he was a super champ about it.

But another thing I like, was being able to capture other things IN his eye. What he saw, I could see.

Our patio window and to the left of his eye, you can see Joey sitting at the table

Joey's silhouette

Me, w/the camera up in his face

This was a fun little experiment. 

52 Week Photo_Week 5-Fruit

I wasn't really sure how I was going to pull this one off because I wasn't in the mood to drive 20 minutes to the nearest grocery/produce store for fruit. 

Luckily, as I was scavenging my land for other things to photograph, I came across wild berries. *Can the universe be ever so kind to have me come across a winning lottery ticket?*

Wild Berries

of some sort

I've been trying to do the research, and so far I'm not sure what I have here. It could be Persimmon. It could be a Silky Dogwood. I have no idea. I'm 99% positive that it's a wild berry. Berries are fruit and unless that has changed at schools too, (Story for another day) here we have it. 

52 Week Photo _ Week 4-High Angle

High Angle, huh? Well, I got as high as I was going to...lol

 Not my greatest, but I completed this week's challenge... so I'll toot my own horn to that.

52 Week Photo _ Week 3-Children

Week 3, (which I almost had a hard time doing) was children. Because of work and school schedules, I waited until last minute and these were taken Friday morning. 

This is how my kids watch cartoons together. 

And exactly that spread out is how they'll get along.

52 Week Photo _ Week 2-Clouds

Week 2 brings me to taking pictures of clouds. Not too difficult, but certainly not easy especially when you only have 1 day that provides clouds... Nonetheless, here they are

A frosty morning this picture was taken on

Storm clouds passing the shining sun

Storm clouds passing the shining sun

The storm finally passed, and it was blue skies for a backdrop

The sunrise coloring the clouds

52 Week Photo _ Week 1-Self Potrait

It's Friday!!! My 1st week for the challenge is Self Portrait. Let me just say how hard this is for me. As much as I'd like to edit the hell out of my face... I can't do it for real, so I feel obligated to leave all the blemishes (yikes) and just edit with effects. So I did. 

I had fun with it... As much fun as you can anyways ;) 

52 Week Photo Challenge

Last year I did the 'Twelve in 2014' photo challenge/journal. A once a month photo journal of my favorite photo(s) of my kids.  I loved it. Sometimes it was hard to capture photos of my kids though. This year, I'm challenging myself even more. 

Here's to 2015 bringing me the 52 Week Photo Challenge:

I invite ANYONE with a camera to join in. And if none of you don't.... "Off with your heads"..LOL. 

Seriously, I'm taking this challenge to better my skills. It's always more fun to do with someone, but I'm a big girl ;)