FUNNY GUYS

by Robin

Stop by the Rescue Barn to pick up my thumb drive  and thought I'd try out my camera on a couple horses.


These guys took my attention first.

Of course, the white one went down to roll over and when I ran back, it got back up... so none of those shots.



But, they were happy to continue biting on each other for my photo-shooting enjoyment.



There is a part of me that feels like this reminds me of my sister and me when we were kids.

ha ha.

Blessings,
Robin

More ACTION - Nikon D3200 shots

by Robin



This afternoon, I thought I'd stop by the small horse farm down the road from me while I was out running errands.  They have a foal out there and it looks like they weaned him this week from his Mama.  Very friendly, but definitely wanting somebody to meet his needs!!

So, I pulled over and tried my continuous shoot and switching out of lens.

I think I could have still done a better job of focusing but I'm not going to beat myself up on it this week.  There was a fence between us and he took off into a nice trot before I was fully prepared.



Then, he broke into a gallop, which was just perfect for me.



I prefer the above shot...more extension.



The one thing it proved is that I can get those extended trot shots that I have been wanting for the rescue horse farm.

Below, I couldn't even look through the view finder because of the fence but simply raised it up and pushed the button to see what I got.   Unfortunately, it was a very focused mid-fence line. But, little guy was as cute as he could be whining for Mama.



And then, I got to switch out lenses and take a couple distance pics of the horses in the other pasture. Looks so peaceful.



Very cool.



So that's it. Maybe tomorrow I can some more features.

Blessings,
 Robin

NEW!!!! Nikon D3200

by Robin

First, I really want to thank my hubby for blessing me with this new gift.  My "other" camera was just not cutting it when I needed it to perform with action and low light.

Anyhow, I am still sooooooo on the lower end of the learning curve, but I'll get there ... with enough tutorials.

So far, I'm still in between auto and manual modes.  Today, finally switches to manual.

Here are this morning's pics. Although, I'm totally bummed because I took them in raw and then couldn't get my favorite pic monkey site to recognize them.  So, I may have to stick with "fine" setting until I can figure out what I'm doing with raw data.  These were in raw data and then I had to screenshot them so I could share quickly.

I even baked a few cookies to see how I could get depth of field and focusing differences.




So much fun....  it will take months, if not years to master.  You know I love to photograph food & the garden.  Here are those test pictures.



But, I can already see, I'm getting the low light shots I want (Lulu in her cage, grooming herself, in a dark room.) and ....



The dogs outside today in running motion and caught on two legs.  I have pics where 3 legs aren't even on the ground and they're completely in focus! Yeah!




I love the 4 frames per second.  It helped me to capture this photo that bunnies really do pray for carrots.




Well, that's just a small taste of the 100 pics I took this morning.  Although I have some serious kinks to work out, it looks like this was exactly what I was wanting.

I've got 16 days until Christmas to figure this thing out to take amazing Christmas morning pictures!

LOL

Blessings,
Robin

ROBINBARS and HOT MAN POCKETS

by Robin

I love it when I have time to create good food in the kitchen.

Here is my version of the Larabar.  I made a nutty version last week.  I went to grab ingredients to make one a little more dessert-like.  This has vegan carob chips, plus dates, cherries, and coconut. Wow, I feel guilty, but I shouldn't.  It's soooo healthy.





Then, we were watching a commercial this morning and saw something like this being made.   I couldn't wait to buy the ingredients.  Essentially, it is a manwich (or taco seasoned meat can be used too) with shredded cheese on the inside and wrapped in pizza dough.  I made up several of them and now they can be used on my busy day tomorrow.




Speaking of busy day tomorrow, I need to go prep for class!!  I'm the teacher!

God bless!

THROWBACK FRIDAY

by Robin

Only.... it isn't an old picture.  I took it about an hour ago.  It sure does remind me of the old times when they were little boys and inseparable.   Now, they're practically men (one IS!) and big enough to drag their own mattresses over into the other room.

DONE VOLUNTEERING

by Robin

Not completely done volunteering, but we're done with the horses for now.  I definitely cannot return because I have injured my left elbow with the repetitive stress of mucking stalls.  But, we *definitely* enjoyed our time there.

To the left is "Gus" a rescue thoroughbred.  Of course, he's a beautiful guy, but what I see in this picture is a young boy who didn't want to come work in the heat and horses.  Over three months, he quit complaining about that.  He gained a sense of duty and a bond with the horses.  In the beginning, he walked right up to a horses rear and we all screamed for fear he would get kicked.
By the time we were done, he was very comfortable around the barn horses.  He still struggled with the halter, but he tried for a long time before he asked for help.


I can see us returning at some point once school settles down and my arm gets better. I see this as a complete success for building my bond with my son and for him to have some type of rite of passage in maturing.  He got structure in a very fun way.



And here he is with Nala.  Nala was also a rescue who hated people when she first came to the rescue farm.  She has a wonderful mom now and gets daily care from us volunteers.  Look at that sweet face.  He loves her and she loves him.



This was our "last day" and we were fortunate to help train our next crew.  I hope they have as great of an experience as we did.

I met a new friend along the way.  There was purpose in me going besides bonding with my son.  I had a divine appointment to meet with a hurting mom who needed prayers.  I was able to share some of my struggles and she did the same.  I hope to stay connected with her as she begins her homeschooling journey in our county.  

She was our partner on Thursdays and if we go back, we'll join up with her.

This picture is me with Nala who was falling asleep in my arms.  We were laughing because she totally put all her head weight on me.  I'm a sweaty mess from having cleaned stalls and filled water buckets, but it was too cute not to include.



Off we go to Crystal River!!  Time for the last vacation before school starts up.
Robin

Eighteen!!

by Robin

We survived childhood and now we move onto manhood!!  LOL

Last time I blogged, I was letting you know he got hired by Publix.  He loves his job.  

He was called, the night before his birthday, to do a "sting" operation. He was so excited to go undercover and try to buy cigarettes and lottery tickets at another store. He was so nervous.  He put on shades.  He asked for them.  She asked for his ID.  He gave it to her.  She glanced down and then gave the cigarettes to him.  :(   He then pretended to forget his wallet and leave the counter.  


Sadly, the clerk was going to let him and she was get reprimanded for it.   But, for him, being a spy was like a huge gift. LOL.

College starts back soon and we're praying for scholarship money and good grades.  He is taking quite the load of science, labs and math. Not for the faint of heart! 

Blessings,
Robin

LANDING A WHOPPER OF A JOB!!

by Robin



Bet you thought I was going to talk about fast food jobs!! Right??

Our son has been trying to get on with Publix Corp. for a few months and he finally got the timing right with going in there just as they were pulling applications for interviews.  He had his first interview a couple days after graduation.  Then, we went on vacation to GA and when he came back, he was called in for the 2nd interview.  I guess he passed that very well and they took a drug test on him.  The next couple trips, he was called in to do paperwork.  Today, he goes to orientation class!!

I know this is a LOT of work for landing a bagger/stocker position but I think it shows what type of care Publix puts into picking out their employees. As we have journeyed along the past month and shared his story, people have told us over and over again about how wonderful it is to work for Publix.

We couldn't be happier that he has a job that he can grow with and keep as he continues college.  Even if he transfers, we are hoping that he will be able to transfer to another local Publix near his college campus.  Of course, I don't like to talk about that day because it will make me cry to think of the day he leaves home, but it is a good thing.

Thank you Publix for choosing our son.  I'm pretty certain that he'll be one of your hardest working kids.  I know he is my right hand here when his father is gone to work.

Love Ya Son!
Mom

GARDEN UPDATE - In no particular order!

by Robin

Dried Black beans


Broccoli seeds.



I'll show you later how we went from the bundle to a container but it was pretty simple and we captured more seed then we ever have before.



You used to be able to read the sign that said "Lulu's Garden", named after our bunny.  The herbs and lettuce are growing great in here.



The Ugly Ripe have faded due to the heat and so these are taking it's place.  We call them Big Tasty Maters.  They're coming in, just in time.





Okra are going crazy with the heat.  They always do.





I had a trellis for beans to grow up but it was completely taken over by the Campari and Cherry tomatoes. I may even see a little cucumber vine getting in on the trellis action too.



These are the Mayflower drying beans.  Not very successful this spring.



6 ft, at least and growing.





I have radishes that are over 3 ft high and blooming but have not produced a single bulb at the bottom.  I'm thinking we'll try that again in the fall when we can have cooler weather. My onions are monstrous.


What a tangled mess of yellow squash, sweet basil, jalapenos (got choked out), radishes, tomatoes and bell peppers.  I'm desperately trying to save the bell peppers from being choked out. There is no foot space here when I come in to get the tomatoes.



Well, ok, that is the main spring garden.  My acorn squash and pickling cucumbers were all ruined by larva eating them.  Yuck.

Thanks for visiting!

GA VACATION & RE-DEDICATION to PLANTS!!

by Robin

Ok, so we finished up with graduation, then took a vacation to Georgia to see my nephew graduate!!

Here are 2 of the 3 graduates in our family. My S. Carolina niece is going to graduate next weekend too.  

My niece was part of the special music for the ceremony. She'll be a Senior next year!



Here we all are together. My sister, me, nephew, son and youngest niece.  Missing a few kids, but that's how it goes sometimes when they walk off.



Awww, love this.


My youngest Rock Star.



Again, I have hundreds more photos, but they all need to be downsized before they can come here and well.... there's just no time for that at the moment.

Taking care of critters and doing mounds of laundry!!




But, it was always my promise to myself that once life slowed down this summer, I would go back to eating my plant-based diet again.  I would stop eating fast food and go back to drinking more water and less sodas. Get rid of the processed foods and turn to whole foods.



Yesterday morning, I picked fresh organic blueberries, then stopped at the local market to get many goodies for the weekend so I wouldn't have an excuse not to eat healthy.  Above, you can see me in front of my 6 ft tall tomato plants.

Here is my plan for sides tonight, thanks to the inspiration of Pion 'r Wom'n.  Corn on the cob with a seasoned bell pepper and fake butter topping.  Wrap and foil and put on the grill.



Here was another take on something she made, but I added Brussel Sprouts to my potatoes. This will go in the oven easily.



Yesterday, I made slaw and deviled eggs for the boys.   I think we may thaw a packet of some Red Grouper from back a couple months ago.  Jack and I picked up these beauties in the Gulf of Mexico.




Ok, well, I had my share of fun bringing them in too!!



So, that's the nutshell of how May went down.

Blessings to you all!
Robin

MAY GRADUATION! - Simon Peter's

by Robin

CONGRATULATIONS to my son!!!  We are so proud of you!!!



(Above, we have just finished handing him his diploma and watched a 3 minute video of his baby to teen pictures over-layed by our speaking blessings, words of gratitude and Scripture to our graduate. It really was so hard not to cry.  I think Jack may have shed a few too.  Luckily, he didn't have to worry about mascara running like I did.

I am so thankful for the beautiful weather we had and the blue skies as the backdrop for our hat toss.  Awesome!  My silly boy is on the far left.



Twelve families came together to throw one terrific graduation ceremony and reception!! It was so much fun.  We started early with fundraising yard sales, bbq & pizza nights!  Then, we all chipped in some $$.  Before you know it, we had secured a location, ordered diplomas, caps & gowns and then we planned the food and decorating.  As you can see below, my area of volunteering was the food, specifically fruits and veggies. We filled the entire truck with goods and then had a chopping party with all the young ladies from a couple graduate families and my boys.  Believe it or not, we knocked out washing, cutting & bagging all this food in less than 4 hrs.



The morning of graduation, we had this spectacular spread of food.  Thank you to all the Junior Moms who helped us pull this off while we were busy.... um....



..... doing hair and visiting with out-of-town family.    (I even had a good friend make my hair super-special for the ceremony. Thanks J!!)



There are hundreds more photos and even some coming from our professional photographer!  That was such a smart move so that we didn't need to focus on blurry pictures but enjoying the moment.  After all, it is monumental to get a kid from pre-K to 12th grade (& almost through an AA) and the tears flowed freely.