Open season

It's applesauce season!!!!!!!

Right now, I'm enjoying a large, warm bowl of my favorite recipe. I *think* I started from a Better Homes and Garden recipe, but then sort of made it my own.

Several friends have asked for the recipe, and I don't mind sharing ... but I sort of cook ... by throwing things into the crock pot. I'll *try* to give actual measurements, but honestly .... it's really tossing things into the mix.

So ... if you like things sweeter, just add more sugar. If not, subtract it.


Karen's Applesauce:

1 bag of Gala apples (8-13 apples ... depending on size)
1 stick of cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 c. sugar
2 tsp. nutmeg

Cut apples in half. Peel apples using the most amazing peeler ever .

Slice apples, then cut the core part out, and chop them into pieces.

Throw them into the slow cooker with cinnamon, brown sugar, sugar and nutmeg ... until it's done. I never really time it. I just run errands, work on photos ... whatever until all the apples are soft.

Once the apples are soft, you should only need to stir them ... and viola! You have Karen's most favorite applesauce EVER! If you like, you can use a potato masher, but often the apples are soft enough to just stir into cinnamon-nutmeggy goodness. :-)

I've made this recipe twice in the last week ... I simply *adore* it — besides, it helps my sore throat feel better.

The cruds

I've got it.

That first sore throat of the season.

Ack.

And ick.

Unfortunately it means I'm awake in the middle of the night. I thought last night might be a freak of nature ... but after today, I'm convinced it's the decongestant I'm taking. :-(

Oh well, I have an awesome husband who keeps this coming:


There is a difference between being single and having the cruds and being married.

In my single days, I only disturbed Esse-Boo when I couldn't sleep. She never appreciated my tossing and turning, but the bed was big enough for both of us ... and she'd go to the other side.

Being married ... well, since Erik comes to bed MUCH later than I do, I'm afraid when I start tossing and turning shortly after he's gone to sleep ... that he won't get a restful night of sleep. :-( But for Esse ... she can't really go to the other side of the bed, because E is sacked out. Now, I'm downstairs pouting about my throat and Esse has my entire half of the bed to herself.

Lucky.darn.cat.

Crossover — Christmas Cards!

I'm LOVING this year's Holiday Cards for Heartland!


Cruise on over to the Heartland Photography Blog to check out more designs.


And for those of you on *our* Christmas Card mailing list, you'll see one (or more) of these designs incarnated on *our* Christmas cards!

COMPLETELY puzzled

So .... we're married. Yay for us.

Now it's time to get all of my paperwork/documentation in order. UUUUUUUUUUGH.

So, the DMV wants me to change my info with them within 10 days of name change ... I need to get my act in gear with the Social Security office ..... and it takes up to TWO MONTHS for me to get a certified copy for the SS people.

'Scuse me. I have a life.

What a friggin headache. Makes me want to NOT change my name.

I loathe this.

# 23 — Play in a real poker tournament

... CHECK!


Sunday, I played in a amateur poker tournament! Yippie!

Lemme say it was WAY different than playing with my poker buddies in Hays. There are formal and official ways to bet and raise. I NEVER knew this! Seriously interesting.

I didn't end up on top ... but I *did* make it to the first break.


But when we "colored up," I only had $3K in chips left. Ouch.

I was small blind, and had a solid hand of pocket Qs, and flopped a Q. Yay! I doubled up ... and then had a straight draw, and even GOT it, but my opponent got a flush on the river. Ugh. I was OUT. There were 4 spades on the board and I *figured* she had it ... but I was pretty tired, and figured, what the heck .... we'll see if she's got it!

It was interesting .... Erik actually observed that things that would've won me a round in my Hays circle (trips) didn't land me on top in the tourney. Interesting, interesting.

Well, another 101 in 1001 list done! Maybe there will be more to come soon!

#94 — Clean/organize the garage so one of us can pull a car in during the winter.

... CHCECK!!!!!!


YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check out this clean garage!

I didn't realize this was on my 101 in 1001 list, but it was excited to see when I saw it was!

Since I didn't realize it was on my list, I didn't take a before picture ... so sorry if you wanted to see our dirty, dirty, dirty garage. But ... let's just say it was littered w/ boxes (from wedding gifts, etc.). My roto-tiller and bike were also placed wherever I wanted.

Now, things are MUCH better organized.


Erik even got me hooks to hang my bike up, so we can pull a car in! :-)


On the side ... things are hung ... or placed in the extra spaces between the 2x4s.

NPR break!

Soooooo, I was on the road earlier this week and have to say I got the BIGGEST laugh out of this story about the guys who did voice overs for the political ads. I'm not interested in discussing politics on the blog here .... just suiffice to say I'll be glad when this election is OVER. From the national to the local, races are just down and dirty. I'm ready for all the mud-slinging to be DONE.

As I was prowling through NPR's Web site, I had a flashback to an earlier blog post about the Little House on the Prairie lawsuit. Yeah, it made it to NPR!!!!!!!! Seriously, un-friendly Family Productions ... it's outrageous. Click HERE to check it out.

Reorganizing!!!!!!!

After we were married, I didn't waste ANY time in reorganizing Erik's ... er OUR ... bedroom.

Before: (please pardon the clutter!)


After: (doesn't it look SO much larger? Better furniture arrangement ROCKS!)


Yes, there are some paint samples on the wall ... and we've picked out one .... anyone want to come help paint???? ;-)

AND today, our AWESOME closet organizers showed up! Now I just need to finalize our closet color, then tear out one built-in ... and move out the clothes ... to get the brand new closet rolling! :-)

At long last! My trip to the corn maze!!!!!

A few years ago, I attempted to go to a corn maze in Manhattan, but it was all short and stubly. NOT a great place to be.

SO a few weeks ago, Erik and I went to The Bison Farm Maze!!!!!!


Check out the design from a birds eye view.



Check out how *fun* these signs are!


I LOVE the entrance of the maze!


Erik being a goober.


Erik stumbled across this can in the maze, despite the "no alcohol" sign. UGH. Erik is a beer snob and doesn't much care for these light beers.


Check out ALL of this corn!


Erik leading the way.


Erik RUNNING away (groan).


These handy numbers had questions to direct us which way to go. Erik got the easy questions (i.e. what noise does a pig make) while I had the not so easy Girl Scout questions.


Us chillin'


Erik being a goober.


There were also fun things to do ... such as something resembling a potato canon, but it used corn on the cob ...


And a pumpkin launcher? Are you KIDDING???? How fun! We need to take my dad on our field trip!


I'm ending on my FAVORITE photo of the day!!!!!!! Aren't all of these differently colored mini pumpkins and gourds awesome?!?!!!!??!!??


Now I'm *dying* to take a couple to a corn maze/pumpkin patch for an engagement session! How FUN!!!!!!!!

I'm trying to NOT wet myself ....

... but I"m not doing a very good job. ;-)

Heather keeps sending along teasers ... and they DO tease me in EVERY way possible!

The birdcage veil was the best idea EVER! Seriously! I LOVE it!!!!!!


Erik's FAVORITE:


Me looking FIERCE:


And a little classic:



She hasn't done so yet, but I *think* Heather will be posting images on her blog. I'll shout when they're up! :-)

Esse the chameleon

Can you see her on our new bedspread? I think she liiiiiikes it.

And right now, she's all snuggly in bed with my husband ... but I just can't sleep. I heard a rumor it was snowing in Wichita at 2.30 a.m. ... and that' snot good news for me. I'll be tell ing you more why later.

Crossover

*swoon*

I love my job!

There are TONS of awesome things happening on the Heartland blog, so be sure to check it out HERE

OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!

Heather is SUCH a tease! ;-)

As *if* I wasn't impatient enough to see her artistic edit, she sends me a teaser today!

This CAN'T be healthy ...

UUUUUUUUUUUGH! Time to find a color we can live with in our closet ... but I want to be able to weave it into other places in our house, such as the dining room.

Anyhow, I *think* we have narrowed it down ... which is a relief! Aren't all of those colors INSANE? Did you ever know there were so many shades of tan and brown?


I *do* have to say I enjoy some of the names of the colors.


Seriously. Who comes up with these names? And can I have a job interview? ;-)

Photo kudos!

I was blog stalking the other day ... and saw this fantastic photo on Kitty Maer's blog.

Check out the entire post by CLICKING HERE.

I'm not sure if Esse boo would be quite so agreeable in sitting still for photos.

Uh-oh ... 365 days to go!

I am a SLACKER!!!!!!!

Only 15 of my 101 items crossed off on my 101 in 1001 list. YIKES!

These items should be easy:
12. Put 10% of my income into a retirement plan
13. Put another 10% of my income into investments
18. Read one book a month for one year (I'm half way done with this one!)
26. Go to Washington, D.C. (scheduled for January)
37. Visit the center of the continental U.S.
42. Make peanut butter fudge (Mmmmm!)
43. Do not get a plastic bag at a retail store for a month (i.e. use a cloth bag I will keep with me)
44. Replace all possible lights in house with more eco-friendly light bulbs (As they burn out, the CFLs are going in).
45. Make one new recipe/week for 3 months
46. Keep my car clean (i.e. no junk rattling around in the back seat/on the floor) for 3 months
47. Floss every day for a month
51. Volunteer as a classroom aid in a local school (to read to children)
53. Read "How to Win Friends & Influence People"
57. Go to Nicodemas, Kansas; learn a little about its history
62. Take my vitamins every day for a month
63. Develop a newsletter for HP (via Constant Contact or some other software?)
65. Make my own hot chocolate mix
69. Attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C. (scheduled for January!)
71. Tour the Boulevard factory in Kansas City
72. Tour the Harley Davidson factory in Kansas City.
78. Get large canvas prints made
79. Get karenmikols.com UP AND RUNNING!!!
81. Go to the Salt Mines in Hutch.
88. Put the odometer on my bicycle.
89. Make a batch of lemonade FROM SCRATCH (well, I don't have to grow the lemons!)
91. Blog stalk a blog COMPLETELY unrelated to photography for ONE MONTH.
92. Keep the dining room table clutter free (i.e. no Karen piles) for one month.
93. Finish sanding/re-staining the wooden chest.
101. Pray night prayer every night for a month.

Ok....so help me choose which of these I should do next! Some of them are in progress ... others, such as touring in KC will have to be planned around a trip to see Erik's parents ... but what item should I check off next? Leave a comment to help me get my tail in gear!

Do it yourself????

I'm into easy .... which is why I didn't make my own wedding invitations. Some people do, and nice for them. Not me. And until now, I've always thought homemade invites looked totally cheap. ACK.

But now .... I think they could look AWESOME!

ANYHOW....I was at Target last night and they have LETTERPRESS invites you can print out at home. I was interested.

Some of them are more pricey:

You can see it online HERE. And HERE is another of their pricier invites.


But others are TOTALLY reasonable:

You can check them out HERE.


OMG these are unbelievable!

You can see them HERE.


Budget friendly (and SUPER CUTE), but I think you'd have to pay extra postage to mail these:

You can see them HERE.


I don't think there would be extra postage for these:

You can check it out HERE.

Classic. Timeless:

They're online HERE. (If your initials are SS, I can see these as invites). ;-)

With some special fonts (NOT the standard ones on your computer, go check out DaFont or 1001), these could be awesome, custom invites!

Nail on the head!

This morning, I woke early (kitty was scratching at the door UGH) and just couldn't go back to sleep. So instead of tossing and turning and possibly disturbing E, I crept out of bed, am down at my trusty Mac, listening to streaming NPR, trying to stay warm with a tiny space heater and blog stalking.

Let me talk about WHY I love reading Jasmine Star's blog. This girl is REEEEEEEEEEEEAL! She shares the good, the bad and the not so pretty on her blog. I've referenced her blog before HERE.

Just ONCE I would like to write something poetic about one of my sessions, the way J* does EVERY day.

Oops, I'm on a tangent.

Ok, so today, I was reading J*'s post HERE and it describes perfectly how I I knew Erik was THE one:

"I don’t think that one day you just know that the person is right for you; it’s that you slowly begin to lose every bit of protest within you and accept that the person is less and less wrong for you, and then you know."

Is this just me, or is this GENIUS?!!?!???!!!

So .... post a comment and let me know how you knew your spouse was THE one! (I'm really looking forward to reading these!)

Happy B-day Mom!

A few weeks ago, mom had an "in the 50s" party to celebrate her birthday.


They even costumed up for the occasion!


Robin even came up for the event!


And dad rolled candy cigarettes in his sleeve to play the part.


Check out how awesome these forks look! Would you believe they're PLASTIC????? They totally look 100% real!


But the REAL star of the party ...


I think Erik had the hots for her. Too bad she went back to the antique shop after the part was over.