Where have "The Bonar Times" gone?

My sister affectionately refers to our blog as "The Bonar Times" because there is usually a new post to read every morning.

This fall is B-U-S-Y, however, and I've just fallen behind on our personal blog. But it's been all because of business.

Check out this album design I was reviewing and providing feedback on:


And check out Cristina and Josh's awesome wedding slideshow on the Heartland Blog:


And also Amber and Bret's wedding slideshow on the Heartland Blog:


And this doesn't involve any of the leaf raking, dirt moving, compost moving, lattice hanging we've been doing to get ready for winter!

So, I have some time this evening (when I really should be cleaning bathrooms, I might add) to create some blog posts and schedule them out.

The future posts will include some of our furry feline, because she's always up to something new. ;)

Interesting!

So, everyone here knows I'm obsessed with reading Better Homes and Gardens, right?

One of their small little blurbs mentioned Thinnerware. My attention was had. Check out how pretty the plates are:


And here's the COOL thing: see those two flowers clustered together in the upper right? That's about the size of a serving of meat. The big flower on the bottom right-ish? That's 1/2 cup of food.


The lowest ring in this bowl? 1/2 a cup (so you can easily estimate your cereal!). The second ring? 1 cup. The third ring? 1.5 cups.


And check out this cool, curvy plate. I think I like it best, but it's not available until (hopefully) next year.

I don't particularly count my servings, but I have to admit, this is a clever way to do so. I *might actually* pay better attention to serving size instead of telling myself that 1/2 of a plate of brown rice is one serving. ;)

Neewollah

Yeah, I'm a slacker. So deal with it! ;)


This week is Neewollah in Independence, Kansas. Oh my! (For those of you who are in the dark, Neewollah is Halloween selled backwards! It's a week-long party in that town). I lived there and worked 2 Neewollahs.

When I left, everyone asked "Are you coming back for Neewollah?" ... because it's like the big homecoming. My answer was usually a stutter. How could I explain to those who just loved this week of mayham that it was completely and utterly exhausting!!??!? Yeah, it's fun if you show up, eat carnival food and watch the parades. But what about if you've been working your booty off to put out a special tab before the event? That's a 60 hour work week. And the week of? Count on 80 hours easily.

I'm tired just thinking of it now.

Anyhow, tonight is the Doo-Dah parade, where local businesses try to outdo one another in silly floats. Let's just say that if my memory serves me correctly, copious amounts of alcohol is also involved.

Anyhow, last year, I found a webcam of downtown Independence during Neewollah!!!!! How fun is that!??!?! To check it out, CLICK HERE. :)

A BIG shout out to my homies who are still working their booties off to cover it: D, C, G, and A. I wish the Independence Reporter (the town newspaper) actually had an ONLINE NEWSPAPER (what a CONCEPT!) so I could read about the events. Guess I'll just remain in the dark. :(

;)~

Ben Folds LIVE! :)

Last night, Erik and I were in Wichita to see musician Ben Folds. It was good times. :) (Don't you think he looks like he should have his own dot com company? Sort of has the CEO of Zappos look going on).

I'm honestly more familiar with Ben's work from when he had an entire band, so seeing him solo was different. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it was really cool because the audience became his backup singers. It was really incredible! He'd sing to us and we'd back him up ... and there were portions of the show where he's direct a 3 part harmony and incorporate it into the song (which concluded with him directing us from ON TOP of his piano — that instrument sure took a beating).

One thing that surprised me was seeing some kiddos. Like ages 8 to 10. Ummmm... Ben has a potty mouth. Not sure I'd take my 8 to 10 year old to see him in concert. But he DID do some of the music from Over the Hedge.


After he sang the entire, uncut version, I looked at Erik and said "I imagine they put a different version on the soundtrack to sell to little kids." ;)~

Ok, I'm trying to get to the water aerobics class (yeah, it's the arthritis one, so laugh at me!). He's actually in concert in Lawrence TONIGHT for any of you who are interested (or Erin, I know you're in the KC area!). For ticket info to tonight's show, CLICK HERE.

The Meaning of Marriage

Once, Fr. Dan said to me: "Marriage is the partnership for the whole of life." Good, poetic and true, but WHAT DOES IT MEAN?!???? It seems very scholarly and Baltimore Catechism-ish to me .... ya think?

WELL, a friend and I were talking about if we're where we thought we'd be when we graduated from high school .... it was an interesting conversation, and he had some great insight about marriage, which I thought I'd share with YOU blog readers. :)

My friend said: "I'm glad that [she] had a different dream, and it has been freeing letting her dream become my dream."

I think my friend's comment is a very practical application of Fr. Dan's words.

Happy Saturday!

Workin' it!

The blog's been a bit slow lately ... doing a TON of work behind the scenes here at Heartland. It's good to be busy and have lots to do ... but it isn't always picturesque.

Mike shot me over a few photos from Amber and Bret's wedding.


I had to show Mike (the city kid) how to move a bale of hay. *sigh* ;)~


It was chilly, hence the reason Amber and I are wearing coats.

Maybe I'll find seconds to breathe in a few days, and then have more regular content to contribute here.

Perhaps Erik will contribute in my absence? ;)~

Crossover — Bria + Adam; Cristina + Josh; Amber + Bret

I've been a BUSY BEE this month. If you're waiting on an e-mail back from me, it's because I'm up to my ears in photos!

A quick check in on what I've been up to.

Bria and Adam's beautiful family HERE.


We're lucky to have clients that are up for our antics. I'm not sure most brides would be OK with being photographed with an axe on their wedding day, but Cristina rocked it out! :) More photos HERE.


Most recently, we photographed Amber and Bret's wedding in Newton. Isn't Amber rocking it out???!??!? :)


And I loved that the guys wore coveralls with bow ties. Seriously one of a kind! :)

More photos are HERE! :)

RIP 101 in 1001

Well, it's over. This zany project I started in January 2007 has come to a close.

Erik asked me if I was glad I did this crazy little project ... and I am glad I have. I needed an excuse to do some things I wanted to get around to doing ... like getting back to recreational reading or writing letters to Jeanel again.

I was able to check 45 items off of the 101 in 1001 list (almost half of the list) .... not bad! I think that if I'd have been able to check every item off of my list, then my goals would have been set too low. At the same time, since I accomplished about half of them, I didn't set my goals too high either. Some of the items I *could* have done, but chose to spend my time in other ways.

Here's what didn't happen ..... and a reflection on it. In truth, this will likely turn into a "bucket list" of "things to do before I kick the bucket."

3. Learn how to speak rudimentary Italian
Well, it was well intended, but I didn't get very far. Rats.

4. Go on a vineyard tour in Italy
Oh how I want to do this! Perhaps once I get a bit better with Italian.

5. Learn to juggle
No real reason I wanted to learn this, other than it's just silly. And it'd be cool, right?

6. Earn as much from Heartland Photography in one year as I did from any previous job
Actually, this is CLOSE. In 2008, Heartland grossed more than I made at the HDN. BUT any biz owner will tell you grossing and netting things are two different stories. This is a strong year as well, so we'll just see.

7. Adopt a child internationally
Not yet, but someday....

8. Learn how to play (basic) piano
I'm a slacker. I have a great teacher, but just got busy with L-I-F-E!!!!!

10. Develop a long-term documentary project
I have an idea, I just need to get off my duff and do it!

11. Attend WPPI in Vegas
HOPEFULLY it will happen in 2010! We'll see.....I'd love to see it become a yearly event.

12. Put 10% of my income into a retirement plan
Um....let's not talk about my slacking on this front, ok?

13. Put another 10% of my income into investments
Ditto #12 here.

14. Play the stock market
I sorta do this ... I have investments so I guess I *technically* do, but I don't have a specific stock to watch/cheer for.

15. Buy a share of stock in Apple Inc.
Ditto #14.

16. Travel in Africa (again)
TOTALLY on my bucket list!!!!!

17. Become a member of a wine club
With the recent change of shipping laws in the state, I'm hoping I will be able to do this sooner rather than later.

20. Buy a gold coin
Ditto #14.

21. Eat veggies grown ONLY from my garden for one summer
We cheated and got some lettuce from the store, as well as one or two other things, but for the most part, we ate what we grew and grew what we knew we'd eat, which is a big accomplishment. Next year, I'd like to add eggplants and rhubarb to our garden offerings. We'll see ....

22. Practice yoga 2 times/week for six months
Yeah, I tried and was good for about 6 weeks, but then stunk it up. I have 2 gripes about yoga at the Y here in Salina. 1) The classes are SHORT. Like 30-45 minutes. Seriously, what's up with THAT?!?!?! 2) The times are all early morning. There's a noon class twice a week. Just not fit to my later schedule. Sigh.

24. Be interviewed on NPR
Not happened yet. But maybe someday....

25. Go to Mt. Rushmore
I think it sounds like fun, but Erik didn't want to head north this summer. Maybe next summer!

27. Join a fantasy team
I slacked!

29. Fly first class
Yeah, maybe when I go to Africa .... long flights are really when I need the extra leg room!

32. Book 20-24 weddings/year
Working on it! But 24 is our max! Mike has a growing family and eventually Erik and I will have a growing family. We're in business to run our business, not to have our business run US!

33. Take a SCUBA diving class
They offer these at the Y. I should really look into it.

34. Have something ELSE published in Better Homes & Gardens magazine
Working on this!!!!

35. Have a wedding featured in a magazine
Working on this, too!!!!!

37. Visit the center of the continental U.S.
No good excuse. We don't live too far and just haven't done it. :(

39. Finish one of my "in progress" quilts
Yeeeeeeeah. I'm a slacker.

40. Keep tax information current on a monthly basis (i.e. don't wait until the end of the year to get organized!)
Well, it wasn't monthly so far, but I started early in the year and got things organized, so it sorta counts, right?

41. Send birthday cards to everyone on my birthday calendar for one year
Um, no dice. Bad Karen!

44. Replace all possible lights in house with more eco-friendly light bulbs
There are a few more that we're waiting on to burn out!!!!!! I don't want to just toss out something that works. It would feel wasteful!

48. Take a dance class with ERB
Need to find the time and a way to bribe Erik into this....

49. Learn to belly dance
I actually signed up for the class here in town, then my schedule totally interfered. :( I should do this again. The rec offers them and they're not outrageously priced either.

50. Develop and implement a regular backup system for my computer
I back up manually when I have something to back up, know where I"m going to off-site back up, but am a SLACKER and haven't done it. I suck.

51. Volunteer as a classroom aid in a local school (to read to children)
On occasion, I'll substitute as a teacher in a classroom. That's enough chaotic children for me.

52. Document the birth of a child
Totally bummed this didn't pan out, but if anyone wants their child's birth documented, lemme know!

53. Read "How to Win Friends & Influence People"
Paul listened to this on MP3 on our way to San Diego ... I was asleep part of the time ... does that count?

54. Participate in the Bike Across Kansas
Slacker, slacker, slacker .....

56. See the northern lights
Sigh. Totally wanna do this.

57. Go to Nicodemas, Kansas; learn a little about its history
We just need to take a road trip .... it would knock out a few of these!

58. Photograph Castle Rock at sunrise
Ditto #57.

61. Read pages 1&3 of the newspaper EVERY DAY for a MONTH
So when I added this to my list, I was in Hays and there were stories on p. 3 of the newspaper. Salina has ugly ads on p.3. I probably read the paper more here in Salina than I did in Hays, but still not every day.

62. Take my vitamins every day for a month
Slap my wrist...

64. Have a photo published on Trash The Dress Web site
Working on it!!!!

67. Photograph a wedding in Hawaii
Anyone getting hitched on the islands? I wanna come!!!!

70. Go to groundhog day activities in PA!
Wouldn't this be fun? Fun, but cold!

73. Photograph a family for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
Had a few "almosts" this year. I observed a session ... I feel ready for when a session comes my way.

74. Participate in a triathlon (as a team member, not solo!!!)
Maybe next year.....

75. Get my 3 a day for an entire month!
Um, yeah. Not even close. :(

76. Enter photos in a competition
I need to get on this ....

78. Get large canvas prints made
I had large metallic prints made, but not canvas prints. Sort of half done on this one. I actually know exactly which wedding photo I want as a large canvas print, just haven't had it made yet. Sigh. Slacker.

80. Go visit Bobby Ann & Vern in their winter nest, catch spring game while in Arizona.
Scheduled for this winter! Probably won't see some spring games, but will go to 'Zona. :)

81. Go to the Salt Mines in Hutch.
This would be a fun day trip! Anyone from Wichita wanna meet in Hutch?

84. Re-do the master suite in Erik's house (bedroom/closet/bath)
1 of 3 is a start, right? The closet is done .... and really the other 2 rooms only need to be painted.

87. Have an article I write published in an industry magazine (wedding/portrait photography industry)
Working on it!!!!!

91. Blog stalk a blog COMPLETELY unrelated to photography for ONE MONTH.
The thought behind this was to get me off all my obsessive photo blogs. I haven't stalked other blogs, but being my own boss now, I don't kill nearly so much time on blogs as I once did. So that's a positive thing, eh?

96. Get 2008 wedding album designs completed/to the printer/binder before 2009 weddings begin.
We totally FAILED on this one for many reasons. Let's just say my designer and I learned some valuable lessons and are on track to finish up all the 2008/2009 albums before our 2010 weddings start. :)

Why oh why?

Inevitably, whenever we go to stay somewhere other than our house, I'm often commenting "Why does the king bed here seem larger than the one we have?" We just chalked it up to hotels having "California King" sized beds ... but my friend, Kristine, mentioned in most king beds she had seen, there were 2 twin-sized boxed springs underneath. But not on ours.

Sooooo, it got me to wondering. I measured our bed, and yup, 60x80. It's a queen. Or, if we were in Europe, it would be considered a king. No WONDER we're constantly battling for adequate sleeping space in our own home, yet when we go elsewhere with a king, we don't quarrel over mattress space at all.

Well, at least I'm NOT crazy .... everyone else's king bed is in actuality larger than ours.

# 89 — Make a batch of lemonade FROM SCRATCH

..... CHEEEEECK! :)


Last night, I figured I better knock this one out before I run out of time!!!!

Here's how to make it .....

lemon syrup:
1 c. water
1 c. sugar
zest from 1 lemon

Combine over medium heat until boiling, then let sit/seep for 15 minutes.

Combine with 1 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice AND 1.5 c. water; chill before serving.

Ummmmm.......yeeeeeeeeeeah. It is tasty stuff! It tastes like lemon candy. It's yuuuuummie! :)

EDITOR"S NOTE: The above recipe is the one I snagged from the newspaper ... if/when I make it again, I'll probably cut the sugar in half ...