Monochrome Weekend

This is my first entry for Monochrome Weekend. I have just recently discovered the Black and White setting on my camera and have been experimenting with it. Until then I just converted colour pictures to Monochrome in Photoshop.

A quiet place to sit and rest.

For more pictures of Monochrome Wednesday, please visit http://monochromeweekendtheme.blogspot.com/

Pumpkin Pancakes

One of my favorite foods to eat occasionally for breakfast is pancakes. I am not sure if its the pancakes or all the syrup I get to drown my pancakes in that I like the most and it is a food I would eat more of if it weren't for the fact that flour does not agree with me, or the syrup sticks to me if you know what I mean!!
So when I do make pancakes it is usually for a once in a blue moon treat and I like to make it different and therefore more memorable each time. Rather than just plain pancakes I like to jazz it up with different things to take it up a notch.
So this recipe above cantains Pumpkin and all the spices you would add to say, Pumpkin Pie!!

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups flour

3 TBSP. Brown sugar

2 tsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Allspice

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Ginger

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 1/2 Cups Milk

1 Cup Pumpkin Puree

1 Egg

2 TBSP. Oil

2 TBSP. Vinegar.

Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl. Combine all wet ingredients in another bowl.  Mix wet ingredients thouroughly and dump over top of dry ingredients. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until no lumps are left. Cook your pancakes on a griddle at approx. 350 degrees. Serve with butter and lots of Maple Syrup.

These pancakes are really good too with a couple of slices of Maple Smoked Bacon.

Just saying!!!

Macro Monday

A few pictures of silver work for Macro Monday!

These were taken at a local Antique Store we visited a couple of weekends ago.

The intricate silver work displayed here was located on the outside edges of silver plates.

Just needs a bit of polishing!!

Carvings of children and birds as well.

Some decoration on the side of a lamp base.

For more pictures of Macro Monday, please go to http://lisaschaos.com/

Straight Out Of The Camera Sunday

Yesterday was a warm sunny day here on the Mainland, a day just made to go the beach. But this kind of sunny day makes it hard to take pictures in so it was a bit of a challenge to get some photos in the harsh light of the midday sun. I also was trying out the Black and White on my camera, something I have not used before. So here are a few shots from the day yesterday.

These were taken at Mud Bay Park, a wildlife santuary situated right along the ocean. The tide is way out and the flats are just one big pile of mud!!

I have taken colour photos and converted them to black and white in Photoshop before but never used the black and white feature of my Nikon. Another view of the mud flats.

This is a wildlife sanctuary but the only wildlife we saw this day was our foster child!! He insisted on walking out to the edges of the mudflats to see if he would sink!!

I thought I would add a colour picture of the same view as the picture above. See how the sky is really washed out because of the intense mid-day sun.

And finally, a view from across the water to Mt. Baker in Washington. On clear sunny days such as today, the mountain is splendid to see!!
For more of Straight out of the Camera shots, please go and visit http://www.murrieta365.com/

Friday's Fave Five

1) The Sunshine: Spring has really arrived a couple of weeks early and the skies have been big and blue and sunny!! It's a shame to have to go to work and not have the day to really enjoy the sun.
2) Cherry Blossoms: Nothing like the beautiful pink colour of cherry blossoms against a bright blue sky.
3) Longer days: The days stay light out now until about 6:20. That means I can enjoy an early dinner and head out to the park after and walk it off!! Daylight savings starts in 8 days. I love the lighter evenings.
4) Movie night with my hubby: We went on Wednesday to see Shutter Island. I always look forward to the red licorice we buy for the movie!!
5) Seafood: My daughter came over for supper the other night, and it was a great excuse to go out and buy a bunch of mussels, scallops, prawns and white fish to make a wonderful dinner to spoil her!! I ate some for lunch the next day as well.
For more of Friday Favorite Five's go and visit http://susannesspace.blogspot.com/

Skywatch Friday

What to do when you are stuck in traffic because of road construction?? How about get out the camera you always carry and snap a few photos!!

This is the Abbotsford International Airport in the distance. The skies were cloudy all day but on the way home the clouds were breaking up and the sun was coming out.

This is another view of the Airport. Some of the runways run through the middle here. These first two pictures were taken out my driver's side window.

This picture was taken out of the passenger side window. The whole area contains lots of blueberry fields, such as this one.
To see more of Skywatch Friday pictures, please go and visit http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Simple Woman's Daybook

1.)Outside my window: I am watching my hubby cook some Spare Ribs for supper. If I had smell-o-vision I could send some of the heavenly scents your way!
2.) I am thinking: about how nice and quiet of a day it has been, even though we had a lot to accomplish in it. We did not get all we had to do done, but that's okay. It's time to relax now.
3.) I am thankful for: The extra day off I had today, even though I ended up not needing it for the reason I took the day off. Got to like it when things like that happen!
4.) Supper is being cooked for me while I type this. The sound of busyness (is that a word?) is happening and its not me making the noise!
5.) I am wearing: Some track pants and a sweat shirt. I just got back from a walk around the park behind my house. My exercise for the day!
6.) I am going: to work tomorrow. Because of today being off work, it will be a short week!
7.) I am reading: Color Correction, a how to book for Photoshop, in my neverending quest to become a better photographer, I read what I can get my hands on!
8.) I am hoping: For a quiet week at work and at home so I can study my stuff needed to go over for my court next week. I am hoping that if I am prepared, I won't be too stressed about it all.
9.) I am hearing: The evening news on the TV and the buzz of the computer's here in the office.
10.) Around the house: I actually started some yard work today, cleaning up the winter deadfall, trimming the trees. Got to give the flowers room to grow!!
11.) One of my favorite things: Once again, it is Ribs the way my hubby cooks them. No one can whip up a barbeque sauce like he can. And a glass of red wine to go with dinner!
12.) A few plans for the rest of the week: Meetings the next three days at work, Survivor night over at my friend Sally's place on Thursday and the weekend with my hubby! Oh and my kitten gets her stitches out on Friday and I know she will get a clean bill of health!!
13.) A picture I want to share with you:

 Please go and visit http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/