MCP Actions

Photography is something that I have always been interested in. I guess that's because my dad took a lot of interesting pictures and turned them into slides that we would sometimes watch as a family. About a year or two ago, I was given a camera that would allow me to expand my knowledge and interest in photography. I really did not know that there was so much to learn. One day, one of my sisters and I were talking about my new hobby and she suggested a good site for me to look at. She even sent me the link on Facebook. The only problem was that I got busy and forgot to look at the link.

About a month or two ago, a college friend told me about some sites giving away cute templates for Valentine's. I had never heard of the sites, and didn't know their web addresses. I Googled their names hoping for some sort of result so I wouldn't have to look stupid and ask my friend exactly what she was talking about. Yea for Google and success!! One of the sites was MCP Actions...the same site my sister had told me about but I had not looked at. This time though I was hooked. I love looking at what their different actions can do for photos. I love reading all the different helpful articles on the blog (especially this one on photographing at midday). The video tutorials have been a big help with my Photoshop non experience, and taking a picture a week according to a theme has definitely helped stretch my photographic thinking.

Photography this Week

The theme for this week was "Out of the Jewelry Box." I rescued a poor, dilapidated frog that I had thrown in the back of my husband's truck to go to the dump, and dressed her up in jewelry. I think the pictures turned out pretty cute. Maybe I think that because I put a lot of time into it. Now the question is, should I put the armless, eyeless, jump ropeless frog back in the truck to go to the dump?

The theme for this week's photo was darks and lights. I thought these coffee cups were appropriate.

Childhood Toys

Who doesn't remember these? The one on the right was given to me by my grandmother and aunt when I was ten.

Banana Bread Gluten Free and Regular

I had a few banana's that were too brown to eat but would be great to make banana bread with. My son had been begging me for a Gluten Free snack, so I gave in and baked him some banana bread. It really turned out to be a snack for the whole family. It went so quickly I didn't even have time to take a picture!

Here is the original recipe:
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1/4 cup milk
2 medium bananas mashed
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine all ingredients in one bowl.
Put into greased 9x5 pan.
Bake at 350 for 50- 60 minutes.

Here is the DAIRY FREE, NUT FREE, GLUTEN FREE recipe

1/4 cup oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup Hodgson Mill Multi Purpose Baking Mix pictured above (I found it at Wal-Mart)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg ( I did not use)
1/4 cup water
2 medium bananas mashed

Combine all ingredients in one bowl.
Put into greased 9x5 loaf pan.
Bake at 350 for 50- 60 minutes.

Look What my Mom Made Me.

We live in a house where our washer and dryer are out in the utility room under the carport. I don't always have time to immediately get to the clean clothes; and most of the time, they pile up on my couch. I usually can keep up with the folding, but the clothes that need ironing sit on the couch for quite a while before I get to them. My mom found this plan and altered it to my wishes. I LOVE IT. She put rollers on the bottom, and the door is painted with chalkboard paint both inside and out. My clothes are still in the living room along with our homeschooling stuff, but now we can sit on the couch! Thanks, Mom.