Neko Blog

Flickr

2011-03-16T10:13:00.000-04:00

I have deleted my Flickr account. So, if you see images missing on my previous posts it is because I have deleted that account.

Planning to re-vamp the blog, post more, etc. We'll see, I have made that promise before!

What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz

2010-11-10T14:51:00.000-05:00

What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven't read Koontz's books in quite a while so this was a re-introduction for me.

The book as a quick read, and quite interesting. The story moves along quickly and the details are interesting. I really liked the glimpse into the making of the antagonist (Blackwood/Ruin) as that isn't always explored in thriller type novels. I also enjoyed the spiritual aspects of the story and the unexpected details that Koontz injects throughout the novel.

All in all, I recoomend this novel for Koontz's fans and those who love thriller novels. I would caution those who have issues with sex and violence being presented together that you may want to pass this book by.

View all my reviews

What the Night Knows will be available for sale December 28, 2010.

I received this book for free as part of the First Reads program on Goodreads. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco

2010-09-20T14:41:00.000-04:00

GoD and DoG by Wendy Francisco

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The unconditional love of God and dogs are brought together in this uplifitng little book. This is a wonderful little book for anyone who loves dogs, and would make a great gift.

I do reccommend watching the video and listening to the song as it adds a little more depth to the narrative. The video can be found on Wendy's site http://www.wendyfrancisco.com/

*I received this book for free as part of the First Reads program at http://www.goodreads.com/

Thankful Thursday

2010-08-05T08:43:00.001-04:00

, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Today, I am thankful that we have a week's vacation in the Smokies booked. I plan to spend as much time as I can outside destressing from the pressures of work.

I can't wait to wake up in the morning, go outside on the porch and see this. It is so restorative.

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-04T20:03:00.001-04:00

2009 Clawson Fireworks, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Happy 4th of July everyone! Hope everyone is having a happy and SAFE holiday. Leave the fireworks to the professionals!

Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet

2010-07-01T13:35:00.000-04:00

Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet by Stephanie Cowell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have always enjoyed the work of Claude Monet so I was interested to read this novel. I loved the portrait Cowell painted of a young artist struggling to make a name for himself in Paris. The story of Monet and his fellow Impressionists, many of whom you will recognize, is facinating. The relationship between Camille and Claude is compelling and tumultuous as they make a life together.

Cowell uses facts and weaves a wonderful story of an artist and his muse. I recommend this novel if you are interested in Monet, Paris in the late 18th century, the life of an artist or historical novels. All in all it was an enjoyable read.

I received this ARC via Random House's Read It Forward program.

View all my reviews >>

Babushka's Beauty Secrets: Old World Tips for a Glamorous New You

2010-06-30T22:21:00.001-04:00

Babushka's Beauty Secrets: Old World Tips for a Glamorous New You by Raya Ruder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a great book for the DIY lady in need of some pampering. Whether you want to create your own beauty products to stay away from the chemicals in mass produced products or to save money I think you will be satisfied with this book.

There are recipes for face masks, spot treatments, moisturizers, hair masks and many more. The recipes use easy to obtain ingredients that you may already have in your pantry or fridge. She also gives tips and hints throughout the book to help you look and feel your best.

This is a book I'd recommend to anyone who wants to avoid mass produced products or wants to save money on beauty treatments. This is a book I will share with my friends and family so that we can all look our best!

View all my reviews >>

Kings of the Earth: A Novel by Jon Clinch

2010-05-24T19:05:00.001-04:00

Kings of the Earth: A Novel by Jon Clinch

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was lucky enough to find the ARC for this novel at the Library used book sale. I threw it into my $1 bag and I am glad I did. I haven't read Finn so I cannot compare Kings of the Earth to it. I can tell you I enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading it until I finished it. I enjoyed the method in which Clinch told the story, moving from character to character and back and forth on the timeline. In the beginning I lost track of who was who, but soon I "knew" each character and could follow the story Clinch was weaving. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it for everyone.

View all my reviews >>

Kings of the Earth will be released in hardcover July 6th, 2010 by Random House

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok - A Small Review

2010-04-23T18:13:00.000-04:00

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I absolutely loved this novel! This is one of those books that you just won't want to put down. It is a quick but enjoyable read. Kwok's writing brings both the characters and their environments to life. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting an emotional, well written novel.

View all my reviews >>

WHO Bread with Raisins

2010-01-31T12:39:00.002-05:00

WHO Bread with Raisins, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I LOVE this bread! If you haven't tried it you need to. It has honey, rolled oats, whole wheat flour, cinnamon and raisins (well mine does). I currently have some in the bread machine and am wishing I made it yesterday so that I could have had it for breakfast today. There is nothing like homemade bread. Baking bread was what created my love of baking. The bread machine makes it easier, but it certainly doesn't do all the work for you. You still need quite a bit of knowledge about bread baking in order to be able to adjust the moisture level during the first bit of kneeding so that the doughball is just right.

Here's the original recipe from SouleMamma.

Here's the recipe for those of you who are bread machine-less.

I do have a word of caution for the cinnamon lovers out there. Don't let your love of cinnamon make you add too much more cinnamon to the recipe. It is OK to add a bit more, but too much more and the bread won't rise. Cinnamon inhibits yeast so the bread won't rise as much as it needs to and will be quite dense. Good, but dense. I learned this the hard way so don't make the same mistake as me and go cinnamon crazy!

If anyone wonders, this is the bread machine I have, the Oster ExpressBake Breadmaker. I have had it for almost 10 years and it still works great. It is also great for kneeding and proofing dough that you want to bake in your regular oven. My mother has a different brand, but uses her breadmaker to kneed and proof the dough for the German Stollen she makes every year and Christmas.

My Review of "The Recipe Club"

2010-01-16T10:15:00.001-05:00

The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I really wanted to love this book. The concept of telling the story via letters and recipes was interesting to me and I couldn’t wait to read it. Unfortunately, the story shifts from letters to a traditional narrative form toward the end of the book. I found it regrettable that the authors couldn’t find a way to fully develop the story via letter method they had chosen. I was also disappointed that at the end of the story everything seems to quickly fall into place and everyone lives “happily ever after” so quickly. Truth be told, the story would have been more compelling if it had ended after the narrative section where the big secret is revealed and reconciliation begins. All in all this is a quick read that is enjoyable but it isn’t anything I’d recommend to someone looking for a book that will create a lasting impression.

View all my reviews >>

Thought for the Day

2010-01-12T09:38:00.001-05:00

IMG_1194, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

If you're always looking toward tomorrow you'll never see the beauty in today.

Featured!

2010-01-09T10:10:00.002-05:00

Finally finished!, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I just had to share this. Today my quilt is featured on the Flickr Friends Roundup on One Pretty Thing! I am so excited. I just love that site and if you are into crafting of any type (even if it is only with your kids) you will love it too.

Here's the link to One Pretty Thing and here's the link to the 1/09/10 Flickr Friends Roundup.

New Books!

2010-01-05T22:19:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you had a relaxing and wonderful time with friends and family. I'll post some Christmas photos soon to my Flickr and link to them here, but for now I wanted to tell you about 2 new books I received that are on my 'to-be-read' list.

The first is No Matter What! 9 Steps to Living the Life You Love by Lisa Nichols. I received this book from WEtv via a Twitter contest. It is signed by Lisa herself, which is very cool! I am looking forward to reading this book. After I found out I won I went to her website and it looks like an interesting book. I also have to mention that Lisa looks like she'd be a fun to meet, full of life, energy and joy.

I also won another book from Goodreads' First Reads program. The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship by Nancy Garfinkel and Andrea Israel. This book has letters and emails between friends along with real recipes as the vehicle to tell the story. I am going to start this tonight.

I'll let you know my reviews when finish the books. Nothing like new books to make getting back to the daily grind more enjoyable!

8 Mile Curve @ the Hard Rock

2009-12-15T11:25:00.003-05:00

8 Mile Curve, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

My friend Gary's band, 8 Mile Curve, played a set Sunday at the Hard Rock Detroit. They were part of a show put on by the Detroit School of Rock and Pop. Gary wanted to make sure that the event was documented and asked that I photograph it for them. Gary's Dad also had camera set up to record the show from different angles so they'll have great video too.

This is one of my faves from the afternoon, but you can see the full set on my Flickr.

The Karma of Jesus

2009-12-14T23:47:00.003-05:00

I just finished "The Karma of Jesus" by Mark Herringshaw last night. This is another book that I won from Goodreads. I recommend it if you are questioning or searching for an answer. Herringshaw presents the traditional Western understanding of Karma and while I had issue at times with some of his arguments against Karma, he makes a compelling argument for Jesus.

A New Life for this Blog

2009-12-10T09:25:00.013-05:00

I have decided to revive my blog. I receive a lot of wonderful books to read from sites like Library Thing and Goodreads and I want to share my reviews. I also plan to do more updating about life etc. So make sure to check back and feel free to yell at me if I don't blog frequently enough for you.

I received Moonlight in Odessa from Goodreads' first reads program. This is the first novel for Janet Skeslien Charles. It was a quick and enjoyable read.

Here is the review I posted on the site:
I wasn't sure if I would like this book. Once I started reading though, it was hard to put down. I found myself looking forward to reading it every night before bed and reading much later than normal because I enjoyed the book so much.

It is well written and the character development is wonderful. Charles describes the characters, places and objects in the story with enough detail to allow you to picture them, without going overboard on minute details. I don't want to give too much away in my review as I feel that could take away from the enjoyment of discovering the story yourself. I will say that the journey Charles takes the readers on along with Daria is one full of excitement, expectations, suprises, hopes, dreams, and emotional ups and downs.

This is a great read and I highly reccomend it, not only for the story, but also for the look into life in Ukraine and the mail order bride industry

How I keep my Holiday "Green"

2009-12-09T09:13:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the ways we keep Christmas Green in my family!

In my family we have kept our Christmas green for years by reusing gift bags rather than wrapping every gift in paper. We have even been known to open a gift, take the bag to a back room and come back out with a new gift for someone else in the very same bag! We also reuse boxes for items that are wrapped and recycle all wrapping paper that we do use for items that don;t fit in bags. Once all the unwrapping is done we carefully gather up the gift bags and fold them back up for re-use next year.
I re-use cards from previous years to create Christmas ornaments and other crafts.
I use organic and fair trade ingredients in my baking. And I bake all of my Holiday treats from scratch and avoid chemicals, additives, preservatives and other yucky junk! If I do need to use a mix in a pinch for baking I make sure it is organic and free of harmful additives.
We have switched to LED lights to save energy.

Share your green Holiday ideas or let me know what you do in your home.

Wish

2009-05-28T15:39:00.001-04:00

Wish, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I wish that I was better at blogging. I love reading blogs from people who have blogs full of photos and blog often. Sadly, that isn't me. I will TRY to be better about updating. I really want to have one of those wonderful blogs, but the time it takes to maintain is just not something I have at the moment.

In any case, enjoy the dandelion. I have been wanting to take a shot like this for a while now. While I don't like them in my grass, I love them in my lense!

Apple Cinnamon Waffles - Action Shot!

2009-01-25T22:33:00.001-05:00

Apple Cinnamon Waffles - Action Shot!, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Apple Cinnamon goodness! A new favorite around here. Make sure you use really good cinnamon. I like Penzey's. I use the Vietnamese Cinnamon in the waffles and the Korintje Cinnamon on the apples. The topping is just apples, butter and cinnamon cooked in a frying pan until tender.

Obamacon.me

2009-01-21T15:50:00.001-05:00

gibb-photo, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Head over to Obamacon.me if you want to make your own poster. You can even buy a tshirt with your image on it!

My Photos/Photo Cards are in a book!!

2009-01-14T08:19:00.001-05:00

1000 Handmade Greetings - First Set, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Six of my photo cards are featured in the book "1000 Handmade Greetings"!

I sent my submisssion in last year about this time and I was excited to be accepted. I was REALLY excited when I went to the bookstore the other day and found them in the book!

Here's a link to the set on Flickr that has all of the pictures of my photo cards in the book.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/racergirl13/sets/72157612482536911/

New Blog!!

2008-10-30T15:41:00.002-04:00

I've started a new blog and website for my photography.

www.gibbphoto.com

gibbphoto.blogspot.com

This will be my personal blog from now on, so no more sales pitches from me here.

Black & White Blossoms

2008-10-17T11:17:00.002-04:00

Black & White Blossoms, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

New in my shop!! I just love this photo and I found it in my archives the other day and knew I had to post it.

Black and White Blossoms on Etsy

Newest Listing - Nativity Christmas Card

2008-09-17T17:56:00.002-04:00

Christmas Card - Front, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

It is hard to tell by the photos but these are printed on a beautiful pearlescent paper which makes the Nativity scene glow. They are 5x7" and have "Merry Christmas" on the inside.

Discounted pricing available for orders of multiple cards. Just contact me for a reserved listing!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15333698

Blog Feature!

2008-09-12T12:04:00.002-04:00

Fleeting Beauty, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I have been featured on the Photographers of Etsy Team Blog!

Go take a look!

http://photographersofetsy.blogspot.com/2008/09/new-works_12.html

Etsy Challenge!!

2008-09-08T10:38:00.006-04:00

Mirror, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

This week my Reflection photo will be in the Etsy Challenge in the Photography category.

Etsy Challenge:
http://etsychallenge.blogspot.com/

Etsy Challenge Photography Category for the week of 9/8: http://etsychallenge.blogspot.com/2008/09/98-photography-challenge.html

Please vote and tell everyone you know to vote! Also, be sure to take a look at the other categories. The Etsy Challenege is a great way to discover more talented artists from Etsy.

An Update and a Rare Literary Treat

2008-08-27T07:57:00.008-04:00

Sadly, I haven't kept up with my 365. I found some days I was struggling to find something to photograph that would create more than just a picture. Working form home, some days my world is pretty small, which I'm happy with, but that doesn't open up many options for artistic photography.

As for the rare treat part of my title, I have been enjoying an Advanced Reader's Copy of American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I won the book on wowOwow.com and I must admit, I am enjoying the chance to read a book before it hits the store shelves. I am hoping to finish American Wife before it is released on 9/2/08, which shouldn't be hard since it is a great read.

American Wife is a novel about the First Lady and the life she has lead. The main character, Alice Blackwell, reflects upon her life and the events that have lead her to where she is now. The book is written in first person which helps to draw the reader in. Sittenfeld has written a wonderful, poignant novel, that draws you in with a very realistic narrative that is at times startlingly graphic. This is one of the best novels I have read recently, I have a hard time putting down.

I should mention that Sittenfeld has revealed that her inspiration for the character of Alice was Laura Bush. She has taken some criticism since this fact was revealed, but as she states in this USA Today article, this is not a biography, it is a work of fiction.

American Wife will be released in hardcover on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

Related Links
Random House Page for American Wife
American Wife on Amazon.com
wowOwow.com Book Club page

Day 32/365 - DeSoto

2008-08-12T20:41:00.003-04:00

Day 32/365 - DeSoto, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 31/365 - That Can't Be Comfortable

2008-08-12T20:41:00.001-04:00

Day 31/365 - That Can't Be Comfortable, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 29/365 - Clawson Down on Mainstreet Car Show

2008-08-10T19:18:00.001-04:00

Day 29/365 - Clawson Down on Mainstreet Car Show, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 28/365 - Dream Cruise is Coming!

2008-08-09T10:19:00.001-04:00

Day 28/365 - Dream Cruise is Coming!, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 27/365 - Lemon Blueberry Muffins

2008-08-07T20:35:00.001-04:00

Day 27/365 - Lemon Blueberry Muffins, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 24/365 - Arunarudo Pa-Ma-

2008-08-04T19:50:00.001-04:00

Day 24/365 - Arunarudo Pa-Ma-, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Sorry I don't always remember to update my daily phoo on here. I do upload them to my flickr!

Day 21/365

2008-08-01T23:07:00.001-04:00

Day 21/365, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 20/365 - Bottle Service

2008-07-31T19:33:00.001-04:00

Day 20/365 - Bottle Service, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 19/365 - Oscilloscope

2008-07-30T17:03:00.001-04:00

Day 19/365 - Oscilloscope, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I messed up my days on day 15. They are now corrected. Sorry!

Day 18/365 - Hot Hazy Kitty

2008-07-28T21:27:00.001-04:00

Day 18/365 - Hot Hazy Kitty, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 17/365 - Wasp Reflection

2008-07-27T20:17:00.001-04:00

Day 17/365 - Wasp Reflection, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 16/365 - Best Yard Sale sign Ever!

2008-07-26T21:55:00.001-04:00

Day 16/365 - Best Yard Sale sign Ever!, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 15/365 - Vinsetta Garage

2008-07-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

Day 15/365 - Vinsetta Garage, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 12/365 - Sparkles

2008-07-22T20:34:00.001-04:00

Day 12/365 - Sparkles, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

The setting sun through a wet screen. Taken with a lensbaby 2.0 with the +10 macro lens attached.

Day 11/365 - Sudden Storm

2008-07-21T21:29:00.001-04:00

Day 11/365 - Sudden Storm, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 9/365 - Michigan Cherries

2008-07-20T20:57:00.001-04:00

Day 9/365 - Michigan Cherries, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Oops! I forgot to post this to my blog yesterday. Sorry!

Day 10/365 - The Road Home

2008-07-20T20:56:00.001-04:00

Day 10/365 - The Road Home, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 9/365 - Michigan Cherries

2008-07-19T21:36:00.003-04:00

Day 8/365 - Michigan Cherries, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

At the Royal Oak Farmer's Market. We didn't bring any homr though because we already have a lot of fruit.

Day 8/365 - Migraine

2008-07-18T17:22:00.001-04:00

Day 8/365 - Migraine, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 7/365 & SPT 7-17-08

2008-07-18T14:46:00.001-04:00

Day 7/365 & SPT 7-17-08, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I cheated. I wasn't going to use my SPT photo for my 365, but I got a migraine at 6:30 and spent the rest of the night feeling awful. Today I'm better, but still under the grips of the migraine. My 365 for today will be Migraine related.

Day 6/365 - Ominous Sky

2008-07-16T20:47:00.001-04:00

Day 6/365 - Ominous Sky, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Sadly, we didn't get the storm, only the clouds.

Day 5/365 - Mini Seedless Watermelon

2008-07-15T20:47:00.001-04:00

Day 5/365 - Mini Seedless Watermelon, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

It was the cutest little watermelon, I couldn't resist it when I saw it at Whole Foods for $1.99.

Day 4/365 Re-Do

2008-07-14T22:38:00.001-04:00

Day 4/365, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I decided I liked this shot more for my Project 365 photo.

Day 4/365 - Vespa+Lensbaby=Dreamy

2008-07-14T21:31:00.001-04:00

Day 4/365 - Vespa+Lensbaby=Dreamy, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 3/365 - Color, Color Everywhere

2008-07-13T18:09:00.001-04:00

Day 3/365 - Color, Color Everywhere, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Day 2/365 - Raindrops

2008-07-12T17:30:00.001-04:00

Day 2/365 - Raindrops, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

It poured this morning. I had planned to go to the farmer's market, but the rain kept me away.

Day 1/365 - Project 365

2008-07-11T16:44:00.001-04:00

Day 1/365 - Resting Mason, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I have been in a photgraphic rut lately so I decided to commit to 1 photo every day for the next year. This is my first "entry". I hope to post them here and on Flickr each day.

Enjoy!

New Ride

2008-07-09T13:44:00.001-04:00

Vespa GTS250ie, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

This is my/our new ride!! Pretty sweet, huh?

It is a 2007 Vespa GTS250ie. We went and picked it up a week ago in Gaylord. It was (barely) used with 255 miles. Just getting used to it by driving around the Neighborhood right now. Both Fred and I are taking the MSF (motorcycle safety) course in September so that we can get our cycle endoresements.

You should see the smile on my face when I'm out riding!

Vote for me Please!!

2008-06-11T15:34:00.002-04:00

I know I've been quiet here lately. I've been having artists block or something and have been entering contests.

If you get a chance please vote for me. You can vote once every 24 hrs. and I have a chance to win if I am in the top 25.

Thanks!

Prisme Foundation

Sponsored by Givenchy

Sure Sign of Spring

2008-04-29T20:29:00.001-04:00

Impala, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

The cars have returned to Woodward. Nevermind the recent cold, on Friday 4/18 the cruisers were out in full swing! The return of Chrome and Horsepower to Woodward Avenue is a sure sign of Spring in our neck of the woods.

I have some new photos I'm planning on offering in my shop so keep an eye out (some are on my Flickr right now). I'm just updating my shop and then they'll be up. I'll be adding some more jewelry eventually (see my Flickr for a preview), I'm just searching for the best materials at the best price. If you have a good soruce for pendant blanks or bezel cups with a solid back please let me know. The ones I have used are from Paper Studio and I like them, I just want to make sure I look at all my options.

First Photo Pendants

2008-04-15T12:52:00.002-04:00

First Photo Pendants, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I finally got a chance to get some nice photos and list my first photo pendants. Right now only the "Reflection" one is listed on Etsy, but soon I'll be listing the rest of them.

I have coasters and other types of photo pendants in the works so keep checking back.

Front Page Again!!!

2008-04-02T20:49:00.001-04:00

Front Page 4-2-08, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I was on the front page of Etsy again!

Many thanks to Uncorked for putting together such a beautiful treasury!

Woodpecker

2008-03-27T12:02:00.001-04:00

Woodpecker , originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

This little guy was flitting around the large cherry tree we have in the backyard. I saw him and I thought it would be a great opportunty to put my new Sigma 70-300mm lens to work. I snapped about 50 photos of him, but I liked this one the most.

This photo is available in my Etsy store.

Sorry!

2008-03-26T12:54:00.001-04:00

SPT 3-13-08, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I haven't had much to write about as of late. The weather is getting better, but we're in the muddy period between winter and spring here in Michigan. At least it has been sunny.

I'm trying to get a list together of places I'd like to photograph once it gets nicer out. Anyone in Michigan have any suggestions or want to share a favorite spot to go?

I promise, I'll write more often. I was doing so well and then I just lost my momentum.

Reflection in Blue - My Newest Listing

2008-03-11T20:26:00.001-04:00

Reflection in Blue, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

This is my newest listing in my Etsy store. It is a selective color version of Reflection. I just love the color of this Beetle and I thought selective color was the best of both worlds. The drama of black and white with that beautiful teal!

I Was on the FRONT PAGE!

2008-03-07T12:49:00.002-05:00

Etsy Front Page 3-7-08, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I was on the Etsy front page today! The print sold about 7 min. after I noticed I was on the front page. Thanks to harmonyvanlue for putting me in such a lovely treasury!

I've Been Tagged

2008-03-06T15:45:00.003-05:00

I was tagged today by Romeria.
http://romeria1.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Unfortunatly, I'm not sure I have 7 blogs to tag so I'll just post this and feel free to play along if you want. For my POEetic Pixels friends I'll make these different that the 10 I posted in the forums there.

My 7 Things:

1. I'm a classically trained singer. At one point in my life I had a 3+ octave range.
2. I'm an only child
3. I can't stand Will Ferrell - He's not funny. Playing the same character over and over again is not funny!
4. I'd love to live in mountains of Vermont.
5. When I was little I wanted to be a chemist.
6. I love to craft. I've made jewelry, clothing, purses, soap, painted items and attempted some knitting and crochet.
7. I love peanut butter and bacon sandwiches esp. on toast (try it, you'll like them too, trust me!)

Wristlet

2008-03-06T09:37:00.002-05:00

Wristlet, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Lastnight before dinner I whipped up a little wristlet. The pattern can be found at Javajem - Knits. This was my first project requiring a zipper. I think it looks ok (it is a little crooked) and I'd like it a little bigger, but I only had a 7" zipper.

I am in love with this fabric combination though! I'm hoping to remake it this weekend with a longer zipper and a matching "No Cash Wallet" From Amy Karol's book. I might need to get more of the darker fabric though for that.

An interior picture can be found on my Flickr.

Win One of My Prints!

2008-03-05T14:54:00.004-05:00

That's right, you can win a print of my photo Bounty (seen above), one of my cards and a number of other wonderful handmade goodies if you enter the contest over at Smidge. You will need to register with the site in order to enter, but it is such a great site I don't know why you wouldn't want to register. Hurry though, the contest ends March, 20th!

Here's a screenshot of the page over at Smidge.

Good Luck!

Vote for me!

2008-03-03T13:59:00.003-05:00

I entered a contest over at Autonomous Artisans where the winner gets a free month of advertising on their site. The contest was to create a new banner for the blog featuring the colors orange and purple that illustrated the month's these of reusing, recycling, upcycling etc.

Here's my entry:

Here's the link to vote:

http://autonomousartisans.blogspot.com/

Church Architecture

2008-03-02T14:06:00.003-05:00

Windows, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Yesterday I had an overwhelming urge to get out there and photograph something, anything. It was a clear, sunny but cold day. I loaded up my backpack with the A-1, my XTi, my Lensbaby 2.0, The Sigma 70-300mm lens I just received this week, and my Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens. My first stop was Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, a much photographed Roman Catholic church. Then it was on to Kirk in the Hills in Bloomfield Hills, a Presbyterian Church and another church popular with photographers.

I added some of my favorites (from my DSLR) from the day to my Flickr site and a few of them will end up on Etsy too. Let me know which ones you like best.

The photo ablove is from Kirk in the Hills and is my latest listing on Etsy. It can be found here.
Windows

Bird on a Wire

2008-02-29T12:45:00.002-05:00

Bird on a Wire, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Here is my newest listing on Etsy. This is a scanned 35mm negative (hence the wonderful grain). A little different from my normal photos but I kinda like it!

This can be found here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9916655

Weekend Free Shipping Promotion

2008-02-29T09:20:00.002-05:00

Fallen, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I'm having a Free shipping special in my Etsy shop this weekend.

***************************************************
WEEKEND SPECIAL: Free shipping on orders of $30 or more February 29 through Midnight March 3! Once you place your order please wait for a revised invoice or alternatively I will refund your shipping via Paypal after payment.
***************************************************
http://racergirl1313.etsy.com

You Can Shop From My Blog Now and Other Shop News

2008-02-28T22:17:00.005-05:00

If you look to your left you'll see a Widget that will allow you to purchase my work directly from my blog! Of course you can head to my Etsy store too, I have the largest selection there, but I wanted to offer more options for purchasing my work.

In other news, I am working on creating pendants of my photographs and looking into other products and ways to display my photos. Stay tuned. I will announce new items here when I list them.

Holy Cow!! That's like 60%!

2008-02-28T17:30:00.006-05:00

Whoa!! I just checked and of the 39.7 GB of used space on my (80 GB) hard drive 23.5 GB is in the My Pictures Folder! I do back everything up on an external hardrive so if my laptop goes kaput I won't lose everything, but I think it is time to start paring down what I have on my laptop photo-wise. I just hate having to connect to the external drive or find a disk if I want to look at specific photos. There are photos of mine that I haven't looked at in ages because they are sitting on a CD-R somewhere. I guess I'll have to break out the DVD-R's and get some of this onto disks so that I give my laptop a little break.

So, my fellow photographers, I want to know, how much of your drive is photos?

On another note, I am going to attempt to update my blog more so come back often!

New Haircut

2008-02-24T22:07:00.001-05:00

New Haircut, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Got my hair cut on Friday. I really love it. What do you think?

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-21T09:21:00.001-05:00

Lunar Eclipse, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

This is my best shot from the lunar eclipse lastnight. I wish I had a lens with a longer reach, bit I didn't do too bad for what I had. This is cropped a bit just to make the moon a little more prominent.

My New Toy! Canon A-1

2008-02-19T21:42:00.004-05:00

My New Toy! Canon A-1, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Thanks to Craigslist I picked up this barely used beauty today. In the deal I also got the leather case, manual and a Speedlight 166A, all looking new as the day they were originally purchased!

I can't wait to get outside and start taking pictures!

Wow!

2008-02-09T09:25:00.001-05:00

That's all I can say is Wow! Lynne over at Autonomous Artisans wrote a wonderful blog about my Etsy shop. Go take a look! http://autonomousartisans.blogspot.com/2008/02/being-new-kid-on-block.html

Lynne has a wonderful blog full of many talented people who sell their wares on Etsy. Thanks again Lynne!

I Sold My First Print on Etsy!

2008-02-04T22:44:00.001-05:00

Yay!!!!!!! Just had to share!

I'm Published!!!

2008-02-01T22:03:00.000-05:00

One of my photos was included in the latest version of the Boaston Schmap!! Take a look at the screenshot above!

Crafty Week

2008-02-01T17:38:00.002-05:00

Charming Handbag - Front, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

It has been a week full of sewing for me. I made two purses one for Mom and one for me. This is the one for me. I posted pics of everything on my Flickr site.

Now to figure out what to make next!

Open for Business!

2008-01-26T21:13:00.000-05:00

My Etsy store is officially open!!!! I'll be adding more items daily so check it out!

etsy!

2008-01-25T17:42:00.001-05:00

I have created a store on etsy to try to sell some of my photos. I don't have anything up yet, but above you'll see a preview of my store banner and a picture for my listing. My etsy store can be found at racergirl1313.etsy.com Check it out! I'm hoping to have some listings up this weekend!

Office /Second Bedroom

2008-01-20T18:47:00.001-05:00

Office Semi-Finished, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Here it is! It still needs art, my work stuff (including office chair) and the books in the bookcase, but it is finished! I think it looks pretty good, what do you think? Looks like Masonlikes it!

*There is a photo from the other side of the room on my Flickr site.*

Ikea & The Floor

2008-01-06T13:19:00.001-05:00

, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Hi! Sorry I haven't kept up with the blog. I'm much better at updating Flickr than my blog. Rest assured, there are a lot of updates if you just head over to Flickr. There you will see my trip to Ikea yesterday. I was looking for the 5th (or so) time a bookcases/shelves for my office. Speaking of the office/2nd bedroom, we've done quite a lot in there. We have ripped up the carpet, painted, sanded the floors and put down the first coat of Poly.

Fell free to leave a comment yelling at me for not updating more, but remember to watch my Flickr as that gets updated much more frequently.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T01:42:00.001-05:00

Ornament and Lightbulb, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Snow!

2007-12-17T08:51:00.001-05:00

Snow!, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

More Christmas Photos

2007-12-16T00:15:00.001-05:00

Ornament, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I have added more Christmas photos to my Flickr. The Christmas madness has begun around here and I have a ton of stuff on my 'To Do' list.

The snow is really coming down. They are expecting 3-5" tonight with another 6-10" tomorrow. I'll grab some pictures and post them to Flickr. Hopefully the snow will stick around and we'll have a while Christmas.

Love and Blessings to everyone!

Christmas Kitty

2007-12-11T20:00:00.001-05:00

Christmas Kitty, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I just posted a few Christmas pics to my Flickr account. I also bought myself a Pro account so I don't have anymore uploading limits.

I hope everyone has their shopping done and is ready to celebrate the season!

Thanksgiving

2007-11-25T22:43:00.001-05:00

IMG_1648-2, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year and Fred and I both have a lot to be thankful for. Pictures from both celebrations are now on Flickr. I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

New TV er... Color Box

2007-11-24T13:20:00.001-05:00

IMG_1669-2, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

We bought a new TV and it was delivered on Friday. It worked great for a while and we were super happy with our purchase. Unftunately, we turned it off to go make dinner and when we turned it back on after dinner it looked like this.... Hopefully Amazon will replace it quickly. It was a great TV the 6 hrs. or so it was woking.... :(

Sorry!

2007-11-21T11:29:00.000-05:00

Sorry it has been a while since my last post. It has been busy, but fear not! The posting will pickup I am sure as Christmas approaches.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Blog and Contest for Beauty Junkies

2007-11-09T11:18:00.000-05:00

I am a huge beauty junkie so I thought I'd share this with my fellow BJA (Beauty Junkies Anonymous) members. This is a great blog and right now she is running a great contest. Check it out!

Raging Rouge

The Raging Rouge Benefit & Urban Decay Contest

Busy Day

2007-11-04T21:28:00.001-05:00

Deck, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

As you can see, we now have stairs on the deck! We're almost there. Fred spent most of the weekend working on the deck, Dad came down to help yesterday and Bob came down to help today.

I spent the day today making raspberry stuffed french toast, chocolate chip cookies and taking down about 8 feet for grapevines off the fence near the driveway. Pictures can be found on my Flickr site.

Hope everyone else took advantage of the extra hour today like we did! Have a great week!

Dinner and Crafts

2007-11-03T22:10:00.000-04:00

Above we have the makings of a great dinner. Throw one whole fryer chicken, , one bottle Sam Adams Black Lager and Penzy's Lemon Pepper seasoning into the crockpot and cook until the mean falls off the bone. Along with the chichen slice some potatoes, toss with light olive oil and Penzy's Garden Salad Seasoning and put in a 350 degree oven until crispy on both sides. The chicken could have probably used some gavy made from the beer, but I've never been a gravy person so it didn't even cross my mind.

In addition to creating some yummy food I also worked on a few projects I have had planned for around the house. Take a look.

Tomorrow I'll have pictures of the deck and the raspberry cream cheese stuffed french toast I am making for breakfast!

Milestone

2007-11-02T10:11:00.001-04:00

Run!, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

I just wanted to make sure to mark the 4th Anniversary of my quitting smoking. On Halloween 2003 I smoked my last cigarette. Since then, the only time I've smoked has been in my dreams.

In the past 4 years I have noticed a distinct improvement in my health, especially as far as colds and sinus problems go. If you haven't quit smoking you should. It is the healthiest thing you can do for yourself if you are a smoker. There is a program out there for everyone. If you need an ear, let me know, I’d be more than happy to share my experience.

Our New Home

2007-10-30T20:16:00.001-04:00

Our New Home, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Since real estate around Boston is so expensive we decided to build a home, what do you think? ;)

Actually, I finally posted the pics of Plimoth Plantation and some from the beach we found off Rt. 127.

Enjoy!!

Small Deck Update

2007-10-30T13:24:00.001-04:00

Starting Railings, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Ballisters should be up soon as Fred cut all of them lastnight!

Boston - Part 1

2007-10-21T20:20:00.001-04:00

Bull & Finch - AKA: Cheers, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

We're home from Boston! We had a great time. We celebrated Grandpop's 92nd Birthday (10/26), toured downtown Boston and walked the Freedom Trail, visited Plimoth Pantation and the Mayflower II and saw Karin & Richard.

Check out my Flickr site for pictures from our day downtown. Hopefully I can get Plimoth pics up tomorrow, if not, then soon.

We Have Decking!!

2007-10-15T18:43:00.001-04:00

We Have Decking!!, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

Yay!!

The first signs of Decking

2007-10-14T19:45:00.001-04:00

The first signs of Decking, originally uploaded by Racergirl1313.

The deck is really starting to look like a deck now. Dad and Fred got some of the decking on, then it started to rain. Luckily, tomorrow is only supposed to be cloudy so hopefully we'll have more decking up.

In other backyard news, I took out a bunch of the plants in the garden. We've decided to take out the section of garden next to the garage and the section against the back fence. Also, we no longer have Hostas!!! We do however have 3 lawn bags full of what used to be garden.

I'll post an update on the deck tomorrow.