Picture a day January 22nd - 28th

January 22nd - Monkey Bread from our new favorite local shop. This was good, but they Challah Cinnamon Bread and Pecan Scones are absolutly amazing.
January 23rd - I promise January will be the only time I cheat and use old pictures. This is from our weekend trip to New York City. I was practicing with my new lens. I really love this shot.
January 24th - Kara, one of my nieces modeling the scarf she made herself. She was excited to use my sewing machine which I love. I love to be able to share some of the things I enjoy with her.
January 25th - Did you know I am an honorary Canadian? I am - and I love the Montreal Canadiens. GO HABS GO!
January 26th - It's like they were just waiting for their picture to be taken.
January 27th - Again, it's like they were just waiting in the backyard for their picture to be taken.
January 28th - Have you ever had a Cushmans Honeybell? Next January order yourself some. They are delicious. I was so excited when these arrived at our door.

Picture a day January 15th - 21st

I am recycling some pictures again this week since I waited to start A Picture a Day.


January 15th - I took this while on our trip to New Orleans. I have had people look at me like I am crazy when I tell them Jim and I celebrate St Nick Day. This is my proof that it's for real.


January 16th - Flashback to November. Alton Brown was at the Food Show in Cleveland. We got tickets and got to see him. It was amazing. I love Alton and was so excited to see him.
January 17th - Back to New Orleans.
January 18th - Doesn't that look yummy. Dippers for chocolate fondue.
January 19th - Cooper that Cat is hiding under that hat. She likes to tuck herself up in blankets to sleep. I guess a Santa Hat works too
January 20th - Pretty isn't it. My glorious new dishes. I love them. Jim did an amazing job picking them out.
January 21st - My nephew hung out and spent the night. Fun evening with him.

Picture a day January 8th - 14th

January 8th - 14th
This week is filled with some flashbacks. I started picture a day late, so I am taking some "creative liberties"

January 8th - A shot I think we are all happy (or at least pretty good) with. I have wrote about them before, but I am not sure what my life would be without these girls. This was a the annual Holiday Party we all have every year.

January 9th - I am still learning on my camera so this isn't the best shot, but I think our house looks pretty here.
January 10th - Flashback. Thanksgiving 2010. Jim and my brother. Two of my most favorite people in the world.
January 11th - Another flashback. One of the first snowfalls this year and more practice with the camera.
January 12th - December 2010 flashback. Jim won a trip to New Orleans. Our first stop (within an hour of hotel check-in) was Acme Oyster for an amazing Po'Boy.
January 13th - Flashback. New Orleans Dec 2010. After lunch at Acme House, we walked to Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee. They were worth the powder sugar all over my jeans.

January 14th - December 2010 New Orleans flashback. This was not the same day as PoBoys and Beignets, but it is along the same lines. Pat O'Briens for a hurricane. I was told it was a must, but I wasn't impressed. Sorry Pat O'Brien fans!

Picture a day January 1st - 7th

January 1st - 7th


January 1st - Our tradition continues, four years in a row now. Jim and I make homemade donuts. We use Alton Browns recipe. It is time consuming, but they are wonderful.

January 2nd - Using Jims new French Press and water kettle, with my new dishes for an amazing cup of coffee. Love to put Christmas to good use.



January 3rd - Because some mornings I wake up with a headache. What could possibly happen in my sleep to give me a headache.

January 4th - I am trying to keep it real. This was the state of my kitchen on January 4th. The picture makes me uncomfortable to look at, but once in a while, this is reality here.


January 5th - Cagney. She sleeps like this once in a while, and it always cracks me up.

January 6th - Because some times having a plow clear your driveway has its disadvantages.

January 7th - You have no idea how many shots we took at the Anderson Holiday Party to get to this. If friends are the family you choose, then these are the nieces and nephews we "picked" Aren't they cuties?

Good bye ocean

This past weekend Jim and I went to one of our favorite restaurants after a drink at our favorite bar down here. It was fun to share the time together and talk about the fun times we had down here.
Then on Sunday we said goodbye to the ocean. The ocean and beach just 20minutes from our house. I am not a water person (I actually fear the water), but we did have fun relaxing at the beach on the weekends. Some times we wouldn't even go in the water. We would just sit on our lounge chairs and read.

Here are just a few of the pictures I took. My brother will love the last three. I learned to be ok with my feet down here Chucky! Flip flops are a way of life.

Waves coming in. Pretty sky in the background

That's me, and yes I have on a LIGHT sweater. It does actually get chilly down here some days.

Jim says goodbye Florida, and GO Buckeyes!

Jim didn't know I was taking his picture (about 10 of them). He was watching this guy fish from the beach. I think Jim will really miss all the fishing he got to do down here.

One more ocean shot

I kept waiting for a wave to come up. I wanted to get a shot of the water just touching my toes...

Um yeah...not really what I was going for.

And back goes the wave.

PS...I don't really want to say why my brother will like these last few pictures and make fun of me even though I won't be there to hear it. If you look, you can figure it out.

New Years Day Tradition

While most people are starting diets, eating healthy and joining the gym, Jim and I are deep frying donuts.
These donuts are absolutely amazing. Be warned, they take time. They are yeast donuts and required to rise twice. They are so worth it.
Take a peek! I used my new camera (yeah, Jim rocks) for these pictures. I love this camera. I have no clue how to use it properly, yet it still takes great pictures. I can't wait to see what happens when I actually know how to use it.

The donuts on the second rise. I can't explain it, but I love this picture. I want to frame it!

First batch is out. We place the donuts on an upside down cooling rack over newspaper. This helps wick away the oil and prevents soggy donuts.

Time to make the donuts! (can anyone tell me what that is from because Jim must have said it 15 times that morning). Jim works on flipping batch #2

The surviving donuts, with glaze and sprinkles

Yummy January 1st breakfast

Anyone care to join us next year?
If you want some of your own, here is the recipe. We add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the mix.

Changes

We are leaving warm sunny winters, the ocean, and flip flops. In less than one week we will go from tshirts to sweaters, flip flops to boots, and suddenly we will have to remind ourselves to grab a jacket on the way out the door. And here's the thing....we can't wait!

Life brought us to Florida three years ago. We packed it up, said goodbye to family and friends, and started this adventure. We had fun, and I loved the experience. Jim and I grew even closer, and learned new things. About ourselves, and each other.

Now, life brings us back to where we left three years ago. It is the start of another adventure. And this time we can share the adventure with the people we love and missed so much while we were gone.

Florida, thank you for the memories. We will visit, this is a guarantee.
Ohio, thanks for taking us back.