Had this beautiful juvenile Red Tailed Hawk hang out on my deck for a half an hour. He seemed he was drying his feathers. I say "he," but after some investigation, there doesn't seem to be a way to distinguish male from female when flying solo. He could very well be a she. Either way, our hawk seemed to enjoy being watched and did a little strutting for our benefit. As soon as we walked away from the window he flew away. Continue reading
28 December 2012 
Chocolate Banana Pie – Gluten Free & Dairy Free
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This is the second dessert I've found since changing my food to gluten & dairy free. This pie is easy to make, delicious, and you will not be disappointed! I found this recipe at www.SimplyGluten-Free.com but made a few quantity changes to accommodate my 12" disposable pie plate. Ingredients Crust 2 cups blanched almond flour 7 large medjool dates, pits removed, chopped finely (found them in the produce section of my grocery store) 1/8 tsp sea salt 3 tablespoons coconut oil (more if Continue reading
24 December 2012 
Chocolate Sprinkled Coconut Macaroons – Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free
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Since going gluten, egg and dairy free I haven't had any obvious choices for dessert - which is probably a good thing! Now that it's Christmas I'm missing cookies and I want dessert with my Christmas dinner! I don't like to spend a lot of time grocery shopping or preparing, so the following recipe is one that was adapted from several and is based on what was already in my kitchen. Ingredients 4 cups of coconut (I had two types flaked & desiccated, used all of it) 1/2 cup of almond flour Continue reading
1 June 2012 
Putting the Cart Before the Horse
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Sometimes it's necessary to put the cart before the horse. Sometimes you need to know how much cart you're going to require before buying your horse. Once you know how big the wagon and heavy the load, only then can you determine if you'll need a Clydesdale or a colt. I've been struggling in my mind with a cart and horse issue. Or more accurately a vehicle and RV issue. I want an RV but I don't know what style I want. There are so many! Motor homes, converted buses, converted vans, towables Continue reading
21 May 2012 
Stephen Clark & Pirates on the Straits Lakes
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Typically a homebody, lately my calendar has been chock full of social events! Saturday night I interviewed Stephen Clark of WXYZ Action News for an upcoming post on CyberCletch.com and he and his wife, Larenne, were kind enough to invite me to a party on one of the Straits Lakes. The water provides a completely different view of a neighborhood and its residents. One of the "pirates" told me there was "nothing like lake living," I'd have to agree. Stephen Clark wrote & performed "Pink Pirate Continue reading
17 May 2012 
Coming to Terms with Body Image
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Those little cells that hold the fat in our bodies have been the bane of my existence since high school. I look back on how I felt about my body from the time I was a teenager and realize I've never been happy with it. There were always a few pounds I had to lose and I tried to manage it with some very extreme diets. In my early 20's I quit smoking and gained a few more pounds, then I had children and gained a lot more, while raising children, even more crept on. I've always been active Continue reading
New Math
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I love teachers who integrate alternate methods of teaching - and styles of learning - into the regular classroom work. My son's math teacher gave Cayce and two of his friends a video assignment for her class. My son worked on this every day last week and we all had a great time watching him create the scenes and observe how he weaved them together. This kid has a vision before it gets filmed. Perhaps this will be part of his future? Can't see the video? Click here. I'm a little Continue reading
1 May 2012 
Backyard Rainy Days
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I love the sunshine but can't deny that my backyard is most beautiful on overcast, drizzly days like today. The wildlife comes out and even buds beginning to burst make the landscape look green and vibrant. While I was waiting for my tea to steep, I decided to try to capture the robin and babies who are nesting under my deck. I wasn't so successful with capturing the skittish mom in a clear shot with her babies, but I did capture a few other things... Continue reading
27 April 2012 
Land of Extremes
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I loved the variance in the Arizona landscape. One minute I was sweating it out while photographing Sedona's Red Rocks and 45 minutes later I was standing in snow on a ski hill near Flagstaff. Not long after I took this picture heading into the desert with Mount Humphries snowy peaks in my rearview mirror. Continue reading
27 April 2012 
Downsizing to a Shed
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"The tiny house movement is not a fad, the McMansion was a fad." Michael Janzen Tiny House Design Blog Currently, I own a 3000 square foot home and between working to pay for it, cleaning & maintaining the it, I have no free time. I'm imprisoned by the house and the size has lost it's appeal. I understand why a person would choose to live in a shed-sized tiny house. It offers freedom from the very things that keep me imprisoned. It offers better cash flow and allows owners to Continue reading
15 April 2012 
What Band Kids Do With Their Spare Time
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I've covered a lot of Walled Lake Schools music on my blog over the past few years because my children were so heavily involved in band. This will be the last year I cover school concerts since my eldest is in college and my youngest has chosen bypass orchestra next year in order to pursue other courses that will help with his career of choice. He would have participated in the Walled Lake Marching Band but he's not able to because it's mandatory that he also be taking a music course (in most Continue reading
13 April 2012 
Cactus and Convertibles
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Could there be anything better than cruising Arizona with the top down? Continue reading
12 April 2012 
Infusion of Energy
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Seems like i just got home from New Orleans and I was heading out to Phoenix Arizona for the Infusionsoft Conference, affectionately called InfusionCon. I won the airfare, hotel, and conference fees as part of Bloggers in Motion, a contest sponsored by the software company, Infusionsoft. Infusionsoft is an all-in-one small business automation solution for CRM, marketing and e-commerce. While there I tweeted and blogged on Infusionsoft's blog, I met some fabulous people and learned loads Continue reading
27 February 2012 
Fat Tuesday on Bourbon Street
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Mardi Gras in New Orleans. You've heard about it, and since I keep getting asked how many beads I acquired, I assume many of you are missing a big part of what really happens during Mardi Gras. It's actually a very family oriented event! The activities you've heard most about, only happen within a few short blocks on Bourbon Street, whereas the family friendly Mardi Gras festivities stretch the length of St. Charles Avenue and beyond. For those of you curious about a stroll down Continue reading
20 February 2012 
Life is a Parade!
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“Life is like a parade, and it’s one that most people watch go by. And then there are some that get in that parade." ~ Jonathan Goldsmith If you know me at all, you'll understand that I live for road trips. I feel most alive when exploring something I've never seen before. A decade ago, our family took a road trip from Columbus, Ohio to New Orleans that included stops in Nashville and Memphis. This year, I planned to meet a friend in Nashville and based on the weather, travel Continue reading
3 February 2012 
Virginia Serenity
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Found this serene scene along a quiet dirt road on the outskirts of Charlottesville. Continue reading
27 January 2012 
One Room Church
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Barracks Road, Charlottesville, Virginia Continue reading
20 January 2012 
Rusted Chain
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Worn wood fence and rusted chain along a Virginia back-road near Charlottesville. *Thanks for the idea JD, you were right* Continue reading
Cauliflower Mountains
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Traveling through the Blue Ridge Mountains I came across this beautiful scene in the early morning fog. As the fog lifted, portions of the mountain treetops were bathed in frost where clouds had left accumulated moisture. Reminiscent of Jack and the Beanstalk, the valley looked as though giant stalks of cauliflower had grown up overnight. I would have taken many more shots but I was lucky to get this one with what was left of my dead camera battery. I need to remember to charge more often! Continue reading
6 January 2012 
Barracks Church Door
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This picture was taken along Barracks Road near Charlottesville, Virginia. I thought it would make a beautiful Christmas card next year. Continue reading
