365 Photo Blog Group Project

Hi there!

I am thinking about starting a 365 project again and I was looking for some partners to join me on the journey. A 365 project (for those who don't know already) is where someone posts a new photo every day for 365 consecutive days.

My idea is that a few of us who like to make photos would each start our own blog for the purpose of posting a photo a day. I think if a few of us were to start the project together, we'd have a little support group. I'd be happy to also create a Facebook group where we could all link to and also have a place where our Facebook friends would be able to go for updates, etc.

You can participate at any skill level. This is a great way to expand your talent and creativity. I also think it would be fun if a lot of us did it together.

Let me know!

Internet hoaxes and just plain lazy posting.

I have become comfortably numb.

This is something that has been bugging me for quite some time. I will go on Facebook and notice that someone has posted a link alleging some issue (controversial or not) and how it’s outrageous that this is going on!! Stuff like some celebrity (Jeff Foxworthy or George Carlin are popular) sending an open letter about some political issue. Or how about the constant misrepresentations of Obamacare? How about the Pastor who disguised himself as a homeless person and his congregants ignored him?  All hoaxes!

Do you want to know the worst part about it? Most of the people who post this stuff are intelligent, reasonable people who are also intellectually lazy. It seems to me that the resource for checking the accuracy of these claims is right at our fingertips. You’re on Facebook, which implies that you are on the Internet as well. Doesn’t it seem logical that you would want to check for accuracy before you go spreading what amounts to a lie?

If you truly welcome honest discourse, be honest. Do your due diligence. Avoid believing everything you see just because it fits your world view. If your view is correct or accurate, there is plenty of truth out there to back up your point.

Don’t be so gullible!  

Pumpkin Cake

Sleeping very soundly on a Saturday morning I was dreaming I was Al Capone.

Then, it was time for Pumpkin Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting. I made this for the "Camping" potluck at church tomorrow and once again, I failed to take some in progress shots of the cake part of the recipe. I did however, take a few in progress shots of the frosting (which is the most important part anyway).


First: the cake. I used about two cups of my pumpkin puree. I think it needs more nutmeg and some ground clove, because the pumpkin flavor is bland, unfortunately. Here is what it looked like when it came out of the oven.

Well, it's pumpkin-colored, anyway

Next, came the Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting. Again, I was disappointed in this part. I think it needs more cinnamon and the cinnamon needs to be freshly ground. What annoys me about that is that I have the sticks and grinder two feet away!

First, cream the butter and sugar together 

This is what happens when you add the powdered sugar while the stand mixer is on medium speed

Adding the heavy cream

The finished frosting,ready for spreading.

 Here it is. Not much effort in the photo, I know...

I think this cake has a lot of room for improvement. I'm kind of disappointed in the results. The frosting is too sweet and it needs that cinnamon kick to neutralize it. Also, there is not enough pumpkin spice influence in the cake itself. On a scale of 1-10, I give myself a 6.5.

 

 

Pumpkin Spice Bread

It's 2 a.m., the fear is gone...

Last night, after I returned from our softball game (we were massacred 187,000 - 2), I got the brilliant idea to bake some Pumpkin Bread. As previously implied, I am a little obsessed with all things pumpkin this year. Sue me.

I wanted to have some punkin bread for breakfast this morning, so I spent about an hour whipping up these six miniature works of breakfast goodness. I like to make these in the little loaf pans because they are essentially a two person serving (OK I eat one by myself, usually). In my euphoria, I neglected to take any "in progress" photos, so all I have was a shot of them as they came out of the oven. I need to work on that.

They are delicious.

It's time to bake!

I love to bake.

I realized during the past few weeks that this is something I do whenever I feel stress. Cooking of any kind helps to relieve stress, but baking seems to have a little bit of an extra “kick” to it that really calms my nerves. Maybe it’s the fact that I get to eat something rich, sweet and flavorful when I’m done. Perhaps it’s the joy I get from making something good to eat for people I love.

This year, I’ve jumped the gun a little bit on the pumpkin recipes. It began last weekend when I bought two pumpkins for $10 at Ralphs and turned those beauties into about 15 cups of pumpkin puree. So far, I’ve only made one thing and it came out ok. I will make it again once I get the ball rolling.

In the mean time here are a few items I have planned to make for one occasion or another. Chances are that if I will be at a gathering this fall, I will surely bring something pumpkin flavored.

• Pumpkin Custard
• Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
• Pumpkin cookies
• Pumpkin Spice Bread
• Pumpkin Spice Bread with Maple Cheesecake filling
• Pumpkin Cheesecake

The next item on the list is a Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cinnamon Butter Cream Frosting.   This cake will be our contribution to the “camping” potluck at church this Sunday.

I will include photos of the finished product and also a few “in progress” shots for fun.

In the mean time, start making your pumpkin related requests and I’ll see if I can hook you up!

A new beginning

Welcome to the new blog!

I have been somewhat interested in restarting my photography blog, but I just could not get past the personal stigma of failing to complete the 365 blog. Every time I sat down to blog, I was side-tracked by the ever present failure that was my 365 attempt. To make matters worse, there was a residual effect that took the fun and excitement out of photography.

So, having come to terms with the uncompleted project and remembering why it is that I took up photography as a hobby, I came up with an idea that I think will work. My plan is to let this blog flow towards the less serious side of my personality. I will post infrequently, and I hope that Blogger will do the automatic links to Facebook I’ve asked it to do.

I have an inkling to post more serious things, but a blog with “Chronic Sarcasm” as its title is not the place for serious discussion. What I hope to do is create another blog for that sort of thing once I can get this one going for a while.

Finally, I have deleted my old blog. With it goes about 300 pictures, but I still have all of those on my hard drive. It’s gone because I needed the closure and I wanted to avoid the temptation to revive it. If I want to post pictures, they will end up here.

John