2012.02.24 Homemade coffee creamer and more . . .

So, I'm doing a little blog-hopping this morning

before I do the taxes for our two S Corps.

I definitely need some playtime first.

I'm reading the most recent post at Lazy J Bar C Farm

when I notice this link to Homemade Coffee Creamer in the sidebar.

Most everyone in my family likes flavored coffee creamers.

This post led me to this site:  Deliciously Organic.

We've been moving towards organic after reading

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.

(Thanks to Amy of Amy's Happy Critters for choosing this book for book group.)

Anyway...check out the Deliciously Organic site

for goodies such as 15 Tips for Buying Organic Real Food on a Budget.

And, keeping in the mood for the day, here are some photos of organic eggs.

I couldn't resist the shadows created with the plastic carton and the morning light.

Of course, it's much too hard for me to just have a SOOC photo,

so the photos have been processed with Topaz's Adjust5.

The plastic carton is made from corn and is #1 recyclable!

( Topaz Adjust5 Adjust4Spicify /  Shadowhouse Creations  NF1 texture )

( Topaz Adjust5 Stylized GrungeMeDesaturated )

Linked to:

Photo Art Friday at Pixel Dust Photo Art

Fabulous Friday at McDougall Photography

2011.11.18 Water Study á la Monet

Using Pixel Dust's Wicked texture . . .

Thank you, Bonnie.

I LOVE this texture.

At Bonnie's request, here is my "go-to" editing procedure in PSE:

Adjust levels if necessary.

Boost contrast if I think the photo needs it.

Add a texture.

Test and select a blending mode.

Vignette if desired.

[ I use PSE's Correct Camera Distortion filter as the easiest way to vignette. ]

Save as a new file with the filename reflecting the textures and actions used.

And, a hint which I discovered by accident . . .

to see how various blending modes affect the texture,

select the first one with the mouse

and then use the cursor up and down keys to scroll through the blending modes.

Hint #2 which I learned on the web . . .

to see the effect of all the various layers on the original photo,

click the "eyeball" off on the original photo (the Background layer)

WHILE holding down the alt key (on a PC).

Doing this effectively turns off all the layers except the Background

so you can compare the original photo to the altered photo

with only one click.

Click the Background's eyeball again to "see" all the other layers again.

Linked to:

Photo Art Friday at PixelDust

2011.09.22 The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Like food?
Like controversy?
Like feeling knowledgeable?

Then this book is for you.

The hardback is 411 pages of information.
The first half reads like a textbook, the last half more like an adventure story.

All of it, however, is interesting.
And possibly more than you ever wanted to know about where your food comes from.
Beware; after reading even part of this book, you will think differently about your food and its sources.
More aware, more questioning, more thoughtful.
Changes in what you purchase and from whom you purchase it are likely.

Here is a link to a summary (just the first part of the entire page):
enotes: The Omnivore's Dilemma

You also might want to read Wikipedia and the Controversy section:
Wikipedia: The Omnivore's Dilemma

Thanks, Amy, for the recommendation.

2011.09.13 FYI AONC ~ How to spend your days

Read this:  a short reminder of how to spend your days:  Art of Non-conformity: The End is (Always) Near

2011.08.25 FYI Two thoughtful essays . . .

Read this:  The Gospel Coalition - Deconstructing Moralism

Is preaching grace what this culture really needs?
Does grace lead to bad behavior or to good behavior?
The video from Les Miserables is terrific!

and this:  High Calling Blog - The Ten Commandments of Working in a Hostile Environment

2011.07.13 FYI Insignificant from Pollywog Creek

FYI  A great read about comparing yourself to others:  Insignificant from Pollywog Creek

2011.07.09 FYI How to Pose for Photos from Inside Out Style

Read this:  Inside Out Style: How to Pose for Photos

This is great information for those of us who are not naturally photogenic.

2011.07.06 FYI Color Scheme Designer

Artist?  Scrapbooker?  Web Designer?  Photographer?  Decorator?

You'll love this site:  Color Scheme Designer

Tabs across the top, the bottom, and a few in the color wheel - all customizable.

Handy!  Fun!  Cool!

2011.06.07 FYI Audio Pronounciation

Read this:
Ever wondered how to say a word?
Or heard someone say a word differently than you thought it was pronounced?
This just happened to me with the word "opacity".
Go to the Merriam-Webster dictionary and click on the audio-icon next to the word of your choosing.
And, then you'll know.

2011.05.27 FYI MusicVoyager.com

This morning as I was monitoring a Windows Update on the computer and folding laundry,
I turned on the TV to PBS's Create channel.
     (Want to be inspired?  Watch this channel!)

We have over-the-air television and love that many stations have multiple shows at the same time.
Our local PBS station is channel 20.1.  The Create channel is 20.3.
I was expecting travel or cooking or gardening or sewing or art or crafts(!).
Instead, I saw Music Voyager, a show I hadn't seen before.

Love music?  Go to their website:  Music Voyager and check it out.

2011.05.04 FYI Dumb Little Man - Save your energy for things that matter

Read this:  Be your best for the things which are important to you ~
       Dumb Little Man: How to save your energy for things that matter

2011.04.27 FYI Online learning sites

A couple of web sources for anyone who wants to learn:

Heavy on math and the sciences, but also includes history and finance:  Khan Academy

Videos to spark thinking and creativity:  TED - Ideas Worth Sharing

2011.04.25 FYI Did you know that a Kindle . . .

. . . app can be downloaded to certain models of cell phones, iPads, AND to computers!
Both PCs and Macs.
Did everyone know this but me?
Go here:  Amazon.com - Free Kindle Reading Apps

Now . . . if you have ever felt passionately about starting something, but have doubts . . .
download this free ebook (for your new Kindle app) "Do the Work" by Steven Pressman.
There are some mild 4-letter words (I'm half-way through reading this ebook),
but there is lots of encouragement and enthusiasm here.

2011.04.19 FYI Of Love and beauty - Finding time to create

Read this:  Finding time to create ~ Of Love and Beauty ~ Finding Time to Create

2011.04.15 FYI Gitzen Girl - Really?

Read this:  Is this how I'm supposed to be living my life?  Really? ~ GitzenGirl - Really?

2011.04.07 FYI The Happy Critter Blog - Sharing your life with animals

Read this:  If you share your life with animals ~ The Happy Critter Blog

2011.03.30 FYI Gitzen Girl - Praise & Trust Him

Read this:  Praise :: Trust ~ Gitzen Girl - Praise - Trust Him

2011.03.22 FYI The Art of Non-Conformity - Worth Living For

Read this:  What is worth living for? ~ Art of Non-conformity

2011.03.21 FYI Backyard astronomy

Read this:  Amazing astronomy photography from a city backyard ~ Averted Imagination

and read some background of Alan Friedman's photography at Discover Magazine's blog 03/08/2011

2011.03.17 FYI How to backup your Blogger blog

Read this:  For those using Blogger ~ How to backup your Blogger blog and template