Weekly Header Challenge -- Something Old

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

I'm joining the group above for this weekly challenge.

Visit the other participants' blogs to see their entries!

Theme ~ Something Old

Chosen by Tom.

Here is the image I used for this week’s theme:

Something old, right?  Well, this is my dad, and he's 85 years old.  I'd love to be able to say "I'm 85!" one day.

Every year since my son Danny was born, my dad cheerfully partakes in a double celebration with his grandson.  My dad was born April 13, and Danny was born on April 16.  Here was this year's cake, made by me:

Lots of laughter as we attempted to sing Happy Birthday in one key!

Finally, here I am with the two birthday boys.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Comfortable

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining the group above for this weekly challenge.

Visit the other participants' blogs to see their entries!

Theme ~ Comfortable

Chosen by me.

I chose this theme several months ago, without realizing how challenging it would be to find photos that fit.  I did have one perfect one, though, and it's this image below of my cousin's dog Tucker.  He was super comfortable dozing under the table as our summer family-and-friends-sort-of-reunion party got underway at my beloved Lake Bonaparte.

 Here is my selection of images depicting comfortable...

Relaxing at the dock.

Fernando took this of me, comfortable in my chair at Winter Bay.

Never sleep on vacation--family rule is to take a photo.  This is my brother on our boat cruise.

Waiting for the Chicago Air & Water Show to get underway.

Thanks for visiting!!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Going Strong

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining the group above for this weekly challenge.

Visit the other participants' blogs to see their entries!

Theme ~ Going Strong

Chosen by All of Us.

For this week's theme, I chose my family, since we're all going strong.  And my guys are strong.  'Nuff said.  Here's the image I used for my header.  At a wedding, I took the camera that doesn't work with my remote shutter release (of course), so I adjusted all the settings, propped it on a bench and used the 10-second timer.  Danny pressed the shutter than ran into the frame because I wasn't about to press it and run and jump into my guys' arms!

Here are some other things are are going strong.

My dad at age 84!

Danny, who graduated from college and just landed a job.

These flowers were growing strong, in profusion.

These two old vehicles, at 500,000+ and almost 100,000+ miles, are both still going strong!

The White Sox were going strong by winning their game.

My garden is going strong.

Alpine strawberries, going strong.

Finally--fireworks from a few days ago were definitely going strong!

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- In the Kitchen

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ In the Kitchen

Chosen by me.

Since it's winter, I've been in my kitchen a lot.  Cooking and baking are not only fun, but they keep me warm!  These images are all from the past two months; to start, here is the full-frame version from my header:

Homemade ravioli!

Over on my family blog, I post lots of recipes.  I like sharing them with the cyber-world, and I want to eventually include all my favorite ones for easy access when I'm away from home.  Or, you know, if my house burns down and I lose my recipe binder...  So, I take lots of pictures, not just of the finished product, but of the process as well.  Here's one image of my ingredients, ready to be turned into Bay Rice Pilaf:

I love a good salad, and though I don't eat many of them during the winter, I have to satisfy the craving when it occurs.

Salad with peas, tomatoes, and cranberries.

A new recipe for me is this delicious Ham Chili, which I paired with cornbread made in my cast iron skillet.

Whole-wheat biscuits make a delicious and healthy side dish.

Here's the finished product:  Bay Rice Pilaf.

Finally, here's a new cake I tried--Almond Cream Cake, for Jake's birthday (he had friends over for his "Games 'n Grub" party).  It looks nothing like the picture showed me it was supposed to look in the original recipe, plus Jake bought me blanched sliced almonds instead of regular plain ol' slivered almonds.  The cooked frosting--my first attempt at such a recipe--was a disaster, but I doctored it and made it work.

The Games 'n Grub (board games, card games, etc., plus food = Games 'n Grub) was a ton of fun, and we ended up in the kitchen for dessert, which was said cake above.  While we were singing Happy Birthday, our very own Craver (who, with his wife, partied with us!) grabbed my camera, set it to auto, held it up, and snapped this picture:

Birthday in my kitchen!

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Far Far Away

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Far Far Away

Chosen by Kathy.

After a two-week break for us headbangers, we're back with a new year and a new theme.  My first thought upon seeing the theme was Paris, but I've used lots of photos from there, and it was also a while ago.  The most recent "far away" place I've been is California, so I thought I'd feature this image, which was taken at sunset at my sister-in-law's home.  In silhouette, with the palm tree branches gently swaying, it looks like an exotic place far away from wintry Chicago.

You may remember from a few weeks ago my header image from Huntington Beach, California; here is a "re-post" sunset image from that far-away locale.

While in far-away California, we had the chance to visit and connect with many family members.

The hibiscus flower is definitely not from around here; another "far far away" flower!

Here is our "far far away" family, with a photo of my aunt held by her granddaughter, and many family members in front of her home.

That's it from far far away!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Getting Ready for Christmas

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Getting Ready for Christmas

Chosen by me.

I'm chuckling to myself as I realize I chose this theme a while ago, and now that it's time to post, I have no current pictures to share with you.  Although we started this year with great hope that our situation would improve--and it did in many aspects--we find ourselves just hanging on right now.  We will share a beautiful, simple Christmas at my brother's home, though, so I'm not sad having to post last year's photos.

Usually within a day or so of Thanksgiving, we purchase a Christmas tree.

My dad carries the tree to the car.

The tree is set up...

The ornaments are hung...

And the atmosphere is set!

Cookies are baked...

Peppermints (my favorite!) are set out...

Decorations are placed...

The manger figurines are placed...

And we're ready for Christmas!

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Fun Fun Fun

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Fun Fun Fun

Chosen by Tom.

This week's theme gave me an excuse to go back through all my photos from the year and reminisce about the fun times.  I admit there weren't too many, since this was--and continues to be--a rough year for us.  There were, however, wonderful moments of levity which I share with you today.

For my header, even though it was hard to crop, I chose this photo of me having fun for my 50th birthday.

I'm totally claiming credit for this image, because even though Fernando snapped the shutter, I set everything up for him!

Here are some other "fun, fun, fun" times from my year...

Fun with a can of whipped topping.

Ice cream at the lake is always fun!

Below was my first experience with a handgun (a revolver).  I loved it, and loved that I was actually good at it.  Look at that grouping!  And, I did it in a summer dress!  It was so much fun that we shoot fairly regularly now.

After helping a friend move, Fernando and Thomas had fun with the dolly at the storage facility (taken with my phone).

When we get together with Allie's family (Jake's girlfriend), we always have fun.  This is another one taken with my phone.  It seems that fun is generally spontaneous and my phone is more readily available than my camera.  :)

Fun is when a friend's adult daughter invites you over to teach you how to make bubble tea (a Taiwanese beverage).  It was interesting!

 Bubble tea.

Finally, it is fun--and heart-melting--to watch your adult son charm two little girls into hanging out with him while at a friend's house for a sing-along event.

 Coloring time together!

Aren't they simply adorable?


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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