Photo Hunters - Light

Photo Hunt - Light

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TN Chick's talented 5 year old daughter took a terrific picture for our "light" theme this week. Don't forget the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day - drop by Write from Karen for a look at a very festive & reflective photo of light.

Photo Hunters - Small

"Small" was the Photo Hunters theme of the week. So much room for creativity, this topic is wide-open.

Since August we've had a new small person in our house again. We have small things scattered all over. Here are the photos I've chosen for "small." I've included some big things/people, by way of comparison.

Photo Hunt - Small

That's one pair of small sneakers.

And here is the smallest person in our home, pictured with her sisters...she's such a squirt.



But what she lacks in size, she MORE than makes up for in personality.


There is an interesting picture of "small" over at TN Chick's place. Don't forget the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day - drop by Pea in a Pod for a look at an amazing photo of "small."

Photo Hunters - Long

Photo Hunters were in search of something "long" this week. Should be a fun week for pictures. When I mentioned the theme to #1Son, he immediately thought of this picture that we took during our day at the State Fair.

Photo Hunt - Long

Here is my #1Son holding a long french fry.

But if you think that one is long... check out this VERY long fry.


Now that really IS long.



TN Chick has an amazing photo of "long." And over at the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day, Fond of Photography, you can see a terrific and colorful choice for "long."


Speaking of photos....Neil Duckett is having a competition to give away his practically new Canon IXY Digital 1000. Imagine all the great pictures you could take with that little baby. Go over there and check out how you can be entered to win. Time's a-wastin' - the competition ends on Dec. 10th.

Soup-Tacular!

In an effort to ease back into blogging and also keep my blog from being entirely limited to Photo Hunters posts, today I've decided to participate in BooMama's Soup-Tacular.

Here are my contributions.

Beck's Easy & Delicious Black Bean Soup

1 chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 can of black beans
1 can of Rotel diced tomatoes & green chiles
1 can chicken stock
oregano
cumin
1 cup minute rice
sour cream (optional)

Brown one onion and two cloves of minced garlic.

Add one can of black beans, one can of Rotel diced tomatoes & green chile, one can chicken stock and some oregano and cumin and let it all cook for a while. Add a cup of water and a cup of minute rice. Cover and simmer until rice is ready.

We like it with a dollop of sour cream on top. The perfect lunch to warm you up on a cold winter day.

Modestly feeds 3-4.

Spicy Chicken Soup

From Cooking Light modified by me

Crunched tortilla chips and a sprinkle of shredded cheese take the heat off this delicious soup.

1 (7-ounce) can chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
3 (14 1/2-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained (such as Del Monte)
1 (11-ounce) can whole-kernel corn
1 can drained black beans
1 can drained pintos

Remove 1 chile from can; reserve the remaining chiles and sauce for another use. Mince chile.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onions, and cumin; saute 3 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften. Add garlic and saute another 2 minutes. Stir in minced chile, chicken, broth, tomatoes, and corn. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Put about two cups of soup into a blender and blend until smooth. Stir back into soup and simmer another 10 minutes.

serves 6-8

West African Groundnut Stew - "Peanut Butter Stew"

3 Tb oil
3/4 cup tomato paste
2 lb beef cubes, floured
6 cups water
Red pepper, if desired
1/2 ts nutmeg
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1 Tb chili powder
2 Tb oil
4 medium onions, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced

In a large, heavy kettle, heat the 3 T oil and add the beef cubes. While they are browning, add the nutmeg and chili powder. When the meat is browned, add the onions, garlic, tomato paste, water (and red pepper). Simmer until meat is tender.

A half hour before serving, heat the peanut butter and oil in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat 5 minutes. Add the peanut-butter mixture slowly to the beef stew and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Serve over rice.

Serves 8.

Variations: Use chicken or turkey pieces instead of beef.

You may use leftover cooked meat instead of the beef by sauteing the onion and garlic (and red pepper) first, then adding the meat with the tomato paste and water.

A Ghanaian variation: Saute the vegetables separately, puree together and add to the beef with the tomato paste and water, and use cream-style peanut butter instead of the chunky.

~-From the More with Less Cookbook (except for last variation).


Now I'm heading over to BooMama's Soup-Tacular to peruse the plethora of delicious recipes. You should go by there too.

Photo Hunters - Red

Photo Hunt - Red

Red Amaryllis Blossom

And here is a picture of my own flower blossom, LemLem, (LemLem = flower blossom in Amharic) all decked out in red.






TN Chick's photo for "red" is a cute one. Drop by Snowshoe Diaries - the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day - for a look at his delicious choice for "red."

Photo Hunters - Hot

Photo Hunt - Hot

Flaming Hot Bananas Foster - Yum!


Stop by TN Chick for a look at something deliciously hot. And check out David McMahon's authorblog - the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day.

Photo Hunters - I Love _______ (fill in the blank)

This week the Photo Hunters get to finish the sentence, "I love..." with a picture. There are a lot of things that I could have used to finish this sentence. But really there was no contest. Here I am pictured with what I truly love. I love nothing on this earth more than my amazing husband, Pastormac and our seven kids (six of them pictured here). I am indeed richly blessed.

Photo Hunt - I Love...

I love how easy it was to throw together an impromtu photo shoot and get great pictures and have fun too.



TN Chick has a terrific picture of what she loves. And don't forget to stop by Sara @ Farming Friends - the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day.

One for each year and one to grow on...

Today, my 2nd son - Joe Cool, turned eight years old. After his day, (a wonderful one filled with things he planned) we sat together at bedtime and made our traditional birthday list.

Here are his "9 Things" - one for each precious year he's been alive and one to grow on.

9 at 8

by Joe Cool.

• 1. I collect rubber duckies. I have a pretty nice collection.


• 2. I love hanging out with my dad playing video games together.


• 3. I don't have a favorite type of weather. I like it all.


• 4. My older brother and sisters are in drama. I'd like to try drama too but I have to wait until I'm nine.


• 5. I'd like to learn to play golf.


• 6. I like playing in the rain with my older brother.


• 7. I enjoying meeting people. Sometimes it bugs my brother.


• 8. My favorite subject in school is math.

and one to grow on...

• 9. This fall I started taking piano lessons. I love it. My teacher is great.

Photo Hunters - Flexible

Photo Hunters were looking for "flexible" this week. I thought this was a tough one. I decided to go with the thing that just kept coming back to my mind and feature this guy - my bendy (and handsome) #1 Son.

Photo Hunt - Flexible

I really like TN Chick's "flexible" photo - simple but creatively captured. Check it out.

Photo Hunters - Classic

In search of "classic" for Photo Hunters this week. Didn't take me long to decide on this.

Photo Hunt - Classic

No explanation needed.


TN Chick has a priceless "classic" photo at her place.

And check out Baldwin's Girl - the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day.

Photo Hunters - Pink

Photo Hunters were looking for something "pink" this week. Today I surfed around to check out the early posters. GHD has a beautiful photo of a pink roses and 33:6:8 posted a picture of some lovely azaleas. I decided to post a pink blossom of my own - LemLem, my Ethiopian princess. (LemLem = "flower blossom" in Amharic)

Photo Hunt - Pink

Of course, once I had the picture, I had to hang the coat and hat back up in the closet because the temperature today was in the 70's! She's all ready though, for her first big snow with her very own heavy winter coat. (a first for her) Wonder what she'll think.


TN Chick's pink photo is something I'll never forget and drop by Just Another Day - the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day.

Photo Hunters - Practical

I've been wracking my brains for over a week trying to come up with something for this week's Photo Hunters theme. But I just couldn't come up with anything for "practical." Until this evening, when by a stroke of luck I came upon this picture, that I took while we were picking up our LemLem, of a traditional Ethiopian meal before we devoured it.

Photo Hunt - Practical

See the bread underneath all that delicious goodness? It's called, injera. It's the bread for the meal, the plate and also the fork/spoon. Doesn't get more practical than that! Yum!


TN Chick has a photo of something practical that we use regularly. And The Nelson Gaggle is the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day.

Photo Hunters - Smelly (Updated)

Photo Hunters are posting "smelly" pictures this week.

Photo Hunt - Smelly

Something doesn't have to stink to be smelly, right?


Drop by TN Chick's for a look at her "smelly" photo. And don't forget to go by Hijack Queen the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day!

Update: Okay, so according to the Oxford American Dictionary something with a strong smell is "smelly," so my rose should qualify. But some would say it's fragrant not smelly. So for those folks, here are a couple of photos of "smelly" things.

Photo Hunters - Curvy

The Photo Hunters were in search of something "curvy" this week. So I took some macro pictures of the batik I've been doing. Pretty curvy I think.

Photo Hunt - Curvy

Over at TN Chick's you can choose your favorite between two "curvy" pictures. Don't forget to check out the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day - A Little Piece of Me.

Photo Hunters - Original

Photo Hunt - Original

The most "original" use for a purse - as a hat!





TN Chick has an "original" picture up. And don't forget to drop by A Changing Life - the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day.

Sweetanlo's Birthday List

In keeping with birthday tradition, I'm giving Sweetanlo a chance to post. She's celebrating her 15th birthday so she's doing her list of 16 - one for each year and one to grow on. This year's list is a little different.

Sweetanlo's Birthday List

16 things that happened while my parents were in Ethiopia

• 1. My 7 year old brother, Joe Cool, got his first migraine on the first day.


• 2. I attended the most stressful church service ever (trying to keep my siblings happy, quiet and still.


• 3. One of the ladies that my mom had scheduled to help for two days had such a bad allergic reaction to our cats on the first day that she couldn't come back the second day. (I felt so bad.)


• 4. We ate some really good homemade German Chocolate Cake. (Not made by me.)


• 5. I went on a massive grocery shopping trip with the help of one of my best friends. (We did some very creative car packing.)


• 6. One of our friends took us swimming at an apartment pool, and Shorty made me hold him the entire time.


• 7. I got a break to spend a day with Hula Girl, one of my best friends.


• 8. Hula Girl used her brand new driver's license to take me to the library.


• 9. We had pizza three times.


• 10. Shorty decided that Lucky Charms were the next best thing since sliced bread.


• 11. We mastered a Wii game that my dad bought for us to play while he was gone.


• 12. The dog became depressed because she missed my dad so much.


• 13. We ate banana splits.


• 14. My brothers had their first motorcycle ride.


• 15. We met my parents and new sister at the airport along with a lot of other people from our church family.

and one to grow on...

• 16. I had a small taste of what my parents do and I am very glad I don't have to do it on a regular basis

Photo Hunters - Paper

Happy Birthday Baby!

Today, Sweetanlo, my first-born, the child who ushered me into this amazing adventure called motherhood, is celebrating a birthday. Her 15th. How convenient that the birthday cards I picked up for her fit the Photo Hunter theme of "paper."

Photo Hunt - Paper

She's been hoping to see birthday cards in the mailbox all week, but has been sorely disappointed - not a one. I told her she'd definitely get a card today, so I picked these up for her along with her presents. Not the same as getting them in the mail but better than nothing!

If you'd be so kind, please leave her a comment wishing her a "Happy Birthday!" Might make up for her lack of snail mail birthday wishes!



TN Chick has a delicious photo choice for "paper" and do stop by Criz Santuary - the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day.

Photo Hunters - Plastic

PhotoHunters were in search of something "plastic" this week. Didn't take me too long to set up this one with a set of plastic toys my younger kids love to play with, except I don't let them use a real candle.

Photo Hunt - Plastic

Alas, this is the only Dairy Queen we'll be having for a while. Our local DQ is closed for repairs after a fire. Oh the sadness. We're just happy that they're rebuilding instead of closing for good. These toys are good looking but nothing beats the taste of the real thing.


Stop by TN Chick for a look at her choice for "plastic" and don't forget to visit the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day, Fleur de Lisa, her photo is awesome, clever & creative.

I Remember...

9-11-01

Photo Hunters - Music

"Music" was the PhotoHunt theme of the week.

Tonight I didn't think I was going to have anything. Honestly, I didn't remember it was Friday until about lunch time today. But then I remembered this picture I have of my boys having a concert of their own. We're quite entertaining here.


They call themselves "The Other Brothers."

TN Chick has a cute picture of music and don't forget to visit the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day, Above the Clouds.

Photo Hunters - Dirty

PhotoHunt theme of the week was "dirty."

Many things came to mind....my living room which really needs attention, my kitchen sink overflowing with dishes, the laundry room with piles and piles of dirty clothes...I could go on and on.

I decided on this instead:



This dog needs a BATH! But even dirty, she's still a good dog.



It's TN Chick's birthday today so stop by and wish her a "Happy Birthday" after you check out her choice for "dirty." And don't forget to visit the Photo Hunters Site-of-the-Day, Finding Life Hard.

Photo Hunters - Two & Happy

I missed the PhotoHunt last week so today you get a happy two-for-one.

Here is our Ethiopian princess. She been home two weeks today. She's two. (Last week's Photo Hunters quest.) Oh boy is she ever. You know, many things about two year-olds are universal the world over, whether you're born in the USA or in Ethiopia, two is two. She fits today's theme - happy. We're so happy to have her home. And all things considered she's one happy girl.





TN Chick has alot to be happy about this week. And don't forget to drop by Days of my Life...in Gozo - the Photo Hunters Site of the Week.