Photo Hunters - Squeaky

This week we had a tough assignment, Photo Hunters had to take a photo of something "squeaky".

Photo Hunters - Squeaky

Lucky for me, this mouse only pretends to be "squeaky".



Stop by TNChick's place has more squeaky things.

Merry Christmas!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?
Then you can keep Christmas.

Henry Van Dyke





May your Christmas be filled with unexpected blessings, the sweet fellowship of family and friends, much love and laughter, and a renewed appreciation for the most amazing gift we have ever received - Jesus.

Merry Christmas from all of us here at The Production.

Thematic Photographic - Quiet

Carmi is about to post a new Thematic Photographic Challenge. But before he does, I'm going to squeeze in and post these photos of this week's theme, "quiet."

As you can imagine, life in a family of nine reaches pretty high decibels. Somedays I feel like my head going to downright explode from the noise. So I cherish this magical time, though too brief, when quiet descends on our home like a warm blanket and cuddles us with it's warm embrace. That magical quiet called naptime.

Photo Hunters - Wide

Photo Hunters were searching for a photo of something "wide" this week. This was a tough challenge for me. Finally settled on this photo of my boy Bear in a wide-brimmed hat.

Photo Hunt - Wide

I love this picture!



Stop by TNChick's place for a look at more wide things.

Photo Hunters - Favorite

Today Photo Hunters are posting pictures of their favorites. I wonder what different kinds of things we will see. The theme is so broad.

Tonight we decorated our Christmas tree. Of the hundred or so pictures we took of the process, this one is my favorite. It's a nice picture of our Christmas tree (which as you can see, lists to one side) but it's my favorite because of the two little people captured in it: Shorty, my almost 7 year old son and his little sister LemLem (3). You can click to enlarge the photo for a better view.

Photo Hunt - Favorite

Just so happens that this photo fits Carmi's Thematic Photographic Challenge of "bright" this week too. Yay me!

Favorites

Photo Hunters - Breakfast

I am really looking forward to gazing upon the deliciousness that will be found today as the Photo Hunters post their pictures of our theme this week - breakfast. Yum.

Photo Hunt - Breakfast

Somedays my breakfast is simply this:




But I'd much rather it be this:




Calabacitas and pintos. Add an egg to that plate - perfection. I could eat this everyday.


Hungry for more?

Thematic Photographic - Sweet

Thanks to Carmi's Thematic Photographic Challenge this week we've been looking for something "sweet." My daughter LemLem (3) took a long at Carmi's photo and said, "We should get that for dinner...I really want to eat that." I agreed with her.

Here is my "sweet" for the week.




Apple Cobbler a la mode - warm, sweet, delicious


Dessert is always good but this is REALLY sweet and it's calorie-free.

Sweetness Overload

Photo Hunters - Metal

The Photo Hunters were looking to photo something "metal." What an interesting theme. So make sure you stop by TNChick's place for a look at tons of creative ways that metal can be displayed.

The metal I've chosen for my photo is more than just stainless steel. I'd call it metal with a mission.

While we were in Ethiopia picking up LemLem and Bear, we took several containers of donations to an place called AHOPE. "AHOPE for Children is a non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the children of Ethiopia, with a primary emphasis on caring for orphans infected with HIV. In Addis Ababa, AHOPE's two pleasant, well-staffed Children's Homes care exclusively for orphans who are HIV+ and have no extended family to care for them. Many of these children are now finding their forever families through adoption. AHOPE's Community Outreach Program enables orphaned children to remain within their extended families and culture, while receiving medical care, education, food, and other services."

This summer, in order to raise awareness and financial support, AHOPE began selling these stainless steel bracelets. Right away, we ordered one for each member of our family old enough to wear one.

Photo Hunt - Metal

"Each stainless steel AHOPE bracelet features the AHOPE logo, the first name of an AHOPE child, and the Amharic word for "hope." The bracelets serve as a reminder of the special children at AHOPE, and raise awareness of the plight of HIV+ orphans in the world. By wearing an AHOPE Bracelet, you join our efforts in caring for these children."


You can find more information about AHOPE, here.

And you can buy yourself an AHOPE bracelet at the online AHOPE Store, here.

We have much to be thankful for...

Happy Thanksgiving!

from all of us here at The Production




Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues,
but the parent of all the others.
Cicero


Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord.
Psalm 150:6


As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget that the highest appreciation
is not to utter words, but to live by them.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Homemade Craft Ideas

My friend, Antique Mommy, is hosting a fantastic Homemade Holiday Craft Carnival, featuring the best in hand-crafted holiday gifts and decorations from around the world wide web. You better believe it.

We like making homemade crafts as presents for people and so have posted several times on different projects we have tried.

You can find out how to make these nifty record bowls right here.

One GROOVY Bowl

And the instructions for making cute sparkly Christmas ornaments like these are right here.






Now, head on over to Antique Mommy's Place for more great ideas and don't forget to add your own ideas. Come on, you know you have them!

Thematic Photographic - Broken

Carmi's Thematic Photographic Challenge for the week was "broken." Carmi and his Thematic Photographic contributors have come up with some very creative photos expressing the theme. For instance, check out Barb's amazing sea shell pictures! The ocean sure is rough on shells before it tosses them upon the beach.

Sometimes life can be rough on us and toss us around too.



Ouch!!

Photo Hunters - Reflection

"Reflection" is the Photo Hunters theme of the week. Today I thought I'd showcase the photography skills of my two older daughters. Sweetly(13) took the first photo of her brother #1Son and Sweetanlo(16) took the second one of Bear.

Photo Hunt - Reflection

reflection: am image seen in a mirror or shiny surface.



reflection: serious thought or consideration.



More reflections here.

Thematic Photographic - Rows

"Rows" was the theme of Carmi's Thematic Photographic Challenge for the week. Well, this weekend I finally took a couple a photos that fit the challenge.

At my favorite coffee shop, rows of delicious pies and cakes and other yummy looking treats tempt me.



Upstairs, rows of something else tempt me too.



Wow, I love this place!

Photo Hunters - Ruin(ed)

Pesky sun - ruined this picture of my boys.

Photo Hunt - Ruin(ed)

They're still pretty cute.



Look here for more ruined things.

Photo Hunters - Together

We waited a long time for all our children to be together.

Sometimes it feels like a dream that now they actually are.

Photo Hunt - Together

click to enlarge

Togetherness.

Thematic Photographic - Autumn

Carmi's Thematic Photographic Challenge for this week: Autumn!

Note: I've included the pictures of hot air balloons because they truly are a sign that autumn has arrived here. The cooler weather offers prime conditions for the balloons to go up. When we start to see the balloons in sky in the mornings, it's a sure sign that autumn has come.

Thematic Photographic - Night

I'm barely squeezing in under the wire with Carmi's Thematic Photographic Challenge this week. He challenged us with "Night." I found this one to be tough.

Just so happens that Halloween fell during this week when we were looking for photos of "night" and so afforded the opportunity to grab a fitting photo.




And while searching my archives, I found this picture of #1Son at a Seder celebration checking the door for Elijah. He was proud to have been chosen to receive this honor.

Caffeine Anyone? - The Winner!

Thanks to everyone who participated in my Bloggy Giveaway!! A winner has been selected.

Congratulations to Jean, not a blog writer but definitely a blog reader!

Email me your address Jean and I'll get that $20 Starbucks giftcard in the mail to you on Monday. You'll be enjoying a Chai Tea or Latte in no time. Hope you stop by and see me again soon.

Photo Hunters - Blue

The Photo Hunters are searching for photos of "blue" this week.

Photo Hunt - Blue

Gotta love a clear blue sky dotted with hot air balloons. It just never gets old.

There's more blue to see here.

Caffeine Anyone?

The Fall 2008 Bloggy Giveaway is in full swing. The number of great giveaways is nearing 1000 and is still growing!!

I'm playing along this time.

I decided to do something easy this time so I'm giving away a

$20 Starbucks giftcard

.



And you know, you don't have to drink coffee to like Starbucks? Try a chai latte or one of their delicious new hot chocolates (just in time for cold weather!)

To be entered in my giveaway, just leave me ONE comment. The giveaway is open to anyone with a valid email address. Just be sure that I have a way to contact you should you win. I'm closing comments on Friday, October 31st at 12AM & I will use a random number generator to select the winner. Good luck!

Oh, and by the way, Inspired Bliss is having a great little giveaway too. Click on over there and enter!

My thanks to Chilihead for organizing the amazing Bloggy Giveaways!

photo by Fotolia

Photo Hunters - Scary

Photo Hunters theme for the week? Why, "SCARY!" of course!

Photo Hunt - Scary

This little guy didn't look too scary at first.



But when I zoomed in, he was TERRIFYING!






You can see more scary things here.

Thematic Photographic - Happy

I'm thinking of making Carmi's Thematic Photographic Challenge a regular post each week. I appreciate his encouragement to look at and capture life's moments in a different ways. This week's theme is "happy." So many ways to look at happy.

My photo's from last week's Photo Hunters actually fit pretty well. But with Carmi's challenge in mind, I looked through my recent photos for some that spoke "happy" to me. These are the photos I've chosen.

Last Sunday afternoon my oldest daughter, Sweetanlo, celebrated her Sweet 16 Birthday with four of her dearest friends and her younger sister, Sweetly. We planned an old-fashioned candy-making party; complete with taffy-pulling, fudge making and homemade lollipops. While the fudge was cooling, there was time to go out in the backyard and take some photos. Here are just a small sampling of the pictures I took that afternoon. I suggested some poses and then let them decide what to do. Once they got started, I just kept snapping photos. There was much giggling and laughing. I love how I can "feel" the laughter in these photos, especially in the photos that were actually "in-between" the posed photos. These girls have know each other for nearly their whole lives and love each other deeply. Being together makes them happy. Seeing them together makes me happy too.

(click on a picture to make it bigger so you can really see their facial expressions!)