Reading

Little True was getting her favorite book read to her by her big cousin Kristi. Kristi doesn't just read books she devours them in lightening speed.  I hope she can pass on to her little cousin the love for books and learning.  Still my favorite time of day is when I read aloud to my kids. Yes, I still read aloud to my teenager. Ask her, she tell you she still loves it. We share the story, the adventure and the time together. My fondest and best memories with my kids usually was around some book we were reading.  Read to your kids. If you don't have kids, find some young child and read them a story. See the lights in their eyes sparkle.

If you're looking for a great set of books to read this Christmas season, I highly recommend Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels. All by Arnold Ytreeide.  I believe this is the 4th time I'm reading them aloud during the Christmas season. Not your run of the mill boring Christmas stories. You'll see Christmas in a wonderful new way! They're finally back in print again, and available through CBD.

Home made beauty dish

 A few photographer friends asked me to show the steps I used to make this homemade beauty dish.  Here's the supplies I used: A potting bowl from Menards (about $4.00) Single Gang Box Extender (BE1-2CS) which is an out-lite extender, 1/2" long 1/8" dia. Round Head Stove Bolts, and empty 50 CD/DVD case and mirror, spray paint, white lining material. The whole thing cost me about $8.00 (but I already had the spray paint and material).  The website I saw this on recommended spray paint for plastic. That may work better than what I used.

 Draw around the inside of the out-lite box on the bottom side of the bowl with a Sharpie.

 Cut along lines with a utility knife. It really cuts pretty easy if you use a new blade. :-)

 It took me a while to get an exact fit. I kept shaving away till I got it fit snug.

 Shaving away a little at a time. I'm sure some of you could get it right the first time, but I'm not that skilled.

 When it fits flat, you know you've got it.

 Then draw on the CD/DVD base and start cutting. This is showing the back side. It's a little harder to cut than the pot, so be careful. It also cracks easily, so be careful not to break it.

 Fit all three pieces together. This is a view from the inside of the bowl.

 Drill holes for the bolts using a 9/16 bit. (By the way, cordless drills are some of my favorite tools.The first one we owned my husband gave it to me for my birthday and I was thrilled. We later replaced that one with this one for his birthday, but I still use it more than him.  He always teases me, that I should belong to the Handyman of America club.)

 Here's an inside view with the bolts in place.

 Tighten the bolts and get ready to paint.

 I spray painted the outside black, just for looks.

 On this one, I spray painted the inside silver. My first one I did with white glossy paint. And yes, I use plastic gloves, I hate paint on my hands.

 To make the diffuser panel, I used white lining material. (Left over from my daughter-in-laws wedding dress) Measured, 2" outside the dish, all the way around. (I used a disappearing ink pen, but that's not totally necessary) Make a casing and run 1/4" inch elastic through it, till it fit tight.

 Picture #1:Here's the dish upside down ready to be measured out for the diffuser panel.

Picture #2:Here's what the diffuser looks like finished.

 The inside of the CD/DVD dome I glued a CD first (with craft glue, but hot glue would work too). Then I put a mirror in the center (a cheap one from Walmart, found in the auto department).  I still would like to find a mirror that fits the whole case, but haven't found one yet.

 Here's what it looks like all assembled. (This is my white one) Someone asked which size CD/DVD to use. The website recommended a 50, as a 25 was a little too short, and a 100 too long.  Of course you can use with or without the diffuser, depending on what you're looking for in the lighting.  You loose a stop or two this this set up, so adjust accordingly.

With the diffuser on and my Nikon SB800 speedlight. The out-lite extender fits so tight, I don't use anything else to hold it on. On the website where I saw this, they used some Velcro, which you could use for extra support.  I know the SB900 is a little bit bigger, so the outlite extender would probably not fit. You could use a drain spot extender (I don't know the correct name for it.)  Just take your speed light with you to the hardware store (I did). :-)

   Hope this helps, and happy creating. It took me about 30 minutes to make, plus the paint drying time.  I was a little slow in cutting the hole so it could be done quicker, if you're better with an utility knife than I am.
  For you Cannon users, I have no idea if this would fit a Cannon Speedlight. Like I said before, take it with you to the Hardware store and see what fits your Speedlight.

Philip and Football

Philip came home tonight for Thanksgiving. As always it's so fun to see your kids when they come home. He wanted me to make a poster of him playing football. Here's what I came up with tonight for him.  Since I'm just learning Photo shop I felt it wasn't too bad.

For the Birds

The minute you got close, they would take off flying. The sound of their wings sounded like thunder!

 I thought the above picture looks like a heart formation.

 The ground looked like it had snowed, and when they flew it looked like a cloud.

The last couple of days, there has been thousands and thousands of Snow Geese around our house. It has been fascinating to watch.  It really reminds me of when we lived in Kenmare, and all the geese would land on the lake, and the noise would be so loud, we'd have to yell to hear each other when we stepped outside our house. (we were only a few blocks from the lake).  There's no lake by our house here, but the birds have been landing in the grain fields for "refueling" as they make their trip south.

Sunrise on the Prairie

There's nothing like a North Dakota sunrise (or sunset for that matter).  God loves to show off his extensive colors and majesty. 
I love old wells. This one sits in the yard here and is what brings water to the cows and horses.  Though years ago, I'm sure it didn't have an electric motor and a pvc pipe attached it it, things have changed for convenience sake, but it still has the same function. To bring water to the livestock.  But where is the well today that is bringing refreshing water to your heart and soul?  If you're truly thirsty, come to Jesus, he has a well that never runs dry! 

Happy 50th Birthday Todd!!

All week I've talked about Todd. Today is his 50th birthday (which means mine is only 2 months away).  I thank God for you and all you do for us. Your never ending love for God, your example of someone who walks in the love of God, and your passion for the Word of God.  May your next 50 years be even better!  Happy Birthday Cowboy, from your Angel and kids. 

Havin' fun in Minnesota

We've spent the weekend in Willmar, MN with our kids.  Todd received the greatest gift of all for his birthday from Tyson and Sarah when they told him he's a Grandpa!!  (Wow, that makes me a Grandma! Oh my!!)  Here's my man, resting and reading the Faith Aid (put out by AFCM and Jim Kaseman Ministries) in the hotel room.

A cowboy and his dog

Todd loves animals, and has a special bond with our dog Quito. Quito will do anything for Todd.  They love to play as well as work together.  Yesterday they were out playing one of their games, when I captured these pictures.   Todd usually ends up getting a good "lickin'" of love from Quito.  Quito is also an excellent working dog, but nothing beats his times of play with Todd.  A cowboy often says of a good dog, "He's worth four good men when moving cows." This is a very true statement of Quito.

Man of the Word

One of the things that made me take notice of this cowboy, was his incredible love for the Word of God.  If you can't find Todd, chances are he's off some where reading his Bible.  He always has a scripture card in his shirt pocket too. Before the accident he had several books in the New Testament memorized, I know this to be so, as he would often quote them to me, and I'd follow along, word for word.  It wasn't just head memorization either, he was putting it in his heart.  Though the accident stole a part of his memory away, there's still lots in his heart.   This picture was taken last summer 2009 at the Moreau River Sanctuary. A wonderful place to go!  This is out on their porch, and as you can see, it was still under construction at the time.

Where we met

Met this old cowboy at Shiloh Training Institute in Hamilton, MT.  By the end of my 1st year (Todd's 2nd cause he went a year ahead of me) we started dating.  I can't say it was love at first sight, but it certainly was ment to be.  Here's a picture of us in 1980 or 81 (not totally sure) when we were dating.  See Todd had the same glasses. (He still wears that belt buckle too)

Todd 20 years ago

This is one of my favorite pictures of Todd. I took this back in 1990 in Kenmare  in our office.  He was pastoring Grace Christian Fellowship at the time.  See, same glasses. :-)

Todd in "normal" attire

Since this is Todd's birthday week, I'm featuring pictures of Todd. (good or bad)  This is Todd more like he is every day.  And yes, you can see the sunrise in his glasses (actually you can see me too).  Todd has worn the same glasses since the early 80's. (although he only wears them for work now, or when he forgets to put his new pair on).  I heard recently that the only people who like change are babies. This must be true with Todd's glasses.

A declared Birthday Week for Todd

My husband of almost 29 years is turning 50 this coming Sunday (Nov. 14.)  So I declare this week, Todd week.  So he should get to celebrate all week, with the final who-ha on Sunday.   Sounds like a wonderful time to celebrate life, love and giving!  Glad you asked me all those years ago "If I'd want to marry this old cowboy" And glad I said yes! It's been a marriage made in heaven, but then again, so is thunder and lightning.

 

Truely adorable

The cowboy coming home

Todd arrived home finally at sunset tonight (after leaving this morning well before sunrise).  One weary cowboy. 
Psalms 113:3  From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, the Lord's name is to be praised.

Starry night

Although I took this a month or so ago, tonight's sky looks like this again. I love the wide open spaces, and no street lights to see the beautiful night sky.  The Heavens declare his Majesty.