Friday, September 16, 2011

POTD - Dots


POTD - Dots
©2011 Kristin Corlett

I got a box of Dots gumdrops a few weeks ago at a potluck dinner - it was part of the table decorations. I have been wanting to photograph them ever since I got them, so I'm happy that I got that accomplished last night.  How did I come up with this arrangement for the Dots?   This is the way the little gumdrops landed when I dumped them out of the box. I have another Dots photo over at my Shuttercal site that also has the box in it.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Friday Fragments


It's Friday Fragments Day!!
It's Friday Fragments Day!
It's Friday Fragments Day!
It's Friday Fragments Day!  
It's Friday Fragments Day!



Welcome to Friday Fragments!  This is the place where we're able to put little snippets of fun or interesting things together without having to stretch that idea into an entire blog post.

Mrs. 4444 is our lovely host and I am so grateful for her continued hosting of this fun carnival.  For more Friday Fragment finds, please head on over to Half-Past Kissin' Time.  Thanks!

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•


This has been one heck of a week!  The first thing that happened was on the night of the full moon we had about half of our group in the ER or admitted to the hospital.  We had one liver transplant that night and the rest were just visiting for a day - nothing that a little Mayo magic couldn't fix.  This has been the first time though, that a full moon pulled in our group like that.  It was kind of funny.



I have to admit.  I'm excited that the All Star season of America's Next Top Model is on.  I record them and mostly forward to the photo shoots and elimination of course, but I really like that show.




My husband is moving his office next week from this wonderful large space with a mini warehouse and an office combined to a storage space.  He is going to save a ton of money, but I loved having a place to put furniture that I find or other items that I have listed on CraigsList.  He's going to have to rent an office now, too because he can't bring his office into my kitchen again - I just got him out a few months ago.  But once again, he will be able to find a small office for a much better price than the place he is now.  We have a lot of belt tightening going on right now. 




On a great note though, he sold the forklift he had for the warehouse and when the guy came to buy it he bought several other items while he was there!  Yay!!  We're going to have a 3-4 hour garage sale at the office on Sunday to see if we can get the little stuff gone and not have to move it.  




Thanks to my friend Melissa!  She saw my Photo of the Day - POTD - Chemist's Flasks - and purchased all 12 of them!  She's a chemist and thought she could really put them to use.  I got those puppies sold before I even got them listed.  Cool!




The photos in this post are all from a box lot I won at an auction.  I'm going to add these to our garage sale on Sunday.  Do you think I'll make back my $2 I spent on all of them??   I don't think I would have purchased any of them if they weren't $2!  They just aren't my style, but someone will like them, I'm just sure.  The little book "Secrets of Flowers" was where I found the letter I featured in "What happened to Monday."

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

Hope you have enjoyed my fragments this week.  If you are in the Jacksonville, FL area on Sunday let me know and I'll invite you over to the garage sale!   
More cool stuff can be found at Mrs. 4444's place though, as the Friday Fraggers are linking up there.

Have a great weekend!
Kristin

POTD - Weeds


POTD - Weeds
©2011 Kristin Corlett

This abandoned structure was so interesting with the repeating patterns, but I found it was best set off by the weeds growing along side the road.  I gave it a little 70s spin with the coloring.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Chemist's Flask


POTD - Chemist's Flask
©2011 Kristin Corlett

I bought a dozen of these flasks at an auction a few weeks ago.  I originally thought they were beakers, but I guess when the top is smaller than the base, it's a flask.  I can just see these full of different colored potions with a little glass stir stick in a chemists lab or in Dr. Evil's lab or something.  I'm going to put these on CraigsList as I think they may be a good prop for Halloween. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Great Blue Heron




The grounds at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville are quite lovely.  I think it helps to have some beautiful surroundings when you are sick and Mayo has it.  They even have some wildlife.

Mayo has quite a few ponds and everyone talks about seeing the alligator but all I've ever seen is the Great blue Heron.


On this day I didn't make friends with the heron. 



As soon as I came back with my camera, the heron honked at me a few times and flew off.


It was such a pretty flight, that I tried to capture as much of it as possible.







Someday I'm sure I'll see the alligator.

Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - Stuck on you


POTD - Stuck on you
©2011 Kristin Corlett

What is it?
Well, it's a pole, probably the remnant from a tall street side store sign.  It's only about 6 feet tall now.  The interesting thing about this pole is that it has stickers on it.  Lots of them!  Most of the stickers are black and white and all are very graphic.  I've noticed this stickered, rusted pole for about a year now and knew there would be a day when the sky was brilliant blue and the sun was in the perfect position and I would be there with my camera.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Monday, September 12, 2011

Potluck Favorites

The past week or two my life seems to have been all about the potluck.

I've been to four in a little over a week.  Two of them I didn't bring anything (gasp!) but for the other two I worried and fretted about what to make for days.

I have some Go-To potluck favorites, but for some reason I didn't want to make any of those. 

My Go To's are:

Rice Salad
BBQ Meatloaf
Spinach Salad
Sour Cream Noodle Bake (From Pioneer Woman's site)
Scalloped Corn (bread)

Spinach Ravioli Bake is a new to me dish.  Mrs. 4444's posted it on her Cooks blog.  It was a big hit so I made that along with the Birthday Cake Treats.  I have trouble just making one thing for potluck. 

I tend not to make new recipes for Tom and I, but I am perfectly willing to try something out on our potluck groups.  It's easy to see if the food is a hit or not and I get to find out if my husband likes the dish without having to make a giant amount for just the two of us.  



Friday I went to a few estate sales where I found very little worth the time or effort to pick up.  One place though had hundreds of cookbooks for  $1 - $3, with 35% off because it was the second day of the sale.   I thought I'd get a cookbook or two for my new craft project, but what I found instead was the "9x13 The Perfect Fit Dish" cookbook.  It was a 2010 First Edition.  I got it for 70¢. 

The new-to-me book in hand and I was ready to make something different in my 9 x 13 pan. 

After much consideration I chose:

Chicken Lasagna Rolls with chive-cream sauce. (also found at Recipe.com)


I will be posting my photos & recipe sometime this week for this dish - OH and I still haven't posted the Spinach Ravioli Bake.  I'll have to do that, too.  It must be food week here at The Goat!

It was totally different for me but I had a good time making it, but wouldn't you know it, three lasagnas were at this potluck.  Still, mine was gobbled up and I came home with an empty pan.  I made a double batch though, so I baked the second pan when we got home.  Now we have little lunches or snacks for the rest of the week!

Thankfully I think I've only had one dud in my four years of trying out new foods at potluck.  Unfortunately I can't seem to remember what it was! Some dishes I could never make for us at home, like the Rice Krispies Treats, I'd have no willpower in resisting a dozen of them, but it's fun to make them for a group.

Have a wonderful beginning to your week!
Kristin

POTD - Where Am I?


POTD - Where Am I?
©2011 Kristin Corlett

On my little afternoon photography adventure the other day, I was surprised how many times I'd pass something and immediately think, "I'll get that on the way back."  On this particular trip, I knew that I wasn't going to be traveling back the same way I got there.  Every time I noticed an interesting spot I had to evaluate if I thought it was worth it to turn around because I rarely saw something until I completely passed it!   I think that this sign post out by someone's dock was worth the time it took to turn around and go back. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Home of the Bulls Chips


My husband was very excited to be home and to have an entire day of College Football to watch, including his Michigan State University Spartans.

I wasn't as excited about football (but I do have my loyalties - Go State!) so I decided to spend the afternoon on a photo excursion.  I haven't done much of that since I've gotten home from my road trip a month ago, so it was about time!   I took a few unfamiliar roads and ended up finding Hastings - Florida's Potato Capital.  

I had no idea what was to come just a mile into town...




The first place I stopped was the Florida Museum, which looked like it was probably a very cool place at one time.  I would have loved to poke around here when it was open...if I'd only known.


Above the front door was this football player.  He is in really great shape for hanging out over a door 24/7.


Farm machinery of all types were all over the place.  These were the nicest of the bunch. 


Now, right across the street from the Florida Museum was this place. 
Bull's Hit Ranch and Farm. 
Their big draw? (Besides their name)
They made potato chips!


Bulls Chips to be exact.


This was their production facility, store and amusements. 


I looked them up online and it looks like they were open in 2010, but I couldn't find any mention of them being open at all this year.  They'd been around for at least a dozen years and had their Bulls Chips in a lot of stores and had an online shop for awhile. 



This was their truck out by the road. 



I like the tag line on the truck, "From the little Chippery in Hastings...Florida's Potato Capital."  Oh, actually I quoted that wrong.  It's spelled Captal on the truck.  ha!


Handmade potato chips from Bull's Hit Ranch and Farm.

What a treasure.  I sure wish they were still open.  I wanted to have a bag of chips at least!


Unknown Mami

I wonder what other sights there are to see in Unknown Mami's  carnival, Sundays in my City?  I guess we're going to have to go on over and find out.


Hope you have a great day!
Kristin

Saturday, September 10, 2011

POTD - Pennsylvania Barn


POTD - Pennsylvania Barn
©2011 Kristin Corlett

I think the East Coast is having a melt down.  Not the people, but nature!  I was on my road trip this summer during one of the hottest weeks ever and since then they've had an earthquake, a hurricane and now massive and widespread flooding from never ending rain.  I just thought I'd mention that I was thinking of you all and I hope that people are getting themselves high and dry to wait this out.  The barn in my photo is from Eastern Pennsylvania, right by my friend Lisa's place. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Friday, September 09, 2011

POTD - Straight Out Of the Camera


POTD - Straight Out Of the Camera
©2011 Kristin Corlett

I am so very grateful for this spectacular sunset.  It was not only beautiful, but its unusual color seared through my curtains and drew my attention.  Thank goodness it did, because up until that point, I never once thought about taking a picture for my 365 project.   I would have been heartbroken had I missed a day so far along.  I titled this Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) because it hasn't been altered.  This is is the way I shot it.  Fabulous!

Enjoy!
Kristin

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Birthday Cake Treats




Now, what could possibly be healthier than marshmallows, cake mix, butter, Rice Krispies and sprinkles?

It does sort of look like the beginning of Rice Krispies Treats, but that cake mix and sprinkles sort of puts a wrench in the whole thing.



Turns out that it's a pretty great treat with a twist.

I had never made Rice Krispies Treats before.  I know, it's a shocker, but all you do is heat up the butter and marshmallows over low heat.


Sprinkle in the cake mix (not the whole box, just a 1/3 of a cup) and stir, stir, stir.

I wanted to get photos of the next steps but all of a sudden I became covered in marshmallows and Rice Krispies.  Once everything melts, pour in the Rice Krispies and half of the sprinkles.  Stir until it is all mixed.

Press the mixture into a pan.  I used non stick cooking spray on my hands to help make that pressing process a bit less sticky.  After reading through some of the comments on the The Official Treat site, some use parchment or waxed paper as a pressing barrier.  Others used buttered spatulas.  I used sprayed hands.  It all works, I'm sure.

Press the remaining sprinkles on the top and let the treats stand for about 30 minutes before slicing. 


At our potluck tonight, this is how I presented the treats.  I called them Birthday Cake Treats.


I put one of the Birthday Cake Treats aside on a paper plate to take a picture and then when I went to put it back, it was stuck to the plate.  Well, I didn't want to fight with it, so I put the treat by my place at the table and walked away to chat with the group.


When I came back a few minutes later, this was what I found.

I questioned several people and thought I had the Nibbler narrowed down to one.  Then someone completely from left field volunteered the information!  He was the Nibbler!  and then he came over and ate the last bite.

That was funny. 



I got this recipe from Gimme Some Oven. The final photo of her treats are gorgeous!
I'll have to work on that because now I want a prettier photo.

When I went over to the Rice Krispies site and read some of the comments, people were talking about all of the different ways they alter the recipe.  I think you could probably have a different treat a week!  If you're ever stuck for an idea, head on over there.

The Birthday Cake Treats were a hit.  The only thing I'd do differently would be to put them on parchment paper when I set them out on the table.  They stuck together stacked like I had them.  

Have a wonderful weekend!
Kristin



Birthday Cake Treat Recipe

3 Tbsp. butter
1 (10 oz.) bag of mini-marshmallows
1/3 cup dry yellow cake mix
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
1 (1.75 oz.) container of multi-colored sprinkles

Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat and add marshmallows.
Stir constantly until they begin to melt, adding in cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined.
(I used a fine mesh strainer and tapped in the mix - no lumps!)
When the mixture has turned to liquid, turn off heat.
Stir the Rice Krispies so they are completely coated with marshmallow mixture.
Pour in half of the sprinkles and mix.
Press into a baking pan (any size will do) and add remaining sprinkles.
Let stand for about 30 minutes before cutting.
I used a thin hard plastic spatula to cut them, but a non stick spray on a knife would work well, too.



POTD - Drops


POTD - Drops
©2010 Kristin Corlett

I take my camera everywhere and on this day my husband and I were touring a model home in Clearwater, FL.  While he talked to the Realtor, I took pictures of the condo.  This is a picture of the chandelier drops in the dining room.  I have it in my Etsy shop, too. 

This is one of my favorites, so it is now included in my Best Of series.
The original POTD is here.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

100 Things that make me happy part III

While laying in bed last night trying my darnedest to fall asleep I decided to get out pen and paper and start writing.  Not wanting to wake up any more than necessary, I chose to write in the dark.

It's really not that bad and I  can read everything.  I was really on a roll of happiness because I filled up two pages front and back.

Here's a few more in my list of things that make me happy (that does not include food).

41.  My pillow.  I really like my own pillow.  I take it with me on vacations if I can and I do about everything possible to get that puppy in my bag.

42.  My bamboo sheets.  (can you tell I was writing this list in bed?!)  I bought the sheets at Target about 5 years ago and I love them.

43.  Unscented air freshener.  Oust used to make one and it was excellent! 



44.  My 365 Photo project - Here is the entire thumbnail set on Flickr.

45.  Friends that spend time teaching me a computer program.

46.  Doors - old doors, painted doors, ancient doors, rusty doors... I could go on and on.

47.  hardware stores - the old small town ones are the best.



48.  Thinking of the days that I would go to the Maywood Cafe with my Grandpa Corlett.

49.  A great old sign, especially when I have my camera with me.

50.  Having the bed to myself so I can write what makes me happy, while sprawled across the entire center of the bed. 

51. Playing the game Racko, Cross over the Bridge, Sorry, and other games.



52.  Scrubbies!  I have a whole drawer of them.  I use them like a washcloth in the shower.  I just bought half a dozen new ones to replace the ones that accidentally made it in the dryer.  Those get a little scratchy.

53.  Rediscovering something that I was just sure was lost.

54.  A kitten's mew.


55.  The Simon's Cat videos.

56.  Standing at an electronic door and telling the people behind me that I've got the door for them.

57.  Laughing at my own mistakes.  I'm really quite funny!

58.  Hearing just about any Journey song on the radio.

59.  Putting on a new pair of white leather tennis shoes.

60.  Receiving unexpected mail from friends!

Things that make me happy Part I and Part II.


Have a Great Day!!
Kristin

POTD - Fried Chicken



POTD - Fried Chicken
©2011 Kristin Corlett

I spent half of yesterday looking for signs. 
Oh please give me a sign!

Actually, I was looking in my photo folders for all of the sign pictures that I've taken.  I'm going to use some of them to put into a 2012 calendar.  I came across this Crown Fried Chicken sign that I found in Lancaster, PA on my road trip.  I had completely forgotten about it.  I don't know if the sign is old, but the graphics make it look to be so.  I don't think this will make it into the calendar, but it sure makes a nice Photo of the Day.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

POTD - Table Decorations


POTD - Table Decorations
©2011 Kristin Corlett

The whole reason for this photo was to capture the sunlight streaming through the glass rocks in the vase and then bouncing off of the silver mat.  I took a few photos of just the vase but my friends decided to help stage my photo by adding back in a few items that were originally part of the table decorations.  This was the best photo of the lot because of all of the colors swirling in the silver and the brightness of the glass stones in the vase.   Thanks Bud!!

Enjoy!
Kristin