Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Flikr vs Picasa

So I finally figured out the slideshow. For some reason I couldn't make sense of the Flikr site and get my slideshow to works.
Picasa seemed a bit easier and was closer to the Adobe programs I have used previously.

so if you are keeping track: Flikr - 0 Picasa - 1

Monday, August 18, 2008

Two Part Weekend


We had a great weekend. On Saturday we went to Lake Tahoe with Heather, Joey and Max. Mom came to and she met her friend Nancy Johnson (they were going to the high school reunion together).


The kids loved the lake and it was such a beautiful day.



We came home and cleaned up and then the Lights came over for dinner and canning.

Heather and I worked on some Tomatoes.

I finished up the peaches today.

Have to say that I am a little pooped.

PS. Heather, the peaches made 14 pints. I should be able to run them to you this week.


Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I don't have anything going on, I just needed to break up the silence. :)

Monday, August 11, 2008

how do I

how do I add a slide show to my blog?
either in the post or on the side bar


I have a Flickr account and photostream and sets of photos. Beyond that I am lost.....

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Quick How To: Decorating old plastic drawers
So we have been trying to decorate our new house but do it on a shoe string. So we were in the need of some toy storage but our old Walmart plastic drawers were a bit of an "eyesore". So with $6 in fabric and ribbon from Walmart and $3 of Decopoge, I created new coordinating drawers for Morgan and Emily. (still working on Jacob's, looking for some good cowboy prints).
Total project took about 4 hours for a total of 6 drawers.
I started by selecting the color cordinating fabrics. I only had to buy a half yard of 3 different colors. I choose cotton for ease of the decopoge.
I ironed under a 1/2" crease on the top and one end. Then measured the other side to the drawer. I acutally just made a tiny snip where I was gonna cut on the other end and eyeballed the straight cut allowing for 1/2" edge to crease with the iron. For the bottom edge I did the same snip measure and ironed over a straight edge. I then just cut a 1/2" edge from the ironed crease. I choose to do the ironed under hems so that I didn't have pesky threads or chance of tears from the kids later. I brushed on drawer front a healthy amount of Decopoge and layed down my fabric, taking to care to smooth the bubbles and tucking in my creased hems. I used the ribbon and some extra fabric for the top edge of the drawer where the handle pull was situated. Once this was dry, I brushed the top with more Decopoge and let dry. Repeated the top coat 4 times. This gives a nice sturdy protection to the fabric to withstand kids, it almost feels like vinyl when you are done. It also seems to bring out the color of the fabric. On a few drawers I cut out the designs and layed them on top of the first top coat. Then I coated the remaining 3 top coats.

The drawers were about 2-3 years old and with an extra $9 they are good as new and customized to match the kids rooms - PRICELESS.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Thursday, August 7, 2008

DONE!!

I finished the final book of the Twilight series last night at 1 am.
I won't give away any details for those who are still finishing up, but let's just say "interesting (as I twist my imaginary mustache) very interesting...."

as you finish, be sure to comment on your thoughts but try not to give away any details so we don't ruin it for the others

SP

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Old Ladies gone not so wild

Heather and I and Mom took a weekend and went away...far far away...from babies, diapers, gold fish crackers, laundry, cooking, and any other responsibility.

We drove to Folsom and Vacaville to go to outlet malls. We stayed in a hotel and ate out every meal. It felt good!
We shopped like mad women and dropped dead each evening.

We bought some fun stuff and helped Mom shop for an outfit for her 40th Class Reunion in a couple of weeks. That was fun for Heather and I as we threw dress after dress at her in a dressing room. I think she was tired with us after a while, but put up nicely with us.

Eventually the conversation always turned back to kids, husbands and home. Guess we aren't too wild.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Gruesome Toothless


Ok, I have talked Synnova into letting me place a picture of her on the blog, but only if I do the one focused on the rocket we launched that day. the picture was taken about an hour after the accident and she looked worse the next day because it was really puffy and pussy (it happened to be Sunday, of course I made her go to church. She was mortified, but what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger right?) . She is healing up quickly and you can hardly tell it even happened. The dentist says to give it a few weeks to tighten up and then they will fix the chipped tooth and no one will be the wiser.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Tips and Tricks

I'm not sure how many blattmans out there are interested in photography (This is mostly in response to Sarah's fancy-pants new camera) but I thought I would share internet sites that were helpful. These are especially good if you don't even know where to start (sometimes a little shove is good too)

talk the talk...

Some tips and tricks...

Once you think you have the hang of it...

Reliable opinions about camera equipment

Renting first is cheaper and safer than buying something you don't like

Hope that helps.

By the way, I thought it would be fun, for those that are interested, if we did monthly photography topics. i.e. we choose a topic (black&white, outdoors, kids, etc) and we post our favorite picture on our sites (or if you don't have one, post it here on Sarahs) and share how well we thought we did. I know that sounds kinda lame but I think it could be fun and it would give ya a reason to go out and take pictures for fun for once :) If anyone is interested, just say so and we'll come up with a topic for August!