Recent Pics of the Cats

One of the digiscrap sites in which I post in the forum has a weekly photo contest. Last week's theme was pets/animals. So, it being awhile since I've taken some good cat photos, I let the cats onto the patio to let them roam in the small enclosed space, while I attempted some photos (since the lighting in our apartment is quite horrible). Here are the results.

First, Yanni:

And then, Yuki (Yanni's usually my more photogenic one, but Yuki took some lovely photos this time -- when I could get her to stand/sit still for a moment!):

I was only able to enter two of these photos (the first one of the Yanni, and the last one of Yuki). I didn't win the contest, but I got an honorable mention for this last photo of Yuki, mostly because of the post processing I did with it. All photos were edited in Photoshop and enhanced in Lightroom.

Domestic Diva?

Or I have too much time on my hands?

So, over the last month and ... a half I have been baking and working on some projects, and I thought I would share some of them. (Some are secret and cannot be shared yet. ^_^ I also have some cards to put here soon that me and some people made for charity. More on that laterz.)

First off, the baking.

I saw a yummy-looking recipe over at Centsational Girl for a Spiced Pear Cake. I thought I would give it a whirl. It was okay the first time around, but even though I do like a good pear, the taste of the pear was really muted. SO, I decided to try apples (since it was a possible suggestion). This time it came our pretty tasty, and you can definitely taste the apples.

Her pictures are much prettier, but here's my version of the cake (if you're on FB, then you probably saw this already):

Then, my friend Stephanie had been baking lots of bread -- she has a bun in the oven, so it was appropriate. Not long ago, my in-laws gave us their old breadmaker. It was nice to have it, but the bread's crust is kinda hard, and so I decided to try the recipe Steph had posted for white bread. This recipe is seriously easy, and if you have a mixer (like a Kitchenaid) with a dough hook, then most of the work is done for ya!

Turns out soft and yummy, and keeps in the fridge for quite a while, and with a pop into the toaster, mmm ...!

And then, I have also done some sewing! Since my friend Steph has said bun in said oven (^_-) I knew a baby shower would soon be in the works, so once I knew when the shower was, I got down to business, making the baby two little sundresses, with a matching hat. (The hat didn't make it into the original gift, though, as it gave me issues, but thankfully ....) I love the fabric, and used leftover denim fabric from a previous project to make the ruffles and hat.) I think this is the first time I can recall truly following every step in the pattern.

But the results? Gah! Adorable, if I do say so myself. Even though it looks like one piece, it's actually a sundress with little panties to cover the diaper. I just put them together for ease of photography.

(Oh, and you WILL see that foam head in the future. Hehehe ... love it!)

Spiritually Interrupted

As most of you know, in church I work with the children (aka Primary). Most of my time is taken up with tending to secretarial duties during church.

The only time I really have, during church, for spiritual nourishment is during what we call Sacrament Meeting (basically, the congregational meeting where the sacrament, or as some call it, a communion, sorta, is passed and we have speakers talk instead of just one preacher or priest teaching).

I very, very rarely have spiritual moments when I am in Primary. And usually, frankly, it's when we're singing, but I digress.

But today, and last Sunday, I had recognizable spiritual moments that were ... *sigh* ... interrupted. And it irked me! How sad is that?!

Now, granted, that doesn't mean those were the ONLY spiritual moments I had, but to have them interrupted was, well ... frustrating.

Last Sunday, a good friend was up at the pulpit speaking about one of her brothers, who happens to have been in a very similar situation like one of my brothers. I could really start to feel the truth of her words ... when a child behind me had kicked his toy under my seat and asked me if I could get it for him). No, the child didn't do it on purpose, but the child HAD brought the toy ... and ... I missed the rest of what my friend said. *sigh*

Then today, on a rare of rares, during Primary, the President was giving the lesson to the older kids, and part of what she said was really starting to make me feel the Spirit ... when the door next to me opens with a woman from the nursery needing to find the mother of the child she's leading by the hand, because he has to go potty. (His mother is one of our teachers.) And I had to help her find the teacher in one of the classrooms. I know, I know. It's not anyone's fault. I was just in the wrong spot, and I got interrupted.

But for it to happen twice, on consecutive Sundays, and it be so apparent, well ... what can I say?

Am I being a little whiny? Maybe. But ... don't you WANT to feel good when you go to church on Sundays? I guess I felt a little denied. *soft laugh*

What will next Sunday bring? Hopefully the third time IS the charm and I make it through without being spiritually interrupted.

New Banner!

New banner header! I have been trying to work on a new one for awhile, but I finally got inspired. I found this pretty pic and it seemed very Autumn-y, so ....

Halloween was pretty fun. Was a Hogwart's Student for our church's Trunk or Treat (on Friday), and for Halloween, I was a vampire. I know, a little cliche, but I have some cool teeth that sit over my lateral incisors, instead of normal ones that sit on the canines. They're individual too, and look really cool!

Also, been very, very busy working on some projects -- but at least I had time to finish a new banner header!

Has anyone noticed I haven't posted any of my fanfic for several months? *LOL* No one's mentioned it. *sniff* I have lots written, I just need to do some research for my next part on here, and I haven't had the time -- it doesn't take a lot, I just need to do it. We'll see if I make it for this Friday!