# 82 Do my optional Digital Photography booklet 6/5/11

I've been interested in photography for as long as I can remember.  To capture a moment in time and preserve that moment for all to see is a gift.  I got my first camera in high school (I think) and took many pictures of everything and anything.  I was thrilled to have the chance to use the high school darkroom (the same darkroom that my Dad used when he was in high school) to learn how to develop pictures.  I spent many hours in that small room with my friends.  The pictures weren't the best, but the thrill of watching them appear on the paper is still magic to me.  I took some photography classes in college, but had to drop them when I found out I was pregnant with Jason.  I was getting sick from the smell of the chemicals and wasn't sure how good those chemicals were for a developing baby.  So about 8 years ago I enrolled in another photography class through New York Institute of Photography.  It was a study at home course that you could take up to three years to complete.  I started out good and then about 2/3 rds of the way through life took over and I set it aside.  As the deadline approached I was determined to finish the course and I did with only weeks to spare.  As an option there was a digital pamphlet that we could complete.  This is the pamphlet that I completed on June 5th.  It was mostly about scanners and I didn't learn anything that I thought was useful, although it may prove useful down the road. 

# 20 Make 6 afghans for the NICU at Children's 6/1/2011

NICU stands for Newborn Intensive Care Unit.  My daughter Sarah was born 4 weeks premature.  She was rushed down to Children's Hospital in the Twin Cities.  Unfortunately after only 18 hours of life she passed away.  The people that work there have angel wings under their scrubs.  They were wonderfully supportive both that night and in the weeks after.  I used to donate money for teddy bears at Christmas time.  Then a daycare parent that volunteered in the NICU said that they accepted afghans.  I knew what my new project was. I have only donated two afghans to the NICU so far.  I have three more finished that haven't been sent, they will be sent with these six.  I have been crocheting since I was in the 3rd grade.  My best friend at the time Anna taught me how to make doll booties during the movie Bambi.  It is one of those snapshot moments, where you can remember exactly where you were and what you were doing.  Our third grade class had gathered in the school library for a movie, quite a treat for us.  Anna and I were at the back of the room (where there was light) whispering back and forth.  She had brought an extra crochet hook from home and extra yarn.  I know that my first attempt was not very good.  Over the years I have gotten much better and have been known to crank out a full size afghan in as little as 10 days.  I usually only work on afghans in the winter, they help to keep me warm while I am watching TV.  I really wanted to finish these, since they are smaller and quicker.  The last two were the solid color ones done with two strands of yarn.  My favorites are the round ones.  Mostly because they are different.  I think that they cover car seats better than the rectangle kind.  I also like to use bright colors instead of the pastels that are usually used for baby things. 

#22 buy a pair of capri's and wear them 10 times

Completed 6/4/2011

I don't like clothes that don't fit, although I have been known to wear things too tight.  Just ask my younger sister about the famous red satin pants.   Capri's (for me) fall into the category of ill-fitting clothes.  They are too short, high waders.  I wore pedal pushers as a child (I know I just dated myself), and hated them.  Mostly because they were my older sister's first (nothing against my sister).  Being the youngest of 4 children born with-in 4 years I grew up wearing hand-me-downs.  This was a necessary in our family due to finances and I did it with my kids as they were growing up.  Sometimes I would wait impatiently for a certain piece of clothing to make it to me.  The advantage of hand-me-downs is that they are broken in and very comfortable.  So that explains my aversion to capri's.  That and I think that they make most (not all) people who wear them look 'hippy'.  So in my search for capris I decided to go with a jean material that was tighter at the knees.  I thought this would make them seem less like high-waders to me.  Next was the sizing dilemma for me.  Gina happened to call as I was shopping.  I was told if they fit at the waist then they fit, so I bought a pair that seemed to fit.  The size down was too tight.  I think that they stretched in the wearing, because now I am constantly pulling them up and have tons of room in the waist.  I would love to tell you that I lost that much weight, but sadly not true. 
So, after wearing them 10 times, I have to admit that they are okay.  Days when it is too hot for pants, but too cool for shorts are perfect for capri's.  I am not going to run out and flood my closet with them ,but I am also not going to burn them in triumph (that I managed to wear them 10 times).  I'm glad that I chose the tighter ones around the knee.  I don't think I would've made it 10 times with the other ones.

#62 Go visit Cindy 4/18/2011

Cindy and I have been friends since we were nine.  Her Dad had a job at Honeywell and was transferred to Minneapolis from Florida to work on a project.  Her family came to stay with us on our farm through Farm Vacations.  Our farm was listed as a working farm that would accommodate guests during the summer months.  Cindy and I were inseparable during that summer.  I have so many fond memories of doing things with her.  We became pen pals, although we weren't very good at writing some of the time.  Our family was pleasantly surprised when they got in touch with us 7 years later and wanted to spend the summer again!  It was another wonderful summer with the two of us doing most everything together.  Since the summers of our childhood, we have kept track of each other.  Cindy has been up to visit me and I have been down to visit her.  Although we no longer write, we do call or send cards.  It is like we have never been apart, picking up right where we left off. 

I really wanted to surprise Cindy for her birthday, so I got in touch with her Mom who lives close to her.  Helen got in touch with Jack (her husband) and they helped me to plan the surprise on that end.  My plane was almost an hour late leaving Minneapolis and I missed my connection in Atlanta.  I was on the next flight out an hour and a half later.  Cindy and Helen were waiting at the airport the whole time.  Cindy was so shocked to see me, she was speechless.  The surprise was a success.  It was wonderful to go from 40 degrees to 80 degrees.  The sunshine was the best thing.  It has been so cloudy and gloomy in Minnesota.  Clearwater Beach is so beautiful,  pure white sand and turquoise blue water.  We had a late lunch on the beach and I got to walk around bare foot!  It was quite a treat for this Minnesotan gal.  I had a great visit with Cindy.  It was so nice to see her and get caught up with the goings on in the families.  We talked, shopped for my kids, hung out, and even played some ball with her son.  Did I say how great it was?  I have to thank my kids for buying me the plane ticket as a Christmas present and thanks Jenni for watching the Daycare kids.  Did I say yet that I have great kids?  Well, I think they are terrific!  Saturday evening we went down to the beach to catch the sunset.  We were treated to one of the best sunsets I have seen in quite a while.

Sunday we went to a county park near her house.  I spent time exploring in the warm sunshine, Cindy hung out near the playground so Michael could play.  It was a great day walking around in the warm sunshine.  I saw turtles, ducks, butterflies, a snake, and lots of different flowers.  Shadow (their dog) even got to play in the dog park.  Sunday evening we were invited to Helen's for a birthday party for Cindy.  The food was excellent and so was the company.  Another surprise for Cindy.  We had Strawberry Shortcake for dessert, Cindy's favorite. 

It was so great seeing Cindy.  I hope that I don't take so long to do it again.  Her family was so gracious to help me out with this and to put me up for three days.  Thank you!  It was  a treat for me to get away too.  Things have been stressful and the break was just what I needed.  Another item I regrettably cross off my list.  Oh, the letter that I couldn't send (from my 40 cards in 40 days) was to Cindy.  I didn't want to tip her off that I was going to come down to see her.

#12 Throw 2 menu mystery dinners

Completed 4/9/2011

For those of you that are not familiar with menu mystery dinners I will explain a little.  The mystery isn't 'who done it', the mystery is when during the course of the meal you are going to get what.  Included on the menu is all the silverware, napkin, drinks, a toothpick and of course the food.  To participate in this you must be willing to eat with your fingers.  I love having good friends that go along with my crazy ideas.  The first dinner was for my BE friends the weekend of Valentines Day.  Because we are all divorced or widowed, the theme was couples or widows that need to go to BE.   Janet D's daughter and friend graciously agreed to be wait staff, a huge help for us. 

The second dinner was an Australian theme and I had friends from Hutchinson over.  The clues were hard, but everyone had a good time.  There were many people eating with their fingers.  Thank you so much to everyone who made it.  I will be having more of these dinners.  It is so much fun to think of the clues and then anticipate the laughs.

#73 Writing 40 Notes to People who have Impacted my Life.

I have completed my 40 notes.  I decided that I would send cards that I had made using my photography skills.  I tried to match the picture on the cards  with something the person could relate to.   Writing them was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.  I have a difficult time expressing my feelings and even more difficult when it is in writing.  There are many people in my life that have made an impact.  I know that I have missed some when I decided who to send cards to.  If you didn't get a card, it is not because I do not appreciate you in my life.  I just have a lot of people to thank, I have come to realize that even more in doing this project.   All of the cards have been sent out during Lent, I have one that I am holding on to until after the 18th.  You will find out the reason why in a later post. 

Where I have I been?

I do apologize for not being on my blog for a long time.  I decided to go back to school.  It was a rather quick decision.  I signed up for classes three days before the new semester started.  My extra time has been spent doing homework.  I haven't had a lot of time to work on my 101 projects.  I have been working on some.   Crocheting baby blankets for NICU at Childrens (I have 2 done and am working on the third of six).   I printed out the cards for Item#73.   I keep starting the not complaining for a week (it is really hard to do).   I threw a menu mystery party on Feb 12 with the help of my friend Janet (one more to go).   I have been making paper cranes (I'm up 220).  I have been keeping up with the holding a conversation with someone I don't know once a month.  I have adapted the hanging out the laundry once a month to hanging laundry.  I have put up lines in my laundry room and only put about one load a month in the dryer.  It has made a significant difference in my energy bill.  I have been reading the Bible, I found an on-line program to read the Bible in a year.  So as you can see I am still working on things, just not getting them done.  I'm off to do something on the list, it's spring break this week, so maybe I'll finish one.