Donna's Place

Pennies and 45′s

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:09:16 +0000

After several months of hinting to my son Brandon that I wish he would help me clean out the garage, I finally am getting it done with the help from some bribing him with moola! While rambling through some junk, I came across a stack of my old 45 records. I had forgotten all about these precious vinyl’s that I played over and over and over as a teen! They are dusty, scatched and have my name scribbled in ink across the label. I brought them in the house and showed them to my hubby Rick and started calling off the name of some of them.

1. J D Souther “ When your only lonely” 2. Prince “When Doves Cry” 3. Air Supply “Just as I am”

I couldn’t get to the living room fast enough to play my first 45 record in too many years to count. The first choice? Juice Newton “Break it to me Gently”. At first Rick made a face at the mention of Juice Newton, said she looked like turtle. He quickly got over that once the song started playing and actually grabbed me and danced me around the living room for about 15 secs Hey, I can’t complain as he never dances with me. So, I was able to create a new memory by digging up some old ones. I tell ya, there was nothing sweeter than the sound of my 45’s crackling and sounding a little warped. Just as I remembered them way back when.

I even remembered that you had to place pennies on the needle to help skip over the scratches so it didn’t get stuck.

Oh how I loved to go to my room and listen to these songs over and over again until I new every word.

What will the Neighbors think?

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:52:08 +0000

August 14th, 12:30 PM I’m getting ready to hit the Ocoee river for some white water rafting for the 3rd time this year. Hubby Rick has made this trip (his 2nd) and also we have invited our neighbors John and Kim (their 1st). Everything was planned a week before and I was told by Cherokee Rafting that my request for my usual guide Dan wouldn’t be a problem. The day before our trip, I get a call from Blake @ Cherokee to tell me that he’s had to put Dan on a full trip and that we would be getting Michael. At that point a little panic sets in. I’ve only rafted this river with Dan and found it funny how in tune I was with him and his rowing commands. I would put money on that he is the safest guide on the river!

John and Kim were great sports and even took front row seats on their very first trip down the Ocoee and took the brunt of some pretty hard hits. This was a pretty rocky trip I think, got the sore muscles today to vouch for that. We actually got stuck in a rapid called “Double Suck” I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes. How any of us stayed in the raft is a miracle. I didn’t find this one funny, but all the other 8 rafts on this trip that witnessed this thought it was hilarious. We ended up getting tangled up with another rafting outfit, which caused us to take on the rapid “Flipper” going backwards. Getting hit with a wall of water from behind, then getting a up close and personal botanical view of some low branches close to shore. Our guide Michael was super nice and very entertaining and took us on a wild ride.

Not sure why my hubby Rick can’t seem to sit up straight in the raft. He was bounced all over the place. He was either in the floor of the raft or assuming the reclining position. I’m picturing some Velcro for the shorts maybe?

picture #1 Rick showing off the reclining position.

picture #2 John and Kim having a drink of water!

Goodness Gracious it’s Cubed Steak n Gravy

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 23:51:25 +0000

Cubed steak, “the meat on a budget!” The toughest meat there is to cook I think. For years I have made this the only way I knew how. Flour the steaks and fry them up and make a gravy from a packet. I don’t ever remember a time that it was tender enough to actually cut the steaks with a fork. It was always getting out the sharpest knife I owned and cutting them up into bite size pieces and then chewing them till your jaws got sore! Lots of times it would get thrown out because there just wasn’t NO chewing them. Well, a few years ago I found the secret to making fork tender cubed steak. Listen up Valerie!!!!! Make this for my brother and you will have him eating out of your hand!

There really is no measuring to this…so you can’t mess it up!

Here’s what you need:

Some flour ~ salt and peppered real good

Cut your steaks up into big chunks and dump them over in the flour

1/2 of a small onion cut up (optional)

Beef Broth

In the skillet I add some oil and start cooking the onions on some med-high heat. While the onions are over in the skillet getting all sweet and happy, I dredge the cubed steak in the flour. Add the steak to the frying pan with the onions and let it brown up for a few minutes. (you may need to add just a bit more oil to the pan). When the steak starts to get a nice crust on it, slowly pour in enough beef broth to cover the steaks completely. About 1/2 way up the sides of your skillet. Stir, getting up all the good bits that may have stuck to the bottom of your skillet. Cover and cut the temp down to simmer. And here is the secret part! Cook for 30 minutes or a little longer if needed.

I love to serve this over rice…but mashed potatoes would be just as good. And don’t forget the biscuit or cornbread for sopping up all that goodness gracious gravy!

Butterfly Bush that saved Summer

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:39:28 +0000

This spring and summer has just been so hot. I mean, this has just been the longest stretch of heat and humidity that I can remember. Since I work in a non air conditioning building, all I want to do is stay at home sucking in all the AC I can in the evenings and weekends. This is the time of year I strongly hate envy all those people that have office jobs or have the luxury of staying home!

Humidity is such an ugly word and wrecks havoc on my hobby of photography. I have not gotten out nearly as much as I would like with my camera this year. My one true life saver this year, that has allowed me to give into my need to snap the shutter on my camera just happens to be my Butterfly Bush. I have 2 planted right off the patio and I have a great view of them while sitting at my computer. My camera is usually at the ready sitting on the table and I can jump up and run outside to chase the butterflies when I spot one fluttering around in the summer heat.

While summer (mainly July and August) are my least favorite months of the year. I still was able to get some great shots while staying right here at home. I’m looking forward to fall. Have saved all the vacation days I can and have plans for some out of state trips.. It’s these plans that are helping me also to get through this rough summer of 2010!!

Stay cool and enjoy some shots from the wonderful butterfly bush.

Eaten by Hell Hole

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 02:19:54 +0000

So, I took my 2nd trip down the Ocoee river this year on July 4th, both within 2 weeks of each other. I was lucky enough to get the same guide this trip as I’ve had my other trips. Danger Dan is simply the best guide. This was the first trip rafting on the front and let me say that I drank as much of the Ocoee has I could without falling in. On the bus ride up to the drop off point, guide Michael sat with me. What a small world…he knows where my little small home town is in Ga! He told me about some of his trips down the river………and some falls. Funny thing on this trip is our raft ended up behind his and I was able to catch him in action. Be sure and watch the video to catch this entertainment. You will also see the beauty of this river, some wild rapids that tried to EAT US ALIVE. Danger Dan did a water rescue at Hell Hole, which wasn’t easy considering we had to paddle our ass off to get through the powerhouse rapids from a dead stop. Somewhere along the way my Aquapac for the flip cam didn’t seal right and got a little water in it. It made it to the end to the trip, but the rush of water from Hell Hole was more than it could take. The cam froze up and wouldn’t do anything. Was happy when I after letting the battery run dead and then charging for a bit I was able to retrieve all of my videos from the day. YAY!!! Sad to say I still haven’t gotten to surf Hollywood yet. Looks like I need to make another trip….WHO’S WITH ME NEXT TIME?? I need folks that can paddle hard!

July 4th 2010 Ocoee from Donna on Vimeo.

I Heart My “Pet”

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:22:29 +0000

Meet Jojo AKA Mr. Photogenic. Be sure and check out all the other “pet” photos over at IHeartFaces!

Weekend at the Ocoee River

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:30:49 +0000

I am so far behind on blogging, but as I don’t think many people read this thing I’m not sweatin it This past weekend July 19th, Rick and I met up with some of friends for some fun on the Ocoee River. We took out first white water rafting trip last year and we had a blast. We decided that this year when we went that it would be a FULL RIVER experience. I can’t begin to tell you just how much fun we had. This trip was planned months in advance and the wait only severed as building up the anticipation level to almost unbearable! About 2 weeks before we went, I tortured myself daily with videos on youtube and by the time our rafting trip got here I was simply terrified of the rapid named humongous/godzilla! I had watched video after video of this rapid eating people ALIVE! Disappearing into that churning wall of water and never surfacing again…………ok, that could be because the cameraman didn’t bother to swing around and show you where they were washed up on shore battered and bruised several miles down the river. Luckily, we sailed right on through Godzilla, even Broken Nose, Edge of the World and Hell Hole couldn’t stop us this day!

Our guide Danger Dan was amazing….He knows this river well. When he isn’t yelling at you to PADDLE PADDLE PADDLE – DONT STOP he will entertain you with a joke and even a song…..and if ever happen to have to the joy of rafting with Danger Dan, don’t forget to ask him to play the piano for you. Cherokee Rafting is the best. I am planning several more white water rafting trips before this summer is over and I can’t wait….

See ya on the River!!!!

Welcome to the Family

admin — Sat, 15 May 2010 02:55:33 +0000

On May 1, 2010 my baby brother Danny married the love of his life and our family gained the most beautiful and sweetest girl ever. I had the honor of photographing this special occasion, along with some awesome help from Wendy of WendyCPhotography and Sandy Dilbeck. I can’t even begin to describe just how amazing this day was. The Bride was absolutely breathtaking and the ceremony was simple, sweet and beautiful. The reception was a great party/family reunion where everyone enjoyed themselves.

Welcome to the family Valerie….WE love ya’ll so much.

Spring Time Flowers Baby!

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:01:28 +0000

It seems like forever since I posted, but when I look back it was just last weekend. I had a crazy work week this past week with a shift and department change. I didn’t know if I was coming or going, but glad to be back on 1st shift. Thanks to some awesome photography friends I have been out shooting more than I’ve shot in awhile. It also helps having a couple of new lenses in your bag. Spring has been fabulous here in Tennessee, but those of you who know me, know that spring time allergies are brutal for me and tend to keep me hold up in the house with the windows closed. This past weekend I even bought a bouquet of flowers and went out in the backyard and shot over 200 pictures…………….. you photogs out there know what I mean when I say. “AHHH the thrill of pushing that shutter button”

Today I am going to help a friend with an engagement shoot. Man! I haven’t done one of those in a long while. But this is great timing because I am shooting my brothers wedding next weekend in Georgia. I am so flippin nervous and excited I can’t stand it. I’m also excited that my dear friend Wendy of WendyCPhotography will be going with me to help. It’s gonna be great.. Praying that the weather will co-operate.

Here’s some spring flowers shots I’ve done. Even got Jojo the cat to pose with the Iris’s!

Fix it Friday

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:53:31 +0000

It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Fix it Friday for I Heart Faces, so I was itching to get started on today’s edit. I don’t get the chance to shoot many portraits and so it’s good for me to do a Fix It Friday to stay in practice for when those few portrait ops come along.

Here is the original photo we had to work with. Thanks to 50centofyourlove for providing an awesome fix it Friday photo.

My first edit was done mostly in lightroom. As I am still not lightroom SAVVY, I still had to open the photo up in Photoshop for a few little tweaks.

The next edit was done all in CS3 where I could use some Florabella goodies

Both photos have a texture applied to them and blended with “overlay” reduced down into the 20%–30% opacity. This adds just enough to give it that nice and subtle painterly effect without being distracting.