Blanket Fort

 I was talking to a guy friend of mine late one night over text message. Somehow it turned to how stubborn men can be, as a joke, I said that I had had enough of boys. His solution was to make a fort, out of blankets and pillows, and make a sign that said, "No guys allowed". Naturally, I took him up on the idea. Making my bed into the best fort I could imagine. This, of course, is what followed;

I've noticed that some people think life is about standing straight and tall, holding your head high, showing how mature you can truly be, and all that pristine nonsense. Even with two months before I turn eighteen, I still hold on to my light hearted child side. And I hope to keep it for many years to come. Let loose, take a running jump over a puddle, that skip step along a dirt road, playing a joke on a friend, even to hide in the bushes with your best friends. Without that, we are just another perfect face in a world that is far from perfect. The ones who show their true colors will be noticed, maybe in a bad way by some, but by many, a very good way.

UnkamenKitchen - Introduction

UnkamenKitchen recently made his first blog post. I am proud to say that I work with someone with such talent, between cooking, and what came as a surprise to me, his most entertaining writing, making everyone who reads it feel as if they are having a common conversation. I had not read more than a paragraph of his writing before this, not knowing the hidden talent he held for it. Here is the link to his first post, giving the recipe for a Fried Egg Sandwich;  UnkamenKitchen - Fried Egg Sandwich

Follow his blog for future recipes! -Stay Shiny

 

Lemon Spritzer Drink

A great, refreshing drink through the summer days!
One juiced lemon
1/4 cup of water
2 Tbs sugar
Fill the rest of the glass with spritzer water, excluding room for ice!

Forest and Moon

It's finally up! My sister and I will be selling our own handmade jewelry on Etsy, under our shop name, Forest and Moon
We have been working hard to get listings in our shop. Sabri makes jump rings for all of our projects, and I do more technical computer work. Sabri and I both design new pieces, photograph, and post on our Facebook page. Here is our shop; https://www.etsy.com/shop/ForestandMoon?ref=si_shop and our Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/forestandmoon
These a few upcoming designs!
Sabri designed this bracelet, with mint leather cord, silver plated jump rings, and a swarovski button!
I just love the smooth feel this gives to my wrist.















And these are a pair of earrings that I designed for St. Patrick's day, but I think they would be fun for any day! They show nickel stainless steel ear wires, for sensitive ears. These are done in gold plate, with emerald swarovski and a clover charm.

Lunch From The Employees

While the family was away on vacation, the employees had to cook for themselves. It was a great time, seeing everyone bringing in their favorite and best dish.








The first Day was Chili.

Next was Bibimbop, containing a fried egg, rice, then the optional toppings of ground beef, carrots, hot sauce and mushrooms.










I brought Tater Tot Casserole.

Gimbop, rice, carrots, cream cheese, bacon, sliced hot dogs, spinach, and cooked eggs all wrapped in sea weed, resembling sushi.







It was fun, but I think we were all happy to see the chef return. Especially after the day I was gone, and everyone else had to figure out how to preheat the "Darth Oven," as they now all put it. I am now considered one of the masters of the oven. Never again shall they question my experiences with the dark forces that lurk inside that oven.

Lying In The Grass

This a picture of one of my best friends, Laura. We go on walks with another friend each day we work, after lunch. Yesterday I brought my camera.
Half way around our trail, I was exhausted from trying to walk in step with both of them, so I sat down in the grass while they made fun of me. I laid my head down, and notice the dry grass against the clouded sky.
I then exclaimed to them, "Look at the this! The grass against the sky!" Laura lay down next to me, and agreed that it was rather cool.
As I looked around, at her laying beside me, I noticed something I had never considered before. I pulled out my camera, hoping that I would have two seconds to catch it, and I did.
I tried to continue, when she moved her knees, thinking that I was trying to look past her. I cried out in frustration. Laura looked at me as if I had lost my mind, wondering what went wrong.
Byron, who was laying beside her, said, "You moved. Lily doesn't like it when you move." How true this was, I get so set on taking a picture, I do not appreciate when life moves out of focus.
In fact, there are times when I am taking pictures, I do not see what's happening in the photo until it has been taken. As odd as it may seem, those are probably the best moments for me. Because I was too busy to notice then, I get to look back and see their face again, seeing what I didn't before. This has happened numerous times with children.

Forest Floor

My sister and I took our cameras out before the snow hit, these are some of the photos that I captured.

  

 I went for a lot of contrast in this photo, to bring out the magical, fantasy look. At any given moment a young unicorn may come out from behind the tree...

A hollow tree leaves space for small dragon. They must hide somewhere, just until the day the human race is ready, once again, to bask in the awe of such amazing creatures. They share many of the same traits as house cats that way.

This photo reminds me of a recent dream. A monster, created to look like the trees, and the ground. Skin of bark, wood grain showing where it had been scarred, and leaves as well as morel mushrooms protruding from it's biceps.

I love the soft sparkling light behind the dog wood branches in this picture, and the branches look so much like antlers.

I did not realize until getting this photo back from the woods, that I was photographing a small creature resting it's wings on the barbed wire fence. Just think, how often this must happen to us.