School Bus Figure 8 and then some...

I wasn't sure--until last night--how a large lumbering school bus could manage a Figure 8. But now I know for sure. I also didn't know you could drive a car 'Balls to the Wall' hauling a boat on a trailer around a track! This is The Punisher! Complete with working blue lights!

I know how that's done now too thanks to the Citrus County Speedway races that I and and my family attended last night! Whew...I haven't laughed that hard in a while all while inhaling copious amounts of spent rubber and grit flying at me off the racetrack! My poor camera!

Look at that grit! Our poor lungs! My contact lenses are still mad at me! We looked like coal miners by the time we left :)

We could have stayed in the air conditioned "sky box",

but that would have muffled the experience and prevented the bus exhaust and pieces of who-knows-what from flying up and pelting us every time they screeched into turn #1!!!

There was no danger of anything flying off and hitting us in this race.

H was the lone contestant in the lawnmower race!

He came in first and last! Money is money!!

This is a participant in the "Suitcase Race"

Notice he is wearing a g-String and a pink bra. After each addition of women's clothing, the drivers ran back to their cars and burned rubber around the track only to screech to a stop, jump out and don another article of ladies attire. The first one to complete the outfit and the corresponding laps, Won a crown, sash and CASH!

The bus drivers drove their behemoth's with stealthy precision! No roll-overs or major loss of metal! There is just something inherently hysterical about watching normally safety conscious vehicles, haul ass around a race track trying to cut each other off and bumper bumping to try and get the inside turn! This was my favorite and she won the first race!

T

This one was a close second... heh.

Didn't get a good photo of "Shaggin' Wagon", but it wins a close 2nd on name alone.

This guy won the 1st race, but had to get a rear lift off the track... I needed one of those after the last triathlon I ran.

The boat trailer races were last and for good reason! They were the wildest by a long shot!

Crap flying off in all directions! Wheels whipping off and rolling at top speed across the track!

Boat trailers flipping, sparks flying and the cars pulling them still keep going at top speed!

This boat trailer cracked off the car and the trailing car slammed right through the hull of the boat...another car's trailer clipped it on the way by!

This is the wrecked boat's namesake...Diane!

The boys got a good look through the hull before it was hauled away...yea, we went down on the track...

We had such a great time! The kids chose this trip over a trip to Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando! Hey...School bus races are only 3 times a year. See you in Citrus County on October 30.

Four Hours, New Friends & Pioneer Woman....

We came. We met each other for the 1st time. We stood. We laughed. A few breast fed their babies---twice.

We took photos. We saw Ree. We went to Chic Filet and drove home. Just to make it clear, the breast feeders were 2 young moms with small infants. Brandy just had to make it back to St. Pete for a night feeding. Geez...was that me just 13 years ago? Here we are...I think the other mom is nursing over in the children's section.

This book signing was nuts! We were on the first level of Barnes and Noble looking up at her back as she spoke to the ones who arrived at 2pm and were sitting in front of her!

How many people were there???? We were weaved in and out of the rows of books like we were in line for the Teacups at Magic Kingdom. I did recognize a book I had read on just about every row! Ree started signing at 6p. We didn't move for 3 hours. They cleared the 2nd level where she was speaking and then started letting the lower level up 10 at a time! I had mine signed at 9:30pm and there were still about 100 behind me! Unbelievable. I am suppose to be her only fan here in Florida :) Apparently not. So there she sat smiling and talking to everyone like it was just a few of us who stopped by to say "hey!" What a constitution. I wish I would have brought her a pillow to sit on. At least a football stadium cushion. Her 2 girls were with her as well---so cute! (Way to hang in there) So when I finally got up to see her for the book signing, what did I say? "Nice to meet you. Welcome to Florida! Did you have a great time at Universal?" Stimulating. *snorts* Not..."I really enjoy your blog and your photography" or "I would like to invite you and your family over to the east coast for the shuttle launch and we will go to the beach to watch it." Or a myriad of other slightly better things to say. *sighs* Whats worse is that I didn't get other cookbooks signed for anyone else! I am really feeling bad about THAT! Next cookbook, I am ALL over that one :) However, I did hold it together long enough to hand the camera off to her assistant and have a photo taken....and then another photo---gotta have 2 just in case one was dorky. (BTW, the 1st one was not flattering) so here is the 2nd

Well, there ya go...it must be weird for her. We all feel like we know her through her blog. We know what her kids look like, the way the ranch works and how many dogs she has! Not only that, but she has made TV appearances as well! What a great agent she must have!! Don't you just love America? You can live on a cattle ranch, yet reach thousands of people with the click of a few computer keys...and they like it :)

I love the VooDoo that YouDo...

Do you love doughnuts? I ADORE doughnuts. Glazed, that is. Not much for to much stuff on my doughnuts. I have never tried to make them, however. I have a recipe from my grandmother that I have always wanted to try...involves deep frying. Pioneer Woman, Rea Drummond also has a crankin' recipe in her new cookbook. Did I say I was a fan? Huge fan. Seeing her in Orlando on Wednesday for her book signing!! Stand by for stalker fan pics :)

Well, in the meantime I found a doughnut shop that looks fantastic! Distressing news is that it is on the west coast and I am not referring to the west coast of Florida. It's on the west coast of the United States and it's name is Voodoo Doughnut. Check them out. Slightly irreverent at times (hey it's the West coast after all) but with the right idea of pushing the boundaries of what is ordinary :) I would love to try the Bacon Maple Bar. Don't let me hear you saying "Ewww". Everything is better with bacon! The Nyquil and Peptobismol doughnut was popular until the FDA put an end to that one. I love the voodoo doll with a pretzel through the heart. Better to take your frustrations out on a doughnut than a sawdust stuffed doll. Just sayin'. The most practical doughnut for the time conscience must be the Caffeine Doughnut. This pastry is filled with 100mg of caffeine. That's the equivalent to a cup and a half of coffee. No worries on spilling the coffee on the way to work! Now THAT is genius.

Parisian food, Stinky Cheese and a Sweet Feline...

How beautiful Paris is! The obvious sites were gorgeous, but I just loved the shops and the street vendors as well. I could have eaten my way through Paris! Can't believe I didn't get a photo of the chocolate and banana crepes I had! Probably because I couldn't wait to eat them-no time for a photo!

Fresh tulips!

Wooden tulips

Macaroons...mmmm

Ham and eggs..ahhh American food

Small market

Fromage (cheese) market (phew...a little ripe odor for me) The display was so tidy!

Le Mimi cat got to lick the creme' brulee' spoon...

i loved these little cheese appetizers!!

..but I REALLY loved the creme brulee'!

Just brushing up with my $6 cup of coffee...

Roasted chestnuts!!!

My French breakfast!

All he needed was coffee and jam :)

Meringues!

A cute cafe'

More fresh tulips...

Fresh fruits and nuts on the street

French Croissants near the Eiffel Tower

Gleeful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How cute are these? Erin over at A Bake Odyssey made them!! I was so excited that I made some for Will's chorus teacher and am making a bunch for a bake sale tomorrow :) This is one with Sam!

Check out Erin's blog! I'll post when I have made the rest !

Homemade Home Cookin'

We have been traveling and/or busy since Spring Break and therefore eating at home has suffered. My youngest has taken a growth spurt despite this AND the lack of fruit and vegetables in his diet.

Anywho...I decided to make some basic food tonight. Ham, green beans and potato casserole. I baked the smoked ham---nothing exciting. I do not like honey ham. Sweet meat is not appetizing somehow. The potato casserole has been in my family FOREVER and the green beans have as well. Since I am from southern Arkansas, I grew up on this food. My green beans are seasoned with salt, pepper and a nice ham hock :) For those of you who are wondering where the HOCK is on a pig....it is somewhere around the ankle joint. If you have ever examined the ankles of a pig, they are pretty meaty. If you have not noticed a pig's ankles...good for you. I will use a piece of Petit Jean peppered ham if I have it, but it has been used up from my Christmas stash!

Here are the pics and the Potato Casserole recipe follows!

Ingredients + cheese

Place thawed potatoes in a 9x13 inch baker (this is my Pampered Chef pan...it is not dirty!) Spread the soup, sour cream, cheese, butter mixture on top...

I didn't take a pic of the soup, sour cream and cheese mixture because it didn't look photo worthy! This has half of the crushed corn flakes on top already...

Add the crushed corn flakes to the top and pour the rest of the butter on the top! (I only use 1/4 a cup of butter in the mix and pour the other 1/4 on top. A total of 1/2 cup of butter. Gotta watch my girlish figure...apparently not my cholesterol!

Finished product!

Recipe:

32 oz. frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

1/2 cup melted butter, (not margarine!)

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

8 oz. sour cream

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 small onion, chopped (I have to use garlic powder or my youngest thinks I am trying to poison him)

2 cups crushed corn flakes

1/2 cup melted butter

Place potatoes in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix next 6 ingredients and pour over potatoes. Top with crushed corn flakes. Drizzle butter over the top. Bake uncovered 45 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Beans with ham hocks! (from my cell camera)

Finished Plate!

(sorry for the poor quality of print!)

Let me know if you try any of these :)

Getting Savvy...

Just found a great website...The Savvy Photographer. I love looking at other photographers websites. Most are natural light photographers...ahhh so soft and ethereal. Not that harsh sunlight business that we get here in Florida! I did buy a Gary Fong flash diffuser and I must say that I am very pleased with the quality of photo that I get. Not so harsh as with a bare flash. Since I don't know Photoshop very well..OK not well AT ALL (I seriously need a class) I appreciate my diffuser. I get many questions about it when I use it. "Is that a piece of Tupperware?" "Is there dip in there?" Yea...spinach dip. Got any chips? I wish I looked like this chick in the Gary Fong add, but the diffuser is not that good!

This photo was without the diffuser...you can see how the flash is a little harsh on her face. (yea Alexis! What a voice this girl has!)

This photo was taken with the diffuser...

The light is softened and there are no harsh shadows or light glares on their faces. Subtle changes, but nice ones!

So I need help with my composition of photos and I found The Savvy Photographer. I hope she can help! I would love to photograph in natural light, but unfortunately, most of my photography takes place indoors with action! Action requires a FAST lens and no flash or a slooooower lens and a BIG flash. FAST = very expensive...I went for the slower lens and the higher priced flash and diffuser. I'm trying here people :)