Looking Back - A Pin it and do it Post

The topic for October Photoaday on the 28th was 'looking back'. I was originally going to take a picture looking in the mirror in the car, but forgot my camera when I was in the car and so decided to 'look back' through pictures to share an older one.

I decided on this one:

Little Casey

She is not so little now:

I took this picture in May:

Same tree in June:

Then again in September:

Same tree, but different half of it...

Another spot I visited a few times:

May:

August:

Or, look at this picture in the spring:

And now the fall:

In a way, 2012 has been all about looking back. I took pictures almost every day since April. I also have been doing my day-by-day journal; so not only do I have some scribbled thoughts for each day, but I also have a picture for every day. I could do the progression of the seasons in a post. I am pretty sure I took more pictures of the tree from above. I have stood in many different places. I have captured the same sky on numerous nights. I can see Casey grow up in her pictures.

And, you know what? I hate getting my picture taken. If I hadn't got so obsessed with taking pictures this year, I may never have had this cute memento of Casey and I:

What have your experiences been when you stop and 'look back'? Are you like me and have common themes to your photos that you can trace changes in? 

While I never officially signed up, #photoaday and my day-by-day journal are both Pinterest pins and this post counts for Trish's Pin it and do it.

Weekend Cooking - Ravioli in the Slow-Cooker

I used this recipe found here.

INGREDIENTS
2 bags frozen ravioli
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
6 oz can tomato paste
1 small onion, diced (optional)
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried basil 1 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. sugar salt and pepper to taste
1 cup Mozzarella, shredded

I mixed things up a bit: I used fresh ravioli and only one package. We still have leftovers, so 1 package was plenty. It was the largest size, so might be about the same as two frozen packages. I included the onions, which after 3 hours were still crunchy, and I also threw in some mushrooms. I had considered peppers but I was trying to get rid of the mushrooms and used a lot. The guy isn't big on spices so I played around with the instructions there, too.

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour the frozen ravioli into the slow cooker.
Stir the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, garlic and seasonings together in a bowl. Pour over the ravioli and stir to coat all the ravioli with sauce.
Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.
About 20 minutes before you're ready to eat, sprinkle the ravioli with Mozzarella.

More changes: I put the sauce and veggies in for two hours. And the few spices. Then for the last hour I put the ravioli in because I didn't want it to be too mushy. And, really, the cheese doesn't have to be Mozzarella. I used some Tex-Mex stuff we had in the fridge.

Overall Thoughts: I really liked it! I thought it turned out really good. The guy had a complaint, though: No meat. The second day I barbecued pork chops, because we had some, and served the ravioli as the side-dish. But, if I make it again I will probably have to either include meat in it or serve it as a side-dish. There is a lot of Ravioli for just a side-dish, though.

This post also counts for Trish's Pin It and Do It Challenge.

Pin it and Do it - A Pinteresting Challenge - Take 2

Hosted by Trish at Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity

The Details (shamelessly the same as May):1. To participate you will choose your level and then make (or do) that amount of pins during August 2012. Challenge ends August 31st.
2. Report back on your Pin It and Do It success. On August 1st I'll post a linky for you to link up. Ideally this will come in the form of a blog or tumblr post. Or you can post about it on Facebook or Flickr if you don’t have a blog or tumblr. Or create a board on Pinterest for this challenge. If none of the above, report your success in the Wrap-Up Post comments.
3. Anyone is welcome to join. If you need an invite to Pinterest, let me know your email address and I’ll send an invite. 

The Levels:  

Timid Pinner: 1-3 Pins 

Pinterested: 4-7 Pins

Pin Obsessed: 8+ Pins

I did this back in May and really enjoyed it! I might not have been an overwhelming success, but I did do a couple things.

My most successful project was my Calendar Journal that you can find here. Mine isn't as pretty, but it is practical and I have been updating it ever since. I look forward to looking back one I have completed a year. And, since my box is bigger I can add cards as necessary instead of being limited to the smaller space provided in this box. Plus, I talk more and need to be able to say what I want. I mean that while the example says "watched White Christmas"; I tend to elaborate on who I was with or where.

I really need to figure out how to take a decent picture!!

I think that once again I will do Timid Pinner. One of the goals for the month is #photoadayaug.

The rest... We will see how it goes...

Pinterest and Snapshot Saturday - May 19, 2012

My pictures for this week are not necessarily as nice as last week, but I am still looking forward to sharing some of them.

Day 12: Something that makes you happy.

Day 13: Mum

Day 14: Grass

Day 15: Love

Day 16: What you're reading

Day 17: Snack

Day 18: Something You Made

(I helped out here and there.That counts! I would have helped more but there is such thing as too many people...)

And, some other pictures from this week:

Seagulls at Hall's Harbour

Boats at Hall's Harbour

Another shot from Hall's Harbour

I like stairs... and fences... Hall's Harbour again.

'I'm rich!'

'Now move them so I can have 'my spot' back'

'Getting tired of the money gags now'

Postcard from Nebraska. Thanks Danielle!

We will soon have a shed...

Silly kitty

'It's my chair'

Postcard from Rhode Island. Thanks Care!

Postcard from Kansas. Thanks Melissa!

Casey's 'cousin'. He is at my mother's for the weekend.

The rabbits idea of snack.

Casey ventures outside for a moment to see the new shed.

Sorry, it rained a lot off and on this week, so it was Casey week or no pictures...

As for Pinterest, I didn't get much done for it...

Pinterest and Snapshot Saturday - May 12, 2012

I have been uninspired to blog this week, but I am looking forward to this post!

Day 5: Bird(s)

Day 6: You

Day 7: Someone Who Inspires You

This is an old picture of my grandfather.

Day 8: A Smell You Adore

Day 9: Something You Do Everyday

Day 10: A Favourite Word

I cheated but it is pretty when you put the words together. It was raining so I couldn't go 'Cellar Door' hunting.

Day 11: Kitchen

I hate my kitchen, so Casey in the sink will have to do. If you look closely you can see her tongue.

Other Pictures from the Last Few Days:

Just to prove she is angelic sometimes.

My first postcard for my 'Postcard Project' arrived. Thanks, Care!

Then, more arrived. Thanks Meg!

Thanks Charlotte!

Then, I went on a picture day yesterday because it rained all week:

The statue is Evangeline from a poem by Henry Longfellow.

The church

Apple Blossoms

On the way home the sky turned like this...

Then, for the Pinterest challenge I read Code Name Verity and posted about it here. I also read the newest Cinderella Fables, but have not blogged about it. I had pinned both books.

That makes 3 projects down.