Photography, again...

So the other night, Nathan had a meeting at the church and I was wondering what I would do with my evening off. Nathan suggested setting up a background and some good lighting and taking some pictures, not thinking that I would actually be interested in doing that. But what a great idea! So I set up a mini photography studio in our living room and had fun taking pictures the entire time Nate was gone, and it wasn't a short meeting! Here are some of the results (a few are on mccorkindale.blogspot.com too...):

I realize as I look at these that I haven't quite achieved that "professional" factor...still a long ways from that, but maybe one day I will get there. I would also love to try some portrait photography, but that requires faster setup and more direction, and a willing, patient subject. Plus, I would need a bigger studio! My little one foot by one foot "studio" in the living room the other night only allowed for slinkies and other cameras!

So which are your favorites?

I am not inspired today.

I would love to update my blog...but I feel I have nothing to say.

Writer's block, I suppose.

I remember how tolerant my creative writing teacher was in high school when I would claim to have writer's block and talk to my friends for the entire class.

That was a wonderful class.

But I am not in class.

Do you ever wish you were back in high school?

Me neither.

Well, not really.

Sometimes, though, when I see all the school supplies and new clothes and the fresh start...

But no, I don't miss it.

I don't miss the drama.

I do miss the learning though, and being stretched.

Sometimes I think about going back to school.

Maybe for photography.

Maybe for early childhood education.

Maybe for a bachelor of education.

Maybe pharmacy.

Maybe business.

No, not business...I've never wanted to go into business.

I would like to do something I enjoy that takes thought though.

Problem solving.

That's why I enjoy teaching piano so much.

It makes me use my mind to make it interesting...

aka. problem solving.

I start teaching again on Wednesday.

I'm pretty excited.

Maybe I should pursue teaching music?

What an intimidating thought.

So many intimidating thoughts.



Well, that's enough uninspired-ness for one day.

One rainy, uninspired day.

Perhaps not actually uninspired.

Perhaps just writer's block.

My long weekend (with pictures and without alot of words)...

(captions below the pictures)

Me eating paint...

Painting all our outside window and door frames...
Don't fall!
Our bedroom before...
So cheesy...!
My helper...

Me.
After.

We actually bought a new bed (frame) so we're off the floor.

We feel like quite the adults...

Ta-da!

In answer to your questions...

When will I next be in Edmonton?
Well, I will probably next be in Edmonton (or Edmonton area) next June for my cousin, Kyra, and her fiance (Jordan)'s wedding. Not sure that I remember the date right now...but I'll for sure be there for that!

Am I still doing CM (Creative Memories)?
I'm pretty sure this wasn't actually a "question" for me to answer here, but I didn't get many questions, so the answer is no. I haven't been selling CM since early this spring. I just didn't find that I had nearly enough sales or the time/energy to put into getting the sales each period. So I had a killer going-out-of-business order (enough to keep me in business) but let my status go as of June. I miss the discount, but I have stocked up, and I don't miss the looming feeling of always needing to think about sales.

What is my favorite recipe?
This has got to be one of my favorites! Ever since Bethany, I have had a love for Beef Dip...

French Dip
1 beef chuck roast (3 lbs)
2 cups water
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
1 bay leaf
3 or 5 peppercorns
8 french rolls (or homemade buns...mmm...)

Place roast in slow cooker. Add water, soy sauce, and seasonings. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or until beef is tender. Remove from broth and shred meat with forks. Keep warm. Strain broth; skim off fat. Pour broth into small cups for dipping. Serve on rolls. SO GOOD!!!

What is my favorite thing to bake?
My all time favorite thing to bake, when the house isn't 30 degrees, and when I have nothing but time, is bread/buns. It is so relaxing to mix the dough, wait, kneed the dough, wait, kneed, wait, form bread/buns, wait, bake, wait, bake, wait, bake, wait. You always have to be around, but there is so much rising time that it's relaxing! I love it. Plus, who doesn't love fresh bread straight out of the oven???
My second favorite, because it only takes 20 minutes start to finish, is Chocolate chip cookies. I have the best recipe, so if you want to taste it, you'll have to request a batch of my cookies. I would love to share! And maybe, if you ask nicely, I'll post the recipe here for you all to try in your own homes...just maybe... : )

When will there be Niki and Nathan juniors?
All I can say is that there will be Niki and Nathan juniors when God's timing is right. (Sorry, that's all I've got for ya!)


Well, thanks for the questions guys, that was fun! Any further questions are welcome!

Photography.

My passion for photography is re-awakening. I discovered my love for the art soon after meeting Nathan, though I was always fascinated with the idea of capturing beauty on, at that time, film. The first few months of living in Altona were dedicated to learning all I could about photography and the theory behind capturing a great picture. This passion then lay dormant for a year and a half while I was busy learning to become a pastors wife and to fit into a new place. After purchasing our new camera this spring, I've really become interested in photography again, and am seeing most things as through the lens of a camera. I am noticing the beauty that certain lighting gives an object. I am seeing the slight movement of the trees and wondering how I can capture the peacefulness of that on "film." There is such beauty, such stillness and awe that is revealed through photography. My passion is to capture it.





P.S.
I'm not very consistant at updating, but if anyone is interested in seeing more of my photography (and Nathan's too-he's good!), feel free to drop by our photo blog. Who took each picture is noted in the subject line at the end of each post. I'd love to hear your reactions and impressions of the pictures that strike you. What better way to improve, than to be critiqued?

Returning to the world of Facebook: Monday, September 1

Having fun...

Nathan playing video games...

and me mocking him...

lovingly mocking, of course...

and having fun...

For you 4 or 5 faithful readers...

Thanks for leaving comments...I suppose for 4 or 5 readers, I can keep going. As long as I keep getting comments... : ) jj

So just to clarify this whole facebook break thing...I don't think that Facebook is evil at all. I think it is a wonderful thing to help people keep in touch. I really enjoy it and can definitely see it's value. But, like many good things, Facebook is only good if you use it well. For me, it wasn't healthy anymore. I needed a break to refocus on my life and the blessings in it, rather than other people's lives and what I don't have. It's all about being focused on the right things...I'm thinking that a month will be long enough though. I am itching to get back to the world of Facebook. And I feel like I'm doing a good job of refocusing. (of course I feel like that!) But I also know that I feel good because the temptation isn't there...arg! I guess a little while longer won't hurt...much.

This month has been a month of slowing down a bit for summer. The first week, I was alone at home again (Nathan was at St. Laurent). It was a better week than when he was at PVBC...I was in the mindset of "I'm at home alone for a week" instead of thinking I would be seeing him and then not being able to for a week. Oh well. It was a good week, but SO much better to have him home!

Last weekend, we had our annual staff picnic for the lumber yard where I work. There are three stores owned by the same guy and every summer we have a picnic together at this go-kart/bumper boat/mini golf place and everyone brings their families and it's alot of fun. My tricep on one arm and bicep on the other arm are killing me though! I guess I raced too hard. One of my favorite things is completely shattering people's expectations of me. For example: Small, quiet, sweet girl...probably not that competitive, right? Probably going to drive slowly around the edge of the track and let the boys do the real racing? Not a chance! I like to be in there where the action is! I am insulted if I am told that I can race with the girls because the boys want to have some fun. That is dumb and I wish boys would realize that girls can race too. All the boys at work know that now, though...I gave them a run for their money. Well, a run for the boss' money. : )

Now we're home for a while. Well, I might be heading out to Elkhart, IN this weekend to help move my sister to seminary. But we'll see what the plans there become. If not, I think I am actually home for four and a half weeks. Then, we're headed off to Hepburn, SK. CAN'T wait to catch up with some friends and family! A week won't be long enough, but hey, it's a start! I think I'll have to cram in as many visits as possible! Nathan is taking a class so I have all day every day for coffee dates and chats!

Oh, and another exciting piece of news! Our friends, J & J just had a little baby boy last Friday! I dont' have any pictures, but you can just picture the cutest little baby boy ever and that's Isaiah. I love holding little babies, so it was just wonderful to visit them in the hospital and hold him before he was even 24 hours old! Congratulations, J & J!

Well, that's all for now! I'm going to head home for lunch (shouldn't be posting at work, but when there's no internet at home...)!

P.S - IF ANYONE DIDN'T COMMENT ON MY LAST POST, PLEASE DO! I'D STILL LOVE TO HEAR WHO'S READING!!! AND I DIDN'T GET MANY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER...STILL ACCEPTING... (Jill, I'll get to yours, I promise...I'll just wait til I have a few more!)

So...

I'm wondering...does anyone even read this blog anymore? Is it worth my time?

Please, if you do read, leave a comment and I'll know whether to keep going or to bring my posting to a close...

If my posts are not interesting enough (*smile*) you can leave questions that I will try to answer in the next post...my life isn't shockinly interesting and I do run out of things to write about now and then...

Cold Turkey...

Lately God has been teaching me alot about contentment.

God has blessed me with what He has chosen to bless me. Who am I to question that? I have so many things. I am wealthy. I never have to wonder where my next meal is coming from...well, I do wonder almost every day, but that is just because there was nothing in the slowcooker when I came home from work. I always have clothes to put on in the morning, and am lucky enough to not have to wear clothes with holes in them if I don't want to. I have shoes for my feet...a couple choices. I have a safe, dry, warm home to live in. I have a wonderful husband who loves me, who doesn't abuse me physically or verbally or in any way at all, who is a perfect match for me. I have a car (not everyone in the world can say that!). I have a job.

I have alot. I need nothing. I am blessed.

And then I see what others have and I want it. A newer car. A bigger house. Nicer clothes. More clothes. More shoes. More furniture for the house. More stuff. More, more, more. And before I know it, I'm not content with my once-perfect life.

I've realized that one of the huge contenders to my contentedness is facebook. I look at pictures, I read comments, I see other people's lives and begin to wonder why my life doesn't look more like their lives. Why don't I have what they have? Why am I not in that place in life yet? Why am I not more like them? I feel joy for other people's friendships/families/gain/excitement...but also a sense of bitterness.

So, as of today, I am off Facebook. I quit. I'm done. I'm not using it anymore.

I am choosing to focus on what I DO have instead of being tempted by what I don't. I am choosing to maintain and grow my friendships through email and phone calls (we'll see about the phone calls, considering how much I despise the phone) instead of through reading comments and spying on photos.

One day I may return to the world of catching up with everyone en mass...but not until God says,

"Well done, my good and faithful servant...you may go back to facebook."