Friday, December 31, 2010

Kristen: 365/365!

This is how late we stayed up for New Year's eve.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Amanda: Day 323. Why Lighting Matters, Part II.

From Amanda's 365 Project


From Amanda's 365 Project


From Amanda's 365 Project


From Amanda's 365 Project


From Amanda's 365 Project
McAllen, TX.

These were taken in the afternoon. You can see a lot more of the intricacy in these formations, but they were pretty fragile: they would break with one simple touch.

Amanda: Day 322. Why Lighting Matters...

From Amanda's 365 Project
McAllen, TX.

Part I. This was taken after dark with a flash. Not so bueno...

This was an intricate set of tubes made of sand by ants. They were so fascinating. I have no idea how they made them or how long it took them to make them. But I just couldn't correctly capture them after the sun went down.

Amanda: Day 321. Lunch.

From Amanda's 365 Project


I know it doesn't look like much, but today, lunch was the highlight of my day. I went to a little sandwich shop. It was just cute and quiet and definitely satisfying.

Amanda: Day 320. Brothers and Austin.

From Amanda's 365 Project


These are my three cousins, who are for all intents and purpose are my brothers. Clay was down for a day and the three of them are crazy about video games. I will never understand why, but they always seems to stand by the TV to play. Maybe it makes it easy to win or something. I have no clue.

From Amanda's 365 Project


From Amanda's 365 Project
Austin, TX.

I met a long lost cousin tonight in Austin. I felt obligated to step on campus since I was so close and take some pictures.

Amanda: Day 319. Shy Eater.

From Amanda's 365 Project


So not only is my dog a picky eater, she's also pretty shy.

Amanda: Day 318. It's Back.

From Amanda's 365 Project


There's one thing you can count on during the holiday seasons: the return of the Peppermint Mocha!

Amanda: Day 317. Catchlights.

From Amanda's 365 Project


I've been reading about catchlights. It's a photography term when you catch the light reflecting in someone's eyes. I think I would say I would successful. (And please pay no attention to my clumpy mascara.)

Amanda: Day 316. Flags Over Texas and Carlee's Birthday.

From Amanda's 365 Project
Goliad, TX.

These are some lesson commonly seen flags that flew over Texas. They are on display at the church at Goliad, TX.

From Amanda's 365 Project


It's Carlee's Birthday!!! I drove into Bryan and was so grateful to be a part of her birthday celebration. (If you want to see the full size pics, they are on my Picasa page.)

Amanda: Day 315. New Purse.

From Amanda's 365 Project


I am so proud of this! I have been looking for a new purse for a while but I'm very picky about my purses. I keep them for a while and buy on average about two purses a year, one for cold weather and one for warm weather. Well, I was out garage sale-ing this past weekend and found this purse for ONE DOLLAR. Woo!

Amanda: Day 314. Nutty Squirrel.

From Amanda's 365 Project
McAllen, TX.

I was inspecting apartments today and this squirrel had gathered a nut and was so desperately trying to safely hide it that he didn't see me. I have never gotten so close to a squirrel before and was lucky to catch him before he climbed the tree out of sight.

Amanda: Day 313. Flashback Hotel.

From Amanda's 365 Project
Edinburg, TX.

I attended a Rio Grande Valley Apartment Association Meeting tonight at this hotel. It had a very interesting history, which at the current time I cannot remember. I was very impressed with this large neon sign. As I drove up the long driveway, I felt like I was about to walk into this hotel and see the Rat Pack sitting at a piano with cocktails in their hand.

Amanda: Day 312. Night Light.

From Amanda's 365 Project
Harlingen, TX.

I love palm trees! Especially how they stay green in the winter.

Amanda: Day 311. Homemade Cinnamon Goodness.

From Amanda's 365 Project


This was my first attempt at using yeast. It was very nerve wracking, but the delight when I woke up to see that my bread had actually risen! These became homemade pumpkin cinnamon rolls in case you were wondering. :D

Amanda: Day 310. Old Time Rock 'N Roll.

From Amanda's 365 Project


From Amanda's 365 Project


From Amanda's 365 Project


Today, I found a gem of a find at a garage sale. There was an old stereo/tv console that a lady was almost giving away. My uncle bought it for the old tubes and I asked him if I could have the unit so these are pictures of the guts. It was pretty interesting to see all the wires and tubes and the inner workings of older electronics.

Amanda: Day 309. Warmth.

From Amanda's 365 Project


It was SOOO cold tonight! This is a view of the blankets I used. For some reason, I remember have 6 layers, but maybe you just can't see them. Either way, I was FREEZING.

Amanda: Day 308. New Lens!

From Amanda's 365 Project


I just bought my very own lens today. This is the first picture I took with it! Hooray!

Amanda: Day 307. Sinclair Motor.

From Amanda's 365 Project
McAllen, TX.

This was an old motor oil sign in the Double Dave's at McAllen. It cracked me up because of the caption "Mellowed 80 million years." Tee hee.

Amanda: Day 306. Burton Cotton Gin.

From Amanda's 365 Project
Burton, TX.

This is one cool place. I had the opportunity to go through here a few years ago and actually met a man who knew my great grandfather who was a cotton farmer. It is still cranked up and used once a year to gin one cotton bale.

Amanda: Day 305. Uncle George, Master Carpenter.

From Amanda's 365 Project
High Island, TX.

This is my Uncle George. He rocks. I always enjoy working with him.

Amanda: Day 304. Brothers.

From Amanda's 365 Project
High Island, TX.

This is my grandfather and three of his younger brothers. They came up to help build kitchen cabinets to finish out their house.

Amanda: Day 303. When the Fishin's Good...

From Amanda's 365 Project
Gilchrist, TX. Rollover Pass.

...It's GOOD!

Amanda: Day 302. Stealth Cows.

From Amanda's 365 Project


I got out of my car at my grandparents and heard a rustling. I look around but I couldn't see anything. I started unloading my car and heard the noise again. I looked and finally I spotted the noise maker. These cows were blending in with the complete darkness. I had to take this picture on night vision to get them to be seen.

Amanda: Day 301. Friday Night Lights.

From Amanda's 365 Project


This is Emily! She just got back from India and we decided to hit up a local football game. It's been so long since I've been to a football game and NOT been teaching. We both had fun reliving our high school memories during this game.

Amanda: Day 300. Sickness.

From Amanda's 365 Project


Gasp! It's the second day I've missed this year. I was dog sick on Day 300 so this picture was actually taken on day 301. I layed in this bed and slept most of the day. It sucked but at the same time after sleeping over half of the day, I felt great. So here's my bed at my mom's house in case anyone wanted to know. (I like pillows in case you didn't know.)

Amanda: Day 299. Mellow Yellow.

From Amanda's 365 Project


This little dude was hard to see. He blended in so well with the flowers. I guess he did that on purpose.

Amanda: Day 298. Log Cabin.

From Amanda's 365 Project


This is Sam Houston's Law Office in Huntsville. I love going here after work and walking around. It's so peaceful with all of the huge oak trees. The leaves are changing this time of year, you can see some in the water. It's just absolutely gorgeous.

Kristen: 364/365

Shadows Over Camelot, one of Justin's Christmas presents. this game is COMMMPLICATED

Amanda: Day 297. Green Beans.

From Amanda's 365 Project


Have you ever been walking through the grocery store, minding your own business and then from out of nowhere, produce catches your eye? You try to avoid it, but it keeps calling your name. You keep walking, you make it to the bakery section, but the temptation is too strong. You turn your cart around and go back and buy two bags full of the luscious looking vegetable. Yep, that's what happened to me today. These green beans were too tasty too resist. So I bought three pounds of them and then proceeded to can them into pickled green beans. Delicious!

Amanda: Day 296. Czhilispiel.

Czhilispiel is a festival held in Flatonia, Texas every year, complete with a czhili cook off, pepper eating contest, a carnival and some good ol' polka music. What is czhili, you ask? Why it's chili with a czech twist. Im lucky enough to friends with the Svatek clan who invite me and host me every year. I love hanging out with them because they are just too much fun! Here's some pics from the day.

From Amanda's 365 Project

New Friends.

From Amanda's 365 Project
Potato Sack Slide, Part I.

From Amanda's 365 Project

Potato Sack Slide, Part II.

From Amanda's 365 Project

Potato Sack Slide, Part III. (Every time I see this picture, I giggle. I would subtitle this picture "Ohmygosh!")

From Amanda's 365 Project

The Men Folk.

End of the Year!

Wow! Can you believe it? Less than a week left until the end of the year and our 365 project. How did you do? So far, I've only missed two days, but I made up for it by taking pitures of what kept me busy those days.

I'm planning on doing the 365 project again. But I also plan to stay updated my frequently. My goal is to post three times a week. *IF* you guys are interested in doing this next year, I would like to have more themes to keep us engaged with each other. If you have any other ideas on how to make 2011's 365 project better, let me know. So...who's in for next year?

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Kristen: 363/365

This is our new glider that will go into the nursery.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Kristen: 360/365


My sister-in-law tie-died me a maternity t-shirt for Christmas. :]

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Thursday, December 23, 2010