05 March 2024

I'm Pooped - Pooped I Say, Pooped!

Raise your hand if you're tired from the day. I really, really am. Even though we like homemade food better, it's just not gonna happen today. Smoochie Face is on the ride home with eats and boy, I'm starving. 

After we eat, I'll shower, get into my jammies and plop on the couch. I have more Spring Baking Championship and also I started a Kong, I wanna say Skull Island. Can't recall for sure. We have Max now. 

Does anyone else trade out streaming services? We do. I love that too because we can't watch them all and this saves us money. Plus, we enjoy it more this way. We've been doing this for a few years now. Swapping out the streaming. 

Love that. 

In other news, I have more sprouts started. Mung beans and also quinoa. Never did the quinoa before. Excited to see how it goes. Haven't shot any macros yet. That's gonna be fun. Tonight though, Tim uses the computer for game and me, I'll be on the new couch watching Kong and/or spring baking. 

And that my Boogerbutts is all that's fit to print. 

Huggs & Buggs, Me.


02 March 2024

Helloooooo Booooteeeffful Boogerbutts

Hello Booootttteeeful Boogerbutts. It's been a hot minute since my last post. I'm here today, Saturday at the clean kitchen table (is that not a wonderful thing or what? A clean kitchen table - it's the best I say, the best). 

Also wonderful is that it's Saturday and I've been up since the wee hours. Love that too. We're gonna hit Barnes when they open which likely means we'll get the best seats in the house. 

Delightful. 

Less delightful is how we wasted money this past week eating out. If the kitchen had been clean (like it is now), we'd still have that money. 

That's not a bad or good thing. It's just a thing. It gives me something to share and write about as we go through this fun-money-saving-big-goal of ours. 

To help save money we moved our car loan over to a better bank that allows principle only payments. The bank we had, didn't. It was stupid. So now, it's a lower interest rate and easier payoff and the other bank can suck it.

Another thing we did to move the needle is we have money meetings. Had one last night before bed where we talked about the kitchen and how going into next week we'll improve that. With a nice clean kitchen table, it should mean I blog more and read more blogs. I like sitting at the table. So peaceful here. 

In other news, we're still using the $350 gift card to Barnes so all we'll spend is gas money to get there. We're okay with that. Yes, lots of savings going on and getting the car paid down however, we still hit Barnes when we can. Today, I'm home, Tim's home and it's a perfect Saturday to get there when they open and enjoy our morning. Later tonight we'll watch a Creature Feature Movie and dig this, we already bought our Creature Feature Movie food. Cauliflower pepperoni pizza for Smoochie Face and organic red pepper hummus with veggies and homemade fermented salsa for me. Oh my gosh, have you ever made fermented homemade salsa?

Seriously, the best salsa in the history of ever. 

EVHARRRR. 

And that my Boootteeeeful Boogerbutts of BloggerLand, wraps up this post. I'm about to make breakfast potatoes from instant pot leftover potatoes along with maybe pancakes, maybe waffles. Not sure which yet. Either way, homemade goodness on the way. Then later I'll catch up blogs (and IG as well). See what you've all been up to since I've been gone. I think, I missed almost all of winter here on BloggerLand and TheGram. 

PS: For those who guessed grapefruit on my last post I award you one slimly button mushroom, three broken twigs and two rocks. You're welcome.

Until next time, big huggs from me to you! 

04 January 2024

Macro Mothman + Friday Question

Home from work. Was a good day. Got spuds in the pressure cooker. I'm off artificial/frozen potato anything. So no potato puffs (they're like tater tots), from Aldi. Instead, making warm potato salad. 

Ever eat potato salad warm? Oh my gosh, I love it. 

In other news, here's a shot Mothman. Not a true miniature, unless compared to the real Mothman, then this is teeny. Tim got him this week and anytime Tim gets a new thing like this, I gotta break out the camera and play. 

In other, other news, we looked at the outside of a house this past weekend. Just too much wrong with it. Still nice to look. 

Lastly, Friday Question. Anyone of correctly guesses what the last image is wins two broken horse shoes and a used ear plug. 

You're welcome. 

And that my Boogerbutts and Shutterbugs, is all that's fit to print. Hope you're having a yummy week. Did I mention potato salad? So good. 

Chat again soon. 

Huggs & Bugs, 
Me


Friday Question
What am I? 





30 December 2023

Greetings Earthlings

We're at the best place on Earth, Barnes. Been here all morning writing and reading. Smoochie Face is working on his stuff too. We're about to order our second round of drinks. I'm addicted to Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. Street name, GOCH.

Too good I say, too good. 

In other news, I'm off from work for four days. Count'em. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Delightful. 

In other, other news, Tim got me a new lens for Christmas and because it was hot outside this past Christmas weekend, I jetted straight out to take one billion photos.

Also delightful. 

Dig the black walnut from the back deck. I love this shot. It's got a bit of rot, texture, blurred back, movement on the left. I've wanted this lens for years. Beyond worth it. I can't stop taking pictures. 

In other, other, other news,  I'm saying a sad goodbye to Aldi/store bought potato puffs/tater tots, fries/chips, chips/crisps, crinkle-cuts and shoe strings.  

Out with the extra fat, salt and cost. Going back to homemade potato goodness. 

First though, time for another round of cafe' drinks. Though as I wrap this post up, some yutz has his phone blasting a video. Why? Why Yutz, why? 

Oh goody. Mrs. Yutz just arrived and is taking Mr. Yutz out of the cafe' with her. Good job, Mrs. Yutz. Good job. The Universe thanks you. 

And now I'm finally headed to get another round of holiday drinks then I'm gonna kick back and catch up on blog reading. 

Wishing you all a Happy Healthy Fun 2024! I see big changes for us here at The Manor and I'm excited to take you along the ride with us. Until next year, this is Ivy, reporting live from the Barnes Cafe' also known as, the best place on Earth. 

Ivy, out.


 



18 December 2023

MACRO MONDAY (drumroll please ....)

Today's subject. Drumroll please .... ORANGES! 

This shot was taken with the camera attached to a C-Stand directly over the oranges, with the camera tethered to a computer. What's nice about this way is there's less of a chance of a blurry photo. And, since the computer screen shows us the image (in all its glory), there's no need to rely on that teeny tiny LCD screen or the even smaller, viewfinder. 

Being tethered is a win, win on many levels.

What tethering lacks is that rawness and adventure of holding the camera in-hand, headed outside on a hunt for fun close-ups of things like bumbles bees, flowers, inch worms and snow flakes.

There is a lot to love about both free-hand and tethered shooting.  As the weeks go on we'll talk more about both. For today though, it's all about the oranges. 

Dig those specular highlights! 

In other news, I scored two educational photography magazines from the UK, sold at Barnes. More on those in another post.

In other, other news I might have a mild addiction to Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai. Have you tried that drink? Cold or hot. I love them both. 

And that my Boogerbutts, is all that's fit to print. 

Huggs & Bugs,
-Me



10 December 2023

MACRO MONDAY (little purple snowflake)

Welcome to Macro Monday! I'm not sure how many of these I'll do per month - or if I'll move to a different day. Either way, I LOVE shooting macro and close-up photography so for now, let's go with, Macro Monday!

There's something fun about a macro lens at a single focal point. I can't adjust a prime lens with my hands. I have to get in there close to take the shot. For me, a prime lens is a more personal experience. I like that I have to zoom with my feet to get a detailed shot. 

That's what I did here with the little white snowflake. I see this little snowflake hanging from the tree each day and I just love it. So after work, before getting to chores and meals, I broke out the macro lens and played.

So fun. 

In other news, we're still loving the new couch. I'm writing from the snug now. It's just soooooo peaceful here to read, write, draw, game and watch movies. When we do move, we're for sure gonna have a space like this. All snuggly and fun.

And that my Boogerbutts is a wrap. I'll catch you on the flipside.

Huggs & Buggs, Me.