~through the eyes of gigi~
Welcome to my world!
What you'll see here is life ... Someones real life!
Maybe mine. Maybe yours.
But always...
through the eyes of GiGi
Day 20... Small Things
Day 20The best things in life smile when they see you drive up in your car.
The best things in life let you build towers just so they can knock them down.
The best things in life chew on the dog bone...then give it back to the dog.
They reach for you with little outstretched arms, cry when you tell them no
and look you straight in the eye as they do it again... :)
The best things in life want to watch a movie with you.
The best things in life want you to have lots of art on your fridge.
They want to read a book to YOU, fix your hair "pretty"...
and then tell you that you look "a little weird."
The best things in life say they've been "praying and praying" to come back to your house.
The best things in life respond to "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite" with...
"but if they do, smack 'em with your shoe" and then giggle...:)
The best things in life really are the "small things"
They are the mirror to our own past
and the key to our future.
The best things in life are God's reward for whatever we've done right!
Day 19...Cut the Fluff!
Day 19So here they are! About to be all cut up into bite sized, poppers of YUM! I'm thinking (and hoping) this may be the closest thing to snow I see all winter...just hope I don't jinx myself with that comment!
Another batch complete!
Marshmallows at their finest (if I do say so myself!)
Day 18...The Pan and the Marshmallows
Day 18Once again I'm singin' the song...♪ It's a Marshmallow World at the Kane House ♪ ... and it's not even Christmas nor is there any snow tumblin' down...:)
Valentines Day is almost here and marshmallow orders are coming in. So this evening, after the grandbabies had gone home, dinner was over, and the kitchen was clean, it was time to get started! But... Oh crap!...I didn't have a photo taken yet! Well, it didn't take me but a second to think it over and I knew what my photo of the day would be...the marshmallow makin' process, a part of it anyway... Photo #1 is how it all begins and I don't mean just cooking the ingredients...It's my pan!!! I couldn't do it without my pan. Well, ok, maybe I could, but I don't want to, and hope I never have to go on a search for a replacement pan...that would be a sad shopping trip for me. One of the many things my momma taught me (along with how to make marshmallows) is the importance of a "good, heavy, candy makin' pan"...Now this particular pan hasn't always been "my pan"...this was a treasure that my hubby brought into our marriage...:) I had a decent pan before but this one is much, much better (as many older model type items are...like ME!) I tease him all the time that I married him for the pan and his baked bean recipe...lol...
(ah ha, the beans...another photo idea down the road)...anyway, seriously, this is THE BEST heavy duty saucepan I've ever come across and my mom was right! You need a good pan for candy making...one with even heating, a good solid handle to hold onto, fairly straight sides for your thermometer...this one has it all...sometimes the small things really are very important and enough to be excited about... like my pan!!!
Now here's the pretty part! All that marshmallow fluff just getting fluffier by the minute...Mmmm! This is a job that cannot be done without a stand mixer...let it be known that this is my official "don't try this at home without a stand mixer" disclaimer...:) the hot boiling candy liquid that goes into the mixer splatters EVERYWHERE...(I cover my mixer with a cotton T-towel)...You wouldn't want to be holding a hand mixer when that happens...YIKES and OUCH! Thank goodness I never tried that...(had my momma to teach me that little tidbit of common sense also) ...:)
The really yummy, ready to eat, end result comes about 12 hours after this shot when "wha-la" you have marshmallows!
Hmmm, maybe my photo of the day tomorrow? I think so.
Day 17...A Winter Vineyard
Day 17Another beautiful day! This Winter continues to surprise me but I'm still on alert waiting for the "REAL" Winter weather to arrive, (although I hope not!) The grapevines in my photo are on the grounds of Belvoir Winery (The Odd Fellows Home) in Liberty, Mo. After my visit there today I wandered around back to take some shots of the property and while taking this particular one I thought "wow, it's pretty amazing that these barren vines produced the fruit that created the tasty glass of wine I just shared with new friends." To be honest, I'm not much of a wine drinker but I really liked their "Lucky Pierre", a sweeter wine. This winery is such an intriguing place with rich history dating back to the 1800's...I definitely recommend it! ....here are a few more photos of the winery grounds taken today...
Back view of the main building
I didn't walk up this hill to see what was on the other side but next time I will!
This beautiful horse came trotting across the pasture to see me... I'm pretty sure she/he thought I had food in hand!
Front view of the winery. I took this shot one week ago today, 01/29/12
Day 16...Another Rainy Day
Day 16No story here, just spotted the RR crossing sign along with the weedy Winter grasses (I'm not thinkin' "weedy" is a word but, oh well...lol) and I knew this was my photo for the day! The rain was really no more than a mist so I actually got out of my car for this one...:) I think the grasses are beautiful! I like their Winter color best! They always catch my eye!
© GiGi K Photography