Snowy

I hope everyone has a wonderful time ringing in the new year - no matter if that is by partying the night away, or watching TV in your pj's.

I am closing this blog down as of today. This will be the last post. But no worries - I'm just moving! I will be posting at www.stelladolceblog.blogspot.com from now on!

Goodbye 2008!

2009 is sure to bring some very interesting surprises!!

iPhone Case

My Momma got me this pretty iPhone case for Christmas.

Flare

The Hubby got me a starburst filter for Christmas. I am loving what it did with with the glare off the truck!

On the drive home

I got The Art of Children's Portrait Photography for Christmas. It is written by one of my most favorite photographers ever, Tamara Lackey.

The photo is a little out of focus, but I did take it while riding in the car.

Tuckered Out

Taken on Christmas Day - Beau passed out on the couch.

iSee Me

We had a good Christmas in Knoxville and just got back last night. Now we're off to have Christmas with my family!

Christmas Candy

We had our office holiday party last night. This morning, before I finished the clean-up, I took some photos of the candy.

Holiday Lights

Eric refused to hang Christmas lights on the house, so I made him dirve me around so I could take some photos of the other houses in the neighborhood.

Fiery Sunset

Another pretty sunset at work.

Waffle House

waffle house, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

Eric and I go to Waffle House every Friday morning for Breakfast. Yum!

Reminder

reminder, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

A photo from September. I really like it.

Berries

These are the same berries seen here and here - taken a year and a few weeks later.

iPhone

iphone, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

I got an iPhone this past weekend! I luvs it.

Monica

Another photo I took of Monica the other weekend.

Snow Puppies

Here are a couple of photos from Friday morning of the puppies in the snow.

Snowy Branches

snowy branches, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

We got snow last night! This photo was taken this morning at around 7:00am. As I type this, at 1:15pm, all of the snow has melted. :(

Dark Red

Monica came over this past weekend (as I'm sure you guessed, considering Monday's post was a new photo of her) and before I broke out the camera, she dyed my hair! I have been debating on whether or not to dye it for a while now, and finally just did it.



I am so very pleased with the results!


Here is a before and after:

Dreamy Sunset

Yesterday's sunset was really pretty.

Monica

monica , originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

Athena

athena, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

Napping on the clean laundry.

Beau

beau, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

One of November's rejects.

I really like this shot of Beau.

Red Rose

red rose, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

God gave us our memories so that we might have roses in December.
~J. M. Barrie

Taken in June 2008.

Candice

candice, originally uploaded by stella_dolce.

Coming Home

November 30, 2008
Day 30



We drove home tonight from Knoxville. The traffic on I-40 was horrendous - even without adding in the rain/hail. We decided to take an alternate route. This is the view from when we got off the interstate.

Voila! I am done for this year. You wouldn't think taking one photo a day would be all that hard, but sometimes inspiration doesn't come as easily as others. I am really in awe of the people out there that can do this for a whole year!

Obviously he hates dogs.

November 29, 2008
Day 29



Eric with Bailey.

He hates dogs.
He still hates dogs.

Punkin

November 28, 2008
Day 28



We went Knoxville on Friday afternoon (after I had gotten up to go shopping waaay early). Eric's dad is back in the hospital after having some really bad shoulder pain. We spent a lot of our time Friday evening there, and Eric actually spent the night. They are pretty sure they know why he was having the pain, and are taking steps to aleivate it. This was one of the Thanksgiving decorations in the Radiology waiting room.

Tarte Normande à la Crème

November 27, 2008
Day 27



Tarte Normande à la Crème
(Normandy Apple and Cream Tart)

1 10 1/2-inch Pastry, unbaked
4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into large (approximately 1-inch) cubes *I sliced mine instead. I don't think it made any difference*
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and kept warm
2/3 cup sugar
4 large eggs
2/3 cup heavy creme
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl, toss the apples with the melted butter until they are well coated, then set aside.
Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and the eggs in the bowl of an electric mixer.
Beat the sugar and eggs together until they are creamy and pale yellow.
Add the cream and the vanilla extract and heat until the ingredients are well blended.
Spread the apples evenly over the bottom of the tart shell.
Pour in the cream mixture so that the apples are evenly covered and the cream fills the tart to just below the rim of the shell.
Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the top of the tart. *I also added some cinnamon on the top*
Set the tart on a baking sheet, and bake in the center of the oven for 35 to 45 minutes, until the batter is set, the apples are browned, and the crust is deep golden brown.
Cool on a wire rack.
Remove the side of the pan from the tart, and serve lukewarm or at room temperature.
Serves 6 to 8

I hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving!!

Frosty Morning

November 26, 2008
Day 26



There was really pretty frost on the ground this morning.

My Evenings

November 25, 2008
Day 25



This is what my evenings have looked like lately.

Scottie Hat

November 24, 2008
Day 24



Here is another entry for the I Love That, Please Send group on flickr. I received a faux scottie hat and kilt in the mail the other day, and took a few photos with the hat last night.

Cupcake - FAIL

November 23, 2008
Day 23



So I tried to make some Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes with Apple Butter Frosting today. They were a big, fat FAIL! I don't know what went wrong. The cupcakes were oily or something, and don't taste very good. The frosting is yummy, but I made a HUGE mess trying to make it. Apparently I don't know how to sift powdered sugar without getting it everywhere.

This was made from some leftover batter. I put it in a corning ware ramekin and made a big cupcake with it.

**Edit - So I ate another cupcake this afternoon, and they wern't that bad after all. Not as cupcake-y as I would have liked, but not as bad as they were last night before cooling.**

Sunrise

November 22, 2008
Day 22



Today was the first time I have seen 6:00am in a long time.

Suitcase

November 21, 2008
Day 21



You cannot leave a suitcase sitting open in my house. Someone will quickly decide it is a great place for a nap.

Beads

November 20, 2008
Day 20



An updated version of last year's Day 19. I like this one better.

Eyes

November 19, 2008
Day 19

All you need is...

November 18, 2008
Day 18

Stella

November 17, 2008
Day 17



I was feeling sick last night and was only able to take maybe 4 photos. All of Stella, and all blurry. I tried to salvage this one with textures, but I'm afraid it's not that good. Unfortunately, it's all I've got.

Krispy Kreme

November 16, 2008
Day 16



I. Love. Donuts.

Elvis

November 15, 2008
Day 15



Last week my aunt and uncle got a new beagle puppy! Meet Elvis. He is just adorable!

Candlelight

November 14, 2008
Day 14



The idea for this photo comes from a friend on flickr. Mike B shot this photo for his 365 project. I really liked it and decided I would steal his idea do a tribute photo.

Lace

November 13, 2008
Day 13

Aphrodite

November 12, 2008
Day 12

Night

November 11, 2008
Day 11



I passed by the guest room tonight and thought this looked pretty.