Honey and the Hudson

This week in the photography challenge:

I had to take a picture of something I wore that day, but got home late, so here this was the best I had:

The next was of my favorite place.  This fairly sums it up, where I read, write, and hang with the girls.  Oh, and sleep.

From a high angle: (the harvest from my garden that day.)

Whatever I want:

From a low angle:

Something Close Up:

I'm missing a silhouette.  So instead, I played more in Hudson Gardens:

Mom, Connor and Corinne  and I went to Hudson Gardens to see Thomas and Percy the trains.  Connor LOVED them. They were on a really neat track, going around and around and Connor was running up and down with the trains.  He was very excited.  Corinne was a little less so, but she could still sing the Thomas song for me.

And Dad and I spent the morning together over a great breakfast at Terra Cotta Cafe, then two pots of tea (each) at In Tea with great discussions! And he brought me honey from his first harvest!

As for my countries, I went to a great improv comedy show this weekend benefiting Smile Train which means I can add Pakistan to the list.

Now: Cambodia
Ecuador
India
Kenya
Pakistan
Peru
Romania
Senegal
Sweden

Multi-Media Creative Day!

A little caffeine goes a long way for me! I visited a new and cute tea shop - In-Tea - in old Littleton today to do some writing, and when I got home I did some painting:

And made a purse:

Nikko wanted to help me with an earlier project that I had to put aside:

This morning I picked a bunch of tomatoes from my garden (even more than shown!) to take to the family.

And I'm starting a 30 day photography challenge.  Each day has an assignment and today's was to take a photo of myself. (I meant to do it that way, I swear.)

I figure this is a fun way to practice with my new camera.  Here are some other shots I've practiced on in the past few months:

And this month's philanthropic project is from Heifer International to help Senegal.

That brings my list up to:

Peru
Cambodia
India
Kenya
Ecuador
Romania
Sweden
Senegal

Cupcake Taste Test

Yesterday,  I finally got to do the ultimate cupcake taste test I've been wanting to do for a while, with help from a friend.
Jeff and I got cupcakes from The Shoppe, on East Colfax, and Happy Cakes in the Highlands.  We got a variety of flavors - Rainbow Sherbet, Chocolate Chip Butterscotch, Ginger Peach, Banana Split, Killa Bee, Boo Bear, Dirt Pie, Chocolate Salted Caramel, French Toast - and determined a very scientific criteria to judge the cupcakes.  Note - 6 of those were mini cupcakes (one bites) from The Shoppe, so we weren't total gluttons.  On a 10 point scale, we rated each cupcake based on presentation, flavor, ratio of cake to icing, cake, and creativity. 

When all was said and done - and eaten, 2 of our 3 favorites were from The Shoppe...but Happy Cakes gets extra points for awesomeness for sneaking the Dirt Pie into our box. 
I'm glad we did it, so I don't have to eat that many cupcakes ever again.  Or at least for a long while. 

Cheyenne Frontier Days Continued

Apparently I had too many pics in the last one and ran out of room.  So if you're still with me...

Yeehaw for cowgirls!

Of course there would be a float for this!

And this!(Above)

And then to the rodeo!

Bull riding and the first trick roper to be back at the rodeo since the 60's.  He is 21.

I finally got the lemonade that I'd ordered from California from an 8 yr old on a mission to end child slavery.  They are up and running for orders now.  

Of course we need updated pics of the kitties:

Nikko,

 And Vindaloo,

Most recently, Jenica, Sara, Julie and I joined me for Martini And a Movie at the Wildlife Experience, for 16 candles.  It was so much fun! With watermelon and chocolate martinis - yum!

And for my monthly goal...this month I made a donation to Sustainable Schools International which was started by a woman here in Ft. Collins.  They work with communities in Cambodia to not just build schools, but the communities take over and run the schools themselves - a novel concept.  Since I've already checked off Cambodia, and my goal is to help every country in the world, I made this donation on the behalf of Sweden. :)

That brings my list to:

Peru
Cambodia
India
Kenya
Ecuador
Romania
Sweden