APPLE PIE

Seems like I have been on a baking spree lately. This time it is a homemade apple pie. It was delicious! Have you ever tried making one from scratch? The hardest part is making the crust and being able to roll it out to move to the pie shell. The rest is easy... Here is a page all about baking an apple pie:

http://www.myhomecooking.net/apple-pie/

KSZ HAS SA

I have just been diagnosed with "Sleep Apnea". Last night was my first night with my own CPAP machine. It was so quiet but I know it will take a while for me to get used to sleeping with it. Here is my machine, the newest on the market!

ICON Novo CPAP Machine with Built In Heated Humidifier and ThermoSmart

Here is the mask that I received:

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• You might wonder if YOU have sleep apnea? Here is all the information one might need to decided.

• Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder which triggers pauses in breathing during sleep. These episodes, called apneas, last long enough so one or more breaths are missed, and occur repeatedly throughout sleep. Sleep apnea is diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram.

  Often, individuals with sleep apnea are not aware of having difficulty breathing. Because of this, sleep apnea is frequently recognized by a spouse or sleep-mate who witnesses sleep apnea episodes. Sometimes sleep apnea is suspected because of its effects on the body copy. Symptoms may be present for years or even decades without identification, during which time the sufferer may become conditioned to the daytime sleepiness and fatigue associated with significant levels of sleep disturbance.

• Loud snoring. This can indicate breathing problems or blocked air passages.
• Cessation of breathing or choking spells in the night. In severe cases, this can occur over fifty times an hour with each spell lasting as long as ten seconds.
• Excessive daytime sleepiness. Daytime sleepiness can become so excessive that working becomes difficult and driving is dangerous.
• Frequent visits to the bathroom. Individuals with sleep apnea often find that they require repeated trips to the bathroom throughout the night.
• Severe mood swings. Sleep deprivation can affect mental health, often causing moods to shift rapidly from depression to irritability to anger.
• Obesity. Although some slim people do suffer from sleep apnea, the majority are overweight or obese.
• Low sex drive and a general lack of energy. Because individuals with sleep apnea suffer from sleep deprivation, they often find they lack the energy to perform daily activities, and even lose interest in sex.
• Dry mouth and sore throat in the morning. This is caused from sleeping with the mouth open, snoring and gasping for air.
• Lack of concentration and forgetfulness. Sleep deprivation affects motor skills and memory.
• Morning headaches. Lack of sufficient air throughout the night can cause headaches.

JANELLE MONAE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc I wish I was born to dance like Janelle! I have realized that photography, dance, cooking and baking, singing, sewing, and crafting are all forms of art. At least I got a few of those in my blood! Recently I cleaned up my studio of all the clutter so that I can start a new project this week. YEA!

OLD SAILOR

This is print of a sailor by an artist named Haerendel. I found it in a really nice wood frame at a consignment shop. But I decided to mosaic the frame and gift it to my husband. He loves sailing and so I thought it would be a nice piece for him to hang in his office. He also doesn't have any of my art on his walls yet! How did he get away with that all these years? ha...

CONCERT FUN

Avery and I went to see Robert Earl Keen in concert last Saturday night. I am not sure who this guy was that did the opening act. All I heard was that REK had been his idol growing up and now to be opening for him was a dream come true for him. All the photos were taken with my i phone. Of course I wish I had brought my Canon SLR, I am always wishing that I had it with me these days. But my phone camera will work in some situations. REK is the one with the white cowboy hat. Check out his Christmas video of his famous song! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg

I PHONE FUN

Now that I am using the Apple I Phone 4 the camera is so much better than my old one. I love whipping my phone out and taking pictures of everything and anything. I don't have to wait to use my SLR all of the time! Here is a cool image that I captured last night at a restaurant-bar called "RA". It is actually umbrella like shades that were hanging from a very high ceiling. (you can't tell that from the photo though) I can also use my camera phone to capture delicious food that we might order. Check out the key lime pie. BOY WAS IT DELICIOUS!!

SKETCHBOOK CHALLENGE

My friend Marie told me about this new project starting in January. I definitely want to participate and thought you might, too!

The sketchbook challenge is a new project launching on 1/1/2011. Follow along with us as we fill our sketchbooks based on a monthly theme that will be announced on the first of each month. Each month we'll announce a new theme on this blog and throughout the month we'll be showing you images from our sketchbooks and talking about the intention and inspiration behind them. Along the way we'll be sharing tips, techniques and tutorials. We hope that by giving you a peek inside our sketchbooks and showing you how different they all are that we'll inspire you to start keeping a sketchbook of your own. And of course if you do, we'll want to see some photos of your book too. You can download the badge here: http://sketchbookchallenge.blogspot.com/p/pick-up-blog-badge-here.html We encourage you to post photos of your sketchbook pages on your blog and then post a link in the comment section of the Sketchbook Challenge blog so that others can look at your pages too! We've also set up a flickr page where you can post photos too. So pick up your blog badge here, go grab a sketchbook, some pencils, pens, markers or paints and get ready to sketch with us!

HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!

Facebook asked that everyone select their favorite cartoon character to post as their profile picture. I chose Mighty Mouse. I loved that cartoon as a kid! I would wake up really early on Saturday mornings just to catch it. CBS packaged the old Mighty Mouse cartoons, along with non-series Terrytoons, as a Saturday morning half-hour, under the name Mighty Mouse Playhouse. It ran as a network show from 1955-67.

CUTEST FACE EVER

Isn't that the cutest face in the world? I was taking pictures of an antique buffet that we are trying to sell and Yogi decided to lay right in front of it. He wanted his picture to be taken! We were having our downstairs painted and changing out some light fixtures around the house. I think all the commotion was disrupting his normal routine so he was following me everywhere! Here is a picture of the beautiful antique sideboard for sale (if you know anyone looking for one) Antique English Carved Solid Oak Sideboard or Buffet with removable backsplash Age:1800-1899 The measurements are 41" high x 72" width x 24" depth The doors have gorgeous raised carved accents over paneled surfaces! The cabinet on the left features two drawers that pull out for storage. The cabinet on the right has a set shelf plus a pull out drawer with nine separate slots. These will hold your bottles of liquor. (can be used as a bar) In addition there are 3 smooth operating drawers that are well constructed with dovetail joinery and each has very attractive carved facings with decorative knob and brass pulls.