3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

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Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo

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On any given summer Friday or Saturday night in the Western United States a rodeo can be found within driving distance. In eastern Nebraska the Wahoo rodeo has been a long tradition for 58 years.

In his younger days my husband traveled the rodeo circuit as a steer wrestler, otherwise known as a “bull dogger”. Every rodeo event has a practical working purpose on the ranch. It didn’t start as a sport, but as a way for a ranch to gain bragging rights and cowboys to one up each other. The history of rodeo dates back to the 1600 Spanish ranchers and their Mexican cowboys.

Patriotism is Strong at the Opening of a Rodeo
Patriotism is Strong at the Opening to the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo. Note the young boy with his hat over his heart.

The rodeo opened with the announcer giving tribute to family, thanking all military personal, and saying a prayer for God to protect the cowboys and keep them safe during the night. I wish I had brought my video camera as the speech is extremely moving and brings a tear to your eye.

Calf Roping at the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo
Calf Roping at the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo
Cowboys waiting for their turn
Cowboys waiting for their turn
Saddle bronc riding
Saddle bronc riding (click for larger image)

All photos were shot with a Canon Rebel XS with a 75-300 lens. Since the rodeo doesn’t start until 8pm and everything is fast I had the ISO cranked up to 800 right away and it wasn’t long before it went to 1600. Aperture was high at 5.6 and shutter speed no lower than 1/100 sec.

Being around horses and attending previous rodeos I could anticipate my shots to get the best picture like this bull exploding out of the chute.

Bull riding
Bull riding

Lightroom 4 was used in post production for cropping white balance and increased clarity. Noise reduction was accomplised in the Luminescence function I described last week.

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Homemade Sweet Pickles

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Our cucumber crop tends to be pretty amazing and after I’ve had my fill of cucumber sandwiches I turn making homemade pickles.  For the first time I tried refrigerator pickles instead of canned. I’ve always avoided refrigerator pickles due to the lack of refrigerator space. But, we’re eating them so fast it doesn’t make a difference.

Homemade sweet pickles

Even my daughter who only likes dill pickles likes these. She said they are sweet, but different.

The recipe is very easy and fast.

Ball Pickle Crisp 5.5 oz. JarSpicely Organic Pickling Seasoning – CompactTwang Pickle Salt, 1.15-Ounce Shakers (Pack of 20)

Homemade Sweet Pickles

Ingredients

  • Sliced cucumbers (about 4 large)
  • Sliced sweet peppers
  • Sliced onion
  • 2 cups vinegar
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 TBSP salt
  • Ground Garlic and pepper seasoning. (to taste about 1 TBSP)

Directions

  1. Pack cucumbers, peppers and onions tightly  into jars. Mix all ingredients into saucepan and bring to a boil until sugar dissolves and liquid is clear (about 10 min)
  2. Pour into packed jars, seal and store in refrigerator.
  3. Let soak for 24 hours before eating to let the vinegar and flavors combine.
  4. Store up to three months (but they won’t last that long)

You can easily make hamburger relish by using a handy chopper and processing the finished pickles into cucumber relish for macaroni salad, burgers or hot dogs.

Canning Supplies

I have purchased my canning supplies a little bit over the years and love my canning funnel and lid magnet. Seriously, the right tools make the job faster and easier. My Mom made jelly, canned tomatoes, and put corn and strawberries in the freezer.

Ball Mason Jars Wide-Mouth Can or Freeze – 16 oz 12pkTattler Reusable Wide Mouth Canning Lids & Rubber Rings – 12/pkgOrchard Road Regular Mason Jar Canning Lids, Full Case! 360 Lids (30 dozen), (Lids Only; No Rings), BPA FREE!Norpro 605 Canning Lid RackJarden Home Brands Ball Secure Grip Hot Jar Handle (Discontinued by Manufacturer)Back to Basics 400A 7-Quart Aluminum Home Steam Canner

I guess I have continued the tradition and during the summer my big canning pots and supplies pretty much stay out on the cabinets all week for a quick batch of pickles, jelly, or jam.

 

More Homemade Pickle Recipes

It’s time to make the pickles … or jelly … or …

The enhanced flavor of potato salad, chicken or tuna salad sandwiches and other dishes from using homemade pickles and juice is undeniable. And, there’s nothing like opening a steaming hot biscuit and dousing it with a spoonful of fresh, preservative …

Pack pickled peppers and other fun foods for your picnic

The other thing, she noted, is fresh homemade pickles. “You get some fresh pickling cucumbers, throw them in a jar with water, salt, pickling spice, garlic and dill,” she said. “Give them at least three days in the refrigerator and they’re just fresh …

Easy Homemade Dill Pickles – Heavenly Homemakers

Filed Under: Canning and Preserving, Recipes, Side Dishes and Snacks Tagged With: canning, dill pickles, easy pickle recipe, homemade pickles, preserving. Hi! I’m Laura and it is so nice to have you here. Really. You have …

Ridiculously Easy Homemade Dill Pickles | Organic Health

This recipe only takes about fifteen minutes to complete and will leave you with the best homemade pickles in town. They also contain probiotics that help produce better digestion and strengthens our immune systems!

Homemade Pickles | A Fat Girl’s Food Guide to Eating in …

Until recently the joy of a good pickled cucumber eluded me. I just never quite understood their allure until I went to New York and had the cream of the crop pickle wise at the famed Katz Deli, and I’ve not looked back since.

Homemade Pickles – Instructables

This instructable will teach you how to make homemade pickles using cucumbers, mason jars, brine, and any extra flavorings. The whole process requires about 6 steps. 1. Purchasing Supplies. 2. Sterilizing Equipment. 3. Making the brine. 4.

 

Lucky Guy: Mockingbird Sun, I’m Liking It

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Couldn’t resist posting another song from  Mockingbird Sun. I love  the share tool on the Bandcamp website that lets me embed songs right into WordPress. So enjoy another song and more photos from their opening during the Huey Lewis concert for Omaha Fourth of July celebration in 2012. I dare you to listen to just one song. 

Mockingbird Sun in Pictures

Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska
Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska

 

Mockingbird Sun
Mockingbird Sun

Just a little photography information. I was trying to get a handle on using my Canon 75-300 mm lens and get sharp images with the long lens. I ended up pushing the ISO up to 800/1600 so my shutter speed would stay at 1/100 or higher. That eliminated the blurriness I get from the hand shake. There is a general rule of thumb to keep your shutter speed half of your lens reach. So for 300mm the shutter aid for speed speed of 1/150 sec, 200 mm=1/100 sec and so on.

Another tip is open up the aperture as far as you can, the shot above was at f/5.6, you also achieve that nice dreamy blur background. My friend Beth used her monopod during the concert, which I’m going to have to start doing. I found out my husband has a monopod for his hunting scope. It may need to be re-purposed.

If you missed my first post about Mockingbird Sun check them out here.

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Photo Friday: Lilly Pads in Lightroom

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Lightroom 4  is my new friend and I’m pulling out old photos that needed some more work. I used to have a feature Photoshop Friday, but it’s now named Photo Friday. I don’t think I’ll ever run out of photos to “fix” or improve. I have thousands on my hard drive.

Pond Lilies in Summer
Pond Lilies in Summer

I love how the result and am even further excited about being able to decrease the jpg noise from my old Fuji Fine Pix S1500 camera. My old camera took good pictures, and I pushed the limit with it, but now I’m using a Canon Rebel shooting  RAW and I can see a huge difference.  This is one setting I’m putting into my presets.

Below is the straight out the camera photo. Look for yourself the difference.

Pond Lilies in Summer SOOC
Pond Lilies in Summer SOOC

Click on the image below to see the larger tutorial Lightroom4 screen.

Decreasing noise in Lightroom 4
Decreasing noise in Lightroom 4 (click on image for larger view)
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