3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

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Choir is Cool

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Nebraska District Music Contest
Nebraska District Music Contest 2012

Music in our schools is not dead, in fact it’s cool to be in choir at Elmwood-Murdock high school in Nebraska. The choir consists of 50% of the high schools enrollment and they are a source of pride for the school and community. Yes, this is a small school, but normally only those students who have good voices join the choir, which is normall a small percentage of a population.

However, a good choir director can find the inner voice in a willing student and bring out beautiful music. Below is the result in a piece performed at the 2012 Nebraska District Music contest. Enjoy  “The Awakening” by Joseph M. Martin

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4kEOmd3gSk&feature=relmfu]

Music contests are somewhat formal and below is the same song sung at the school concert. I like the below version better as the students are more emotional. Both versions give me chills, but I love the expression on the faces at the end in response to Mrs. Colbert getting emotional and tearing up.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8z8HDxg1Qs]

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A Day at Work, With a Very Large Camera

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8x10 Large Format Film Camera
8×10 Large Format Transparency Camera

Here is something you don’t see very often, a large format, 8×10 E6 Film View Camera. At Hamilton Color Lab, located in Omaha Nebraska,  this isn’t used very often. But for high quality art reproductions which will be reproduced in a  40 x 40 foot canvas in this case, you need a camera format large enough to capture the detail and information.

After we develop the film (yes we still develop E6 slide transparencies)  it is then scanned on an Scitex Eversmart and digitized for outsource printing. The file size just for this one image is over one gigabyte and took over an hour to scan.

Most art reproductions we do at work are digital captures with a Canon 5D and a special lens made especially for photographing artwork, or flat images which eliminates lens distortion.

Below is the front of the camera, I know were curious and just itching to see more, so here is some camera eye candy for those film fans.

8x10 Film View Camera
8×10 Film View Camera

Dave Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Color Lab shoots with a Canon 5D on most days in the studio, but keeps his old Hasellblad camera, 4×5 Film Camera and this baby in storage for those unique moments. Not too many 8×10 View cameras in use anymore, and this one got quite a bit attention when it was brought out.

I know this post was a shameless plug for where I work, but I love working there and until I can get our company blog up and running I can’t resist sharing here.

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Introducing Leah the Boxer

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Leah, a Brindle Boxer

Introducing the newest member of our family, Leah a brindle Boxer. She’s now eight months old and I’m a little late in posting her pictures,but here’s a snapshot of her life so far.

She’s a sweet little girl, smart as a tack, and  extremely gentle. Only heard her bark twice, she learned to walk on a loose lead in just a few days and that in itself takes some getting used to as my Jack Russel, Brody is like a freight train at the end of the leash.

Speaking of Brody he took to her right away and is extremely tolerant. At first I thought he was picking on her. Nope the other way around. Leah used Brody’s hind legs as teething toys. Literally, as Brody would walk or run by Leah would take the opportunity to grab at his hocks. Most of the time my ferocious Jack Russell would roll over and let her continue to chew, all the while “growling and complaining.” He really does love her.

At one time Leah could easily walk under Brody’s stomach, now it’s the other way around. She’s almost done growing, at least in height, but based on her food intact she has a lot of filling out to do before she’s mature.

Quick & Easy Banana Dessert Recipes

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Bananas and strawberries go together perfectly in desserts. Here are a few quick and easy banana dessert recipes to fix for after school snacks.

All you need is five simple ingredients and you can make a variety of simple, but impressive banana desserts. 

Ingredients for Quick Banana Dessert Recipes

To prevent the bananas from turning brown toss with lemon juice. 

Mama's Banana Pudding: Southern Desserts CookbookMama’s Banana Pudding: Southern Desserts CookbookMama's Banana Pudding: Southern Desserts CookbookWood-Material Large Size - Fruit Dessert Banana Cream Cups,34.4 X 22.6 inch - 1500 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleWood-Material Large Size – Fruit Dessert Banana Cream Cups,34.4 X 22.6 inch – 1500 Piece Jigsaw PuzzleWood-Material Large Size - Fruit Dessert Banana Cream Cups,34.4 X 22.6 inch - 1500 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

 

Easy Strawberry Trifle Recipes with Bananas

Trifles are wonderful desserts. You just add ingredients that go together in a clear container to make wonderful quick easy desserts for any size of gathering. 

Mini Strawberry-Banana Trifle

Place a vanilla wafer at the bottom of a whiskey glass. Or you could use an “official dessert glass” but my husband likes whiskey, so it’s what I use.

Layer banana pudding, pudding, bananas, strawberries in the glass

Top with whipped topping. (I crushed the vanilla wafers for a middle layer, but it’s not necessary.)

You can also make this is a large Trifle Bowl if you have one. You will need to double or triple the amount of pudding and ingredients as this will make a dessert for a large crowd.

Libbey Selene Footed Glass Trifle Bowl, 9-inchLibbey Selene Footed Glass Trifle Bowl, 9-inchLibbey Selene Footed Glass Trifle Bowl, 9-inch

 

Strawberry – Banana Pudding

Layer bottom of a 9×13 clear baking dish with vanilla wafers.

Prepare banana pudding. Fold in chopped strawberries

Top with Sliced strawberries, spread with whipped cream (or leave out, it’s just as good)

Serve and enjoy!

Pyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong, 2-qtOblong, Red Plastic CoversPyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong, 2-qtOblong, Red Plastic CoversPyrex Easy Grab 4-Piece Value Pack, includes 1-ea 3-qt Oblong, 2-qtOblong, Red Plastic Covers

 

Strawberry- Banana Poke Cake

Prepare a yellow cake in a 9×13 pan. Poke holes in cake with end of a wooden spoon. Spoon prepared banana pudding over cake. Spread so pudding “oozes” down into the holes. 

Top with sliced strawberries and as ALWAYS, served topped with whipped cream.

Banana Split Dessert

This one adds some chocolate to the ingredient listing. Oh, yes, Chocolate!!!

Mix chopped Snickers bars to the banana pudding. Yup, you heard me. chocolate, nuts, caramel. 

In a small dessert bowl layer vanilla wafers on the bottom. Add pudding mixture, top with strawberries and whipped cream. 

All I can say is “Yum, yum!

Bananas are healthy and full of potassium and 33% of of your daily Vitamin B6 needs. It is true that bananas have natural sugar that some medical professionals warn against eating a banana. But they also contain pectin and resistant starch which may moderat blood sugar levels.

So eat your bananas!

Get creative with some quick banana dessert recipes of your own.