project365

Happy Birthday Marine Corps

November 10, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Words From a Marine Mom

In honor of my two US Marine sons, I want to wish a great big 236th birthday wish to the United States Marine Corps. This is the one time of year my USMC sons don’t mind me bragging about them a little. More than any other military branch the Marine Corps celebrates their birthday with parties, cakes and of course the Marine Corps Ball.

CafePress – (Single)Happy Birthday Marine Corps – Greeting Card Matte CafePress – Marine Corps Emblem Drinking Glass – Pint Glass, 16 oz. Drinking Glass CafePress – Semper Fidelis Marine Corps Journal – Spiral Bound Journal Notebook, Personal Diary, Lined

I am very proud of them both of my Marines. This picture was taken at my youngest son’s Marine boot camp graduation at MCRD San Diego California this past October. His brother received weekend leave from his permanent duty station in Yuma to attend. It was great to have them together.

I have only gotten to see my youngest son in his dress blues and like any good Mom, I was beaming with pride. Who can resist a Marine in his dress blues? He had the opportunity to wear them to his high school during a recruiting visit to his alma mater Elmwood-Murdock High school.

It’s not easy to fit the dress blues uniform of the Marine Corps. There are strict guidelines of exactly how much spacing (the width of a dime) the ribbons should be from the top of the medal. Military personnel who have a chest full of ribbons, especially officers use ribbon racks to make this easier.

USMC Keepsake Box – Made a Difference – Ronald Reagan Marine Corps Quote Keepsake Box – Boot camp graduation gift Allied Frame United States Marine Corps Medal and Award Frame Fuzzy FlagsTM U.S. Marine Corps Flag Fleece Blanket – 6.5 ft. x 4 ft. – Oversized USMC Travel Throw Cover CafePress – EGA Black And Gold – Keepsake Box, Finished Hardwood Jewelry Box, Velvet Lined Memento Box

First time wearing his Marine Corps dress blues

Of course, I was that Marine Mom who stalked him to the recruiting center to take photos of him wearing his dress blues. After five years of active duty, it’s the only time I’ve seen him wear the uniform in person. Yes, he rolled his eyes. But he’s actually pretty proud of this photo. It’s made its way around the internet and he’s been called the “Pinterest” Marine.

I think every Marine is handsome in his uniform, but the dress blues are especially striking. However, I have yet to hear a Marine say they “enjoy” wearing them. If you saw the shirt stays worn around the legs you would understand. If you have “seen” a Marine putting on shirt stays, then you would REALLY understand.

Stuffed 10″ teddy bear in U.S. Marine Corps Dress Blues Military Uniform Sgt R. Lee Ermey 12″ Dress Blues Talking Figure from Full Metal Jacket

How many times have you seen your Marine in uniform? Or if you are a Marine how much did you like, or dislike wearing your Dress Blues?

Day 286: Chocolate Cupcake

November 10, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Heavenly delight, a chocolate chocolate cupcake, yum! What’s better is I didn’t have to make these myself, my step daughter did for a friends birthday.

Day 285: Hobby Lobby, Someone Rescue Me

November 9, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

There is a reason I don’t to into Hobby Lobby very much. I would get sucked down the hole that is my crafty addiction. I thought I had broke the habit, but its like anything else, you just have to say away. But everything is so shiny, and cute, and I could make, ok step away from the glue gun.

Seriously, I love the store, for more than the obvious reasons. This day I was content with pictures.

Day 281-284: Life in the Lab, Hamilton Color

November 9, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Sso many interesting projects come through the door at Hamilton Color Lab I keep my Olympus camera on the counter at work. (Sometimes it’s the only place I get my photo of the day) I work the front desk, handle the customer service, the marketing, and the social media accounts which, at the present time includes a Facebook page, Twitter account and lately the Flickr account.

But, since my personal blog centers around photography I thought I would post a series here every now and then. Especially since some of my photos of the day are taken at work.

Graflex camera a customer brought in to show and tell

Film is not dead, barely hanging on though. Hamilton Color Lab only processes E-6 slide film, our C41 machine literally caught fired a few years ago and it wasn’t worth the money to rebuild. But the film that is very much alive and cool again is vintage formats. We still receive large format film for processing including E-6 110, 120, 4×5 and occasionally 8×10 size slide transparencies.

We scanned the vintage small check (lower left in pink) at a high resolution, created a vintage look in brown tones, printed it on cotton etching paper on an inkjet printer, matted and framed the piece. It will eventually go into the Woodbine Saving Bank newly remodeled bank.

Mid 1800's: Photo and art restoration and reproduction

The date on the back of this picture was 1841 and the genealogy of the family listed a son named “Benjamin Franklin ____” Isn’t that cool! Benjamin Franklin was a celebrity of his day, and obviously admired enough to name their child after the man.

Day 287/365: The Best Caramel Apple Dip in the World

November 8, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

The Worlds Best Caramel Apple Dip

Found this Caramel Apple Dip recipe several years ago, and it’s the best I’ve every had. I should know, I’m a caramel apple addict. Every year I lose my index card and have to dig for it again, but it always turns up in a drawer, or my recipe box, in the wrong section.

So I’m posting it here for posterity, then I can always do a search where ever I am. Yes, the recipe is at the bottom and I did eat all the apples on the plate and the 1/2 cup of dip in the bowl. Yes, I’m a pig, oink, oink, smile.

The fastest way I’ve found to slice apples is obviously with a STURDY heavy duty apple slicer, don’t get the cheap variety, but the ones with big handles for lots of leverage. If you’re slicing lots of apples, say for a Fall Harvest Party or a Halloween get together then you will want to treat them so they won’t turn brown.

How to Keep Sliced Apples From Turning Brown

Amco Dial-A-Slice Adjustable Apple Corer and Slicer

You can soak your apples in a bowl of water mixed with either citric acid and water (found in canning supplies) pineapple juice, lemon juice, or a salt water bath. The choice is yours. Here are a few suggestions

Honey and Water: 2 TBSP per cup of water
Salt Water: 1/8 teaspoon per sup of water
Lemon Juice and Water: 1 Tablespoon per cup of water
Fruitfresh: 1 teaspoon per cup water

Caramel Apple Dip Recipe

Here’s the recipe as I found it in Taste of Home’s Simple & Delicious magazine 2006

Ingredients & Directions

1 package (14 oz) caramels
20 large marshmallows
1/2 cup butter, melted (mmm butter)
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream (full octane cream, mmmm)
Apple slices

Place caramels in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute.
Add marshmallows (which in my opinion don’t count as sugar) ;
Microwave for 1 minute or until marshmallows are melted, stirring occasionally.
Whisk in butter and cream until combined.
Serve with apple slices. Refrigerate leftovers.

Yield 2 1/2 cups

I have made this every year and every year it is a hit. The last time was for a football and harvest moon party and I made a double batch and kept the dip warm in a small slow cooker. Seriously, there were kids filling cups of caramel to and scooping it out like candy. I’m the same way, my husband asks me, “Having some apples with your dip”, yup, this apple dip it THAT good!

Oster TSP100 Serving Platter with Center Warming Pot Hamilton Beach 33416 Party Crock Set, Red

Apple Recipes for Fall

My neighbor has apples and I’m looking for good apple recipes I can fix and freeze, or even can. Something besides applesauce, maybe even a good apple pie filling recipe. If you have one please share. In the mean time I’m going to be scouring Pinterest and some recipe books.

Apples Cookbook: 101 Recipes with Apples The Apple Cookbook, 3rd Edition: 125 Freshly Picked Recipes

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5 irresistible apple recipes to bake this autumn

To get you in the mood for fall 2015, we’ve assembled some of our favorite apple recipes from the PennLive files. Apple Pound Cake. Ingredients: 4 medium-size tart apples; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour …

The Apple Recipes That You’ve Been Waiting For All Year

We’ve found 26 apple recipes to make sure you take advantage of fall’s greatest gift. And they’ll also help make sure you’re spending time in the kitchen, because there’s no better place to be in the fall than cozied up next to a warm oven with the …

14 Apple Recipes To Make With Your Orchard Haul This Fall

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Autumn appeal: Recipes for the bounty of apple season

I’ve reached into The Journal recipe archives for some easy ideas from the women who were helping run local orchards back in 1986. Because when it comes to apple recipes, local growers have some of the best. Other recipes come from 2006 and 2011.