New Winter backdrops

I have two new backdrops that are not Christmas related this fall. The first has already been used for a family, and I think it's a beautiful drop, wouldn't you say?





If you also take a look at the labels on the right side of the page, click on the NEW BACKGROUNDS link to see the Christmas drop from last yr that is still available.
Please feel free to request which backdrop you'd like to use for your portrait session.

Easy Low Fat Applesauce Bread

I'm always looking for low fat, healthier versions of foods I love, and this one fit the bill today, using homemade, fresh applesauce. There is no oil in the recipe at all, just one whole egg!

Low Fat Applesauce Bread

2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1 egg
1 cup skim milk


Heat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9x5 inch bread pan. Mix all the dry ingredients together, add the applesauce, egg, and milk, and mix till thoroughly combined. Pour into greased pan, and bake 50-60 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick, which should come out cleanly.

12 slices. Cal-77, Fat- 1.1 gm, fiber 1 gm (Weight Watchers: 1 point)

Pumpkin Lasagna! Great fall flavor!

I haven't posted a recipe for awhile, and thought this was worthy, and it tasted great on a nice fall evening.


This recipe is from the current issue of Taste of Home Healthy Cooking magazine.

Pumpkin Lasagna

1/2 lb sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small onion chopped
1/2 tsp salt, divided
2 tsp olive oil
1 15 can solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup half and half cream
1 tsp dried sage leaves
dash pepper
9 no cook lasagna noodles
1 cup reduced fat ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1) In a small skillet, saute the mushrooms, onion and 1/4 tsp salt in oil until tender; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin, cream, sage, pepper, and remaining salt.
2) Spread 1/2 cup pumpkin sauce in an 11x7 inch baking dish, coated with cooking spreay. Top with 3 noodles. Spread 1/2 cup pumpkin sauce to edges of noodles. Top with half of mushroom mixture, 1/2 cup ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers. top with remaining noodles and sauce.
3) Cover and bake at 375 degrees, for 45 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining Parm cheese. Bake at 10-15 minutes longer until cheese is melted.

(I think it needs another 1/4 cup skim milk added to the sauce, to add a little more moisture)

Nutrition facts: 6 servings. 310 calories, 12 gm fat,497mg of sodium, 32gms carbs, 5 gms fiber, 17 gms protein. Diabetic exchanges 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 lean meat.

ok, the website is back up....!

Thank goodness for good customer support from my web template business.

website is offline....I crashed it tonight.

and I'm waiting for some Customer SErvice to help me out.....lesson learned- don't try this late at night, when you need to get up early for work!

Please be patient if you were hoping to see my site. Thanks!

macro images with the Nikon 105 2.8 VR

I am having fun using my macro, and it's really neat to see the much smaller world that is out there, that you just walk by on an everyday basis. Hope you enjoy.
a split open rose hip

a thistle flower

a clematis

backlit dandelion

timothy with morning dew

Kaitlyn's birthday shoot

You'd never know by a couple of these images, that Kaitlyn was turning 14 the day after this shoot. With about an hour of fun, Tyra Banks-type "you could be America's Next Top Model" goofiness and seriousness, we came away with some really nice images.

My favorite, is this B+W, a crop of the second image.



The next collage is based on a favorite collection she has of rubber duckies, which started as a child, from I believe, her grandfather reading her a story. The collection grew from there, and despite being 14, these are her favorite pictures, and time she had during the whole shoot!

McLean -Bassett Wedding 9/19/09

On one of the last really nice weekend days that we had, I was able to spend it with Marti, Steve, and their family and friends at the White Eagle Conference Center, down in Madison.
It was a beautiful sunny day, evidenced by the fall colors that were starting.

We completed a lot of the preliminary shots early on, and then everyone was able to relax before the ceremony started.

Senior Roxy- Ilion HS

Roxy is the last of my 2010 seniors this yr. What a fun time I've had with so many individual kids, and the pleasure I've had getting to know them, and their families. Roxy is as down to earth as they get, and she's a true country girl. I have to admit that I too was smitten with her black lab puppy, Bailey. She's a special little one, that looked awesome in her picks.

Senior Justin- Frankfort Schuylar

The last of my senior boys this yr, Justin is a football player from Frankfort Schuylar. The burning balls went over really well this yr, and this shot is no exception! He looked great in all of his images, and I know I had a hard time picking ones out that I really liked too!

What was really nice, is that his step mom brought him for his pictures, and we used to go to school together many moons ago. It was nice catching up after several yrs of not seeing one another. Thanks Kim and Justing, and Timmy too.