Archive for the ‘My Life’ Category

Grandma…

I sit here tonight, like I have been for the last few nights wondering how to begin this post. I have been filled with all kinds of emotion this week. I was going to write about Grandma, then I wasn’t, then I didn’t know if I could get through it. I feel like she was such an important part of my life for such a long time, that she did her part at making me the person I am today. I need to tell the world what kind of a person she was.

Caring. Compassionate. Full of love. Full of gratitude. Strong.

If I am only half the person she was, then I am happy. To my entire Family, she was the world to us. We miss her so much.

Wedding Day

We lost my Grandma 4 years ago this week, and even though she passed away on the 16th, it was a Friday (it would have been today) around 10:00 pm. We lost her to cancer. It makes me sad to this day to think about what she went through the last week, but at the same time, it warms my heart to know that she is now happy. I was with her when she passed. It was an experience that forever changed me. I was close to Grandma. To this day, I still find myself thinking that I have to ask Grandma or think to myself that I can’t wait to tell her something.

I grew up with her right next door to me. She was always in my life. When I was younger, she was always there. I saw her everyday. She was there when I crashed the 3 wheeler and needed 100 stitches in my knee (she was the one who drive me to the hospital). She was there when I fell off my pony and broke my arm. She was there for me when I was sick. I remember her kneeling on the side of the bed watching TV (The Golden Girls) and eating a bit of supper while I laid in her bed- sick with the flu. I remember her always baking and cooking lunch. For anyone who stopped over. She taught me how to bake pies. I still can’t quite make them like her, but I sure do like trying. Homemade crust. Rhubarb from her rhubarb patch.

She once entered a pie contest on a whim for the Northfield News, and she won! Here is the picture that was in the paper…

Fishing and walking down to the bridge. Sitting outside on her step in a chair or on the picnic table. Just talking. She was always there for me. She was with me in the only two tornadoes I have ever been in. She made me feel better when I fell down and she was always there to pick me up. She always had fresh garden flowers on her table. Her favorites were peonies. These were picked from her plants.

Grandma loved pretty sunsets. After the storms passed last night, they left us with this view. It put my mind and heart at peace just in knowing that she would have loved this view.

Grandma, I miss you in so many ways. You had a part in making me whom I am today. We will never forget you and we will always pass on your memories.
XOXO- Krissy

Posted 06.18.10

Opps, I fell behind {but warmed my heart in the meantime}…

Oh my, have I fallen behind on this blog thing….

Really, I like blogging, and it seems like the last two weeks just flew by.

Lot’s of exciting things have happened since I posted my last entry. Not only have I been shooting, but I did something that made me feel really good- on the inside. It just really warms my heart and makes me smile. I just couldn’t wait to talk about this. In fact, it brings tears to my eyes. Not in a bad way, but because of all the emotion I feel for doing this. I was able to donate my talents for someone else. I feel like I may have made a difference. I heard about this benefit for Scott LeDoux (a Minnesota Boxer) on Friday night and I decided to donate a complete wedding package. Now Scott has a horrific disease, ALS. The package went to the highest bidder which included up to 8 hours of my time, an engagement e-session, custom built website, and a 9×12 art album. This is my passion, and I feel so good about the donation. Not only do I feel good about doing this, but I am able to give a couple beautiful wedding pictures.

Below, is a little information on ALS. I have not had anybody directly affected by this disease, but I have known a few families who have been affected. I took this right off of the website put together for Scott.

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurons making even the simplest movements – walking, talking, gesturing, swallowing – nearly impossible. When motor neurons die, they can no longer send messages to the muscles. This breakdown in sending nerve impulses to the muscles is what causes the weakness in the disease.
To date, no one knows what causes the death of the motor neurons in ALS or exactly how it occurs.
ALS can occur from 20-80 years of age. The most common age of onset is mid-50′s. Approximately 30,000 people in the United States are living with the disease. It claims some 5,600 lives each year.

And once again, I must to include a pretty picture or two. Here are two from a wedding that I took in San Francisco, California.

Please stop by Scott’s website to read about him and about ALS.
XOXO- Krissy

Posted 03.14.10

I’m Back {From Mexico, and with a little Love}!

Back from a wonderful vacation in Mexico {with a little sneak peek}….

and a little Valentine’s Love session from yesterday…
I am SO excited to show you more, but a little sneak peek will have to do for now!

Stay tuned for more…
-Krissy XOXO

Posted 02.15.10

Kitchen Creations for My Doggie- Do

First, let me introduce you to Ellie.

This is the look she gives when she thinks she is in trouble or when she is not so amused to have her picture taken…

In fact, she was really bored and just about had enough of this picture thing…

Until I mentioned the magic word {TREAT}!

Then she decided to start talkin’

and I had 100% of her attention.

You see, my Mother gave me this book set for my birthday called Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook from the Bubba Rose Biscuit Company.

I made some treats for Ellie on Saturday afternoon and oh man, did they smell yummy! So yummy, in fact they made house smell like bannana bread. Yum-o as Rachel Ray would say! I have made homemade doggie treats before, but never anything quite like this. They were such a hit with Ellie, I have decided to write a little something up for everyone to share with their little doggie-do.

Bannana B’ Oats
1 1/2 c. oat flour
1 1/2 c. brown rice flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. rolled oats {old- fashioned kind, not instant}
1/2 c. oat bran
1 egg
1/2 c. bannanas {mashed & pureed}
1/2 c. water

Preheat to 350. Combine all ingredients together and mix thoroughly. Roll into small balls {about 1″ in diameter} and place on an ungreased cookie sheet {they can be rather close together as they don’t spread while cooking}. Press each one down with your hand to flatten the cookies {I created a small well in the center and added a few Carob Chips to them- no, not chocolate chips, but the safe alternative for our doggies- Carob}.

Bake 18-22 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Store at room temperature in a loosely covered container, or they may be placed in the freezer.

While I was photographing the doggie do treats, I looked over and look who was watching my every move. She must have known that these were for her!

So, with the Ellie stamp of approval, please share these treats with your own doggie-do and order this book from the Bubba Rose Biscuit Company. Your Doggie-Do will thank you for it!

Enjoy!
-Krissy

Posted 02.01.10

My little piece of Christmas for you…

Sorry I haven’t posted anything for a long time- I am still here!

Thank you Mr. Winter for the 10+ inches of snow that fell in MN on Dec. 24th! You made travel a bear, but we all enjoyed the fresh white powder on ground. It made for a VERY pretty day and the added bonus that it was Christmas Eve…
All the talk a few days before the storm came made me think of the Rudolph movie. The part where Santa has to almost cancel Christmas because the storm of the century has hit and along comes Rudolph, just in the nick of time! I wouldn’t say that this storm was a storm of the century, but it sure made easy travels for Santa!

Here is a little something that I took last year, but it made it’s way onto to my Christmas card this year…

May you have a Happy New Year!
Krissy

Posted 12.30.09