my new blog

Lens & Needle everyone! Nothing fancy, just simple and fresh.


I will be keeping this blog up until I figure out how to transfer my posts from here to there.

For all of you that have links to me on your blogs, I would appreciate it if you would change the link to http://lensandneedle.typepad.com/lens-and-needle/

And for all you Blogger bloggers, you can comment on my new blog, no Typepad account needed. I hope to see you there!!!

blogging for bliss, typepad, and peach pie

My Mom bought Tara Freys new book "Blogging for Bliss". As I read about blissful blogging, and blissful bloggers, I started to think about why I blog. I (mostly) started this blog so that I had a place to share my budding love for photography. As my readership grew, blogging became a wonderful way to "visit" with new friends. I discovered new blogs, and new people. Blogging was fun! I loved reading the encouraging comments you left about my pictures. I loved it when someone new would leave a comment! Then summer came, and I was less focused on blogging. It became somewhat of a chore, even though I still loved it. Then I came across this new book, all about blogging for Bliss.

After much thought, I have decided to switch blog hosts'. Typepad will be my new home! I am working on the layout/design right now, so I will post a link when it's looking better. I am super excited; I just love the look of most Typepad blogs. They are so clean and fresh! While you're waiting... how 'bout some Peach Pie?

That's what I thought.

French Peach Pie

adapted from Betty Crocker's Cookbook

one round of pie crust (box works just fine)

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

1/4 mounding teaspoon cinnamon

5 cups sliced fresh peaches

1 tablespoon lemon juice

for french crust

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup firm butter

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Mix crust ingredients with pastry cutter. Set aside.

Mix sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Mix in peaches and lemon juice. Turn into pastry lined pie plate. Sprinkle crumb crust on top.

Bake at 425 degrees for about 35 minutes, or until it bubbles in the middle.

Enjoy!

the blueberry monster

six blueberry's

(and what's that in the background?)

THE BLUEBERRY MONSTER!

(and only five blueberry's)

The Blueberry Monster strikes again!

(only three berry's left)

The Blueberry Monster gets away!

cute sam photo of the day

"Chocolate cake? ME? Noooo."

a day at the lake

a few weeks ago, we had a little birthday party for Joe and Ethan. i didn't take too many photos, but here's a few..

the photographer-me

ready for a day at the lake

feeling the water

holdin' dadda's hand



the giving of birthday cards

the troublesome two-year-olds

Twenty minute Simple Skirt Tutorial AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

Twenty minute Simple Skirt Tutorial AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

hello all!

Sorry about the unintentional bloggy break. It was nice, but it's good to be back. July has come and gone, and here is August!
The Birthday season is past; all of us kids are a year older now! I'm 16, Sam turned 2, then Jake turned 14, and now Joe and Ethan are 9!
We've been enjoying fresh peaches and nectarines from Farmer's Market. Yum!
Our garden is starting to give us tomato's!!! I will post pictures soon.
We have started painting our living room, pictures of that to come too. And, we are having some remodeling work done, but our plumber woes are over I think. Gary, our contractor found some guy named Steve who seems to have staying power. :) A whole post on that to come.
I have some fun things I want to do on here this month, so, stay tuned! For now I will leave you with these ramblings that don't make any sense.

have a wonderful, sunny day!

~Ashley

Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Hopscotch Camis GIVEAWAY!!!!

Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Musette Bracelet GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

popsicle quiz

You Are a Cherry Flavored Popsicle

You are sweet and friendly. For you, summer is all about doing your favorite things. You are a nostalgic person. You love old fashioned things like ice cream trucks. You savor everything. Every taste of summer, the feeling of the sun, the smell of the beach... Of all the types, you love summer the most.

http://blogthings.com/whatflavorpopsicleareyouquiz/">What Flavor Popsicle Are You?

Simple Woman's Day Book

For more Simple Woman's Daybook, visit The Simple Woman's Day Book.

FOR TODAY... July 13, 2009


Outside my window... Our garden, beautiful blue skies, and dragonflies!


I am thinking... about the nightgown I am going to sew for my cousin who is visiting us this week.


I am thankful for... the wind... it is quite hot these days, but the wind this morning is delightful! Thank you Lord!


From the kitchen... Breakfast dishes, and LOTS of apricots!


I am wearing... Chore clothes... A heather gray Handi-Riders tee shirt, and a long denim skirt.


I am creating... sewing projects, in my mind. :)


I am going... nowhere today!


I am reading... my Bible, and Hood.


I am hoping... to bake something today, probably something containing apricots.


I am hearing... the kids playing, the wind blowing, and the garbage truck.


Around the house... Sam climbing on his barn, Ethan getting the mail, rooms to tidy up.


One of my favorite things... when the dragonflies come for the summer!


A few plans for the rest of the week: Joe & Ethan's birthday on Wednesday, a party for them on Friday, maybe some farmers market on Saturday.


Here is picture thought I am sharing...

cuteness himself

not a winner but...

a finalist! Hannah has posted the winners of her photog contest. I was one of three finalist's in the Still Life category! I'm pretty excited. :D

Thank you Hannah, and congrats to the three winners!

i am Anne

>
Who are you in Anne's Circle of Friends?


Jess, you must read the Anne of Green Gables books! Soon! :D They are great!

photography contest: still life

And here's the picture I'm entering in the Still Life category!

photography contest: portrait

Here is the picture I am entering in the Portrait category. It's of my little friend Lily at some friends wedding. She was the flower girl. Isn't she adorable?!

6x6

In the last week I have been tagged for more tags than I can count on one hand, lol! And I was tagged for this one THREE TIMES!

I was tagged by Lady Jess, then Hannah, then Caroline.
The rules: go into your 6th folder and select the 6th photo. This picture is from sooooo long ago, back when I had just gotten my Kodak point-n-shoot.

Ethan holding baby Sam.

I tag:

Serena

Hannah (from A Roaster's Daughter)

Elizabeth (from Quiet Streams)

Caroline (from Standing in the Sunlight)

and Moriah

photography contest

Hannah at Farmgirl in Flipflops is hosting a photo contest! I am excited to enter some of my photos. I'm (hopefully) going to enter one in each category, so watch for more posts! Here is the picture I am entering in the Nature category.

thistle {drying}

a little robin...

waaaaaayyyy up there,

and bird's flying.

be brutally honest

And I mean it. :)

Anyways, I put up another poll, and would appreciate it if you would take 5 seconds from your already busy day to vote on some poll that doesn't even matter.

The End.