Post Christmas Installation

I love holidays.  I love presents!  I think anyone would be hard pressed to say they don’t like gifts.  However, I’m living through the post-Christmas installation process.  Where it takes a week to unpack and set up what it took an hour to tear open.

There are little tasks, like switching out old memory cards with the new 8gb CF and SD cards I got for various cameras.  Husband tasks, like installing the new curved shower rod (he’s good with a drill).  Medium tasks, like loading music onto an MP3 player and then plugging it into my car (sooo excited to be past the age of CDs).

   

Then there’s this.

I put the chair together myself.  I cleared out the desk so the new PC would even fit, and now I’m working on installing programs and copying photo files.

Actually, I’m typing this on my laptop, which has a new battery, because the PC beat me for the night.

It makes me want to install my new slippers and pajamas, install one of the Christmas DVDs we got on the TV and install myself on the couch.

Best of luck to you with your post holiday organization,

Shasta Betty

Car Care and Other Random Things

I managed to kill the battery in my Wrangler a couple weeks ago. We found ourselves stuck in a snowstorm waiting for a jump start the first time… ugh. Well, it ran for another week and then died again, so yesterday I got it jump started and hauled the car 45 miles north to Yreka, where I grew up, and met my mom so we could get it changed out. One of the terminals was really corroded and we couldn’t get it off.

So we stopped by the local auto parts store, where one of the guys busted out some magical cleaner, got the battery out and swapped in a new one. Then he applied a pretty red spray sealant that is supposed to keep the battery from corroding the terminals again.

The whole “kit” of cleaner, terminal pads and red sealant was only $7. Well worth the investment and it should save my battery. Side note: The battery that came in my car when I bought it brand new, was not the right battery for my car. Um… thanks Jeep.

Did I mention it was cold standing in front of the store? Thanks for sticking it out with me, mom. Even if you did make fun of me for taking pictures in the grocery store (the vegetable aisle had cool paintings that I want for my house, whatever mom!)

This truck is as old as I am. It never breaks. It will outlive us all. It is the Beast Truck.

Selective color red fireplace. Okay, at this point I was just taking photos to be silly.

Here’s me spinning past the neighbors Christmas lights.

Then I drove home in a blizzard.

What have we learned? Put red stuff on your battery and avoid snow storms. Photograph the whole process.

Kelly

Singing in Public

When I was 15 and in high school, my friends Amber, Myra and I started a Christian singing trio. We mostly sang in church and in youth group, and once at a Mother’s Day luncheon where we made our mothers cry their eyes out. We also sang at the county fair talent show. I loved it.

Here’s us circa 1997:

I’m on the left with the super high pants. It’s so hard to look back at old photos and not think “what was I wearing?!?”

So, 13 or so years after that, I don’t really sing in public anymore. I was in choir all through high school and I don’t mind singing in large groups, but I get some serious stage fright if I have to sing alone.

Well, a couple friends have recently decided that I need to sing again. So last Saturday, after a couple practices with the fabulous Paula Reynolds, I made a guest appearance singing with Chick Music and the Brother Band.

Paula rocks, so it was intimidating.

But I got up there and went for it. These next 2 photos are by Will. I was giving him the evil eye, then he put it on video mode. I was just glad he used my camera so I could selectively edit, hehe.

Do I look scared? Because I was. I could have died. It was scary.

Maybe one day I’ll learn guitar and rock it like this sister. That’s something I’d love to aspire to.

For more photos from the event, and the other performers, go to http://www.facebook.com/klsphoto

Kelly

Most Thursdays In Weed

I love being involved with the Weed Arts Council.  We have fun.  Super fun.  Art fun and music fun.

Every Thursday (with few exceptions for holidays), Weed Arts Council sponsors Brewgrass, live Bluegrass music at the Mt. Shasta Brewery in Weed, CA.

The music is great, and the company is amazing.  I’ve been amassing pictures of the players for a couple months now, but I’ve never gotten around to posting anything…. until now.

There’s a whole group of players who show up when they can and bust into a nice jam session.

This is Banjo Billy.  He doesn’t like having his picture taken.

  

Miah (right) doesn’t mind, he’s kinda a ham.

 

There are all kinds of cool instruments, some I’ve never heard of and some I can’t name, but they look and sound cool.

 

Stand up bass…

This thing…

Also, not pictured, I’ve seen guys play saws and washtub basses.  They are all awfully sweet and will explain what I washtub bass is to me.

People dance.

 

Players dance around too, and I get some cool motion blur shots.

These guys sing too.

 

Plus, every once in a while, we get one kick butt lady representin’ for the girls!

  

For some reason, I found I have hardly any pictures of the people.  I love spending this time with friends, musicians and artists.  Maybe this week I’ll turn the camera on the crowd more.  They’re a good bunch.

Shasta Betty

Weed Chamber Holiday Mixer

Confession: I really really wanted to make all of these black and white, but I left them alone.  It was hard.

Wednesday, The Weed Chamber of Commerce had a Holiday Mixer, hosted by Tri-Counties bank in Weed.  These monthly mixers are a great opportunity for business-people to get together and chat and network.  I loved the festive spirit this month!  All the ladies from the bank wore sparkly pinkish/red shirts and made food for everyone.

 

They still have the backdrop left from when Santa was there last week.  Cute cute idea!  I want one in my living room.

 

Shasta Betty

It’s Party Season!

I’ve already been to two this week, and there are more in the future. 

On Tuesday, I went to the Women In Business Network Christmas Party.  I joined WIBN this past month, and it’s been great getting to know everyone.

Jessica introduced me to the group.  Her husband, Dave, has been friends with Will since 6th grade and was one of our groomsmen.  Dave wouldn’t smile pretty, but that’s ok, I was still going to take his picture.

They had a baby girl 2 weeks ago.  Congrats Dave and Jessica!

Will came too.  He stuck with Dave at the table the whole night.

Hmmm… wonder why…

The ladies from the group mingled.

         

Kids did kid things.

I admired the fabulous shoes.  I love shoes.

 

We wrapped up the whole thing with a gift exchange.  So so fun.

Here’s the whole group.  I’m so looking forward to getting to know all of the ladies more.

Was that a little too black and white?  I go through moods.  Here’s some color for ya.

Hehe.

Shasta Betty