~ Just Who I Am ~

Rainy Day Food Storage: Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 21:44:00 +0000

Rainy Day Food Storage: Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes: Here are four homemade salad dressing recipes for you to try. Homemade Salad Dressings RANCH DRESSING DRY MIX: (...

Playing in the rain

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 01:04:00 +0000

Playing in the rain, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Doing a bit of photo house cleaning I ran across this image of my grandson. So perfectly fitting for today as we are finally getting some much needed rain.

LDS APRIL CONFERENCE - 12 QUOTES FROM SATURDAYS SESSION

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:21:00 +0000

On The Banks of the Idaho Falls LDS Temple

President Packer

"The family, the fundamental organization in time and eternity, is under attack from forces seen and unseen. The adversary is about. His objective is to cause injury. If he can weaken and destroy the family, he will have succeeded."

Bishop Davies

"By anchoring our lives to Jesus Christ and his Atonement … we will be strengthened; we will experience real personal growth and a lasting conversion; we will be better prepared to successfully withstand the storms and calamities of life; we will experience the joy and happiness promised; and we will have the confidence that our lives have been built upon a sure foundation: a foundation that will never fall."

Sister Dalton

"What would the world be like if virtue … were reinstated in our society as a most highly prized value? If immorality, pornography and abuse decreased, would there be fewer broken marriages, broken lives and broken hearts? Would media ennoble and enable rather than objectify and degrade God's precious daughters? If all humanity really understood the importance of the statement, 'We are daughters of our Heavenly Father,' how would women be regarded and treated?"

Elder Cardon

"By exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the enabling power of his Atonement strengthens us in our moment of need, and His redeeming power sanctifies us as we 'put off the natural man.'"

Elder Ballard

"In our Heavenly Father's great priesthood endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. In other words, in the eternal perspective, both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by a husband and wife."

President Eyring

"We are under covenant both to lift up those in need and to be witnesses of the Savior as long as we live. We will only be able to do it without fail as we feel love for the Savior and His love for us. As we are faithful to the promises we have made, we will feel our love for Him. It will increase because we will feel His power and drawing near to us in His service."

Elder Scott

"If you young people would review a verse of scripture as often as some of you send text messages, you could soon have hundreds of passages of scripture memorized. Those passages would prove to be a powerful source of inspiration and guidance by the Holy Ghost in times of need."

Elder Cook

"Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are, knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life's devastating trials and tragedies."

Elder Ellis

"Again I witness the Lord has the way! Our Heavenly Father knows us, loves us and wants to help. He knows best how to help. We are not spiritual orphans!"

Elder Dickson

"The gospel in Africa is going to a happy people, very unencumbered by the trappings that affect the lives of many in the West. They are not concerned about having endless material possessions. It has been said of Africans that 'they have very little of that which matters least and a great deal of that which matters most.'"

Elder Bednar

"From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. However, this salve can only be applied through the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance and constant obedience. ... I promise that obedience to the law of chastity will increase our happiness in mortality and make possible our progress in eternity."

Elder Nelson

"More of you young men and women will catch this wave as you strive to be worthy of mission calls. You see this as a wave of truth and righteousness. You see your opportunity to be on the crest of that wave."

REVAMPING, DOING OVER, STARTING ANEW

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:48:00 +0000

I started this blog way back in 2008. It's was a way of kept in touch with friends and family. A way of sharing my daily life. I believe it has served me well in doing that. Now there has come a time to pick something that I really enjoy doing. A time to narrow down what it is that I would really enjoy sharing with others. Time to find something that is meaningful not only to myself but to my followers. The time has come for a major revamping, a do over, regrouping, reorganizing and starting anew. In the next couple of week I will be moving to a new platform, a new name and a new site. I welcome you to continue to follow me as I open my life once again to the world wide web. What blog post would ever be complete without the addition
of the visual impact of an image?

You know what it feels like when you don't know the difference between shutter speed, metering modes or ISO? That's where I was back in two thousand eight. I had just purchased my very first big girl digital camera. I was scared, mystified and reluctant to even turn the thing on.

Now five years later I am more comfortable, I've made peace with my camera and we get along divinely.
You recall the saying "You've come a long ways baby." Well I can honestly say that I have since taking the above image.

I look forward to having you follow along as I start on my next NEW adventure.

Barb - aka - bobrann

Rural Life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:03:00 +0000

Not really rural but it's plenty of life. The Eiffel Tower on Las Vegas's main drag.
I had forgotten all about even taking this photo while I was there, do you ever do that? This will probably be the closest I will ever get to viewing the real thing. Taken straight from the Nikon, to computer, to you.

Rurality Blog Hop #6

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

'Ere Mum, Got Any Mandies ?!!?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 23:00:00 +0000

'Ere Mum, Got Any Mandies ?!!?, a photo by Dan Belton (No badger cull) on Flickr.

Dan Belton Writes

"I snuck up on the same male mandarin while he was sleeping, I've never been anywhere near as close before. They're so outlandish, almost like a teacher's asked a class of six year olds to draw an imaginary duck and then someone's made it ! I've got a bit of catching up to do I know."

Someday I hope to have a shot as good as this one.

Red-Shafted Norther Flicker

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 01:28:00 +0000

Red-Shafted Norther Flicker, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Today has been one very good day as far as birding goes. 1 Flicker, Mountain Chickadees, Downy Woodpecker, Magpies, House Sparrows and some House Finches all from my office window.

Winter Birding - Barb Phillips

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 04:17:00 +0000

Family
Work
Church Service
Hobbies

All these play an important part in my life right now. I tend to spend more time in some areas, possible more than I really should.
One area that I have really been neglecting lately is...wait for it.... MY HOBBIES. I bet you thought I was going to write family didn't you?
I have quilts that need finished. I have a crafting room that have spilled over into a wood shed outside. And for photography, well my camera has been sitting on it's tripod just waiting.

I finally made of my mind today that no mater the weather, I was going out to get some bird shots. Birding is so tricky for me as the longest lens I have is a 300mm. I do have a 1.4X converter that I use but the draw back is that it cuts down on the light coming into the camera, not to mention clarity would be jeopardized.

Never-the-less I needed to get out. I decided that the Market Lake Wildlife Area would be a grand place to visit. It's not to cold today, 23 degrees and bearable. I head out. The sky keeps getting foggier, darker and very flat. I keep going determined to find the rockery of Bohemian Waxwings that I had seen just last week.

I've only been able to see Finches and Sparrows around the house lately and the Waxwings proved exciting.

You can only take so many sparrows before it's time to find something new to photograph.

I've reached the spot that I thought perhaps I would be able to find the Waxwings. I slip on my snow boots, check out my camera for battery power and SD card. Zip up my thermal coat and head out. I've walked I figure 2 miles and I spot them, hundreds of them. My heart races, my step picks up in the snow and I approach cautiously. I know that these birds are feeding on Russian Olives for winter food and that they will do so in large groups. I get within a couple hundred feet, not good enough. Can I get closer without them all scattering? I move forward 10 feet, they are still there. Another 20 feet, they notice me but stay put, I grab some quick shots. Still I am not close enough for anything note worthy. I move forward, they scatter in an uproar. Rats!!! But wait their coming back. I move forward almost under them. They watch, eat, chatter and eat some more. I'm ecstatic, could today get any better?

The Bohemian Waxwing is similar to the Cedar Waxwing just a little bigger and more colorful. I wish that I had one of those fancy 500mm about now.

I'm loving their colors aren't you. Make the house sparrows look a bit plain don't you think?

These two were such a comical pare, they must be mates the way they were acting.

This guy just didn't know what to make of me and all the clicking noises. I shot some frames he would turn side to side trying to see what or where the noise was coming from.

Doesn't take these birds long to have totally stripped a tree of it's fruit. No wonder I had to walk in so far to find them.

Side Note - after spending close to two hours watching, listening and photographing Waxwings I decided I had better head for the car as I was loosing light.

I begin back tracking the track. I turn to watch a snow owl and a great horned owl, and I've lost the trail I made coming into this place. Anxiety replaces satisfaction. Thought of tomorrows headlines run through my head "BIRDER LOST". I do a quick look about and spot the main interstate, I now feel confidant I'll find my way out of this area.

NOTE TO SELF - get better barrings and landmarks while out in the wild.

As you can tell I DID make it home, how else would I have been able to share my day with you. Ü

Until my next photo adventure.

Can You Say Pico De Gallo?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:29:00 +0000

Can You Say Pico De Gallo?, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Sometimes for a Sunday snack I have to have something filling, fast and comforting. That's where tomatoes, onions, peppers, limes, salt and cilantro come in.

Pico De Gallo

Yellow or red onions

Rama Tomatoes

Cilantro

Jalapenos

Lime

Salt

Chop up your onions very finely. Next, chop up an equal amount of tomatoes (I learned this trick from the Pioneer Woman). Next Chop up a bunch of cilantro to equal 1/2 the amount of onions or tomatoes.
Now combine these three ingredients into a large bowl. Top mixture with 1-2 chopped Jalapenos, depends on how HOT and SPICY you like your Pico. Squeeze on 1//2 to one whole lime. Sprinkle with salt, I like to use sea of kosher salt as the granules are bigger.
This mixture will only keep for one day, after that you will end up with a juicy liquid mess not worthy of a chip.

Pico de Gallo can be mixed with roughly chopped avocados for an avocado dip. Serve it over chicken, on tacos or just eaten straight from the bowl with chips like I like to do.

Baby it's Cold Out here

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 01:38:00 +0000

Baby it's Cold Out here, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Capturing sparrows from the comfort of my office. Clearer, sharper shots would have been nice BUT below zero tempatures just aren't agreeable with me. I will have to venture outdoors soon though as these little guys can empty a bird feeder in no time flat.

Swan-ie Snake River

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 04:59:00 +0000

Swan-ie Snake River, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Temp is just barely above zero. The outside air is crisp and bite as you breath in. But it's not bad enough to keep some photo hungry shooters indoors. Thanks Linda J and Anita B for suggestion we go shoot some birds Ü.
Swans, they're so cagey, wish they would stay content and not so quick to take flight.

Needle and Thread

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:22:00 +0000

What came first the needle or the thread? I my case, which came first the quilter or the photographer? I have to say that in my case, quilting came first. My resolution for the coming year is to finish up some much neglected quilt project, photograph them and the pass on the finished projects to my family. I don't agree with the statement "She that passes on with the most fabrics wins!" I believe that "She that passes on the most FINISHED projects wins." Ü Now I'm off to photo shoot with friends them it's back to organizing quilt fabrics.

The best syrup I've ever tasted

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:28:00 +0000

Buttermilk Syrup Recipe; Heaven on a Waffle, Pancake or French Toast!
I was given a small package of a Buttermilk Syrup for Christmas, needless to say I needed to find an originally recipe. It was off to Google for the hunt. This syrup is thick, caramel-ly and just a hint of a buttermilk taste.

Image courtesy of jade louise designs

This will be put in the Phillips family favorites recipe collection

Mandy's Recipe Box: Warm Lemon Pudding Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:54:00 +0000

Mandy's Recipe Box: Warm Lemon Pudding Cake: The name really says it all. Made with lemon pudding, this comes out of the oven so warm and oozing with pudding. Sort of like a molt...

I have been on the hunt for a hot lemon pudding cake for years. I recall having this type of cake when I was in my teens and fell in love with it. JOY JOY JOY I have finally found the right recipe and it's so stink'n simple.

Warm Lemon Pudding Cake

1 pkg yellow cake mix (I used Betty Crocker, get the kind that makes a 9x13 size)

Ingredients called for on back of cake box

2 pkg (3.4oz each) instant lemon pudding

1/3 c. sugar

2 c. cold milk

1 1/4 c. water

2 Tbsp. powdered sugar (for dusting)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake as directed on package. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Beat dry pudding mixes, granulated sugar, milk and water with whisk 2 min.; pour over batter in dish. Don't spread it. You'll fail. Place baking dish on baking sheet. (Baking sheet will catch any sauce that might bubble over sides of dish as dessert bakes.) Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 20 min. (Sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.) Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

Thanks to Mandy's Recipe Box for the images and sharing the recipe.

Tire fix

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 23:33:00 +0000

Tire fix, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I rushed out the door this morning hoped into my ride and started down the drive. Gosh what's up with my car it's acting so sluggish? I pull over only to find a rear flat. I never get flats in fact this is a first for this car. I leave my car at the side of my quarter mile lane run back and start up the black dodge truck. Thank goodness for multi car families . Now I am sitting in the tire store waiting the good news on my tire. Not so goo, the tire is a loss. Good news a have a brand new spare under the car if they can just figure out how to get it from the car. :)

Roberts,Idaho sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 04:26:00 +0000

Roberts,Idaho sunset, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
sometimes the best is always the last.

Looking into Montana

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Looking into Montana, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Montana to the north, Wyoming to the east and Utah to the south. What could be better than life in Idaho?
Idaho terrain changes to quickly you have to keep your eyes open at all times. One minuted you can be in the dry dessert sage brush areas. Then five minute later and you're in green grass and mountains.

Killgore, Idaho is an old cattle area, full of old buildings, ranches and wide open spaces. Note to self: you've got to go back soon when you have more time to explore. I was in awe that not much has changed since this area was settled. I came across some really great old building, school houses and homesteads. Six-eight miles from home one way isn't too much of a drive when you take into account all that the area has to offer.

To continue the climbe....or not

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 03:19:00 +0000

To continue the climbe....or not, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Hillary´s 10 steps to the summit of the World

1 Nothing ventured, nothing gained
2 Challenge, uncertainty, excitement
3 Fear makes you focus
4 Passion gives you confidence
5 Fun makes for a great team
6 Make sure you have more than one thing to live for
7 Resist the flock factor
8 You are all you have
9 Great challenges result in powerful experiences
10 A view from the summit – to new horizons

~Edmund Hillary

____________________________________________________________________

Wait...there's more
To see more of my work on black here
or to view my explored photos click here
_____________________________________________________________________

Beyond Layers - a year of ART full inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:02:00 +0000

Beyond Layers - a year of ART full inspiration, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Hobbies....I've had many in my life time. In my earlier years, roughly thirty years ago, you would find me cutting and stitching up children's clothing. Home decorations were also known to be sewn or sold.

Then I found the art of tole painting, remember when it was all the rage? I could be found cutting out decorative wood art, staying up painting half the night then trying to find a spare spot to the display the finished project. In my book you could never have enough wood art in the house.

This era is photography, my new found love. Well not really new, photography has always been an interest of mine but was just out of reach. I could never justify photography and the expense that went along with it. Now that the kids are raised, life has slowed down, I have time and the means to pursue my long awaited love.

I still have much to learn about this new art form and I am loving the road that photography has taken me down. I enjoy meeting new friends because of my photography habit. I get a thrill out of being able to share my shots for the day and explain why, how and where they were taken.

Like the Confucius said not everything should be made simple and my life is a testament of the fact. I have been told I am a complicated, complex person and I will be the first to agree.
I have no rhyme of reason for doing anything, I just do what I like and and joy the rewards.

Thanks view friends for helping me pursue passion for Photography, you've helped just by leaving you comments and encouragement.

Hollyhock love

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 01:52:00 +0000

Hollyhock love, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Gosh....can you believe the wind Idaho has been having lately? Really puts a damper on photo shoots outdoors. What's a person to do? Remember all those fall photos that are just sitting on the hard drive waiting to be edited, uploaded, printed and/or shared?

Hollyhocks in the Rexburg gardens, that's what this one is. I had forgotten all about taking it. All it took was a windy day and some spare time to run across it.

Playing with Kim Klassens texture techniques.

Failure or Success

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:28:00 +0000

Failure or Success, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
~Thomas Edison

____________________________________________________________________

Wait...there's more
To see more of my work on black here
or to view my explored photos click here
_____________________________________________________________________

It's a wonderful life

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:03:00 +0000

It's a wonderful life, a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Perfection....
A day spent without the sight or sound of beauty, the contemplation of mystery, or the search of truth or perfection is a poverty-stricken day; and a succession of such days is fatal to human life.
Lewis Mumford

Idaho spring by the rivers edge.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:35:00 +0000

Idaho spring by the rivers edge., a photo by Barb Phillips on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Grass hasn't started turning, there's still signs of winter left all about.
Here's hoping I will be able to hold out till warmers times abound.

What's In A Name

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:45:00 +0000

I will be the first to admit it, I am terrible with names. I will recognize someone by face but to put a name to them, well, it's not going to happen. You can tell be a hundred time, well maybe not a hundred, and I will have forgotten as soon as the words have left your mouth.

So where am I going with this, "WHAT's In a NAme theme? I am contemplating on putting a REAL name on my blog. Getting a REAL blog name that is registered. I've checked in with GO DADDY to see what is available and all the GOOD names seem to be taken. Lag ya loose pops into mind.

I've racked my mind on trying to come up with a good, short, catchy and easy to remember name and haven't been able to come up with anything yet.

I was wondering if I could ask for some friendly blogger help her?
Those of you that frequent my blog can you help me out here?

Here's ten blogger tips that you might take into consideration for blog name ideas-
1. Has something to do with photography, as that is the number one reason that I started this blog
2. My name is Barb Phillips (most blogger friends know me as bobrann)
3. I live in the wild west on a cattle ranch

4. I am a farmers daughter, my father, grandfather ..... were all farmers
5. I love cooking, any type of cooking, grilling bbq, dutch oven you name it I've cooked it.
6. I am a grandma of 11
7. I am the middle girl of 4 girls
8. I love winter, spring and fall. Summer not so much way too hot
9. I am a cancer survivor
10. I am more of a tomboy, cowgirl, lover of dirt than frills and girly things.

If you have some suggestion I am all ~~ears~~ eyes.

I really hate change but Barb's Photo Journal is just a little to BORING for me.

Now what is a blog post without a photo?
Todays photo is of my old dog Squirt. She's a Australian Sheppard, one of the cattle dogs that we had on the ranch. Notice I typed HAD? Squirt passed away last spring, she's been gone a year now and I miss here.

Squirt wasn't the most obedient dog that I have/had. She was just so good with the grand kids. I never had to worry that she might get a little aggressive. I knew that whenever the grand kids came for visit they would be watched over by Squirt, she was just the mothering type of dog.

Good dogs are hard to come by, most are just to rowdy. I now have two cattle dogs, MAX a border collie and BEAR a blue healer that have helped fill the void but there will always be a spot for Squirt.

Blogs, Comments and Google+

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 21:48:00 +0000

Have to get this out in the open first thing. I am not an expert in the are of Google+ by any means. The information that I have found I've gained via Google searches.

Recently I received an email asking me how I connected my blog account to Google+ . How did I get my blog post to show up on My Google+ page?

I had to do some hard thinking on that one as I couldn't recall what I had done when Google offered up the Google+ accounts.

After doing a Google search I found the answer. I am sharing it here for those that haven't yet connected their blog and their Google+ account.

You can find all the answers and the how to by visiting the Connect to Google+ page or you can just do the following. I know that these steps work for blogger faced blogs, not so sure about the other blog hosting sites.

1. Click on Design on the top upper right hand corner of your blog.
2. Click on Settings
3. Click on Posts and Comments
4. Right under the Post header you should see the 4th option Share To Google+
5. Click Yes if you want to share your post on Google+ or leave on No if you would rather not.

This is what the Blogger Post and Comments page looks like. I've highlighted the area that you will want to change.

You can find Me On Google+. If you want to add me into one of your circles I would be honored.

While you're at it why not change your Word Verification to NO, just makes leaving comments to your blog a little more hassle free.

Hope this helps clear up the Blogger/Google+ confusion.
Enjoy