This is Not Your Grandmother’s Appliance Store!

Recently, I had the honor of being invited to my first blogger event. Debbie Schaeffer, president of Mrs. G TV & Appliances located on Route 1 in Lawrencelle, NJ, along with Hilary Morris, president of H. Morris Solutions, LLC as her assistant, kicked off the Mrs. G’s VIB (very important blogger) Series, which was sponsored by Mrs. G’s and Electrolux . This gathering enabled the invited bloggers to network, tour the showroom, and watch presentations and demos of selected Electroux products.

I met both @DebbieSchaeffer and @MrsMoNJ (Hilary Morris) on Twitter a while back. They are both local business owners, so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to meet them in person, as well as the other bloggers from the tri-state area.

Some of Mrs. G's VIBs

I haven’t been in the store for two years, and had forgotten they had the interior renovated, so when I walked in, my breath was taken away by the changes. The typical 2,000 sq. ft. appliance row showroom had been transformed into a gorgeous, updated space of several kitchen vignettes on the entrance side. Seeing things in a home-like setting certainly helps you envision how a piece would look in your own home, as opposed to looking at them lined up like soldiers. This is certainly not the setting my grandmother had to shop for an oven.

GE Monogram Vignette

Viking Vignette

Electrolux Icon Vignette

The mix of colors, textures and 21st century design, was most impressive! Beautiful wood cabinetry mixed with stainless steel, granite and tumbled marble is just an example of what was displayed. She has re-invented the family business, founded by her grandmother, “Mrs G” along with her grandfather almost 75 years ago. There is a section in the back called “The Living Kitchen”, which is like a store within the store due to the space allotted for it, and it is filled with Wolf and Sub-Zero products in a sleek, modern environment intended for the design-oriented luxury market no doubt. I was salivating as I walked through it to the conference room. This is a place where serious home cooks just want to roll up their sleeves, and get creative. All of my friends who have come over for a five-course meal, ask me if all the kitchen gadgets I have make a difference in the outcome of the meal. I usually tell them while winking, it’s the talent of the cook that matters most. In reality, appliances do greatly effect the outcome, e.g. the taste of freezer burn can be avoided, dairy and produce stay fresher, and cook times can be shortened. Not that my kitchen is shabby, but honey, have you seen my photos?

The Living Kitchen

The Living Kitchen

The Living Kitchen

After a chance to meet and greet all attending, and a nice welcome, we walked over to the video room, and I was dazzled by the variety of flat panel TVs. Debbie informed us how home entertainment is changing with TVs & Blu-Ray DVD players having the capability to display web content. Right up my alley: Pandora Radio, Netflix, YouTube and more, all on the BIG screen. This technology is becoming more mainstream, not just for geeks like me connecting a laptop to my HDTV! Then there was a brief showing of a television show in which Mrs. G’s was one of the businesses highlighted, explaining the history of the establishment owned by three generations. After viewing it, of course, I was lured to the new 82″ Mitsubishi 3-D DLP that was on display showing the family film Coraline in 3-D. I hope no one noticed me drooling. I put on the special battery operated 3-D glasses, and it was just as good as watching it in the theater! I’ve been wanting to buy an LED back-lit screen, but this was bigger than my 65″ Mitsubishi rear projection model, and I DO have space for it! Besides, the price was just a bit higher than what I paid for my HDTV eight years ago! Hmmm?

Two representitives were present from Electrolux. First, Joe Visicaro, explained the features and advantages of their washers and dryers, including the benefits of steam, how they have the largest capacity, and quickest wash and dry times in their class, and how you can program their washing machines to clean a specific type of stain.

Electrolux Washer & Dryer Presentation. Joe Visicaro on left Debbie Schaeffer on right

Electrolux Convection Oven Demo

Then we walked over to Leigh Donadieu for a demonstartion of a convection oven and induction cooktop. She is also a chef, and served us a delicious lunch cooked on the premises using the working appliances. I love kitchen gadgets, and in recent years, large appliances have stepped up to the level of home computers. They are very intelligent. Ovens can do everything except knead your dough to bake the perfect baguette, and refrigerators can flash freeze your food to avoid freezer burn.

Tomato Bisque, Salmon Filet and Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta

After lunch, I spoke with Debbie, who explained how she had her employees re-trained to be the most informative staff with the utmost customer service. They have a great mix of products for all budgets, including products that work well with a “green” lifestyle, the most competitive prices by being a part of a buying organization, which brings the combined purchasing power of thousands of retailers, AND they price match any competitor’s advertisement! This is a winning business plan! Actually, it’s a win-win situation for both retailer and consumer! If you live in New Jersey or Eastern Pennsylvania, I highly recommend contacting Mrs. G’s before making any appliance or television purchase. A trip to this fabulous showroom is well worth it!

Thanks to Debbie, Hilary, Joe and Leigh for a wonderful morning! I look forward to the upcoming events planned for within the next 12 months!

So, about that 82″ 3-D DLP…

The Colors of Autumn

If I were to ask people what their favorite time of year is, many say summer. They love going to the beach, not wearing constricting clothing, eating al fresco, water sports, etc. When I told someone a couple of years ago that my favorite season is autumn, she was shocked and told me fall is like the time of death and rot. I replied that I NEVER thought of it that way. For me, it’s about a time of family, and comfort.

Autumn to Go

Join the Crew

I celebrate Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Advent, so it’s joyous for me. I love driving under canopies of vibrant colors that make me blissful! My house backs a wooded area treating my eyes to beautiful tones of yellows, oranges and reds of the deciduous trees with splashes of contrast from the evergreens.

Splash of Color

Squirrel's Point of View

Don't Fence Me In

I love carving pumpkins with my kids, and baking apple pies for them since they perfume the house with the smell of cinnamon.

Pumpkins for Sale

Spooky

The smell of a Thanksgiving meal, which for me is the ultimate of comfort food, triggers the feeling of love, knowing my entire family will join me for the day! I think this person finally understood why I love autumn so much, and actually changed her thoughts about the season.

Leaving

The Tip of the Iceberg

Unlike most of my family and friends who love going to the beach in the summer, I like to escape the heat and go to the mountains. This often means time in the Austrian Alps with a backdrop similar to “The Sound of Music”. I love the crisp, clean air of the mountains, and their reflections in a beautiful lake.

Kaprun Stausee

This year we decided to do something different. Instead of going to Europe, we stayed in the US. The kids wanted to go on a cruise, and I love mountains, so what better place to go than Alaska! What a beautiful state it is. Known for it’s wildlife, fjords and glaciers, it was the perfect location for me to experience. We set sail from Seattle, but first we went to Vancouver for the kids to visit western Canada for a few days.

Vancouver Skyline

Then we headed to Seattle, roots of Starbucks Coffee, birthplace of Grunge music, and home to Microsoft and Amazon.com. This is where we embarked our cruise ship off to the 49th state.

Seattle Space Needle

Being on a cruise is certainly one way to get pampered. It’s all-inclusive with the exception of beverages and excursions, you can have room, turn down, concierge and butler service, depending on your cabin (usually a suite), and  you never have to pack or unpack to visit a different city. Kids and teens are entertained during the day, so adults can feel like they have a separate vacation for part of the day. I was never a big fan of cruising, but I really enjoyed it this time around.

Sawyer Glacier

After the cruise, we headed south to Portland, OR. We traveled east to witness a double waterfall that I have only seen in photos, and was eager to see up close. It was spectacular, and worth the trip. I have a soft spot for waterfalls, and want to see as many as possible in my lifetime. Multnomah Falls did not disappoint me.

Multnomah Falls

Independence Day

Fireworks July 2009

I took the Independence Day weekend off from social media to concentrate on my family.  My husband was very pleased about that.  We partook in the typical U.S. festivities including a BBQ, and of course viewing fireworks.  For the last two years, I have looked forward to the Fourth of July mostly to take photos of the fireworks.  It’s funny how differently you perceive the display watching it live, and reviewing images that have been captured.  Two years ago, I witnessed a wonderful display with a great variety of shapes, colors and sizes.  It was my first year shooting fireworks, so i didn’t take as many photos.  Last year, the economy was turning downward, and there were cutbacks on the events budget, so the fireworks weren’t quite as impressive as the year before.  This year, after viewing my photos, I can tell you the recession has really effected the quality.  Don’t get me wrong, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see the spectacular exhibition of beauty. However, I was disappointed they didn’t have as many breathtaking explosions as in the past.  Keeping positive, I am looking forward to next year’s display, and improving my skills.

Photog notes: Tripod used with cable release. Manual focus, and manual exposure. 17 mm (cropped), Auto WB, ISO 100, f/5.6, Bulb 2.0 sec, no flash fired

Macro – Dogwood Blossom Update

Sprouting Buds

Originally uploaded by ShutterBugGeek

For this macro shot, I used my 12, 24 and 36 mm Kenko extension tubes all stacked between my camera and my 85 mm lens, allowing me to magnify it more, and I used a small aperture to keep more in focus. Click on photo for enlargement.

Motion Blur in Photos

Recently, my Twitter friend @rutgerblum posted a wonderful photo called “Speed” showing motion.  I asked him which technique he used, and he replied that HE was the one in motion.  It inspired me to try a new technique, and to round up all the photos I have taken showing motion using various approaches.

This first photo I took a few days after viewing Rutger’s “Speed”.  It’s my second attempt after the photo “Running to the Tree”, using my 17 – 40 mm zoom lens to create the effect of movement. I wanted to create a visual of extreme speed, so zoomed out quickly during exposure.

Running Through the Portal

This next image was shot with the same lens, but zooming out at a slower pace, making the effect more subtle.

Need for Speed

The first method I used showing action in a photograph is panning.  I used shutter priority at a slower speed like 1/40 or 1/60, and tracked the subject before shooting.

Passing By

I followed a skimboarder across the shore with stationary seagulls to embellish the movement.

Skimming the Surf

Capturing flowing water is a great way to demonstrate movement.  Many like to freeze the action so you can see splashes frozen mid-air. While I do enjoy shots like that, I also like mounting my camera to a tripod, and through longer exposures, display the motion of it.

A River Runs Through It

The shot below was also taken with the camera mounted on a tripod.  Everything was static except the people walking. Using a slower shutter speed, I was able to capture ghost-like images of them in this night scene.

The Passageway

Here’s where I tried something different.  I was on the passenger side of the car with my camera looking for an intriguing image to capture.  Since I was the one in motion, I decided to capture it with a slower shutter speed, and by tilting the camera.  Take us to warp speed, Mr. Sulu!

Warp Speed

The zoom blur or zoom effect can also be replicated in Photoshop. All photos may be viewed on Flickr by clicking on the photo.

Macro – Flower Reflection in Water Drop

I have the utmost respect for macro photographers.  You need a lot of time, patience, and skill to perfect taking fantastic macros.  Unfortunately, I don’t have much of any of the aforementioned.  With that said, I do have some determination, so I will keep trying to take a decent macro until it looks more than acceptable. I do not have a macro lens, so I used three stacked Kenko extension tubes (12, 20 and 36 mm) between my camera and my 50/1.8 lens.  Here is my latest attempt.  Check out this photo on Flickr to view it larger, or get more details.

Flower Reflection in Water Drop

Macro – Dogwood Blossom

In an attempt to take more photos using different techniques, I decided to tackle the world of macro.  Wow!  I have to say, for those not so experienced, such as myself, it’s a challenge to focus on the subject.  A tripod is a must, but a macro lens is not.  I actually bought a set of Kenko extension tubes (12, 20 and 36 mm), and attached the 12 and 20 mm tubes to my camera, followed by my 50/1.8 lens.  My first thought was to capture some bugs.  There were some ants marching along, and I started snapping away, then decided they were too fast to get in the sweet spot.  I went to my blossoming dogwood tree, but the gentle breeze was not in my favor.  I came to the conclusion that I must pick a flower off the tree, and rest it on a flat surface not effected by the wind.  After finding a good spot, I set up my tripod, attached my shutter release cable, and my camera to manual focus and aperture priority.  The trick is to have tripod at the right location, and to focus accurately.  Unfortunately, I do not have live view, so I had to rely on my viewfinder, and trust my eye.  The next time I will find a more challenging subject like a dew drop, but for now, here is the result.  You can view it larger or see more details on Flickr.

Macro of Dogwood Blossom

Photo Zoom Effect

This weekend, a friend posted a fantastic photo he took showing motion. It prompted me to think of a method I had read about a while back, but never tried. I love panning a moving subject to show motion, but I always wanted to zoom out while photographing a subject to convey it. I grabbed my trusty camera, and put on a 70-200 f/2.8 lens and started experimenting. What was I thinking? I can hold the camera steady with the weight of this lens while I’m still, but not while I’m causing slight movement during zooming out. I quickly came to my senses and exchanged it for my 17-40 f/4 lens. Of course, my wide angle will be more stable using this technique. I found a shady spot in my backyard I thought might be interesting, and began shooting away. I decided all manual was the way to go, so I changed my focus to manual, and set my dial to “M”. After a few attempts, I was able to get a decent photo. Again, this was my first attempt, so I need to practice to master this skill, but wanted to finally post a photograph here. To view this photo in a larger size, or to get details, please check it out at Flickr.

Used the zoom effect.

Gourmet Father’s Day Menu

Father’s Day will be here before you know it.  As a mother, I am usually the one to cook the meals.  I like to avoid going out on these days, because it’s overly crowded, and the service is not up to the same standard.  I’d prefer a relaxing atmosphere. This year, I will have my kids prepare the meal with some guidance.  The menu has been set, and they will actually have fun making it, and a sense of great accomplishment after they prepare the courses of this meal.  As long as one child is over 10 years old, they can pull off the entire feast with just some help with the dessert and perhaps cutting.  The menu is a three-course meal for a family of four, which includes: Butternut squash soup, spring mix salad with apples, candied/glazed walnuts and feta cheese with a raspberry walnut vinaigrette, grilled salmon and mock crème brûlée or fruit tartlets.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 boxes of McKenzie/Birds Eye Southland Butternut Squash,
• A can of your favorite chicken broth/stock
• Optional garnishes: chopped fresh chives, toasted pumpkin seeds and sour cream
• Spring/Mesclun Mix Salad
• 1 1/2 lb. salmon filet
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• Crumbled feta cheese
• One diced apple
• Ken’s Steakhouse or Newman’s Own Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette
• Candied walnut
• Virginia Brand Vidilia Onion Vinaigrette (available at BJ’s or Sam’s Club)
• Hunt’s Vanilla Snack Pack Pudding
• A vanilla bean or 1/4 tsp. of vanilla extract
• Sugar
• (Fruit Tart) Berries of your choice
• (Chocolate Tart) Hunt’s Chocolate Snack Pack Pudding
• (Chocolate Tart) A bar of white chocolate
• (Either Tart) Mini graham cracker crusts

First Course – Butternut Squash Soup:  Two boxes of McKenzie/Birds Eye Southland Butternut Squash (frozen).  This is actually a seasoned puree, and tastes fantastic.  Lift one corner of each box, and place them in a microwave at full power for about 8 minutes.  In the meanwhile, heat a can of your favorite chicken broth/stock (about 8 oz.) in a pot, and then add the butternut squash.  To serve, ladle the soup in four serving bowls, and you may optionally garnish with chopped fresh chives or toasted pumpkin seeds and a dollop of sour cream.

Second Course – Spring/Mesclun Mix Salad and Grilled or Broiled Salmon Filets: Pre-heat George Foreman grill/panini press or broiler.  Cut 1 1/2 lb. salmon filet into equal portions, making sure there are no bones left.  If so, take tweezers to pull any remaining ones out.  Season with salt and pepper, and rub a very small amount of olive oil on each portion.  Place on a George Foreman grill/ panini press for about five minutes and in the broiler for 8-10 minutes, turning over once halfway through. While the fish is cooking, open a bag of pre-washed spring/mesclun mix salad greens and place four portions into a large bowl.  Add crumbled Feta cheese, diced apples, and candied walnuts.   Toss with Ken’s Steakhouse or Newman’s Own Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette.  Place one portion salad on each plate next to a salmon filet.  Pour a little Virginia Brand Vidilia Onion Vinaigrette on fish or next to it.  You can substitute the vinaigrette with a tiny bit of butter and herbs on top.

Third Course – Mock Crème Brûlée:  This is so easy to make. Open four cups of Hunt’s Vanilla Snack Pack Pudding, and place in a mixing bowl.  Add the seeds of a vanilla bean or 1/4 tsp. of vanilla extract.  Divide into four ramekins or very small oven proof bowls/tins.  Sprinkle a layer of sugar on top of each. An adult will have to do the next step.  If you have a kitchen torch, torch the sugar until brown .  If you are using a broiler, place on the top rack until brown.  When done, place into the fridge until served.

Second Option – Mock Fruit or Chocolate Tartlets: This is even easier.  Open two cups of vanilla or chocolate pudding.  One pudding is good for two pie shells. If using vanilla, divide in four mini graham cracker crusts in metal pie pans, then add fruit on top. Cut strawberries in halves or quarters.  If using chocolate, add to shells, and grate white chocolate over each for contrasting color.

I hope the fathers enjoy this meal.  You can always substitute ingredients, i.e. pears for the apples, blue cheese instead of feta, change the type of fish or use steak or chicken breasts, etc.  Good luck!