Ft Myers Photographer Pumpkin Pie made with Honey

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                                                                                                                                                                                                  For the Love of Pumpkin!

Here at the SandBar Photography, it’s not just family and children portraits this time of year that we love, but we have a passion for all things pumpkin, and especially this time of year.

SandBar photography loves all things pumpkin

SandBar photography loves all things pumpkin

Now although I am a children and family photographer I do have two other photographic passions one is with horses and the other is food. Well to be more accurate I love cooking and making food maybe a bit more than actually photographing it.

Sandy is a better newborn photographer and high school senior photographer than she is a cook!  She’s one of my dearest friends but she needs a bit of help in cooking department, She asked for this recipe so I thought I would share and find something to blog about as well. I use this recipe  for my pumpkin pie as we avoid the white sugar and replace it with a unprocessed ingredient honey.

first of all I start with FRESH PIE PUMPKINS

they are small.

sandbar photography pie pumpkins

I then cut them in half , take seeds out ( these can be baked as well for a nutritious snack )

Baking pumpkin seeds

Baking pumpkin seeds

 

and bake  your pumpkin halves  on 350 degrees for about an hour or until fork tender.

baking pie pumpkins

baking pie pumpkins

ninja puree of pie pumpkin

Let pumpkins cool down , then puree the pumpkin in my handy dandy ninja blender.

sandbar photography pumpkin puree

                                                                                           I then freeze enough for 2 pies ( 1 1/2 cup for each pie)  in a quart freezer bag, date and label and freeze to last me thru the holidays.

 

sandbar photo of pumpkin pie

Fresh Honey Pumpkin Pie 

1 1/2 cup of Pumpkin Puree

1/2 cup of honey

1/2 tsp cinnamon

fresh grated nutmeg ( just a pinch)

I like taking the nut and using the grater makes me feel so gourmet ! LOL

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs slightly beaten

1 cup evaporated milk

1 pie shell

Mix all together and bake for one hour at 350 degrees

Enjoy ! and let me know if you try this?

We want to Photograph YOUR FAMILY!

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November Blog Image

The time has finally arrived!  The rains are gone and the sun is shining on our 5 acre property nestled among the oaks in North Ft. Myers, Florida.

With the Holidays quickly approaching, now is the time for that long awaited Family Portrait you’ve been wanting all year.  No time like the present,

and we still have available dates on our calendar.  So call today and schedule your Family Portrait Session with SandBar Photography.

239.707.9570  or 239.707.7971

Ft Myers,Newborn Photographer, Sweet Baby Jaxen

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Fort Myers, Newborn Baby Photographer

WELCOMES A SWEET BABY JAXEN!

SandBar Photography had the pleasure to photograph this sweet baby boy this past week. Welcome Baby Jaxen!

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This little guy had the sweetest disposition. As a newborn photographer in the Ft Myers, Florida area you really can tell the difference in each newborn’s personality.

Some already have their own minds made up of how the session is going to go, and fight going off to sleep.

It is with much patience that Barb handles the newborns as she has the warm hands and a grandma’s touch.

Jaxen didn’t want to go to sleep at first but with a full belly and such snuggly warm blankets he gave it up. 😉

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The photograph with the baby and the football is always a daddy’s favorite.

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while Mommy’s find the adorable little elf hat irresistible.

Congratulations to Amanda and Joe ! Thank You for choosing SandBar Photography as your family historians to document him in portraits.

Baby Jaxen ,  it will be our pleasure to watch you little guy grow. 😉

Heir to the Throne

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I had better get to blogging about this since it in today’s paper.

http://www.northfortmyersneighbor.com/page/content.detail/id/519736/Local-photographer-receives-awards-for-portrait.html?nav=5164

 

HeirtotheThrone

 

I am still amazed looking at this portrait and all the awards it has won. Here’s the story how it all came to be.

After leaving our annual photographers convention, It was last year about this time that I was inspired to photograph my 4 year old granddaughter McKenzie Virginia in a Renaissance Era costume I picked up at Cracker Barrel on my way home.

I have always loved the era, from romance and fiction to walking thru every castle I could convince my family to go thru while traveling in England years ago. I wanted this image to be a portrait of a little girl that could be the daughter of a Queen.

Bringing McKenzie into studio , dressing her into the costume and her mommy curling her hair just so.

She stood perfectly still and smiles, I asked her to stand very “regal” knowing she didn’t understand that word. I told her to stand tall, she was very important, and not to smile but not look bored or mad. Apparently she knew exactly what I needed because she nailed it!

I titled her appropriately  “Heir to the Throne”

It was entered at local competition among professional photographers and it received  1 st place for children and Best of Show for the evening. A honor but not something that I hadn’t won before. Went home very pleased.

Next was several months later I entered in the South Eastern States Regional Competition that covered 13 states and 3 countries. I had never entered before but wanted to get critic so I could enter into International later in the year. I received an email asking where did I want my award mailed to? and then a phone call from Florida Photographer President stating since I wasn’t at convention they picked up my award.

1st Place Children’s Portrait Southern Region United States – WOW!!!

shocked I sent her to International Print Competition where she Merited and is being published in a Show Case gallery book.! Big Honor

Then coming back for our annual State Convention, she won 1st place children’s portrait, The peoples choice award ( which is all the photographers vote on their favorite portrait entered no matter what catagory) WOW!!!

and then only one award for Kodak Gallery award and again they announced ” Heir to the Throne” Barbara Spratlin for the 4th time that evening.

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Needless to say I was emotional and speechless, so proud and received so much recognition and praise from such talented photographers in this industry who understand how difficult it is to get these awards.I am still humbled and very grateful.

I would love to produce such a portrait for others, something of their loved ones, truly  to be cherished for a lifetime. A piece of Art. ~ Barb

SandBar Photography Sponsors Happy Mom Conference

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HAPPY MOM CONFERENCE

Barb and I are very excited to be a sponsor of the First ever Happy Mom Conference!  We will both be there for the weekend, stop by our table and say Hello, and receive a special treat from us in your goodie bag!  One lucky Mom will win a Family session and a Wall Portrait for her home!!!! Additional  Family sessions will be raffled off !

There are conferences for dentists, journalists and Star Wars geeks, so why not a conference for moms where women can learn abut the business of running a family in today’s modern world.

Local life coach, April O’Leary is organizing Southwest Florida’s first Happy Mom Conference, taking place Sept.14 and 15th at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Estero.

Topics include self care for moms, ways to earn extra income, organizing and beautifying the home, child behavior, discipline, marriage recover careers, financial health and physical health.  Speakers com from Southwest Florida and across the country, such as Stacey Antine, creator of HealthBarn USA and a registered dietician who has appeared on The Rachael Ray Show and in Business Week.

The full conference pass is $199.  One day pass is $149.  The first 200 moms to register receive a goodie bag.  You can also purchase recordings of all the sessions for $69.

For details, visit www.uofmoms.com/happymomconference   or download their app!

(Article: Parent & Child Magazine)

Equine Photography Ft Myers

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When the call came in from Carla at Sunny Coast Vet  ( a mobile Veterinary service)  http://www.sunnycoastvet.com/

my heart broke as she explained that she wanted to have professional photos taken of her Grand Prix Champion horse ” Georgie” before she had to euthanize him due to leg injuries. It has long been a passion and connection that I have had with horses and to get the opportunity to merge my two passions together was bitter sweet.

I will let Carla tell you in her own words about this special horse.

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“I appreciate you guys coming out to photograph Georgie before I had to say goodbye to him. And absolutely, you can write about us in your blog. Here’s a little write-up about him:
Georgie was born in 1996 in Denmark and was brought to the US when he was 9 years old. My trainer Linda Oliver bought him and trained him from 2nd level to Grand Prix. I bought him a year ago. He was the kindest, sweetest, most gentle horse I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Our road began somewhat rocky, with me as his veterinarian and him as my unwitting patient, but it ended with the most enjoyable year I have ever experienced with a horse. Georgie was an amazing teacher who was always there to do things incorrectly when I asked for them incorrectly, but to do them with a grace and finesse that belied his large frame when I rode well. He took care of me and was always willing to go the extra mile when called upon. He is the only horse I have ever known who could both piaffe and pee-pee in a bucket on command. He would have worked enthusiastically into his 30s if he could have. However, in May, he became lame due to a problem in his hoof. A couple of weeks later, due to the fact that he wasn’t putting normal weight on his foot, he catastrophically injured his stifle. Georgie was more stoic than any horse I have ever worked on, and he tried to rally during the last few weeks of his life. However, he couldn’t bear much weight on his leg, even while he was on heavy pain killers. Because it was not possible for his injury to ever heal to a point that Georgie would be reasonably comfortable, it was decided to do the only fair thing for Georgie and let him go. He will be missed by all who knew him. Farewell, Georgie-P/Georgia Peach/Pumpkin/Button-headed man.”

Carla Francheville, DVM

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for more information about  Sunny Coast Veterinary   visit  http://www.sunnycoastvet.com/
 has been serving Florida’s Southwest region, from Bradenton to Naples,(including Parrish, Sarasota, Venice, Nokomis, Myakka City, Englewood, Placida, North Port, Arcadia, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, and Bonita Springs)since 2005. We are strictly an ambulatory (mobile) veterinary service provider, offering our clients the convenience of coming to them for their veterinary care needs.