Add a little "Kringle" to your Christmas!

We like to think small-town Iowa is unique in the fact that we LOVE our holiday traditions...
If your Christmas looks like ours, we have our "traditional" foods and treats that have been handed down since - well, as long as anyone can remember! My great-grandmother brought this recipe over from Norway - though, in all honesty, only a few in our family have been able to truly replicate the honest to goodness Norway taste she was known for.
We try.

This year, our Eldridge businesses are offering a special Recipe for a Hometown Holiday. Not only are there "special" recipes located at each business, but The Big Kringle himself will be with us! We will be available for free photos with Santa throughout the night. You may even catch a glimpse of the Santamobile and it's 8 (not so tiny cylinders) as he exclaims Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

For more information, visit the North Scott Chamber of Commerce.

If you're up for the challenge - add a little "Kringle" to your Christmas compliments of Great Grandma!
Good luck!

Kringles

1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter (softened)
1 egg
1 c. buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3 c. flour

HAND MIX ONLY:
Mix sugar, butter, egg, and buttermilk. Add dry ingredients.
Refrigerate overnight or until chilled and firm.
(Do not chill over 24 hours or dough will turn grey...although food coloring is an option!)

On a lightly floured surface, roll a 3" coil and shape into a figure 8 (or desired shape).
Bake at 350 degrees (based on a well-used oven...you may want to turn yours down if it is high-efficiency/high heat) for approx. 8-10 minutes.

Tip: Too big and they will break, too small and they will dry out while baking!

- From all of us at Mark's Place,
Merry Christmas!

Order Festival of Trees Original Cards Here!

Happy Holidays from Mark's Place!

We've teamed up with the Quad City Art's "Festival of Trees" to create original greeting cards just for you!

For a limited time through December, these original greeting cards will be available at the Quad City's Festival of Trees Gift Shop, Mark's Place of Photography, and for the first time ever, here - online - for your convenience.

Below is our Greeting Card Catalog. To view larger, please double click on the picture. To download and print a copy, please click here.

We have three different packages to choose from including:

• Variety
  
• Military
• Religious

All packs come in quantities of 16 and are available for purchase at $20 per pack.

Online orders may be completed by mailing in our complete order form or emailing a completed order form to marksplacephoto@gmail.com

All orders will be confirmed by phone and/or email and will only be processed upon payment.

For more information, please call our studio at 563.285.4991

We hope to see you at this year's Festival of Trees!

- Mark

GO MAQUOKETA CARDINALS!

Congratulations to Maquoketa Cardinals Homecoming Queen....Cassie Cook! 

Aaron - 2010 Senior

There's nothing like a good collage to express the uniqueness of an individual.

Give us a call at the studio and we'll put something together for you!

Limited Fall Sessions

This is just an FYI for everyone...

Fall colors are coming (and going) fast! Because of the extreme weather associated with Iowa, we can never be sure just how long we'll have these fantastic fall colors to work with...making our fall sessions a limited commodity.

We'd hate for any of you to miss out simply because you were too busy raking the leaves out of your yard and off your windshields. Call us today - because we've already booked our afternoon sessions until into October!

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"Hanging Around"

My wife likes to say that we have all these kids just so I can practice taking all kinds of pictures!

Perhaps she's closer to the truth than she knows? ;)

With our newest addition to the family growing like a weed, Marshall has also found time to

"Hang Around".

He kept trying to squirm out of his hammock here!

Apparently, it wasn't his idea of "fun".

Do something out of the box today!

- Mark

Senior Session Discount

Don't forget our senior special is coming to a close about as fast as this summer! (Discount ends Sept. 30th) All our afternoon sessions are BOOKED until into October, so you'll need to act fast if you want to snag any of the remaining morning sessions!

We want to give you all a heads up on this awesome 30% discount and also to give you a preview of what some of our bonus animoto videos look like. Below is Jerry, a 2010 senior. After your session, top photos are uploaded and immediately placed on our Facebook pages (and our blog for those who have held out against Facebook!).

Enjoy!

- Mark