Jenny, Jenny, Who can I turn to?

Chinese Steamed Buns

2012-01-11T05:59:00.000-08:00

As you well know the Cyclist and I love dim sum. Whether its at Pike Place Market or British Columbia we are willing to make a road trip for the best Chinese food. I can be sort of adventurous at a good dim sum restaurant but my meal is never complete until I have had Hum Bao! Apparently better known as Baozi or Char Siu Bao, it's a steamed bread bun filled with a sweet pork filling. Delightful.

For years we have thought about getting a rice steamer but never have. Well this Christmas I found one under the tree from my man. It's great for rice and has a nice little steamer basket to slip on top so adding a few vegis in the last few minutes is a great bonus.

But the biggest selling point for the Cyclist was the possibility of making our very own Hum Bao. I have yet to take the time to make a real Chinese pork filling but what we have tried has been awesome! The day after Christmas we filled them with some pre-made pulled pork we found at Grocery Outlet and the day after that we filled them with pizza fixings (this was the Cyclist favorite and the kids deep fried theirs. ~Beaner claims everything is better deep fried). You can be as creative as you want... I do plan on putting some time in and making the real thing but I keep thinking of other things I can try like... Apple, Peach or Cherry Pie Filling.

Until then I will give you the recipe for the dough and how to shape the bun.

I searched the internet and found several recipes for making steamed buns and finally chose to use this one from All Recipes . com courtesy of Michelle Che

Chinese Pork Buns (Char Siu Bao or Baozi)

6 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
1 3/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons shortening

Directions

Dissolve 1/4 cup sugar in 1 3/4 cups warm water, and then add the yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes, or until mixture is frothy. Sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons shortening and the yeast mixture; mix well.
Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, and cover it with a sheet of cling wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 2 hours, or until it has tripled in bulk.
Remove the dough from the bowl, and knead it on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth and elastic. Roll the dough into a long roll, and divide it into 24 pieces. Flatten each piece with the palm of the hand to form a thin circle. The center of the circle should be thicker than the edge. Place one portion of the pork filling in the center of each dough circle. Wrap the dough to enclose the filling. Pinch edges to form the bun. Let the buns stand for 10 minutes.
Steam buns for 12 minutes. Serve.

The shaping is a little tricky so once again I sought direction from the Internet... You tube... the best source for anything "how to"... this one is good starting at minute 4:55. She gives good step by step directions for folding the dough. The rest is her directions for making the filling.

Have fun with this!

Important Documentation

2011-02-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

Blue Sky

It's still there
(after an extensive game of hiding)
and I feel great hope that it will return again!

Blue sky

I Heart Teenagers!

2011-02-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you add 10 years to the craziness of toddlers?

A house full of big eaters, laughter, friends, homework, high emotion, highschool and middleschool, loud music, facebook, texting, people who find ways to make almost anything fun, intelligent conversation, more laughing, a few tears...
And so much joy you think you might explode.
Today I'm thankful for my teenagers (one almost)
AND their friends!

Do you love to clean?

2011-02-15T15:14:00.000-08:00

I don't. I love a clean house but the process of getting it there, not so much.

I'm also kind of a cleaning slob. If I wore an article of clothing to clean in, there is a good chance said clothing will have a bleach spot somewhere. Yes. I have sweatshirts, t-shirts, jeans and sweats all sporting white and/or miscolored spots enhancing their look. (Also, anything I have ever painted in: total history)

Today I had my first experience in Green Cleaning. Somewhere in my travels on the information superhighway I ran into a blog by the Green Cleaning Coach Leslie Reichert. She also has a book called The Joy of Green Cleaning that I got for just a few dollars on Kindle.

With just a little lemon juice, vinegar and Borax I got rid of the grime and pink mildew that seem to appear in my bathroom the day after I clean. And... even though I (of course) got some on my shirt, it washed right out!
Check out her blog and cough up a few bucks for the book, it's worth it. Who knows I might actually remove all cleaning chemicals from my house!

And, it might just prove to be the saving grace for my wardrobe!

Valentines Day

2011-02-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

Shopping for a Delicious Valentine Dinner
with my boy.

Sunday Naps

2011-02-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

With Church at 9am, one of our favorite Sunday family activities is an afternoon nap!

Cinnamon Biscuits

2011-02-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

I came downstairs for my bowl of granola this morning, preparing for my (indoor) bike ride. (it's cold, windy and rainy today. nuf said)

Turning the corner into the kitchen I heard the familiar sounds of Saturday morning TV. Danger looked at me in her sweetest, "Aren't you happy to see me?" face and said, "Since we're all up and cheerful, will you make us breakfast?"

How can a mother say no to that. But, I had fitness plans that I knew if delayed would end up replaced. So, an hour or so later I returned for their order. The unanimous choice was Cinnamon Biscuits.
In order for you to also be a Super Mom and be prepared for next Saturday. Here's the shopping list:

Pillsbury canned biscuits
Butter or Margarine
Sugar
Cinnamon

Place 1/2 to 1 cube (depending on how gooey you like it) butter in 9x13 pan and place in oven. Turn oven on and set at 350. The butter will melt while the oven preheats and while you prepare the biscuits.

Open the biscuits and carefully tear each in half. I don't mean for you to take a full moon and make two halves. I mean for you to tear it down the center so you now have two full moons that are just a little skinnier. Today I didn't have any Pillsbury in the fridge so I quickly whipped up a batch of Easy Dinner Rolls and made them about half size.

When the butter is melted, remove pan from oven and sprinkle in enough sugar to soak up the butter. Then sprinkle with cinnamon. These amounts are undefined. In other words, I have no idea how much to add. Enough to make a nice goo that tastes yummy. Then add a teaspoon or two of water and stir around the bottom of your pan.

Lay one biscuit at a time into the goo and flip over so both sides are good and gooey then line up in rows in the pan. Bake according to directions on biscuit package - about 10-15 minutes.

Serve with milk.Return to bike and ride for another hour.

We love Fridays!

2011-02-11T12:27:00.000-08:00

February 11, 2011
Fridays are good for hanging out, chillin and being glad there's no school manana.
And... today we spent the afternoon anxiously awaiting a call from our cousin to find out where he's going on his mission.
2 years teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
Somewhere out there, anywhere in the world!
Finally, at 8pm the envelope was opened...
Kobe, Japan
Wahoo
We're so excited for A. He'll be a great missionary!

Great News for Danger

2011-02-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

February 10, 2011

Danger is growing up {sniff, sniff}
This morning Cycle Guy and I found an email for her.

We were so excited that we called the school so they could pass on the good news.

Tonight the family took her out for dinner to celebrate. After being seated we all removed our jackets to display our shirts.
For Christmas 2009 Danger made us all matching shirts with her head on Superman's body.
To her dismay, we like to wear them at the same time.

February 9, 2011

2011-02-10T16:46:00.001-08:00

Ready for an interview with the newspaper for

The Strawberry Festival Pageant

February 8, 2011

2011-02-08T16:42:00.000-08:00

Cover Orange.
Dude, I can't beat this level.

February 7, 2011

2011-02-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

What did you do when you were home from school with a cold?

February 6, 2011

2011-02-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl 45

Packers or Steelers?

February 5, 2011

2011-02-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

When your Saturday job is cleaning the kitchen...
you have to find just the right flick on Netflix to keep you motivated.

February 4, 2011

2011-02-04T16:27:00.000-08:00

Ipod Touch
Danger can find an app for ANYTHING!

February 3, 2011

2011-02-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

Could be homework...
Could be book face...

February 2, 2011

2011-02-02T16:19:00.000-08:00

New Haircut by her friend at the beauty college.
What a fox.

Photo Month Mate

2011-02-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

My friend Emily is doing a fun project for 2011.

A photo a day.

It makes me wonder what my life in pictures is like...

So let's see:

February 1, 2011

1/2 hour a day.
I love to listen to my children practice.
This is the Fashionista on her flute.
These walls have heard the piano, clarinet, bass clarinet, violin, guitar, drums, harmonica, electric guitar, air horn and kazoo. We hear
voices too, but that's a subject for another day.

Mike, His Bike and The Blog Cafe

2010-06-06T21:11:00.000-07:00

The Blog Cafe is especially extraordinary today for two reasons.

Number 1. It's being hosted by My Favorite Person. Mike.AND Number 2. It's all about Super Powers. ~Which one would you choose? Flying, Mind Reading, Super Speed, Time Travel, Elastic Body????

Warning: We will be going on a 100 mile bike ride first, but the sights are amazing; taken on some of the best roads I have ever ridden my bike on, from Lopez Island to Snohomish Washington and beyond.

It may hurt a little to get up at 5 in the morning and get on your bike but so worth it when you get off at noon for a Pastrami Dip Sandwich at Barney's. Maybe your super power could be to have a steel bottom and feel no pain while sitting on a 4 inch seat for 7 hours. I think mine might be super fitness. Then I could keep up with Mike (or maybe even pass him) on a hill!

I wish you could really come with us for both the ride and the sandwich.

So... head on over to Mike's blog, The Adventures of Mike and His Bike for a fun and delicious Monday Adventure and some really great food.

And when you're done there send us an email at theblogcafe@juno.com and sign up to host The Blog Cafe yourself. We would so love to sit a spell with you in your favorite place for some good food and conversation. Whether it's in Missouri, Chicago or the hills of Appalachia we want to go there with you.

See you soon!

When I grow up, I want to be... Just like this.

2010-06-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

A victim treats his mugger right....
Julio Diaz ends his daily subway commute one stop early, just so he can eat at his favorite diner. One evening, his routine was broken when a teenage mugger took his wallet at knifepoint. But neither of them could have predicted what happened next.

Click HERE to read the full NPR article. Or you can listen to it Here.

Mondays just got better!

2010-05-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

It's a blog cafe kinda day!!!

Today we're in Wales!! Oh the beautiful countryside we get to visit with Marie at A year from Oak Cottage. She's taking us to a quaint little place called Llangollen! (pronounced CLANG Gock Lyn!) It's charming and relaxing and she even includes a recipe for her delicious scones. Served with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

I'm excited to try it... Does anybody out there know what clotted cream is or how to make it? Inquiring Jenny's want to know!

Hurry on over to A year from Oak Cottage and have a wonderful time exploring the countryside of my ancestors (it's true! I have ancestors from Wales!)

Breakfast at Matt's

2010-05-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

Lezlee the Bandanamom is host today at the Blog Cafe.

Lezlee and I became friends in Jr. High in a small town in SE Idaho. We had a great group of friends through Jr. High.Lezlee is second from the left on the back row and I am on the far right in the back. That's 9th grade, baby!

Recently Lezlee and I found each other again and I have really enjoyed following her life on the world wide web. Her blog is Bandanamom. Click on it, you won't be disappointed. She is intelligent, friendly and uplifting. She is one of those people who are comfortable to be around. Her decorating skills are impeccable and her photography thoughtful.

Today she's taking us out for breakfast and a visit about where you dream of putting down some roots. Money isn't an object.... where would you like to live?

2010-05-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

We're hanging out at The Camp Spot with Mandi for The Blog Cafe today. I just love going out for something yummy with my friends and can't wait to see where she's taking us today. Click on over and sit a spell. You won't want to miss it!!

**If you'd like to host the Cafe one week, please email us at: theblogcafe@yahoo.com We'll get you on the list and give you a hosting date! **

Duct Tape Scripture Bag

2010-05-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

By Popular Demand our first Lesson this week will be the

DUCT TAPE SCRIPTURE BAG

First: choose your colors. Some like it bright and busy while others prefer simple and elegant. (Elegant duct tape? Work with me here.)

In our fair city, Walmart has the best variety of colors. Measure
the book

or books you want
to carry adding
one inch (4cm) to
the depth and half inch (2cm) to the width and height.

Choose the color for the inside of your bag and overlap strips right onto your work surface the width and length of your books. (This will be the bottom of your bag.) Once you have a solid piece the size you would like the bottom. You will do the same thing with the color you have chosen to be the outside. Carefully peel up the outside layer and lay it on the table with the sticky side up. Next, gently peel up the inside panel. Hold each side so the sheet of tape curves like a swing. Starting in the center begin rolling/laying them with sticky sides together. Continue slowly until they are stuck flat. Take it slowly and accept the landing point as good enough because once they have touched they are very difficult to get apart. You can trim later to make it straight. By starting in the center, you have less risk of bubbles developing between the layers.You will do this five times according to your measurements. One for the bottom, and one for each of the four sides. The front will be the same size as the back and the two sides will be the same size. Lay them all out as shown above.
Keeping your pieces flat you will now tape each side to the bottom edge. Next, bring side edges together and tape going up the outside edge. You will be forming a box. After securing each corner edge on the outside, carefully do the same on the inside. This will seal the sides/corners so there won't be any sticky spots.Be as accurate as you can but accept that you are working with duct tape and know that it is very difficult to get perfectly flat.
Just do your best and have fun with it.
Using scissors cut the top evenly across all sides and carefully add your border color to the top.Now,
handles. Cut tape to desired length and fold down one side lengthwise. Sticking together from the center out. Then fold up the other edge over the first. It will not be perfectly flat, but that's fine because they will go on the bag in a curve anyway. Secure each handle on the inside of the bag with duct tape.
With handles firmly in place your bag should resemble something you would happily carry to church with scriptures, highlighters and possibly breathmints in tow. Or make it a different size to carry whatever you wish... wherever you go.

Following are directions in case you would like to have the checkerboard look that you see in many of our pictures. Fashionista loves checkerboards and stripes!Make a sheet of duct tape on your work surface without any overlapping pieces. You can see that they are exactly next to each other without overlapping.
Peel up the edge of every other strip and lay another color along this edge.Continue this process with every other strip until the panel is a complete checkerboard. Lift one corner and carefully peel the panel off the table.Lay the panel together with an inside layer and follow previous instructions for completing your bag.If you want a lid, you will need to put you handle from side to side and make one more panel large enough to connect to the back and overlap onto the front. Add velcro if you like.This one is miniature for coins etc. but the lid can work on any size bag.
Try this project with your family, You'll end up with a cool bag, but even better... You can have a lot of fun with one of the greatest and most dependable products available!
DUCT TAPE

A week of How To's and The Blog Cafe

2010-05-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

The Blog Cafe is being held at The Pink Purl today. Tracy is a new friend living in Norway. She is crafty and thoughtful. Today we're having hot chocolate and pastries and talking about how we would each spend the winnings from the lottery if they were ours. Head on over, sit a spell, and share your dreams of big money!

I have a blogging goal this week. Over the past while I've been taking pictures of things I've been doing including food I've made so that I could share them with you. This week I will be teaching how to make five things:

1. Duct Tape book bag2. Bike Chain Bracelet
3. Emeril's Chili4. Cinnamon Rolls
5. Duct Tape WalletNow, aren't you excited?

Come back tomorrow and learn a new skill to amaze your friends!

Big Day and a Guest

2010-04-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

Today is MY BIRTHDAY!
So far it's been the best birthday ever!

Cycle Guy got up early and made lunches for the kids and then they brought gifts and cake into my room for breakfast.

Fashionista made me the coolest "business cards" My title is "Best Mom Ever" and there are flowers and cyclists on it. Perfect.

And Cycle Guy himself made yes made me a bracelet out of bike chains!!!

I'm loved!

Now, he and I are off to the city for Dim Sum, REI, and bookstores!

And...

Today is a special day for another reason. Remember JoLyn from a year of happy and The Blog Cafe? She is my sister and I am a guest blogger at her place today. Click here to read about tulips and immodest ice cream cones.I hope you have as great a day as I'm having!!!

Love, Jenny

Cristiano's and The Blog Cafe

2010-04-24T21:53:00.000-07:00

It's a great day to gather at The Blog Cafe!

If you are new to The Blog Cafe, you can find an introduction at
http://www.ayearofhappy.com/the-blog-cafe.html

It's like a group of friends old and new gathering at a favorite place for food and fun.

Today we're meeting virtually at Cristiano's Pizza Etc. in my hometown.

Originally, Cristiano's was a cozy little bistro serving incredible salads and delicious pizza. It has long been a favorite lunch spot of mine. The first time I took Cycle Guy there, he looked around wondering what I was doing to him. The term "other fish in the sea" suddenly lost all meaning as he began to drown in a sea of women. Business lunches, friends out for soup and salad, and young mom's with preschoolers in tow filled the restaurant.

Things have changed, for the better. Cristiano's has doubled their space, still a cozy bistro just bigger. Even then you can expect it to be crowded. It's that good. And... there are as many men gathering now as women. We just couldn't keep our secret any longer. Oh you'll still see friends out for a chat with toddlers in tow but the male crowd is as great as the female one now. It's just that good.

Today we'll start with some of my favorite,The deep fried cheese ravioli appetizer.

It comes with a pesto asiago dipping sauce and chunky marinara.

And while we wait for our salad and pizza, we can visit and color. When you bring kids with you they automatically put paper on the table and bring you crayons, but all you have to do is ask and you can get them even without the little ones.

The salads at Cristiano's are their premier dish.
They are huge and chock full of goodness.Look at all that cheese!
This is the Mediterranean Salad with Feta cheese and Greek dressing.
The bread sticks are chewy in the middle, with a crunchy Parmesan crust... fabulous.This is the Caesar Salad loaded with Parmesan Cheese.
It's your choice... dressing on the side or tossed in, grilled chicken or no.

Then there's the pizza... Real cheese, stretchy and hot, covering a thick chewy crust and whatever other toppings you choose.

I reserved a virtual table at Cristiano's ALL day and I hope you'll come over and sit a spell.

As the host I get to choose the conversation topic of the day. It may seem a little serious, but after spending a virtual day with no cares in a dream spot last Monday, I think we can handle it. And I think there are some of you out there who can still have a little fun with it.

So, let's talk about kids and adults... I think there are some things I wish kids knew about grown ups.

I spend one morning each week helping in Fashionista's 5th grade classroom. She has a fabulous teacher who has a way of getting the kids excited about education. From brains to fractions, this lady can sell it.

One day as I was correcting math papers I asked her a question I had about one of their worksheets. I wasn't sure if I should mark something wrong, it was so close to being correct. She looked it over and said, "Oh, darn it, we'll have to mark it wrong." She felt sincerely sorry that they got it wrong. The empathy and compassion I felt from her was amazing and that's when I realized that this teacher really cares about how her students do in school. I wish I had known that when I was a kid.

That got me thinking. What are some things I wish my kids understood about me? Like:

...I don't feel any different on the inside than I felt when I was younger.

...I've never been a parent before and I'm learning as I go, doing the best I can.

...I've been where they are right now, I really do have some of the answers.

...The adults in their lives care about them. We are trying to help them succeed, not waiting to see them fail.

...When they mess up we are sorry for their pain and want to help it get better. Remember when a kiss made the tears go away?

What do you wish kids knew about grown ups? Be serious or funny... I'm interested in hearing your thoughts!

And if you'd like to host the Cafe one week, please email us at:theblogcafe@yahoo.com

We'll get you on the list and give you a hosting date!

The Blog Cafe at Cristiano's

2010-04-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

Come back Monday for Salad and Pizza and great conversation!

Called to Serve

2010-04-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

I finally got my boy's blog up to date. The Mission He's pretty funny and we like him.

Thing 1 is on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Uruguay, South America.He gets to send us email once a week and I look forward to that day as soon as I read the one from this week.

Today he moved to a new city and a new companion. Filled with sadness he bid farewell to people he has grown to love over the past 3 or 4 months. But also excitement for a new adventure. His first two companions were both from the U.S. but now he is with a companion from Columbia. He's living in a house with 3 other missionaries in a large city.

I have a new love for all missionaries now that I deeper than before. It's scary and exciting having your child move so far away, but knowing that he is on the Lord's errand makes it much easier. I'm also nicer to folks from other religions who go out and testify, sharing a message that they believe in. It's not easy talking to others about something so close to your heart.

When you see Mormon Missionaries riding bikes or walking about in your town, or maybe they will even knock on your door... I hope you will remember that they are somebody's kid and are far away from home working hard for something they believe in.

Called to Serve

Called to serve Him, Heavenly King of Glory
Chosen heir to witness for His name
Far and wide we tell the Father's story
Far and wide His love proclaim.

Onward ever onward
As we glory in His name
Onward ever onward
As we glory in His name
Forward, pressing forward
As the triumph song we sing

God our strength will be
Press forward
Ever called to serve our King.

Grand Opening!

2010-04-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

Today is the Grand Opening of The Blog Cafe!

JoLyn at a year of happy has taken us to Smart Cookie and is buying us cookies and frozen hot chocolate. So yummy! Stop by (click here) and be thinking about where you would go or what you would do if you had the gift of a day...

Now, how about some Vanilla from Ziggy:We should enjoy today while it's here....

Because someday today will be a long time ago!

The Blog Cafe

2010-04-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for this I can't hold it in any longer...

I'm joining together with my super fun, cute and talented big sister JoLyn and our very talented friend Tracy for a new kind of blogging experience. Oh yes, trust me, it will be an experience and you're going to find a brand new reason to love Monday mornings.

We've realized that one of the great things about blogging is becoming part of a wonderful virtual community of friends. Sometimes it feels like we're sitting around a table at a local cafe talking and laughing and having a great time getting to know each other better.

But in reality, we're sitting at home, in front of our computer screens, leaving comments on each other's blogs. We're in countries all over the world, from Norway to Australia, and all across the U.S. But we're still talking and laughing and getting to know each other better, just as well as if we really were sitting around that table together.

Last week, we had a virtual get-together at JoLyn's place over Molten Chocolate Cake. It was so much fun, we decided to make it a regular event--and we hope you will join us!

We're calling it "The Blog Cafe," and here's how it works:

Every Monday, we're going to gather at somebody's blog for some food, fun, and great conversation. Each week, we will have a different blogger act as host for our virtual get-together. When you are the host, you will choose what we're "eating", (ice cream, cake, pizza, salads... and since it's virtual... so are the calories!!) where we're "meeting", (Luke's Diner, Jimmy's Drive In, The Cheesecake Factory, oh, sorry about the drooling) and you'll get us started on a topic of conversation. We hope you'll share some photos of where you're taking us and what we're having--give us a taste of the local fare and maybe give us a peek of the world in your neck of the woods!

Then the rest of us--anyone and everyone is welcome--will pop in for a visit sometime throughout the day and leave a comment. We'll share our thoughts and insights on the topic you've chosen, and we'll all get to know each other better!

A few questions:

How will I know where we're gathering each week? Jenny (yes that's me.)and Tracy (in Norway! how cool is that?) and JoLyn (my sister!) are our coordinators--visit our blogs each Monday morning, and we'll give you the blog address of where we're meeting up. We'll post at 12:01 our own local times, so hopefully wherever you are in the world, you can join us sometime during your Monday!
How can I have a turn as the host? Send an email to theblogcafe@yahoo.com. We'll get you on the list and give you a hosting date! Can you hardly wait? Now admit it... you are already thinking of a place you can take us!
Who is invited? EVERYONE! We hope you'll feel welcome to join us anytime. You don't have to sign up to play along. Just join us when you can. If you miss a week or if you're new, you are always welcome. The fun is all about getting to know new friends!
Do I have to meet at a certain time? No! We are not having a set meeting time. Just pop in anytime during your Monday, read the post and the previous comments, and make a comment of your own. If you'd like, check back later and follow the conversation throughout the day. You can even comment more than once if you want.

The Rules
We just have one rule--and we'll rely on our weekly hosts to make sure it's followed: we want to keep our conversations positive and uplifting. If you're looking for sarcastic, snide, or snarky conversation, you won't find it here. And that goes for criticism of other commenters. Those kind of comments will be deleted. In the words of Woody, "Play Nice!" Also, many of us write family blogs, so please keep comments and topics clean and family friendly.

We're looking forward to seeing you on Monday April 19, 2010 as we kick of "The Blog Cafe" We'll be starting at JoLyn's a year of happy, followed the next Monday here, with me Jenny-Jenny and week three at Tracy's Pink Purl.

I can't wait to see you for treats and talk on Mondays!

I'm thinking about where I might take you... maybe we'll get ice cream and wander through the tulips...Or maybe we'll head up to Canada for some Chinese...Hmmm, I'm not sure. I guess you'll just have to come back
for my day on April 26th to find out.

And don't forget to tell your friends--We want everyone to feel welcome at "The Blog Cafe"!

Grab a button for your blog!

When you install this button on your blog,
please link it to our Blog Cafe page
so your followers will be able to join us!

http://www.ayearofhappy.com/the-blog-cafe.html

Oh Canada

2010-04-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

Recently Mike read something from a local restaurant connoisseur saying that,

"The best Chinese food in Seattle is in Richmond."

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
There is a large Chinese population in BC and Richmond is filled with
Authentic Chinese Restaurants.

That seemed reason enough for us to make a trip to the
"Great White North"
for
"The best Chinese food in Seattle."
Richmond
After making it through the border with no incident we found our way to Richmond and followed the directions we had to one particular strip mall.
The whole place was filled with restaurants. Many had a menu in the window. That didn't do us much good as they weren't always in English. We passed an Asian bakery and drooling decided to come back on our way out. Near the end of the block we came to a crowded restaurant. Deciding that a crowd is usually a good sign we figured this was our spot. Upon entering the restaurant we experienced something I had never experienced before.
We were the minority and had the only white skin in the building.

Being Seated
As we were being taken to our seats the hostess said she would bring us some tea. We don't drink tea and graciously said, "No thank you."
She stopped mid-stride. "No Tea?"
"No."
"What will you drink, then?"
"May we have water?"
Note: We were still unseated and standing in the middle of the crowded restaurant at this point.
By then another host had stopped and entered the exchange.
"Hot water?"
"Cold, please."
After exchanging a curious glance he left and she continued to escort us to a table. She placed a sheet of paper and a pencil on the table and also left us.
(They did eventually bring us water. I wonder how many cupboards they had to search to find glasses.)

The Menu
The paper was, of course, the menu.
Filled with Chinese characters and some numbers.
In very small print some of the items were also presented in English and some even had a description.
Perusing the menu for some time we wondered when a waiter would return to take our order.
Out of nowhere a kind gentleman from a nearby table came over and offered assistance.
He said he spoke some English and could help us order.
When he called us Canadians we told him we were from America.
From then on he called us Caucasians.
He recommended some things and his wife added,
"Have them order deep fried milk!"
So we did.
He showed us the part of the menu that had no prices.
"This is Dim Sum. In some places a waiter wanders through the restaurant with a cart and you just choose what you want from the cart . Here, you put a check mark by the things you want and they will bring it to you." (thus, the pencil.)
At the bottom was a price and that was the cost for each item in that section.

Ordering
We thanked our new friend and he returned to his wife.
We finalized what we thought we wanted and ... sat.
Finally I leaned toward his table and asked, "How do we get them to take our order?"
He grinned, said something in Chinese and immediately someone came and took our menu.
He smiled at me and explained, "Something like, Excuse me in English."

Eating
Now the really good part!
We ordered six things.
One at a time they began to arrive.
There was chicken with rice. (very good)
Rice wrapped in a leaf with meat and sauce. (okay)
Steamed shrimp potsticker. (great)
Pork Hum Bau. (best ever)
Shrimp Egg Rolls (very good)
And...
Deep Fried Milk (incredible)
It was like dessert. Some kind of custard dipped in batter and deep fried.
Delightful and so Delicious.

The whole meal was a wonderful culinary adventure.

The Service
Obviously our hostess was a bit uncomfortable at our arrival and refusal for tea.
But she returned a few times to see how we were doing.
She even showed us how to eat the leaf wrapped rice.
(No, you don't eat the leaf)
Another time seeing that we were obviously enjoying ourselves
She asked, "Are you sure you won't try the tea?"

*****
5 Stars!
I will return.
I want to share this with my sister who once lived in Taiwan,
and my children who request our humble attempts at Chinese food frequently,
and anyone else who wants to cross the border and try something new and exciting.
Because I love to eat.

I love the Tulips in Springtime!

2010-04-10T09:51:00.000-07:00

Six Word Saturday:

I love the Tulips in Springtime!Visit Cate at Show My Face for more Six Word Saturday Fun

And... How 'bout a little Vanilla?
Risk may cause failure,
but Success cannot come without it.
~Larry H. Miller

Socks

2010-04-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

Remember in the movie Summer School when Mark Harmon as Mr. Shoop was forced to teach the remedial English Class for summer school? In an effort to try and impress Kirstie Alley, he says, "I have a pair of socks... white ones!"

Or how about in Finding Foreste r when Sean Connery tells Jamal that socks were made wrong with the seam on the inside as he turns his new socks wrong side out to put them on.

I believe that socks are something people feel passionate about. How do you feel about socks?

Do you hate the loose ones that slip down into your shoe? Or remember the super thick ones that gathered around your ankle? How about having a heel or are you into good old tube socks? Do you wear long thin ones, or short thick ones?

Here are some of my thoughts on socks.

Socks on my feet:

My favorites are cycling socks and I have a growing collection. The thing about bike socks is that they are fitted. They have a heel and a toe and fit quite snug, thank you very much. I don't save them for cycling either; I wear them all the time. And another thing... they are fun.

Clothes being fun? That's another post altogether.

Socks in the Laundry:
For years I separated socks into six piles (one for each person) and proceeded to "try" to mate and fold them.

Arrrgh.

I have often asked myself why I don't just buy one brand and size and let everyone in the house wear the same ones.

That would cause some obvious problems:
1. In a family of six we just don't all have the same size feet.
2. Cute, fun and colorful cycling socks! What would I do with out them?

Girl socks solutions:
The Bean is 17. She recently told Fashionista (10) that bright colorful socks should never match.

The socks found on my daughters' feet today.

Charmed (once I got used to the idea) and after discovering $1 socks at Target (cute ones!) We decided that as far as girl socks were concerned folding would now be eliminated. For a while they went into the "missing a mate" basket in the laundry room, but then I found it. On one of my frequent trips to Goodwill.

It hangs on the wall, it's cute and it holds socks.

Boy Socks? ...White ones:
I am honestly considering getting rid of all but one brand and size. My boys and man all have pretty much the same size feet and then maybe we could find another ~~planter~~ fun basket to fill with white ones. Or we could still fold them but never have to search for mates because we know that they are all identical anyway. I may be on to something here.

A feeling of peace is coming over me.

Watch out Mr. Shoop, these ideas might make you want to actually wear that pair of white socks.

This post came about from "a year of happy", Ten random things about me. It all started with a group of friends virtually sitting around a table at Chili's eating Molten Chocolate Cake. JoLyn told us 10 random things about herself and then asked us to each share just one. One of hers had to do with her dislike of folding socks. Many of the comments that followed had to do with socks. What is it about socks? We're passionate about something we wear under our shoes!

How to put a big board to good use.

2010-03-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

After weeks of dealing with a damaged bathroom floor, the trial and error of finding the leak and finally getting it replaced, I had a big piece of plywood leaning against the wall in the garage. Exactly 4 feet by 4 feet.

Maybe a little background would be in order here. Our 19 year old son recently moved out and is serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in South America. Our youngest daughter moved into his room and that left a room right next door to ours. What we would do with this room was never a question!! It immediately became a room for our bikes or "The Cave".

Our bikes are set up on trainers so they are available to ride at any time with only a moments notice. In this room we have: a desk complete with TV, Stereo, and DVD Player; a couch, the hide a bed so that company can have their own room with out displacing any kids; Beaner's drum kit, 2 of Mikes bikes, of course Kleetus; and a dart board with dreams of being hung on the wall and played with again.

Weaving my way around that board every time I got out of the car in the garage gave me an idea. The dart board! We had tried hanging it once before only to discover that even the plastic tipped darts that it came with stick in the wall around it. So why not screw this big eye sore board on the wall behind it?

Ah yes. But it didn't have to be an eyesore either! I remembered years ago watching one of the decorating shows on tv. They were actually turning a garage into a work out room with several bikes. The owner was a bike lover like my Mike. So, using the ideas I remembered seeing on that show... This is what I did with my board:

I painted it with swirls and rainbows. Created bike shapes on poster paper and cut them out. Then I laid them on the board and spraypainted over them all. When the shapes were removed color was left in its place. So now Mr. Dart Board has a home, and the wall is protected from dart holes.

How do you get rid of Hiccups?

2010-02-18T15:26:00.001-08:00

First of all, did you know that the correct spelling of hiccups is Hiccoughs? And that the definition of said ailment is: A hiccough is an extraordinary type of breathing movement involving a sudden intake of air (inspiration) due to an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm accompanied by closure of the vocal apparatus (glottis) of the larynx. As stated at MedicineNet.com.

Secondly, it is very important for you to know that we at Whoville are frequent possessors of the hiccups. We somehow find ways to pass them from one to another of us and have one of two reactions: uncontrollable giggles or severe annoyance.

Because of this, we are on a relentless search for "The Cure".

Cures we have tried:
1. Holding your breath. (Success Rate: 0%. Retry Rate: 100%.) EVERY time I get the hiccups I try it. Why?
2. Swallow 5 times while holding your breath. (Success Rate: 80%. Retry Rate: 50%) Bondifaj came up with this and if I'm well hydrated it seems to work. If not, well, there just doesn't seem to be anything to swallow.
3. Swallow 10 mini gulps of water without breathing. (Success Rate: 80%. Retry Rate: 80%) This is my tried and true method.
4. Drink upside down. (Success Rate: ? Retry Rate: ?) I completely forgot about this method until I ran into these pictures the other day.How do you get rid of the hiccups?

We've got spirit, Yes we do!

2010-02-17T18:06:00.000-08:00


Wacky Hair Day 5th Grade.

Fashionista is in 5th grade and has gone to the same school for her entire elementary school career.
She LOVES spirit days.

80's Day 3rd Grade

50's Day 3rd Grade

Hat Day 4th Grade


Hawaiian Day 2nd Grade

Super Hero Day 4th Grade

Wacky Hair Day 3rd Grade

Wacky Hair Day 1st Grade

70's ~4th Grade

Halloween 3rd Grade

Isn't it nice to relieve the monotony now and then?

Success

2010-02-10T04:56:00.000-08:00

Today my mind is full and so are all the dirty laundry baskets, so it's time to spend a few minutes writing...

I've thought a lot lately about...

~the importance of womanhood and the amazing things women have to offer.
~success and what it takes to find it.
~family and just how important it is.
~possibility and how we find our own.

Today I want to talk about success.

Goals are important. Our family starts every year with a family night about goals. We make little posters to hang on our bedroom walls with 4 areas of focus. Educational, Spiritual. Physical, and Temporal.

There have been times when the poster itself never makes it onto the wall or bulletin board. Buried on a desk, the goals get forgotten and discarded.

That has taught me something about goals. They need to be in your face! They need to have a schedule and a purpose. They need to be s p e l l e d out.

Then as you begin to work toward the final outcome, you need to enjoy the journey and allow the journey itself to be filled with small successes.

I read somewhere recently how important it is to go to sleep feeling good about yourself. Too often as I lay in bed going over the day in my head I think about my failures; berating myself for mistakes made. Instead I'm learning to think of positive experiences of the day. No matter how small.

For instance, yesterday when I wanted a snack I ate an orange instead of a handful of potato chips. The point of this exercise is to focus on one success and review it over and over in your mind. Not only are you thinking about something good you did, the monotony will help you fall asleep.

Another important message you need to give yourself is in the way you plan. You need to be able to picture yourself having success. You say, "I am going to eat an orange," instead of saying, "I'm not going to eat those chips." Your mind can't hear the not. How do you picture not?

"I am going to ride my stationary bike for an hour"
"I am going to complete that race."
"I will have a pleasant conversation with my teenager"
"I will sit still and listen to my child when they come home from school"
"I will laugh when my kid ..."
"That one end table will be dust free."

Raise the bar on your personal expectations but be realistic. Sometimes when you have a house full of little children it's okay to let your positive successes be a shower, a meal, a happy child.

I heard a story once about a woman whose husband was asking about her day. She said, "I didn't accomplish a single thing today." Her young daughter said, "Yes you did! You helped me find my lost toy and you played with me."

Plan for success, recognize your success no matter how small, and expect joy along the way. There is plenty of failure, fix it fast, forgive yourself fast and focus on the good.

On that note: "When I go to bed tonight, everyone will have something clean to wear tomorrow!"

Dad

2010-02-08T20:19:00.000-08:00

Seventy Eight years ago today a little girl named Walene ran from her home in a small Idaho town to the one room school house where her sister was attending. She threw open the door and announced that their mother had just given birth to a baby boy. Her sister was mortified. The year was 1932 and one just didn't talk about babies being born in public and now here she was having it announced to the whole town.

That baby boy was my father. He weighed over 10 pounds and was the sweetest baby boy the world has ever known.

He grew up to be the best father the world has ever known.

When I was a teenager he started writing notes to me and that became a regular thing. He would leave a note on my pillow or dresser and I would respond leaving notes for him in his briefcase or somewhere he would find it. It was a lot easier to share things in writing than face to face and it made me feel important.

I had 5 brothers and sisters and as a little girl I would often sneak behind a living room chair and play by myself to get some time alone. I remember my dad coming back there and sitting with me once and I told him that I loved him. He said there was nothing better that I could say to him. I said, "How about I adore you?" He said, "Nope, I love you is even better than that."

I never wondered how my dad felt about me and I always wanted him to be proud of me. I still love it when my dad gives me hugs and love to see how much my children love him.

Happy Birthday Dad. I love you.

Comfort Food

2010-01-26T08:25:00.000-08:00

Could it be that with Mike and I in training the food we provide for our family has changed?

I've been trying things like Tuna Steak with steamed vegis, Teriyaki with brown rice and stir fried vegis, and whole wheat spaghetti. High nutrition, lots of color, new flavors.

Our youngest daughter, the princess of all things fashion has come to me several times in the past week or so requesting "comfort food".

Literally.

"Mom," she says in her sweet, I really want something voice, "Can we have comfort food for dinner?" Then she proceeds to name some of her favorites as she sways back and forth hugging her arms around her shoulders.

Over the past week we have eaten:
~Roast Chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries and corn
~Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
~Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
~Homemade Chili with cornbread
and
~Grilled Cheese (Well, that may not fit quite into "comfort" but in it's own way...)

Now if only her wish for snow would come true we could have a right cozy winter.

~Vanilla~
An old Chinese philosopher was asked what was the greatest joy he had found in life: "A child," he replied, "going down the road singing after asking me the way."

Toughness

2010-01-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

~Vanilla~
Stated repeatedly aloud ALL the way up the last hill while jogging this morning:

You're tougher than you think you are !

I'M BA-AACK! -sung in an eery voice like the little girl in Poltergeist

2010-01-06T12:45:00.000-08:00

I have been on an extended sabbatical from blogging.

But not completely apart. I have peeked in on many of you over the past month and seen babies born, holiday travel, holiday sickness, freezing weather, loved ones pass on, new years resolutions made and recipes shared. I love reading blogs of friends I know in real life and friends I have made thanks to Al Gore and "his" invention of the internet.

But, I have not taken a sabbatical from LIFE. Oh yes. Life continues, with its joys and trials, fun and ... well the other stuff. And I'm back.

And, I want to share with you probably the craziest goal I have ever made and am determined to accomplish.

I am......

Wait for it.

Racing in a...

Wait for it.

TRIATHLON.

When I first started thinking about this. I thought, "I can do that. it's a whole year away. I can ride a bike no problem and the run is only 5K, I can train for that... it's a whole year away."

My mind kept reminding me that Tri means three. And that means there is a 3rd leg that actually happens FIRST.... SWIMMING. Notice the caps? My mind was screaming at me... "What do you think you're doing? You CAN'T swim!" I continued to ignore that part and started running and continued cycling.

Now at 7 months and 1 day away from the desired triathlon I am "swimming" or at least I'm going to the High School Pool twice a week, wearing goggles and getting wet.

Mike gave me some really nice goggles for Christmas... I wear them with pride.

My friend and my daughter both introduced me to Zoomers. Flippers you wear on your feet. My friend said, "They help you have better kicking form." My daughter (Beaner) told me, "They make you go fast!"

They were both right. I have now learned how to kick from the hip not the knees and I was going FAST. Zooming through the pool with my cool goggles and... a kick board.

After watching some videos on You Tube about breathing and form I decided that while swimming today I would not use the zoomers and add my arms and breathing.

I swam one lap using my arms and trying to breathe before I went and found a kick board and spent the next 30 minutes practicing proper kicking technique without flippers.

I learned three very important things today.

1. Swimming is hard.

2. 7 months and 1 day are not very long.

3. I think I'll find myself a swim coach.

I almost forgot the
~Vanilla~
You can do hard things.
~from Susan W. Tanner

The Greatest of All

2009-12-04T03:41:00.000-08:00

~Vanilla~

I am the Greatest
Lyrics by Don Schlitz

Little boy, in a baseball hat,
stands in the field with his ball and bat.
Says, "I am the greatest player of them all."
puts his bat on his shoulder and tosses up his ball.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
and he swings his bat all the way around.
The world's so still you can hear the sound
as the baseball falls to the ground.

Now the little boy doesn't say a word,
picks up his ball, he is undeterred.
Says, "I am the greatest there has ever been."
he grits his teeth and he tries it again.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
and he swings his bat all the way around.
The world's so still you can hear the sound
as the baseball falls to the ground.

He makes no excuses, he shows no fear,
he just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.
Little boy, he adjusts his hat,
picks up his ball, stares at his bat.
Says, "I am the greatest, the game is on the line,"
and he gives his all, one last time.
and the ball goes up and the moon's so bright,
swings his bat with all his might.
The world's as still as still can be,
and the baseball falls,
and that's strike three.

Now it's suppertime and his momma calls,
little boy starts home with his bat and ball.
Says, "I am the greatest and that is a fact,
but even I didn't know I could pitch like that."

Says, "I am the greatest, that is understood,
but even I didn't know I could pitch that good."

You Don't have to Tell

2009-12-03T03:38:00.000-08:00

~Vanilla~

You don't have to tell how you live each day;
You don't have to tell if you work or play;
A tried and true barometer stands in its place
You don't have to tell, it will show in your face.
If you live close to God and His infinite grace
You won't have to tell, it will show in your face.

A Life ~Worth Living

2009-12-02T03:31:00.000-08:00

From Aunt Walene

~Vanilla~

A young lady and an old one chanced to meet one day.
The young one said to the elder
in her usual braggart way:
Why don't you stand up straight like me?
That's no way to grow old.
It's just a form of a habit
~at least that's what I'm told.

The old woman replied:
Have you noticed the wheat fields
when the harvest time draws nigh?
The heads that are empty
are the ones that are tall and standing high.
But those that count in the harvest
are stooped and bending low,
Awaiting the reapers sickle,
their time is short they know.

The young lady passed on by
and slowly bowed her head.
No doubt she pondered many a day,
on the things the old lady said.

The Real Hero

2009-12-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

From Great Grandma Naomi Adelaide Heninger

~Vanilla~

The Real Hero

Let others write of battles fought

Of bloody, ghastly fields...

Where honor greets the man who wins

And death the man who yields;

But I write of him who fights and vanquishes his sins

Who struggles on through weary years

Against himself and wins.

Thankful

2009-11-26T03:58:00.000-08:00

Oh so much to be thankful for.~An Active Husband who inspires me to move around more and reminds me that I'm... "tougher than I think I am".

~Kids with a sense of Humor who are quick witted like their Dad and keep me laughing.

~Tylenol Oh what would I do without it?

~My Faith The Savior Jesus Christ is a constant strength to me. I am blessed in a multitude of ways every single day by a Heavenly Father who knows me.

~A Missionary Son Thing 1 is strong and faithful and courageous. I love reading his letters every week watching him grow and learn. He is my example.

~Friends in real life and in blog life. You strengthen me and make me want to be a better person.

~The Sun Fashionista and I watched the sun rise while we did yoga this morning. Just kinda makes you want to breathe deeper and work harder.

The list could go on all day and through tomorrow.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Home

2009-11-25T03:41:00.000-08:00

~Vanilla~

From Grandma Hazel

If you would make the wrong things right
Begin at home, there lies a lifetime toil.
Weed your own garden fair, for all men's sight,
Before you plan to till another's soil.

Today

2009-11-24T03:35:00.000-08:00

~Vanilla~

From Grandma Lillian

This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is important because
I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever.
Leaving something in its place that
I have traded for it.
I want it to be good, not evil, success, not failure.
In order that I may not forget the
price I paid for it.

The Legacy of Hands

2009-11-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

I remember once as a child my Aunt Joyce telling me I had pretty hands. She may have said it to try and inspire me to stop biting my fingernails, or maybe she believed it. I think I believed her because every now and then I think about that compliment and I look at my hands and wonder.

When sitting in a church meeting recently I looked at the hands of a younger woman sitting on one side of me with her young, soft, smooth elastic skin. Then I looked to the other side of me at the hands of an elderly woman with wrinkled skin and arthritic bent knuckles. Then I looked at my own hands with loosening skin and a multitude of little scars because my own klutziness often exhibits itself with wounds on my hands. I used to be embarrassed when comparing my hands to the hands of a younger woman, but then looking at the older ones I realized how much more beautiful those hands were. I am no longer embarrassed of my hands but grateful for them and the opportunities I have had to really use them.

~ Vanilla ~

The Legacy of Hands
by Barbara S. Newbold

I look at the shape of my hands,
fingers, callouses, and lines;
And the years trace back
through ancestors and loved ones,
And I wonder....

Whose hands do mine resemble?
Whose pattern did my square hands follow?
Where did my round finger tips come from?
Who had the deep lines that cross my palm?

Who loved to feel the paintbrush
in their fingers as I do?
Who loved to touch a child's soft hair,
Or stroke a cheek?
Or feel an elderly beloved hand
clasped in theirs?
Whose hands loved the feel of
smooth piano keys under their palm?
Whose cared for the ill,
and prepared bread for their neighbor?
My hands feel the penetration of Spirits gone by....

Whose hands grasped the rail of an unsteady vessel,
As it tossed the sea toward the promised land?
Or pushed a dusty wagon across the prairie?
Whose fingers first turned the pages of the sacred records?

My hands are created from the determined,
caring service and love,
Handed to me from generations gone by.....
A legacy to be nurtured, appreciated,
and carefully passed on
To the children of the future.
by Barbara S. Newbold

Happy Thanksgiving Week.

On Giving Thanks

2009-11-22T03:15:00.000-08:00

George Washington's First
Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

As I was searching my family cookbook for some good traditional foods for Thanksgiving, I came across this Proclamation given by George Washington in October 1789. After coming across this treasure I researched it a bit.
Here at "Archiving Early America"
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/thanksgiving/
I learned that people in the colonies had been having Thanksgiving celebrations for many years throughout the year but it was with this proclamation that it became "designated by the new national government."

General Thanksgiving

By the PRESIDENT of the United States of America
A PROCLAMATION

Source: The Massachusetts Centinel
Wednesday, October 14, 1789
Also found in Past and Present Recipes
~ Family Favorites
Click HERE to see the original document.

Whereas, it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and;

Whereas, both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness;

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, and that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; ...to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) George Washington

Click HERE to see the original document.

6WS Fun to say, Fun to hear!

2009-11-21T06:45:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter if you're saying the word itself or one that it defines...

Onomatopoeia

Fun to say, Fun to hear!!

A word that imitates the sound it represents
Buzz

Snap

Snort

Whap

Smack

Slurp

Splash

Wow

Gush

Kerplunk

Buzz

Crash

Whirr

Clang

Hiss

Purr

Squeak

Mumble

Hush

Boom

Oink

Meow

Roar

Ruff

Slither

Do you have some favorite onomatopoeia?

How about some good old Batman sounds?

Those crazy words that flashed on the screen...

Onamatopoeia

And now for some
~Vanilla~
"Our deeds still travel with us from afar,
And what we have been makes us what we are."
George Eliot

More Six Word Fun
with Call me Cate

Amelia Bedelia

2009-11-20T03:35:00.000-08:00

~Vanilla~
Woman's sphere is bounded only
By the talents God has given
And her duty lies wherever
Earth can be made more like Heaven.

Amelia Bedelia what a wonderful girl.
She has a problem free philosophy, Amelia Bedelia.
She tends to make everyone around her crazy until she cooks something and then they are so taken by her kitchen magic that they always want her around.
One Amelia Bedelia situation that I remember often is when she was asked to dust the furniture. Completely confused by this request, she finds "dusting powder" which is actually face powder and spreads it gleefully around the living room.
What is it with the word dust?

Recently I posted a recipe that said to 'grease' the pan and 'dust' with flour. I know this means to sprinkle all purpose flour over the shortening that I have carefully spread over my pan.

But... when I dust the living room, I want to remove the dust and polish the wood. Dust is also the stuff that collects on said furniture thus needing to be removed. It's also the stuff flying through the air on a windy day in Idaho.

And how about grease? It's something that splatters all over your favorite shirt if you forget to wear an apron when you cook bacon. It's something you put on a hinge to get it to stop creaking. It's something that has something to do with cars. And it's the process used to spread shortening onto your pan before 'dusting' with flour to keep your cake from sticking. Oh, and it's also what shortening or it's counterpart is often called.

What a crazy language we speak.

Amelia Bedelia (because you can't just say Amelia...) falls into these ruts all the time. Remember when she teaches the students to plant light bulbs instead of tulip bulbs?

Or sprays water all over the bridal shower?Do you think there's a language out there without these kinds of confusing word plays? What are some words you've run into lately that play those kinds of games?
Do you have a favorite Amelia Bedelia conundrum?
(did I use that word correctly? It's such a fun word I just had to use it.
Another favorite: onomatopoeia. Try it... it's fun for the tongue. And so is what it means!)

Vanilla

2009-11-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

This is the cover of a wonderful cookbook. I dig into it at least once day to find a long time favorite or something new that I know I will like.

This cookbook is written with love by the women (and some additions from the men) in my family. There are seven amazing women in my family, all sensational cooks, and this cookbook is a treasure trove of goodness from each of our kitchens. Rarely do the recipes I post come from anywhere else.

As my Mother and sister were creating this book they also added some other stuff.

Just like no cookie is complete without the vanilla, our cookbook wouldn't be complete without the wonderful filler placed carefully into this family collectible.

I will be adding a new section to my blog called Vanilla. Each day there will be a little tidbit of love and wisdom gained from my family cookbook.

Today's Vanilla comes from the opening page of:

Past and Present Recipes~Family Favorites

From the Kitchens of:
Dawn
JoLyn
Kim
Jenny P
Jenny J
Rhonda
Jill

Illustrations by Rhonda
(yup, my awesome sil created that cute cover with crayons!)

Thanks for the smile you gave me today
You'll never know how it paved my way
With joy, how it made everything right.
Thanks, now I'm not afraid of the night
But I held it close the long day through.
You kind words made me brave in a trial
Thanks for your kindness
Thanks for your smile.

I'm looking forward to sharing the comforting taste of vanilla with you from
the pages of my beloved family cookbook.

Fall Recipes

2009-11-18T03:43:00.000-08:00

On Monday of this week, Amber asked for fall recipes for her weekly installment of Friend Makin' Monday's.

Obviously, I didn't make it in time, but it got me thinking of the foods I like to make at this cozy time of year.

One of my most favorite fall recipes is "Best Apple Pudding Cake"

The recipe is from my mom who is the best cook EVER. She can make a wonderful meal out of almost nothing and when she comes to my house she always loves what I make. I want to be a mom like that.

Funny thing is that when my Dad proposed to that 21 year old girl 50 years ago on a hill overlooking the Logan Valley, her first response was, "I can't cook." Oh boy did that ever change. Three daughters, three daughters in law and eleven granddaughters later we all aspire to cook like her.

And now, the recipe you've all been waiting for~

~~~~~~~can I get a drum roll please~~~~~~~

... Apple Pudding Cake ...
2 cups flour
2 tsp soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup margarine or butter
2 eggs
4 large apples ~grated
1 cup chopped walnuts
Cream the sugar and butter,add eggs, then add grated apples. Add dry ingredients and nuts. Grease 9X13" pan and dust with flour. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

... Carla's Caramel Sauce ...
1 cup real butter (salted sweet cream)
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups cold water
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick. Serve warm over apple cake.

This could very possibly be the coziest dessert you will ever eat. I savor it. I relish it. I dream about... and I'm a sleep talker...

The day Thing 1 left on a plane for a 2 year LDS Church mission my dear friend Rhonda surprised me by bringing this cake and the accompanying caramel sauce over hot out of the oven. I have never felt so loved. The sweetest part is that she chose this recipe because she knew I love it. I want to be a friend like that!

I'm linking this back over to Amber, even though it's two days late. It's that good.

Do you have some favorite fall recipes? I want them! I will definitely try them!!! Just ask Emily, her pulled pork has become a favorite, I want to make it every other day. Or check out this Sweet Potato Casserole from Joy for your Journey, I'm excited to try that one on my parents for Thanksgiving.

Come on... blog about them and link me up, I can't wait to make some yummy new recipes.

Me and Albert

2009-11-17T03:26:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder about your parenting techniques? I think every now and then I do okay. But far too often I am unsure and second guessing what is best. I guess I'm in good company... today while helping in Fashionista's 5th grade class I learned that Albert Einstein was rarely confident in his decisions, constantly questioning his discoveries and wondering about what he was doing. Me and Albert. We're a team.

Today I am wondering about honesty.

Bondifaj is probably a name you have never heard before, unless you know my second son. I believe the story goes something like this, "We have a great uncle living in the middle east ... his name is Bondifaj and we love him so much that we named our second son after him."

My teenagers love to tell these stories. The Beans story is that her full name is six names long. In reality she is named after my Mom and my Dad's Grandmother. Ever since she was tiny Mike liked to call her by a very long nick name. He took Beaners first name and my mom's full name which is 4 names long [first, middle, maiden, last] added our last name and Jr. the Third. Of course she dropped the 'Jr. the Third' because you can tell that's not real. I think she has convinced most of her friends that this is truly her name. Now, don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful name after some very amazing women, it's just not 'the truth'.

Bondifaj is the name Coolio created for a middle eastern looking character on our Wii. He created this character one day and wanted to give him a name that fit. So, 'randomly' typing in different letter combinations he came up with Bondifaj and it stuck. And now he too has convinced many that he has two middle names, the second of which is, of course, Bondifaj. Pronounced (bon dee fajzh).

Another story... As I was helping Fashionista with her hair one morning she said, "Hey Mom, did you know we have cousins in Stanwood?" I almost said, "No way, really?" when I remembered who her sister is. So instead I said, "Did The Bean tell you that?" "Yes." "She's pulling your leg." Beaner also has a sister from whom she was separated at birth living nearby who in actuality looks a lot like her, and she and Coolio don't have the same birth mother.

Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I roll my eyes. Sometimes I tell her noone will ever believe her once they realize how often she is 'teasing' (I might say lying) and sometimes I get angry. I think it might depend on what day of the month it is.

Do you have story tellers in your family? Do you ever question your parenting? Do you ever get impatient over things that might not really matter in the long run (or wonder if they really will matter in the long run?)

Maybe I should write a letter to Ask Laskas.

Whatever it is, the world may never know... but from now on the name of my second son on this blog is no longer Coolio. By request from the man himself, my second son will forever more be known as Bondifaj.

Charity

2009-11-16T08:31:00.000-08:00

Remember when the Berenstain Bears brother and sister were having a hard time getting along and Mama Bear gave them some requirements of things they had to do to be kind to each other that they thought was completely stupid? (although I'm sure they didn't use the word stupid...)

But they wanted Mama Bear off their backs so instead of just trying to follow her plan they excessively followed her plan. Using words like my sweet sister and dear dear brother as they opened doors for each other and helped the other with their dinner job. They were going as overboard as they could in hopes of annoying Mama Bear to the point of getting back to their 'normal' world.

Of course the joke was on them. Pretty soon it became natural for them to serve one another and be kind.

Last week in Family Night Beaner taught a lesson about Charity. It was an amazing lesson in which she quoted Paul from the New Testament saying "Charity never faileth". I don't think sister and brother bear realized they were treating each other with Charity. Maybe they didn't even know that the true definition of charity is "the pure love of Christ". When we treat others with respect and kindness, we are practicing and learning how to love as Christ does and be a little more like Him.

As part of her lesson she shared the story of a Pastor that we heard recently. Each night at dinner he would ask his children what they did for someone else that day. Knowing they would be asked that question, they went out of their way to serve or show charity in some way so that they could report to their dad that evening.

We were challenged to try that this past week. Just like the Berenstain's it started out a little excessive (like I care, as long as it is happening.. I felt a little like Mama Bear grinning to myself as they put on the butter =] )

I saw more hugging, more kind words, more helping than ever and ........

I loved it.

That was the best Family Night Lesson we've had in a long time with the best results I've seen in a long time and I hope it continues for a long time!

P.S. I'm pretty sure the results were much better than if the lesson had been presented by a parent.

I'm Thankful for...

2009-11-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

Modern Conveniences

Tylenol, hairdryers, contact lenses, hairspray, motorcars, email, antibiotics, running water, refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, gps, cookies, and the list goes on.

But today I am especially thankful for a washer and a dryer.

Laundry is not my favorite chore. It seems to be ever present and even looming. Last week was filled with activities and busyness and when Thursday arrived laundry was piled high waiting, waiting, waiting...

I gathered it all together, separated it into whites, towels, reds, greens, blues, jeans, blacks and pastels. And, yes with 5 family members home and a week since any laundry was done, there were plenty of clothes to have each of those loads.

I started the hot water, added the Tide and the white load and left the room. When I returned a few minutes later the floor was wet. That is never a good sign. It was already late afternoon and I was planning on rotating laundry for the rest of the day and more on Friday. It would be an extended task this time followed by folding and hanging and folding some more.

Mike had just finished working and since he is Mr. Fix It I introduced him to the wet floor in the laundry room. What a man! We grabbed some towels to dry the floor. Put the washer through a spin cycle to drain the water and removed the clothes. He skillfully flipped it on its side and immediately discovered the problem.

He removed the culprit, took it to the parts store and I was doing laundry again within the hour.

I'm thankful for my washer and dryer but even more, I'm thankful for a husband who can fix stuff.

6WS No Doubt... I Love this Land

2009-11-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

God Bless the U.S.A.

I love Veterans Day. It's a new love in my life. I never really had an appreciation for it until my kids started going to school at the elementary school that Fashionista still attends. I should have. My ancestors have fought for this glorious land of ours for many generations. Click here to read a tribute from my Grandmother.

A Navy Base is located near our home which means that a high percentage of the students in our district come from Navy families. Many of them have parents currently serving in places far from home. Many have lived in distant countries. The house next door is currently being rented to a young Navy family because the Navy family that owns it is on a 3 year assignment in Italy.
Down the street we have retired Navy and retired Marines. Our world is filled with Military including a nephew who served and died in Iraq.

Yesterday we attended the Veterans Day assembly at Fashionista's school. This is the most powerful event of the year. The attendance is greater at this assembly than anything else I have ever attended at an elementary school.

Fashionista is in the schools choir and they have been practicing for this since the start of school.

I wish I could portray to you the feelings that prevailed in that overcrowded gym. From the moment we stood to repeat the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a beautiful rendition of God Bless America sung by the 100+ voice 4th and 5th grade choir a spirit of support, love and gratitude filled the room.

We stood for a moment of silence. It was beautiful and touching. Here we were, surrounded by approximately 600 children from age 5 to 11 and the room was completely silent until one Xylophone began to play Taps. I thought about people in my family who have served in the armed forces in years gone by, I thought about families I know who currently have members sacrificing for the wonderful freedoms we enjoy and I thought about people I have never met who have lost loved ones to these ugly wars.

My eyes were already beginning to mist when the choir sang a medley of the theme songs for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. They asked that if you are serving or have served in one of these armed forces to please stand during your song. There were Moms, Dads, brothers, sisters, and grandfathers standing at times during the entire medley.

The feelings of gratitude and love that filled my heart were overpowering and my eyes spilled over.

I live in a nation where my freedoms are so great that I can worship however I choose, I can talk about whatever I want in my blog with no fear of being censored or put in jail, I can live in whatever way I like because of the sacrifices others have made in the past 300 years.

God Bless America, MY home sweet home.

For more Six Word Saturday visit Cate at Show my Face.

This post is brought to you by the letter S and by the number 40

2009-11-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

Sunny Day sweeping the clouds away, on my way to where the air is sweet... Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street.

I love Sesame Street. I loved Sesame Street as a kid and I love it as a Mom. When we learned that I was expecting our first child the part that made my husband the most excited about being a Dad was that he could watch Sesame Street!

This week Sesame Street celebrated it's 40th birthday. I've been thinking about it all week and today Emily took me to a place where you can take a test to see which muppet you are most like. I am like Big Bird. Hmmmm.

I want to share some of my favorites with you. Hopefully they will bring you some fond memories as they did me!

The original opening song. The picture isn't very good, but it sure brought back memories.

Who could ever forget Grover being unable to comprehend the word in when being a waiter and the man who kept returning to this restaurant. Would he ever learn to stop patronizing that place?

We still call for things this way at our house. Would you believe it really works? That Ernie, he knows what he's talking about! (okay maybe not.)

I love Bert and his oatmeal and pigeons, Grover and his sweet self (and super Grover), Maria, and Mr. Hooper ~I heard when he died they were honest about it and it was difficult for Big Bird, what a wonderful way to teach children about death. I would love to see that episode. Telly monster cracks me up and our kids can hardly believe that at one time Big Bird was the only one who could see Snufalupagus. Remember when everybody thought he was Big Birds imaginary friend?

It's been a great 40 years! Here's to 40 more!!!

Thursday Photo Phun

2009-11-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

I love this picture

I found this picture of my daughter on facebook! I guess a friend paid her a dollar to put mascara on and then was so amazed at the length of her lashes she took a picture so
The Bean could see them.

Yes, this was taken on a cell phone camera!

Red Velvet Cake

2009-11-10T21:36:00.000-08:00

I found this recipe on a blog called Apple a Day last spring, she adapted it from www.saveur.com.

It will make one 8 inch 3 layer cake. Or three 8 inch 1 layer cakes. You do what you think is best... ooohhhhh my kids hate it when I say that. What is it about the responsibility of having to make a decision for yourself???

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

For the cake:
2½ cups cake flour 1½ cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs
1½ cups vegetable oil 1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons (1 oz.) red food coloring 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

For the frosting:
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 ounces butter, softened
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1½ cups chopped pecans (optional)

1. For the cake: Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and salt into a medium bowl.

3. Beat eggs, oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add dry ingredients and beat until smooth, about 2 minutes.

4. Divide batter evenly between 3 greased and floured 8″ round cake pans.

5. Bake cakes, rotating halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Let cakes cool 5 minutes, then invert each onto a plate, then invert again onto a cooling rack. Let cakes cool completely.

6. For the frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until combined. Add sugar and beat until frosting is light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes.

4. Put 1 cake layer on a cake plate, level off with a serrated knife, and spread one-quarter of the frosting on top. Set another layer on top, level, and repeat frosting. Set remaining layer on top, level, and frost top and sides with the remaining frosting. Press pecans into the sides of the cake, if desired. **Tip: after leveling cake, turn it upside down to reduce numbers of crumbs. I also did a crumb coat on the outside, let it set for ten minutes, then finished with remaining frosting. (from Jenny: I don't use the pecans or level off with a knife or bother with a crumb coat.)

5. Chill for 2 hours to set frosting. ~if you can wait that long to dig in.

Mike made this taste temptation for my birthday last spring. It was magical. Smooth. Rich. Delightful.

His friends at work remember things like that so when they decided to have a potluck for Veterans Day they requested he make Red Velvet Cake. So today I made it for him to take. What's the good of being a full time homemaker if you can't make yummy treats for your man to take to work?

What surprised me the most is that he asked me to put it on the glass cake pedestal! Fancy man that Mike.

Onions?!?

2009-11-10T04:37:00.000-08:00

I heard a story recently about a man who was in the hospital near death when he was a child. His Italian grandmother came to the hospital and asked a family member to go buy her a large onion and a new pair of white cotton socks. She sliced the onion open then put a slice on the bottom of each of his feet and put the white cotton socks on him. In the morning when he awoke they removed the socks. The slices of onion were black and his fever was gone.

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was a Doctor that visited many of the farmers in his area to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their families had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon one farmer and to his surprise, everyone in the family was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different his wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home. The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions to look at under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he found the flu virus in the onion. It had absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

This story comes from a hairdresser in Arizona. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick.

Here's another one: This person had contracted pneumonia and was very ill. She came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion, put one end on a fork and then place the forked end into an empty jar, placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs. Sure enough it happened, just like that....the onion was a mess and she began to feel better.

It has also been said that onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago.

They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.

I wish these stories had been brought to my attention 3 weeks ago. But nevertheless, I will definitely be trying it for the rest of the winter and next year as well.

Go Onions!

Mean Joe Green is 63

2009-11-09T04:09:00.000-08:00

Mean Joe Green turned 63 on September 24th. I was listening to the radio that morning when they announced it and all sorts or childhood memories came flooding into my mind. Memories of three brothers. I was surrounded by boys. I have two sisters too, thank goodness! But they are 5 years older and 5 years younger. The boys and I were all born within 5 years of each other... I am right in the middle.

Best Coke commercial EVER!

Hearing Mean Joe's name took me back to the 70's so fast my head was spinning. Being that close to boys filled my life with... all kinds of fun. I could have been a complete tom boy playing sports and shooting BB guns. Or I could have been a girly pink ruffle girl, playing with Baby Tender Love and Barbie.

I chose the feminine route. I must have owned every Baby Tender Love ever made. And I loved every one. Neither of my daughters were baby doll girls but Barbies are still a fixture here in Whoville.I loved wearing dresses to school and there was at least a little pink every day. Or yellow. Mrs. Hansen called me Jenny Poo and she said I looked good in yellow. I was always embarrassed by that nickname because that's a naughty word but I liked her and I believed her.

Now, the boy stuff didn't scare me. I have had frogs on my head and snakes underfoot, I was even willing to hunt for nightcrawlers. I just really liked being a girl and I still do.

My brothers liked football; R. was always a fan of the L.A. Rams. They were the best and you better not even consider arguing that fact. Of course G. and D. did argue that fact... a lot. But R. was never moved. I don't remember either of G or D's teams... maybe the Cowboys, maybe the Steelers but never The Rams.

Mean Joe played for the Steelers and he was a force of 1970's football.

So, Mr. Green, thanks for the memories and especially the great Coke commercial.

Happy Late Birthday.

A Squirrel and his Booty

2009-11-08T04:19:00.000-08:00

I follow a great blog called Twisted Fencepost. Becky lives on a farm way south of here and has a wonderful way with words. She lives with squirrels, spiders, horses and cows. The other day she shared an adventure in nut gathering and her race with the squirrels to gather them. It reminded me of a little adventure we had several years ago.

We lived in a great little rambler on the other side of town with a cedar shake roof that originally looked something like this: but was beginning to look a little like this: The time had come for a new roof. After researching every person and everyplace he could think of Mike was ready to "Do it Yourself"!

We purchased supplies, prayed for sun and borrowed tools. We were ready to replace the old wooden shingles with a beautiful new composition roof.

Next to our house was something I really miss. A huge beautiful 100 foot pine tree. Granted, when the high winds of autumn came I always prayed for a deep root system which is a little uncommon around here, but I still miss it. Because of this tree and the nature of where we live, we discovered that our roof was the backyard and playground for life we were then unaware of. I hope you can sense the anger. This guy did not want us on his roof! Well, this isn't the original, I found him on the web, but very similar and not happy with us!

Then we discovered the booty. Nuts. Everywhere.

Squirrels used our roof to hide their nut booty.

Peanuts. Under roof tiles. All over the roof.

I wonder where else we might find their booty?!?

By replacing that roof we were robbing unsuspecting squirrels of forgotten nuts from years gone by.

6WS To Swine or not to Swine

2009-11-07T05:11:00.000-08:00

The Flu has left the building! (finally!)

We never went in for confirmation if it was or wasn't H1N1... but we definitely had The Flu.

Two weeks, four victims.

I don't like the flu.

Our symptoms have run the gamut. The first culprit had a full range of body aches, severe head, back, and leg pain. But no cold symptoms. The doc thinks the rest might still come... I hope not.

The second was worse. Fever, body aches, sore throat, coughing, more fever... but no nausea. What a relief! That one got better for a few days and then worse again. The doc thinks we might be working toward pneumonia. Yikes.

Kid #3 was pretty happy the first week that they were such a good hand washer! But then Halloween arrived with a fever, body aches and... you guessed it throwing up. Ugh! It sure is nice others were willing to share trick or treating booty!

Since I can't stand to be left out of things the family is doing I just had to join in. Mine wasn't too bad. At least I was only down for a day and a half.

Hope you're having better health at your house!

Please stay away from the pigs! (six)

~just kidding, I know it's not caused by pigs! Where did they come up with the name Swine Flu anyway?

Visit Show My Face for more Six Word Saturday Fun!

Dinner Rolls

2009-11-06T04:26:00.000-08:00

These are the easiest quickest homemade rolls you will ever meet. They are best if given the double rising 'required' for dinner rolls (and most bread) but... they don't need it to be delicious. Check out this recipe... So easy, I can almost make them in my sleep.Quick Dinner Rolls from my friend Verlene:

4-5 cups flour (I always use unbleached white flour, it just seems healthier)
3 Tbsp Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 cup warm water (to dissolve yeast)
2 Tbsp Active Dry Yeast
1 cup Scalded Milk
1/4 cup margarine

Dissolve yeast in lukewarm water. Heat milk and margarine together in microwave for about a minute and a half. Mix dry ingredients. Combine all together and knead. (I just let my Kitchen Aid do the kneading.) Let rise double. Form into rolls. Let rise. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.Sometimes I don't let them rise at all, I just form into rolls and pop them in the oven. They are more dense that way but still mouthwatering and irresistibly tasty.

Homecoming

2009-11-05T04:33:00.000-08:00

The Homecoming Dance at our High School was on Halloween this year, and...
the students were NOT allowed to come in costume.

Beaner and I went shopping a few weeks before the dance. Fully expecting to find a dress that would require adjusting for modesty. We found a cute one in the second store we tried. It would require some adjusting but nothing a cute little black Tee and a yard of black fabric couldn't fix!

By letting out the hem which thankfully was four inches deep and adding another four inches of black fabric the dress made it to her knees. Here's a secret about The Beaner, she is always wearing a pair of basketball shorts! If a dress is too short to cover them... it's too short!We spent about an hour curling her three heads worth of hair and she looked beautiful!
Do you recognize her date? New Kid! They went trick or treating in our old neighborhood, ate at Red Robin, went to the dance and had a great night with good friends.

Cleaning Cast Iron Frying Pans

2009-11-04T04:51:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a cast iron pan with caked on food.It had lovingly helped in creating a beautiful meal to feed the masses.

The chef walked away, forgetting her cast iron pan.
When she returned the pan was cold and to her dismay
the food had become a hard crust- impossible to remove.
The chef scrubbed and she scrubbed and after much soaking and toil
the food came out and the pan became...
Rusted!?!

Oh whoa was the chef and she cried bitter tears.
What would she do without the pan that she loved.
And then one day her dear brother said,
"Don't worry yourself. That pan's life isn't o'er.
You can season the pan like you once did before.
Starting over again with the pan you adore."

But what will I do when it happens again.
Must I rust and reseason each time that I use it?

"No, No," cried her brother as he chuckled and sighed,
"Follow these simple directions and you will always have a
perfectly seasoned pan with a complete lack of crust."

1. After food has been removed from pan, replace pan on heat.2. Pour in hot water, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. (never cold, this could crack your cast iron)3. Use your spatula to 'scrape' off excess crust from bottom and sides of pan.4. NEVER use soap or detergent on cast iron. Future food will have the residual flavor of Dawn.
5. Using a hot pad, remove pan to the sink and pour out water and food remains.
6. Finish wiping out pan with dishcloth.
7. Dry completely.8. Spray with oil.9. Spread oil evenly with paper towel.10. 'Dry' with a new paper towel. Your pan will shine with joy.

Navajo Taco's

2009-11-03T04:22:00.000-08:00

It's what's for dinner.

First you take the bread dough.

Yesterday I made dinner rolls with meatloaf!

But I was kind of in a hurry, so I only made up enough rolls for our family. No leftovers. Then I tossed the rest of the dough in the freezer.

Today, Beaner (the major taco lover of the family) requested Navajo Tacos. Being the "pleaser" mom that I am, I said, "Sure!" (Of course knowing there was premade dough in the freezer helped.)And now I will take you on a journey to the land of the Navajo. A land of prairie grass, tumble weeds and open camp fires. A land where Buffalo roam free and men hunt on horse back. Wait. Wrong channel.

Let's go instead to the kitchen of Whoville. Where white dishes seem to multiply and glass glasses are becoming extinct. A land of smoothies and grilled pb&j where children roam free and men are found on the seat of a bike.

Roll out the dough to about about 1/2" thick. Cut into squarish type shapes and place gently in preheated 350 degree oil. Watch closely and please wear an apron, I would really hate it if you ruined you favorite Rush Concert Tee with grease spots. Turn when golden brown and remove onto paper towel which has been lovingly placed in a white serving dish.Have your favorite kitchen help (child) brown hamburger while you fry the bread. Beaner likes to season taco meat with Taco Seasoning and chili sauce. Oh baby!Shred Cheddar and Jack cheese. Or just one. Tonight we used White Cheddar. That hasn't gone over very well here at Whoville. People are confused by the lack of color.

Cut up some crisp lettuce.

Make sure the sour cream isn't growing any green fuzzy stuff.

Heat up a can of refried beans and open a fresh jar of homemade salsa.

Place everything on the table in its own special serving dish (because you love to do dishes of course!)

I like to top my scone (frybread) with the fixin's and eat with a fork. The rest of my family like to open them and fill them up with the goods. It's a little easier to eat that way.Fashionista on the other hand is a 'scone' purist. Just a little honey and butter please.

Fry Bread vs. Scone? Living in the classy (I use that term loosely) Northwest I have found that when you say scone people think you are talking about the crumbly English cake muffin thing. I grew up calling fry bread scones. How about you? When you eat what we ate for dinner tonight what do you call it?

It's Bread Time!

2009-11-02T04:17:00.000-08:00

I've told you before and I'll tell you again.

I love bread!

Like crusty, holey, flavorful sourdough french bread. Maybe broiled toasty with a little fresh garlic rubbed on and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Aaaaahhhhh. Or even better, do that and then add some fresh tomato, basil bruschetta on top. (excuse me while I go wipe the drool off my chin)

Some days there is nothing I want more than a soft chewy hot from the oven dinner roll with real butter and home made strawberry jam dripping off the sides. I remember when I was a kid and my mom would make rolls with dinner. You split the roll across the middle, smother it with butter and jam. Then replace the top and smash them together, delicious melting goo dripping between your fingers as you try to smash it into your mouth. (Yeah, that pretty much drove my Mom crazy.)

We got this book from the library after reading about it on the Breadfarm's web site:
Yesterday Mike started our starter or seed. It will take about a week before we can make our first loaf of bread from this seed, but we are on our way.

We went to the Breadfarm last Friday afternoon to get a loaf and maybe ask some questions. It was so much fun just watching them work. The work counter is right there and they had an assembly line going with about six 'men' rolling and working the dough. Five of them looked like teenagers in an assortment of clothing styles, basketball shorts, baggy cargo shorts and jeans. One was weighing out balls of dough, adding a little here and there then flopping them on the counter, a few others took the previously weighed bunches of dough and then followed very specific identical methods of shaping and rolling, while another arranged the loaves on racks to rise.

I was captivated and wanted to hang out for a few hours watching the magic unfold. But alas, we had sick kids at home and needed to get back to them and their needs. So we bought a huge loaf of sour dough whole wheat bread and headed for home.

As soon as we got in the car, I tore off a hunk and handed it to Mike. Got one for myself and enjoyed the ride home.

NaBloWriMo

2009-11-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

"November is here, and with it the beginning of National Blog Writing Month. Our intrepid band of lunatics will sally forth into the blogosphere, writing, sharing, reading, photographing, and commenting their way through the month." NaBloWriMo.

I am giving it a try!

It is National Blog Writing Month!

The goal? To write once a day for the entire month of November.

Come and join me... It WILL be fun!

Halloween's Six Word Saturday

2009-10-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

Ugh. I messed up, click here for todays (November 14th) 6WS

Six Word Saturday: I Was Progressive Flo for Halloween!

Go here to see other spooky Halloween 6WS

Shock Value

2009-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Mrs. W and Mrs. W taught our three oldest kids for two years each in a 2nd and 3rd grade multi-age classroom. They are phenomenal teachers and their teaching methods legendary. For years they couldn't escape us as one kid followed the next into that classroom.

One of the things they required once a month from each student was to memorize and present a poem of their choice. Our kids frequently used things from Shel Silverstein -a family favorite!

One day near the end of the month Beaner realized she hadn't memorized a poem and it was her turn to present.

I should have known she would do it someday. But in second grade? My cute quiet little peacemaker with a heart the size of Texas? Gentle and loving to all things living...

Yes, yes, she did. This would be the first of a life filled with little shock value actions.

She quoted her fathers favorite poem.

A Bird in the Snow

I was on my way to school
When what do you know?

I spied a birdy
Lying in the snow
It's wing was broke
and it couldn't fly

It was gonna lay there
and it was gonna die

So I neared him close
with a piece of bread

and I STOMPED on his little head.

That's it.
I hate it.
I sit there and wait for the bird to be loved and cared for when my sweet little girl laughs shyly after her shock ending.

The teacher told me about it the next day when I went in to help at school. She said, "It was so funny I had her do it again for the other teacher and the rest of the class."

Argh.

Poetry or Rock and Roll

2009-10-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

I took a poetry class in college.
There is just something about the written word in prose.
Things like
And I, I took the one less traveled by
-And that has made all the difference.

Just gets you right here doesn't it?

Well, writers block had set in
and I had a poem due.

My friend Mike said, "How about this:
There is unrest in the forest
There is trouble with the trees
For the Maples want more sunlight
And the Oaks ignore their pleas."

"Wow," I exclaimed, "That's really good!"
Starting to write, I thought I could make something of this!

Chuckling, he said, "Yeah, you better not use it.
It's a song."

The Rock Group who sings this song is
one of the most talented I know of.
They have been dubbed: Heavy Metal Goes to College.
There are three men in the group
Drums, Guitar, and Vocals/Bass/Keyboard
The drummer writes all of the lyrics-
deep thought provoking poetry
The other two write all the music.
They have been together for probably 40 years
and still touring.

Their name?
Rush
Did I turn in the poem?
No. I have to admit that I thought about it, I was pretty sure my professor had never heard Rush before, but, well, you know that whole integrity thing.

The Alarm Clocks Warning

2009-10-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

I wonder if it's possible that anyone actually likes the sound of the alarm clock going off in the morning? I guess maybe on a special adventure/Disneyland kind of day it might be a happy sound, but I'm talking about a regular work/school/life kind of morning.

We have a very cool clock in our room. It shines the digital time on the ceiling so anytime in the night you can sneak a tiny little peek between your eyelids and catch a glimpse of the time. VERY little effort and then you can much more easily close them up and go right back to sleep. No rolling over necessary!

I found out recently that even in it's ease this clock causes a plethora of emotion for my husband.

He gets up very early for work each day. It's saves time on the commute because the number of folks on the road that early in the morning is far less than the number at times when regular people start their day.

This dictates a need for him to be in bed by 10:00. When he first looks at the clock as he crawls between the covers and discovers it's before 10 he feels great relief knowing he will get more than six hours of sleep. On the other hand if the clock shows it's after 10 when he climbs into bed that feeling of exhaustion is multiplied by the knowledge that the night will be short and the awakening painful.

Taking a peek in the dark of night thinking it might be time for the alarm and discovering that it's only 1:00am is peaceful joy and yet taking that peek at 3:55 brings fatigued sorrow with the knowledge that he only just beat his alarm.

Of course 3:55am on a Saturday holds a completely different sensation. Bliss. Banana Pancake kind of pleasure.

The emotions are especially exquisite in the summer time when nobody else in the house has to get up early. Night time in the summer is often the start of fun for teenagers. Kick the Can doesn't work during the day and movies are always more fun at night whether in the theater or on the couch. This can mean his sleep is compromised numerous times as different kids "check in" and others quietly hang out down stairs.

When said kids aren't home when expected that glance at the time brings anger, worry, and impatience hopefully soon followed by relief when you hear the sound of the garage door opening and the car pulling safely into its spot. Unless of course the sound you hear is that of the phone and someone asking to please stay out even later. That's when annoyance sets in. The word "No" is frequently put into practice at those times.

Once his sleep is disrupted, he has to start over on getting it back. I, on the other hand, don't have that problem at all. Maybe it's from years of waking up with babies in the night, but I don't have any problem being interrupted from sleep, saying good night and drifting right back into peaceful slumber.

The emotions a person journeys between in the course of a day can be many and varied and caused by a multitude of factors. At times even inanimate objects. An alarm clock being one of them. It can be a valuable tool although at times we may not value it's presence.

Night Mountain Biking: My "New" Cycling Love

2009-10-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

Cycling is one of those sports where all you need is a bike and you're on your way! Just a one time expense.

Or is it?

You also need a pump, and a helmet, and if you ever plan on riding more than an hour at a shot you'll also need some nicely padded, ~~very smelly sweat producing~~ ~~germ growing~~ shorts, and a water bottle, and a 3 pocket jersey (love them!) and clipless clip in shoes(?), and special pedals, and lights, and a rack for the car, and a *trainer or *rollers, and a *bike computer (gotta know your speed, because if you don't know how fast you're going, how will you ever get speed wobbles just by glancing down?) Oh dear. So much for that one time purchase.

Listen very carefully. Cycling is a blast. It is so much fun you'll never want to stop. It's the funnest way known to man for getting from point A to point B and you will become addicted. Just walk away.

I think it's an addiction that you just have to keep feeding. Riding helps, but can it really be enough?

I never understood the ~~freakishness~~ dedication of cyclists. Like why they need (?) more than one bike.

Until I tried Night Mountain Biking.

We have a little green belt in our neighborhood starting at the park across the street and going around the backs of the houses. It's a dirt trail about 1/2 mile long where Braxton loves to run.

Cycle Guy recently ordered me a special flashlight for my helmet so we can ride together at night. We decided for the maiden voyage we would try it on a mountain bike. Sounds crazy but Cycle Guy reads about some guys who love to go mountain biking at night. (Can you say feeding the addiction?) He really wanted to try it. For some reason I let him talk me into his crazy adventures. So off we went.

I kind of figured we'd go around the loop once and that would be it. Try it out, make the man happy.

Can you say Exhilaration?! I think I need a mountain bike!

I rode Coolio's bike. It has dual suspension and rotten brakes and it was a BLAST! You know when you see teenage boys riding their BMX bikes around always standing up? I was like that. I stood most of the time and screamed through the trail. For the first time in my life I told CG he was slow and tore past him. (Something had to be wrong, I never go faster than Cycle Guy. Don't worry we're all about to find out it was the bike~ not me.)

Out of breath and laughing I heard myself say, "Let's do it again!"

This time we traded bikes. I rode CG's suspension free, older mountain bike and he got on Coolio's. Not quite as fun on the bigger bike and somehow even with it's shorter cranks Coolio's bike was much faster. Maybe it's because I was closer to the ground, but I had more courage on the smaller bike too. I even went over a log once.

I don't know how many times we went around. Enough to be out of breath, but it was worth it.

We took the kids a few days later, just two at a time since we only have two lights but they also had a blast. Thing 1 even took off lightless once.

My advice to you is, "Be careful, be very careful." If you aren't careful you could be like me and I've fallen in love. I think I need another bike!

*If you're noticing prices on these links. Never fear~ we have NEVER paid full price for anything. Don't Do It. Never buy anything on a whim. Study it, watch for sales, be patient and go downstairs at REI, their go back section has been a treasure trove for us and not just for cycling goods!

He grew a foot or two

2009-10-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

The day arrived in a down pour of rain. Maybe it was a reflection of how I would feel later, but at the onset I felt excited and happy.19 years old, ready to conquer the world (or at least parts of South America) and leaving home. My boy, lover of Frisbee and Risk, Capture the Flag and Kick the Can, Tennis and Baseball, Street Hockey and friends stepped into a suit, short hair and "good" shoes as he got on a plane heading south.I will forever have the vision in my mind of the man I left in the security line at the SeaTac airport. After going through security and putting his shoes on ready to face the world he looked back one last time to see his family and raise his hand high in a final farewell.
We love him, we will miss him and we know that he will do amazing things as a missionary in South America. Now I just can't wait to get that first letter.

Read, Read!

2009-10-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

I have many favorite writers. Most of them write children's books. Dr. Seuss, Patricia Polaco, Beverly Cleary, Richard Peck, and E.B. White to name a few. Some of them keep online journals in the form of a blog. Ryan Ashley Scott is one of those. Today she talked about her addiction to bookstores and sharing that with her son Monsoon.

I share this addiction. I love bookstores too, especially the children's section. Most of my favorite series even to read to myself were written for children. Narnia, Ramona, Magic Treehouse, Rangers Apprentice, Horrible Harry and Anne of Green Gables to name but a few.

I also love the library. We frequently put books on hold and then wait anxiously for that book to come available; cheering aloud when we get the phone message stating our book is now waiting on the shelf.

When our kids were little we could sit for hours reading aloud together. I know. Hours? But it's true. As long as I could stay awake, they could stay focused. Even when they were tiny.

One of them would say at the beginning of a story, "Once a time a time..." and then at the end, "Read End." When reading a frequently repeated favorite I sometimes had a hard time staying awake and then they would say, "Read, Read!!"

We still read aloud together sometimes. I wish more often.

Cycle Guy used to say it doesn't get more Norman Rockwell than this. And I would smile because one of my dreams had come true.

Smorgasbord

2009-10-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

"Mom, come look at the fence. Is that a squirrel tail hanging over the edge?" Thing 1 called from the kitchen. It took me a minute to focus into where he was pointing and sure enough two little squirrel feet and a bushy little tail were squirming over the back fence.

Mesmerized we watched. With great effort the rest of the squirrel soon appeared on top of the fence. And in his thieving little hands he was carrying an apple from the neighbors tree. With great care he toddled on two feet to the corner post where he immediately started chomping away. Bits of apple flew as his hungry little face attacked its juicy prey.

Bicycle built for two

2009-09-30T20:22:00.000-07:00

Daisy Bell inspired me as a child and I always wanted to ride a bicycle built for two. I have a great mom who always filled our home with music. We were exposed to The Four Lads, Nat King Cole, musicals like Oklahoma and The Music Man, and Patti Page. Click on their names, you'll love the memories that come while listening to these songs.

Harry Dacre came to the U.S. from England in the late 1890's and brought with him a bicycle for which he was charged duty. He wasn't happy about having to pay duty and a friend commented, "It's lucky you didn't bring a bicycle built for two, otherwise you'd have to pay double duty.' Dacre was so taken with the phrase 'bicycle built for two' that he decided to use it in a song." That song is Daisy Bell.

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do
I'm half crazy all for the love of you.
It won't be a stylish marriage
I can't afford a carriage
But you'll look sweet
Upon the seat
Of a Bicycle built for two.

I remember singing Daisy, Daisy at the top of my lungs as a girl... imagining the carriage that Harry couldn't afford, me with a big poofy 1800's updo, in a poofy yellow dress (bustle included), with a dapper young man on a bicycle built for two riding through the countryside.

Just kinda makes you want to sigh in old fashioned joy doesn't it?

Last week I got to fulfill that dream when Cycle Guy and I rented a Tandem on Orcas Island.I was told the rules by the bike shop owner: "Now, Jenny, you can't do anything. You can't steer so don't lean. You can't brake so don't stop pedaling. You can't see so don't direct."

Now if you know me then you know that I am demur and quiet. Easy going. Slow to ~~push~~ share my opinions. Mike wasn't worried at all about me in the back being able to follow those directions. Whatever

I had some rules of my own. No spitting and no rockets. Easy enough... Let's go.The shop owner suggested a route and we took off.

We ride bikes together a lot. We've grown accustomed to each others styles... on separate bikes. That day we noticed some differences: I clip out on the left, he clips out on the right. So when I'm all ready to stop and land on my left foot CG and the bike lean right.

He likes to start with the pedal down. I start with the pedal up.

We worked through it.

I learned to clip out with both feet and just gradually lean with him when he leaned to stop.

He had me get all the way on before he started pedaling and I was like a kid in the baby seat.

Honestly, I thought I would just be along for the ride. I thought with two of us pedaling climbing would be a breeze and we would fly down the other side. Maybe that would be so if we were riding a Trek Madone built for two, skinny tires, sleek frame, you know kinda like his birthday present in Tandem.

But alas, we were on a big heavy mountain bike tandem. Climbing was hard work, both of us sucking wind like we were climbing Mt. Everest.

Coming down was fun though and with him right there in front of me I was completely out of the wind just enjoying the ride. Once we got back on flat roads it was getting much more fun and easier to control. Our time, however was up and so we triumphantly returned to the LBS after successfully surviving our attempt at riding 'a bicycle built for two'.

I can't wait to do it again. Maybe through the tulip fields next spring....

Ahhhhh, just call me Daisy.

Cycle Guy also wrote about our Tandem adventure today. Check it out by clicking here. Or you could click here: The Adventures of Mike and his Bike. I haven't read it yet and I'm kind of interested to hear his thoughts in writing...

Island Picnic

2009-09-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

CG and I just took a short trip to "The Islands" last week. The San Juan Islands that is. The San Juans are a group of islands off the coast of Washington and are one of my favorite places on earth. We stayed at a little cabin in the middle of the woods. I have never heard anything so quiet. It was so quiet that when a bird landed on the bird feeder for an early morning snack it woke me with a start.

On Friday night we purchased some things for a picnic. Coke Zero, Cheese Curd, Multi-grain sour dough bread, and grapes. We drank our Coke in 'flutes' and tore off chunks of bread. We sat on the deck of our little cabin in the woods and listened for the owls that are rumored to live there. Picnic Perfection.

I love bread. I like soft white cheap store bread and crusty fresh french bread. I love fruit breads and sour dough breads and sweet rolls but some of the best bread I have ever tasted we got at a little organic market on Lopez Island called Blossoms. It is Multi-grain Sour dough bread. Almost completely organic, it's heavy and rich and very sour. We discovered it on another trip to Lopez over a year ago when we bought a loaf with some fresh herbed cheese curd. So delicious that we got it again.

Cycle Guy did some research when we got home. Do you remember when I fell in love last spring? With a little unknown town in northwest Washington called Edison? Wellllll, this bread is made at The Bread Farm in.... EDISON! I don't have to ride a ferry to the islands to get this wonderful bread! I wonder if they ever have classes?

I think that just might be my next project: Breadmaking. I'm pretty sure I could teach Breadmaking 101. But I want to learn more about the intricate science of bread. Gluten. Sour Dough Start. Crusty Crusts. Braiding. Seeds and nuts.

Do you have a favorite vacation spot? What food goes with it? And what projects are you hoping to accomplish in the upcoming cold winter indoor months?

16 and then some

2009-09-23T04:25:00.000-07:00

The Bean
is one creatively minded chic.
At sixteen she...
wears basketball shorts -almost exclusively (pretty sure she hasn't put on a pair of pants since March. She wears dresses to church but always has a pair of shorts underneath, "it's just more comfortable that way.")
Has a swimming class first period
Loves Frisbee and Slurpies and Tie Dye and Converse

Last week The Beaner got her drivers license. She didn't want to but now that she has it...
Oh the joy that freedom brings!!

She wants to drive people everywhere, "Can I take Fashionista to the library?" "Can Coolio and I go rent a movie?" "Thing 1 and I are going to get Slurpies... K?"

And I say, "We're out of milk, will you go get some?" and "Will you take Fashionista to piano lessons?" and "YES! You can go get Slurpies, bring me one!"And we are a happy family.

Wii Sports Boxing...

2009-09-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

It was the first ever

Wii Sports Family Night Box off

Cycle Guy made BracketsContestants drew numbers

Coolio beat Jenny-Jenny
Beaner beat Cycle Guy
Fashionista beat Thing 1
in a knock down drag out brawl
Round 5...
Dripping in sweat
both contestants staggering around the ring
Fashionista throws a double punch- left, right
Thing 1 goes down
and
so does Fashionista.
The count begins...
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
They both lay on the floor of the ring.
Get up Get up
8
9
Fashionista is up
Legs staggering and arms in the air.
The Winner

But she still has Two brackets to go.
After she beat Beaner, she had to face Coolio.
Resting since the first Round

Does she have anything left?
Can she beat him after his rest and her pain?

Yes!
It takes three rounds
but she does it.
She takes him down
and wears the belt with pride.Then we all eat brownies and go to bed.

Early Morning Beauty

2009-09-17T21:51:00.000-07:00

Many of you have expressed your dislike of early morning. I'm right there with you. The favorite place in our house for every member of the family is my bed. It's big. It's fluffy. It's like wrapping up in a big cozy cloud of Downy freshness. Ask any of them.

And they only get to go there for short visits, a nap in the late afternoon or a bad dream. I get to stay there all night long and it's the last place I want to leave early in the morning.
I think Jack Johnson said it best in his song Banana Pancakes:

When the whole world fits inside of your arms
Do we really need to pay attention to the alarm
Wake up slow....

But then with a little pushing. A little prodding and a great big shove...

This is the kind of reward I get when I go outside.

So worth it. Go ahead, give it a try and let me know how it feels... and looks.

The benefits of Running

2009-09-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

Fashionista and I have begun a new exercise regime. Every school day we get up before 6:30 and go "running". I set my watch timer to 15 minutes and we take off. When the alarm rings we turn around... thus "running" for 30 minutes.

We always start by jogging and make it past two stop signs, past the neighborhood welcome sign and to the next stop sign.

Then we walk. To the next corner.

Then we run again.

If we are on the apartments route, corners are scarce so we use fire hydrants. I actually like this better. The spacing is more even and you can see their bright yellow from far away.

I like mornings, and in the olden days like in college I loved leaping out of bed to face the beauties of a new day. I always scheduled my classes early, then the rest of the day was mine.

Somewhere in the aging process that ability has been lost. I'm hoping to find it laying along the roadside one of these days during my run with Fashionista. Now I have the problem of it taking effort to roll, push, pull, prod and force myself out of bed. Sometimes the bed wins, But now that I have a partner, the running shoes are pulling ahead.

The benefits?

1. Being outside in the morning.
2. One on one time with my daughter.
3. Exercise
4. Getting up and going in the morning.

I'm hoping I might learn to enjoy the running itself. Right now it's the time, the activity and Fashionista that I find the most enjoyable.

Do you like to run? What do you do to stay fit?

Change is Good

2009-09-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

I love change.

I love new beginnings.

I love Mondays, and September and Mornings.

I love a fresh start.

And yesterday marked the first day of another new beginning for me.

For the last almost 5 years I have served in a position with the young women of our church. It has been an amazing experience which I have loved and will cherish forever.

I have served on committees with both teenage girls and boys. Gone camping with the girls, trained them and their leaders, laughed, danced, chaperoned dances, duct taped holey pants and short tops, cried, loved, been loved, been hated, tie dyed, painted, and taught. I have worn baseball hats, dresses, jeans, tiaras and even once a bikini over long johns. (Yikes!) I have taught lessons and learned lessons. Opened my heart, felt it break and felt it grow.

Each person who has come into it has added beauty and color.

To each of you whom I have served with... Thank you for it all.

It has been an adventure.

Here's to the next one.

Six Word Saturday

2009-09-12T05:56:00.000-07:00

Those bees just can't live HERE!This is the corner outside my kitchen window just around the corner from the back door. Recently we discovered bees flying in and out of the little openings between the panels of the siding. Last week we got some spray and sprayed the area like crazy. Weeellllllll, we killed all the bees that were outside but the spray couldn't get inside the holes so any of them who weren't outside that evening mourned their loss but continued living under my master bath.

This just won't do. Then we decided to block the holes (thanks for the idea Jen) so last night Cycle Guy did just that. He blocked the holes they were using with some painters caulk and today we continued our watch. You can't see the original holes in this pic. They are off to the left. Those squatters kept finding new cracks to use as entry to their illegal home. One by one we have spent the day caulking and watching. It seems that we may have succeeded but in the process we have made a very large family of bees very angry.

Truth be told, I don't mind bees. They do a lot of good for the world. They make growing things healthier and more beautiful. BUT they can't live in my house. If they would only discuss things rationally I might even help them find a new home out behind the shed or across the street in the blackberry brambles.

I feel a little like a home wrecker. How do you handle creature problems at your house?

While we're on that... We also have a mole making a whole range of mole hills at the back of the yard... by the shed... I wasn't talking to him when I said I would help find a home back there!

Click on Show my Face and see other Six Word Saturday fun.

Homemade Salsa and a Winner

2009-09-11T09:09:00.000-07:00

Check out this blog at Shelf Reliance. They're have a cool give away. I have heard wonderful things about them and want to try something out.

And the winner is.... (using Random.org)

Heather Reed

Heather is what some in the blogging community call a FIRL. Yes, she is my 'friend in real life' and I love her. I haven't seen her in many years but thanks to Al Gore we have the internet and blogging and facebook so we can keep up. She has a fun blog about her awesome family of nine. Check her out here: Running Tally: Boys 7 Girls 0

And now by popular demand THE RECIPE for JENNY'S SALSA originally given to me by a Mexican friend of CG and adapted, adjusted and tweaked by yours truly. Feel free make your own adjustments as you deem worthy. For instance Jen removes all the seeds from her peppers. The bulk of the 'heat' is in the seeds and therefore removing them will give you the pepper flavor without as much heat. But be forewarned it does not remove ALL the heat so TASTE as you go. Also, the salsa will be much milder once it has cooled after cooking.
I always double the recipe (or more) so it will last all winter. Here we go:

Jenny's Salsa16 cups tomatoes ~blanched and peeled
4 cups onions ~chopped medium
2 cups peppers (I probably use 4-6 cups) ~chopped. Save your fingers and time by lopping of the stem and tossing them into the food processer for a couple quick rounds- just chop them up don't make pepper mush. I mix it up with the variety always using serano, jalapeno, and tomatillo, sometimes yellow chili's (love the flavor) red chilis, green chilis and habanero or whatever I find at the market that day.
1 cup white vinegar
1/8 cup salt
1 clump garlic ~chopped, you can mince if you want but I like the pieces. or 1 Tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp cumin
3 small cans tomato paste.
Simmer til thick. 1-3 hours to desired consistency. As the salsa cooks down it will gradually moosh together and lose its chunkage. Sometimes I make one batch and cook it super thick then add another batch fresh and not cook much so that I have the thickness and the chunks.
Can, freeze or eat right now.

*When working with peppers, always wear gloves. The juices will burn your skin. The smaller the pepper, the hotter the heat.

Oops,

2009-09-10T11:58:00.000-07:00

Remember my totally cool duct tape wallet, cell phone cover and Ipod cover? I love them. Sometimes I just grab my wallet and phone instead of the whole purse because they're so cute.Well today I grabbed my wallet and phone and headed to the KFC drive through to get Me and Cycle Guy some Twisters. He's working from the home office today and I wanted to buy him lunch.

I drove through town enjoying the sunshine and singing along to the 80's. Rolled into the drive through and not only ordered but special ordered our lunches. You see they don't make the regular Twister anymore. They grill them. I like them the old way and the lady at the window was very nice. She said she could make them the regular way for me, No Problem. Nice lady.

Cheerfully I rolled up to the window and reached for my wallet.

Phone. Ipod. No wallet.

One dollar cash in my pocket.

67 cents in the center console.

I got out of the car remembering that once long long ago, (maybe even in pre Subaru days and we've owned the Soob for like 7 years) Yes, long ago we put some cash in the car first aid/emergency kit.

So I dug around in the kit. Looking in the bandaid box, the emergency blanket box, even in the ziploc of snacks. No money.

Next I tried to get the nice ladies attention to tell her to stop making food that she would be throwing away. To no avail. This is one competent woman. She brightly opened the window with a bulging bag of grub in her hand fully expecting me to hand her thirteen dollars and fifty eight cents.

I showed her my super cute Ipod case and told her that I had grabbed it thinking it was my super cute wallet and therefore I had no money.

She smiled. Said, "No problem" and closed the window.

Two Morals to this story:

1. When you make your super cute duct tape stuff, make them different colors and sizes or always keep them in your purse.

2. Keep some money in your emergency car kit. You never know when that emergency will occur.

I hope that nice lady likes ungrilled Twisters!

Mmm... Salsa

2009-09-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

Friday the farmer delivered the tomatoes.

Saturday, I blanched them. Peeled them. Chopped them. And mixed them.

With Peppers... Jalapeno, Serrano, Tomatillo, Red Chili, Green Chili, Yellow Chili, Salt, Vinegar, Cumin, Garlic, and lots of Sweet Yellow Onion.

I mixed it on the stove and gave it a taste.

So did Cycle Guy.

Then we added more... Peppers.

Gave it a try.

And added more peppers.

Then when his forehead started to shine and his eyes started to water, and his nose started to sniff, we knew the pepper additions were complete and he wasn't going to have to share it with anyone, because no one else will be able to stand the heat.

Except maybe his buddies at work. He says that's when they like it the best. The more sniffing and sweating the better.

How do you like your salsa? Hot? Medium? Mild?

Hey, I have an idea...

Leave me a comment and I'll have a random (gotta love that word!) drawing and send a jar of my homemade, home canned salsa to the random winner. Don't worry, in case you are a medium fan, I'll be making some of that too.

6WS: Six Word Saturday

2009-09-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

~Three Days left of Summer Vacation~
2 Weeks of Church Camps
2 Weeks Family Vacation
3 Trips to the Beach
5 Sunburns
1 Family Reunion
2 Birthdays
Innumerable Sleepovers
3 Midnight Risk Parties
5 Home Pedicures
800 Miles on my Bike
1 Mission Call
2 Heat Records Broken
2 Days of Rain (Weird, I think I actually miss it)
6 Fans running night and day
1 Baseball game
2 Amazing Fireworks Displays (1 in our own front yard)
1 Neighborhood picnic
6 Happy People
1 Exhausted Jenny
~Three Days Left of Summer Vacation~

The Training has begun...

2009-08-31T08:24:00.000-07:00

Her name is Fashionista for a reason. She wants to grow up and be a fashion designer. It's in her, she's good at it and now her official training has begun. It won't be long before she passes me and will need to find a new teacher, but for now what I know will do.Barbie clothes combinations became insufficient this summer and so she started using a needle and thread and sometimes glue to make the clothes right on their bodies. As an outfit began I would often wonder how it could become anything, but lo and behold a lovely Barbie would emerge.For her 10th birthday she got some Barbie clothes patterns and a collection of fabric.

Before setting her free on the machine with her fabric I took an idea from a friend and had her sew back and forth on lined paper. It was a great way to start.We also sat down with the sewing machine and it's manual and learned the names for each part, how to adjust tension and stitch length and how to thread the machine. I have to admit that I learned some things.This is her first pattern/sewing machine Barbie creation. I think she has a future in the fashion industry!

Duck Tape Mania (Duct?)

2009-08-29T21:38:00.000-07:00

I believe in Duck Tape. I have used it time after time and witnessed it's powers for myself. Braided together it can tow a car. It has been used to repair books and hold a tent together while keeping out the rain. By the time you finish reading this I think you will believe it can hold a family together.Cycle Guy requested that I buy a few colors of Duck tape so that we could have "Duck Tape Mania" for family night. Fashionista and I made our way to Walmart and discovered colored duck tape numbered not a few.Red, Green, Neon Green, Orange, Black, Neon Pink, Blue, Aqua Marine, Yellow, Purple, Blue and Purple Tye Dye, good ole' Grey, Shiny Silver, and Turquoise... I may not have even remembered them all...
How could we possibly limit what we buy? Our goal was to buy six colors (I never thought it would be this hard to choose.) We didn't do too bad when we came home with 8. Neon Green, Black, Turquoise, Navy, Neon Pink, Silver, Purple, and Tye Dye.After dinner Cycle Guy taught us the basic method of layering and creating a checkerboard and we went at it.
By the end of the night we had cell phone covers, book covers, wallets, purses, Ipod covers, and scripture bags.If you overlap carefully, you can make a checkerboard. Tearing it into thinner strips can give you a lovely stripey look. Add some velcro and your coin purse won't lose it's change.Fashionista has a birthday party coming up and guess what the girls will be getting as their goody bag? You got it! Duck tape coinpurses! Now we just need to come up with a few small things to put in them. Happy Birthday 10 year old!Just look how cute the inside of my purse is!
What would you make?

My Summer Vacation

2009-08-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

Today's post was written by one of my favorite guest authors. My daughter Fashionista.

My Summer Vacation

The triplets

Three cousins, Three shirts, All exactly the same.

Pretty ‘n’ pink

Blue jean capris

All of us had side ponytails

The Cabin

Our cabin, our cabin, a wonderful place to be

Cousins all around, card games too

No one ever gets bored

Not me nor you

The Grandparents House

Big yard

Endless games

Lots of cousins to play

Awesome Grandparents

By Denise

At the Cabin

2009-08-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

There's a little town
at the base of a hill
It's known as Clifton
We go there with Jill

It's history is short
less than 200 years
But when this family gathers
We give it three cheers

It holds many memories
Grandma, Grandpa and Dad
It's where he grew up
What adventures he had

From hail storms on horses
Skinny Dipping in hats
Buying new sneakers
And old barn cats

We also remember
those who came long before
Grandpa shooting the Indian
and so many more.

We like to hear Grandpa
recite stories long past
Like the Wee Small Red Hen
And Annie's long fast

So once every year
We gather together
To spend time with family
Taking time to remember

The Part Where Everyone gets Sunburned but Me

2009-08-05T04:08:00.000-07:00

One good way to beat the heat is in Water, at a Beach, on the Puget Sound.
The supplies:

Twizzlers
PB&J
Chips
Frisbee
Track Ball
Blanket
Beach Towels
Fruit
Skim Board
Family
Water Bottles
Sunscreen
It's good to apply sunscreen before you ever get in the car. That way you won't have to deal with scratchy sand getting in the application process or forgetting until you are wet and sandy. I use a lower screening level on my body like 8 or 15 so I can still get a little color without burning but more like 30 on my face. Now, I never thought I had a big nose, but somehow no matter what number I put there my nose gets redder and darker than the whole rest of me combined. So I use the highest power I can get a hold of on that little protrusion.The rest of the members of Whoville? Well, yes, they do have their fathers darker skin but really... no sunscreen? I heard things like, "I never get a sunburn" and "I want to get tan" and "My skin is used to the sun".
But the next day, I heard things like, "My shoulders hurt", "Oh, my back", "My chest is killing me" and "Do we have any Aloe Vera?"With great effort I held back and never said, "I told you so." But instead lovingly rubbed cooling lotions with understanding tender remarks.
Bahahahaha, when will you learn to listen to your Mom?

Shish-ka-bobs

2009-08-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

In an effort to beat the heat in the kitchen and take it out to the barby, we first tried this as a "fun" dinner to make involving the whole family. We did it again because we like it so much we want to make it every day.

Shish-ka-bobs.

First of all the shopping list:

A good steak or beef roast ~Beef... It's what's for dinner.
Sweet Yellow Onion ~sweet is best in my opinion
Yellow Bell Pepper ~it's good to add color
Green Bell Pepper ~great flavor addition
Red Bell Pepper ~more color and good flavor
Small Red or Yellow Potatoes ~trust me... it will work
Chunk Pineapple ~Your palate will thank you~twice.
Mushrooms ~just wait until you taste them with this marinade!
Zucchini ~Did anyone else even use it? I did, and I liked it.
Anything you love that will stay on a stick...
Crusty French Bread
Cantelope
Bamboo Skewers

Next, the marinade.

I got this marinade from my favorite cookbook, well, my favorite published cookbook. We have a family cookbook that I use almost daily- it's my favorite, but The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook is so great, you need to get it today.

It is filled with information on how to buy, how to cook, how to trim, what to buy, and how to everything... But I digress...

The Marinade.1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon dark Brown sugar
1 Tablespoon Ketchup
1 Tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients. Add beef which has been cut into 1 inch pieces. Marinate in refrigerator for an hour.

While meat is marinating, cut vegies into skewerable size hunks and place in individual bowls. (One bowl for each different vegetable.)

The potatoes need some special treatment because they require more cooking time than the other items. Cut the potatoes into the size you want for the skewers. Place in boiling water and boil to about 1/2 way done. Use your own judgment. Last time I boiled them a little too long and they still worked fine, just a little soft when putting on the skewer.

Remove meat from refrigerator saving excess marinade to brush on shish-ka-babs before grilling. (We usually double the marinade so there is plenty to brush on the skewers before placing them on the grill)

Call the family in from outside, gather them together around the counter and let everyone use their own creativity to build shish-ka-bobs a la (insert your family name here).

Once all the food is placed on a skewer brush them with the left over marinade and place on preheated BBQ. Cook until done. This part is Cycle Guy's job, I have no idea how to tell when it's done.This marinade is great, it is a little like a brine for tenderizing the meat and the flavor is divine! Serve with Crusty French Bread and Sliced Cantelope.

Try it today.

You'll thank me tomorrow.

Love, Jenny

Six Word Saturday

2009-08-01T12:05:00.001-07:00

Today I'm participating in a 'meme' called 6WS: Six Word Saturday.

My six words for today:

"Road Trip: I love our family!"

Vacation time with my family is the best thing about summer.

~Hours in the car
~Fast food on the road
~Singing the Idaho state song as we cross the border
~Convincing the kids that it's the Jen State, not the Gem State because I was born there
~Arguing for who gets to sit where (or at least I've heard some families argue about that=] )
~Finally arriving at Grandma's house for hugs, popcicles and fruit snacks
~Fresh peas from Grandpa's garden
~Seeing cousins after a year away. (Thank goodness for Facebook, the kids communicate with each other more than ever before.)
~Playing cards at the Cabin
~Sleeping? at the cabin with all the cousins.
~24 cousins, 4 cousin-inlaws, 2 great grand cousins

Oh yeah, I'm ready for a 1000 mile Road Trip! I love our family!

Summer in Seattle

2009-07-31T09:33:00.000-07:00

Oh what do you do in the summer time, when all the world is... brown?

Living in Seattle is an interesting phenomenon. When you live in a place where it rains steadily 9 months out of the year (well in a normal year), people rarely have sprinkler systems in the yard and rarely water the yard other than that. Oh, they water the garden and the flowers, but not the grass.

Why is this, you may ask? Well, we're not really sure. Maybe we're waterlogged or maybe we just like to conserve that precious water that we delight in all winter. Whatever it is... it's what we do and we're okay with it.

One thing I do know is that this summer has been the hottest in the history of Seattle. In 1947 and in 1994 we hit 100 degrees. Record breaking heat!

But wait... in the week of July 27, 2009 we hit...

wait for it...

102 Degrees Fahrenheit.

Oh baby we are Hot!

So... what do you do in the summertime?

You go to the places that provide what you really need.

The Mall: AC
The Lake: Water
The Library: AC
Your friends Pool: Water
The Movies: AC
The Beach: Water
Road Trips: AC

You better believe that there has been no cooking happening in Whoville this week. If it can't be done on the grill... it can't be done.

What are you doing to make the most of the weather in your neck of the woods?