tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32764139791902051452024-02-20T15:12:43.474-08:00A Little of This and That... A blog of random tidbits from an overactive imagination. I sometimes make stuff. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-64817949710756601742015-04-21T18:51:00.002-07:002015-04-21T18:51:53.981-07:00Homemade Hummus This is about the easiest and one of the healthiest things to make on the planet. Whenever I see the commercials for store bought hummus, I think about how much money I save by making my own. AND! I know what's in it!<br />
There are a TON of blog posts about this out there and lots of beautiful pictures and lots of stories as to how they came about to making their own hummus.<br />
This post will be short and to the point so you can get to making it yourself-and save a few bucks by not buying the stuff at the store.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUqamM90j101Xoodk2RDJOg_ywfY4BLHWB-iNW365a7Bn9tC8XcCqPNP4f8zNx-y1edVKe6PfnGKheNcHxIeBe7bl5aPgfN6-3Y4-mUYnogV-izD2-6RoYnbHdfh-1ly5asOwLJeBToHz/s1600/IMG_20150421_112720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUqamM90j101Xoodk2RDJOg_ywfY4BLHWB-iNW365a7Bn9tC8XcCqPNP4f8zNx-y1edVKe6PfnGKheNcHxIeBe7bl5aPgfN6-3Y4-mUYnogV-izD2-6RoYnbHdfh-1ly5asOwLJeBToHz/s1600/IMG_20150421_112720.jpg" height="640" width="628" /></a></div>
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You DO need a food processor for this if you want it super creamy. </div>
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You'll need:</div>
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Food Processor</div>
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1 can of organic (or not) garbanzo beans/ chickpeas. Drained.</div>
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Olive oil</div>
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Toasted sesame oil</div>
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a squeeze of lemon juice (or about a splash from the bottle of lemon juice in the door of the fridge)</div>
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salt and pepper to taste</div>
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Sometimes I add a bit of garlic and/or a pinch of cayenne pepper. Today I was feeling a bit spicy, so I added some minced garlic from a jar. Yup. I use minced garlic. In a jar. </div>
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Throw your chickpeas in your processor. Not literally throw them, but you know...toss them in. Put in a half a spoonful of garlic ( about 1/2 a teaspoon), a splash of lemon juice and start your processor to start blending your beans. Slowly drizzle olive oil in until you see the beans start to come together and get a creamy texture. I usually use about 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil, but you can eyeball it and blend until it looks nice and soft and creamy and yummy. I then add about a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil. Be careful with the sesame oil..that stuff can be potent. I don't use the tahini paste stuff that most recipes call for. I just think it's a waste of money and since I use toasted sesame oil for a ton of things, this is the most economical for me. Take your blender for a spin to blend it all up. Give it a taste and add salt and pepper to your preference. I love mine a bit salty, but I eat a lot of it, so I try to keep the salt to a minimum. Kind of. </div>
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Chop up some veggies and dig in!</div>
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This should keep for a couple days in an airtight container in the fridge. Mine never lasts that long as I love the stuff.</div>
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Try getting creative! You can buy some roasted red peppers,chop those up and add it to the top. I like to use sun dried tomatoes and I like to pour a tiny bit of the oil from the jar on top. Don't forget to add some hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne if you like it hot and spicy.</div>
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There are so many ways to doctor this up and eat healthy. It really fills you up too! AND! it's fast. I like fast, especially if I'm wanting to make rice crispy treats and decide to make this instead. Yay for healthy food choices! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-54294158274418482572015-04-13T20:41:00.002-07:002015-04-13T20:43:05.526-07:00Trusting God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwcOTmIhdjQ/VSv_PpE8vsI/AAAAAAABHIs/9qwwOHiUh74/s1600/DSC00014-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TwcOTmIhdjQ/VSv_PpE8vsI/AAAAAAABHIs/9qwwOHiUh74/s1600/DSC00014-002.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In the last year, I've been going through some pretty challenging times, as far as my faith and the role God plays in my life. I wonder...a lot... if God even cares or if I'm just a huge whiner and He would rather engage in my life when I'm not such a huge downer. I know He's always there and I know I can talk to Him anytime I want, but I often wonder if He really gives a rip what I think or care about.<br />
Does He care about the little things? I mean, I know in my head that He does but does my heart think so?<br />
I have a lot of anxiety and worry. I worry about so many things and I'm noticing that the worry is starting to take a toll on my body in the form of gritting my teeth at night and my stomach being a source of discomfort, pretty much all the time. I don't sleep well either. Not sleeping stinks.<br />
So. I've started to turn to God. Not just in those.."oh God oh God oh God" moments but deliberately going to Him the minute something worrisome pops into my head. Or I feel my anxiety kicking in.<br />
But I think... <br />
Can I trust Him to take care of me which includes all the little things I worry about? Can I believe He has my best interest in mind and believe that whatever happens, will be for my good? Can I trust Him that I DID turn off the stove and I won't come home to my house burned down? ( Having my house burn down is such a huge fear of mine) What if it does? Will I be OK? Will God take care of me? Will my son be OK? Will he be successful and chase after God all his life? What if he decides not to...what then?<br />
So many things.<br />
So many things that wreck my teeth and make my tummy ache.<br />
So many things that keeps me up at night.<br />
<br />
Time for a change.<br />
Time to take God at His word and believe what He says--<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="versenum" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30456A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30456A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">casting all your anxieties on him, because </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30456B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30456B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">he cares for you.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Peter 5:7</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Matt-10-29" id="en-ESV-23447" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">29 </span>Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-23447h" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-23447h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2010&version=ESV#fen-ESV-23447h" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote h">h</a>]</span> And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-10-30" id="en-ESV-23448" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">30 </span>But <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-23448AW" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23448AW" title="See cross-reference AW">AW</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>even the hairs of your head are all numbered.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"> </span><span class="text Matt-10-31" id="en-ESV-23449" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">31 </span>Fear not, therefore; <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-23449AX" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-23449AX" title="See cross-reference AX">AX</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>you are of more value than many sparrows.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-10-31" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Matthew 10:29-30</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-10-31" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="text Matt-10-31" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are two verses that always come to my mind when I begin to worry.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text Matt-10-31" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I need to know that God is in control. He's got the plan and I just need to trust Him that the God that made the universe, who knows every sparrow that falls and every human beings hair that's numbered on their heads- that He knows me and has a plan and purpose for my life. Nothing is too small for Him to care about. I have to believe that. I want to believe that. Lord, help my unbelief. </span></span></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-13716317661331164812015-04-01T19:48:00.004-07:002015-04-01T19:56:12.363-07:00Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spring is here.<br />
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I love Spring and not just because of the newness of life beginning again after a winter sleep, but for the relief of winter being over. I love fall, when the leaves start changing and there's a crispness to the air, but knowing the dark days that are ahead of me makes me shiver and not in the cold way. I suffer from terrible depression in the winter months. When Spring comes and the days start getting lighter earlier, the long winter days are coming to an end and my dark days of depression are too. Spring is always filled with hope for me.<br />
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When I see new growth in my garden and wake up to the birds singing through my open window. ( I love sleeping with my window open) my whole body seems to take a deep breath and as I exhale my whole being seems to untangle itself and I feel the real me starting to come to the surface. I don't like the person I become when I'm depressed. I don't like her at all. When those first clues of Spring come round, I feel it's almost like an awakening for the real me. I just wish I could hold onto her during those dark times. Which reminds me of the saying <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_wishes_were_horses,_beggars_would_ride" target="_blank">"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride"</a><br />
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Anyhoo, I love to take walks every day with my dog and with my handy dandy camera phone, I can take pictures along the way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0JqgPBP6MZGuVCvixCxVr1dfHDX16W6yrI4cAsF2-AHCG8e4wRb3nkArsaWaeR6_Ol5xo9VbxzKtSt6QFU_M5nPyunwCm1euj6oLtJsJmNa0mVuRptCBG-v3IQsyFYGQMeZnjiq42Dmp/s1600/IMG_20150307_142805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0JqgPBP6MZGuVCvixCxVr1dfHDX16W6yrI4cAsF2-AHCG8e4wRb3nkArsaWaeR6_Ol5xo9VbxzKtSt6QFU_M5nPyunwCm1euj6oLtJsJmNa0mVuRptCBG-v3IQsyFYGQMeZnjiq42Dmp/s1600/IMG_20150307_142805.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chelsea and Tucker. Tuck Tuck leading the way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U9hkBR_IlvTsehEBtQ19YqWk5MnWQc9GSgZ-9ufop5vhUfaFPxN3THub-6vvVVbGw1W25e7Ct8aarmDwS4lF_nW0mbGFT9CNTWLK4gZNUCjAwGzuITMs7LU302r1VpMw95LIUItkwgmx/s1600/IMG_20150326_124338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1U9hkBR_IlvTsehEBtQ19YqWk5MnWQc9GSgZ-9ufop5vhUfaFPxN3THub-6vvVVbGw1W25e7Ct8aarmDwS4lF_nW0mbGFT9CNTWLK4gZNUCjAwGzuITMs7LU302r1VpMw95LIUItkwgmx/s1600/IMG_20150326_124338.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New growth on my japanese maple. I love this picture.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0_Xd4v4tfvQdh4ZfeL9CaqwgcMEVy9Evf1Mu9a5dMzEiFRAAlYzDYxtTPfBQk8V5DJd-AP-REZkXV_eGs4tbqmE9KNR8LyBHkmwCO90Jqc4TUArz3IoKQUVUzf0IcnF0KOWBmX_5tT5H/s1600/20150401_183907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0_Xd4v4tfvQdh4ZfeL9CaqwgcMEVy9Evf1Mu9a5dMzEiFRAAlYzDYxtTPfBQk8V5DJd-AP-REZkXV_eGs4tbqmE9KNR8LyBHkmwCO90Jqc4TUArz3IoKQUVUzf0IcnF0KOWBmX_5tT5H/s1600/20150401_183907.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ymX8re1jIZ1IFuacD9dAK8_WWaTOTAkBxk5wRAGnzCDcK8rbKqw35PysrHnE_SvbpiQa0gbmiNhvq5cHUc3FIfJkEcX6UsvNjatkkrOFy2xdYOduMQqOwtUcP9xbvlIUn80tkcEdCiUZ/s1600/IMG_20150322_121456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ymX8re1jIZ1IFuacD9dAK8_WWaTOTAkBxk5wRAGnzCDcK8rbKqw35PysrHnE_SvbpiQa0gbmiNhvq5cHUc3FIfJkEcX6UsvNjatkkrOFy2xdYOduMQqOwtUcP9xbvlIUn80tkcEdCiUZ/s1600/IMG_20150322_121456.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These tulips I planted around 7 years ago. I think the originals had babies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo of my flowering plum.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT0LY2VFHyu2w71_dL4rAupYoiNWousBZ9_8aXekmRZRUaEFQRnImr9nBdBRnXWhYJDhozviZPPIDYITpEi2PIPxpDklItVMkBIiGfYHwUBtA0iL6TBIb4PezgiBxbvQD1KN_06WulojX/s1600/IMG_20150303_165808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT0LY2VFHyu2w71_dL4rAupYoiNWousBZ9_8aXekmRZRUaEFQRnImr9nBdBRnXWhYJDhozviZPPIDYITpEi2PIPxpDklItVMkBIiGfYHwUBtA0iL6TBIb4PezgiBxbvQD1KN_06WulojX/s1600/IMG_20150303_165808.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">found these out on my walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxk3yuypNNGY-S1bZQqY7HlnS6VKQE2v2Xi3YsE4maYONW07huWCxLFmHX8gB7ZTBju18yCowxsMkJfZ14XqjWtXPSuYAx2wQmY0e1X5M6dYG9x4vcrBky238QZYa_8pg5gVKwb3Oqg6e/s1600/IMG_20150210_170924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxk3yuypNNGY-S1bZQqY7HlnS6VKQE2v2Xi3YsE4maYONW07huWCxLFmHX8gB7ZTBju18yCowxsMkJfZ14XqjWtXPSuYAx2wQmY0e1X5M6dYG9x4vcrBky238QZYa_8pg5gVKwb3Oqg6e/s1600/IMG_20150210_170924.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cute little things<br />
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Hope you enjoyed a tagging along on my walk with me. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-9417082833105249452015-03-31T10:45:00.000-07:002015-03-31T12:24:17.352-07:00Hello again!Oh my goodness. I've got to blow the dust off my blog and start connecting. AmIright?<br />
<br />
So much has been going on in my life, time to do some catch up. Shall we?<br />
<br />
My Mom.<br />
Last I was here, my Mom was going through a pretty major health crisis and I was going through some painful family issues that was concerning the care of my mother. Although, the family issues are still the same( I have created some strong boundaries around myself) my mother has gotten better! She seems to have recovered from the blow she took to the head in a fall and she's home and getting around pretty well. I still have some pretty major concerns with her care, but she's happy and to me? That's all that matters.<br />
Things have been pretty crazy with my new, not so new, additions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharvPbDDBWStoHfq7luCNqfNYbSvVlBIWSZMa32rmFn0WlZtK1fCAMAw2fDnt8iL94YFe6mw_oHjJbXOAL1AYP3twj4i3Sel5fQDMZIO_0hCTYuk27IizyHMdRd_yg72kGWq1NGnRAoVtn/s1600/IMG_20150322_110931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharvPbDDBWStoHfq7luCNqfNYbSvVlBIWSZMa32rmFn0WlZtK1fCAMAw2fDnt8iL94YFe6mw_oHjJbXOAL1AYP3twj4i3Sel5fQDMZIO_0hCTYuk27IizyHMdRd_yg72kGWq1NGnRAoVtn/s1600/IMG_20150322_110931.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pippin the wonderful!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09Nr6PmmwqydYusck_7xXHcAr41dpXYqzBGRp4vnVWlrVwfBAuhLIZMP2kfrVpKtEw_BkYDihC04u4AFaJhdlqip5ZKZE_XWJk3L48kVMirVfCHv6unAPmikjBYet4DuDP0QCLWzdYNBv/s1600/IMG_20150321_162718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09Nr6PmmwqydYusck_7xXHcAr41dpXYqzBGRp4vnVWlrVwfBAuhLIZMP2kfrVpKtEw_BkYDihC04u4AFaJhdlqip5ZKZE_XWJk3L48kVMirVfCHv6unAPmikjBYet4DuDP0QCLWzdYNBv/s1600/IMG_20150321_162718.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucy the little dragon.<br />
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These two, along with my two cockatiels and my two dogs, keep me really busy. I would love to go on a vacation! I don't see that happening anytime soon. Sad. I really need one.<br />
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I started volunteering at a Parrot Sanctuary.<br />
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Ended up getting my hand bit and needing stitches. Good times.<br />
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But I love it. I get to spend time with around 300 parrots that includes Macaws, African Greys and Timnehs, Amazons and the smaller Macaws. I have such a passion for these creatures. My son has developed a love for them and has come along with me to volunteer.We get to spend some awesome time together.<br />
One thing I did learn, the hard way, they can repeat what you say from hearing it....ONE TIME. Yeah...remember that parrot lovers.<br />
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Let's see.<br />
My husband, the week before Christmas was in a pretty nasty car accident. Totaled his 2014 Camaro with a drive to the hospital in an ambulance. To which he called me from. I freaked out.<br />
He only suffered minor bumps and bruises..THANK YOU GOD! The car was a loss but it wasn't his fault. An 18 year old kid trying to avoid hitting a car in front of him, turned into the oncoming traffic. My husband hit him head on. It was a scary day indeed but all walked away with only minor injuries, due to the fact that the kid was driving a Volvo ( a very safe car) and vehicles are made so much safer now. All air bags deployed.<br />
My husband is now waiting on his new car to arrive. A 2015 GT Mustang. Cars aren't my thing, but I sure like this one.<br />
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Lets see...<br />
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My son is doing really well in school! He has some learning difficulties so seeing him thrive warms this mama's heart!<br />
Unfortunately, he'll have to switch to a new high school in a different district next year. That means he'll be going to a new school knowing no one. I'm praying and praying hoping this will be a good transition. I know God has it all under control and I'm more than hopeful this will be a really good move for him. It wasn't a decision we wanted but we have to trust God. Trust that He has my son and his interest and life in His hands. He loves Jesus so I know, it may be a hard transition and he may go through some tough days, but I keep telling him to have hope. God has his good in mind and He works all things out for good for those who love Him. Trust the process and don't lose vision.<br />
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Anyhoo, I plan on trying to be more consistent with my posting. I have a few things that I've been working on, craftwise and I'll be brewing my own beer and making some wine! Strawberry season is almost upon us and I've been so excited to make a strawberry wine. Yum! I'm also excited to start on this new hobby. To be honest, I'm not a big beer drinker or wine drinker for that matter but the process of making it sounds so fun!<br />
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Do something you love today.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-45004221558604983452014-09-16T10:23:00.001-07:002014-09-16T10:24:39.222-07:00Catch upIt's been a while since I've stopped to say "Hello!". Life has been busy and a bit stressful and sitting down to try and organize my thoughts always seems like such a daunting task. It would probably be good for me to do just that, since I tend to bounce from here to there with no direction at times.<br />
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Anyhoo! Here's what's new at the zoo. When I say zoo, I mean just that. We have some new additions to the Lewis zoo.<br />
Here's Pippin a yellow sided green cheek conure.<br />
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And Lucy. A Quaker.<br />
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These two are added to my current "flock" that would be two cockatiels Buddy and Tully.<br />
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And last but not least...these two.<br />
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This last week has been pretty hectic. Lucy had finished weaning last Saturday and was able to come home. It's been a slow process for her adjusting with all the action around here. She had been living in a little cubby for the last few months. She adjusting nicely though!</div>
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My son picked up a bug at school (yay. for back to school viruses!) and has been home sick over the weekend and missed school Monday and today.</div>
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My mother is in ICU at the hospital with C-Diff infection that she's been fighting for months. It was a horrific and a hellish event/experience that landed her there (I was there and involved) and I'm frustrated and angry with my Father. </div>
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My dog has been ill. </div>
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And this morning, I did this.</div>
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Sliced the side tip of my finger off and I'm quite sure I saw bone. Ow.</div>
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These circumstances, whether good or bad, have been great opportunities to practice patience, mindfulness and peace. Letting the negative flow out and the positive pour in. I like to look at the positive as being God's love pouring into me and building my faith, despite seemingly impossible circumstances in one current situation. It brings me patience as it seems to slow down time when things seem out of control so I can take a step back, breathe deep and rest in His Presence. Let His peace be in the front of my mind always.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Philippians 4:7 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-35903978376984788732014-07-23T14:11:00.000-07:002014-07-23T14:11:08.717-07:00Hello!<br />
How's everyone?<br />
It's been busy around here with my son, who just turned 14, home for the summer. Trying to keep a boy entertained and off the internet can be a challenge and that's been keeping me pretty busy. We don't live in a neighborhood with boys his age, they're all under 9 it seems, so friends have to be driven here or picked up or he's driven there. It's really no problem, but he's a spur of the moment kind of kid and I am soooo not spur of the moment, so adjusting to his life takes some major adjusting in mine. It's all good though.<br />
It seems the internet and video games is how kids socialize these days. My son gets on and plays with his friends with the whole set up; laptop and headphones and they all communicate with each other. It's like they're together but in a virtual world. It bothers me at times since my childhood, back to the "good ol days", was riding bikes until the sun goes down and just being outside all day. That's my main thing with my son---get outside! Times ARE different and that's just the way it is. So we walk the dogs, go geocaching, take him swimming, ride bikes and kayak at the river. Since he's not into sports and doesn't play in them, he needs some other physical activity and real life experiences. Times are just different.<br />
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Summer has been really great so far and my garden has been so beautiful. I harvested a few Zucchini from a pot I planted them in.<br />
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I made vegetarian stuffed zucchini last night that was pretty good. My husband really liked it but I didn't care for the texture, so I'll be using a different method next time for the stuffing. The flavors were great!<br />
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I've been so excited that my zucchini has been doing so well since I had so much trouble with them last year with blossom rot. I lost all of the vegetables on my two plants I had potted. My father in law told me it was inconsistent watering that caused it, so this year I've been watching it like a hawk. I've been thrilled with all the blossoms and new growth with the tiny little zucchinis.<br />
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Until yesterday.<br />
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They're rotting. *sigh*<br />
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I tried.<br />
Not sure what I'll do with the plant. Hopefully, it'll only be the few that I found but it looks like it's affecting everything.<br />
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This summer has been really nice outside. Usually, June can be pretty rainy and cold only warming up after the 4th of July, but this year we've had a really nice and warm spring and summer. Today it's been pouring but the plants needed it so badly. The neighborhood trees are starting to lose their leaves for lack of water.<br />
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I do have some sad news. I'm an animal lover and have quite a few. One of those is a little guinea pig, my son's little guinea pig. Bugsy is her name. Well, Bugsy started acting a little off a few weeks ago and since guinea pigs go down real fast when they get sick, I immediately took her to the vet. He found she had some swollen lymph nodes and wanted to check her for cancer. Two days later the results were in--she had an aggressive form of lymphoma and she only had a very short period of time. I had decided to put her down the following day so she wouldn't suffer. I was given plenty of pain killers for her and we were able to give her lots of cuddles and love but it was so hard and my heart breaks everytime I lose a pet. I know that I give my pets the most excellent care so she had a wonderful life. I miss her. She was a great pig.<br />
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In more pet news, I've been looking into getting another bird here for the last several months and have finally chosen which one I'm going to add to the flock. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green-cheeked_parakeet" target="_blank">A Green-cheeked Conure.</a> I'll be setting up it's cage this week. Saturday, I'll be going to take a look at the one the gal has. She's been gone all week and the husband doesn't allow people out to his home when he's alone. (Totally get that) and he said she'll be home Saturday. They're people who hand raise baby parrots and bird of all kinds and have lots of seals of approval. They don't breed but get their babies from reputable breeders. They have a 4 month of Conure that I would like to see. They live about and hour and half away, but I have no problem going there and if the bird will not work for me--going home without one. I'm pretty picky about what I want and the health. They only make appointments for people to come out and see their babies and how they run the place and that's a great sign of a good bird people. But, if the bird doesn't like me..yeah...no. These can live for up to 20 years. I've got to get the one that will work for me and that likes me. I'm excited to get to training but the first month the poor little thing has to be quarantined away from my other birds. Just for a month to make sure he won't make my birds sick. Birds, when under stress, can get sick especially if they're carrying diseases that lay dormant until the bird gets stressed. This can affect my other birds and make them sick, so it's best to play by the rules and quarantine the little one for 30 days.<br />
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I'm pretty excited and I'll keep ya'll posted.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-61669487330435544272014-07-08T17:22:00.004-07:002014-07-08T17:54:46.396-07:00Blueberry Lemonade Oat muffins <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today is my son's 14th birthday and I'm amazed at how time will fly by without a care in the world. One day you wake up and that little itty bitty baby now has a man voice (kinda) and is almost as tall as me, and I'm tall! </div>
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He had a friend over to play video games most of the night, but I was pretty surprised when they conked out at around midnight. </div>
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My son loves to have people over night and the more the merrier. But, that means I get to cook breakfast for a bunch of teenage boys. </div>
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I wanted to try something other than my go to pancakes and I had a bunch of blueberries in the freezer, so I thought I would wow them with my muffin skills. (not).</div>
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It's a super easy recipe with the muffins being light and tasty. I had some lemonade (the fresh stuff) in the fridge I needed to use up so I thought I would try it in this recipe. I love lemon and blueberry together and adding the lemonade gave a nice amount of flavor and kick of lemon at the end of the bite. The oatmeal gave the right amount of texture. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Blueberry Lemonade Oat muffins</span></b></div>
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1/2 cup quick cooking oats</div>
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1/2 cup lemonade</div>
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1 1/2 cups all purpose flour</div>
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1/2 cup white sugar</div>
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1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder</div>
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1/2 teaspoon salt</div>
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1/4 teaspoon baking soda</div>
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1/2 cup vegetable oil</div>
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1 egg</div>
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1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries.</div>
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For the topping</div>
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1 Tablespoon turbinado sugar</div>
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1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon</div>
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a 12 cup muffin pan by lightly spraying with non-stick spray.</div>
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In a small bowl, combine the oats and the lemonade and set aside.</div>
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In a medium bowl combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Whisk those together and set aside.</div>
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In another medium bowl mix the oil and egg together.</div>
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Add the combined egg and oil mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. The batter will be dry looking but keep mixing until it's mixed together.</div>
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Once the egg, oil and the dry ingredients are mixed well, add the combined lemonade and cooking oats and mix together. </div>
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Gently fold in your blueberries.</div>
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Fill the muffin pan cups 2/3 full. There should be enough batter for 12 muffins. In a small bowl, combine turbinado sugar and cinnamon. (or regular sugar but turbinado gives more of a crunch) Sprinkle onto the muffins. </div>
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Bake muffins for 18- 20 minutes or when a toothpick inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.</div>
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Let cool for a few minutes.</div>
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Dig in!</div>
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My son said they were "delicious"! (no prodding from me, he said it all on his own) and he and his friend gobbled them all down.</div>
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A success and better than pancakes!</div>
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Although, I can make a mean pancake.</div>
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(Recipe slightly adapted from <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/blueberry-oat-muffins/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Allrecipes</a>)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-86699564838971583272014-07-05T11:33:00.002-07:002014-07-05T15:33:21.978-07:00Happy Fourth Of July!Hope everyone had an exciting and happy 4th of July!<br />
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We had a lot of fun in my neck of the woods, with a friend and his kids, over at our home. We didn't buy fireworks this year since I'm such a cheapy and didn't want to spend money on something I'll burn up. My dogs freak out, so I usually spend the evening and the rest of the night under a cocker spaniel and a golden retriever, since they insist on climbing on me when the booms start. Anyhoo, we decided to take the money that we would normally spend on fireworks every year and divide it up three ways, then each of us could do what we wanted with the "fireworks" money. If one of us wanted to buy fireworks, we could. But, each of us decided to do something else with it. Our friends had some fireworks they purchased and decided to light them off in our neighborhood. Which was a lot of fun despite the fact we were fourth of July scrooges.<br />
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Our neighborhood usually has a ton of fireworks up and down the the street but this year, it seemed folks were out of town since it was a lot quieter.</div>
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AND, my sons birthday is coming up, he'll be 14 on the 8th, so we celebrate his birthday on the 8th and on the 4th. He gets two birthdays!</div>
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Per his request he wanted a chocolate oreo cookie cake so I came up with this and it was delicious! Actually, this was mostly his idea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWMtPoCPlqfvP3Kc-N8rIDbk_Bf4CH4LBtcelnA-oGjnvxu3g1wCJ5MfZ_g5LG-EP2C-7rTLYlSKkTHjx_FpE_c0R5OzqIQpySgo_tyJcvKavit39EARAL1h3pKbeEFbQDi0YKm5u6LsE/s1600/IMG_20140704_152937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWMtPoCPlqfvP3Kc-N8rIDbk_Bf4CH4LBtcelnA-oGjnvxu3g1wCJ5MfZ_g5LG-EP2C-7rTLYlSKkTHjx_FpE_c0R5OzqIQpySgo_tyJcvKavit39EARAL1h3pKbeEFbQDi0YKm5u6LsE/s1600/IMG_20140704_152937.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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We don't care for the thick frostings on cakes so I usually use Cool Whip. Have you ever tried it? I won't go back to regular frosting.</div>
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For this cake, we made a devils food chocolate box cake and added crushed up oreos to the whip. We used two sleeves of the cookies and crushed them really well then added it to the Cool Whip. It's gets pretty messy but, I love to play with mah food. So..there ya have it. </div>
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Frost that cake just like you would with regular frosting.</div>
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Top it off with a few oreos. Refrigerate until you want to eat that bad boy.</div>
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It was deeee licious!</div>
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My husband took off Thursday so it gave him an extra long weekend but I put him to work.</div>
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We've been debating about putting trees up on the hill behind our house or a fence for privacy reasons. A fence was going to cost a lot more than some fast growing trees, so, we picked the trees.</div>
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Here in the Northwest, the dirt is really hard and clay like, it's called hardpan and it can be about as hard as concrete. My husband is digging holes in this stuff. I tried, but the incline is close to 45 degrees and the dirt is so hard, my knees and ankles couldn't do it. My hubby is a runner and a cyclist so this was not problem for him. I'm a big baby.</div>
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And NOT only can he dig holes in horrible dirt at a 45 degree angle, but he can make one of the best apple pies on earth.</div>
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Kid. You. Not. </div>
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The best. ON. EARTH.</div>
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I do have to interject that my son and I peeled the apples and sliced them. </div>
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Did ya BBQ? I think that's the thing to do on the fourth since everybody's grill was fired up. After we ate we played a fun Star Wars Saga role playing game.</div>
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Our friend, who's a genius and a geek through and through (think of Sheldon on Big Bang, give him a funny personality and that's our friend (and he has six kids) ) he was the Game Master and had created this particular game. </div>
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So much fun. </div>
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We all ended the night with a bang!! It was a great time.</div>
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Hope everyone had a safe and happy fourth of July! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-56998604718445305012014-06-25T10:04:00.002-07:002014-07-01T22:34:07.484-07:00My summer reading listDo you have a summer reading list? An "all year long" reading list? Stacks of books here and there and everywhere that you call your "list"?<br />
That would be me. I have book stacks everywhere and since I read several books at a time, they're pretty much all over. Then, I have a Kindle too. Yup. Lots and Lots and LOTS of books on there. My summer reading is <i>within</i> my stacks. There was a time I was trying to declutter my books and find homes for them. (Get rid of the stacks) I realized that this is just part of who I am and I'll always be. A book stacker. No matter where I live, I will <i>always</i> have book stacks scattered around here and there.<br />
Embrace the stacks<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacks. I'm not picky, I'll read anything. From Dragon Keepers to Depression cures to Creaky Knee hikes.</td></tr>
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There was a time I had to finish a book, even if I didn't care for it or it bored me. I don't do that anymore. Lifes too short and there's too many really good books out there to waste my time on a bad read. Reading is one of my most favorite past times. Full times. Present times. Future times. Yeah. Getting lost in a good book is one of my most longed for experiences in life. When that happens, the world disappears, and you feel as if you're part of the story? Heaven. So I don't waste time on time wasters.<br />
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I love great writers. A writer that can take you on a journey that you'll not soon or ever, forget. Lots of authors out there. But a writer, one that can whisk you away on a fantastical journey can be a bit hard to find. At least, that's what I've found lately since everyone and their mother is writing a book. Doesn't make them a good writer just makes them an author of a book. Seems to be the new thing lately. If you have any type of celebrity, you write a book. It's a money making machine. I find it hard to find <i>really</i> good writers that write <i><b>really</b></i> good books. (Please...suggest some of your favorites. I would LOVE to know.)<br />
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Anyhoo....<br />
Since my summer reading "lists" are my stacks that are random and forever change, I <b>do</b> have several that I intend to read this summer and books that I have read, that I felt were a lot of fun, and I want to share with you. I'll be sharing my reading this summer so hopefully you'll find a good book you'll want to grab and get lost in. I know everyone has different reading tastes so my likes might not be your likes and that's cool.<br />
We can all still be friends.<br />
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I'll be honest about the books I read and talk about here. If it's a waste of time? I let you know how I feel about it. If it's a great read, a lot of fun, and I recommend it? I let you know what I think. Some may agree. Some may not. I'm certainly not a book critic and I'm not being paid to do this, I'll just give my honest opinion on whether I think it's a great or not so great read and hopefully you'll find something that catches your eye and I'll take you on a fantastical journey!<br />
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So! I'll share a couple of books I've read the last couple of weeks and you can decide if they're for you.<br />
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Here's a couple I have read and enjoyed, maybe you will too.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18667945-girlboss?from_search=true" target="_blank">#GIRLBOSS</a> by Sophia Amoruso (on my kindle)<br />
I LOVE this book. She's incredibly inspiring, especially for someone who has an entrepreneurial spirit such as I. It would be a great read for a young women starting out in her career or her own business, that with hard work, determination and an attitude of not quitting, you'll be successful. I'd say it's a must read for any young woman. For this middle aged gal who is just now getting into #GIRLBOSS mode, since my young son is getting older and needing less and less of me, this SAHMom is needing to get out into the job force or start my own business. This book was just the book I needed. She really builds you up, in a realistic way, that you can do anything you want to do. With hard work. I related a lot to her so that may be why the book so resonated with me. Not only is she the CEO and owner of a company worth 100 million bucks (that part didn't resonate) but she's an inspiration and a great writer to boot. Well, worth the read. Well worth the purchase!<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6055063-the-sweet-life-in-paris?ac=1" target="_blank">The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz</a> <br />
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This is a super fun read! He's a pretty funny writer and can keep your attention in anticipation for what will happen next. He's a pastry chef turned cookbook author that moved to Paris to "start a new life". I'm about halfway done with this book and I'm loving it! You get some french recipes as well. Well worth the purchase.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6186357-the-maze-runner?ac=1" target="_blank">The Maze Runner</a> by James Dashner (kindle)<br />
This is a young adult book. I actually LOVE young adult books. (But NOT Twilight. Yuck)<br />
This book was...OK. It's about a kid who ends up in this maze with a bunch of other kids. Their memories are hazy so they don't know where they are or how they got there. These kids are trying to find a way out through this maze that has a living area in the middle. There's huge stone doors, that open up to the maze, that are in the enormous walls that surround the living area. The doors open in the morning and close in the evening and the kids don't want to get caught outside the doors. They have runners running throughout the maze to try and find a way out but have to get back before the doors close.<br />
It was pretty suspenseful at times but had some times in the book that seemed to drag on and times where you just want the author to get to the point. But overall, it was like a good show on tv that you watch and then forget. It was entertaining but not can't-put-it-down-can't-wait-to-get-back-to-it kinda book. I've read some young adult can't puter downers. This one? Not so much, but you may not agree. Young adults would probably think differently. There's a cute little romance, maybe, going on.<br />
I did purchase the next book in the series since the ending caught me up into the storyline enough to want to know what happens next, but it you want to read it? Get it from the library.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18126822-notes-from-a-blue-bike?from_search=true" target="_blank">Notes from a Blue Bike: the Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World by Tsh Oxenreider</a> (Kindle)<br />
It was OK. I love her blog but I was a tiny bit disappointed in the book. She writes a lot about simplicity with a young family and since my kid is 14 and I don't have littles around, I skipped over a bunch. A lot of it's common sense. I enjoyed the writing aspect of it (she writes a good story) and she has some good points but I felt she was strongly opinionated in a lot of areas that I didn't quite agree with so the book seemed a bit preachy. I <i>felt</i> as if I was being preached at. It was ok though. I finished it. It's another library read too.<br />
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There's a few that I've read recently and maybe one that sparks your interest.<br />
Until next time get your nose in a book. It's good for your brain.<br />
Let me know your favorite authors and best reads!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-25418744389215868592014-06-20T09:09:00.000-07:002014-07-01T23:17:48.657-07:00Roasted Veggies on Flat Bread with Avocado Sauce Are you digging in to all your summer vegetables? I know I am and lovin it! I love trolling around Trader Joe's and Whole Foods scooping up all the organic goodies I can find. This is my first summer as a vegetarian and experimenting with different vegetables has been a lot of fun and tasty. The vegetables are fresh and relatively inexpensive, so trying new things this summer is definitely on my list of to dos.<br />
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Look what I made last night.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlZxjBReDz6AHfcnCPxOckZg5WnRK7ZOo7EhAk6Iwz0RuHh0G3YfbGmvukmotkSwPi_ZDY32Sk5AN3ftHxJOE1luyUu3nKzXcNaS-OWjE8DKmfUExbiXoy3ldFEI9ZL6NrQQMXQ_-DKSn/s1600/Screenshot_2014-07-01-23-15-53%25257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlZxjBReDz6AHfcnCPxOckZg5WnRK7ZOo7EhAk6Iwz0RuHh0G3YfbGmvukmotkSwPi_ZDY32Sk5AN3ftHxJOE1luyUu3nKzXcNaS-OWjE8DKmfUExbiXoy3ldFEI9ZL6NrQQMXQ_-DKSn/s640/Screenshot_2014-07-01-23-15-53%25257E2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Not kidding here kids. This was an explosion of flavors in my mouth and was really hard not to overeat and stuff my face full.<br />
Not only were the flavors outstanding but it was soooo easy! The roasted vegetables really set it off and then adding the avocado sauce and the little bit of tang of the feta? Oh. My. GAH. Soooo flipping good.<br />
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Here's what I did and here's what ya'll need:<br />
2 yellow squash or summer squash as some call it. Medium size.<br />
2 medium sized zucchinis<br />
1 medium sized Walla Walla onion.(You gotta find the Walla Walla. My grandad used to say you could eat them like an apple. They're a pretty sweet onion and when roasted the sweetness explodes. If you can't find Walla Wallas any ol onion will do.)<br />
1 Red Pepper<br />
2 medium sized carrots.<br />
4 Tablespoons of olive oil<br />
Salt and Pepper<br />
Soft flat bread<br />
Feta<br />
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I was going to grill these up on the BBQ, but I got real lazy so I put my veggies under the broiler. I cut up all the veggies lengthwise so when I put them in the flat bread, they didn't fall out on me. ( Nothing more frustrating when eating taco style.) I cut them around a 1/4 inch thick so they won't get mushy and fall apart under the broiler but get nice and roasted. I used two pans and loaded the veggies on and drizzled with the olive oil and sprinkled some salt and pepper, mixed them up with my hands to coat all the veggies with the oil and into the oven they went.<br />
I have my oven rack in the center of my oven. Broiling seems to roast and caramelize (is that the word for it?) the veggies better than baking them. My veggies were nicely cooked and roasted after about 15 minutes or so. But I kept and eye on them so they wouldn't burn. I wanted them where they just started to turn brown. That's where alllll the flavor is in this dish. The roasted veggies.<br />
Ohhhh so good.<br />
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Meanwhile while my veggies were roasting away I made my avocado sauce. Ok...who doesn't like avocado? I mean the texture alone gets me all lovin it. So anything that has avocado on it, I'm probably going to like. Make me a sauce? Love you forever. Is that creepy? Maybe. A little. Anyway!<br />
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For the Avocado Sauce you need:<br />
1 avocado<br />
1 clove of garlic<br />
1 shallot just a bit bigger than the garlic clove. You don't want too much<br />
1 Tablespoon lemon juice<br />
1/4 cup of plain greek yogurt<br />
1 cup water<br />
Salt and pepper to taste.<br />
Use a blender or a food processor and blend all that together until nice and creamy.( I tried real hard not to sit down and eat it out of the bowl.) Salt and pepper that creamy goodness to taste. I like a lot of salt with my avocado. But that's just me.<br />
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Once my veggies were done I was off to the races piling it onto my flat bread that I warmed in the micro for a minute or so.<br />
Piled it high, drizzled what was left of the avocado sauce, sprinkled some feta on that bad boy and stuffed my face.<br />
The flavors of the roasted veggies, the creamy coolness of the avocado sauce and the tang of the feta all wrapped around with the soft flat bread? This is quite possibly my most favorite food combo evah!<br />
It's so easy.<br />
Fast.<br />
Healthy and filling.<br />
Flavor explosive.<br />
Meatless.<br />
Yup, my kind of eating and cooking.<br />
And, there's avocado on it.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-22935798089271900772014-06-19T11:31:00.001-07:002014-06-25T16:00:30.303-07:00The Words I speak... I love those times when I have these great discussions with my son. You know, those times when your teenager actually <i>wants</i> to listen to what you have to say. Well, I should say, we <i>both</i> want to hear what each other has to say.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHk9Z7pj4HnZWSdDYY9MrC9TFEjV7o9Hqt6pdAGKBlu4LldpCPJgc3x3_ZrmirX7e9ZfVtRhsZ4FNUw3kAb8kMlNN5_4RJqCHslLFlgUSxKpXxprnpg2Z0IXgAZjNSWD-TimOwupCE-nY/s1600/20140612_184647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRHk9Z7pj4HnZWSdDYY9MrC9TFEjV7o9Hqt6pdAGKBlu4LldpCPJgc3x3_ZrmirX7e9ZfVtRhsZ4FNUw3kAb8kMlNN5_4RJqCHslLFlgUSxKpXxprnpg2Z0IXgAZjNSWD-TimOwupCE-nY/s1600/20140612_184647.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My boy getting his purple belt in Karate.</td></tr>
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I admit it. Raising a teenager is tough. They have minds of their own. The sassy back talk can get to me sometimes and I can say things I don't mean.<br />
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I notice I can do that a lot, say things I don't mean when I get upset, frustrated or---the big one for me...overwhelmed. I don't understand why I do this but I want to.<br />
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The other afternoon I was analyzing my life, as I do, to try to figure out why the heck I act the way I do. I get in these high alert protective modes. From my analysis, as I do, I came up with the fact that growing up I had always felt 'threatened'. Now, I was never physically harmed and I want to make that very clear, but I was critiqued all the time. My character, my very existence, seemed to always be questioned. Whenever I did something, it was usually the wrong thing, whether or it was or it or was not. Due to the circumstances in my family, I always felt I was the one that screwed it all up. I messed up everyone's life. Had I not "accidently" come along, everyone would have been happy. Those strong feelings that dominated my childhood puts me on the defensive or high alert a lot of the time in my adulthood. I tend to be very suspicious.<br />
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Here's just a little pause to look at my pretty girl... I'm just a liiiitttllee ADD. (not kidding)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-DgcWKKyVZmD8Kjxo7lm_AScQ4AaF6R5qcoPSp84H3A02SGOT8CYVvGsYSrmbtXSPPGcef7E0kwFY3gRSay8ymdpucCxp1Ege3ZyGvTBf89ijzzlkx9WA6x9gBlSj5EeKO0eDaEclI0Y/s1600/IMG_20140618_125014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-DgcWKKyVZmD8Kjxo7lm_AScQ4AaF6R5qcoPSp84H3A02SGOT8CYVvGsYSrmbtXSPPGcef7E0kwFY3gRSay8ymdpucCxp1Ege3ZyGvTBf89ijzzlkx9WA6x9gBlSj5EeKO0eDaEclI0Y/s1600/IMG_20140618_125014.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she's perty huh?</td></tr>
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<b>Soooo</b>, when I get into arguments with my husband or son, (yes, I argue with a 13 year old and when I catch myself, I find it amazing as well) I tend to lash out and say things that are hurtful, thinking I'm protecting myself from the hurt, I believe, they are causing me. My character, <i>my being</i>, feels threatened. I would never say those things any other time, but the minute I <i>feel</i> my character taking a hit, my defenses come up. Then the words can spew out of my mouth.<br />
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Ugly words.<br />
Hateful and damaging words.<br />
Manipulative and game playing words.<br />
Words you can't take back.<br />
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*pause*<br />
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Here's another picture, since I want to you to think the best of me...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumRnIwGDb-Frl1B0dM4FKz-tsF1uUC5jYR98afpx5h2y_zVbjN_cdg_3_Mmq51Z4pR2Ag8cFSiZn7MyblMxNhCogRDStotht0pZr3cI9rbCO8e_WnVYovXxU815XD9q704QNVHrcVjN-M/s1600/20140602_081633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumRnIwGDb-Frl1B0dM4FKz-tsF1uUC5jYR98afpx5h2y_zVbjN_cdg_3_Mmq51Z4pR2Ag8cFSiZn7MyblMxNhCogRDStotht0pZr3cI9rbCO8e_WnVYovXxU815XD9q704QNVHrcVjN-M/s1600/20140602_081633.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alittleofthisandthatblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-words-i-speak.html#.U6tUdPldV5I" target="_blank">Yes, I am trying to manipulate your affections with food.</a></td></tr>
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Annnnyyyway, in the mornings I get a daily bible verse and yesterday's verse was very telling and hit me very deep. I should also say that I prayed last Sunday for the Holy Spirit to reveal in me those things that are blocking His love towards me in my life. The lies that I have placed around me, to protect me, that I want to come down. Here is the verse that came to my phone yesterday...<br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Matthew 12:36-37</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>But here is what I tell you. On judgement day, people will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. By your words you will be found guilty or not guilty.</b></span><br />
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Which gets me back to the conversation with my son. You know the one I was talking about earlier where we were both of the mind to listen. Was it a God moment? Maybe. This verse came into play.</div>
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We were talking about bullies and when they say hurtful things about you to you or to others, it's all about them and their insecurities. It's about them trying to make themselves feel better by cutting someone else down. It's never about you and to never take those words to heart. Never let those words become part of you and who you think you are. I wanted him to always know who he is and who he was created to be. That person is a child of God, created in the image of God, who is creative, compassionate, wise, artistic, smart, caring, peace loving, gentle kind and a loving soul that will always be no matter what. If we take in those negative words, name calling, less than, demeaning and useless words, that can come from <i>anybody,</i> and allow them to become our truth-- we start living lies. Then, eventually, those lies become a part of you and you will end up hurting people the same way you were hurt by one of the most powerful weapons on earth.</div>
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<b> The power of words. </b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: small;">James 3:1-12</span></h3>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>New International Reader's Version (NIRV)</b></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-3-1"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="chapternum" style="bottom: -0.1em; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative;">3 </span>My brothers and sisters, most of you shouldn’t want to be teachers. You know that those of us who teach will be held more accountable.</b></span></span></div>
<span class="text Jas-3-2" id="en-NIRV-30306"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">2 </span>All of us get tripped up in many ways. Suppose someone is never wrong in what he says. Then he is a perfect man. He is able to keep his whole body under control.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="text Jas-3-3" id="en-NIRV-30307"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">3 </span>We put a bit in the mouth of a horse to make it obey us. We can control the whole animal with it.</span> <span class="text Jas-3-4" id="en-NIRV-30308"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">4 </span>And how about ships? They are very big. They are driven along by strong winds. But they are steered by a very small rudder. It makes them go where the captain wants to go.</span></b></span><br />
<span class="text Jas-3-5" id="en-NIRV-30309"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">5 </span>In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body. But it brags a lot. Think about how a small spark can set a big forest on fire.</b></span></span><br />
<span class="text Jas-3-6" id="en-NIRV-30310"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">6 </span>The tongue also is a fire. The tongue is the most evil part of the body. It pollutes the whole person. It sets a person’s whole way of life on fire. And the tongue is set on fire by hell.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="text Jas-3-7" id="en-NIRV-30311"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">7 </span>People have controlled all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea. They still control them.</span> <span class="text Jas-3-8" id="en-NIRV-30312"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">8 </span>But no one can control the tongue. It is an evil thing that never rests. It is full of deadly poison.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="text Jas-3-9" id="en-NIRV-30313"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">9 </span>With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father. With our tongues we call down curses on people. We do it even though they have been created to be like God.</span> <span class="text Jas-3-10" id="en-NIRV-30314"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">10 </span>Praise and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it shouldn’t be that way.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="text Jas-3-11" id="en-NIRV-30315"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">11 </span>Can fresh water and salt water flow out of the same spring?</span> <span class="text Jas-3-12" id="en-NIRV-30316"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;">12 </span>My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives? Can a grapevine bear figs? Of course not. And a saltwater spring can’t produce fresh water either.</span></b></span><br />
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<span class="text Jas-3-12" style="font-size: large;">Pretty powerful!</span></div>
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Am I a bully to my son and to my husband?</div>
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You know, I think we want people to believe the negative things that we believe about ourselves. It's the whole- you think you're a jerk so you're going to act like a jerk than call people jerks because they're treating you like--a jerk. </div>
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Which brings me 'round to the words I say. </div>
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What is it that I believe about myself, that's a lie, that rises up in me and then I spew words in defence. I become a bully. But even more important than that, what words will I be held accountable for in this life and in the one to come? Especially the ones that make me feel ashamed or embarrassed after speaking them. As much as you want to believe a "sorry" makes hurtful words sting less or just disappear from memory, is a lie. It doesn't go away like magic and most the time it never does. "Sorry's" just makes <i>me</i> feel better about it. So, if my words have so much power to hurt or heal and I'll be held accountable for them later, I think I should start being more acutely aware of what I say, at all times. Sometimes it's better to just walk away than say something that will never go away.</div>
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Here are some great verses for me to get down deep in my heart and not let go...</div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;">James 1:19-20 NIrV</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="text Jas-1-19" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"> </span>My dear brothers and sisters, pay attention to what I say. Everyone should be quick to listen. But they should be slow to speak. They should be slow to get angry.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="text Jas-1-20" id="en-NIRV-30271" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="versenum" style="vertical-align: top;"> </span>A man’s anger doesn’t produce the kind of life God wants.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Proverbs 17:28 NIRV</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="text Prov-17-28" id="en-NIRV-16902" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; position: relative;">We think even a foolish person is wise if he keeps silent.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-17-28" style="position: relative;">We think he understands what is right if he controls his tongue.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-17-28" style="position: relative;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-17-28" style="position: relative;"><b>Proverbs 29:20 NIrV</b></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="text Prov-29-20" id="en-NIRV-17245" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; position: relative;">Have you seen a man who speaks without thinking?</span><span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-29-20" style="position: relative;">There is more hope for foolish people than for him.</span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="text Jas-1-20" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Proverbs 15:1 NIRV</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">A gentle answer turns anger away.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-15-1" style="position: relative;"><b>But mean words stir up anger.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-15-1" style="position: relative;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="indent-1" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-15-1" style="position: relative;"><b>Ephesians 4:29 NIRV</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span class="versenum" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t let any evil talk come out of your mouths. Say only what will help to build others up and meet their needs. Then what you say will help those who listen.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And here's my own verse-</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meredith 1:100008964538587</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just zip it. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-16198223133218958782014-06-17T18:26:00.003-07:002014-07-01T23:14:22.257-07:00Pine Nut Couscous Stuffed Green Pepper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This Pine Nut Couscous Stuffed Green Pepper is such an easy meal to make, satisfying and very tasty.</div>
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It's also a great vegetarian dish that gets me away from the typical salads and plain veggies I get stuck on and since I've been trying to venture out and try new dishes that my whole family will enjoy, this one seems to have hit it's mark. </div>
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Even my 13 year old loved it.</div>
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Works for me! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrugJXd3KVGe_uOwpDp3xUSTNd50E9L8luQamLrh3PuVtoUg4EssVql0d6aaMjWKXXFWAnQwfdxJ4RMoLclbPvaqkYDkBoPt6pDz9NYJLwUIzOBaZpuFtGpUcPx8_Yo68VzHLAV_L0mQfB/s1600/Screenshot_2014-07-01-23-06-03%25257E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrugJXd3KVGe_uOwpDp3xUSTNd50E9L8luQamLrh3PuVtoUg4EssVql0d6aaMjWKXXFWAnQwfdxJ4RMoLclbPvaqkYDkBoPt6pDz9NYJLwUIzOBaZpuFtGpUcPx8_Yo68VzHLAV_L0mQfB/s640/Screenshot_2014-07-01-23-06-03%25257E2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Ingredients</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">1 box of toasted pine nut couscous ( I used the Near East brand) </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">2 medium sized organic green peppers (you can use any color, I just had green on hand.)</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">1 small organic carrot </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">1 small organic zucchini </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Tablespoon of olive oil</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Feta for topping</span></div>
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Instructions:</div>
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Turn your oven on to 350 degrees and prepare a medium sized baking dish with a little non-stick spray then fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.</div>
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While waiting for the water to boil, dice up the carrot and zucchini. Heat up the olive oil in a small saute pan then saute the carrot and zucchini until tender. When tender, put aside.</div>
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Make up the couscous by following the directions on box. </div>
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Meanwhile, wash and halve your green peppers. Gently, scoop out the seeds, the white part and top of the green pepper to make a little bowl. You'll have four halves.</div>
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When your water is boiling, gently place your halved green peppers into the water. Set your timer for 3 minutes and allow your peppers to take a nice hot bath as it comes back to a boil, then remove your peppers from the water and place them in your baking dish.</div>
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(This cooks them a bit so you don't have raw peppers after baking.)</div>
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Now, add your sauteed veggies to the cooked couscous and gently stir together. </div>
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Fill each pepper with the couscous/veggie mixture. Don't be shy, fill um up!</div>
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I use all of the couscous for the four peppers. Mound them high!</div>
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Add the feta on top. I won't say how much because I like a lot, some like a little. It's up to you.</div>
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Bake for 20-25 minutes in the oven to warm through. </div>
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Set the oven to broil and broil the peppers for 3 to 4 minutes or until the cheese has browned a bit.</div>
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Remove from the oven.</div>
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SCARF!</div>
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This is a really good dish, tasty and fast. It you try it, let me know if you liked it. ;0)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-570175014792682272014-06-12T15:41:00.000-07:002014-06-12T15:48:21.881-07:00Horsetail the Garden Devil<div style="text-align: center;">
See this? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQcl4mqS7X1FALtrcdw4jzPBQMhafRioTBlkuVFTsGW_STowypwYSCf005NpzMIS9bCQ2BNJJR5kAl9oGO6mqljKR7ycNbOO_BP7UZkB2PdIToNOTOCmcxKrP7c8w9b29wV1A0UW6Jg1s/s1600/IMG_20140612_010733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQcl4mqS7X1FALtrcdw4jzPBQMhafRioTBlkuVFTsGW_STowypwYSCf005NpzMIS9bCQ2BNJJR5kAl9oGO6mqljKR7ycNbOO_BP7UZkB2PdIToNOTOCmcxKrP7c8w9b29wV1A0UW6Jg1s/s1600/IMG_20140612_010733.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a> </div>
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Yup. That's the devil.</div>
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Well, it's a garden devil at the moment. In MY garden. I hope to have this beastly weed under control in the very near future. </div>
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This weed is called <i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equisetum" target="_blank">Equisetum</a>, </b></i></div>
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a "living fossil" that's been around for over 100 million years that is plaguing my yard but I guess the dinosaurs had problems with it too. The fact that's it's been around so long doesn't endear me to it because, old or not, it's a pain in my rear and needs to "git gooone". It is pretty cool it's been around that long.</div>
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I've done everything I can think of other than bringing out the really big guns (chemicals that kill everything in 5 mile radius for years) to get rid of it. I've pulled it out, dug it up, sprayed it with round up and vinegar, yelled at it, cursed it's mother and it still comes back. </div>
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It has these fast growing rhizomes, these underground stems, that if you don't get every bit of it out of the ground it grows right back. You can't pull it out because it breaks really easy.</div>
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It's really impossible. </div>
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This little corner of my yard...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrLV28Vv50J9O_6IlMMZqVREz8wxLKDuCG-vcRmOk5Lo-DqYJOV-9Sthc_EudwQwOAMZWLDay9Q8Y4F8nEqRh94Tm2wvx6laXOpiCfH3mxb6Tr-fgGoqCeklvpDLo_ELDqp3NxSMnsXXs/s1600/20140612_121545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrLV28Vv50J9O_6IlMMZqVREz8wxLKDuCG-vcRmOk5Lo-DqYJOV-9Sthc_EudwQwOAMZWLDay9Q8Y4F8nEqRh94Tm2wvx6laXOpiCfH3mxb6Tr-fgGoqCeklvpDLo_ELDqp3NxSMnsXXs/s1600/20140612_121545.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pretty huh?</div>
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I haven't done anything with, not just because of the horsetail, but when the guys installed our fence I do believe this is the conversation they had-</div>
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First guy: "Hey, we have all this leftover cement from the posts...what should we do with it?"</div>
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Second guy: "humph...don't know. Why don't we pour it out here and when they cover it with the dirt, no one will ever know." </div>
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So, I have about 6-8 inches of dirt with cement under it. Awesome.</div>
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I guess horsetail likes poor draining and nutrient less soil which apparently this must because it's lovin it! </div>
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But I'm changing that. </div>
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From what I read, I won't be able to get rid of it (without harsh damaging chemicals) completely but I can control it. </div>
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Control I can do. I've just let this corner go and not worry about it since it's not really something anyone sees but the horsetail is spreading and out of control so it's time to get on it. I know I won't get rid of it since my neighbor has just as big a crop under that fence there, and it spreads with these rhizomes, but I certainly can show it who's boss.</div>
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I want to stay away from the chemicals and go as organic as possible so this is the route I'm taking here.</div>
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Organically, I've read to spread some lime around to try and "sweeten" the soil. </div>
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So I used this</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEvMU6bwvDQnbi_JXarBpVAo6YmqBAaV7oRqm0GA4fADSxLH7suwx__S_DJr1hOyb7ergPz555hYdww_CiyvQE0R1QcU9G7rWwbbX2hW8AS79G6UPLoyk2k1djCBYR4laHAZpyQAYDnFz/s1600/20140612_121407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEvMU6bwvDQnbi_JXarBpVAo6YmqBAaV7oRqm0GA4fADSxLH7suwx__S_DJr1hOyb7ergPz555hYdww_CiyvQE0R1QcU9G7rWwbbX2hW8AS79G6UPLoyk2k1djCBYR4laHAZpyQAYDnFz/s1600/20140612_121407.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm trusting since they've been around since 1949. </div>
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I weeded the area first-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrTNaIhE5qZKZQnVPckZMxJ804GjM5Ep0SMsiT59Mw4lWLmbnBPIm_I_I3xvq3K_yzryb-6DKp7MZ3j2rIT1Av0ZR-mAkS3Ary4HK6-j2lNccz29psLqOF4Wjh43WJeLPY9vuKe07UUE1/s1600/20140612_122427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrTNaIhE5qZKZQnVPckZMxJ804GjM5Ep0SMsiT59Mw4lWLmbnBPIm_I_I3xvq3K_yzryb-6DKp7MZ3j2rIT1Av0ZR-mAkS3Ary4HK6-j2lNccz29psLqOF4Wjh43WJeLPY9vuKe07UUE1/s1600/20140612_122427.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Spread about 3 cups of lime around this area-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4kjWMKEzvSKMzD1qdi0HT_acSzu7vN91KbOqreScBsLlV4GD1Hj1c7piXv942IMfiZqJbYZnNcq6JjZBFxqhGWfeg0uZEYK1cjoNVNMGuOTco5HAl4uuZfbeSijtghQyqY_O1hCiz7DP/s1600/20140612_122531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4kjWMKEzvSKMzD1qdi0HT_acSzu7vN91KbOqreScBsLlV4GD1Hj1c7piXv942IMfiZqJbYZnNcq6JjZBFxqhGWfeg0uZEYK1cjoNVNMGuOTco5HAl4uuZfbeSijtghQyqY_O1hCiz7DP/s1600/20140612_122531.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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You need to wear a mask with this since it goes airborn pretty fast and you don't want to inhale that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxj6jkam_UlECoINsHVHEvBUpbJnnGxGkEDeB56E18zWDcVmBhX23Us7QFMLEPnmmebYtLsr1RHB-CnqBUzmvfMlzxCNdEjSbpgiRtWodz2FVFlqH-aFDXZJlwAEH1ahXC_AU6CmycSGS/s1600/20140612_122605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxj6jkam_UlECoINsHVHEvBUpbJnnGxGkEDeB56E18zWDcVmBhX23Us7QFMLEPnmmebYtLsr1RHB-CnqBUzmvfMlzxCNdEjSbpgiRtWodz2FVFlqH-aFDXZJlwAEH1ahXC_AU6CmycSGS/s1600/20140612_122605.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Foot shot!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXTDfcyvCpnm8cT_v0PsOjt6eCBUB3vSNpfwWfC3OzX-NrE-1Xyl6jBAgWE8Jr6o3c8oiHQW0naxfm-pBBpyR8Nfi0pLrotOXfFN-skyCrr_aQrSA2ptgrGovYvxccUoc3ct5aLbSDn1j/s1600/20140612_123324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXTDfcyvCpnm8cT_v0PsOjt6eCBUB3vSNpfwWfC3OzX-NrE-1Xyl6jBAgWE8Jr6o3c8oiHQW0naxfm-pBBpyR8Nfi0pLrotOXfFN-skyCrr_aQrSA2ptgrGovYvxccUoc3ct5aLbSDn1j/s1600/20140612_123324.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Mixed it all in all pretty like.</div>
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Now I wait for two weeks.</div>
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In two weeks I need to add a bunch of this-Compost. I love compost. Compost is your friend. Compost is your gardens friend. We shall all be friends. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRVAqWKKrwU/U5oDYZCyCqI/AAAAAAAAw3A/yNV6msH9m2I/s1600/20140612_123441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRVAqWKKrwU/U5oDYZCyCqI/AAAAAAAAw3A/yNV6msH9m2I/s1600/20140612_123441.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Yay! you get to see my feet again! Your special.</div>
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I hope I'll be on my way to getting rid of this nasty creep of a weed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1L0jywBmR1hxWqeOwjKEGXJN3BlPJgaroM9dvRRG8vTG3ufeuNAbrUYHbUI5Gxn0leVDrqI_iBCGppN7i4-Fdp6ItuBCqidHr7oBvEgOnsZ9MOYP0L9ZcRvpIbgGYyj3eJ_oT398oCTY/s1600/IMG_20140612_011410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1L0jywBmR1hxWqeOwjKEGXJN3BlPJgaroM9dvRRG8vTG3ufeuNAbrUYHbUI5Gxn0leVDrqI_iBCGppN7i4-Fdp6ItuBCqidHr7oBvEgOnsZ9MOYP0L9ZcRvpIbgGYyj3eJ_oT398oCTY/s1600/IMG_20140612_011410.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And spending more time with these-</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACK8VPWRBcqP4aPu_Q7RxWuuMr-WoF5IFj0dav4Q2VY-bjavNGtR_yP3Rp48l9nInitE7zhfnugywU0rvhye6KYaVo3MYVCQ-kpOPN9m1AhsFeugeZIReR1TFUtc24mESR3s-VkXsGKrw/s1600/20140612_080605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACK8VPWRBcqP4aPu_Q7RxWuuMr-WoF5IFj0dav4Q2VY-bjavNGtR_yP3Rp48l9nInitE7zhfnugywU0rvhye6KYaVo3MYVCQ-kpOPN9m1AhsFeugeZIReR1TFUtc24mESR3s-VkXsGKrw/s1600/20140612_080605.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love her.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-45035674142165382232014-06-11T09:54:00.001-07:002014-06-11T09:57:51.331-07:00Balance and a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Balance. It's all about Balance.</div>
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Oatmeal, blueberries, walnuts and a smidge of agave for a bit of sweetness. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0NUNtoduMmopbLXdBrcyVgHCwX11-XlVwELZYPBN04UC08roT3ZASpHklghRnxksrGXIlHm39HRliPknMdv_VMZet62LV58LwjtI-noPJADr7ZLg8aL-EtSQe_MxH01Vgh-kyoJ1-qwD/s1600/IMG_20140609_083730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0NUNtoduMmopbLXdBrcyVgHCwX11-XlVwELZYPBN04UC08roT3ZASpHklghRnxksrGXIlHm39HRliPknMdv_VMZet62LV58LwjtI-noPJADr7ZLg8aL-EtSQe_MxH01Vgh-kyoJ1-qwD/s1600/IMG_20140609_083730.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Cause I would like to eat these all day long....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW1VJWC_0iW1kOtiS3Kc-FhCFcGPXehekt4EMxz5rT04ZDPvnDeQNTPAJEbHbtf6WWpYepYSp5h9mis_AUz-UKLF8E6Z3lpw8e-W0f7u2AKnm_mEcEEesP8s852A1eeKIQ-OmsSc0Fp0b/s1600/IMG_20140610_132826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW1VJWC_0iW1kOtiS3Kc-FhCFcGPXehekt4EMxz5rT04ZDPvnDeQNTPAJEbHbtf6WWpYepYSp5h9mis_AUz-UKLF8E6Z3lpw8e-W0f7u2AKnm_mEcEEesP8s852A1eeKIQ-OmsSc0Fp0b/s1600/IMG_20140610_132826.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love sweets. I really do. </div>
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I think I've been doing pretty well with my eating habits but my sweet tooth gets me every time, especially if I have any kind of emotional stuff going on. I have a terrible time with emotional eating but I do find if I limit myself to certain foods and not just go for broke and eat anything and everything in front of my face...I do better. </div>
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I became a vegetarian in January and don't regret that for one moment or miss meat for even a millisecond. I've been gradually working my way to a more vegan based diet but I love eggs so much, I'm not sure if I can give them up. But, as of late, my body has been telling me different so I may HAVE to give them up.</div>
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My mornings breakfasts, typically around 8 am, is usually a smoothie with a banana, strawberries, blueberries maybe some mango thrown in there with chia seeds and almond milk. Blend that all up together and it works out to be a great breakfast and holds me over until lunch at around noon. Lately, I've switched my breakfast up a bit having oatmeal, blueberries, walnuts, ground flax and some agave for a bit of sweetness. This seems to work very well for me and I don't get hungry and my sugar levels stay pretty level. </div>
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At lunch I usually have two hard boiled eggs and some carrots or veggies of some kind. I like to make my own hummus, which is super easy to do, and eat that with some pita bread or dip my veggies. I try to eat enough at lunch so I can skip dinner or just have a snack. </div>
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But then...</div>
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My sweet tooth calls. I don't why I make this stuff! I love it though and if I didn't make it I'd go buy a big bag of oreos and that's just yuck. </div>
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So! I've been working on some healthier options for my sweet tooth. I've been playing around with some cookie recipes eliminating the eggs and butter. The Chocolate Peanut Butter chip cookies I made yesterday, pictured above, I made without butter. I used Smart Balance vegetable oil but would like to try making them with vegan butter or olive oil. I've made them using flax egg. (tablespoon of ground flax and three tablespoons water) and it worked pretty well!</div>
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Here's what I did yesterday.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3/4 cup vegetable oil</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1 cup white sugar</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2 eggs</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2 teaspoons vanilla extract</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2 cups all purpose flour</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2/3 cup cocoa powder</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3/4 teaspoon baking soda</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1/4 kosher salt</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1 1/2 cups peanut butter chips</b></span></div>
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray your cookie sheet or use a non stick pad.</div>
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With a blender or hand held mixer, mix together the oil, sugar and eggs until nice and creamy. Add vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the dry to the wet slowly to blend the cookie dough. Try not to over mix. Add the peanut butter chips and mix gently. </div>
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The dough is a bit more crumbly and the chips don't stick well to the dough but that's ok.</div>
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I use my hands to grab about a Tablespoon of the dough and roll it in my hands to make a ball. Place on the cookie sheet and flatten it down a bit with your hands. These cookies don't spread much in the oven, so you can place them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes. I baked them for around 10 minutes for a chewy in the middle cookie but since I like a more crisp cookie I usually bake mine for around 12 minutes. Remove to cool on a cookie rack after a minute or so. Store them in a closed container and they last for a few days but you'll eat them first. ;0)</div>
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These cookies are very chocolatey and the peanut butter chips take them right out of the park for me.</div>
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And, they're dairy free! Hopefully I can keep messing around with it and come up with a healthier version with no eggs.</div>
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I'm having fun trying to make sweets better for me! No taming the wild sweet tooth beast here. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-59639709708279938842014-06-03T10:32:00.000-07:002014-06-03T11:36:09.768-07:00 Whole Wheat Rotini with Roasted Zucchini and Cheesy Tomato Sauce <br />
I LOVE to cook and bake, it's one of my favorite hobbies. I've been baking and cooking for a long time but still feel like I have so much to learn and I'm trying to get better at it.<br />
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In January of this year, I became a vegetarian.<br />
I was having so much trouble with my stomach that I had to do a major overhaul on my eating habits. Before January, I kept meat in our meals because my husband is a meat, potato and veggie kind of guy. He likes the full meal deal but I don't eat much at night with my stomach issues and I was beginning to hate cooking dinner. I was starting to hate to cook! I rarely ate what I made (before I changed my eating habits) at dinner time because of my stomach and I was really only cooking for my husband and son. My son was never a big meat eater and add on that my husband would never eat meat the second day. I always had so much waste.<br />
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In January, I changed all that. I took meat completely out of our diets. I don't regret or miss it for a moment. My husband eats what he wants away from the home so he can get all the meat he wants at Wendy's. I still use lunch meat when I pack my son's lunch for school, but even that I'm trying to get rid of.<br />
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I actually started turning away from meat in November 2013 Thanksgiving. I brined a turkey and at the first bite, I was so turned off, I knew my meat eating days were coming to a close. In January, I stopped eating it all together. I've lost over 20 pounds and I feel so much better. I also I don't eat dairy, except for a bit of cheese once or twice a week and I still eat yogurt at times. Sugar is a different story. I have a sweet tooth and that won't change but I do find when I eat too much sugar my body starts to crave it. If I don't get enough sleep I'll crave sugar. I try and keep moderation and balance with the sweet stuff and if I'm going to eat it something sweet? I'm gonna to make sure it's good. Since changing the way I eat, I feel a thousand times better. More energy, clearer thinking and my body doesn't ache as much.<br />
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Since January, I've rediscovered my love for cooking again. I love using fresh vegetables and all the lovely spices to be had. All the recipes I've been trying are full of so much flavor and texture that cooking and eating is fun again!<br />
I made this dish last night. It was tasty and full of flavor and pretty easy to do. I found the recipe in a vegetarian cook book but changed it quite a bit.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Whole Wheat Rotini with Roasted Zucchini and Tomato Sauce</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZG4kpwfEzXqMzseHKZcSG0svKop0mrj-FqRnfUdVuEGGFijN7PbtGUSvk2ljRgWMGdl6grX7UouYQ_fJFrm4GV7-TNwoP6G32qD5SEEJ5cdssrw81zqflkJvhIEIcATflA1J6BLbQ0wd/s1600/20140602_170626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZG4kpwfEzXqMzseHKZcSG0svKop0mrj-FqRnfUdVuEGGFijN7PbtGUSvk2ljRgWMGdl6grX7UouYQ_fJFrm4GV7-TNwoP6G32qD5SEEJ5cdssrw81zqflkJvhIEIcATflA1J6BLbQ0wd/s1600/20140602_170626.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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2 medium sized zucchini cut into quarters. (cut length wise in half, then lengthwise half again then chop it up)</div>
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2 tablespoons olive oil</div>
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2 small carrots chopped up</div>
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1/2 green pepper chopped</div>
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1 garlic clove chopped</div>
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1 can of diced tomatoes</div>
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1 cup of vegetable stock</div>
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around three to four sun dried tomatoes chopped up (I had a small jar of Trader Joe's sun dried tomatoes that I used for this. I used about two tablespoons and chopped them up)</div>
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1/2 teaspoon dried oregano</div>
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One half box of whole wheat rotini. I used the Barilla Plus whole wheat pasta.</div>
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1/2 cup ricotta cheese</div>
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salt and pepper</div>
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Heat oven to 400 degrees and on a baking sheet toss half the oil with your chopped zucchini and roast them in the oven for 15 mins or so until they are tender and lightly browned. This doesn't take long. Don't go too long or they get mushy. When these are done cooking, set aside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZA_hVXrKDkVQUMKhvlE1MG5ZKe9xKc-E7kexYtv8arrvrR4pHvtHHc3hfwt-ySEF1YyoWHFzWdrczeLTrO7SbBacR7qT-owW2W3iXFcmbwSoluqCTj-Lvy5rOM1390k0YFrJp_NlEqB0/s1600/20140602_163531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZA_hVXrKDkVQUMKhvlE1MG5ZKe9xKc-E7kexYtv8arrvrR4pHvtHHc3hfwt-ySEF1YyoWHFzWdrczeLTrO7SbBacR7qT-owW2W3iXFcmbwSoluqCTj-Lvy5rOM1390k0YFrJp_NlEqB0/s1600/20140602_163531.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the zucchini is roasting put the remaining tablespoon of oil into a saucepan. Add the onion, carrots and green pepper and cook these on a low to medium heat until tender. I then add the garlic for a minute or two. You don't want to burn your garlic. </div>
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While the veggies are cooking, boil some salted water for your pasta. Cook up your pasta according to the directions, drain and place back into the pot and set aside.</div>
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When the vegetables are tender add your can of diced tomatoes, 1 cup of vegetable stock the sun dried tomatoes and the oregano. Let this simmer until some of the liquid reduces a bit. Salt and pepper to taste.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijR9p5RoruNbuMgxVD0GvBBDvvpJJ_jOtcvWc3MCi2CQNPLBQ4XiYannTztbVSE3DyIpDEp16lotIsA0RzyHf9RYXw2SSZv9ZLK6lJdZyZT75v4g-jCOjWfFoYXMFCUkFBXimFHsGn4Ty7/s1600/20140602_164911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijR9p5RoruNbuMgxVD0GvBBDvvpJJ_jOtcvWc3MCi2CQNPLBQ4XiYannTztbVSE3DyIpDEp16lotIsA0RzyHf9RYXw2SSZv9ZLK6lJdZyZT75v4g-jCOjWfFoYXMFCUkFBXimFHsGn4Ty7/s1600/20140602_164911.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then add the 1/2 cup ricotta cheese and mix it into the hot sauce. </div>
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When the sauce is warmed mix with the pasta then add the zucchini and mix gently. Serve immediately. </div>
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I used a full box of the whole wheat rotini so the sauce is thinner on the pasta in the picture. I would use only half the box for more sauce. </div>
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This was a very tasty and filling dish. Meat free....and really good for ya!</div>
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(recipe modified from the book Good food made Simple: Vegetarian)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-48575777735192786522014-06-02T18:10:00.001-07:002014-06-03T15:33:48.161-07:00German Chocolate Dump Cake<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">( a conversation between my hubs and I)</span></div>
Me: " How about some German Chocolate Dump Cake?....as a surprise...but not really a surprise cause I just told you." (he likes German chocolate Cake, but I never make it unless it's his birthday...if he's lucky.)<br />
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Hubs: "Dump Cake? What's dump cake and how does German Chocolate become part of a dump."<br />
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Me: "Well, you "dump" a bunch of cake ingredients together, and in this case it would be German Chocolate Cake stuff and as a bonus? It's tastes good and I don't have to frost anything. I don't like frosting things."<br />
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Hubs: *silence*<br />
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Me: "Yay! German Chocolate Dump cake it is! As a surprise-not surprise because I love ya!" <br />
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Ok Peeps...this is seriously a good dump cake. It's easy and tastes just like German Chocolate cake without having to frost the dang thing. (I have issues with frosting cakes among other things. Why do I get up in the morning? Yes...to eat this!...in the morning. I have issues.)<br />
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A gal I follow on Instagram has a blog I follow<a href="http://pictureperfectcooking.com/" target="_blank"> Picture Perfect Cooking</a> and she made this scrumptious cake but called it <a href="http://pictureperfectcooking.com/2014/05/31/german-chocolate-upside-down-cake/" target="_blank">German Chocolate Upside Down Cake</a>.<br />
I made the cake but I kept calling it a dump cake to everyone I told about it and since I can't get that out of my head, <i>and</i> since it was so good <i>and</i> I wanted to share... you're stuck with it.<br />
Anyhoo, I followed her recipe but changed one thing. I only added one stick of butter instead of two to the creamed mixture. It turned out just fine and one stick of butter less.<br />
Here's the recipe<br />
German Chocolate box mix<br />
1 cup of coconut<br />
1 cup of pecans chopped<br />
1 stick of butter (softened)<br />
2 cups powdered sugar<br />
1 eight ounce block of cream cheese (softened)<br />
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Heat your oven to 350 degrees.<br />
In a 9 by 13 pan spray with a little non stick spray then put the coconut and pecans on the bottom.<br />
Mix the cake mix according to the instructions, then pour this over the pecans and coconut.<br />
Using a mixer mix together the softened butter, 2 cups powdered sugar and the softened cream cheese until it's nice and creamy smooth. Put this in several spoonfuls ( I broke it up into 12 spoonfuls) around the cake batter and take the spoon and swirl it in.<br />
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Bake for around 45-55 minutes depending on your oven. Mine baked for around 55 minutes. It jiggles a bit when you take it out because of the creamy mixture but that thickens as it sits out of the oven.<br />
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It's a really good cake and my husband loved his surprise! I definitely will make this again. Thank you Tammi for sharing the recipe!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-64743049734405659852014-05-30T20:58:00.002-07:002014-05-30T20:59:49.149-07:00Minimalist Living Have ya'll heard of Minimalist living?<br />
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Living with less but in reality you have more? </div>
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Less clutter, more peace of mind. No stuff to hold you back? </div>
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Getting rid of stuff to make room for what really matters and to start really living? </div>
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I've been hovering over this way of life for a few months now. Scanning (lurking) blogs of people who live this way that are happy with this life and pouring over books trying to see what it's about. I'm not sure what pulled my heart strings in that direction (Could be happiness and contentment which are all things these individuals profess have occurred in unloading "stuff") but that's the direction I'm walking. Quickly, I might add.</div>
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I've sensed for such a long time my attachments to material things or my stuff is causing me to find myself empty on the inside. Looking for the material to fill the spiritual in me. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.” - Henry David Thoreau </span></b></span></div>
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One of my problems with this stuff is I tend to get emotionally attached to it. A strong sentimental attachment that I've always had with things since I was a little kid. ( blankets, stuffed animals, rocks (yes, rocks) books , paper, things I would find etc..I think I have some deep issues there) But on a lighter example of sentimental attachment... I still have my wedding dress. I was married over 15 years ago, which to some may not be that big of a deal , but it's in a plastic storage bin in my garage. Why am I keeping it because I'll never wear it again. I don't think I could even squeeze into it for some kicks and giggles! Now, it's just taking up emotional and physical space and I'm kinda over it. I have pictures of me in it and I look kinda cute so that's where it needs to stay, in the picture but the dress is outta here. </div>
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I feel this way about a lot of stuff in my house. </div>
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So I'm getting rid of it. </div>
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Lots of it.</div>
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Not only will this be a clutter cleaning but I think it'll be a spiritual shake off as well. It'll be interesting to see where my heart will be at the end of this journey. Will I feel like a new person ready for a true spiritual awakening with nothing in the material to hold onto. Or... will I be left raw and wounded. Maybe that would be a good thing? I can then open my heart to Jesus. That's what this is really about anyway. Getting rid of the things that hold me back from Him and being able to focus on my passions and living. What I was created to be.</div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” - Socrates</span></b></div>
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A loving, compassionate, creative and giving human being made to reflect God's glory. I have a lot of holes in those very traits that keep me from living to my fullest potential. Getting rid of the "stuff", I think, is a great way to start filling in those holes. Finding completeness. Finding wholeness. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” - Confucius</span></b> </span></div>
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This stuff holds me back. One emotional hole is guilt. It's always on my mind to organize, shuffle and find ways of using things, you know, reuse renew recycle? Got to find some way to keep it out of the land fill and I don't have the heart to give it to charity because I'm attached to it! Good God man! I have issues. </div>
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I won't even begin to tell you about my crap (craft) room that is filled with so much stuff that I thought I would do or had a bright idea or new hobby but it all now sits and collects dust. And the guilt because I spent money on it. Oh dear. So, I'm selling it. For crying out loud, I have three sewing machines and a serger that I have yet to use. The sewing machines...yes. The serger...no. I have issues. </div>
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Too much stuff.</div>
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Too much clutter taking up valuable emotional and physical space. </div>
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My goal is to get to a place, in a relatively short period of time (a month) to get clutter and stuff free. </div>
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I'm taking the month of June to de-clutter and get rid of stuff. Keep only the things I use and if I don't use it? Get rid of it. Let someone else enjoy it. Or----stuff it in a plastic storage bin in <i>their</i> garage.</div>
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I'm starting in my kitchen. So the first week of June will be kitchen. Well, I've actually started now.</div>
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Wish me luck. </div>
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See? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-55260160138475315152014-05-23T16:59:00.001-07:002014-05-23T17:04:26.456-07:00Flowers everywhere..It's been raining today. Weird thing about being a Northwest kinda gal. I get so sick of the rain come February and can't wait for a bit of sunshine. Then, when we have many days with nice weather, I start to miss the rain. I'm weird. Or moody. Or both. Just like the weather.<br />
I've been going through some tough stuff and to go into my garden and see the beauty there heals my soul. Talking about healing my soul for a minute. I started reading this book.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOII8zogLHcTBqyXxMuuI1Dto7nGruIbkKJQve-XPhlN1_yo1xa9NFYxw9jlNyCh9_Ct2DGlPbSP-TS9QM-bfJLeQA-_sM3n6OAxkDjP2-0B7lGNeKTtwNq27PIcpZSNeLkUFrx9CFXX9/s1600/20140523_161907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOII8zogLHcTBqyXxMuuI1Dto7nGruIbkKJQve-XPhlN1_yo1xa9NFYxw9jlNyCh9_Ct2DGlPbSP-TS9QM-bfJLeQA-_sM3n6OAxkDjP2-0B7lGNeKTtwNq27PIcpZSNeLkUFrx9CFXX9/s1600/20140523_161907.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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I follow a gal on Instagram that was starting a study group in her home with this book. Since I live on the other side of the country form her but the book sounded really intriguing, so I ordered it right then. I've been in such a bad state with my faith that this book seemed to pinpoint the feelings I'm having. I've just started it and so far it's grabbed me. Maybe God has grabbed me but I know I've been a bit lost. I feel lost. Maybe this will help point me in a good direction.<br />
I hope so.<br />
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My garden is really blooming!<br />
I have never loved petunias until last year when I took a chance and filled some pots. They were so beautiful all summer I had to do the same this year.<br />
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This little pretty below was tucked inside the rose bush.<br />
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This little one was one it's last days but I loved how the light was on it as it's tucked in the shadows. </div>
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I can't remember what this one below is called but it tripled in size this year. It's huge! But the flowers are cute little half dollar size petals of orangy goodness. I'll be moving it though. It's a bit of a monster. It's a pretty monster though. </div>
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Like I said in the beginning of this post I've been going through some tough stuff. One of the things is my Mom ending up back in the hospital with an intestinal infection. Bad stuff. It's soooo hard to see my mom this way and I struggle with prayer as it seems my prayers are hitting the wall and bouncing back on the floor all around my feet. I know this is just a time in life and things will get better but I get tired of my heart hurting all the time.<br />
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Anyhoo, I made some really yummy blueberry muffins that I'm going to go sink my teeth in. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-66635924305804221442014-05-15T20:27:00.002-07:002014-05-15T20:28:41.618-07:00Going home..My Mama is breaking out of this joint on Saturday and going home!<br />
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This is a nursing home/rehab facility she's been in for about a month after getting pretty sick. Not sure if it will be a good thing or a bad thing, her going home, but I'm hoping for the best. My Mom has Congestive Heart Failure and dementia that is associated with the CHF.<br />
Dementia sucks.<br />
So does CHF.<br />
Some days are really good days though. She can remember lots of things. It's just the short term. Like real short short term ...like....what she said two minutes ago short. That can be frustrating when you have to repeat things over and over to her like it's the first time you've said it. I have patience with her but the rest of my family gets pretty frustrated with her. Many years ago, I was a nursing assistant for around 6 years so I have a bit of experience with this type of thing so I understand what's happening with her. I try to help out as much as I can. Since she's been at this facility, I've tried to visit as much as I can. I like to bring her a vanilla frappuccino with a scoop of protein in it. She loves those. She's been getting stronger and she's able to walk quite a bit and do many things that she couldn't do a month ago. I'm hoping for the best.<br />
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The weather has been beautiful this last week with temps in the high 70 to the mid 80's. This isn't typical weather for this area but I'll take it. The clouds have moved in today though with rain coming tonight.<br />
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My garden has been just beautiful!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhUTSxIg2hq9a6p5cwVxD1HHxTiOuSbkKwvJrqs9P-jK7u2HmGCdwCHcOiVML_c57r_JiAbUykpyZLIbHPVwufsAxo0jP0wYe2Tzw7TMv3aDh6n1bbkE1NesKGG8fWMwTeXYUsQwjZkJN/s1600/20140515_181849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhUTSxIg2hq9a6p5cwVxD1HHxTiOuSbkKwvJrqs9P-jK7u2HmGCdwCHcOiVML_c57r_JiAbUykpyZLIbHPVwufsAxo0jP0wYe2Tzw7TMv3aDh6n1bbkE1NesKGG8fWMwTeXYUsQwjZkJN/s1600/20140515_181849.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's not even in full bloom yet. This will be a really good bloom year, I think. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-19801414268274305102014-05-12T14:24:00.002-07:002014-05-12T14:24:27.346-07:00Life Changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoAMHrQ_l4Y-OVEQ6QsBCj0M2SdG3wiAfqPiEnYPWmgNE01E8OByWWE-g5OzqLVNVwPZXi9O6NjedDSkU1KnBuIOr80DHS96TpRcuI0sZaCuuR-lBRolw9pEHp8k-WLkdlc9th8afFlVG/s1600/20140509_164154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoAMHrQ_l4Y-OVEQ6QsBCj0M2SdG3wiAfqPiEnYPWmgNE01E8OByWWE-g5OzqLVNVwPZXi9O6NjedDSkU1KnBuIOr80DHS96TpRcuI0sZaCuuR-lBRolw9pEHp8k-WLkdlc9th8afFlVG/s1600/20140509_164154.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hello. It's been a bit since I've been to my little space.<br />
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Around the first week of April my mom's health started to take a downturn and since then she's been in and out of hospital and a nursing home/rehab facility. </div>
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It's been a pretty hard month to say the least. I've been trying to visit my mom every day as I can't imagine how it must feel to be in a place that's not your home for such a long time. We're hoping she'll recover enough to be able to go home again. With help. My Dad is looking into having someone come into the house to care for her when my Dad needs it it. It's been pretty hard to try to do what's best for Mom. The rest of us kids feel she should be in a place where she has 24 hours assistance, but my Dad feels he could do that. When my Dad wants to do something there's nothing that will change his mind. Even if it's not for the best. But who knows? Maybe it'll all be OK. </div>
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Boy, have I learned a lot this last month and a half. </div>
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About myself. </div>
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I've learned that I won't live forever. Life passes so quickly and letting it pass you by and not living it is a tragedy. Watching TV is a waste of precious time. Being lazy is a life killer. Not only does it waste away precious life but life will pass you by with or without you in it. I want to keep my mind sharp and my body in shape. Running 5 miles a day? NO. But walking and moving and keeping busy. Yes.<br />
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I want to do all the things that I only dream about or say I'll do someday. Why wait?<br />
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I've learned when I fall into negativity and gossip it pollutes my soul. My family has got these two attributes down to a science. Oh boy.<br />
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Oh! and the biggest thing of all! I've finally discovered my purpose in this world. I've never been one to try and find it or think I need to have one but now that I know, it makes life a bit clearer and the path a bit straighter.<br />
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I'm a Christian. That's an important part of my life. I know when I fall down the slippery slope of negativity and anger, judgement and being critical of everything and everyone I"m NOT living my purpose. That's when my heart gets sidetracked. I get unhappy and filled with depression. That's a place I hate being. I do know that when I'm doing this....<br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14) (That would be anyone around me)</span></span></span><br />
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I'm happy. I'm peaceful and my heart is at rest.<br />
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But when I do this..<br />
<span class="nivfootnote" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #0066aa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; line-height: 21px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 1px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><sup><a href="http://biblehub.com/niv/galatians/5.htm#footnotes" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;" title="Lev. 19:18">b</a></sup></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"> </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/5-15.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>15</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:15)</span><br />
I don't like myself very much. <br />
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I know when I live like this...<br />
<span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/5-22.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>22</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, </span><span class="reftext" style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/galatians/5-23.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration: none;"><b>23</b></a></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">gentleness and self-control.</span><br />
My life feels good. I'm more at peace than I've ever been. I sleep better and have more compassion for others. My mind is at rest. I see beauty in life and in the things around me. I feel more generous and compassionate.<br />
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Sometimes, I find it hard to keep my mind and actions in those places. To be good to others when I want to whack them in the head. (OK...not literally whack them in the head but in my mind. Lots of times) I have a lot of habits that need changing. A lot of knee jerk reactions to circumstances that would better serve me by taking a mental time out and think about it a sec. I do know that the path I've been on, isn't working. Not by a long shot and things have got to change. I'm not wanting to live this way any longer.<br />
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Choices.<br />
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I do know, beyond any shadow of doubt, if I act in a kind, gentle and loving way to those around me. If I have patience and self control. If I believe the best in myself and others and have hope in the future and act with love in all circumstances. My heart is at peace. I have contentment. I think that's what Paul meant when he said he is content in all things whether he has much or little. Contentment is a HUGE thing for me. When your mind is in these places, the world seems just a little bit better and the future not so uncertain.<br />
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My purpose in life?<br />
To know and have a deeper understanding of what love is and how I to live my life with love as the center and sole purpose for breathing. It's all that matters anyway. In the end that's all that matters. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoipE8WyBDs7oLEGAvcm6C91YeD4aeU204DmnvjHlwKSpzpnPAK2lS2Jus-Bi5ZHlHkKXwgo5wIksShQMMMLso5AqOgihFG3fTh-PI6CkwjrMBK_AW2BWjC6ssH1JNtPTakQ4upacppWoM/s1600/20140509_164005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoipE8WyBDs7oLEGAvcm6C91YeD4aeU204DmnvjHlwKSpzpnPAK2lS2Jus-Bi5ZHlHkKXwgo5wIksShQMMMLso5AqOgihFG3fTh-PI6CkwjrMBK_AW2BWjC6ssH1JNtPTakQ4upacppWoM/s1600/20140509_164005.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this a pretty little thing? Actually, it's about the size of my head!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-53389397364262320582014-04-02T09:46:00.000-07:002014-04-02T14:50:17.744-07:00See the Beauty around you...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do you ever lose focus on the beauty around you?<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40uaRoLgXiA/UztTgUZ-9cI/AAAAAAAAp0k/mbz9cQYzWE4/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40uaRoLgXiA/UztTgUZ-9cI/AAAAAAAAp0k/mbz9cQYzWE4/s1600/IMG_2226.JPG" height="356" width="640" /></a></div>
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I live in such a beautiful state with beauty all around me, yet I miss it at times. I think I've gotten used to it and don't pay attention anymore because everyday things in life get to be more important than stopping and smelling the roses. I don't want to live like that anymore since time flies so fast! The older you get the faster it goes and I know I've got to change some things in a more positive direction so I'll have no regrets.<br />
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I've been trying to live in a mindful way and being more aware of what is around me, the beauty and all that comes with that. I know when I focus on the good and the beautiful my heart seems to calm down and I find my mind gets more peaceful.<br />
I can get pretty hung up on negativity. I also believe I put to high of expectations on people. When I take a walk, since I live in the suburbs, I get so disappointed by the way people treat the environment around them and I tend to focus on that instead of looking past it and seeing the beauty around me. I want to make that thought process more positive and productive and possibly carry a little plastic grocery bag with me to pick up garbage when I see it around. ;0)<br />
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I have company on my walks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-PjEN_D6FL1dalPGxrXx2wfKmvqAQ7WNKkbNzC7xnr3VtJr_pdFCJn4TtfhIvzl6V2FJB-SHFLNy5NJv9PX6XHAz0EbVflzZrRAqAZiXIJmqTWTi0jSQ3fFY7w5iT_XTjjhEqiSChCsm/s1600/20140129_185641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>These guys- well, the blond is a girl - Chelsea and Tucker. They're pleased to meet you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5_rgWO4b-ndYk1dM0hhnrXmWHFiOrTUHzjMIwNXRLbg3iz7vpBg9NtgkdcsqmLmUgAotea8QXrrJ_VQBI2DTk4vFyWWwu68-RdhrwhniT_RXCbekAfGP04m3ALhEUCgIqQuTEE-C0lYo/s1600/20140129_190809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx5_rgWO4b-ndYk1dM0hhnrXmWHFiOrTUHzjMIwNXRLbg3iz7vpBg9NtgkdcsqmLmUgAotea8QXrrJ_VQBI2DTk4vFyWWwu68-RdhrwhniT_RXCbekAfGP04m3ALhEUCgIqQuTEE-C0lYo/s1600/20140129_190809.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu4p_jbXOW61gPuwYJMaUTW9esJi-7Jb74hh3C_dHC7vItUVwMpwhVfJAQFITg3GR0wFLXCIU3UmHSXdfE84gxVSJaIXms4NOkUGIWAGOaW4no_bA6mdHLtNAx3rEgBkLcnL_1xad-FIG/s1600/20140129_185641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxu4p_jbXOW61gPuwYJMaUTW9esJi-7Jb74hh3C_dHC7vItUVwMpwhVfJAQFITg3GR0wFLXCIU3UmHSXdfE84gxVSJaIXms4NOkUGIWAGOaW4no_bA6mdHLtNAx3rEgBkLcnL_1xad-FIG/s1600/20140129_185641.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">I'm making it my goal to take in the beauty around me. </span>To smell of fresh air. The birds singing. ( Oh dear, I feel a belt of song welling up in me..."THE HIIIIILLLLS ARE ALLLLIIIVVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUUUUUSICCC! (ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh) ) Whew! I couldn't hold it in. Too bad I'd fall on my rear if I tried to spin around )<br />
Anyhoo! I love birds! I loved feeding them, but had to quit for a time because of some rodent problems. It seems the problem may have been resolved so, hopefully, feeding the birds will be something I can do again.<br />
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Here's a little hummingbird I captured with my camera. So flipping cute.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFlQRQ6UK3fgWjF0_52xNeIKN1nAtPg_Ew4zPQ43EaweAJVcRNgckE-wegIj5aZUPjw7QGi9I0hyphenhyphenblttQQfSj9UnubKE1Q-HAeb5AYIrd0ep-UFpSuy9uaXMJI3Ke7QZ8ObZILqg3bRfs/s1600/scones+flowers+hummingbird+017-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFlQRQ6UK3fgWjF0_52xNeIKN1nAtPg_Ew4zPQ43EaweAJVcRNgckE-wegIj5aZUPjw7QGi9I0hyphenhyphenblttQQfSj9UnubKE1Q-HAeb5AYIrd0ep-UFpSuy9uaXMJI3Ke7QZ8ObZILqg3bRfs/s1600/scones+flowers+hummingbird+017-001.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I see the beauty around me and little miracles like that little hummingbird above, it makes me take a deep breath and settle into my soul. It's almost like discovering who you really are, deep down. I think we're meant to live beautifully, see and hear beautifully, love beautifully. Lots to ponder on today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y8jD7x-gOualop3VUZJmgF8MBbK51f4L7qxjpIM-pi69xyn3ipFMS081tOyDTkI5mtLjl6u6D8EyC-BamUT6FqshaHHafYjKAx5Uv2pdFh6nY7vF6-1_LvotZLQ5Qc29-G0IrYItRO4l/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2y8jD7x-gOualop3VUZJmgF8MBbK51f4L7qxjpIM-pi69xyn3ipFMS081tOyDTkI5mtLjl6u6D8EyC-BamUT6FqshaHHafYjKAx5Uv2pdFh6nY7vF6-1_LvotZLQ5Qc29-G0IrYItRO4l/s1600/IMG_2360.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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That's from my bedroom window. Taking a deep breath.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-17zVm4bDVg44F_HTH6cqUwdGAL0ZT3MIMcQawBumwrlybzD2TM8QYp_u2aPU8L17zT6EijIMF24iexmqoopYif_EmJn_R5txhEeJMae3xk7ubpcfhkyFrwrLwy5XQpvB-H4vajQt7AeN/s1600/Mountains%2525252014%25252520162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-17zVm4bDVg44F_HTH6cqUwdGAL0ZT3MIMcQawBumwrlybzD2TM8QYp_u2aPU8L17zT6EijIMF24iexmqoopYif_EmJn_R5txhEeJMae3xk7ubpcfhkyFrwrLwy5XQpvB-H4vajQt7AeN/s1600/Mountains%2525252014%25252520162.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-28001805346871509992014-03-30T17:57:00.001-07:002014-03-30T17:57:28.352-07:00Spring WalkSpring has finally sprung!<br />
I love to take walks outside in early spring, when it's not raining, to enjoy the first spring blossoms and get excited for warmer weather. We've had so much rain lately, I'm surprised some of my plants haven't waterlogged their way out the door. But, I have some buds and leaves sprouting which gets me excited for the trees to fill out and the flowers to bloom. <br />
I wanted to share some pictures from my walk today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvz51gyFeM42CWeFNA4TxONTaP3OVFoyJ60cmVaBjNTlqr6ob0E3U3GU-e60FvRwwbrlOXPgr1p6eP7_HfGN9A0ldv82qhckf8xM8NMiGDuBXmQ9piIdoZKQmmkBo9tQK8MCmjN66uY2x/s1600/20140330_142234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzvz51gyFeM42CWeFNA4TxONTaP3OVFoyJ60cmVaBjNTlqr6ob0E3U3GU-e60FvRwwbrlOXPgr1p6eP7_HfGN9A0ldv82qhckf8xM8NMiGDuBXmQ9piIdoZKQmmkBo9tQK8MCmjN66uY2x/s1600/20140330_142234.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I find magnolia trees so unusual. They have blooms before the leaves show up. Such and interesting tree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawF1COyQGgzx8iBpb6yHfOXEDlRB6E0br5CMZaCA9zMtXi5V3zIzZSC4dtP5ngb00ZAcXWNteVcPa6raHv86a4vmh6rERQZC4eWqia5_vu2gM6lc3USoU3wsaAh1C2aApxBl2_xpTF_at/s1600/20140330_143029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawF1COyQGgzx8iBpb6yHfOXEDlRB6E0br5CMZaCA9zMtXi5V3zIzZSC4dtP5ngb00ZAcXWNteVcPa6raHv86a4vmh6rERQZC4eWqia5_vu2gM6lc3USoU3wsaAh1C2aApxBl2_xpTF_at/s1600/20140330_143029.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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There's a geocache around here somewhere, I have yet to find. I'll keep looking though. Geocaching is a lot of fun. Always love a good treasure hunt.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-40168578912928502542014-01-14T10:07:00.001-08:002014-01-14T13:17:08.410-08:00Homemade GranolaAre you ready for another homemade granola recipe?<br />
<br />
I've been going through my pantry, using up all the goods I have in there and found some coconut from Christmas that I bought for cookies and put to the side and forgot. I thought it would be fun to make some granola with it. My husband always buys these boxes of granola to put on his yogurt every night (the granola, not the boxes) that are around 6 bucks a pop so I thought in the spirit of using up stuff, I would make him some granola and save a few dollars at the end of the week.<br />
<br />
This year I've made a bit of a plan for myself to save some money. I wonder how much money I flush down the drain every month in unused product. I tend to have a habit of buying food with good intentions and forgetting I have it and forget to make what I've planned for it. I'm also a poor planner, but that's another story. I'm just like my mother when I see something new at the grocery store, I like to try it. I used to attend a bible study that I would share my new bakes and cakes but I've since stopped going, I have no where to share my baking. Baking is a lot of fun for me but since it's just the three of us, my waistline is protesting and my freezer is overflowing. Annnnnd, I digress.<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to granola.<br />
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I made this this morning and I'm pretty pleased with it. It got a little dark but it's still yummy tasting and pretty healthy too!<br />
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Set your oven to 375 F<br />
You'll need two sheet pans since this makes a lot and spray them with non stick spray<br />
In a large bowl combine<br />
4 cups Old Fashioned Oats (not the instant)<br />
2 cups sweetened coconut<br />
2 cups chopped up almonds<br />
1 cup chopped up walnuts<br />
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon<br />
3/4 cup vegetable oil ( I used Smart Balance Veg. oil.)<br />
1/2 cup honey<br />
<br />
Mix this all together well and spread out on both sheets.<br />
Bake for around 20 to 25 minutes stirring it around frequently. Watch it! It turns brown pretty quickly and can burn on the edges. I learned that the hard way.<br />
Take it out to cool when it looks nice and toasty brown. When you stir it it'll feel soft but the granola will get crunchy as it sits and cools. After it cools, store it in an airtight container.<br />
It's really good and not too sweet. Great to put on yogurt or even a salad for some extra crunch. I love crunch.<br />
<br />
Did I tell you that's one of my most favorite words? I love to say it.<br />
<br />
CRUNCH!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-46544618915086219062014-01-02T14:02:00.001-08:002014-01-02T14:08:17.906-08:00New Year New GoalsIt's 2014.<br />
I'm still a bit shocked as time seems to fly by so quickly. Last year just flew! I remember when my son was just a baby and thinking that the day when he's a teenager is so far away and I wanted to remember those moments forever because I know it's gone in a blink of an eye. Now, here I am and that time has flown and he's 13. My baby is almost as tall as me. *sad face*<br />
2013 was a hard year for me. In fact the last couple years have been hard. Lots of ups and downs. Poor family relationships, illnesses, uncertainty, parenting and spiritual struggles to name a few. I've been reading my favorite blogs and I'm a little jealous that most of them, the year 2013, was one of the best years of their lives. I <i>know</i> that 2014 will be a good year. That's one of my goals for this year and I'm planning on it. To work on positive experiences dominating my life, even when it's hard as I tend to get swallowed up by the negative at times. I found a guy on Instagram and his profile said...."Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." That really stuck with me. I'm wanting to start seeing the beauty that I've missed in the midst of my circumstances. Need to open up my eye balls.<br />
Do you make New Years resolutions? I never do because they last all of 24 hours and then I feel like a schmuck for even trying to make them and then not keep them. I do like to make goals. Goals allow a little bit of wiggle room and lets just say the word...failure. A goal to me is like climbing a really steep mountain side. You can do it, it just takes a little time and conditioning of your body. You have to keep plugging away. I don't ever feel like a failure when I've made goals. I tend to be a goal oriented person anyway so it works for me. New Year Goals are better statements in my world and here are a few goals I've set for myself for this next year:<br />
<br />
1) <b>Blog more</b>.<br />
I originally began a blog to document crafts I've done and make some cyber friends. The blogging world was a perfect place for me. I could make friends but still stay my loner self. Sounded good but didn't work that way. The blogging world is a hard one to break into,at least I found it that way. I've met some really nice people and I've met some not so nice. Some who are out for the business and some for the love of the craft and people. You can usually tell who's in it to make a business and who really love the people who come to their blog and want to share what they know. I wanted to fit in so badly I'm ashamed to say I've changed the name a thousand times (ok. not that many, but a lot) Started. Stopped. Started again. Stopped again. Got really intimidated. Stopped. Started. Got afraid I was going to offend people or make people mad and I would stop. I don't feel I'm a very good writer and I actually think I write like a 9 year old. Also, my interests would wax an wane. The blogging world is HUGELY intimidating and unless you have something someone wants or you're hugely controversial, nobody is interested in what you have to say.<br />
<br />
I started it to meet people since I tend to be a very private person. I don't share my personal life with many and trying to share on a public blog scared the bejeezus out of me. So I was really outright boring keeping myself to myself. Plus, I was always afraid of offending someone. . In this next year I'm wanting to be more transparent. Stop protecting myself so much and let people in. I'm terrified of rejection and loss so anything that puts me at risk for those two emotions I avoid. Like the plague. I'm wanting to get past that and be better. I think if you know better you do better. I want to be a better mother, wife, friend, human being. Adding more transparency is a good thing. Believe it or not, in this public arena, I feel it's safer than face to face. It's a good start. I hope it'll bring some healing but I think it will definitely be therapeutic. The big lesson here though is...I need to blog for myself. I do it for myself and to give an outlet to my creativity. It's not about anyone else. It's my space even though it's in a public domain. If I meet others along the way. Cool.<br />
<br />
2) <b>Read more</b>.<br />
Geez I love to read. LOVE it. But guilt always raises it's ugly head and I don't read as much as I would like to. Growing up, I always had to hide when I read. Mom, always felt I needed to get other things done than sit around reading. Which is ironic because she's was an avid reader. I always thought she felt guilty not being busy and if she saw me reading when that's what she wanted to be doing, she didn't like it. I need to kill that guilt beast. I'm nearly 47 years old! I can read if I want to, anytime I want to. Oh I remember recess times at school. I spent the whole time in the school library, sniffing books and perusing the isles. I still love to do that. Yes, I shall read more.<br />
<br />
<b>3) Get outside more</b><br />
I love to garden and go to the beach. I love to walk and hike on trails and be outside. Yeah, but don't take me camping. Eh. Don't like to camp. Give me bed and a potty indoors and you can take me anywhere. Which is another thing I'm wanting more of. Checking out this beautiful state. So many place to see and things to do. I've lived her nearly my whole life and I've yet to see most of it.<br />
<br />
<b>4) Make more memories and take more pictures.</b><br />
I feel as I get older I have less and less memories of things I did a month ago, a week ago...pft...a day ago, than I used to. I've fallen into a boring, predictable life, which I'm not complaining but predictable and boring doesn't leave you with a lot of lasting memories. Especially with my son and I've got to change that. I like boring and predictable cause...well...it's predictable and for a control freak like me, it works. But I'm pretty tired of it and now since I"m "middle aged" and can see the end of my life a lot clearer than before. It's time to start living. Agree? Yeah...<br />
<br />
<b>5) Craft and sew a lot more</b>...<br />
This brings me a lot of pleasure but circumstances and guilt have robbed me of this time as well. Guilt seems to be a bit of a problem for me. Yeah...that's going to change. Stupid Guilt monster.<br />
<br />
<b>6) Figure out my spiritual life</b><br />
What the heck am I doing in this arena. I have no. idea. I've purchased a book called <a href="http://evelyn%20lozada/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"Chasing God"</a> that I'm pretty excited to read. It's about stopping. Stopping the chase. Let ya know how I like it.<br />
<br />
Well, here are a few goals set for 2014 and beyond.<br />
What goals have you set? Do you set goals? Anything outlandish or scary? Let me know. ;0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3276413979190205145.post-30557655949047163012013-10-19T09:47:00.001-07:002013-10-19T09:50:15.904-07:00Fall is here...Summer has wound down here in the Northwest and the air is getting crisp and cool. The leaves are turning the most brilliant shades of reds, yellows and oranges and every year I think THIS is the year it's been the most beautiful. Hubs says, "Isn't that what you said last year?" "Ohhhh..maybe..but THIS year? This is IT!."<br />
<br />
We had the most glorious summer this year. It lasted long and it was sunny pretty much most of the summer. I remember one summer it was cold and wet nearly the whole time. It's imprinted in my mind so any summer that's not like that one is a good one. But this year? "It was IT!"<br />
<br />
The colors out and about are stunning. Fall is my most favorite time of year.<br />
<br />
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I wish the sun was out here but this is one of the most beautiful roads. When the sun shines it looks as if these trees are on fire.<br />
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We have a beautiful view from our home and at this time of year the sun is setting right behind the mountains and make for the most outstanding sunsets. I marvel at the fact that no sunset has been the same since the beginning of time. Makes me think of my love for God and the everyday miracles He puts around me. No matter how my day has been, I can always look to Him to finish it with beauty, wonder and awe. <br />
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What little miracles has God been putting around you?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00611271008440009307noreply@blogger.com0