Oh Those Puppies!

Morgan and Kenning have a " Puggle." You know, one of those "designer breeds" (didn't we used to call them 'muts'??). Scoutabout is a Pug/Beagle cross. He looks like a miniature black lab. Scout is one smart pup. He is a cutie and he knows it. He is also a pill. There are many stories I could tell about Scout but I won't. I'll just tell you about the most recent. (Actually, this happened last week so it might not really be the most recent; I haven't talked to Morgan today.)

Anyhoo, we bought Morgan a new cell phone for Christmas. She chose the saucy little Jute (Juke?) phone in a notice-me-now red. Complete with blue tooth and all the other fancy little dodads that go with cell phones of today. ----You can see where this is going can't you?----

She was talking to Kenning on the phone the other night and fell asleep with the phone on her chest. Because she fell asleep she neglected to put Scout in his kennel for the night. (If she leaves him out they have no usable toilet paper the next morning because the pup shreds it all and strings it from end to end of the apartment. But that's another post for another day.)

Well, she wakes up the next morning and Scout has chewed her phone into pieces. She replaces the phone and has the common sense not to charge this one to us. LOL When she finally gets up the nerve to tell us, Rick and I just start laughing. A while later I texted her and asked her what Scout's phone number was. Her reply: a very short, to the point, "1-800-ima-butt"

I think he was just getting back at her for putting him in a Build-a-Bear set of pajamas on Christmas Eve and then taking his picture.

Living

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Living
If I had only a few months to live I would not travel...



alone. I would ask my children and husband where they wanted to go and we would take many mangificent trips--all of us--laughing, taking pictures, finding utter JOY in each and every second.

I would not sleep...



alone.I would buy the biggest bed available and the most comfy pj's and the softest blankets for each of us and we'd all sleep together, cuddle, pray, cry and rest.

I would not eat...



alone. I would cook with my kids and we'd make sure we had all of our favorites well stocked even if they weren't health foods. We would savor every bite and every sip while looking across the table into each others' souls.

And I certainly wouldn't waste time reading books...



alone. I would pile the best of the best books all around us and I would read to them with enthusiasm, without yawns. I would bring the books to life with character voices and rhythm and intonation and inflection so that my voice would be impressed upon their minds.

I would not sing...



alone.I would have our favorite praise music playing and we would all sing and learn the words and praise Him for the time and love we were able to share.

I would not take pictures of my kids...



alone. I would have someone else take pictures of me and my husband and my kids: living, eating, traveling, reading, singing, praying, laughing, loving and living all together.

I would not let my kids go out to play...



alone. I would run, jump, ride dirt bikes, fish, hunt, shop, cook, make lists, play board games, play tag, play cars, play beauty shop, play Barbies~anything they wanted to play I'd be first in line. One game I wouldn't play would be hide and seek.

I would not pray or go to church...



alone. My kids wouldn't go to Sunday School or Children's Church or Youth Group. Instead, we would be in the sanctuary, sitting in the same pew, holding hands, lifting them to our Father worshipping and praising Him for our life together.

I would not die...



alone. I would have my loved ones surrounding me and as the Savior came for me I would lift up my arms and reach for Him and my loved ones would see the pure joy light upon my face and they would know that I was in paradise with the Father. I would wait for them in Heaven and would pray they wouldn't live another day...



alone.

Moving Day

Originally published Thursday, July 05, 2007 at Tea at Three

Three Favorite Cookie Recipes

Today I am treating all three of my readers to three of my favorite cookie recipes!
First, every baker must have a cookie that she can whip up in a moment's notice. I have made these Chocolate Chip Cookies for years and actually, they were a best seller during my days as owner and proprietor of The Cottage Bakery. I have this recipe memorized. This recipe produces a soft cookie.
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients:
2 sticks of Blue Bonnet margarine
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. powdered buttermilk mix* this is usually found near the canned evaporated milk
2 cup milk chocolate chips
Directions:
Please read and follow. This is a little different than most cookie recipes.Mix the margarine, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla well. Mix in just 2 cups of the flour, the baking soda, and salt. Add the buttermilk mix powder (dry) and then add the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour. Mix well. This will be rather thick. Stir in chocolate chips. Make round balls of dough and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 at a time at 375* for about 10 minutes. Don't overbake. Remove from cookie sheet onto a wire cooling rack. This recipe makes about 3 dozen or so cookies.
Some extra information:I have tried this recipe with other brands of margarine and I made them with real butter. For some reason the Blue Bonnet margarine produces a better cookie in my opinion for this particualr recipe.Also, I have used chopped up pieces of Dove Milk Chocolate Candy Squares instead of regular milk chocolate chips. The Dove chocolate lends an entirely "richer" taste to these cookies.You can also use minature chocolate chips (I've only found these in a semi-sweet chocolate) and make minature cookies. To do this, simply use a baby spoon (small bowl with longer handle) to drop small amounts of dough on the cookie sheet. Bake for just 6 minutes and then check them. You might have to bake them a minute or two longer but just watch them closely. Miniature chocolate chip cookies tend to be very elegant, yet familiar for showers, club meetings and such.
Next I'll share a favorite from my youth. My great-aunt Mary made these soft, buttery delights all the time and when we'd go to visit Aunt Mary she'd put the cookie jar (do people even use cookie jars anymore?) and a pitcher of sweet tea on the table and life was good!
Coconut Cookies
Ingredients:
2 sticks of Blue Bonnet margarine
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 tsp. salt
1 cup flaked coconut
3 Tbsp. white sugar
Directions:Cream margarine, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in coconut.Roll dough into balls and roll in extra sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400* for 6-8 minutes. Remove from oven when just the edges are slightly brown.Extra information:If you let these cookies overbake they will end up hard and crunchy. I enjoy a soft cookie.To make "Snickerdoodle Cookies" omit the vanilla and coconut. Mix dough into balls and roll in a cinnamon/sugar mixture and bake as directed.
Need some chocolate? I love these Chocolate Drop Cookies. They are from my Gramma Jane's recipe box. I once read where warm cookies and cold milk in the afternoon are actually good for you. These cookies are scrumptious.
Chocolate Drop Cookies
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Blue Bonnet margarine
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts (can be omitted)
Directions:Cream margarine, shortening, sugar, and eggs. Mix dry ingredients in another bowl and then add this alternately with the milk and vanilla. Stir in walnuts. This will be rather thick. Drop by spoofuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes at 400*. You might have to grease the cookie sheet inbetween baking. Serve warm with cold milk for a delightful and child-like experience!
Enjoy! Let me know what you think about them!
Posted by ~~~~~~~~oney~~~~~~~~ at 6:46 AM 2 comments
Labels: The Cookie Jar, The Fancy Pantry

Moving Day

Originally published on Monday, October 29, 2007 at Tea at Three

He Just Wants to be Normal.

My youngest son was having a particularly hard day Saturday. You know, up too early- played too hard- ate too much junk food-got into too much trouble- etc. Well, by the end of the day he had managed to irritate me enough that I sent him to bed without any supper. *collective gasp here*After the usual door slamming, fit throwing, toy tossing episode he succumbed to lying on his bed sobbing. Poor kid was exhuasted. After I determined it was safe for entry, I went in to hold him, hug him and talk with him about his behavior and to reassure him that I did too love him.Here is how the conversation went:
Him: I hate my life.
Me: Wow, Son. That's too bad. Can you tell me what you don't like about it? Maybe I can change it.
Him: Well, I just want to be normal.
Me: Normal? How are you not normal?
Him: First, how many kids do you know who have a bike?
Me: *thinking* Hmm... I think almost every kid I know around here has a bike.
Him: Exactly. Everyone but me.
Me: True. Your bike is pretty much kaput. How many have you had in your life though?
Him: Four
Me: So, it's just that right now you're without wheels and that makes you angry.
Him: Yes. And Nathan, Sterling, Logan, JJ, Keaton-they all have Play Stations. We'll never have one of those.
Me: Right. Your daddy and I think there are better ways to play than video games.
Him: But it would help with my hand and eye coordination.
Me: True. But so do other things like playing catch, building things with Legos.
Him: An Trick or Treating. We're not getting to do that this year.
Me: True. We'll be and Nana & Papa's. But you've been able to go every year in the past. This year it didn't work out. You're getting to go to the children's symphony though.
Him: I hate the symphony.
Me: How do you know? You've never been before. You get to do a lot of things other kids don't get to do.
Me: You know, homeschool is not normal. Do you want to go to public school?
Him: No, homeschool is good. I'm fine with that. It's just that we don't have all the things other kids have. We don't have a camper, a pool, video games, paint ball stuff, a pool table all kinds of stuff.
Me: Really? You have a daddy who works very hard to make it so we have a home, food, so that I can stay home with you and teach you. It comes down to me working at nights. Is that what you want? Because that's what it would take in order to give you all those things you want.
Him: No. I would miss you at night.
Me: I love you Eli.Him: I love you too Mamma.
Posted by ~~~~~~~~oney~~~~~~~~ at 4:38 AM

Moving Day

This entry was moved to Beautiful Mess from Tea at Three.

Originally published on Thursday, November 08, 2007

Conversation with my daughter:
Daughter: Mom, here's that book I think you should read.
Me: Looks interesting. Is it one that everyone should read before they die?
Daughter: Umm...no. It's one everyone should read before they live.
Me: (speechless at the thought of how profound this girl can be.)

My Very Own Food Network Cooking Show

Tonight when we had a smidgen of down time at the restaurant Linda told me that Willy told her that watching them cook through the ticket window DOES NOT make them cook any faster. I told her to tell Willy it was like having a front row seat to a cooking show.

It's better than watching smellivision.

Oh yea, Willy has a sign by the door that says "Real men bar-be-que." Cute.

Shoulding on you again....

Find a copy of the movie "Flywheel" and watch it with your husband. You really should.

The Last Sin Eater

Have you seen this movie or read the book? You should. (Yes. I am 'shoulding' on you.) Your local Movie Gallery may have it or you could possibly get it on Netflix and add it to your queue. Your public library most likely has a copy of the book by Francine Rivers. Unfortunately Amazon has no copies currently available.

Synopsis: Living in 1850's Appalachia, 10-year-old Cadi Forbes is wracked with guilt over the death of her sister. To allay her guilt, she asks for help from a man known as The Sin Eater, but in the process of finding redemption, Cadi uncovers secrets that could tear apart both her family and her community.
Starring:
Liana Liberato , Henry Thomas ... View Full Credits
Director:
Michael Landon Jr.

Babyback Ribs! Yeah Baby!

Last night at Willy's Linda told me to be ready for tonight. They "try very hard to get everyone in."

Tightening up my sneakers.....

My Bricks Are Getting Hot

You know what puts me to sleep (which is where I should be right now) the fastest? You know what makes me sleep like a baby? Hot bricks. Yeah, it's old fashioned. Yeah, they did that "u hunnerd year 'go". So what.

Take a couple of plain old red bricks and pop 'em in a hot oven for about 30 minutes. Remove them using pot holders (I'm thinking of making "brick holders" just for my nightly ritual) and wrap them in a towel. Warning: Do not wrap them in your son's favorite Scooby Doo towel, k?
By the way, I'm thinking about making "brick wrappers" to match the "brick holders". Whaddayathink? After wrapping the hot bricks, tuck them under the covers at the foot of your bed.

Sleep like a baby.

G'night John Boy!

College Is So Cool!

So today my daughter texts me and asks me to price organic molecular kits for her. Ooookay! Not even sure I know what I'm looking for on google I type in "Organic Molecular Kits $20" because she told me her professor said a decent one could be found for $20 or so. Right. I found a styrofoam kit but that wasn't going to work because it would need to last through her second semester of biology--or is it chemistry she is taking? Anyhoo, I'm not finding much of anything for less than $45 plus shipping. So later she texts me and says, "LOL Lindsay just gave me her set because she's done with the class and won't use it again."

I love those hugs from God.

Then, in one of her classes there is a student who is hearing impaired and the university provides Sign Language interpreters for her. Morgan was so fascinated by the sign language. She said she had a hard time concentrating on the lecture because she was watching the interpreters. But then she said the next class she found herself paying more attention to the lecture because she was trying to put the signs she was seeing with the words she was hearing.

Morgan finally got up the nerve to talk to the ASL interpreter and ask her about learning ASL. Well, while she is talking to the interpreter the hearing impaired student asks the other interpreter about finding some way to get the lecture notes in writing. She reads Morgan's lips and discovers Morgan wants to learn ASL. So she signs to Morgan she is willing to teach her ASL. Morgan says, "That's great! And I can give you lecture notes from class!"

The beauty of a new friendship. I told Morgan to just think about all she would be missing if she hadn't had the courage to ask the ASL interpreter about learning to sign!

About those jobs.....

The jobs have been a part of my healing process. One would think a couple of part time jobs would only add more stress to a busy life but in my case working a few hours a week has been a balm to my raw soul. I'll get more into that story later but I had to share this. Some of my online friends have asked how my first night waiting tables at the BBQ & Grill went. Here is my answer. (Those of you who read this on the you-know-what-boards sorry... read it again, I promise you'll laugh!)

I love it! You wanna know what makes it even more fun? The restaurant building is one my dad helped build for my grandparents years ago. Nanny and Poppy owned and operated M________'s Cafe years and years ago. I remember having my 7th birthday party at the cafe. Then, several years later Dad and Poppy and an uncle decided to remodel and put in a nicer "restaurant and lounge." By then I was old enough to wait tables (and wash dishes ) so that's where my start came from. Nanny trained me herself. I miss her.

Anyway, tonight was the first night I'd been back in the kitchen of the restaurant. I was kind of caught off guard when the lump formed in my throat and the tears threatened to flow. When Nanny passed away my aunts, Dad, and Poppy ran the restaurant and bar for quite a few years. Then Poppy got sick and sold the place. They owned if for so long and then when it sold it was never the same.

It has gone through several owners by now. These folks who now own it (Bill and Linda) are very sweet, Christian people and Mr. Willy does an bang up job. He smokes the meat for like 2 days and makes his own BBQ Sauce. Would you like Mild or Spicy?

Anyway, it was a good night to get back into the swing of things. Not too terribly busy and guess what? Even with it being kind of slow and me being "trained" I still made more than minimum wage and I was home by 8:30. (Much better than the midnight from the video store!!! )

The funniest thing though: I was walking home and heard a noise behind me. I look back and there is a black dog following me. I tried to shoo him away and thought I was successful. No, he just went and found a friend and came back. There were two dogs following me then. I figured the black one said to the white one, "Hey Rover, come with me and follow the scent on this person. Yuuuummmmmmooooooooooooooo." Then I get home and all three of my guys are smelling my shirt... Yep... I smelled like smoked bbq brisket!

To Blog or Not To Blog?---That is the question!

Celebration-worthy things come in all sorts of packaging. You just have to have your eyes peeled for them. Anticipate them. Be ready for them.

Things that truly tickle you--make you laugh out loud--are worthy of a celebration. Those "coincidences" that happen that you know in your heart are really hugs from God are worthy of a celebration. Those times when you feel the pure joy welling up in your soul are worthy of a celebration. Those times when you are so awed by something you learn are worthy of a celebration.

So, this year when those kinds of things happen to me I'm going to celebrate them by blogging them. Right then and there! Too many times we let too much time pass between the event and the celebration and we "lose the confetti." You know what I mean. It's still neat but when there is confetti it's a celebration! If it ends up sounding silly or preposterous or downright ridiculous to my gentle readers then so be it.

The Song

Matthew West's "Everything to Me"