Thursday, May 17, 2012
Mother's Day 2012
From my oldest...
This one is just for you mom =) ... a beautiful foggy sunrise with Mt. Baker in the background looking over the whole valley =).. happy mother's day! ,, I love you and appreciate all that you have ever done for me. You are a great mom :)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Dreams
Here's something I had to blog about at the end of last week... dreams. Aren't they interesting?
They say that you dream when you hit that really, really deep REM sleep. So why is it, after my alarm clock goes off and I fall back asleep, I dream before the snooze button sounds off again? Do I really hit that deep sleep in just a matter of seconds? This is especially intriguing to me since it takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r for me to fall asleep at night in the first place.
Anyway, what I wanted to ask was... Do you see things in your dreams that you perceive to be something different, or a person is actually someone else? I wanted to know if I was the only one. I am sure I am not.
There will be a person in my dream, and I can't actually make out the face or anything, or they look like someone but I know it's my son, or my dad, or the lady down the street. Isn't that strange? Or I will see something and I can describe it perfectly, but it's not at all what I know it to be.
Case in point: Friday morning, I had a dream about a snowflake drifting down. Kind of like the feather in the opening scenes of Forrest Gump... seen from above, I just watched it float back and forth, going down. I know it was a snowflake. And I even said, "that's the biggest snowflake I've ever seen!" However, it didn't look anything like a snowflake. In fact, it wasn't even white.
What is did look like was a chocolate curl. You know, like on the top of a fancy cake, where you use a knife and scrape a curl from a bar of chocolate? My snowflake was the color and texture of a chocolate curl, only it was about 2 inches square. I could see the texture of it in fine detail, and it was perfectly square. It was a beautiful chocolate curl - but it was a snowflake.
Funny. Dreams can be really strange.
They say that you dream when you hit that really, really deep REM sleep. So why is it, after my alarm clock goes off and I fall back asleep, I dream before the snooze button sounds off again? Do I really hit that deep sleep in just a matter of seconds? This is especially intriguing to me since it takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r for me to fall asleep at night in the first place.
Anyway, what I wanted to ask was... Do you see things in your dreams that you perceive to be something different, or a person is actually someone else? I wanted to know if I was the only one. I am sure I am not.
There will be a person in my dream, and I can't actually make out the face or anything, or they look like someone but I know it's my son, or my dad, or the lady down the street. Isn't that strange? Or I will see something and I can describe it perfectly, but it's not at all what I know it to be.
Case in point: Friday morning, I had a dream about a snowflake drifting down. Kind of like the feather in the opening scenes of Forrest Gump... seen from above, I just watched it float back and forth, going down. I know it was a snowflake. And I even said, "that's the biggest snowflake I've ever seen!" However, it didn't look anything like a snowflake. In fact, it wasn't even white.
What is did look like was a chocolate curl. You know, like on the top of a fancy cake, where you use a knife and scrape a curl from a bar of chocolate? My snowflake was the color and texture of a chocolate curl, only it was about 2 inches square. I could see the texture of it in fine detail, and it was perfectly square. It was a beautiful chocolate curl - but it was a snowflake.
Funny. Dreams can be really strange.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Social (Media) Dilemna
Today's burning question: Should I "friend" my son's new girlfriends?
UPDATE, May 17, 2012: The Answer is a definite "no." Don't do it, and don't feel bad about it either. You can message if you want to keep in touch, but do you really want them in your business? and looking at all your pictures and notes? And what if they break up down the line, then what do you? Chalk her off also? Decidedly, it is best not to even open that can of worms.
UPDATE, May 17, 2012: The Answer is a definite "no." Don't do it, and don't feel bad about it either. You can message if you want to keep in touch, but do you really want them in your business? and looking at all your pictures and notes? And what if they break up down the line, then what do you? Chalk her off also? Decidedly, it is best not to even open that can of worms.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Discovering Something New
I have just discovered "Yarn Bombing." It's also called Knit Grafitti. There was one picture of a yarn bombed tree in an email my mom just sent me... you know, the kind of email with all the amazing photographs?
Well, I Googled images for Yarn Bombing, and have discovered a whole bunch, and that the "grafitti" has been around for some time. Makes me want to learn knit better and learn to crochet :) And I'm starting to look at ordinary objects so much differently.... hmmm.
As one blogger said it, MAKING LIFE MORE BEAUTIFUL FOR THE LIVING
And here are some sites and blogs to check out...
Book review by a crochet fan: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2011/05/book-review-yarn-bombing/
An array of photos: http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=2014 of this and other types of "street art."
Hope you have a coloful day!
:)
Well, I Googled images for Yarn Bombing, and have discovered a whole bunch, and that the "grafitti" has been around for some time. Makes me want to learn knit better and learn to crochet :) And I'm starting to look at ordinary objects so much differently.... hmmm.
As one blogger said it, MAKING LIFE MORE BEAUTIFUL FOR THE LIVING
And here are some sites and blogs to check out...
Book review by a crochet fan: http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2011/05/book-review-yarn-bombing/
An array of photos: http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=2014 of this and other types of "street art."
Hope you have a coloful day!
:)
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Still Life
If the Internet, and what we post today, lives on into infinity, I sometimes wonder what my grandkids, or greatgrandkids might think of me. I don't think too hard about that, but I wish I could know more about my ancestors... their viewpoints - likes and dislikes, their hobbies, their religous takes, their personal worlds.
With that in mind, here is a Still Life of my side of the bathroom corner. Stuff I use everyday to get ready. My toothbrush and toothpaste are in the lower drawer, and my hairbrush is perched on an upper shelf unit.
So hey Great-Grandkids (to be)... this one is for you :)
With that in mind, here is a Still Life of my side of the bathroom corner. Stuff I use everyday to get ready. My toothbrush and toothpaste are in the lower drawer, and my hairbrush is perched on an upper shelf unit.
So hey Great-Grandkids (to be)... this one is for you :)
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Nothing to Do
I remember when we first moved to this town, there was someone complaining in the Editorial part of the local newspaper that there was "nothing to do here."
Well last Wednesday after work, I attended a two hour Senior Grad Night meeting. On Thursday I went to a fund-raiser dinner, and on Friday I went to the high school basketball games. Then on Sunday afternoon, I attended the Art Council presentation of a Jazz Ensemble!
I never did understand what that guy was talking about! There is gobs to do here, but you have to make the effort to become involved.
:)
Well last Wednesday after work, I attended a two hour Senior Grad Night meeting. On Thursday I went to a fund-raiser dinner, and on Friday I went to the high school basketball games. Then on Sunday afternoon, I attended the Art Council presentation of a Jazz Ensemble!
I never did understand what that guy was talking about! There is gobs to do here, but you have to make the effort to become involved.
:)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
How Social Media is Playing a Part in World Politics
A fourth assassination attempt has resulted in the death of a third nuclear scientist in Iran in the past two years. Iran says it will hold "the U.S., Britain and the Zionist regime accountable for their actions."
In response,
"Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said on his Facebook page Wednesday: "I have no idea who targeted the Iranian scientist but I certainly don't shed a tear."
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/15/world/meast/iran-nuclear-scientist-killed/index.html?iref=obinsite
In response,
"Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said on his Facebook page Wednesday: "I have no idea who targeted the Iranian scientist but I certainly don't shed a tear."
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/15/world/meast/iran-nuclear-scientist-killed/index.html?iref=obinsite
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Thots and Things
My little brain has been busy the past few days so I was thinking I should jot down a few items before I forget!
JAMMIES
I LOVE "Jammie Time" evening. Sometimes it hits me early in the evening, and sometime later, but when it's Jammie Time, it's time to get into something way more comfortable! I especially LOVE "Jammie Days"... when I don't have to work, or have any other plans, and I can stay home all day in my jammies. I don't usually just sit around and read and eat bon-bons... I'm getting dishes done, picking things up and getting them to where they ought to be, and running loads of laundry, all the while catching up on some favorite TV shows. But the fact that I don't have to get dressed is delightfully wonderful! :)
IOWA CAUCUS
I don't understand how Iowa can choose a presidential candidate. Look how many of them dropped out! Had they had the caucus in Oregon, perhaps the outcome would have been way different but now, our say doesn't matter really. Who decided Iowa represents the whole country's opinion?
Results for Iowa Republican Caucus (U.S. Presidential Primary)
Jan 03, 2012 (>99% of precincts reporting)
Mitt Romney 30,015 24.6%
Rick Santorum 30,007 24.5%
Ron Paul 26,219 21.4%
Newt Gingrich 16,251 13.3%
Rick Perry 12,604 10.3%
Michele Bachmann 6,073 5%
Jon Huntsman 745 0.6%
No Preference 135 0.1%
Other 206 0.2%
In the caucus, Santorum and Paul were 2 and 3, but in the New Hampshire Primary on January 10th, Paul and Huntsman were 2 and 3! So has Iowa and New Hampshire already chosen the Repulican candidate?
Results for New Hampshire Republican Primary (U.S. Presidential Primary)
Jan 10, 2012 (100% of precincts reporting)
Mitt Romney 97,532 39.3%
Ron Paul 56,848 22.9%
Jon Huntsman 41,945 16.9%
Newt Gingrich 23,411 9.4%
Rick Santorum 23,362 9.4%
Rick Perry 1,766 0.7%
Michele Bachmann 349 0.1%
Other 3,272 1.3%
And when is the Oregon Primary?
THANKFUL
Lord Jesus, I am so thankful to be able to come home at the end of a workday, chilled by this non-winter but COLD type of weather, and have a snug little house where I can crank of the heat! Thank You that you have provided the means by which I can work, and earn money, to keep this little home :)
HTML
Well, school has started and it's looking pretty good. My main teacher has altered a few things, and maybe not so much is required during the week, but I am sure this makes the other assignments all the more important. I feel confident about a good quarter :)
I LOVE "Jammie Time" evening. Sometimes it hits me early in the evening, and sometime later, but when it's Jammie Time, it's time to get into something way more comfortable! I especially LOVE "Jammie Days"... when I don't have to work, or have any other plans, and I can stay home all day in my jammies. I don't usually just sit around and read and eat bon-bons... I'm getting dishes done, picking things up and getting them to where they ought to be, and running loads of laundry, all the while catching up on some favorite TV shows. But the fact that I don't have to get dressed is delightfully wonderful! :)
I don't understand how Iowa can choose a presidential candidate. Look how many of them dropped out! Had they had the caucus in Oregon, perhaps the outcome would have been way different but now, our say doesn't matter really. Who decided Iowa represents the whole country's opinion?
Results for Iowa Republican Caucus (U.S. Presidential Primary)
Jan 03, 2012 (>99% of precincts reporting)
Mitt Romney 30,015 24.6%
Rick Santorum 30,007 24.5%
Ron Paul 26,219 21.4%
Newt Gingrich 16,251 13.3%
Rick Perry 12,604 10.3%
Michele Bachmann 6,073 5%
Jon Huntsman 745 0.6%
No Preference 135 0.1%
Other 206 0.2%
In the caucus, Santorum and Paul were 2 and 3, but in the New Hampshire Primary on January 10th, Paul and Huntsman were 2 and 3! So has Iowa and New Hampshire already chosen the Repulican candidate?
Results for New Hampshire Republican Primary (U.S. Presidential Primary)
Jan 10, 2012 (100% of precincts reporting)
Mitt Romney 97,532 39.3%
Ron Paul 56,848 22.9%
Jon Huntsman 41,945 16.9%
Newt Gingrich 23,411 9.4%
Rick Santorum 23,362 9.4%
Rick Perry 1,766 0.7%
Michele Bachmann 349 0.1%
Other 3,272 1.3%
And when is the Oregon Primary?
Lord Jesus, I am so thankful to be able to come home at the end of a workday, chilled by this non-winter but COLD type of weather, and have a snug little house where I can crank of the heat! Thank You that you have provided the means by which I can work, and earn money, to keep this little home :)
Well, school has started and it's looking pretty good. My main teacher has altered a few things, and maybe not so much is required during the week, but I am sure this makes the other assignments all the more important. I feel confident about a good quarter :)
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Year in Review - 2011
The last six months have been so stressful for me, that I can't really even remember the first six! But it's been some kind of year!
I don't believe I was anywhere special for New Year's 2011. I think I recorded the Times Square Ball Drop and didn't stay up much longer than that. I had two classes in Winter Quarter, started this blog as an assignment, and got A's in both. I Skyped with my youngest son while he was on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Sweden. The big earthquake hit Japan on March 11th and created a tsunami that crossed the Pacific Ocean. We all watched the scramble to contain the nuclear power plant at Fukashima. Had a fun Spring Break with my oldest son on a trip to the Oregon coast, and at home, we discovered Cinnamon had mammary cancer.
Spring Quarter I took 11 credits, was only working three days a week at the Forest Service and Saturdays with the post office, and was dealing with Cinnamon's surgery, so it's no wonder I don't remember much else. I ended with three A's, but not before Cinnamon passed after having a good romp for 2 1/2 months after her surgery, and a month of quiet. It was very difficult for my son. There was too much snow in the mountains still to bury her up in the forest, and we decided she would rather be close to us, so we had her cremated and gave her a place of honor on a shelf on the living room wall. Not 24 hours after my last final test, looking forward to a fun, carefree summer, I was left a message from a police officer, and have had that hanging over my head ever since. My youngest returned from Sweden to a newly decorated room, and a shopping spree for new clothes.
Started Fall Quarter with two computer classes, making preparations for a vacation to Hawaii with my best friend, and a phone call from a police officer. My van threw a rod and 9 days later my Taurus blew a water pump and croaked. A good friend in town offered me a Ford Tempo to borrow which I eventually decided to buy and paid off. High school football season was great and the team went into the state finals but lost the second round. I went back to working full time hours though still a temporary at the Forest Service because of my boss' pregnancy and a co-worker's sickness. Then I had a fabulous 9 days in Maui with Carol and we covered that island from head to toe! Cannot wait to get back there again! A week later the boys made a 4 layer cake for my birthday, and just as I was posting in FaceBook about a wonderful day, my youngest and his friend came in the front door, soaking wet in 31* weather and told me they had rolled my car! We spent the night talking about "what if" and thanking God they were OK, but the car was totalled. Fell behind with my classes but ended with an A and a B-. I wanted an incomplete, but my teacher said, "Take the B and move on." Had the boys' friend kinda moved in with us when he lost his job and couldn't afford to keep his place heated. Early December we watched the last lunar eclipse until 2014, went to Crater Lake to snowshoe on a Ranger Tour, and celebrated Christmas Eve and Morning on the 21st so the boys could head up to their dad's on the 24th.
Lots of world events happened this year also: Osama bin Laden was finally found and killed, several Middle Eastern countries had uprisings by the people against their governments, Italy and Greece had economic crises which impacted the whole world, Gadahfi was killed in the streets of Libya, and the weather around the country went crazy! Killer tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri; hundreds of homes destroyed in wildfires in Texas; Hurricane Irene flooded the East Coast; and for us here in Lake County... no snow to speak of at all so far this winter, although it does happen to be dark, gloomy, and raining at this very moment.
So it's been quite the year. It's gone quickly. And here we are, on the brink of 2012! What will it hold for me? Will it be the catastrophic year as predicted?
Making plans to pick up my youngest from the train station on New Year's Eve, while the oldest is staying in Washington to work with his dad at a refinery. School starts again for me on the 9th, and I'll be taking 7, possibly 8 credits.
Life continues to carry on, and we put one foot in front of the other no matter what the circumstance or emotion, knowing that Jesus is walking with us each step of the way! And AMEN, AMEN! to that!!
Sue :)
always, "Look forward, anxiously"
I don't believe I was anywhere special for New Year's 2011. I think I recorded the Times Square Ball Drop and didn't stay up much longer than that. I had two classes in Winter Quarter, started this blog as an assignment, and got A's in both. I Skyped with my youngest son while he was on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Sweden. The big earthquake hit Japan on March 11th and created a tsunami that crossed the Pacific Ocean. We all watched the scramble to contain the nuclear power plant at Fukashima. Had a fun Spring Break with my oldest son on a trip to the Oregon coast, and at home, we discovered Cinnamon had mammary cancer.
Spring Quarter I took 11 credits, was only working three days a week at the Forest Service and Saturdays with the post office, and was dealing with Cinnamon's surgery, so it's no wonder I don't remember much else. I ended with three A's, but not before Cinnamon passed after having a good romp for 2 1/2 months after her surgery, and a month of quiet. It was very difficult for my son. There was too much snow in the mountains still to bury her up in the forest, and we decided she would rather be close to us, so we had her cremated and gave her a place of honor on a shelf on the living room wall. Not 24 hours after my last final test, looking forward to a fun, carefree summer, I was left a message from a police officer, and have had that hanging over my head ever since. My youngest returned from Sweden to a newly decorated room, and a shopping spree for new clothes.
Started Fall Quarter with two computer classes, making preparations for a vacation to Hawaii with my best friend, and a phone call from a police officer. My van threw a rod and 9 days later my Taurus blew a water pump and croaked. A good friend in town offered me a Ford Tempo to borrow which I eventually decided to buy and paid off. High school football season was great and the team went into the state finals but lost the second round. I went back to working full time hours though still a temporary at the Forest Service because of my boss' pregnancy and a co-worker's sickness. Then I had a fabulous 9 days in Maui with Carol and we covered that island from head to toe! Cannot wait to get back there again! A week later the boys made a 4 layer cake for my birthday, and just as I was posting in FaceBook about a wonderful day, my youngest and his friend came in the front door, soaking wet in 31* weather and told me they had rolled my car! We spent the night talking about "what if" and thanking God they were OK, but the car was totalled. Fell behind with my classes but ended with an A and a B-. I wanted an incomplete, but my teacher said, "Take the B and move on." Had the boys' friend kinda moved in with us when he lost his job and couldn't afford to keep his place heated. Early December we watched the last lunar eclipse until 2014, went to Crater Lake to snowshoe on a Ranger Tour, and celebrated Christmas Eve and Morning on the 21st so the boys could head up to their dad's on the 24th.
Lots of world events happened this year also: Osama bin Laden was finally found and killed, several Middle Eastern countries had uprisings by the people against their governments, Italy and Greece had economic crises which impacted the whole world, Gadahfi was killed in the streets of Libya, and the weather around the country went crazy! Killer tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri; hundreds of homes destroyed in wildfires in Texas; Hurricane Irene flooded the East Coast; and for us here in Lake County... no snow to speak of at all so far this winter, although it does happen to be dark, gloomy, and raining at this very moment.
So it's been quite the year. It's gone quickly. And here we are, on the brink of 2012! What will it hold for me? Will it be the catastrophic year as predicted?
Making plans to pick up my youngest from the train station on New Year's Eve, while the oldest is staying in Washington to work with his dad at a refinery. School starts again for me on the 9th, and I'll be taking 7, possibly 8 credits.
Life continues to carry on, and we put one foot in front of the other no matter what the circumstance or emotion, knowing that Jesus is walking with us each step of the way! And AMEN, AMEN! to that!!
Sue :)
Take on the Day
I love these Florida Orange Juice commercials!!
Dad:
and Mom:
Wouldn't it be great if you knew ahead of time what the day was going to hold and you had your orange juice and were ready for it? If you could keep this type of good attitude, it would be terrific.
Or would it? I really am not so sure. Is it better to be surprised?
Dad:
and Mom:
Wouldn't it be great if you knew ahead of time what the day was going to hold and you had your orange juice and were ready for it? If you could keep this type of good attitude, it would be terrific.
Or would it? I really am not so sure. Is it better to be surprised?
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Best Ever
It was the best ever "Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning All in One Night" ever, last night!! Ben had the ham in the oven when I arrived home after work to start the salad. Gabe ran to the store for the last few ingredients I had forgotten earlier, and we waited for Jon to arrive after his work.
We enjoyed the salad - recipe to follow - and since it was "Christmas Eve" everyone got to open one present - and I let them open the Dot-to-dot books I had ordered for all of us. They thot they were cool.
While the sides were cooking in the oven, I read the Christmas story from the Bible while the boys unwrapped the pieces of our Nativity set (minus Jesus - he hadn't got borned-eded yet!) Then it was time to top the green beans with the french-fried onions, and the yams with the marshmallows - and guess what!? no marshmallows! So Gabe and Jon ran to the store.
I took this time to tidy up a few loose ends for Christmas morning. Ben was on the internet. The boys returned, we topped the sides, the marshmallows overflowed, and dinner was served:
Ham
Green Bean Casserole
Yams with Brown Sugar and Marshmallows
Black Olives
King's Hawaiian Rolls with Butter
It was wonderful and we all ate our fill. The ham was not salty and had a hint of the apple juice we had steamed it in. The marshmallows were gooey, and who doesn't love black olives?
After cleaing off the table, the boys took a little drive while I prepared for "Christmas morning." I put tinsel on our Christmas tree which has always represented the magic of Christmas, placed Baby Jesus in the stable scene, put the stockings under the tree and texted the boys that they could return.
We should have been in our jammies to make the scene complete, but we weren't... ah well. We ooo-d and ahhhh-d over the Baby, the boys enjoyed their candy-filled stockings, and Ben played Santa, digging under the tree for presents for each of us to open. Everyone got really cool stuff: Gabe got car seat covers, rainbow suspenders, an argyle sweater vest and a magic wallet. Ben got a hunter green chamois shirt, a magic wallet and a fuzzy Crater Lake blankie. Jon got a penguin mug with hot chocolate, car seat covers, an ice scraper, and a fuzzy blankie from his Grandma. I got socks, gloves, two winter hats, a scarf, a fuzzy steering wheel cover, an ice scraper, candy, and the best... a Nutcraker on a rocking horse!! for my collection :)
It was a long evening, but so enjoyable. I hope everyone I know and love has an equally wonderful "Christmas Eve" and "Christmas Morning."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS !!
Our new tradition:
Salad Dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup tarragon white wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon poppy seed (if you have them)
Combine all dressing ingredients in jar and shake, or a bowl and whisk. Refrigerate.
Almonds
1 tablespoon Land O Lakes® Butter
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3 tablespoons sugar
Melt butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat until sizzling; add almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until sugar melts and nuts are golden brown (4 to 5 minutes). Remove from heat; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Quickly spread onto waxed paper-lined baking sheet; cool completely.
Salad
2 (10-ounce) packages European salad blend or your favorite salad blend
1 medium (1 cup) yellow bell pepper, cut into small bite-size pieces
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained well
4 ounces (1/2 cup) crumbled feta cheese
Just before serving, toss together all salad ingredients and dressing in 5 to 6-quart bowl. Portion into bowls and top with caramelized almonds. Serve immediately.
Way yum! Hope you enjoy! :)
We enjoyed the salad - recipe to follow - and since it was "Christmas Eve" everyone got to open one present - and I let them open the Dot-to-dot books I had ordered for all of us. They thot they were cool.
While the sides were cooking in the oven, I read the Christmas story from the Bible while the boys unwrapped the pieces of our Nativity set (minus Jesus - he hadn't got borned-eded yet!) Then it was time to top the green beans with the french-fried onions, and the yams with the marshmallows - and guess what!? no marshmallows! So Gabe and Jon ran to the store.
I took this time to tidy up a few loose ends for Christmas morning. Ben was on the internet. The boys returned, we topped the sides, the marshmallows overflowed, and dinner was served:
Green Bean Casserole
Yams with Brown Sugar and Marshmallows
Black Olives
King's Hawaiian Rolls with Butter
It was wonderful and we all ate our fill. The ham was not salty and had a hint of the apple juice we had steamed it in. The marshmallows were gooey, and who doesn't love black olives?
After cleaing off the table, the boys took a little drive while I prepared for "Christmas morning." I put tinsel on our Christmas tree which has always represented the magic of Christmas, placed Baby Jesus in the stable scene, put the stockings under the tree and texted the boys that they could return.
We should have been in our jammies to make the scene complete, but we weren't... ah well. We ooo-d and ahhhh-d over the Baby, the boys enjoyed their candy-filled stockings, and Ben played Santa, digging under the tree for presents for each of us to open. Everyone got really cool stuff: Gabe got car seat covers, rainbow suspenders, an argyle sweater vest and a magic wallet. Ben got a hunter green chamois shirt, a magic wallet and a fuzzy Crater Lake blankie. Jon got a penguin mug with hot chocolate, car seat covers, an ice scraper, and a fuzzy blankie from his Grandma. I got socks, gloves, two winter hats, a scarf, a fuzzy steering wheel cover, an ice scraper, candy, and the best... a Nutcraker on a rocking horse!! for my collection :)
It was a long evening, but so enjoyable. I hope everyone I know and love has an equally wonderful "Christmas Eve" and "Christmas Morning."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS !!
Our new tradition:
Christmas Salad
Salad Dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup tarragon white wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon poppy seed (if you have them)
Combine all dressing ingredients in jar and shake, or a bowl and whisk. Refrigerate.
Almonds
1 tablespoon Land O Lakes® Butter
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3 tablespoons sugar
Melt butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat until sizzling; add almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until sugar melts and nuts are golden brown (4 to 5 minutes). Remove from heat; sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Quickly spread onto waxed paper-lined baking sheet; cool completely.
Salad
2 (10-ounce) packages European salad blend or your favorite salad blend
1 medium (1 cup) yellow bell pepper, cut into small bite-size pieces
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained well
4 ounces (1/2 cup) crumbled feta cheese
Just before serving, toss together all salad ingredients and dressing in 5 to 6-quart bowl. Portion into bowls and top with caramelized almonds. Serve immediately.
Way yum! Hope you enjoy! :)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Snowshoes
Last week I took my boys and one of their friends to a snowshoe tour of Crater Lake in Oregon.
It was free, and the Ranger talks along the route were very informative: the development of snowshoes, how winter helped create Crater Lake, the big and little plants in the park, and the big and little animals in the park.
The weather was way better than I had expected from the reports and we stayed warm and comfortable :) It was a wonderful adventure!
It was free, and the Ranger talks along the route were very informative: the development of snowshoes, how winter helped create Crater Lake, the big and little plants in the park, and the big and little animals in the park.
The weather was way better than I had expected from the reports and we stayed warm and comfortable :) It was a wonderful adventure!
Merry Christmas !!
I cannot believe that Christmas is just about to arrive for 2011. Where has this year gone? Except for a few bright spots, and a couple of quiet times, the past 6 months have been fairly overwhelming to me with kids, cars and school. I am hoping for a nice Christmas and a calm New Year!
Wishing you and yours a Very Merry Christmas as you celebrate the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ!
xoxo
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
MAUI ! ! !
My body may have returned to Oregon, but my brain definitely still wants to be in Maui, and I feel as though I have surely left a of piece of my heart in Hana.
I had the most wonderful vacation with my bestest buddy in the whole wide world! I plan to post my entire trip on another blog, with all my pictures and videos. My friend will be sending me her pics also, so there will be a bunch to look at :)
I will put the address of that blog
ALOHA
I had the most wonderful vacation with my bestest buddy in the whole wide world! I plan to post my entire trip on another blog, with all my pictures and videos. My friend will be sending me her pics also, so there will be a bunch to look at :)
I will put the address of that blog
HERE
ALOHA
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Defining
A defining moment is a point at which the essential nature or character of a person, group, etc., is revealed or identified.
Allowing a single moment to define us is differnt, and totally manangable by our own person.
9/11 is characterized as a defining moment for our country. It revealed our collective nature as a whole. A defining moment might happen at the grocery store when you are given back too much change - how you handle the situation at that moment, may define your character. These might be similar but not totally the same as "aha" moments when you discover something about yourself or a situation... when you finally get it.
However, there are moments... &$@# happens... we make mistakes...
But do we allow that moment to define us, our year, our lifetime? We can make that choice... it doesn't just happen to us. An event may happen to us, but how we handle ourselves after that event - we choose.
Do we feel bad? Come to a place of forgiveness of self.
Did we hurt someone else? or their property? Apologize, perform restitution.
Anything else we can do? If so, do it. If not, apply one or both of the above, and then move yourself along.
Most importantly, contemplate what you can learn from the situation... change the way we do things, make new and different friends, try something else in a similar situation. Become a better person because of it.
Older folks have had several situations like this so far in their lives; younger folks may experience this for the first time and feel unsure as to how to handle themselves.
The best thing is to forgive, and do better.
:)
Allowing a single moment to define us is differnt, and totally manangable by our own person.
9/11 is characterized as a defining moment for our country. It revealed our collective nature as a whole. A defining moment might happen at the grocery store when you are given back too much change - how you handle the situation at that moment, may define your character. These might be similar but not totally the same as "aha" moments when you discover something about yourself or a situation... when you finally get it.
However, there are moments... &$@# happens... we make mistakes...
But do we allow that moment to define us, our year, our lifetime? We can make that choice... it doesn't just happen to us. An event may happen to us, but how we handle ourselves after that event - we choose.
Do we feel bad? Come to a place of forgiveness of self.
Did we hurt someone else? or their property? Apologize, perform restitution.
Anything else we can do? If so, do it. If not, apply one or both of the above, and then move yourself along.
Most importantly, contemplate what you can learn from the situation... change the way we do things, make new and different friends, try something else in a similar situation. Become a better person because of it.
Older folks have had several situations like this so far in their lives; younger folks may experience this for the first time and feel unsure as to how to handle themselves.
The best thing is to forgive, and do better.
:)
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Catching Up
I feel like I need to catch up before school starts next week, so I thot I would jot down a few happenings.
After my two vehicles blew engines, my son got a new car (new to him,) and he is jazzed.
And I got a new car (new to me,) and it gets me back and forth to work.
We walked through the Gate of Honor on a Memorial 5k for our town's 9/11 Rememberance gathering.
High school team has played two football games so far: 1 loss (slightly expected) - 1 win (phenominal against local rival)
Other son is about to come home from a 2 1/2 week job of feeding firefighter crews up north on the High Cascades Comples fire. Good money.
Both have changed their previous life plans in the last week (sheesh)
I need to register both new cars, check to see why my school doesn't have my online class schedule, make the last payment on my Treehouse accommodations for Hawaii (end of October) along with making the car rental reservations. Lots to do, always.
:)
After my two vehicles blew engines, my son got a new car (new to him,) and he is jazzed.
And I got a new car (new to me,) and it gets me back and forth to work.
We walked through the Gate of Honor on a Memorial 5k for our town's 9/11 Rememberance gathering.
High school team has played two football games so far: 1 loss (slightly expected) - 1 win (phenominal against local rival)
Other son is about to come home from a 2 1/2 week job of feeding firefighter crews up north on the High Cascades Comples fire. Good money.
Both have changed their previous life plans in the last week (sheesh)
I need to register both new cars, check to see why my school doesn't have my online class schedule, make the last payment on my Treehouse accommodations for Hawaii (end of October) along with making the car rental reservations. Lots to do, always.
:)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday
Today has been a monday with Capital "M" !!
Normally I am not dissuaded with this day of the week, just as I am not paralyzed by Friday the 13ths. But after relating my morning to a friend, she suggested I go back to bed and try again tomorrow!
I was awakened at 5:25 by my son, who needed to use the little blue borrowed car to take his friend to work. Since this car is a blessing from friends to get me to work while my other TWO vehicles have blown up (within a week of each other) and I am awaiting the bad news on them, I am not allowing anyone else to drive it, as promised. He actually just wanted to use it to help jump another friend's little truck that was not starting. (Both of these friends stayed over here last night.)
So, I went back to bed and they tried to jump the truck. At 20 to 6, they woke me up again because the truck still wouldn't start and the friend needed to get to work. So I drove him to his house to get his stuff, and drove him to work.
I went back to bed, and when my alarm went off, I set it for snooze and went right back asleep. When it went off again, I dismissed it and fell asleep again, and woke up at the time I had planned to be at work! So I called and someone was able to cover while I got ready and got to work late.
Today I was working at the prison, and you can't take a cell phone in with you, and I hate to leave it in a hot car so I left it at home. I also try to take a minimum of things with me, so I only take a car door key in.
When I got out of work, I was trying to get to an appointment and discovered I did not have the car door key... I had the trunk key! So I had to go back in and call a friend - they were busy and wouldn't be available for 45 minutes. I would have called my kids, but I figured they were somewhere where they couldn't get a call, so I started walking! Hey it's only 4.5 miles to town!
Luckily, someone from the prison, a mom of one of high school girls my kids know, stopped when she recognized it was me, and took me into town. I had missed the appointment, and then used another person's cell phone to call my kids. They were getting food at a place, and made it by in a short while.
At home, I couldn't find the correct key until about an hour later. Geez.
Got a ride back from the friend whose little truck didn't start in the morning, but did start later, and went to get a second set of keys made!
Now I'm going to take a cool shower, and go back to bed before anything else goes wrong! Tuesday is bound to be way better!
:)
A special thank you to all my friends that helped me out today... you are truly appreciated!
Normally I am not dissuaded with this day of the week, just as I am not paralyzed by Friday the 13ths. But after relating my morning to a friend, she suggested I go back to bed and try again tomorrow!
I was awakened at 5:25 by my son, who needed to use the little blue borrowed car to take his friend to work. Since this car is a blessing from friends to get me to work while my other TWO vehicles have blown up (within a week of each other) and I am awaiting the bad news on them, I am not allowing anyone else to drive it, as promised. He actually just wanted to use it to help jump another friend's little truck that was not starting. (Both of these friends stayed over here last night.)
So, I went back to bed and they tried to jump the truck. At 20 to 6, they woke me up again because the truck still wouldn't start and the friend needed to get to work. So I drove him to his house to get his stuff, and drove him to work.
I went back to bed, and when my alarm went off, I set it for snooze and went right back asleep. When it went off again, I dismissed it and fell asleep again, and woke up at the time I had planned to be at work! So I called and someone was able to cover while I got ready and got to work late.
Today I was working at the prison, and you can't take a cell phone in with you, and I hate to leave it in a hot car so I left it at home. I also try to take a minimum of things with me, so I only take a car door key in.
When I got out of work, I was trying to get to an appointment and discovered I did not have the car door key... I had the trunk key! So I had to go back in and call a friend - they were busy and wouldn't be available for 45 minutes. I would have called my kids, but I figured they were somewhere where they couldn't get a call, so I started walking! Hey it's only 4.5 miles to town!
Luckily, someone from the prison, a mom of one of high school girls my kids know, stopped when she recognized it was me, and took me into town. I had missed the appointment, and then used another person's cell phone to call my kids. They were getting food at a place, and made it by in a short while.
At home, I couldn't find the correct key until about an hour later. Geez.
Got a ride back from the friend whose little truck didn't start in the morning, but did start later, and went to get a second set of keys made!
Now I'm going to take a cool shower, and go back to bed before anything else goes wrong! Tuesday is bound to be way better!
:)
A special thank you to all my friends that helped me out today... you are truly appreciated!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
My Mind's Eye
Back when my son left for his year abroad, I had the brilliant idea to lose some weight. "He would really notice" I thought, his having not seen the transformation over the year.
I also had added inspiration, after new years, when I decided to meet my best bud in Hawaii for a "getaway from it all."
Ah yes, the dropping of about 20 to 40 pounds. 20, minimum, and fairly realistic... 40, gallantly idealistic, but probably needed.
Well, you know, life just gets in the way, and it's always something! Changes in situation and routine, stress, the blahs and "who cares", other things that just take more attention. Needless to say, it's now about 2 months before my Hawaiian takeoff, and guess what!? I haven't lost a single pound! Probably have even gained a few... too scared to find out! And I will probably hate myself when I get there that I didn't put forth better effort.
In my mind's eye though, I am slimmer and healthier. I'm still young looking, and basically in decent shape. I think I can bike and hike endlessly into the sunset, but in reality, a 1/4 mile down the path, I'm huffing and puffing.
Now that we've hung the mirrors in my son's room across the hallway, I catch a glimpse of myself every time I walk into my own room, and think... Ack! Is that really me?
I know I need to quit wasting my 50's !! Too soon I'll be in my 60's and hopefully 70's and I will be really old and on a half dozen medications, and I'll have lost the opportunity to ever really be in shape.
But it's difficult to consistently keep that point of view so that you turn away from the ice cream, eat better foods, turn off the TV, get off the couch, and go outside for a walk, even if you are going to get a little sweaty in the warm weather, or need to bundle up for the cooler weather.
Why, why, why, is it so difficult?
Since my high schooler will be having a hectic schedule and we're not too sure about meal times, we have decided that making casserole and crockpot dishes would be best, so that he can come in at any time, warm up a dish and eat decently. Although I have a list of recipes that I already make, I am now in search of healthier alternates so all of us will eat better.
Got any good ones to share? Please comment and leave me a recipe!
Thank you! :)
I also had added inspiration, after new years, when I decided to meet my best bud in Hawaii for a "getaway from it all."
Ah yes, the dropping of about 20 to 40 pounds. 20, minimum, and fairly realistic... 40, gallantly idealistic, but probably needed.
Well, you know, life just gets in the way, and it's always something! Changes in situation and routine, stress, the blahs and "who cares", other things that just take more attention. Needless to say, it's now about 2 months before my Hawaiian takeoff, and guess what!? I haven't lost a single pound! Probably have even gained a few... too scared to find out! And I will probably hate myself when I get there that I didn't put forth better effort.
In my mind's eye though, I am slimmer and healthier. I'm still young looking, and basically in decent shape. I think I can bike and hike endlessly into the sunset, but in reality, a 1/4 mile down the path, I'm huffing and puffing.
Now that we've hung the mirrors in my son's room across the hallway, I catch a glimpse of myself every time I walk into my own room, and think... Ack! Is that really me?
I know I need to quit wasting my 50's !! Too soon I'll be in my 60's and hopefully 70's and I will be really old and on a half dozen medications, and I'll have lost the opportunity to ever really be in shape.
But it's difficult to consistently keep that point of view so that you turn away from the ice cream, eat better foods, turn off the TV, get off the couch, and go outside for a walk, even if you are going to get a little sweaty in the warm weather, or need to bundle up for the cooler weather.
Why, why, why, is it so difficult?
Since my high schooler will be having a hectic schedule and we're not too sure about meal times, we have decided that making casserole and crockpot dishes would be best, so that he can come in at any time, warm up a dish and eat decently. Although I have a list of recipes that I already make, I am now in search of healthier alternates so all of us will eat better.
Got any good ones to share? Please comment and leave me a recipe!
Thank you! :)
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