A Year of Slow Cooking: CrockPot 5 Layer Brownie Recipe

I found this site....admittedly long after a million other people did and when I saw the picture for this first recipe I knew I had to read every single one of her 365 days of crockpot cooking....check it out....mmmmmm A Year of Slow Cooking: CrockPot 5 Layer Brownie Recipe

"J" is for January...and Organization......ummm ok so it isn't really for Organization...

January seems to be the month when everyone, I mean EVERYONE is thinking...I need to clear out some stuff. (Probably due to that massive chore of putting away all those Christmas decorations!) At any rate there are lots and lots of magazine articles to read through (of course then you have piles of magazines!) and much clutterbusting to be done.

Yesterday I stumbled upon a great idea....why didn't I think of this before? When putting away your sheet sets after washing...simply fold them then put the whole pile (including ONE pillowcase) inside one of the pillowcases...voila! Instant organization in your cabinet, you don't have to worry about stacks of sheets falling over OR the pillowcases getting separated from the sheet set....

Oh you're welcome!!!

What a great idea!!!

Have you ever wondered how to keep a record of the "little" things you do each day without it becoming a chore...? Well, I can't take credit for the idea but it was brilliant!!! I saw it in a magazine and I'll give credit to the family who submitted it....

"Hi, Nonas Family of Glen Rock, New Jersey! Thanks for the great idea!!!"

They've taken a stack (say 365) of 4x6 blank index cards and a cute little box to store them in like this:

Then each night at the dinner table they take on card date it and write something interesting,funny,remarkable, etc. ....something short and sweet .... What makes this really special is that they write on the same cards each year....for instance they'll write this year's Valentine's Day entry on last year's February 14 card....when that card is full they just add another and file it right behind or in front of the original. This makes it easy to read old memories ...

I suppose you don't have to do it at dinnertime, it just happens that this family found that was when they were all together and it provided good dinner conversation coming up with something to write for the day.

I Great Ideas!!!

Thougts on 2009

My Thoughts On The Last Year


1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Rode in an ambulance with me as the patient!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I really don't make resolutions but I do pick things to work on...I said I would try to 1) call my parents more...I have; 2)make amends with my sisters...um, I sort of have, 3) be more positive in the things I say...not so much complaining....well, lets just say some days are better than others!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? YES! Patti (my oldest "baby") brought sweet little Evalyn Brodi into the world on July 13 as a present for Lila : ) We all love her!

4. Did anyone close to you die? A lot of wonderful people from my ward...Neomi, Janie, Pansy and of course Bro Leslie who we will miss so very much.


5. What countries did you visit? Costa Rica for our 25th anniversary...it was great!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A Left knee that works perfectly, a larger,very faithful seminary class, a hobby that I really enjoy and have time for.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? July 13 Evalyn was born, December 9 Stewart and I took a wonderful vacation together just the two of us, April something....Hannah graduated from college.

8. What was your biggest personal achievement of the year? .....ummmm can't even think of one thing! Better make that a priority for next year!


9. What was your biggest failure? Calling it quits on TSI...I'm just too old to help Stewart do really hard physical labor....

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? December 26...fell on ice and totally wrecked my knee (MCL) resulting in missed shopping trip that day and weeks of no driving, no fun, no patience and plenty of pain and expense.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Oh good grief....probably the water softener : )


12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Afton and Stewart....they have been my faithful minions during the weeks of recuperation.....I am SO grateful to them....
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My own on several occasions!
14. Where did most of your money go? Gas, Insurance, Taxes and Medical expenses....well, then there were two trips to Disneyworld and one to Costa Rica : )

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Getting a new granddaughter....Getting Skype....celebrating 25 years of marriage....having Hannah home with us for awhile.....getting Patti to bring herself and the girls to our house....I loved showing snow to Lila!

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Where Do We Go .... Sandrine (from the movie Last Chance Harvey)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
a) Sadder....I can't walk
b) Fatter. enough said.
c.) Richer.


19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Falling

20. Did you fall in love in 2009? at least a few times...always with the same man : )

21. What was your favorite TV program? Survivor, Deadliest Catch, reruns of the first season of Newhart


22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I cant think of anyone that I hate.
3. What was the best book you read? The Uglies,Pretties, Specials and Extras, Edgar Sawtelle, The Geurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Little Stranger, The Book Of Mormon


24. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sandrine


26. What did you want and not get? out of debt

27. What was your favorite film of this year? Julie and Julia

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Nothing special...I turned 53.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Paying off some bills.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Hoodies, T Shirts and anything large enough to hide the epanding waistline of a midlife menopausal woman....btw there really is nothing that does that : )

31. What kept you sane? Reading good books, talking almost daily with one daughter or another, exercise, being healthy and feeling gratitude for all those things.
32. When you think about 2009, what sticks out in your mind? My children and how proud I am of them, the blessing of family, how great it is to be a grandma, the joy of working for yourself.

33. Best moment of 2009? Riding a zipline through a rainforest...., holding a new granddaughter, sitting in church with my husband and children and grandchildren, there are so many....

Interval Training

A few years ago ... in April of 2000 I faced a health crisis in my life. I decided I needed to take better care of myself and I committed to exercise 6 days a week, resting only on the Sabbath day.

It was hard at first to keep to the schedule but over a few months it became easier and easier. I lost a lot of weight but that was never my goal. I just wanted to be healthy and have my heart last until I was tired of using it

After a couple of years I heard about interval training....a way to make your workouts even better without necessarily spending more time....I didn’t have more time to devote to exercise than the one hour a day I was already committed to.

Basically interval training is working at a very high level for a few minutes followed by a short period of less intense exercise. I found this worked well for me and again I lost weight and gained more energy. I felt stronger, and good about what I was doing.

The following year I was still using the “interval” training method but it became easy for me....I had obviously been doing the same thing for too long...even the “strenuous” periods were getting way too easy. It was hard to get my heart rate elevated....a sign that it had become very healthy and strong.


It was about this time that I read an article about cycling and how it is a great form of interval training if you can find a course with enough hills. Lucky for me I live in an area where I can make a daily 12-14 mile ride with lots of hills along the way. The first day nearly killed me!!!
In fact I only made it because once I was 5 miles from home I had no alternative but to ride back.

The last two hills before my house that day I had to “walk” my bike up....very embarrassing. The next day I barely made it up ....only by gearing my bike to the least possible amount of exertion. I knew that over time I would get stronger and then I’d be able to make it up the hills without using the gears for assistance.

Months went by....no matter how hard I tried the hills on the way home were just too hard. I could never make it to the top without shifting to an easier gear. This went on for almost a year and then I got a job as a teacher of teenage youth...an early morning class .... my class was smallish...only 13 students and I found I loved both teaching and being with them each day.

As I prayed for them each day, and for myself...that I could be a good teacher....I began to feel the weight of their problems and the difficulties they faced each day not only at school but at home and in other social settings. I felt a deep compassion for them and a desire to help. One day I was riding my bike....the normal 13 mile route....and I was thinking a lot about one of my students. I silently prayed to Heavenly Father that he would help this wonderful young person face the challenges they were having.....before I knew it I was home.....the first thing I thought to myself was “Hey, I made it....I never had to use my gears on the hills”. I was elated!!! I did it!!!

Later that day I was still thinking about how that had happened and suddenly I received the distinct impression that my Heavenly Father was teaching me something. Just as interval training can make our heart stronger....so can our trials, sometimes they will last for what seems to be an eternity but as long as we keep “pedaling” we are building strength slowly but surely and eventually we will be strong enough to make it all the way. Secondly I recognized that I was able to complete the ride with ease once I quit focusing on the hills! That day my mind had been focused on things of the Spirit....the physical pain had been non-existent as I spoke silently with my Heavenly Father.

I gained a great testimony that day of two things....it’s important to keep pedaling when the hills never seem to end, and ... if we focus only on the hardships we may never feel we have the strength to get through it and we’re in danger of giving up. I will always be grateful for that day and my newfound testimony of the Lord’s Interval Training Plan...

Still money for all the really good things....

Yes the economy is poor, my wallet is thin, and I know better (much better) than to spend unnecessary money on frivolous items. BUT THIS is not friviolous...it is absolutely, completely and totally necessary.

It began with my discovery of this site and her totally incomparable bread recipe, which somehow led me to this site where I watched a man (A MAN!!) make bread using the tool you see above. As he made it he barely even mentioned the cool little gadget but after the 6 minute video I was completely hooked and knew I had to have one for my very own (I know, what kind of sick person covets another person's whisk?)

Anyway, amazingly enough this wonderful little miracle only costs $8.00! However when I tried to order one they were completely sold out and I've been on a waiting list for two months. Today they e-mailed me that a new shipment of the Danish Dough Whisk (Large) has arrived....two are now on their way to my doorstep....

I've learned a lot over the past few weeks while waiting for my whisk to arrive. First of all that the "sponge" is the secret when making really fantastic 100% whole wheat bread, and second that his no-knead method is wonderful, and last but not least I am no longer a slave to my bread machine. I always thought if the electricity went out I'd have to do without bread (although we would have a myriad of doorstops). No more! This bread (using the recipe from the first site and the mixing method from the second site) is fantastic!

Feel free to ask for specifics if you feel so inclined....if not....order one of these just as a conversation starter....oh, and be sure to watch the bread video....it's inspiring!

The world is troubled...

But we need not fear...

Ever wonder how to handle today's problems? Sometimes we all do and this past few months has seen more world turmoil than we are used to. It's an unsettling time but thank goodness we can trust our Heavenly Father to give us help and advice whenever we are in need. As always if you watch the video scroll to the bottom of this page and stop the music player first (unless you like listening to two things at once).

Stole this idea from Patti!

What's the 4th picture in my fourth folder? Hmmmm.....let's see (I'm going to die if it's food! but here goes anyway.....)


Hey, at least it's a timely "fall" picture.....good grief my life is boring....who takes pictures of a pile of burning leaves.....and then actually SAVES it for posterity?!

Hot Chocolate I've dreamed of....

Quite a few years ago my sister Brenda gave my daughter a book for Christmas....The Polar Express. This became our favorite book to read on frosty wintry nights. The pictures are awesome and the descriptions are so vivid......I simply loved the story but what I dreamed about....what has haunted my thoughts night and day since the first day I read that book was the phrase "hot chocolate so thick and rich it tasted like melted chocolate bars".....since that first reading I have searched for this chocolate.

Today.....I found it!

Polar Express Hot Chocolate for 1 (or 2)

1 1/4 cups milk (I even used skim but I'm sure whole or 2% would be best)

1 egg yolk

1 Tbsp Cornstarch

Stir all above ingredients together in a glass dish and microwave one minute at a time for about 4 minutes until it is thickened slightly then add:

dash salt

1/4 cup sugar

Microwave again 1-1/2 minutes to dissolve the sugar completely then add:

Grated good quality unsweetened chocolate until you get the desired depth of flavor. You can use sweetened chocolate if you prefer but leave out the sugar in the above step.

Add vanilla, orange extract, almont extract, or peppermint if you want (I love it plain) and top with real whipped cream. It's the real thing!

WARNING! This is not your average drink, it really is kinda thick and very rich...it's a dessert in itself, not a beverage....you're gonna love it!!!!

(Note if you want to play the song "Hot Chocolate" below, scroll down to the bottom of the page and stop the song player first.....much better experience!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(Wish I could say this was my front porch but ..... alas, it's from Martha Stewart's Halloween show....coool!)

I watched Martha's special yesterday and absolutely loved the pumpkin snake....it has a string of christmas lights inside to provide the perfect illumination. I would so love to do this next year (unfortunately I don't have an entire staff to hollow out 30 pumpkins of various sizes so it probably won't happen)....anyway, great idea.

Last night was "Trunk or Treat" at church. After looking for oh, about 29 days for a trunk decorating idea on the web I actually ended up with one of my own design, prompted by Afton's costume.....even at 16 her greatest dream is to be a princess .... in this case ... Mulan (on the left....she's so cute huh!?)

Sooooooo you know the saying "Behind every Mulan ....is a great MuShu!" Voila!

That was fun. Had I been thinking ahead (remember it took me 29 days to even get an idea) I would have gotten one of those fog machines and set it inside the trunk so MuShu would be showing his MoJo! Oh, and the best part!? We won most creative trunk!!!! Yay for us!!!!! (The prize......a two pound Hershey bar....Afton was stoked!)

Oh, and one more thing.....in case you were planning on making that plastic jack-o-lantern your "personal feed bag" (as "Hungry Girl" calls it) here's something REALLY SCARY for Halloween!

Tootsie Roll Midgee

1 Midgee = 23 calories, .5g fat

Milky Way

1 Fun Size = 75 calories, 3g fat
1 Mini = 38 calories, 1.4g fat

Three Musketeers

1 Fun Size = 63 calories, 2g fat

1 Mini = 24 calories, 0.7g fat

Individually Wrapped Twizzlers

1 twist = 40 calories, 0.25g fat

Smarties

1 roll = 25 calories, 0g fat

Mini AirHeads

1 Mini = 45 calories, 0.5g fat

It's all about attitude...

Sunday was a particularly trying day...disappointing since that's the day I look forward to ...just for some peace, uplifting thoughts, etc.







I know times are tough but does talking about how terrible it is really make any sense? I mean you can be financially strapped and grouchy or financially strapped and trying to see the good things in your life.....both are hard but one has significantly more appeal.....right?









Last night we had a family home evening and one of the quotes (attributed to "unknown") was particularly meaningful to me:



"From guidelines given to us in the scriptures and by the words of prophets, we learn that life is a teaching experience. Self-pity and discouragement do not come from the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But life can be both bitter and sweet. It is up to us to choose whether we want to reflect the voices of gloom or gladness."

Anyway, I agree times are tough, budgets are tightening, jobs are scarce, the land of plenty may be less plentiful but there are lots of happy things around also and I'm going to enjoy life regardless! (That's my vow and I'm sticking to it!)

Along that line I've been trying to think of how to save money....live with less, cut back, etc. After a long discussion with my wise daughter I think my first step will be planning meals.....this probably seems ridiculous to most.....(I know everyone else already does it but I'm not one of them). After reviewing slightly over a month of expenditures yesterday I discovered we spent over $1,000 last month on "groceries!" THAT has got to be a record. I mean it's not like we eat caviar for breakfast or anything. The biggest problem for me I think is just not planning what we're going to eat and then cooking based on the latest dish Food Network presents.

This morning I tried to make out a menu for a week.....so far I have two days and that was the two days we just passed......I simply don't know how people think up what they want to eat a week or even a day ahead of time......(sigh) it's going to be a challenge....

An easy blog : )

I have found it almost impossible to blog (obviously) but this time Patti made it easy on me.....

MEME'S THE WORD.......

I Have a Memory:Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. :)

Is life too short?

Good question.... My mother-in-law called me this morning sad and terribly upset because they have called in hospice for her mother who is in a nursing home. "Great Grandma" is going to be 93 on the 24th of this month!!!!! She has been in the nursing home for the past 5 years. Amazingly enough she has done pretty well considering she has advanced Alzheimer's.

Aaaahhh the "blessings" of a disease such as this. I know it can be so traumatic for some families but in Great Grandma's case it didn't present a problem until she was well into her 80's and since being in the nursing home it has been sort of a good thing. Many times Grandma thinks she's on a cruise (if you think about it all those long hallways with rooms on either side do kind of look like a ship's passageway), when we'd ask if she was eating her vegetables she'd smile and say "Oh, yes, they're feeding you all the time on these trips! The food is so good!"....no complaining about the fact that a meal of pureed grilled cheese, tomato soup, and red velvet cake results in three compartments of relatively the same texture and color sitting in front of you at dinner.

Overall she has seemed to tolerate her time there well, due, I'm sure in part, to the fact that time is pretty meaningless given her state of mind. She is able to carry on a conversation and especially likes to tell us about her younger life. We play games with her trying to get her to tell us the name of every dog she owned or the first boyfriend she ever had. Once we asked her if she fell in love with Grandpa when she first saw him and she actually blushed! I don't think she has suffered too greatly although I'm sure there are times when she is lonely. A few times she has asked us to take her home (when she remembers she's not there), or to please come and visit more (we only see her a couple of times a month) but overall she seems content and just happy to have visitors.

We will miss her of course and I worry most about her daughter (my mother in law).....can a daughter ever say goodbye to her mom without worry about how she'll get along without her? I'm thankful to know that when Great Grandma does leave she will also leave this crippled useless body that has held her prisoner for far too long and return to that man she loves ... the one whose memory can make her blush at the tender age of 93.

Sometimes maybe life isn't too short at all.....sometime, I'm sure I'll feel like I imagine she does....that it's entirely too long. We love you Grandma!

A wonderful experience

Per my last post, I'm simply blogging because I feel the need to put down on "paper" (cyber paper though it may be) thoughts that seem to important to let slip by unmentioned....

Saturday evening I was the "chaperone" for a youth activity. The purpose of said activity was to create a video that would be shared next Saturday at a Stakewide meeting. No real direction was given other than that....create a video to share with the rest of the Stake at next week's "Movie Night".

That leaves a lot to the discretion of the youth and they went at it with a vengeance. Wierd costumes came out of closets...I think we had a Fairy Princess dress, a "Great Pumpkin" costume (adult size), two swords, two cheerleader outfits complete with pom-poms (most cheer squads don't even use those anymore, and absolutely no idea for a script.

After almost an hour they came up with an idea "The Thirteen Articles of Our Ward" and a list on the chalkboard of things like:
1. We believe in having fun.
2. We believe in paying attention.
3. We believe in service.
4. We believe in eating at every activity.

then the list got worse:
5. We believe in sleeping through Seminary
6. We believe in choosing the wrong.

As the list got longer (I didn't put all the things here) there was a great deal of contention (only LDS people use this word but it means they were arguing, pouting, yelling, and generally behaving badly).

Without a single prompt from either of the two adults present my Seminary Class President stood up, made everyone be quiet and pointed out what a terrible atmosphere had developed in the room. He reminded them that they were there to create something worth sharing and then said "We didn't even begin with prayer, I think we should have one now, before we go any further". He said a beautiful prayer, the spirit in the room instantly changed and the video they decided to make was one in which each of them introduced themselves (we have recently changed stakes so the youth of this stake barely know us) told a little bit about themselves and then bore their testimony if they felt inclined. Before they did all this the Class President made a little statement (on the video) about what they had learned and how the prayer had made a difference in their attitude and then he explained they were simply going to use this opportunity to let the other Youth of the Stake know who we are.

It was a beautiful transformation from a group of "teenagers" into a group of "young adults", I was so pleased to have been there to see them struggle and then find the answer....the right answer.....to their problem. They found a way to turn a bad situation into a beautiful experience and I was never prouder of them in my life.

They truly exemplify Youth of the Noble Birthright!

P.S. Today in testimony meeting ten of those youth rose as a group and walked to the front to bear their testimony of what they had experienced last night. I've never left a testimony meeting that was more spiritual and uplifting than the one we had today!

I guess I'll blog about....

I spent the day with a dear friend on Saturday. She's a recovering alcoholic and has just achieved four years of sobriety. I am so proud of her. It was good to be there with her and feel her spirit and truly to learn from her. It was a strong testimony to me of how we never really know what people are going through in their lives. We judge others so quickly and so casually without having any clue of what could be happening in their minds and hearts or what struggles they could be dealing with on a minute by minute basis. I am so proud of her!

One of the things she asked me when I was there was "Have you blogged lately?"... I'm sure I sounded quite the mean person when I said "No, and don't pressure me!" I don't know why something like blogging every became a pressure but for the past few months it's seemed like a dagger hanging over my head. Something I feel guilty for not doing .... which is wierd since I started it as a cathartic way to put down thoughts and feelings. It used to be fun and pleasant.

Anyway, as I tried to defend my position I realized that the only reason, the ONLY reason, I haven't been blogging is because my life is so centered on one thing right now......my relationship with my Heavenly Father. It became clear to me as I started teaching Seminary that I needed help, and lots of it, from Him. I am no Bible scholar, in fact it could honestly have been said of me that "she doesn't even really like the Old Testament" let alone feel knowledgeable enough to teach it to a room full of teenagers.

With that discovery came deep humility borne of desperation as I came to know that I couldn't possibly read the Old Testament and hope to understand it on my own, I need daily prayer and of course I most desperately need my Heavenly Father's inspiring guidance as I try to teach.

That brings me back to the original question "Why aren't I blogging?" .... quite simply because the things my mind is most often occupied with I'm afraid will be boring to whoever reads this silly little page of mine. As of today though, I'm going to write for me.....as I originally intended. These thoughts of mine may not be entertaining to anyone but I hope they are enlightening to me as I try to sort through all my impressions, emotions, my ups, my downs, my mind's crazy wanderings....and wonderings.

Perhaps I'll remove the dagger from it's precipitous position above my head and feel free once more.....

"Expletives Deleted"

In the past 12 months I've thrown out at least 4 books after reading only a chapter or two because the language was so bad I couldn't justify reading it anymore.

Although I loved "Shopaholic" I had to "edit" my copy so I could feel good sharing it with friends and ....most of all....my daughter. The really frustrating thing for me is that there doesn't seem to be anyplace to find this information out BEFORE you spend the money on the book.

Had I the time I'd be setting up a website for just such a purpose...giving ratings to books. Under the category heading : Books that might have been good based on all I've heard but couldn't read because of language, I'd list these:

"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" Haddon
"Love in the time of Cholera" Marquez
"Water for Elephants" Gruen
"Shopaholic" (Although I did read this one....)
"A Thousand Splendid Suns" Hosseini
"World Without End" Follett
"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" See

Admittedly some of these contained more "gratuitous sex" than bad language nevertheless I was disappointed to have spent money on them only to throw them in the trash ... I couldn't even in good conscience sell them to the used book store....I didn't want to be responsible for other people reading them!

If anyone has some solution to this I'd love to hear your comments. It's unfortunate to find oneself unable to purchase any book before having someone else read and review it for you. (BTW Amazon's reviews do sometimes give a hint but not always)

Good reading.....

The days of Christmas Past....our Tree Farm

Until the year 2000 we sold Christmas trees every December from our front yard. We don't grow the trees ourselves....our "tree farm" is of a different sort....confusing to most people, unless you live in Indiana. My dear HH is a professional forester, his work is diverse to say the least, but in terms of tree farms his services are provided on a consultant basis to private landowners here in Indiana. Nothing grows better in Indiana than trees! They pop up whereever there's a bare spot of ground and a month without disturbance. In our yard the spring thaw shows a yard full of inch high maples and oaks with one leaf apiece.....trying to stake their claim before I mow them off when the grass begins to grow.

Farmers here would say that the major Indiana crop is corn, or soybeans, but in truth the entire state would be a forest, and a smattering of cranberry bogs, if left to it's own natural devices. Only years of clearing and cultivating keep the woods in check. It's a beautiful place. Not, I might mention, a good place for a garden.....we have far too much shade for that (and of course the deer think my garden is the corner grocery).

Tree farms here in Indiana are nothing more than a formal "governmental" designation for land that is allowed to grow it's natural crop.....trees! We live on a tree farm....but not a Christmas Tree farm. The trees weren't planted in straight rows and we don't sell them one at a time for someone's yard. Our "crop" is harvested when the tree grows big enough to be useful for beautiful furniture (oak,walnut), cabinetry (oak, maple, poplar), or flooring (all of the above plus some hickory and other miscellaneous species). Some of the most beautiful wood in the nation comes from our Indiana hardwood forests (which, I might add is a "renewable" resource).

Though our tree farm doesn't have much of a connection to Christmas, our yard does. Every year from the time our oldest was 5 or 6 we used to haul in a truckload of Christmas trees grown by another Forester we know in Indiana.

We did a booming business because we sold a unique tree.... a Christmas Tree that wasn't painted green! (Can you imagine!) Frankly, until I married my forester husband I had no idea they were painting the trees! I was shocked! We gained notoriety and a modest following among people who were just as surprised as I. Our girls have fond memories of the smell of fresh cut pines staked to fill our front yard entirely...here in the middle of a hardwood forest. I can't say we made buckets of money but we always made a nice profit, (right at Christmas time!) and for us it was a tradition that provided the girls with a way to earn some Christmas money and learn the value of work.

Once our oldest daughter graduated from High School in 2000 we found it too difficult to keep up with the small Christmas Tree business while also running our own Forestry Consulting company. We had to give something up. It was a sad decision and the two girls left at home were very sad the first Christmas that our yard was left naked all December.

As for me I have fond memories of the trees, the time spent together as a family, the wonderful people we met, and the fun of living "among the pines" for a time. I don't really miss being tied to the house for 4 weeks before Christmas while everyone else is out catching good sales!

I miss the nightly tradition of walking down our quarter mile drive and lighting 20 or so kerosene lanterns, and feeling that our little log cabin was the ultimate Christmas setting. But when I really think about it all the things that make Christmas special are still here.........in my heart.....even without a yard full of Christmas trees.

Awaiting the first snow...

(Last year's spectacular snowfall at our house!)

Yup, I sit here on the eve (assuming all the weathermen are correct) of our first big snowfall here in Indiana. I really prefer all seasons to winter EXCEPT during December when I get excited at the prospect of "new fallen snow" (and not just because Seminary might get cancelled!)

It has been perpetually dreary here for the past few days, even daring to rain in buckets for two days in a row which is decidedly UN-WINTER like. I used to love dark winter days because I could bake and create wonderful comfort foods to feed my husband who never gained a pound and would eat with abandon stopping only to proclaim my excellence as a wife and chef! Alas, two years ago despite his 32 inch waist, he was diagnosed with diabetes. It completely ruined all my fun....now if I bake I have to eat it...thus he has lost some 50 pounds and I have gained 13! (Life is so unfair!)

I just read Amazed's account of her travels to France and find myself craving a croissant (she tell you to say it with a French accent), a wonderful hotel, ....in short a great vacation! Our next vacation won't be until the day after Christmas when we travel to Disneyworld and meet our sweet grandaughter (and of course her parents) to celebrate her very FIRST birthday!

I have created the most wonderful first birthday present for her and I'm bursting with excitement to give it to her. It will be hard for me to wait! No trips after that until the last week of March when HH and I will travel to Santa Fe for the week of my birthday! I really think I'd be a much happier person if I could have a week long vacation once a month (however I'd probably also be poor!).

Tomorrow I may post another installment of gifts I've discovered! I'm going to have to add people to my list....I keep finding fun things!

If you love to know what you're getting for Christmas....this blog's for you!

I have seen some great things this year that I know I'm giving to someone.....it might be you! (new installments as I think of them : )

Udon Noodle Bowl

I love how it holds the chopsticks!

or....maybe you like this one better.... The Buddha Bowl

this dish nestles naturally in your palm and allows you to enjoy rice, soup, cereal and hot cocoa with ONE HAND! So Cute!

Candle Carver

You can make a candle out of anything!

I've been tagged!

The Pink Factor has tagged me with a meme (thanks..cause I needed the incentive !) so here goes......

Rules:
Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
Share seven random and or weird things about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

SEVEN RANDOM/WEIRD THINGS ABOUT MYSELF:

1. During the first 1o years of our marriage (including during the birth of two of our daughters) my husband never saw me without makeup.

2. I aspire to healthy food choices but I'm a closet McDonald's hamburger/fries lover (sorry girls .... I'm so ashamed).

3. When I wrote this list initially, 9 out of 10 things had to do with food!

4. If I had a choice between living in the tropics and living in Alaska I'd pick Alaska even though I hate cold weather.

5. I secretly wish I had been born a Greek (cause as a grandma my name would be Ya Ya!)

6. I only dust when company's coming : )

7. I sat in the hall from 2nd through 5th grade because the teachers thought I talked too much.....(Punishment? HA!!! They should have heard me in the hall!)


So now I tag:

Tiny
http://presenceofmind.typepad.com/
Amazed
Grammy
Sweet Mama