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The End of the Road

This blog has come to the end of it's road. At least for the time being. I want to thank you all for your company, it's been a great ride! :o)

Whew!

44 policy debate teams, preliminary rounds, ESA reform, power match, topicality press, counter criterion, cranky judge, double loss, depression, Yucca Mountain, Qualify!, Octofinals, Plastic/Paper bag tax, passionate (and tearful) disadvantages, 4 hours of sleep, Quaterfinals, Natural gas cars, out of the running, Final round, critical coal, awards, 7th place team, 3rd place novice speaker, and everyone is happy it's over! :0)

Long Live the Dark Horse.

In My Window

See the pretty snowflakes
Falling from the sky;
On the wall and housetops
Soft and thick they lie.

On the window ledges,
On the branches bare;
Now how fast they gather,
Filling all the air.

Look into the garden,
Where the grass was green;
Covered by the snowflakes,
Not a blade is seen.
~Author Unknown, Falling Snow

After the Storm

A very stormy and frightening night indeed, involving wind gusts of up to 75mph, very large fir trees, a crushed hen house, gutters ripped from the house, and evacuating our home at 12:55 am in case another much larger tree should come down.

The clean up has already begun. My boys are happy to be turned loose with their hatchets and the chain saw. Livi set to work on a "giant sized" bow. *Sigh* As always, God is so faithful.

This is the Way....

Bready Bears and an Oatmeal Honey loaf for lunch.

....we bake our bread. After we've been inspired. Inspired by reading The Little House on the Prairie, The Laura Ingalls Wilder Country Cookbook, and Apples for Jam. Delightful reading. And eating. All on a blustery winter's day.

Bone Structure

"I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show." ~Andrew Wyeth

Like a spine needing a good stretch that's what this tree reminded me of. I needed to stretch my spine and legs today too. So we hit the walking trails. Indeed, everything looks and feels dead out there, but I saw some signs of life. Life that is just waitng. Waiting to spring forth in just a very few short weeks.

Lingerin' on the Simple Things

For today....Nancy's New Year Daybook...Monday, January 11, 2010

Outside my window.....it is dark and wet. Typical for this time of year in the Northwest. But I have noticed that the days are becoming ever so longer. Yeah!

I'm thinking....or praying actually for my husband, who is right now on his way to New York. He'll be staying in Saratoga Springs for 7 weeks. I miss him already.

I'm thankful for....having all my needs met. And then some. It's easy for me to worry needlessly. I have to remind myself of all the times and amazing ways the Lord has taken care of us.

I'm wearing....my work-out pants, t-shirt, runners, and two kittens across my lap.

I am remembering....uh, I guess I've already forgotten what I was supposed to remember! I need to make a few phone calls and take something out for dinner. I'll try to remember that!

I'm going....to exercise when I'm finished here. Started the Turbo Jam routine from BeachBody.com I love it!

I'm currently reading.....the Little House Series. Owen and Olivia are enjoying them. Last night we had fried salt pork for dinner, just like Laura used to eat.

I'm hoping.....Scott arrives safely in N.Y. and the job goes well so that he may come home on time, if not sooner.

Noticing that....the Christmas kitties, Wednesday Mittens, and Muffin are growing. Way to fast.

Pondering these words....."Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you: I will uphold you with my righteous hand.....For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41: 10, 13.

From the kitchen....I haven't bake anything since Christmas Eve. I have a hankerin' for some cookies though.

Around the house.....kids will be busy with school and chores. I will be busy keeping up their spirits on this first day without Papa Bear around.

One of my favorite things.....kitties. They are so sweet.

A picture thought I'd like to share.....

Lit candles to chase away the dark and gloom on these dreary winter days.

The Winter Blahs

"I like these cold, gray winter days.
Days like these let you savor a bad mood."

~Bill Watterson

My Love for the Scotty Dog

I adore my Scotty Dawg. We will be celebrating our 20th in April. Woot Woot! But my newest or current obsession is with the Scotty Dog. I picked up some adorable iron-on transfers at Ben Franklin.

Not one doggy but two! See how mischievous they are? They're getting into the sewing basket. There are seven transfers...one for each day of the week. I'm making a pillow to put on the dawg basket. (My bed)

And look at this sweet little glass found at the Goodwill. So cute and vintagey. Why would anyone want to get rid of it??!

At .49 cents each I bought the set of three that was there. World Market had iron Scotty Dog doorstops I in November, and when I went back in December and they were all gone. Boo hoo. I guess someone else is in love too.

Something Cool for Your Coffee

I like me some foam on my morning cup of coffee. It makes me feel special. Make me feel rich. (I can't afford a daily trip to Starbucks fiscally or calorie wise.) But now I can have foam!

We made a trip to Ikea this past week and I found this neat little battery operated gizmo for a $1.99. It makes foam! Soo cool.

Now every morning will be a latte more fun. :o)

Starbucks Gingerbread Latte

Gingerbread Syrup Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup fresh espresso
8 ounces milk, steamed (with a little foam)

Garnish
whipped cream
ground nutmeg

Puttin' It All Together:

1. Make the gingerbread syrup by combining water, sugar, ginger, cinnamon and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Be sure the pan is not too small or the mixture could easily bubble over.

2. Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer syrup, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat when it's done and slap a lid on it.

3. Make a double shot of espresso (1/2 cup), using an espresso machine. I don't have one of theseso I just use regular old coffee from the pot. Use the machine to steam 8 ounces of milk, or heat up the milk in the microwave if your machine does not foam and steam milk.

4. Make your latte by first adding 1/2 cup espresso to a 16-ounce cup. Add 1/4 cup gingerbread syrup, followed by the steamed milk. Use your cool Ikea foam maker.

5. Top off the drink with a dollop of whipped cream, and a sprinkle of nutmeg.

Happy New Year!

From Muffins and me. May 2010 be the best year ever!

“Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.”

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson, 1850

Wishing you all......

...a very Merry Christmas.

The Christmas baking is done. The gifts are wrapped. The family has begun to gather. The candles are lit. *Sigh*

A Happy Birthday

Hersey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake with a creamy chocolate glaze served with Dryer's Peppermint ice cream. For my mommas birthday! :O)

Christmas Kitties!

Mittens playing in the manger.

Muffin watching her sister from the under the Christmas tree.

Here comes Muffin!

It's sleepy time again.

Under the tree it is warm and safe from happy children and exuberant corgis.

*Note: Maggy has disappeared. I have begun to think that evil lurks in my neighborhood. Human evil. Why do my kitties who always return home suddenly vanish? How is it others that I know can keep a cat for years and nothing ever happens to them? Scott thinks someone is harming them. And I have to agree.

"The deepest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers." ~Capt. Jack Sparrow

"And cat killers." ~ Miss. M.

Miss. M.'s Doodles

In black ink on the back of her church bulletin. I do hope she was paying attention to the message. :O)

'Tis the Season for Secrets.....

....and sewing miniature things that I can not show you yet, bloodied fingers, gingerbread men that threaten to steal Christmas, burning eyes, and emotional melt downs. I'm sorry it sounds all so vague. 'Tis the season for secrets!

Our All-Sufficient Savior...Or What's in a Name?

On my tree are fifty-eight salt dough stars, hung with raffia, made seven Christmases ago by Zach, Miss. M, and myself. It was a cold and sunny day very much like today. We sat at our dinning table and searched the Bible looking for the many names given to Jesus. In the Old Testament and New.

We then made the ornaments using a salt dough recipe and three different sized star shaped cookie cutters. These are very sweet memories for me. And I can not tell you how encouraged I feel as we take turns reading a star as it is hung on the tree. Some years I am "just not into" Christmas, but as I read the names of Chirst the hope and promise that is held in each one reminds me of what it is truly all about.



























So be encouraged friends. It's not about deadlines, crowds, best deals, new recipes, parties and all the other possible trappings. It's when we remember the Beloved, Lamb of God, the Word come in the flesh, our Friend and Messiah, the Lamb that was Slain, so that we may have eternal life forever with Him.

You can find the many wonderful names of Jesus here if you'd like to make your own. :o)