7.31.2008
Are things sometimes the opposite of what we think they are?
7.30.2008
NOVA and the Dimming Sun
7.29.2008
Oatmeal Spice Cookies
Here goes: Oh, and they turned out superfantasico!
Oatmeal Spice Cookies
- 1/2 cup Earth Balance margarine
- 1/2 cup Earth Balance shortening
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 c molasses
- 1 cup flour
- 2 cups oat flour*
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2+ tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 2 cups oatmeal
- 1 cup yellow raisins, soaked in boiling water for softness then drained an patted dry
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Do the regular cookie making thing, cream... add, mix well, sift together... you know how it works.
Other Notes: I love spice and these were NOT too spicy for me or my mother in law. They seemed spiced just right to me. You'll have to decide your own spice level need.
7.27.2008
The Pioneer Woman
7.25.2008
7.24.2008
Is it only Thursday...
- I still want mashed potatoes w/gravy.
- I feel like I need a vacation.
- I wish more of my friends had blogs.
- I (sometimes) wish I was less of a home-body.
- I am in awe of people who are good parents.
- I am very happy for my good friends.
- I am sad for the friends I have, that are troubled in one way or another.
- I am glad Mister is also a home-body.
- I may keep adding to this today.
- I may not.
- It seems a bit sad that I want my friends to have blogs because its just too hard to keep in touch all the time and that would be a great way to keep tabs on them and when I think it through and write it down I can't believe that I would rather read about my so called friends lives than to just call them up or meet them somewhere. That was a bit of an eye opener for me. What will I do with that info? Hard to say. Life is still really busy no matter how much I wish to be able to afford to not have to work seemingly creating more time in the day and there's never enough time to get everything done. I'v digressed a bit, but now that I think about it, this blog is pretty much about digressing so, I guess I'm right on topic.
- I really hope you are still with me after that long winded diatribe.
7.22.2008
Harley Tuesday
If you'd like to humor me today, click on the next photo and just check out the cute look on his face and the bunny-esque way he's holding his paws. I could just eat him with a spoon!
7.20.2008
Berries berries berries - Summer's Candy
Last week I was on a mission - RASPBERRIES. I thought they were in season and had a hankering for home made freezer jam. There's nothing quite like fresh raspberry freezer jam on toast or a toasted english muffin or french toast or pancakes or even on ice cream. Its one of my favorite foods.
My mind and taste buds are forever altered. I am now a dyed in the wool loganberry admirer. I've researched and they seem to be a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry. Who Knew?! A cross between my two favs created my all time brand spankin' new fav. OY! All excitement aside. I bought 3 pints and immediately took them home to make freezer jam. Altogether it made 6 jam sized containers of heaven. I shared one with mom-in-law and the rest were for me. Mister doesn't like jam. Never eats it. He prefers honey. Fine with me. More of the heaven for me to enjoy - what he doens't miss I'll be very happy with.
The only problem is, I asked Mister if he wouldn't "just try it, please, for your wife?" Lo and behold he loved it too! He will just eat it with a spoon or a fork. I had to put an immediate stop to that and this week, buy more loganberries to make more jam. 5 containers (we are now down to 4 actually meaning 1 container was eaten in just a week) won't last me until next season. I also dug through the deep freeze and found blackberries and raspberries that were a bit dehydrated. I thawed them and made a batch of blackerry/raspberry freezer jam and a batch of loganberry jam and had 3 pints of loganberries left over that I individually quick froze for later use.
That was a long winded way of letting you know, you should definitely check out loganberries and make fresh freezer jam if you have the opportunity. It *so* easy and delicious.
That would be it for now.
7.18.2008
Rhubarb Pie
My no fail recipe is basically an apple pie recipe in which I substitute rhubarb for the apples. Its that simple. You may want to ramp up the sugar a bit in that rhubarb is a bit more tangy than apples, as a general rule. It really depends on the rhubarb and how sweet/tart you like your pie.
So, these are guidelines, there aren't really any set-in-stone amounts because, well, are you making a deep dish pie or hand pies, etc. You get the idea, right? Go, be creative, have fun.
Rhubarb Pie
Pie crust
My rule of thumb is:
- 2 parts flour
-
1 part cold shortening
-
dash of salt
-
pinch of sugar
-
ice water
Filling
- 4-6 cups (or more) ripe rhubarb peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
- juice of 1 lemon
- ½ - 1 cup, more or less sugar
- 1/3 - ½ cup, flour, depending on how thick you want your filling to end up
- tsp +/- cinnamon and/or nutmeg and/or whatever spices you like in apple pie or omit altogether
- pinch of salt
- splash of orange curacao or other orange liqueur - optional
- a few pats of margarine
- milk of choice – soy or almond are my choices.
- extra sugar
Crust: mix all the until its a medium to fine meal. Mix in enough of the water to form a ball. I try to let this rest in the fridge while doing the next part, but don’t always.
Filling: stir the rhubarb, lemon, sugar and flour together, add the spices (if you are using them) then the salt and orange curacao and combine well.
Roll out just slightly more than half the pie dough for bottom crust. Pour in the filling and top with the pats of margarine. Cover with the balance of the dough rolled out. Cut steam slits in the top. Brush crust with milk of choice, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 425 for 30 minutes, reduce heat to 350 and continue baking for about another 25 – 30 minutes. Until the pie is all bubbly and smells amazing.
Bon Appetite
I forgot to put in the cinnamon this time, so I sprinkled it on top with the sugar. It was a good try, but ineffective solution. Oh well. The pie won’t go to waste because of it.
PS - I also forgot to upload the photos, so check back in a couple days if you have an interest.
7.17.2008
Love Thursday
Happy Love Thursday.
7.16.2008
Just Watched: The 11th Hour
Gloom and doom and the makings of nightmares.
Leonardo DiCaprio narrates this "planet earth in crisis" documentary. The film talks about how global temperature change issues and out of control population growth are hastening the demise of our planet. It also talks about some interesting ways we can make a difference and that we should do it now while we actually might have a real impact rather than later, after we've passed the tipping point of no returning to life on this planet as we know it.
Not my favorite type of movie, but I know its a necessary thing to immerse myself into so I can get past the paralyzing fear and move toward doing my part. It inspires me to be creative in thinking up new ways or just researching ways others have already thought up, to cut my personal impact.They say every vote counts (for example) or that dropping a pebble in a pond creates a ripple effect with an impact that is practically unknown. So, I'm dropping my pebble, here and now. I hope it will have some slight, little, tiny, but perceptible impact somewhere, somehow.
Its a difficult thing to watch, but a must see for everyone who wishes to live on this planet we call earth.
7.15.2008
Just Read: The Great Age of Discovery
I think it took me nearly 5 (or more) months to get through this book. It was interesting, I've just had a lot, it seems, going on. I usually listen to this type of book on my drive to work. This type of book being non-fiction and non-high-drama i.e. book I have to pay slightly more attention to in order to get all the information. With a novel, it seems less important to rewind or go back a few pages if my mind has wandered away from the book even as I read /listen to the words. Does that happen to you? So, speaking of wandering, I'm off on a tangent again.
My drive to work is half what it used to be before Mister and I got hitched, so half the listening time possibility per day. Also, since Mister and I got married, I have exponentially less time to myself each day. Now, I am so very happy with my Mister, but I did not wait until my quite late 30's to get hitched because I was lacking for suitors. I just hadn't met anyone for whom I was willing to give up *my* time and energy for. I hadn't met anyone worthy of something so precious to me as my alone time. I like my alone time. I crave my alone time. I need my alone time. These days though, the only truly alone time I get is on my drive to and from work. I've started turning off the radio and the audible books and just being **quiet**. Blissful, serene, stress-free, quiet time. Don't ask me what I'm pondering, that's not the point. The point is quality time with myself. I know everyone is different and all types are required or we'd all be living alone forever, I just know so many people who don't seem to want or need time alone and it boggles my mind. So, these small increments of time driving in my car are wonderful but don't do much for helping me get through books I've started.7.14.2008
Seaside Hike
The weather was amazing.
The berries were delicious.
When we got to Indian Beach, there were people all over the beach having a great time playing volleyball, playing in the surf, surfing and just hanging out enjoying the early evening sun and sand.
7.11.2008
More tibits for today
We hiked it once before. I loved it, Mister was ambivalent. The problem is that its about a 2 hour drive to get to the trailhead from our house, the first part of the hike is pretty much a gravel road, the trailhead is a dead ended gravel road with no real parking and no shade, the car gets pretty hot by the time its mid-afternoon and you are hot, sticky and dusty from the hike and the first part of the hike is wrought with people of all ages, mostly young teens and early 20's with children in tow wearing flip flops and carrying only soda pops. I abhor seeing people out in the wilderness with children and dogs and no water to drink. What are they thinking? Or maybe they aren't thinking...I digress and my tidbit is getting a bit long-winded.I'm such a sucker... & other tidbits
Tidbit #1: This morning as I drive to work, I have to pass a certain cell phone store location which is launching its new iphone today. There was a line of people down the block at 6:45AM waiting for the store to open. I was amazed and immediately wished I had my camera with me to photograph the oddness. Well, odd to me anyway.
7.10.2008
Refreshing Cuke Salad
7.09.2008
7.08.2008
Newly Wedded
Not maybe the best photos ever.
My favorite brother and his new wife.
Didn't really take many photos, and I think Mister actually took these.
A bit blurry, but I just love the shot anyway.
Happily ever after.
The wedding was beautiful. The bride and groom were blissed out. The guests were supportive and happy. The food was very good. The cake was great. Over all, a wonderful wedding.
We hung out with my parents which was nice. Talking and walking and just being together. We picked up some honey from the local honey guy. We get it from him because the honey isn't pasteurized or treated in any way. Good for you and yummy! We're hoping to alleviate some allergy symptoms with it.
Rehearsal and fireworks Friday evening. Mister and I don't have children but most of brother's friends do so had such fun watching all the little ones run around and lite things on fire that smoke and snap and pop. The fire work display over the bay was pretty good too.
Didn't really see my sister and her family much. It always amazes me how time flies when I am there visiting.
Saturday was the wedding and then Sunday we drove up the coast and had a nice leisurely day of stopping whenever we wanted to see whatever we wanted. Our normal trip home is a drive straight through not really stopping anywhere, just focused on the prize.
Overall, a great weekend.
7.07.2008
Thoughts on Love and other Ramblings of the Morning
7.03.2008
7.02.2008
...
Right now, all I want to do is eat chocolate. And, if you know me, you know I'm not really a chocolate gal. I prefer non man made sweets like fruits and berries. For example berry pie rather than chocolate pie. Or anything sweetened with molasses. I'm really digressing. Easier to do that though than to stay on track when the track is difficult.

I wrote this post last night. This morning I read THIS BLOG post at Shutter Sisters, and it seems my question sent out to the universe is, in some small way if not fully, answered.
Maybe, just maybe I'm not as open as I could/should be. Maybe my soul is tucked way deep down behind a rib or two, hiding there when the camera or the mirror is turned in my direction. I freeze and my soul tip-toes into the shadows, waiting for all the hubub to quiet down so it can creep out into the light again. Or maybe, its always hiding there behind my kidneys, never out on my sleeve where my heart and soul would get the most light and air and be able to breathe best.
It makes total sense when I read about it. I have this blog, which seriously is read by like 2 people, if I'm lucky, and they aren't people I see or chat with everyday and I have the most difficult time putting my true deep, wounded or hurt or what I deem ugly self here in print because, well, someone might read it and then, well, the cat would be out of the bag and I'd be "less". I don't see other people as 'less' when they are able to bare their souls. I actually admire them just a bit more probably. I've rarely shared my true self with people. Its not necessarily a pretty thing. I'm emotional and can be moody and although I have an innate trust of people, I usually believe that they'll screw me in the end. OY! Is this the definition of a true pessimist. Am I just a pessimist hiding behind the cloak, this thin veneer of optimism.
So, I opened up, just a smidge, and the universe gave me a glimmer of an answer. Rather immediately too. Maybe I need to remember this, its ok to let my "self" out of its cage a little more.
Again, me rambling and hoping for some clarity whilst doing it.
Be true to yourself. Its sort of my motto. But, I don't know that I'm all that good at it.
Oh, and I could truly eat a ton of chocolate right now. What is up with that!







