I know, I know

Yes, it's been a few days.  You know the spiel.  I meant to, I just got really busy, and so on and so forth.  As I sit here watching the snow flying out the window, with Laramie making breakfast, Boo and Hannah playing a game, and Justice doing some chores,  and my mom sound asleep on my bed (she and the couch didn't get along very well last night), I have a few minutes of peacefulness (if not quiet), to sit down and write.

Yesterday the girls, David and I drove to Rapid City to pick Mom up at the airport.  She had flown in with J.W., who came to Spearfish to see his birth mom.  It is the first time I have gotten to see J.W. in several years, first time most of the kids have met him, and a great chance to meet this really wonderful lady who was brave, strong, courageous and full of love enough to share her precious son, became my awesome (if sometimes obnoxious) little brother. 

I'm sure there is some awkwardness, with parents here and parents there, and kids here and kids there, but to me it's a really neat bonus, to know there are even more people out there who love you! 

Rise by Shawn McDonald

What an awesome song!

Seasons Day Spa and Salon, Casper, WY

I love it.  Just saying :).  Seeing the daily deal in today's paper reminded me of how much I have enjoyed my visits to Seasons. 

I first found Seasons a few years ago when I needed a haircut, and the friend who had styled my hair for years had moved.  I drove past it quite often, and thought it looked neat, so one day I thought I would try it out.  The stylist who worked with me that day was quick, professional, and had some serious skills :).

Fast forward to last Christmas, when my awesome husband bought me one of their half day spa packages.  I spent a wonderful part of the day relaxing with my first ever facial, a massage, and a pedicure.  They even served a yummy treat!  The staff were really nice, very competent, and I felt like a queen.

This year they sent me a $20 certificate for my birthday, so I went and had my hair cut!  For the first time in several years, I sat in the salon chair.  The wonderful stylist who worked with me had a knowledge of weird hair like mine, and cut it perfectly.  Then we had fun playing with style :).

My husband surprised me again this year with a half day at the spa (I was happily surprised, I'd just asked for a pedicure).  I had a wonderful facial, and a manicure and pedicure this time.  The staff are just all so friendly, they make you feel welcome and very pampered.  My facial was so relaxing I know I caught myself snoring a time or two!

I definitely recommend Seasons Day Spa and Salon in Casper, Wyoming! 
http://www.seasonsdayspacasper.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Seasons-Day-Spa-and-Salon/119810644603

Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows

I liked it!  It was fun and lighthearted, adventurous and on edge, but hilariously funny at times as well.  I did have a few moments where I averted my eyes, but all in all, a quite funny movie.  Robert Downey Jr. shines a bit in the roles of slightly psychotic genius heroes like Sherlock Holmes or Iron Man.  Jude Law is, of course, the perfect Watson.  So, is it The End?  Or will we see more of Sir Sherlock?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Fudge

I made my first foray into the world of candy making today.  The first batch of candy I ever made was a peanut butter fudge recipe that was given to me by a CafeMom friend.  About halfway through I realized that it was just a peanut butter recipe, and I decided that I wanted a little chocolate to make it "fudgier", so I threw in half a bag of chocolate chips.  It tastes really good!

I have a batch melting now, this is a different recipe, and easy make, but my Sister In Law is making the same one for Christmas Day, so I decided to tweak it a little, and replaced half the vanilla extract with cherry.  I almost bought coconut extract today at the store, and I keep kicking myself for not picking it up!

They taste good to me, though we'll have to wait for Sunday for the true review.  I have pasted the recipes below if you'd like to try them out...both are fairly simple!

Tomorrow I'm going to make Barb Smith's Almond Bark Cranberries, Peppermint (and maybe cherry) hard candies, and I will attempt to use candy molds to make yummy snow mints.  :)  I'll share those recipes as well (here's hoping I can find the snow mint one again!).

Peanut  Butter Fudge
Ingredients

    * 4 cups white sugar
    * 1 cup light brown sugar
    * 1/2 cup butter
    * 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
    * 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
    * 1 (16 ounce) jar peanut butter
    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

   1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
   2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, brown sugar, butter and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 7 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in marshmallow creme until well incorporated and melted. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth; spread in prepared pan. Let cool before cutting into squares.

FOOLPROOF CHOCOLATE FUDGE

3 (6-ounce) packages semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (not evaporated milk)
Dash salt
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt morsels with Eagle Brand.  Removed from heat; stir in remaining ingredients.  Spread evenly into wax paper-lined 8-inch square pan.

Chill 2 to 3 hours or until firm.

Turn fudge onto cutting board, peel off paper and cut into squares.  Store loosely covered at room temperature.

(Makes about 1-3/4 pounds)

Sugar Cookies

A recipe shared by a friend at CafeMom...
(it was excellent)

2 2/3 cup flour

1 TSP baking soda

1/2 TSP baking powder

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1 TSP Vanilla

cream sugar, egg, butter & vanilla still well mix

then add flour, baking soda, baking powder.... mix well

turn out on well floured surface ( well i'm sure you know what to do from here ! ENJOY ! )

{We baked at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes}

Royal Icing

• 4
  cups powdered sugar
• 3
  tablespoons meringue powder
• 1/2
  teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2
  cup warm water
• 1
  teaspoon vanilla
• food coloring (optional)

Directions

In a large bowl, stir together powdered sugar, meringue powder, and cream of tartar. Add warm water and vanilla. Tint with food coloring, if desired. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, then on high speed for 7 to 10 minutes or until very stiff. Add 2 to 4 tablespoons additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing reaches desired consistency. Makes about 3 cups.

Since I didn't have an $8 jar of meringue powder, I made a substitute...just regular meringue substitutes for powder, and I made the "safe" meringue just to be safe since we will be serving to a crowd.

The New Safe Meringue
From Chocolate and the Art of Low-Fat Desserts, by Alice Medrich.

Safe Meringue can be used place of ordinary meringue in old recipes. These include uncooked desserts such as mousse, Bavarian cream, and ice cream, as well as soft meringues for pie topping and Baked Alaska where a short baking or browning period may not be enough to heat the meringue thoroughly.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp water
1/8 tsp cream of tartar
2 egg whites
4 Tbsp sugar

Instructions:

Bring 1 inch of water to a gentle simmer in a large skillet. Combine the 2 tsp water with the cream of tartar in a 4- to 6-cup stainless steel bowl. Add the egg whites and sugar and whisk together briskly to combine ingredients thoroughly and break up the egg white clots (which have a tendency to scramble first.) Place an instant-read thermometer near the stove in a mug of very hot tap water.

Set bowl of egg whites in skillet. Stir mixture briskly and constantly with a rubber spatula, scraping the sides and bottom often to avoid scrambling the whites. After 1 minute, remove bowl from skillet. Quickly insert thermometer, tilting bowl to cover stem by at least 2 inches. If less than 160°F (70°C), rinse thermometer in skillet water and return it to mug. Replace bowl in skillet. Stir as before until temperature reaches 160°F when bowl is removed. Beat on high speed until cool and stiff.

The Lost Stories by John Flanagan

I couldn't even begin to tell you about this book when I finished it, I had to take a day or two to let the emotions settle down.  Yep.  It will make you laugh, and it will make you cry.

I read John Flanagan's foray into adult literature with Storm Peak, and though the plot line was amazing, and the story itself very intriguing, I felt that all of the "adult" elements (really bad language and very graphic sex scenes) really detracted from the actual story and made me not really want to read anymore.  I definitely wouldn't keep it on my bookshelf!

I am really looking forward to checking out the Brotherband series, and have just picked up the first from my holds at the library!  

The Ranger's Apprentice series has been amazing from the beginning.  I read my first one when I won it at the school book fair.  I was teaching a Second and Third Grade Combo Class, as well Seventh and Eighth Grade English at the time, and it was a great read aloud for all of them!  Will is an awesome character, and to see him learn, grow and mature over the years has really been a wonderful experience.  I love gruff old Halt, who really makes me think of my Papa and some of the wonderful memories I have with him, every time I pick up a Flanagan book.   Brash and Bold Horace, and the amazing friendships that grow between them make me smile.  Every single one of these books has stirred my heart as I've read it.  I am always on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out how they're going to get out of the hot water they've just landed in, and I live each moment with the characters as they travel across Araluen and faraway lands.

I had tears in my eyes when I read The Emperor of Nihon Ja, because it was a wonderful book, but especially as I neared the end and I realized that this was the end of an era, that there would be no more Ranger's Apprentice books, and I was saddened by the thought of saying goodbye to all of my friends.  The Lost Stories made me laugh, made me bawl, and made my heart swell with joy for my friends between the pages.  I do have to tell you that if you haven't read the rest of the series, it will probably just be a very entertaining story to you, but if you're die hard Flanagan fan, this book will take you to realms where you have visited before, and share with you the future of all your beloved characters.

http://www.rangersapprentice.com/

http://www.facebook.com/rangersapprenticebooks

Christmas Letter 2011

   Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a family

    That lives right here in Edgerton, serving happily

They have six lovely children

And a tiny granddaughter too

Nana, Papa, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins too

                                                                     Paul works for Anadarko and enjoys the job he does.                                            

Lots of beautiful country, under the skies above

   He’s busy at the food bank, there’s always a lot to be done

  Haven of Rest is our second home, things always going on

   He’s been working on the house, building all the time.

  We have an awesome addition, and room for all to dine.

Sonja is a teacher; right now her class has four.

It’s the close knit school room that she’s always longed for.

We have lots of “Learning Adventures” and are always pumped for more

She’s writing a daily blog now and Modding for CafeMom.

You’re welcome to follow along with us and see how it’s going on.

David, Justice, Becca, Hannah, and little Laramie are growing all the time and always busy.

David’s been building, projects galore, helping Paul with house and Haven, always up for more.

Justice is fifteen now, earrings and makeup too, still a wonderful athlete, but the girl is showing through.

Becca loves the outdoors, bugs and snakes and dirt.  She’s always saving something, keeping it from hurt

Hannah is an artist, she loves to paint and draw.  Sketching, sculpting, coloring, keep us in her awe

Laramie is a tiny chef, creative in the kitchen; she’s always making something,

You don’t know what you’re missin’

Audrey, Johnny and Kieran live in Buffalo.  We love it when they come to stay for a day or more.

Paul and Sonja still lead the worship team at their wonderful church.

A family of musicians, each with talents to search. 

David plays bass and guitar, Justice guitar and drums.

Becca loves to sing, and Hannah warbles along. 

Laramie is the tech wizard, who also sings a song.

They fill the house and church with music, all day long.

Lots of wonderful things, have happened this year, but one of the most exciting

 Had to be a trip to California, and the land of Disney.

We also went to SeaWorld where all the lights went out

And off to the Getty Villa and Center to walk about

We saw amazing sights there and a wonderful time

Then headed off to Texas, to the kids it was a surprise

           We saw Nana and Papa and lots of family

                   Played games of Croquet, Mexican Train, Scrabble and Yahtzee

                We even found a new game that we really want to buy,

               It’s called the Scrambled States of America; you ought to give it a try.

We went to the Fall Festival, in Casper at College Heights

Princesses Diana and Sharpay, Amelia Bedelia and a Guard of Life

Thanksgiving was lovely, a time for family, a chance to gather round the table and enjoy Dublin turkey

We’re looking forward to Christmas and spending the time together,

Presents wrapped, cards written, ready for the weather

But most of all we’d like to share that Christmas is about Christ,

The awesome gift God gave to us, His wonderful gift of life.

Meggie

Kayla

Girls in costume at Fall Festival, celebrating the new carpet ball tables, sliding on the snow shovel , carpetball and house,  Meggie and Kayla, Caps by Cathy, snow play, The Getty Center and Disneyland.

Justice

Becca

Hannah

Laramie

  

David

http://freshwateracademy.blogspot.com/          

Sons of Guns

Have you ever seen it?  The show has grown on me.  I do have to say that Paul and I both had tears in our eyes during this last episode...twice.  First, to hear the veteran tell the story of something that had happened to one of his friends, and secondly, during the conversation between Will and Kris at the end of the show.  I hope Stephanie treats that boy right, because I think he's a good kid.  I was very happy to hear Will say what he did.  If you have no clue what I'm talking about,  you might want to check out Sons of Guns on Discovery Channel. 


http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/sons-of-guns/


http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/sons-of-guns/episodes.html 

Internet Access

No internet.  All Day Long.  ALL DAY LONG.  From 4 o'clock this morning till just a little while ago when my husband tried for the third time.  Very frustrating, and that's about all the blogging I can handle at this point, since my eyes will barely even stay open!

BTW, I meant for the third time since he's been home from work, not the third time all day...

Pork Chops with Cranberry Apple Relish

I don't know if it's called relish, but it sounded good. I made this last night, and my husband said I should blog about it today, because it was that good :).  


I had some pork chops, and we had gotten some apples and cranberries from the food bank, so I thought I would put them together!  I rubbed the pork chops with a mix of salt, garlic, and paprika, and a little sesame oil. Then I covered them and baked them at 350 for (an hour?) till done all the way through.  


Meanwhile, I chopped a sweet onion, and 2 wonderfully sweet baking apples. I carmelized the onion in a little olive oil, and added the apples and  a tablespoon full of butter about halfway through the process (never said it was healthy).  In another bowl I mixed sesame oil, a dash of soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice, a cup of brown and white sugar mixed, some cornstarch and I can't remember if that was all...then I poured that and the cranberries into the apple onion mix, brought it to a boil, and let it simmer, covered, for about half an hour, while the pork chops finished.  I served this with creamy mac and cheese, brussel sprouts, and garlic/chicken couscous.  It was phenomenal!

Rise and Shine

I have the words to that children's song spinning through my head this morning.  It's all Hannah's fault, as I could hear her warbling it in the shower ;).  What a great song!  It helps bring to mind what I should always remember, that my life is God's, and everything that I do, say, or even think should be for His glory!  Always!  Boy is that hard to live up to sometimes!  Good think I have a lamp to light my way and a step by step instruction book for living life!  Yes, I step off the path sometimes.  I am certainly not perfect, by any means!  I say things I shouldn't, do things I shouldn't, and certainly think things I shouldn't! But God is awesome, and merciful, and when I realize what an idiot I am, all I have to do is ask for His forgiveness, and it's done!


Colossians 3:23
 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;


Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.


Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Colossians 1:14

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

When Do You Open Presents?

Are you a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day kind of family?  Or, do you have variable schedules and you have your Christmas on your own time?
Growing up, we always opened our presents on Christmas Day.  We were allowed to open one on Christmas Eve, but part of the fun was getting up early on Christmas Day, digging through our stockings and opening presents together.  It was a hard transition for me to open presents on Christmas Eve, as my husband's family has always done.  
As much as I don't like it though, Christmas Eve presents make sense for our family.  His family gathers on Christmas Eve, and again on Christmas Day.  He works a rotating schedule, so if Christmas falls on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday, he will be gone during the day, and we will have our family time together in the evening.  Rather than make our kids get up on Christmas morning and stare at wrapped presents all day, waiting for Daddy, we open gifts on Christmas Eve and they get to spend Christmas Day celebrating and playing with those gifts.  We have our family Christmas Dinner in the evenings, at Suppertime. We have thankfully so far been able to host Christmas Dinner, so I can still spend the day enjoying our family and friends, in our home.
Another friend of ours works in a mine about 2 hours away, with a rotating schedule.  He is often not home on holidays or birthdays, depending how his schedule falls.  They know well in advance what his rotation schedule is, so they schedule their Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday celebrations at alternate times, so their entire family can be there.
What about you?  When and how does your family celebrate?

Banana Cream Pie

I'm a little behind.  I actually sat down to write yesterday, but then I got called away and got busy. You know how it goes :).  I'm sure you have those pulls and pushes from the world, and many of you have little blessings running around that need time and attention.  And that is important!  Very important!  I never want my children to feel like I don't have time or energy to spend with them.  So, if I miss a blog day here or there, I won't really fret too much, but I'll try to be here!  


My dad is here today!  He came in yesterday evening, and we had supper together and watched the rodeo before we all collapsed in exhaustion ;)  I'm not sure how long we get to keep him, because I know he's anxious to get back to Mom.  She's been living in their fifth wheel in Washington with my brother and niece, and he's been in Texas, packing up their house and cleaning it out.


Banana Cream Pie is a tradition in our family.  My dad has never been a cake fan, and every year for his birthday, my mom would make a banana cream pie for his birthday.  Banana cream pie for breakfast the next day is a favorite!  


My dad didn't get his banana cream pie this year.  He was in Texas, awaiting appointments and packing up, and my mom was in Washington.  When I knew for sure he was coming yesterday, I made one :).  When we walked out of the kitchen with Banana Cream Pie, I thought he was going to cry.  It was a wonderful family time :).  Then he proceeded to call nearly everyone he knows and share that he got his birthday pie after all.


I remember the first time I made banana cream pie on my own.  There were so many steps, and I was rushing around from place to place, the pudding sticking to the pan, forgetting about the meringue...It was a madhouse!  I was reflecting last night, that every time I make it it goes a little smoother, becomes a little easier, and I have to look at the recipe book a lot less!  I guess that's a good lesson to take through life with a lot of tasks that need to be done!

A long night

Meggie must have been experiencing the same tummy aches as the rest of us last night, because she had to go out about four times!  Once, she went out, and she just didn't come back! 


This is what I wrote at 2 or so this morning! 
I can't find my dog.  She got up and asked to be let out about 11, and I let her out.  She did her business and came right back in.  Then she got up, an hour later, and asked to go out again.  Paul let both dogs out, and Meggie never came back.  I went out with my flashlight and looked for her.  I didn't see any tracks other than right near the door.  The road is drifted over and no tracks there, or up the other way.  It's a blizzard, there's relatively no traffic, and I walked up our block and out into and down the highway, and called and called.  Where is my dog?


Thankfully, she finally dragged herself in about 2:30.  I am so glad she made it home safely, though I have no idea where she was!

Slacker

I know.  I have been completely slacking!  Things have been very busy here.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family, a crazy busy work day at the Haven where we accomplished so much, and are sliding back into our routine, just in time for more craziness! :)


All of our Christmas cards are written and addressed, the letter is written and needs to be printed, along with some family photos.  I think I'll take up a blog entry with the publishing of the letter as well!  I'm settling the kids down to watch some DVR'd Christmas movies in front of the TV while I take the folding table in our room to wrap some more presents!  I've been trying to prepare the FlyLady way and do a little at a time, ahead of time, instead of staying up till midnight three nights in a row to get it all done (like I could stay up till midnight anyway)!


Headed grocery shopping on Friday, we'll be able to start making potica, a batch of Christmas cookies to mail, and FlyLady's Mocha Mix.  


Always remembering, that the real reason for the Christmas season is Jesus Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It's important not to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, the "I want this, Gimme that!" mentality, but to remember why we celebrate at all!

Black Friday

I started to write this Tuesday, and set it aside for most of the week.  I've just been rather lazy, enjoying my family time, playing with the kids, cooking...blogging took a back seat.  I have just compiled all my random thoughts for the week about Black Friday ;)...various comments from facebook statuses and CafeMom posts, not necessarily put together or in order...

Do you?  This has been a family tradition for years.  I have always loved the challenge and excitement of finding a great deal, and the camaraderie of enjoying the event with my family.

I haven't decided if I'm going.  I have been looking forward to it, but the whole midnight thing has thrown me for a loop.  I started to write a blog entry about it today, but never actually finished and posted it.

My husband works W-Sat.  We get up at 4AM, and we spend an hour together before he heads off to work.  If Kohl's opened at 4, I could get up at 2 and drive into town, still getting to spend most of the night at home with my family.  If I go at midnight, then I leave around ten or ten thirty, when the rest of my house is headed to bed.  Then I stay out all night, rather than just having an early morning.  I am also worried about driving home, that even if I'm awake enough to go to town in the middle of the night, I may not be awake enough to come home the next day!

I know I sound like I'm whining, and maybe I am.  But I think I may just wait and see how I feel Thursday night.  

I've been excited about going for over a year, since I found out we were getting a Kohl's!  I used to always go with my mom, but haven't gone for the past couple of years since we haven't spent the holiday with them and my husband has to work...

I guess I can always go online!  Yes, someone did mention I could just go at 4 and shop, but if I do that, will there be anything left?  I would rather go at midnight and go for the gusto if I'm going to drive all the way into town to shop, and stay home and hit the online shopping pages if I'm not!

I hate going to WalMart anyway, and haven't been on Black Friday for several years.  It is scary!

I like going early in the morning, 4 or 5 is often a nice time to be up, just before the sunrise, enjoying a cup of coffee, getting finished in time to go have a nice breakfast before the crowds come out.  

I wanted to go, but we live an hour from town, and the all night raid plus a drive home was just too much for me.  I don't mind getting up early, but I'm too old to stay out all night!  I shopped online, then rolled over and went to sleep when I was finished! ;)

I was going to go, but midnight was just too much. I don't mind getting up early, but I don't want to stay out all night!

I bought lots of stuff online though!

Now on to the Christmas letter so I can put it into the cards which are all addressed and waiting.

My Letter to the Editor was in Thursday's paper!

http://trib.com/opinion/letters/save-our-rural-post-offices/article_0768a2c1-d9aa-5ed1-9c1f-357199bc9a1d.html?mode=story