Playing House

my new roommates for the week are Guinness, Raymond and Tillie. 3 adorable dogs who want my full attention at all times. this is life in the burbs! i almost feel as though i have a husband and two kids. Raymond is the old man who kisses and hugs on me as much as i want and Tillie and Guinness are the kids who hog the bed. oh! and there is even a "devil" child named Wrigley (one of 3 cats).

what is a single, city girl doing living in the burbs with a husband and kids?? maybe it is all a test to see if i can really hack it? or maybe it's the dream I've had forever finally coming true? whatever it is, it is good (except for the allergies--ahhchoo! and the lack of sleep) but in a way it makes it all the better. giving up of my self to give to them results in amazing love, affection and devotion on all of our behalfs. i wish i could experience this type of relationship more often....Wait! i've had it all along, He's been with me since birth.

Christmas Past

Memories of Christmas always seem to come rushing back when my mom starts making her New England Clam Chowder. the smell and sizzle of the bacon seem to trigger it all. it is a tradition just like the sour cream coffeecake, which we use as a birthday cake for Jesus. maybe she'll let me share the recipe someday.

some years were great, other years i hardly remember.

now a days, it takes me awhile to get in the Christmas spirit. easily blamed on my age, but most likely due to my feelings of loneliness. once i am amongst the nephews though, i feel like a kid again on Christmas. the times spent at the Little Caesar's Christmas Party (just one of the several photos is below) when i was young were not always the best of fun, but Boy! were we Cute! there's been alot of growth in age, size, and numbers since then. i pray that someday i can contribute in more than just age and size.

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

You want a recipe, here's a recipe

I've been baking all weekend for the holidays and so far i've only messed up one thing but hopefully it will still turn out ok--it is still in the oven as i type, so maybe i should try to remember about it...

here is my recipe for Nut Brittle: any nut will do, i usually use pistachio or macadamia but i've also made it with cashew and almonds and hazelnuts. this recipe will yield roughly 1 pound (#).

1- 1/2 cups Nuts, salted and toasted, chopped
1- 1/2 cups Sugar
1/4 cup Light Corn Syrup
1/2 cup Water
1.25 oz. Butter, cubed
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Kosher Salt

Directions:
- in a large, heavy pot, place sugar, corn syrup and water. swirl to combine with your hand and wash down the sides of the pot with cold water so no sugar crystals remain.
-add butter on top. Cook on high heat. It will bubble up quite high so watch it. Cook until it turns caramel, a dark amber color.
-remove from heat and sprinkle on baking soda and kosher salt.
-add in nuts and stir with heat resistant spatula or wooden spoon to combine. you may put it back on the heat to soften.
-pour out onto a silpat and spread out with spatula to as thin as you can get it.
-let cool completely. break into desired size pieces and enjoy!

if you want to see a picture of what it looks like, look at my post on 19 December.

Dancing with Love

today is my dad's birthday so i am dedicating my blog to him today.
I love you, Dad! He calls me Squeezer on days like today.

as i waited for the train today i encountered my usual--pigeons. But today was different because i experienced "the dance of the pigeon". most people consider them to be flying rats but they are created by God just like we are and apparently they love to "show off" by dancing and fluffing feathers for their prospective partner. i think i am still learning how to do my own "dance". i love watching animals in nature just be what they are created to be. and then ponder why i make everything so much more complicated in my life when it is created to be so simple...

as i rode on the train, i listened to a song i have not heard in awhile. Unmoved By Love by Harry Manx & Kevin Breit (take a listen at http://www.emusic.com/album/Harry-Manx-Kevin-Breit-Jubilee-MP3-Download/10944375.html). the song is melancholy but always makes me feel good.

i have been rereading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller...in his chapter on Grace, his words and explanations moved me to pull out my pen and underline and stop to contemplate the fact our similarity..."it seemed wrong to me not to have to pay for my sin, not to feel guilty about it or kick myself around...I wanted to feel as though I earned my forgiveness" and "Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God's love will." in a world where we always want something for free, yet it is so hard for us to gladly accept the ultimate free love of Christ. It is not God's voice saying we are failures or losers, "God woos us with kindness, He changes our character with the passion of His love."

What beautiful words that speak so sharply to the heart and mind!

Raindrops on roses

Things that I like... By Ivy Tack (Forward by Bess Ellis)
1. Puppies
2. Perms
3. Garlic Breath on a hot summers' day
4. Summer camp memories in Iran
5. Tinsel
6. Chicken Broth (not so good for the soul but yummy)
7. New school supplies
8. Livin on a prayer (the Bon Jovi version)
9. Degreassi Junior High (the original)
10. Tequila


Things that I hate...Also by Ivy Tack (But a little from Bess Ellis)
1. World Peace (what's the point really?)
2. Salisbury Steak
3. Rosemary (not the baby but the herb)
4. Blue carnations (Bess hates all carnations. We argued about it for awhile.)
5. Phil Collins and all Genesis songs, but after more consideration, nix that and add Spiders instead
6. Guys with no hair on their body
7. Poodles
8. Good n Plenty
9. Ginger kids (you know who you are)
10. People that write lists of things I like and things I hate

(this is a typical day at work when Bess and I have time to kill...and this is mostly Bess wanting to write on my blog!)

what is it that i can say...

My very own blog?! What?! oh, well, i guess it had to happen sooner or later and with some nudging from a certain someone, it has come to be. but now, what is it that i can say…are there profound words of wisdom to share or just ramblings that fall out of my brain. i guess we will all just have to wait and read.

as i cruised down LSD in a BMW, i wish i were on the Autobahn! but the day was filled with butter and sugar and more butter and sugar, so the sweet life continues.