Bad News

Last night I had a hankering for something sweet, so I decided to make cookies. I had no eggs, so I Googled "eggless cookies." The bad news here is that I've discovered the easiest, quickest cookies, a versatile recipe to which I think you could add just about any flavoring - and they taste quite delicious!

1/2 lb. butter

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 c. flour

1 tsp water

I used imitation rum flavoring instead of the vanilla, added about 1/2 oz. of chopped bittersweet chocolate, and about 1/4 c. shredded coconut. Baked them at 375' for about 8 minutes. Ooh, yummy, and about 20 minutes start to finish. 

Like I said...bad news! ;-)

End of an Era

It may seem strange for me to comment on the death of Michael Jackson. I am, however, 39, and was avidly listening to the radio and watching MTV at the height of his popularity. I watched his decline into strangeness with a kind of sadness for him, wondering what kinds of demons must have plagued him. And now, to hear of his death, I am saddened for a couple reasons. First of all, a man gifted with phenomenal talent, a man who had an influence on, I would bet, all our lives in a big or a small way, has died. I mourn that in itself. I am sad for those who love him. And I am a little sad for myself. As I age, so will all those stars I enjoyed in my teen years - actors, musicians, athletes. I'm sure I'll outlive many of them, and their deaths will remind me of my aging, and with that comes a kind of nostalgia. 

But the bare bones of the thing? A man has died. I will stop and pray for his friends and family for just a moment tonight. May God comfort them, and may a part of that comfort be the joy that Michael Jackson brought to so many lives with his amazing talents. 

2 Super Easy Suppers

Ok, so these might not be the most creative, but they are very tasty and take minimal effort. Perfect for summer eating...

groceries you'll need (other than seasonings):

1 London broil cut of meat

carrots

potatoes

red, yellow or orange bell pepper

olive oil

lunch meat (I prefer hard salami for meal #2)

good cheese - whatever kind you want (I prefer fresh mozzarella or provolone)

good bread

Meal #1:

Buy 1 London broil cut of meat and marinate it overnight in something tasty (soy sauce, sugar and ginger; barbecue sauce; Worcestershire, powdered garlic, and Coca-cola - something like one of those combinations...)

Preheat the oven to 450'.

Cut unpeeled carrots and potatoes to about the same size chunks. Toss them generously with olive oil and whatever herbs sound good to you, fresh or dried (I used fresh thyme, parsley and oregano). Place them in a single layer in a baking pan. Roast them in the oven for about 30 minutes. 

While the carrots and potatoes are cooking, cut a red, yellow or orange bell pepper into thick strips. Toss this generously with olive oil, salt and pepper. Put these in a single layer in a baking pan and add them to the oven. 

When the vegies are lovely and soft, turn on the broiler to high. Broil the meat for 6 minutes or so on each side. 

Voila! You're done - meat, starch and 2 veg. :-)

Meal #2:

The next day place the roasted bells on one piece of bread. Put lunch meat with the cheese on top on another piece of bread. Sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper and Italian seasonings. Toast under the broiler for just a minute or so to warm everything up and melt the cheese. When you take it out of the oven, sprinkle both sides with balsamic vinegar. Yummy!

Enjoy!

Happy things in my life

my hair is growing out

so is my vegie garden ;-)

my kitties love me

I have great friends!

just had my 18th wedding anniversary

free rhubarb this week from a friend! (that means yummy pie this weekend!)

have I told you lately how much I love my shoes?

fun summer skirts

the blue sky of summer

yeah!

Truth!

(I don't write this to elicit pity, but because it is what's on my mind today - or in my head?)

I go along day after day, week after week, feeling so good (i.e., no migraines), doing whatever I please. I almost forget how these headaches have in times past robbed me of whole seasons. Then, all of a sudden, I am hit again and can barely drag myself from room to room. So strange to make plans for a day, a weekend, and be able to accomplish none of it; to be reminded that only in small part do I control this body. 

I assert again, though, that I live in such a state of grace! I live under no particular persecution. I live a calm and blessed life. These headaches are one of my only real hardships. There are a few others that those of you who know me well might list, but don't we all have burdens we bear? Today I reassert this heartfelt belief: I am convicted of, have no doubt of the truth of Romans 8:38-39:

"I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate [me] from the love of God..."

For that truth, for that hand of God in which I find myself, in which I can rest, I am truly thankful!

Summer Job

Did I tell you I've gotten a summer job? Actually, I have two, which will keep me plenty busy. Too bad neither will actually pay me anything...if you don't count good food and lots of kisses. Guessed it yet?

Job #1: my yard...the raised veg bed is finished and filled (almost, still need to plant tomatoes today!). That leaves the front yard, and the side path, both of which I hope to do this summer. The front still needs lots of flowers, grass seed, mulch, and edging. The side path will be wheelbarrows filled with gravel, mulch and rock, then planting of ground covers. Whew! I'm worn out already. ;-)

Job #2: aunt! What else can I say? This summer I'll have not only my usual 2 nephews here, but an additional 3 nieces and 2 nephews. How wonderful! That even beats fresh garden veg. 

Now, for the piece de resistance of this entry - pics of my progress!  ...Ok, so I'm no Pioneer Woman, but my camera is 1/3 the size and 1/4 the price. :-) Enjoy! 

First I moved about 40 wheelbarrows of dirt into the raised bed (of which I neglected to a take a picture empty. Too bad - you could have better appreciated all my hard work - ha, ha!!). Imagine this pile of dirt 2x as big...

Here is said raised bed which my beloved built for me last fall...exactly to my specifications. Just the right height so I don't have to over-stress either my bad knees or my poor back. Lovely man, isn't he?

Here's what I bought to plant - doesn't look like much! I'm starting small with this my first veg garden. If I love it, I'll do more next summer. This year's goals - enough corn and carrots for one good meal. Oh, and some tomatoes, too. 

And here are the lovelies in the ground, ready to grow and flourish! First, my herbs - chives, basil, lemon balm, flat-leaf parsley, and oregano. The rosemary isn't visible. I will be adding some other flavors of basil (spicy globe and Thai basil) and some English thyme.

Next, the corn and carrots. My favorites!

Corn...

and carrots...

 Summer's bounty awaits!

Woops!

Ok, how many posts did I write about Charlie?! I misled you all...Charlie just turned 17, not 18. My bad!

On to other topics... 

It has been raining here in Colorado Springs for nigh on two weeks. Very unusual weather for us! I'm loving it; my husband, who is having some trouble with a leak in his new building, is not so happy! It has softened the soil, making it so easy to weed all those pesky green things I don't want in my yard! Of course, if it wasn't raining, maybe they wouldn't be growing so quickly. Oh well, can't have a nice yard without water...or without fighting the weeds! I'm making such progress, although the people walking by probably can't yet tell. Pictures soon to come!

My sister and her family arrive next week, and I can hardly wait! Their visit from overseas will pretty much absorb my whole summer, but I am so excited it doesn't even matter. In fact, that is a wonderful thing!

Last of the Charlie Chronicles

Don't worry, the old guy hasn't kicked the bucket - I just thought I might blog about other things. :-) But before I get on with that, a few more tales about this crazy guy. First of all, what kind of cat actually likes their Halloween costume? Note how happily he is sleeping! :-)

Ever known a cat that liked to play hide and seek? Well, Charlie did, and he had more than one version of the game he liked! In the townhouse in which we lived there was a small landing on the stairs. The wall facing this landing had a small archway that linked the living room and the stairwell, meaning you could stand on the stairs and look into the living room, and vice versa. Charlie loved to sit in this archway - it was just the right size for him. He'd sit there, and if we'd indulge him, he'd act as if we couldn't see him and as we walked by, or twitched a string his way, or stood at the bottom of the stairs crouching, he'd reciprocate with lively play! 

His other favorite version of hide and seek was on top of the tall bookshelves in our upstairs hallway, or on top of the Hoosier cabinet, or the fridge, or anywhere else he could get higher than the tops of our heads. There he'd crouch, waiting for us to walk by, and as we did he'd reach out and tickle the tops of our heads with varying degrees of ferocity. If we made just the right "I'm about to chase you!" movements, he'd run up the stairs, jump on top of the shelves, and we'd follow and play our game. Quite unusual, strange...and wonderful!

Now that Charlie is 18 and all he does is sleep (eat and poop), it is sometimes hard to imagine how playful, how creative, and just how lively he was. Sometimes he's been a hassle. He went through an, "I am a fierce animal and will try to make you bleed by attacking you when you least expect it!" phase, attacking for no good reason, hiding behind chairs, etc. He also, at one point in his life, got seizures brought on by the stress of me travelling a lot. Yes, high maintenance cat! We have, however, had some wonderful times with this old guy. Oh, how we would laugh and play, running up and down the stairs, chasing each other, usually ending with a jump onto the bed and a good snuggle. I've had him almost as long as I've had my husband, and that's saying something!

Charlie, I do love you!