shan

shan

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

A Charlie Brown Christmas (The Meaning of Christmas)

The Real Meaning of Christmas!!!

Sometimes it's easy to lose track of the reason we have Christmas at all. Today I hope you pause to remember, or come to know the "real reason for the season." Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Time to Bake

It appears I've picked up a nasty habit. Baking.
For most of my life I've been sweet tooth free. I'd like to remain that way. I'm already addicted to salty junk. I don't think I can manage being hooked on the sugary stuff too. This new hobby of mine, is pulling me over to the sweet dark side. It's not like I'm in love with sugar, but if I make a German Chocolate cake, then I'll eat some. If I make two different flavors of cheesecake, and a pineapple upside down cake, well then I'll eat those too. If I happen to make, and sample all of those things in a 24 hour period, well you can see how this becomes a problem.
I'd like to enlist the help of my family to control this behavior. Unfortunately, they are very supportive of my new habit, and all too happy to be enablers. Below are a few of my recent favorites. Best advice I can give? Bake and share.

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/original-bakers-germans-sweet-chocolate-cake-51120.aspx
(This one is all about the frosting. Get the frosting recipe at the end of the cake ingredients list).

If you are pressed for time, and can't make a German Chocolate Cake, try these ridiculously delicious and easy and cookies:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-cup-cookies/



Thursday, December 5, 2013

Winter Garden

In a perfect world I'd own a century old farmhouse on about twenty acres. I'd have fruit and nut trees. I'd grow all the produce we consume. I'd raise laying chickens for fresh eggs. I'd have an herb garden like none other. There would be flower brushes every where.
Let's just say my husband's perfect world doesn't look like mine. His includes a condo and no mowing, so our current home is a compromise. For now my dreams of vast garden spaces are on hold. I'm content to play around in the tiny patch in our backyard. It is from that patch that we grew these:




Oh and trust me these are MUCH tastier than their store bought friends

Monday, December 2, 2013


Big Dreams

"If your dreams don't scare you they are probably not big enough." 
When I first heard that statement I instantly thought two things "wow" and "what are my dreams?" I'm not referring to the crazy ones I have at night, believe me, I have enough of those. I'm talking about my ultimate design on life. If I could do, or create anything, be anything, what would I do or be? What would you do? What would your life look like? Would it change? What's holding you back? Those are the questions in my head.
I did pose a similar question to my twelve year old. I won't mention her response, because I don't want to make light of her dreams. Let's just say it involved a career that does not bolster financial security, or security of any kind for that matter. My response to her was, "good now let's think of an idea that will allow you the ability to buy food and eat." 
My comment bothered her. She viewed it as an attack on her dream. I decided I'd drop the topic, but after a few moments of silence, the mom in me attempted to reason with her again. 
I tried a different approach. I told her, "your dad and I are thinking of starting a llama farm (yes I lied). What do you think about that?" 
Truthfully I was being a bit sarcastic an hoped she'd recognize the ridiculousness of her own plans through the wackiness of our llama farm idea. *No offense to any of you who own or dream of such a place.*
Her response: "well that's a bit weird, and unexpected, I'll support you guys." She never made the connection to the lesson I was trying to teach her. That was her honest response, encouragement and support. 
So here I sit again thinking about dreams. This time my thoughts are on the importance of encouraging others to pursue them...