Sledding Excurtion

It was a cold day in December when a snow storm came through the small town of St. Mary's. It had been years since there had been so much snow.... It was surely a time to take advantage and enjoy the beautiful white snow that had completly danced across our town! We went ... SLEDDING!

(Me & Cecilia, my sister in law)

We went down the big hill behind the in laws house. It was fun taking the four wheeler up to the top and then sledding down... actually I didn't care so much for it cause one, it was a LONG walk up the hill again... lol and the snow was coming down so hard that you couldn't keep your eyes open while going down the hill so you couldn't see where you were going so therefore... you would fall off your sled! However, it was fun overall and the snow was so pretty!

Dom & Christopher (my brother in law) un-tieing the sleds from the four wheeler

"O Christmas Tree, O..."

Last night Dom & I went on another "first" adventure - It's so much fun having "firsts"....(even though the numbers are slowly dwindling! :/ ) We got our first Christmas Tree together... Its still very bare but we are letting it rest and the branches fall. We are going to move it in front of our window. I will let you know what it looks like once it is all decorated and ready to be lit to celebrate the Birth of Our Lord!

"Things To Do Before I Turn 30"

It was about 5 years ago (so when I was about 20-21) when I was attending college in a small town in the middle (not literally) of Kansas. I was at my friend Kate's house with another friend Annie and I can't exactly remember what we were doing that day but I do remember that we made a list of things we all wanted to do before we turned 30. I am not sure if the other two have kept thier list or not but I have kept mine... I found it one other time (probably during a move or something) and then stumbled acr0ss it today. My list of things to do before I turned 30 was:

1. 
   
   Go to Europe (Ireland, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Rome, etc)


2. 
   
   Write a childrens book & illustrate it


3. 
   
   Take swing and/or Irish dance lessons


4. 
   
   Make wine (by crushing grapes under my feet)


5. 
   
   Make a beaded lampshade


6. 
   
   Learn to play the piano


7. 
   
   Start a cork collection (make a corkboard after enough are collected)


8. 
   
   Wherever I live have a flower garden with a lot of roses


9. 
   
   Get a manicure


10. 
    
    Get a pedicure


11. 
    
    Sell one of my drawings/paintings


12. 
    
    Make a candle


13. 
    
    Milk a cow


14. 
    
    Go on the Price Is Right or SuperMarket Sweep


15. 
    
    Go to an opera


16. 
    
    See a tornado


17. 
    
    Lay in the middle of a field under a blanket of stars with good friends, a bottle of wine, cigarettes & poetry


18. 
    
    Ride a camel


19. 
    
    Jump on a moving train


20. 
    
    Get married

Ok, Well I have not completed them all and all of them I do not think I will do... Mainly because they would not be on my list if I were to make one today. Lets see...I have completed nine of them! Thats pretty good I would say as I have not had this to follow or mark off... Just things that in time were completed. Kind of neat to look back and think of the time when I had not thought I would do some of the things on the list. So far I have:

• Gone to Europe - Went traveling around Poland on my honeymoon, hence I ...


• 
  
  Got Married


• 
  
  I started a cork collection about 2 or 3 years ago


• 
  
  Have gotten a manicure & pedicure


• 
  
  I milked a cow at the Neiders farm


• 
  
  I have been to a couple of opera's - one was in NYC & we saw The Phamtom of the Opera


• 
  
  I have been wine drinking in a field with friends and cigs


• 
  
  Have made a candal

Of all the things left to do on the list (which I still have a good four years to do...) I don't think I really want to write and illustrate a childrens book anymore; it would be a neat thing to do but... I can't see myself doing that... The taking the swing or irish dance lessons... I can do a little of both in the amateur way and I like those ways just fine...so what need to take the lessons? The making the wine... very well may be done because the hubby found a wine maker kit - but one that I wouldnt have to crush any grapes beneath my feet which I would like so much better! I could very well see myself making the beaded lampshade, definitely seems feasible. The learning to play piano... well you never know, I have four years and besides I can read basic music so in a way I have learned to play over the years... just nothing too fancy thats all! Lets see... the whole flower garden and roses thing... I get fresh flowers from time to time but I don't live in a place to have a garden so until that day comes when I do.. that one won't be completed. This whole Price is Right or Supermarket Sweep - Well I don't want to be on the Price is Right anymore cause Drew Carey is the host and I don't particularly care for him that much and the whole show is just not the same so I have no desire to be a contestant... and the Supermarket Sweep doesnt exist anymore. As some of or well I would think all of you know I live in Kansas ... so chances of seeing a tornado could be possible - even though hubby has lived here all his life and never seen one! As for riding a camel or jumping on a moving train... I would say well the riding the camel I will haev to go to Egypt for and I don't think we plan on that in the next four years - and the moving on a jumping train was merely a fad at the time I wrote the list. I don't think that idea really intrests me at all today. Would it intrest you? Besides, I have become more "chicken" if you will in my later years of becoming more wiser and I would be too afraid of getting in trouble for doing it... mroe so than I would be afraid of getting hurt. lol Even though it should be the other way around.

Well, that is my list and what I have and haven't done and what seems feasible to accomplish within the next fours years before I turn thirty. Hubby and I started a bucket list while we were dating and since have checked off and added more things to do... before we "kick the bucket"...if you will. Its nice to have. It keeps life intresting and keeps you looking forward to new adventures and having dreams... dreams, adventures and life to live together. Do any of you have a "bucket list" or "things to do before..."lists or have you ever had one or ever wanted to have one?

Banana Muffins

Yum!! I tried a new recipe for banana muffins yesterday. They turned out quiet yummilicious! Their form was adorable - and the consistency - texture inside was nice and soft and moist yet all together! I was pleased with the end result!

heheh I do have to tell you that the recipe said not to over stir the batter - like three times it said that so I was like ok...no overstirring the batter! So, don't you know I mixed the dry ingredients in with the wet mixture and was like ok... the recipe says it will be thick but ... I couldn't even get all the flour mixture folded in! I knew something was not right but was like hmmm... well I could either add a splash of milk or beat the mixture together... So, I continued to mix the batter together - thinking the whole time, this is way over mixing!

Suddenly, I had a revelation! I saw the carton of large eggs sitting on the counter... a full dozen - none missing. I had forgotten about the two large eggs! So, needless to say - I then had to get the eggs incorporated into the batter! So much for NOT over mixing. I thought they turned out jsut fine though. It wasn't like they were heavy like rocks - in fact they were on the light side but I am guessing the less mixing together allows for more air and thus would make them more fluffy?

Cold Day In Pink

I loved how I got the comment, "Is it because you're here that we got so much snow and cold weather?!" lol I had to laugh but really... I am excited we got snow here and excited that it's the most snow they have had in years! I have to also admit I was hoping, not even praying, for a lot of snow... Makes you realized how much God really DOES know what we want and need! It was funny cause I was so disappointed in hearing the same ole line, "We never get a lot of snow here and if we do it melts by the next day..." And then all of a sudden ... :) It's exciting. It makes me happy. Even if it is the most snow here I will see for another 6 years!

Speaking of snow and cold... Ok so there isn't any heat at my friends shop. lol yes, thats correct. No heat... yet of course. She just dresses warm and wears her coats or scarves most of the time. lol You must think she is crazy but I am convinced she will get heat soon...Anyway, I was down helping her for a little and well today...with the wind chill I believe the lady on the radio said it was minus twelve - Yes, -12 degrees! So, it's cold out... and therefore that makes it even colder for us in the little shop. We had snow/frost/ice on the INSIDE of the door today! Don't worry something is going to be done... But anyway... so today are fingers were so cold etc and my friend I work with said, "Hey don't they say that whiskey or something warms you up?" I was like yes... and she holds up a big bottle of Whiskey! So, she filled our coffee cups (that had coffee in them already) with the delicious, yet shimming shaking whiskey! It did help believe it or not..for a little that is... then it was just ok - its too cold in here. We managed to stay till the shop closed with new ideas for warmth tomorrow... We shall see how it goes! Until then... Buh Byes!

PS It was cool today cause I wanted to wear my "pink" (kinda a coral color) boots cause they are comfy and warm for the most part... so I had on my knee high, pink striped socks with the boots (they were a little visible) a knee length black comfy skirt and a pale pink sweater...and to top it off I added my pink scarf! I was like hmm how many more shades of pink can I wear today?! lol Just something I wanted to share!

Wondering Tidbits From My Brain

1. Wondering if the pizza dough I made a week ago is going to thaw in time to roll it out and make pizza for dinner. Was this a smart idea? I should've just made some fresh, but thats why I froze some so I woulnd't have to make it every time...
2. Thinking of all the delicious things I want to make like:

• cinnamon rolls or those ones I saw on Picky-Palate that were pumpkin rolls...mmmm!
• sugar cookies made from a recipe that makes them thick and chewy!
• my chrstmas skirt - well maybe its not delicious but it's something I want to make!
• rum balls - my mom used to make them and I found a recipe that seems to be what she used to make (I think anyway?!????)
• fudge - Dom and I are planning on making some...I just can't wait to actually make some and taste it! Hopefully it will turn out right!

1. (this stupid thing won't follow my format...so it is back to number one.. :( ) Wanting to get a good cook book and make all the recipes in it - like Julie did from Julie & Julia, which I saw last night - it inspired me. It was a good movie I think, I enjoyed it anyway.
2. Thinking of all the thank you notes I have to address now that I have my list of addresses again! Hmmm when am I going to get to that....
3. When am I going to get to do laundry again? The basket is getting full - that will be fun to lug in the snow!
4. Its pretty darn cold outside with the wind whipping around like it is! It took me a half hour to warm up and dig out my car this morning! Most snow Kansas (well St Marys) has gotten in years they say! Kinda cool as I was missing the snow in Syracuse... but I am good now. :)
5. Cant wait to get the rest of the wedding pictures developed and an album to put them in - that will be fun!
6. Wondering if I am going to finish the book(s) I was planning on reading during Advent!

I think thats all thats going through my brain at the moment...

Cold Day for Making Chili

Yesterday was so cold outside. The temperature was only about 20 degrees but it was a blustery day. The wind was so cold it made your bones shiver! It was the perfect day for a nice pot of homemade chili with cornbread!

I thawed some ground beef and browned it up in a pot and added some onions. Then I mixed in some oregano, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Then I cut up some yellow and green peppers and added a splash of soy sauce. I let it all cook together a bit then I added a can of stewed tomatoes and a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies.

I added a pinch of sugar for sweetness and then grated some chocolate into the pot. Yes, I said chocolate! I remember my grandfather (Poppy) always used to put a hershey's kiss in his chili. I like the very subtle falvor it adds. You wouldn't be able to take a bite of the finished chili and say you taste chocolate but the cocoa adds a nice flavor. I'm sure you could leave it out and it would taste just fine but I like to add it! I then added a handful of mushrooms and a can of black beans and then poured in a splash of tomato sauce. Then I cut up a handful of velveeta into cubes and added it. Once it melted into the chili I then mixed up some corn bread and got that into the oven. I let the chili simmer till the corn bread was done & then dinner was ready! We topped our bowls with a little extra shredded velveeta, which I thinks goes really well with chili, but any cheese would do.
It was rather delicious, if I may say so myself! It had a nice subtle spice kick to it... just enough to start to make your nose run but not enough to make it too spicy. I hate when things are so spicy hot that you can't even taste the flavor of what you're eating. It was the perfect meal for a Cold Day!

What Is Your Cleaning Product of Choice?

My favorite cleaning product of choice has always typically been Clorox All Purpose Spray, which I do still like to use but recently we bought Lysol, a 4 in 1 cleaner. I use it on the floors and for cleaning down the appliances etc in the kitchen. I absolutely love the day of the week when I mop the floors and do the full kitchen "wipe down" because it makes the kitchen just sparkle! I love it!

Frog Catching Days

I found this picture of my younger brother Christopher and I. This was back when I was about 10 or 11 and had a love for frogs! We had two small ponds in the backyard that were full of tadpoles in the spring and hopping with frogs the rest of the time. We had a statue of Pedro and his Donkey who would drink from the waterfall that poured out of the claw foot tub in the upper pond. Chris and I in the picture are sitting on the bridge part over where the upper pond spilled into the lower pond. This love of frogs I had has still carried with me even into my older years!

This picture was taken probably about three years ago...? Maybe two. This is my friend Joe who was a faithful frog catching buddy. This was at one of the many Pond Parties we had up at the Neiders back in the day...ah those were some fun times! The night this picture was taken I think we had a beer case that I had put about 15 frogs in ... we didnt keep them in there for long... it was really just to show everyone there what a good and quick frog catcher I was! :) he he Ok, I won't brag too much. Regardless of alllll the many frogs that were caught - there was THE bullfrog. The Bullfrog that was so big it fit into both my hands! (yes, I know I have smaller hands but it was still big!) We were so close so many times but we never did catch it ...completely that is. Let me tell you the story!

The night was dark - the grasshoppers were chirping and the folk around the fire were singing... we had nothing but a flash light and our bare hands. Joe and I had been scouting along the edge of the pond and as we made our way around - we knew we were getting closer. There! Just before the dock and fish feeder was a couple of bushes along the side of the pond. Joe was holding the light and as we carefully and quitely sat there and waited for the "Croak"... I saw a huge web and in that web was a spider...a very large one. I hate spiders... I am very afraid of spiders.... but wait! There was the bullfrog just on the other side of the web below the spider! What now?! Could I really pass up this opportunity of capturing the bull frog that we have sooo many times come out to hunt?! Could I let not only myself but Joe down as well? No! I could not! So, I took a deep breath - I kringed - I crept forward into the water and stelthfully got closer keeping my arms in pouncing position. I got closer and closer...(and closer to the spider too!) and then suddenly, it was time! SNATCH! He was in my hands! I took a quick leap forward to grab him and in jumping back I lost my grip on him and he slipped away... away into the dark waters. He was lost from us again. I of course, stomped (quickly) out of the water and started to make noises of gross-out-ment and started to shake all over (because I had to make sure I didn't have the spider on me ... or really just my body's way of being disgusted by being so close to the spider). It was such a moment of anxiousness and excitement and yet with such disappointment in the end. We never made it back to the pond to find him - it had been the last party of the summer. Perhaps someday I will be able to go back and catch him...or at least hear his croak and know that he is there. It would surely make me smile.

"Ladeeda"

"Ladeeda" is the title of a post written by a friend and fellow blogger. In this post she talks about taking deep breaths of the frosty cool air of autumn and gazing at the snow covered pines that decorate the mountains... ah! What beautiful words that so delicately paint pictures in my mind. I loved her response to a questionaire from work asking, "If you could live anywhere you wanted to, where would it be?" Her response: "I'd want to live on a vineyard in Italy in a quaint old house and have a view of some glorious mountains in the backround." Ahhh, doesn't that jsut sound like the perfect place? Can't you just imagine the golden glow of the sun setting betweens the mountains?