tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68070990070541341762024-03-14T03:48:32.855-04:00Living With ImperfectionShelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.comBlogger375125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-14765020752517020442016-02-10T22:39:00.000-05:002016-02-10T22:39:01.056-05:00CozyToday has been bone-chilling freezing! And all I can do is think of cozy!<br />
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Here are some snippets of cozy I've found from keeping my eyes open within my four walls. Today, cozy is:<br />
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A tabby cuddled up in the sharp morning light,</div>
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Breakfast carried up to 3 girls too busy playing to come downstairs,<br /></div>
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Hot tea, good book, and silky warm cat while sneaking a few minutes by the fire,</div>
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<br />Candles glowing after closing the blinds and locking the dark night out</div>
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at the end of another day.<br /></div>
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<br />When it's frigid outside, it's good to find scraps of cozy inside.</div>
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Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-19661867971768306232015-11-16T23:28:00.004-05:002015-11-16T23:28:48.817-05:00Sugar Cookies . . . Finally! (Gluten-Free)<h3 style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">I love butter. I love sugar. I love flour. I love vanilla.</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Mix it all together, and the next logical deduction equals = I love sugar cookies!!</span></h3>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTdeOXV7Jak/UN3B-eG_TDI/AAAAAAAAE0s/FCfnNOzYC9w/s1600/sugarcookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QTdeOXV7Jak/UN3B-eG_TDI/AAAAAAAAE0s/FCfnNOzYC9w/s640/sugarcookies.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_J36lhQ2MIE/UN3CNvUzv7I/AAAAAAAAE00/str9xZFkjBE/s1600/sugarcookies2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_J36lhQ2MIE/UN3CNvUzv7I/AAAAAAAAE00/str9xZFkjBE/s640/sugarcookies2.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Simple to mix up, fulfilling to roll out, fun to cut, easy to bake, creative to decorate. And that's before you even get to the eating!! Sweet, tender, soft, chewy, and (with sprinkles or colored sugar) a little crunchy. A world of delightful texture and taste. Uncomplicated, unassuming, comforting. Sugar cookies.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpYzAGC7X8M/UN3D0EdQXfI/AAAAAAAAE1o/suQz1tnWcpE/s1600/cmas2013d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpYzAGC7X8M/UN3D0EdQXfI/AAAAAAAAE1o/suQz1tnWcpE/s640/cmas2013d.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HtA_vMl8R4/UN3ECTqm6JI/AAAAAAAAE1w/OR7TEyu_lHo/s1600/cmas2013g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3HtA_vMl8R4/UN3ECTqm6JI/AAAAAAAAE1w/OR7TEyu_lHo/s640/cmas2013g.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">When this household suddenly went gluten-free, years ago, I thought sugar cookies were now extinct under this roof.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAuc0UI6Xjo/UN3EZqRxhTI/AAAAAAAAE2A/v4WhgAGcO1g/s1600/sugarcookies3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bAuc0UI6Xjo/UN3EZqRxhTI/AAAAAAAAE2A/v4WhgAGcO1g/s640/sugarcookies3.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SZXbPcoAoqQ/UN3EJpPNdBI/AAAAAAAAE14/PaMc7gVgs84/s1600/cmas2013i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SZXbPcoAoqQ/UN3EJpPNdBI/AAAAAAAAE14/PaMc7gVgs84/s640/cmas2013i.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Trial runs with rice flours, and mixes incorporating bean flours of different types left us with unappetizing, thick, grainy, or heavy cookies. You can only hide so much under a substantial layer of powdered sugar icing and sprinkles. The experimental cookies usually sat neglected on the counter until they were so hard that I was doing us all a service by dumping them. And yet again dumping the hope of a gluten-free sugar cookie that could be enjoyed.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dEgup6ZFDg/UN3EqLaKRVI/AAAAAAAAE2I/b2KvcG2iKwE/s1600/sugarcookies5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #888888; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1dEgup6ZFDg/UN3EqLaKRVI/AAAAAAAAE2I/b2KvcG2iKwE/s640/sugarcookies5.jpg" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="428" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;"> Enter the dear Silvana and her marvelous gluten-free flour mix that can be made right in your own kitchen (</span><a href="http://www.silvanaskitchen.com/silvanas-kitchen-all-purpose-gluten-free-flour/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px; text-decoration: none;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">). Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. It is more time-consuming to combine these flours; it is more costly to purchase these flours than the 5-pound bag of Gold Medal sitting on the market shelf. However, this mix is gluten-free, and in cookie baking, the flour is a highly billed player!! No compromises with the flour.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">And so, this year we ended up with a chewy and delicious sugar cookie for the first time in years. And if I ended up making 6 batches of these delights, I can hardly be blamed.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;"><b>Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1/4 pound butter</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">3/4 cup sugar</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1 egg</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1/2 tsp. vanilla</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1 Tbsp. cream or milk</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1 1/4 cups Silvana's gluten-free flour mix (<a href="http://www.silvanaskitchen.com/silvanas-kitchen-all-purpose-gluten-free-flour/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">recipe here)</a> - I leave the salt out of the flour mix!!</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1/8 tsp. salt</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1/4 tsp. baking powder</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">Cream the butter. Gradually add the sugar, beating until light. Add the egg, vanilla, cream/milk and beat thoroughly.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">Mix the flour mix, salt and baking powder together. Add to the first mixture and blend well. Add more flour mixture if the dough is too soft. Sprinkle flour mix on the rolling surface, roll cookies to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes and back for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">Frosting:</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1 cup powdered sugar</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">2 tsp. milk</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">2 tsp. light corn syrup</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">1/4 tsp. vanilla </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">food coloring</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">Stir powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in the corn syrup and vanilla until icing is smooth and glossy. If the frosting is too thick, add more corn syrup. Divide icing into separate bowls and stir in food coloring as desired.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" /></span><br />
</div>
Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-61396934657705214302014-02-04T07:47:00.002-05:002014-02-04T07:47:39.415-05:00Selfie ExplosionOur local newspaper recently had an article in it regarding toddlers and how they get a hold of their parents phones and take "selfies" of themselves.<br />
<br />
It was cute.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5UAj9NIYA-k/UvDfysMYwVI/AAAAAAAAFmU/ozbuJwn7I5Y/s1600/selfies5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5UAj9NIYA-k/UvDfysMYwVI/AAAAAAAAFmU/ozbuJwn7I5Y/s1600/selfies5.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I want to know when they're going to run an article about your college freshman son getting a hold of your camera and surprising you, when you download your photos, with a whole lovely run of "selfies" himself.<br />
<br />
Kids. ::sigh::<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pq0Ohh0ODw/UvDgYUZlC1I/AAAAAAAAFmc/q5gR5vqqzAA/s1600/selfies6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pq0Ohh0ODw/UvDgYUZlC1I/AAAAAAAAFmc/q5gR5vqqzAA/s1600/selfies6.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-38638535284210045892014-01-31T08:18:00.001-05:002014-01-31T08:18:12.191-05:0024-Hour Reset ButtonHave you ever noticed how a day, once it begins to slowly unravel, will progress along that continuum at a greater and greater speed until it lies in a corkscrew mess at your feet (definitely thinking in knitting terms here)? Of course you have.<br />
<br />
This morning the day began with the dogs barking 10 minutes (10 minutes!!!) before my alarm was set to go off at 6:00 a.m. Feeling immensely sorry for myself, I laid back down at 5:55, turned off my alarm and decided to reward myself with 15 more minutes of sleep for my inconvenience.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3vGQy5FH0M/UuugqCbdkrI/AAAAAAAAFlE/Mn1FGjJE80A/s1600/Brady+the+iPod+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J3vGQy5FH0M/UuugqCbdkrI/AAAAAAAAFlE/Mn1FGjJE80A/s1600/Brady+the+iPod+090.JPG" height="460" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Of course, I didn't awaken until I could hear the Man of the House clinking the shower door, and I remembered that I had promised him a hot breakfast.<br />
<br />
I jumped up, got the pan ready for some scrumptious over-easy's, stuck in the toast . . . and found I was out of eggs and the one slice of bread left was a heel, slightly dry. Bon appetit, dear!<br />
<br />
The precious time set aside for my sanity-saving morning walk had been slept away in my early morning pity party, and I could feel the day reeling out of control.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vmpcIp5AZI/Uuugp87PFeI/AAAAAAAAFlU/YWL9-72z_dY/s1600/Brady+the+iPod+248+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vmpcIp5AZI/Uuugp87PFeI/AAAAAAAAFlU/YWL9-72z_dY/s1600/Brady+the+iPod+248+-+Copy.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
From there on, the day continued on with:<br />
<br />
* Forgetting to bring a book to the doctor's office, resulting in a solid hour of staring at a wall chart showing the difference between the bone structure of flat feet and high arches before the nurse even made an appearance.<br />
<br />
* Cleanup of 2 dog messes in the house from canines that are afraid to walk down the porch stairs in the snow.<br />
<br />
* Driving a 10,000 pound, rear-wheel drive conversion van to a rural location over icy roads.<br />
<br />
* Discovering that the basketball games scheduled for Thursday had refs who were scheduled to show up on Friday.<br />
<br />
* And finding the grocery store flat out of bananas---flat out!---due to the Great Winter Storm of the South, 2014 edition.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1dIy6jm1wU/UuugpSXYSXI/AAAAAAAAFlI/f1GSYlNlABY/s1600/Brady+the+iPod+296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1dIy6jm1wU/UuugpSXYSXI/AAAAAAAAFlI/f1GSYlNlABY/s1600/Brady+the+iPod+296.JPG" height="334" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Aren't you glad that God mercifully brings every set of 24 hours to a close and pushes the reset button, allowing the sun to disappear and reappear again in time for a fresh start the next morning?!<br />
<br />
Every...single...day!<br />
<br />
Yeah, I am too!<br />
<br />
And Youngest Son, if you're reading this, yes, I shamelessly stole 3 of your sunset pictures. Today just might not be the day to make an issue of it!Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-8861761748793297642014-01-28T12:44:00.002-05:002014-01-28T21:07:50.881-05:00Magic IngredientsOkay, let's be honest. If you want a lot of flavor in a recipe, it's going to take time and it might take a lot of ingredients, the preparation of which may lead to even more time.<br />
<br />
So, if you're going to go simple with your food, you're probably going to need a magic ingredient. For the <a href="http://www.livingwithimperfection.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-little-recipe-that-saved-day.html">Italian Chicken Rice Soup</a>, the magic ingredient was a fabulous Classico spaghetti sauce, that gave the soup the flavor of having been simmered all day.<br />
<br />
For this yummy soup<i> (just right for the wintry weather that they say is headed our way today!!)</i>, the magic ingredient is:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2ztpIFXmIc/UufkzBas1dI/AAAAAAAAFks/pQ4nr6qoINU/s1600/magic_ingred2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o2ztpIFXmIc/UufkzBas1dI/AAAAAAAAFks/pQ4nr6qoINU/s1600/magic_ingred2.jpg" height="640" width="450" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In this case, I am paying someone else to take the time to round up the tomatillos, chiles, cilantro, and onion and roast, chop, and combine them. In return I get a delicious Salsa Verde to flavor my soup and to make it taste like, in fact, I roasted, chopped, and combined those very ingredients.<br />
<br />
I would actually love to make my own Salsa Verde for this soup. But that's the trade-off for <a href="http://www.livingwithimperfection.blogspot.com/2014/01/simple_26.html">simple</a>. There are times I let someone else do a time-consuming part of my cooking. Sometimes.<br />
<br />
Now, once I've let these nice people provide my soup with this awesome flavor, I add in chicken, cannellini beans, broth, corn, and spices.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kK-eH4uq1M0/Uufkyy8Y63I/AAAAAAAAFkw/t6BjOcHw818/s1600/magic_ingred1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kK-eH4uq1M0/Uufkyy8Y63I/AAAAAAAAFkw/t6BjOcHw818/s1600/magic_ingred1.jpg" height="506" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
Top with some tortilla chips, sour cream and green onion, and you've got a soup that will make everyone in the family smile tonight <i>(as the snow softly drifts and swirls outside . . . positive thinking!)</i> You can tell that snow is not a daily occurrence down here in the South. It's still an occasional idealistic treat for us.<br />
<br />
And that, friends, is the secret of magic ingredients, that makes simple taste like amazing. Occasionally you CAN get the best of both worlds!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Southwestern Chicken Soup</u></b> (serves 4--I double!!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1-12 oz. jar salsa verde</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 cups cooked chicken</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1-15 oz. can cannellini beans, drained</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 cups chicken broth</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8 oz. frozen corn</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon ground cumin</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon chili<i> (Are you kidding?? I definitely double this!)</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sour cream, tortilla chips, sliced green onion for toppings</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Empty salsa verde into large sauce pan. (If you double, use a Dutch oven.) Simmer 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Add chicken, beans, broth, corn, and spices. Bring to a boil, lower heat to simmer, and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top each bowl with chips, sour cream, and sliced green onions.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yummmy! Bring on the snow.</span></span></span><br />
<br />Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-51923578095861034962014-01-26T17:44:00.001-05:002014-01-26T17:47:05.684-05:00SimpleI've found my word for 2014.<br />
<br />
I wasn't going to even pick one. If a word doesn't come up from the inside to define what I hope my year to be, then for goodness sake, don't force it. Who wants a "word" for the sake of a "word."<br />
<br />
But finally it did come bubbling up and bursting out, and that word is . . .<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
S I M P L E.</div>
<br />
Because when it comes to all things life, I will inevitably go for whatever is the most complicated, most amazing, most impressive, and that results in . . . most stressful.<br />
<br />
That could be forced to work when I had unlimited time and energy (aka, single and childless!!), but now that I have limited resources by virtue of LIFE (!!), I am realizing that every single time I go for complicated, amazing and impressive, I am going to be cheating another critical area of my life . . . spouse, children, ministries, friends, creativity, or (for goodness sake) keeping my house clean!!<br />
<br />
Every.....Single.....Time!<br />
<br />
In real time, choosing simple looks like:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Choosing to make simple and quick <b>Italian Chicken Rice Soup </b>for company,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
instead of <b>Braised Brisket in Bourbon Peach Glaze</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ767vF8o7A/UuWQJ73nmNI/AAAAAAAAFkU/ne6VcyM-_T0/s1600/simple6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UJ767vF8o7A/UuWQJ73nmNI/AAAAAAAAFkU/ne6VcyM-_T0/s1600/simple6.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
::sigh::</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or crocheting a<b> Simple Scarf,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
instead of leaping into making the<b> Most Gorgeous Throw I've Ever Seen</b>. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcNpLu9uStY/UuWOVJJK_aI/AAAAAAAAFkM/NVYgeFbokrs/s1600/simple5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcNpLu9uStY/UuWOVJJK_aI/AAAAAAAAFkM/NVYgeFbokrs/s1600/simple5.png" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
::sniff::</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or being content with <b>Simple, Real Flowers in Bottles </b>on the shower table, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
without having to add an <b>Explosion of Handmade Tissue Blossoms</b> up above.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zdnl3C2bpIU/UuWOUEJcwoI/AAAAAAAAFkA/CKbAj_5XPp8/s1600/simple9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zdnl3C2bpIU/UuWOUEJcwoI/AAAAAAAAFkA/CKbAj_5XPp8/s1600/simple9.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
::ahem::</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I must remember that saying "No!" to complicated, amazing and impressive is always saying "Yes!" to peace, love and sanity.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And all by focusing on what is . . .</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>S I M P L E</b></div>
Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-12465317150477236202014-01-22T09:03:00.000-05:002014-01-22T09:55:57.143-05:00Lessons Learned from a Baby Shower#1 - <b>DO </b>arrange with the baby to be born on the very day the shower is planned, thereby allowing you a full two weeks to do all the cleaning, decorating, and cooking that you should have had done by the original date.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfyzEE4wo5E/Ut_ABBDManI/AAAAAAAAFiU/8dXKPaCVaT8/s1600/babyshower3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfyzEE4wo5E/Ut_ABBDManI/AAAAAAAAFiU/8dXKPaCVaT8/s1600/babyshower3.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
Thank you, Baby K!!<br />
<br />
#2 - <b>DON'T </b><strike>fixate upon</strike> attempt baby shower decor you have never tried before. Certainly not something you have found online that flat out lies and claims it is able to be completed in a mere 15 minutes per flower. And, of course not an item you begin to tackle less than 24 hours before said shower. Never wise.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6XkOUpwQNI/Ut_ABcE2fFI/AAAAAAAAFio/m84InlrtsrI/s1600/babyshower1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6XkOUpwQNI/Ut_ABcE2fFI/AAAAAAAAFio/m84InlrtsrI/s1600/babyshower1.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
#3 - <b>DO</b> hire help. It is best if this help is related to you by blood and can be compensated by unlimited Rice Krispy bars with white chocolate drizzle.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ilmwoMrkz2c/Ut_ABYUL9WI/AAAAAAAAFik/9zCYIfU8NE4/s1600/babyshower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ilmwoMrkz2c/Ut_ABYUL9WI/AAAAAAAAFik/9zCYIfU8NE4/s1600/babyshower2.jpg" height="640" width="472" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
#4 - DON'T forget to vacuum the rug in the eat-in area of the kitchen.<br />
<br />
The one everyone will need to walk over to see the gifts.<br />
<br />
The one 2 feet from where all the guests will sit.<br />
<br />
The one where the dogs sleep 23 of the 24 hours of the day.<br />
<br />
The dogs who have a 5-inch thick undercoat that goes through a weekly molting.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_4TL3U-mifE/Ut_EKYB-xKI/AAAAAAAAFiw/1-Eo1zQ0LEU/s1600/babyshower4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_4TL3U-mifE/Ut_EKYB-xKI/AAAAAAAAFiw/1-Eo1zQ0LEU/s1600/babyshower4.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Yes, you.<br />
<br />
Yes, that rug.<br />
<br />
::sigh::<br />
<br />
#5 - <b>DO </b>enjoy everyone who walks through the door, swoon over all the beautiful, tiny girly items, hold the baby every chance you get. And when everyone leaves, put your feet up, bask in the clean house, and ladle yourself many large cups of coffee punch. Many.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQZusD1xtaE/Ut_O6c4oDkI/AAAAAAAAFjM/XZsR1ALawdg/s1600/babyshower5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QQZusD1xtaE/Ut_O6c4oDkI/AAAAAAAAFjM/XZsR1ALawdg/s1600/babyshower5.jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-40700570333074271232014-01-20T09:05:00.003-05:002014-01-20T09:06:06.416-05:00A Little Oomph - Rice Krispy Treats w/ White Chocolate DrizzleOkay . . . this is SO something anybody could think of.<br />
<br />
But it was not something that I had thought of.<br />
<br />
And when I saw it online, I knew it had to happen for a recent shower for which I made some food.<br />
<br />
That "something" is the addition of white chocolate drizzle to the very pedestrian and quite uninspiring Rice Krispy Treat.<br />
<br />
Here are the Rice Krispy Treats pre-drizzle.<br />
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0HS8W_BCkY/Ut0qihFiJOI/AAAAAAAAFhg/xGEKKYXEA84/s1600/ricekrispies2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0HS8W_BCkY/Ut0qihFiJOI/AAAAAAAAFhg/xGEKKYXEA84/s1600/ricekrispies2.jpg" height="538" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>
<br />
Yawn!!<br />
<br />
Here is the magic ingredient:<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
I threw a bar into the double boiler and once it was all smooth and melty, I added just a tinge of red paste food coloring to give it just a hint of pink (baby girl shower!!)<br />
<br />
Then I drizzled it over the bars. It added a little color, it took them up a notch!<br />
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<br />
And as my lovely college daughter said, "You wouldn't think a little chocolate would make these so much better!!<br />
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<br />
She was right! Do try!<br />
<br />
(Also, Ann from On Sutton Place posted a<a href="http://www.onsuttonplace.com/2014/01/the-best-rice-krispies-treats"> recipe for Perfect Rice Krispy</a> Treats that use marshmallow cream instead of marshmallows. That could be my next step up for these simple, chewy, delights!)<br />
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Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-28100996920402170412014-01-18T16:07:00.005-05:002014-01-18T16:07:54.714-05:00Giddy!I am smiling.<br />
<br />
Actually, I'm giddy.<br />
<br />
Youngest Daughter found out about sewing classes being offered near our home, and she..wanted..to..learn..to..sew! <br />
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<br />
<br />
I can sew. I like to sew. I don't do it often. It's certainly not a passion. But for some reason, it makes me feel all bubbly inside to think that one of my girls would like to sew.<br />
<br />
I loved watching her learn. Lift the presser foot, roll the needle toward you, pin perpendicular, begin with backstitching. <br />
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<br />
::sigh::<br />
<br />
And when she was done with her first class, she wore home a very cool fleece hat with a lime green band.<br />
<br />
Not quite sure why, but I was . . .<br />
<br />
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. . . giddy!Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-24102173195135510702014-01-13T17:32:00.001-05:002014-01-13T20:39:34.491-05:00Distinct and OneI grew up in a world where "becoming one" with your mate was a big deal.<br />
<br />
I heard the subtext often. Becoming one meant making your man happy at all times, doing whatever he wanted, becoming whom he envisioned you to be, making his life work. There is a level at which pleasing, adapting, and encouraging is healthy.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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There is a level at which it becomes decidedly unhealthy. <br />
<br />
That is the level where you begin to believe that "becoming one" means becoming him.<br />
<br />
God reminded me once again today that He does not want that, expect that, or encourage that. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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God made me fully me, able to express His glory in a way that no one else in the universe can (and the same for you!!) God makes our husbands fully themselves.<br />
<br />
When "two become one," it is not 2 halves that come together and make a whole. It is 2 complete and healthy wholes that come together to make something new but not losing their uniqueness or their healthy "whole-ness" in the process.<br />
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<br />
The Father, Son and Spirit are One, but they do not lose each of their identities in some sort of amalgamated new being. They are distinct, and they are one.<br />
<br />
I can remain distinct, although in a "one" relationship.<br />
<br />
Today, that was a freeing and life-giving reminder.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7gJb7oqUL2I/UtRnZEUY7HI/AAAAAAAAFgk/vTpUxECrfps/s1600/Distinct+but+One2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7gJb7oqUL2I/UtRnZEUY7HI/AAAAAAAAFgk/vTpUxECrfps/s640/Distinct+but+One2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-small;">source</span></div>
<br />Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-492603722801889382014-01-10T22:23:00.002-05:002014-01-10T22:28:58.517-05:00The Little Recipe That Saved the Day - Italian Chicken Rice SoupOn Sunday night I was expecting dinner guests. This particular group had the distinguishing characteristic of including a chef, a restaurateur, an artist, and various gluten-free, dairy-free, and tree nut allergic individuals. All of these ingredients made coming up with a menu a slightly strenuous exercise. But at last I had it down.<br />
<br />
A melt-in-your-mouth brisket from <a href="http://www.americastestkitchen.com/">America's Test Kitchen</a><br />
Crash Hot Potatoes from <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/">The Pioneer Woman</a><br />
Mixed Greens and Pear Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette<br />
Various Breads from <a href="http://www.flatrockwoodfired.com/bakery/">Flat Rock Village Bakery</a><br />
<br />
Unlike other dubious times of entertaining, this time I was going to be relaxed and ready. I had a menu, I had a schedule, I had a plan. On Sunday afternoon all was going exactly to that plan. Wood floors mopped, check. Onions caramelized to a golden perfection, check. Potatoes boiled and set aside, check.<br />
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<br />
I reached to put my marinated briskets into the oven and glanced once again at the recipe, just to make sure that 2 hours was the correct baking time.<br />
<br />
And then I slowly went cold, head to toe.<br />
<br />
The recipe read, <i>"Bake 3 1/2 to 4 hours or until tender."</i> It was 4:00 pm. Company was to arrive at 6:00. A dinner hour of 7:30 to 8:00 was not a possibility with 8 school-aged kids involved.<br />
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<br />
<br />
So, with 2 hours, I must now come up with a new main dish that:<br />
<br />
* went with my other side dishes<br />
* appealed to my august group of trained palates and artistic sensibilities<br />
* included no dairy, wheat or nuts<br />
* could be ready in 1 1/2 hours (throw in a quick trip to the grocery store!!), and<br />
* would cause me zero stress, since my stress level was threatening to enter the red zone.<br />
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<br />
A 5-minute glance through my tried and true recipes yielded only one recipe that would work . . . Italian Chicken Rice Soup.<br />
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<br />
The addition of any great spaghetti sauce gives this soup the flavor of having been simmered for hours. My personal choice is Classico.<br />
<br />
My company had no idea that the soup hastily slapped into two large tureens and served with freshly grated Parmesan was the product of 15 minutes of preparation, instead of my overnight-marinated, onion-caramelized, slow-baked brisket.<br />
<br />
The soup was hearty, savory and amazingly comforting on a chilly winter night.<br />
<br />
And when the evening was over, there was only one recipe requested by several guests . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 11px;"><em><b><u>Italian Chicken Rice Soup</u></b></em></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: 11px;">49 1/2 ounces chicken broth<br />26 ounces meatless spaghetti sauce (I used Classico Tomato Basil)<br />1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken<br />2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley (I used a tablespoon of dried)<br />1 teaspoon dried thyme<br />3 cups cooked rice<br />1 teaspoon sugar<br /><br />In a Dutch oven, combine the broth spaghetti sauce, chicken, parsley, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir in rice and sugar. Simmer, uncovered, another 10 minutes or until heated through. Serve with a generous grating of mozzarella or Parmesan on top! Yield: 2 1/2 quarts</span></div>
Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-67096236727394762882014-01-03T16:11:00.003-05:002014-01-03T16:14:24.636-05:00Christmas Un-decoratingI am always amazed by those who can put up and take down their Christmas decorations with speed and efficiency.<br />
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<br />
"Oh, I got Christmas put away today," they say glibly.<br />
<br />
TODAY?? Meaning one day? All done in a 24-hour span? I feel dizzy.<br />
<br />
No, that is not me.<br />
<br />
The children took down the tree ornaments and railing garland/lights on Tuesday. They are currently mounded up on the leather sofa, defying anyone to even consider sitting. Yesterday I got the lights off the various trees and hubby took down the outside wreaths. And there they sit in comfortable little piles. <br />
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<br />
Christmas decorating takes on an organic feel for me. From the moment the boxes get lowered from the attic and the first ornament goes on, I am "deciding how to decorate" throughout the holiday season. And little vignettes and additions come about on a weekly basis. By the time Christmas has arrived, the house may, quite possibly, be the way I would like it to look "this Christmas." Quite possibly.<br />
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<br />
I guess Christmas un-decorating takes on this same slow, organic feel. The decorating that distractedly wove itself together in December, rambles again through a slow unraveling in January.<br />
<br />
Pine needles make a leisurely exit into the dustpan, ornaments relax themselves into their boxes, and an assortment of woodland animals wait patiently to be wrapped, tucked into bins, and tugged back up the attic stairs.<br />
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<br />
Christmas un-decorating. Definitely as much of an undertaking as that of decorating in the first place.<br />
<br />
And now I'm off to engage in more of that exercise so that perhaps those with whom I live, who are not as in tune with the concept of the "organic unraveling of Christmas," may be able to feel that they are back in their right minds by this weekend.<br />
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Perhaps.Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-72342685614912552092013-12-27T19:52:00.000-05:002013-12-27T19:52:11.791-05:00Christmas Superlatives - 2013Aaaah, another Christmas has come and gone. Christmas always leaves in its wake some good memories, new experiences, failed experiments, and special joys.<br />
<br />
Here are my Christmas awards.<br />
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<b>Best Christmas Creativity:</b><br />
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Love this last-minute brainstorm. I punched stars out of reversible paper (iridescent/gold) and then stitched them together into a fun and sparkly "bunting." They got wound around the small tree by the front door. Yeah, the one usually thickly covered with Hallmark children's ornaments. This year it was my tree, and I wanted it simple. Star bunting, lights, done. <br />
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<br />
<b>Most Shocking Christmas Visitor:</b><br />
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<br />
Yes, indeed, one of Santa's elves, straight from the North Pole. Who knew they grew them so big? Cousin Aaron delighted all the kids . . . ages 2 to 62!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Best New Addition to the Family:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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Oh my word . . . what can I say about these two precious kids??!! New cousins, grafted by God from their family of origin into our family. Welcome, boys!<br />
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<b>Favorite Incorporation of Vintage:</b><br />
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<br />
I love these tiny, old bottles, that in their past life held everything from rat poison to hair tonic. I love them even more with tiny white lights, evergreen branches, pine cones, and tiny, glittery glass ornaments sitting atop them.<br />
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<b>Biggest Christmas Fail:</b><br />
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<br />
If you're going to make monkey bread, stick with the canned rolls, close your eyes to the ingredients on the label, ignore the stomach aches that your gluten-free family members will complain of. Whatever you do, don't even bother trying to make a gluten-free alternative. Monkey bread? Gluten-full or not at all!<br />
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<b>Best Christmas Game:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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Oh my goodness, we had fun with Scattergories, all of us playing together, Oldest Son's friend included as a part of our dysfunctional, game-playing family. Too many arguments, too much debate and defense, too much posturing and placating, too much fun!!<br />
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<b>Favorite new ornaments:</b><br />
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Mmmm, love these. I've figured out that when it comes to Christmas decorations, I love a blend of natural and glittery. What could be better than these shimmering pine cones?<br />
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<b>Cutest New Christmas Decor:</b><br />
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Love this precious new Mary, Joseph, and baby that Youngest Daughter made in Kidstuff. Sweet, simple, natural, homemade. Definite Christmas keeper.<br />
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<b>Best Christmas Gift:</b><br />
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Hands down, having all family members together, opening their stockings in their jammies, laughing over the traditional Christmas red boxers and I-tunes gift cards, hearing the Christmas story, choking down a few bites of gluten-free monkey bread, enjoying the family God has blessed us to be, flaws and all. Best gift ever.Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-3185720045570942922013-04-16T14:01:00.002-04:002013-04-16T14:42:09.717-04:00Light in Darkness<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes the evil and darkness of this world seem so huge, so engulfing.</div>
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There is so little I can do.</div>
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What is my one light in so much darkness?</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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I feel the weight of correcting things, bringing peace, making everything right again.</div>
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But that is not my responsibility.</div>
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Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World."</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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I am not the Savior. I am not the Light. I am not the Peace.</div>
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I am not the Hope. He is.</div>
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It is not my job to decide how He will bring His peace or when. </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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He is God.</div>
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But He did tell his followers also that "we are the light of the world."</div>
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That doesn't mean just me.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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That means all of those who follow Him, who have His Spirit within them.</div>
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It's not all my responsibility. It is corporate. It is communal.</div>
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It is not my job to decide how others will shine their lights or when.</div>
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It is just my job to shine.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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I may not be able to wash the evil from all hearts.</div>
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But I can hold the hands of a rape victim as her body twists from the pain of flashbacks.</div>
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I may not be able to comfort every wound.</div>
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But I can welcome a widow back to her cold and dark home with a warm meal and ears that listen.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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I may not be able to right every wrong.</div>
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But I can step up boldly and speak for those who can't speak for themselves,</div>
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Those who are too weak physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally . . . .</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://raspberrytart.tumblr.com/">source</a></span></div>
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This is how I choose to shine my light.</div>
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Its extent, its results, its impact,</div>
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Those are not up to me.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://godslifelessons.blogspot.com/2012/04/there-is-light-in-darkness.html">source</a></span></div>
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But rather to the One who said,</div>
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"The Light shines in the darkness,</div>
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and the darkness can never extinguish it." <span style="font-size: xx-small;">John 1:5</span></div>
Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-14772575215591244062013-04-12T23:16:00.002-04:002013-04-12T23:16:53.799-04:00Farmer's Market Angst and a Tote BagFlowers are blooming. The sun is warm. Trees are sending out their tentative, baby-green leaves. And the newspaper is telling us that very soon the open air Farmer's Market will be starting up down town on Saturdays.<br />
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So, in expectation of trips to the Farmer's Market this year, I've started knitting, Elisa's Nest Tote, which looks like it was just made to fill with a a bag of radishes, a jar of homemade salsa, and an eggplant or two.<br />
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No, that's not me or my pregnant belly. But it is Elisa's Nest Tote (<a href="http://www.purlbee.com/elisa-nest-tote/">pattern here</a>).</div>
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Last year was the first time I got to go to the Farmer's Market, and I loved it!</div>
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The rich, ripe vegetables . . .</div>
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. . . mounds of freshly homemade pastas in 13 different delicious varieties . . .<br />
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. . . even these gorgeously dyed fleeces. ::sigh::<br />
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Last year I arrived, ready to purchase farm-fresh produce.<br />
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And then I found myself inexplicably uncomfortable with this new concept of purchasing from the farmer as he stood right there. I realized I was wishing for the impersonal bins and bags at the grocery store, instead of looking into the face of the owners of this produce.<br />
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I wanted to press the ends of the melons, examine the tomatoes on all sides, smell the radishes---without their nurturer watching over me. I felt like someone who was critiquing another's loved offspring. <br />
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I couldn't do it. I hid behind my camera lens.<br />
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This year, I think I'm ready. I'll gird up my emotions and boldly take the plunge.<br />
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And if all else fails, at least I'll look good with my tote bag!!</div>
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Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-88911775181024718362013-04-06T19:09:00.000-04:002013-04-06T19:09:04.989-04:00Gluten-Free (A Contrast)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I grew up in a wheat culture, just like most of you. Wheat is what I knew for baking. Add a little yeast and oil and you had pizza crust. Add some leavening, sugar and fats and you had cookies. Add some buttermilk and you had pancakes.<br />
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One canister did it all.<br />
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And then . . . the big gluten exit and oh my goodness did life change. Now all of baking is centered on one question.<br />
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<b>What can I do to make this bread product taste like it is made with wheat???</b></div>
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Aah, there is the question. And to answer the question, one must have lots and lots of different flours to mix and add.<br />
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I used to have a canister of Wheat Flour.<br />
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Now, I have canisters of Rice Flour<br />
Oat Flour<br />
Tapioca Flour<br />
Potato Flour<br />
Arrowroot Starch<br />
Pizza Crust Mix<br />
Pancake Mix<br />
All-Purpose Mix (for cookies)<br />
Xanthan Gum<br />
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My pantry is bulging! There's scarcely room. I finally corralled all the miscellaneous bags (folded over, clothes-pinned, leaking from different openings) into nice smooth glass canisters. This comforts me. A little<br />
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My how life has changed.<br />
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Before the gluten-free life:<br />
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After the gluten-free life:<br />
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My pantry and I are still adjusting!Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-26650744932315330312013-04-03T18:16:00.000-04:002013-04-03T22:39:33.820-04:00Even in a SubdivisionIt's no secret that in my ideal life I'm living on 10 acres of property where dogs and children roam free, make tire swings, dam up creeks, and climb high into trees.<br />
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My ideal dreams do not ever delve into the resulting chiggers, water snakes or the time it would take to maintain such property. So, the ideal reigns supreme. <br />
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The reality is far different. We live in a clipped and manicured subdivision with a list a mile long of all the things one must never do to violate homeowner association policies. <br />
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I love my house to bits . . . spacious, light and airy, perfect floor plan. My setting . . . well, I do chafe a little. <br />
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So, I'm effusively thankful that there are ways that my kids can still interact with nature . . . even in a tightly controlled subdivision. <br />
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There are the woods not so far away, a small creek that actually has running water when it rains and a pond across the street.<br />
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A pond in which to find tadpoles and turtles of all sizes and designs<br />
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And lately turtles have been all the rage.<br />
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Oh, the scurrying when a little head peeks above the water.<br />
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The evaluating of the catches.<br />
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The pouring and combining of buckets.<br />
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The execution of water quality control.<br />
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The mad dash of the specimen inspection committee.<br />
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And the inspecting itself. Amazing one-on-one investigation of awesome creation.<br />
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And can I even begin to express my delight that this is the current footwear of choice?<br />
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p.s. All turtles were returned safely to their pond habitat at the end of the day's activities!Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-2494957815618676012013-04-01T14:41:00.001-04:002013-04-01T14:45:05.735-04:00Silk Tie Dyed Eggs!!When you think you have decorated Easter eggs every way possible . . .<br />
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When you have dyed, tie-dyed, stenciled, colored, sticker-ed, waxed, and crackled . . .<br />
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When you think there cannot possibly be another way to embellish the "incredible, edible egg," never fear, some brilliantly creative person with think of a new way!!<br />
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This year, we tried "silk tie" dying our eggs.</div>
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We found our instructions <u><a href="http://www.mommyknows.com/silk-tie-dye-easter-eggs-tutorial/">here</a></u>.</div>
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It was a good bit of work, what with the snipping of the old silk ties, wrapping the eggs, tying the silk on tight so the dye would transfer (<i>note to self: next year use rubber bands!!</i>), wrapping each egg in its own white cotton pouch, wrapping again, and boiling in water and a bit of vinegar.</div>
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But oh the fun of unwrapping each little surprise package and discovering how the pattern had transferred from the soft silk of the tie to the hard, smooth egg shell.</div>
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Delightful Easter fun. Go figure . . . this year there really was something new under the sun. At least to me!!</div>
Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-7710383562836636922013-03-29T16:52:00.002-04:002013-03-29T16:55:00.749-04:00What To Do When Spring Just Won't ComeOkay, friends, here are some facts ---<br />
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I live in the sunny South</div>
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It is 2 days away from the end of March</div>
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The daffodils came up 2 months ago</div>
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It was 29 degrees out when I went out walking this morning</div>
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At some point, one must ask if spring is really ever coming at all this year or if it will be, in a Narnia-ish way, always winter and never Christmas.<br />
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In that spirit, I have come up with a few ideas of ways to continue to keep hope alive that spring may indeed arrive and that there will be days when I will walk out my front door and begin panting, wishing fervently for the chill of winter!<br />
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Idea #1 - Fill the house with daisies.<br />
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Or whatever flower says "spring" to you!! Lots of them.<br />
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If spring won't bloom voluntarily on the outside, I say force it to bloom on the inside!!<br />
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This reminds me that somehow, somewhere the sun is shining and flowers are blooming in that warmth and may it come here quickly.<br />
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Idea #2 - Roll out the sugar cookie dough and cut out flowers. Lots of them!!<br />
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And let the kids decorate in colors as bright and bold and (::ahem::) garish as they want, thick with sprinkles in combinations that make the eyes slightly dizzy.<br />
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If the grass refuses to be anything other than the color of khaki Docker's and the trees stay bare and brown, at least color and flowers will be exploding on the kitchen table!!<br />
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Idea #3 - Drink hot tea. Lots of it!!<br />
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This tea especially. <br />
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Oooooh, yummy!! I have been drinking this multiple times a day with generous ladle-ings of honey and cream, and it seems to be working. I believe I have successfully tricked my insides into being warm enough to think spring is here and therefore prohibit them from striking and forcing me to stay in the bed, covers over the head, until the temperature outside registers at least a spring-like 68 degrees.<br />
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So that's how we're coping with the spring that's slow in coming this year!! <br />
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And I do believe it seems to be working.<br />
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How about you?? Have you found a way to bring spring inside??Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-33431803196665348042013-03-27T09:15:00.002-04:002013-03-27T09:15:47.913-04:00A Little French LinenI'm still on my frantic quest to replace the raveling, worn and faded dishcloths in my kitchen, and this week's contribution is inspired by the beautiful french linen that can be found all over the antique stores and in homes of those who love all things French.<br />
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I do not have french linen and I'm not sure it's exactly my aesthetic, but I do love that cheery and symmetrical burst of red against the white.<br />
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This is a favorite dishcloth pattern that I use over and over. The waffle knit is great for scrubbing and of any pattern that I have ever used, it is the most long-lasting.</div>
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And everybody needs at least a little refined touch of French linen tossed over the side of their sink, right?</div>
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<a href="http://homespunliving.blogspot.com/2007/11/waffle-knit-dishcloth-pattern.html">(pattern here)</a></div>
Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-16164716536269923782013-03-25T08:56:00.000-04:002013-03-25T09:15:39.873-04:00We Have Found Our Rest<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have found our peace</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have found our rest</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the one who loves</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He will light the way</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He will lead us home</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we offer all</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To the One Who saves us</span></div>
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Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-41007845632423758912013-03-22T14:43:00.000-04:002013-03-22T14:43:11.389-04:00The Day I Was Waiting ForI have always loved to read.<br />
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Maybe too much.<br />
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Maybe some of it was escaping to the more fascinating worlds of Jo March or Anne or the Little Colonel.<br />
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Unfortunately, this love of the other worlds to which books are an entryway never so infected Youngest Daughter.<br />
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We would be reading along in the intriguing mystery of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Whitchers-Story-Elizabeth-Yates/dp/0890847541/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363967175&sr=1-1&keywords=sarah+witcher">Sarah Witcher</a>, and I'd ask her about where Sarah might be, and she would respond, "Oh, are they looking for her??" ::sigh:: Yes, dear. The whole point of the book.</div>
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Or we'd finish reading aloud the heartbreaking section where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte's_Web">Charlotte</a> dies, to the great anguish of Wilbur, and she'd say, "Is Charlotte the lamb?" What?? </div>
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Books just weren't drawing her in. They were a mild, annoying buzzing in the already intriguing world of her own thoughts.</div>
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Until today. </div>
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Today, ah today! The wonderful, splendid, shining day when at last a book drew my child in.</div>
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She was dutifully reading along about a young boy's dog, when (without the boy's knowledge), the dog slipped out of the parked car's rolled-down window and ran away.</div>
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What??? The dog was lost?</div>
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The chapter ended.</div>
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And they (oh joy of joys), I heard the words, "We can't stop here!! I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!" </div>
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Really?? Really?? The book held your attention? You want to read more?</div>
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Yes, really!! She really did. </div>
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She read and then . . . flipped . . . another . . . page!!</div>
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And read . . . and flipped another page. </div>
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Where was the dog?? What would happen??</div>
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At last the dog showed up . . .</div>
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. . . albeit in the bed of the wrong truck.</div>
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But what's to worry about? He had showed up again on the pages of the book, making it very possible that by the end he would wend his way back to his proper owner.</div>
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Right??</div>
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Will he??? Aaaah, you can never tell.</div>
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(Please, oh please, may there be another cliffhanger tomorrow!!)</div>
Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-88617108352236541822013-03-20T07:53:00.000-04:002013-03-20T07:53:03.459-04:00Can A Dish Cloth be Inspired?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There isn't a lot of what I would call inspirational knitting going on around here. Not a lot of rustic arans or delicate laces or mind-bending intarsias.<br />
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The kind of knitting that is going on around here is the kind that I pick up when overseeing an 8th grade math lesson. The kind of knitting that lets me concentrate on something other than place value. But not the kind that ties up my mind . . . because then I might miss the fact that a certain 8th grader has been doodling the Coca-Cola label on his scratch paper for the last half hour instead of solving for <i>y</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC-hjSw-cdI/UUmLex_xQAI/AAAAAAAAFKk/YvyiyHCa4nU/s1600/sunflowers3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC-hjSw-cdI/UUmLex_xQAI/AAAAAAAAFKk/YvyiyHCa4nU/s640/sunflowers3.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68WNywjxwU8/UUmL8rKlwMI/AAAAAAAAFLQ/299YFJceJBQ/s1600/sunflowers7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-68WNywjxwU8/UUmL8rKlwMI/AAAAAAAAFLQ/299YFJceJBQ/s640/sunflowers7.jpg" width="576" /></a></div>
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But even the most pedestrian kind of knitting, the knitting of a new dishcloth, can benefit from some inspiration, and when these sunflowers walked in my door one gray, winter day, the glowing cheer they brought inspired me for exactly the color I needed to have flipped over the side of my sink all year long.<br />
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Love these long rows of ribs that make for great scrubbing and radiate with the brightness of the sunflower.<br />
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It may not be knitting to stun and marvel. But for me, feeling the softness of Blue Sky's cotton slide through my fingers in one dazzling row after the other, it is knitting to inspire. Even in a dish cloth!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/three-easy-wash-clothes">pattern here</a></div>
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Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-32336801247540064772013-03-18T11:19:00.002-04:002013-03-18T11:19:36.739-04:00ArtisansLast week found Youngest Daughter, Youngest Son and I exploring the wonderful historic world of Jamestown, Yorktown and Williamsburg. ::sigh:: Positively dreamy. But next time, I'm going all by myself where I can sit and watch the glassblower work for hours on end, mesmerized by the glowing ball of molten glass that slowly shifts shapes until it becomes a vase.<br />
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Or listen to the shoemaker chatter on about the resoling of a shoe.<br />
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Maybe have the cooper explain again how he fits the slats of a bucket together most precisely so that no water can dribble out.<br />
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Or be taken in by the hypnotic movements of the weaving of a basket.<br />
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Because this is what fascinated me and drew me in in my visit. The fabulous artisans that had taken the time to learn a craft passed down through the generations for hundreds of years. Slowly, by hand, without the aid of any modern labor-saving devices. It made me feel calm and connected. Which is always a nice way to feel.<br />
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And even though I'd rather not shave my head and pick a wig made of yak, human, goat or horse hair, it still was lovely to watch someone so carefully ply their trade.<br />
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And earn the title of Artisan.Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6807099007054134176.post-25206449936117912702013-03-03T16:17:00.002-05:002013-03-03T16:17:24.548-05:00About Those RoutinesI understand the concept of <a href="http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/control-journal/">routines</a>, I really do!! I want to get routines going. It is just that I live with 6 other people and 2 dogs and I have to say that of those 7 other creatures I live with, about 5 of them are just as distracted procrastinators as I am.<br />
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So, a week of attempts may look like this:<br />
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<b>Monday - 6:30 a.m.</b> - I am heading to the shower when a head appears ominously around my doorway. "Mother," it croaks, eyes wide, skin pale, "I forgot my essay is due this morning." And then, since I have been on that end of things many times in my life, I come to his aid, and together we finish the essay an hour and a half later. Morning routine . . . up in smoke.<br />
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<b>Tuesday - 7:00 a.m.</b> - Just cracking open my morning devotional. From up on the catwalk a sad snuffling, coughing, and wheezing. "Mama," says the snuffling and wheezing little being, "I'm sick. Can you come lay down with me??" And then, because this is the baby and there will be precious few times where I'm so desired to make it through the beginnings of a nasty cold, I cuddle up. Morning routine . . . drifts off into the ether.<br />
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<b>Wednesday - 6:45 a.m.</b> - A holler is heard from the kitchen area where the Man of the House is making his way to the kitchen, via the area where the dogs sleep. They have done it again. Having apparently missed their perfect schedule by 1 or 2 minutes, now where there were only glossy, empty hardwoods, there are glossy hardwoods with foul-smelling piles and at least one medium-sized lake. The next half hour is then spent, wiping, spraying, bagging and shampooing, with a little time added in for repeated gagging. Just saying. Morning routine . . . sadly hijacked.<br />
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<b>Thursday - 7:30 a.m.</b> - With a large stretch, I sit before my computer to address the large stack of e-mails coming in on the sports web site. Rapid footsteps staccato down the hall and the door flings open. "Are you ready, Mom??" ::gulp:: My fuzzy pajamas and suede, fur-lined slippers already give the answer. "Well, don't forget that my car is in the shop and Middle Son has to have the other car for math lessons and Dad already left for work and Oldest Daughter is away at college, leaving only you to take me to school!!!!!" ::ugh:: So, I pull on a pair of boots long enough to cover the bottom of my fluffy pajamas and a black coat long enough to cover the top of my fluffy pajamas and off we zoom to school. And between morning traffic and car lines, my morning routine has evaporated.<br />
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I'll spare you any more painful citings of morning routines sadly gone awry. Suffice it to say that best intentions still remain best intentions. EXCEPT, for the one routine that has come to stay. The morning walk. <br />
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The walk from where these pictures came, where I can discover plants still alive in winter, bird nests lonely from last spring's abandonment, and the first of the tiny narcissus. Where the river birch bark peels off in thick, curling chunks and the sun's rays burst through the clouds and touch the neighborhood's small lake.<br />
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Getting up at 6:00 a.m. has assured me that this routine will remain un-threatened. It's a full half hour before the first stirrings of the earliest awakening members of the house. <br />
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And the only sure way to remain untouched by the needs, grievances and distractions of those I love to serve. This one small success gives me hope that in time more routines will join the routine of the morning walk. <br />
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And in the meantime, "Yes, I'll make 2 dozen cookies for your class's St. Patrick's Day celebration. I wouldn't have it any other way."Shelley in SChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02574849424285401396noreply@blogger.com0