7 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for my parents.

I have a decent relationship with my parents.  Sure, they get on my nerves from time to time, but isn't that what parents are supposed to do?  I know that if I genuinely needed them that they would be there. 

Sometimes I wish that I had a couple of brothers and sisters that they could annoy as well.  I mean, why should I get to have all the fun.  I love you mom, please don't send my Christmas presents back. 

I really do love my parents.  They are considerate, they are always telling me how proud of me that they are, and not just with school.  They heap praise on my cooking, on school, and even on this blog. 

They provide me with insight and more sarcastic thoughts to make my day complete.  I'm not really sure what I would do without them.  I'm not really sure how they put up with me.

~Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. ~Robert Fulghum


~If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves.  ~C.G. Jung

Wordless Wednesday

I have been cooking like a crazy woman.  Check out some of my latest and greatest finds.  Keep checking back for the recipe and my review on some of these!

Cheeseburger Paradise Soup

Apple Bread

Chili Verde Stew

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes with Maple Icing

8 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for my grandparents.  I have one set that is currently residing in heaven, and the other set resides 2 blocks over from my parents.

My maternal grandparents were more like parents, instead of grandparents.  Growing up, they lived, what would have been the equivalent of the house across the street from my house.  It could be walked to in a minute and ran under 30 seconds. 

I had a wonderful relationship with both of them, and I will always be thankful that they were such a big part of my life growing up.  So many of my friends didn't have grandparents close enough to participate in their lives on a daily basis.  My grandfather went to football games, and band practices, and little dribblers games, and as a child, it was always nice to have them in the stands, knowing that they loved me.

I'm thankful for the months that my grandfather lived with us.  I'm thankful that I had him all to myself with no interruptions.  I'm thankful for the stories that he told me about his own childhood, his time in the navy, and the trials of farming and ranching.  Of how he did iron work at Hoover Dam.  I'm eternally thankful for those memories. 

My grandmother and I didn't have the same kind of relationship, but it is through her that I got my love for cooking and cook books.  She taught me to always stand up for myself, and for what I believe in.  I'm pretty sure that she also gave me my stubborn streak, and the need to be right.

My dad's parents haven't been a part of my life since I was a baby.  They came along when I was 17, and they have welcomed me into their family, and they love me.  Even though they came along late to the party, they mean so much to me, and I'm thankful for the relationship that I have with them.  For their thoughtfulness and selflessness that they have both demonstrated through their actions towards me, and when I got married, towards John.  I hope that I am half as wonderful as they think that I am.  Their faith in me, and their support of all that I do means so much to me.

Today, I am thankful that I have such amazing grandparents, and that they have all been as involved in my life as they have.  I'm thankful that they spoil me, and love me.  And my only hope is that they all know how much that they mean to me.

~What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.         -Rudolph Giuliani


~Being grandparents sufficiently removes us from the responsibilities so that we can be friends. -Allan Frome


~The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children. It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future. ~Charles and Ann Morse


~God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

9 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I'm thankful for my puppies.

I'm a dog person.  I have tried to be a cat person.  I had a cat a few years ago, and it reminded me that I love cats, as long as they are outside, and belong to someone else.

Actually I had a cat growing up.  I rescued her.  I was outside playing one day, and I couldn't have been more than 7 or 8 years old.  I kept seeing her stick her head out of a crack in a door in the barn.  So I raided my grandmother's house for powdered milk and cheese to try to bribe the kitty into being my friend.  It took several attempts and several days before I could get the kitty to come to me, and it was love at first sight for both of us.

She was the only animal that I ever remember having to warm up to my grandfather, instead of loving him on sight.  The best he could tell, was that kitty was a boy.  He couldn't get close enough to pick her up and look.  So for several years, the kitty was Morris.  Then when I was about 13, and the kitty finally warmed up to my grandfather, imagine our surprise when he was actually a SHE!!  So she became known as Morrissa.  She is the only cat that I have ever cared about, and no other cat will ever compare, or be as good.

So back to the puppies.  I have had more dogs in my short life than most people have in a lifetime.  Growing up on a farm was rough where dogs were concerned.  They ran away, they got ran over, or they went to live with the neighbor.

Yet, the two that I have now I absolutely adore.  They make me laugh, they are always happy to see me even if I just went into the laundry room, they give me someone to look forward to going home to when my husband is out of town, and they love me simply because I love them.  They are the best example of unconditional love, and probably a provide us a good example of how we should act towards other people.

I'm thankful that my husband loves dogs, otherwise that would be serious grounds for divorce.  I'm thankful that my babies let me dress them up in costumes, and that they don't bite me, even though I probably deserve it.

I'm thankful when they wiggle their cold little bodies under the covers and snuggle up next to me.  I'm thankful that when they are sick, or I'm feeling down that they just want to lay in my lap and let me love them. 


~The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher


~I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner


~My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

10 Days of Thanksgiving

There are only 10 days until Thanksgiving.  I know that I am often sarcastic, and a variety of other things, however, since I have a blog I'll post what I want to. 

I'll pause here to give you a minute to sing the words to "It's my party and I'll cry if I want too".  You're Welcome.

Over the next 10 days (weekends included)  I will post something I'm thankful for.  Some days you will have two posts and other days, my thankful post will be your only post.

I'll pause now so you can get your tissues, because I'm sure that you want to cry because you will only be getting one post.  Or you might want to cry because you have to read two posts.  That's completely up to you. 

Today, I am thankful for my job.  Even though there are days when I would rather stay at home in bed, I do love my job.  In the time that I have been here, I have really gotten to know the owner's and our shop foreman.  They are a family in themselves.  Even though they don't pay me near what I am worth, they have been very good to me over the years, and when the time comes, it is going to be very, very hard to leave this place.  I'm also thankful that I have a job, and have kept that job during a time when so many people have lost theirs.

~As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  -John Fitzgerald Kennedy
~Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. -Robert Caspar

Why I Blog

I started this blog over a year ago, for not reason other than because my father and step sister both had a weird blog, and I wanted to be "normal". 

It wasn't because of any desire to be a writer.  Although, I have always wanted to be able to write.  I'm sure that's clear as mud.  Let me explain.  I have never wanted to write books.  Sure, I love to read, but I like fast paced action.  Anytime that I have started to write fiction, I have found myself hearing the info in my head, but I'm already 12 pages down the road in my head before I got 12 pages ago down on paper.  I have no desire to write a book.  Yes, I think it would be absolutely cool to do, if it never happens, I won't lose any sleep over it.

So many bloggers out there write blogs because they want to write books, and currently this is their only outlet.  Some started a blog simply to keep friends and family updated on their lives and their children, and ended up with something else.  They ended up with people following them and reading their posts and becoming a part of their life. 

I follow and read quite a few blogs.  There is a wide variety of cooking, mommy, fitness, and weird blogs.  Most of these people have kids, so I live vicariously, until someone has a "not my child" moment, and then I'm thankful that I don't have children who can talk back.  Could some of those blogs write a book?  Absolutely, in fact a few of them have.  That doesn't make their blog more valuable or them a better writer than the rest of us.  It just means that they have something to offer the current market that the rest of us don't.

It you want to write, write.  If you want to paint, paint.  If you want to cook, then you better go to the grocery store, because milk isn't supposed to be a solid.

My point with all of this - do what makes you happy.  If that means you just blog, then you just blog.  If that means that you write a jillion books and sell them to the masses, then do that too.  Because trust me, when blogging quits being fun, and starts to become work, I'll find something else to do.

5 Question Friday

I'm so glad that this week is over. It has been a long few days and I'm ready for a couple of days of down time before I get to do it all over again next week. 

I have some exciting stuff planned for December, stay tuned for details!

And now, without further ado.

1. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?


Hmmm.  This is actually a tough one.  I'm not really accident prone.  I have broken my arm once, when a little boy in 3rd grade pushed me down.  I have had a ton of dental work done, braces, surgeries, you name it.

I guess I would have to say the dental work.  When I was 11 or so I had two teeth that were in the roof of my mouth, nicely covered up by skin and bones.  The evil dentist thought I needed those teeth, so they "uncovered" them.  Oh my goodness!! The packing and stitches that they put in were a nightmare.  I remember sneezing and then bursting into tears because apparently there is a LOT of pressure in your mouth during a sneeze. 

So I say dental work has to hit pretty high on the pain factor scale.

2. How much sleep do you get at night?

Sleep? What's that?!?  I aim for at least 7, but my body likes 8-9.  If I go for a few days in high gear, and skimp on the sleep, I physically get sick.  I usually wake up one morning and start barfing.  I guess that's my body's way of getting my attention, since I ignore the physical exhaustion symptoms.  I make sure that I sleep in on the weekends and "catch up".

I say sleep in like it's some great and fabulous thing.  Instead of getting up at 7, I usually manage to wait until 8.  I know...let's get excited.  I want to be a dog in my next life, so I can lounge around and sleep 20 hours a day.



3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus? How did you find out that he does not exist?

WARNING: Be prepared for a rant.

This question SERIOUSLY pisses me off.  SERIOUSLY. 

Yes, Santa does exist.  Period. 

No, the one who sneaks in and fills your stockings and eats your cookies and milk, does not exist.

Santa Claus was an actual person.

Saint Nicholas of Myra is the primary inspiration for the Christian figure of Santa Claus. He was a 4th century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) in Lycia. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes. 
Obviously we have "marketed" Santa Claus into what he is today.  I don't believe that he comes down the chimney.

When I reached the age (not sure when) when I began to believe that Santa Claus, in fact did not exist, I remember my grandfather telling me that he did.  That in every good thing I did for someone who didn't have has much as I did, that I was doing Santa's work.  It was the first, and only time in my life, that I remember my grandfather ever mentioning God. 

There is so much around us that we can't see or touch, does that mean it doesn't exist?  We can't touch the wind or see the wind itself, but we can feel it blow our hair, and move the leaves on a tree.  Do we doubt it's existence too?  What about God?  We can't see him, or touch him, yet without a doubt in my heart he is real.

Perhaps the problem isn't that Santa doesn't exist, perhaps it's the fact that as we age, our faith becomes less childlike, that we have to rationalize everything and categorize into something for "kids" and something for adults.  Perhaps we should focus more on teaching our kids about the true meaning of Christmas, and remember Saint Nicholas' generous gifts to the pour and teach our children THAT version of Santa Claus.


4. What was the last movie you saw in a theater?

Life as We Know It.

It was a really good movie.  Funny, sad, sweet.  I wouldn't complain if I had to watch it again.  It's a good date movie, but definitely a chick flick.

5. What do you wear to bed?


Anything that you would find in a sleazy lingerie magazine.

Ok, not really.

Pajamas.  My husband is part Eskimo and likes it to be frigid in our house.  We have like 4 blankets on our bed all year long, just so I don't get frost bite.  And during the winter I make him throw another blanket on top when he gets up, otherwise I wake up freezing. 

During the summer, it's usually shorts and sleeveless shirts or tshirts and capris.  During the winter, it is pants and tshirts or on really cold nights long sleeves.  I don't like heavy pajamas, so that makes it hard.  Most of my stuff is cotton and fairly light weight and soft.  I'm big on texture.  I want soft, nothing scratchy.

I can't sleep in socks though.  I can go to bed with them on, but sometime in the middle of the night, I pull them off my feet using the toes on my other foot.  Once my feet start to get hot, the socks have to come off, or it wakes me up.  Weird I know.