Ferry Crossing

I love taking the Ferry over to Seattle! - my model is hot-
We went on Saturday and had lunch with the Twins.

AND I got a Fancy-Smancy camera but... I don't know how to use it. ( I need help)

We won't be able to go to Seattle for 6 weeks since they are repairing the Hoods Canal Bridge. Which means what would normally take a little over 2 hrs would take over 4hours. So we will just hang out in this part of the Country.. and I do mean Out In The Country. For a while....

One more thing, I just ran across a great blog about Vinyl Lettering, I love Vinyl! Shalene is celebrating her 600th post (wow): http://www.sjbowlby.blogspot.com/ and her new web site: http://www.adheringwords.com/ Check It Out

Wednesday Wisdom

"My dream is to raise responsible human beings who give to the world"

Kathryn Sansone

I did it, I did it, I did it

I finally, finally did it. I promised my super-cool-beautiful inside and out niece a quilt. (uhhhhhhh 4 yrs ago)
This is Jessica- talented, independent, photographer extraordinary and musical songbird.
This is the quilt... just a tease...

I hope you like it Jessica, its with stars and moons.... and ok, here's the whole thing... (because I don't think you even read my blog, ha!)

I won!!!!
I can't beleve it, I won something. When I arrived home, there on my doorstep was a Box For Me!! Rachelle at her ultra-cute blog: lovinmylivebugs.blogpot.com had a giveaway! She is opening up her Etsy store May 1st and to kick it off had a Give-A-Way, and I WON!

What did I win you ask? .?.?.?.? this and this and this and this...
ULTRA-cute Bag for all my goodies! I can use it EVERY time I shop (although way too cute for messy frozen stuff) More like when Im off to .. lets say Hallmark or the Street Fair! I'll strut around with my cute BAG and then....... ta-da grab my COUPON HOLDER. Most of you know what a copon-a-holic I am. So this is perfect for me...

Oh Wait there's more!!!! A nifty little clip board.. (for writing notes to my girls- or hubby or sketching something cute I just saw, or thought of or want to make.)...again Perfect for me!!! there is a way cool pen in there (of course pink & black) AND has little post-it's in it.

I am sooooooo excited.

AND even more than that, - - - - - - - -excited for Rachelle to open up her Very First Store!!!!!

so EvErYoNe... go to her site (here) and check out her GRAND OPENING May 1st!!!

so cute, so cool, so stinkin' perfect for Mother's Day (it's coming up don't forget Mom or Grandma.)

THANK YOU RACHELLE

my sister Louisa

Today is my sister’s birthday. She had the coolest birthday, 4-24-64 easy to remember. ...And then there’s her name; Louisa Colleen, a beautiful old fashioned name, whereas mine was plain Lisa, every Tom Dick and Harry’s name is Lisa.


My sister was 7 yrs younger. She was always my best friend. Even as a toddler I would beg her to come sleep with me (I have NEVER liked to sleep alone). I would even have her walk to the store with me, she was always nice to have around. And I always valued her opinion.

My sister died 11 yrs ago at the young age of 34. Breast Cancer. And you know how you say nice things about a person after they die, well frankly everyone said those things about her when she was alive.

Someone asked me the other day about our relationship and if we ever fought or held a grudge… um…. No. She was always sweet………….. kind, nice, naïve, We never fought. She finally (around 25) learned how to argue but mostly about her kids, she was a Mother Bear when it came to her kids!
Funny thing about her is having the last word! ESPECIALLY with my mother, they are both last word-ers. "No I didn’t" ... "yes you did"... "Ok fine"... "well its not fine" (pretty funny to listen to!)…………….. ("then don’t listen"). And on and on and on.
She was a clothes horse, and VERY selective (PRICE AND VALUE) And don't even get me started on her shoes! (lets just say she was everything a disco princess should be!)

I thought she was spoiled. Even though she was spoiled (in my humble opinion) she was very sweet. That’s the word I keep coming back to. She would ask for something and if my mother didn’t give it to her she would say that she was going to go ask Alice for it!

I always got in trouble for our “disagreements”. ... after all “You are the oldest, you should know better.”

She thought she would grow up to be a poet.

We had our babies a year apart, ‘84,’85,’86, and her third in ‘90. It was fun raising kids together! We did a lot together when she lived in Mountain View, and then she moved to Gilroy where we enjoyed the sun there!
Louisa loved to sing, she had a beautiful Alto voice. During the 90’s she sang in a group in Mountain View/Los Altos , Valparaiso Singers,( I think that was the name) It was fun to see her so happy. She also loved to dance and danced&sang with a performing group in Jr High and High School (out of Los Altos, PGY and “Morning Star”)
When they moved to Gilroy she had to Home School JJ & Jessica since there was no room in public school?? (how does that happen!) But Alex was a different story and she spent the night in the parking lot of the elementary school just to make sure Alex got into a spot in kindergarten there! He needed more of a social outlet! More than she could give. (there’s that mama bear coming out again). She also thrived in helping out in the children’s community theater for the kids who ALL excelled at performing. And as a performer and mother herself she beamed in their joy and talent.

Louisa felt weird in August of ’96. She knew something wasn’t right. They had Kaiser and no one took her seriously till December (and about 8 doctor visits later). She had her one breasts removed in January of '97 and then onto Chemo and radiation. She lost a lot of weight and people always commented how good she looked and what was her secret “Well …..nothing you’d want to try”.
Finally she started feeling normal……… but about February, March of ‘98 again she felt something wasn’t right. Again the Doctors told her it was all in her head, and she was just “nervous”. Around April she demanded more tests, and yes, they found that the cancer had metastasised into her liver, spleen, lungs and brain. It was the tumors in her brain that gave her the most problems, head aches and dizzy spells. It was a long hard summer watching her die. Pain was her constant companion…..also a guardian angel, another young mother. I never put much belief in guardian angels, but Louisa said she had one and she was there to comfort her. She died on Labor day Monday September 7th 1998.

I had a friend in Monterey (‘86-‘87) who had hung out with us when Louisa would come down to visit. Years later we found each other again and after catching up (thru email) she wrote about Louisa: “Louisa was the most beautiful person I ever met and her face, with the light from within, is forever in my memory. I could have stared at her for hours, she was so fabulous. She seemed to be truly good all the way through.”

Yes I miss her. I think of things to share with her all the time. She was more than a best friend, she is my sister

Monte - Louisa's hubby wrote this on his blog:

http://thebatemanblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/happy-birthday-louisa.html

Wednesday Wisdom

Lead by Example

In bathrooms, boardrooms, buses, bagel shops, and everywhere else, we all need to imagine a little girl following us around, repeating everything we say and everything we do. Think about all the things you want for yourself and your daughters, granddaughters, and girls everywhere – and teach them by living it yourself.

Nell Merlino

Eagle, Heron & Elk all in one day

I live in such a natural setting. Today an eagle landed on our fence then the tree behind the fence. of course I ran to take pictures.

(this was taken thru the window so as not to scare him away)

And strange as it sounds, Henry the Heron also came and visited the tree behind our back fence not more than 5 minutes after the eagle.

In other related animal stories, we took our Sunday morning drive and found the Elk herd, only my camera has a lousy tele-photo lens.

Artistic Mosaic-

My Friend Carmen (from my ward who was my first VT up here and now we NEVER get to see each other Sunday or otherwize.. so we visit thru our blogs) Tagged me - It's this cool idea for a VISUAL MOSAIC.

It says a lot about you and it isn't thaaaat hard... hey if I can understand how to do this....... (although now that I've posted my mosaic.. its small... hmmm anyone know how to make the picrture larger)

It takes a little while... but again IT IS ART. And the pictures that come up on flickr are beautiful!!!!! sometimes making it hard to choose.

So I want to learn about YOU- and visually see you thru pictures. here are the directions...and questions to answer thru pictures! (I did change the questions a little, i mean I didn't really want to put a picture up of my favorite drink??? boring)

Step 1: Go to flickr.com
Step 2: In another window open http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php
Step 3: Choose 4 columns, 3 rows
Step 4: Answer the following questions in the search bar of flicker.
Pick your favorite one (picture) on the first page and paste the address into the mosaic maker (on bighugelabs) line.
Create the mosaic and then save it to your computer and post it.
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. Where do you want to be right now?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Favorite memory?
6. Dream vacation?
7. Favorite dessert?
8. What do you love most in life?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10.. Who is your celebrity crush?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your nickname.

Now remember you are making ART

Food Fun Friday-Jean’s Buttermilk Brownies

Brownies.

We've all made them. We've all tasted them. In fact our company president bought brownies at the new she-she bakery in town.. they were good, but flakey and too much? cinnamon? coffee? And then another co-worker brought in brownies today, again flakey, and dry...

Well hold onto your hats, these are THE best brownies. The kind you make and take somewhere to impress. Moist, Melt-in-your-mouth.

*bet you can't eat just one*

Jean’s Buttermilk Brownies
2C flour
2C sugar

mix together and set aside.
boil together- to just a boil
1C water
1C butter
4Tbsp cocoa
¼ C Veg. oil
mix in flour/sugar mixture, Then add in:
½ C buttermilk
1 tsp bakingsoda
1 tsp vanilla
1 beaten eggs
mix well & pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan, bake 30 minutes 350º

a metal pan will cook quicker, if its a glass pan you might have to cook it 40 minutes.

Frosting
Boil together for ONE MINUTE

1C White sugar
¼ C milk
¼ C butter
Remove from heat, add:
1C chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
Beat until creamy
Pour over cooked brownies (okay to do so while both are hot).
COOL & ENJOY

Wednesday Wisdom

Easter

one of the women I read: Sue's News, Views and Musings: http://grannysuesnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/they-came-to-do-him-honor.html has a beautiful Easter Original poem along with picutres that honor our Savior and all that he has doner for us.

(one of these days I've got to go to Blogging school so I can learn things about uploading video's and adding just the right pictures, adding links, posting better pictures etc!... anyone know of online tutorals for this?)

miss you

Happy Easter

I miss my girls. Families play an important part of "traditions" and "Holidays".

I remember making your Easter dresses, the same material, but different patterns...

I remember Lauren didn't like the stiff underskirts.

I remember Kieri liked them the fluffier the better.

And don't forget the BOW's, I would make you BIG GIANT bows to go in your hair.. until hats! Then I made Bows for the hats!

I remember hiding the baskets in strange places. Lauren would always find hers first then guide Kieri to find hers. Or Barbara or the Cousins, whom ever we had living with us at Easter.

I remember Kieri hording her candy for months after Easter.

I remember egg hunts at Nana's house ( a dim memory helped out by one home video we have of her stealing JJ's eggs when he wasn't looking) You guys loved getting the pennys.

I remember sitting on the Easter Bunny's lap and taking pictures.

I remember all this stuff and it is making me feel pretty old, not because I remember them but because I AM TALKING ABOUT THEM... AND sitting here crying.. REMEMBERING THEM... AND GOING ON AND ON LIKE AN OLD LADY.

but they are my memories ... hey after all that's all I've got. and I'm looking forward to making more memories of Holidays!

my scaner's not working or I would post cute old pictures of the girls... as long as I'm reminiscing......

Friday Food Fun- Breakfast Cookies

Anyone who knows me knows I love cookies. This is a great recipe for “healthy” cookies. It’s from Hungry Girl. I think they are a little high maintenance.. but they really are great….. Mr Produce loved them,.. I had to make them AGAIN last tonight! And Ms D from work loved them too. (see pic) They are a good source of fiber!

Grab ‘n Go Breakfast Cookies
½ C regular oats (not instant)
6 tbsp whole-wheat flour
¼ C Fiber One Bran Cereal (ground to a breadcrumb-like consistency in a blender or food processor)
¼ C Splenda no calorie sweetener (granulated)
2 tbsp brown sugar (not packed)
2 tsp Coffee-mate Sugar Free French Vanilla powdered creamer
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 C Gerber Peaches (or other brand baby food)
¼ C canned pure pumpkin
¼ C fat-free liquid egg substitute (like egg-beaters)
1 tbsp Craisins
1 tbsp golden raisins

Oven 375º
Chop raisins and craisins into small pieces, set aside
In Mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, Fiber One crumbs, Splenda, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix well.
In a separate bowl, dissolve Coffee-mate into 2tbsp. hot water. Add all other wet ingredients (peaches, pumpkin, egg substitute) Mix well.
Add liquid mixture to the dry ingredients, and stir until completely blended. Slowly sprinkle chopped raisins and Craisins into the batter, making sure they don’t all stick together.

Spray a large baking pan with nonstick spray (or use parchment paper or a silpad). Spoon batter into 4 evenly spaced circles. Spread batter out a bit with the back of the spoon. Cook 12-14 minutes (unti tops of the treats are just slightly crispy).

1 cookie = 154 calories, 1.5g fat, 32g carbs, 5g fiber, 10.5g sugars, 5g protein

Wednesday Wisdom

Do the thing and you will be given the power.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've been crafting

I had to show off the cute little bottles I made my VT's (and yes Megan you'll get one too).

..... wish I had more time to make stuff, sigh

No Moan'in

There will be no Moan'in today.

It has been GLORIOUS out,

Spring Has Sprung

Finally.

It was a beautiful weekend, and looks like a beautiful week.

San Diego it's not, but a beautiful sky full of eagles and trees full of blossoms.

Another Sunday drive

I almost enjoy where I live more when I am thinking of and LOOKING at all the beautiful landscapes around me. The mountains are especially beautiful with snow on them (on them and not on us down below)

This is the Olympic Mountain Range.

Friday Food Fun-Shoo-fly pie

Due to allergies where my right eye is swollen like a drunken sailor's, I have not been cooking. I need an eye patch and some major allergy medicine. I pulled this little ditty off of my “recipe stash”.
Shoo-fly pie
A tart with an uncooked pie shell of some sort. This recipe is for a smaller pie, like the pre-made pie crusts in the foil tins (8 inches, I think). I have messed this pie up several times trying to use a bigger more "modern" deep dish pie pan and adjusting the ingredients.

You have The Goo and The Crumbs. Both are easy and cheap. Once you have both, you pour The Goo into the pie shell, and sprinkle the crumbs on top, and right into the oven it goes. It's magic.

The Goo:

1 cup hot water

1/3 cup molasses

1/3 tablespoon baking soda

Mix above together until molasses is dissolved. I usually do it on the stovetop, but I don't think you have to as long as the water is hot enough to mix with the molasses. That's it! No, seriously, that's it.

The Crumbs:

1 cup flour

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

Mix together with your hands until the texture of sand. That's it!

Pour The Goo into the pie shell... and then sprinkle The Crumbs on top of The Goo. Do not mix! Just sprinkle. You want to avoid a mountain of crumbs in the center of The Goo. Nice, even sprinkling. (Apparently this crumb-sprinkling is what makes the gooey bottom layer at the end).Now--be careful transporting to oven because The Goo is watery--bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

That's it! Done! Best served at room temperature, but if you are impatient to dig in, as we usually are, give it 15 minutes or so at least. WISHING I could make this and eat it, yum yum.

Wednesday Wisdom

Now more than ever I heed Charles Dickens admonition from A Christmas Carol "There is never enough time to do or say all the things we would wish. The thing is to try to do as much as you can with the time that you have. Time is short and suddenly you're not there anymore."