Wednesday Wisdom

Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.

Author unknown

My long dark days in Iceland

Many of you don't know that I lived in Iceland for 3  l-o-n-g years.  We were stationed there, and once they get you on island, they don't let you leave.  I flew all the way to Iceland with an 18month and a 3yr old.  They were entertaining to say the least

They were fun, mostly indoor days of little kid stuff!  

The holidays are always special for kids, and the fact that we were in a different country made it all the better!

In Iceland you have...  The Yule Lads

They are 13 TROLLS that come down from the mountains to cause mischief in the towns!

They all have really funny expressions and names:

Pot scraper

 Window Peeper

 Meat Hook

and sausage swiper, and spoon licker, and candle beggar (who steals the children's candles) just to name a few.

Now a days they are dressed like Santa in red and white suits, and they GIVE things to children.  I remember being down town and a tall skinny Santa gave the girls candles.  But the stories are funnier when they are causing mischief!  and peeping in your window... and licking your spoons and scraping your pots!!!

We also used to put our shoes in the window for the trolls (as these Yule Lads are really trolls).  they would leave little candy if you were good or rocks or potatoes if you were bad.  One time Lauren got a potato in her shoe, but switched it out with Kieri's candy before she got up and exclaimed...."Kieri was bad so she got a potato"- she was a mischievous troll herself!

It really was a dark world up there... If you didn't get outside at 12noon for lunch, you wouldn't see the sun at all.  Of course it was a complete turn around in the summer.  Yes I much preferred the summer!

Is it Monday already?

Just can't get into the season... of course I've done shopping, and wrapping and making all sorts of lists.... but just can't shake what I can only say is that S.A.D. thing, the darkness thing.

of course it might also be that most ALL our kids are far away and we won't be having any... ANY of them here this season (for the first time ever).
there, I said it, that is probably the biggest reason.
So let me also say that we did get a few lights up out side:

but  I have to say that the highlight was the FLAT TIRE late Saturday night,  totally raining like crazy........  and have I mentioned that in this little town nothing is open on Sunday..... think 1951
here is what was in my tire.......

No WONDER I'm feeling s.a.d.
and frankly, I'm just going with it... well that is after i go to work.... and take my mother to the doctor... and ship the packages I boxed up this weekend...and make dinner... yep then I am totally going to just ... umm.... go to bed because it will be bedtime.  See isn't that great, my day&night are already planned out for me!

Food Fun Friday-Caramel Corn Puffs

yes it does seem irrrsponsible to list a diet web site one day and this sugary goodness the next...
but, hey... that's how I roll

These were surprisingly simple and a different look for your cookie tray.

Caramel Corn Puffs
1 (8oz) bag of puffed butter pops (found in the chip isle)
dump them in a large roasting pan.

in a sauce pan over med-high heat
1/2C butter
1/2 C light corn syrup
1 C brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
Mix in a saucepan for two minutes on med=high until bubbly around the edges.  Remove from heat and add baking soda.  It will foam as you stir.  Pour over the puffs and stir until all are coated.

Place in a 250degree oven and bake 40-45 minutes stirring every 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and dump onto wax paper.  Break into clumps before puffs cool.

I forgot to break into clumps BEFORE it was cooled down and some of them stuck to the wax paper... so Mr. Produce had (HAD) to eat those!!!

They look great on a plate with other goodies and a change from all chocolate.

I found this at Mindy's recipe Box here    which, by the way, a WONDERFUL recipe blog! yum yum

Bloggville-diet facts

ok, not the most beautiful or Christmasy but this is a great site that can help with the whole "healthy eating" thing.
There are tons and tons of articles (of course) about everything under the sun related to healthy eating, (the four letter word: D I E T )
and lists of fast food and restruants with calorie counters.
There are message boards (if you are into talking about diet stuff).
You can look up brands of food and find more information out about them.
You can read article after article.. as there are many "pages" listed that you can go and read more about what interests you
go here
Kelly runs the site and says:
Gathering data from food labels and nutrition guides has been a pet project of mine since 1995, when my father was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. He was frustrated with trying to locate foods that fit into his newly prescribed diet... and not knowing the nutritional content of his favorite restaurant foods.



OK not THE most interesting bloggville I've ever posted, but there is a need for this information when you are trying to eat healthy, and at this time of year it is REALLY hard to stay on a track!!!
and now that we have a wedding coming up next year, I have GOT to stay on track!!!

Wednesday Wisdom

The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today.

Nolan Bushnell

living in Christmas dreamland

There is nothing Christmasy about my house.
what with all the painting and boxes and such...
but if I had my way...
I would have a house like this:

southern living

This is what you would see as you entered the house

southern living

(i'd have to do a little tweaking to my obsession.. but I can do it, just not this year)
and our tree...
well this is a beautiful tree skirt... and I need to retire our old one and make a new one (next year)

 Here is our living room:

mmm yep, complete with a star on top.
I am living in Christmas dreamland.

hey wake up and get back to painting!