EASTER EGGS!!

So, After Iain woke up from his nap today, it was time to make a few Easter eggs. I don't think I have done this in at least 15 years, and I have to say it was quite fun... Messy, but good and fun. And I would have to say that Iain quite loved his job of dipping the eggs (for the most part)!

I know he is getting rather excited about hunting Easter eggs tomorrow at church, and getting his Easter basket... last year, he still really could care less.

Myself, I am getting rather excited about our sunrise service in the morning at the beach... Our
church has done this for years but this will be the
first time we have made it, and I think it will be
awesome!

Have a fantastic Easter, and be thankful every day
for God's Greatest Gift!

I REALLY Wannabe...

I have this idea in my head (and heart) that I am
a fairly creative person. I really enjoy being that person too, but unfortunately I don't have much time to dedicate to it. However, the other day one of my students was needing to get senior photos done, and I had the time to spend playing with my camera...Off we went about our day, and here are some of the results... One day, I really would love to be able to actually dedicate a bit of time to doing this, but need feedback on things to correct, and if I actually have an eye for it or not...
Feedback is WAY welcome!

Daddy's Helper

So, here is another page I did... I guess I am on a pretty decent roll as I have uploaded 2 other pages elsewhere...

The other day when Allen was putting Iain's new bed together, little man woke up to see what daddy was doing, and just HAD to help out... so he kept 'jacking" the screwdriver from Daddy, and was trying to tighten the screws... I love the cheesy grin he flashed me when he realized I was watching! Gotta love it!

Trip to the hospital..

So, we had to take Iain to the hospital this past weekend. He ended up with a NASTY bout of Rotovirus, and became severely dehydrated and had a very high temp...Not a fun weekend to say the least. He ended up getting admitted on Monday after spending 8 hours sitting in the emergency room waiting for a room to open up upstairs. And after we had finally gotten him down and had fallen asleep, around 4am the nurses came in and told us we had to move to one side of the room so he could get a new roomie. It was an absolutely unreal experience to say the least, but it really did go well, his nurses were fantastic and did a great job of taking care of him. Now he is home and doing much better, though he is still a little leary of eating, but that will come. And yes, I have already made a scrapbook page of our experience!

Little Man's New Tricks

So, last week while I was working in the kitchen I noticed that things were getting a little quiet in the house, and by "things" I mean Iain Taylor...To my suprise when I looked around the corner, I saw little man STANDING on top of the cozy coupe beside the basketball goal. I guess he wanted to be able to dunk the ball again! I was lucky to actually have my camera on the counter so I managed to get a picture don't worry, Daddy was right out of the frame ready to catch him just in case...I promise!

Rock Star

So on New Year's eve, we were at my aunt and uncles party having a good time with all of the cousins and our friends playing Rock Band 2... If you have never had the chance to play it is an absolute blast, and you need to take your first opportunity you have to go out and embarrass yourself in front of everyone. Kinda' like karaoke on steroids...lol.

Anyway, we were all enjoying playing around when Iain noticed that what we were doing looked more fun that playing with blocks and cars, so over he came, and completely took the drumsticks away from me to "Rock Out" like a big boy... Can we just say that we ALL "Partied like we were Rock Stars!!"...LOL!

Yummy Philly Cheesesteak!

Okay... so while we were visiting home, David made the most awesome Philly cheesesteak I have eaten in quite a while... I was truly skeptical at first, but as I took a bite I realized my previous feelings about cream cheese on a sandwich were mistaken. This is GREAT for a small party or bible study group. Enjoy.

Here is the recipe as best as I can recall.

Walmart (Great Value) "steak-ums"
1 package of provolone slices
1 package of cream cheese
4 TBS fresh minced garlic
1 tsp. powdered red pepper
1 tsp black pepper
1 small onion cut into strips
1 small green pepper cut into strips
1 Large french bread loaf

In a large skillet fry together the frozen steak, onions and peppers cut into strips until the steak is well browned (and grease is mostly cooked away) and the onions are carmelized.

Set oven to Broil

Using a medium bowl mix together cream cheese, red and black pepper, and fresh garlic.

Cut french bread in half leaving it connected in middle, and spread the cream cheese mixture over both sides of the bread. spread the meat mixture on the bread and cover with cheese slices.

place the baking sheet low in the oven and broil until cheese begins to brown...

fold sandwich over, cut into smaller sandwiches and serve.

Slightly Early Christmas...

First off, can I just say that I am completely EXCITED about Christmas this year... I simply CAN'T wait! And well... you can see from the scrapbook page that it is true... Not so much because I couldn't actually control myself... yes, it is hard to do, but I really can manage... The reality is that we simply will not be able to fit Iain's big gift into the car with us for the trip. So, we put it together tonight, and surprised him when we got home from church. Iain absolutely LOVED it... he immediately climbed aboard and started scooting it across the room, ringing the bell along the way. So of course I HAD to scrap the moment... not to mention, Daddy, happily piecing the trike together while Iain napped today.

Most of the scrapbook elements are from my friend at church who I just found out has an online digi store!!! I LOVE her stuff... and if you would like to check it out...go to www.paperbagstudios.com ...You will find some really awesome stuff there!

Christmas 1980

I absolutely love this picture from Christmas years ago. I can remember every little bit of going into the parking lot at K-mart to find the little red house where we would find Santa. Waiting outside, getting really antsy to see Santa, and seeing other kids coming out of the house smiling and eating their candy canes. After what seemed like a lifetime of waiting (in reality probably only 1 or 2 families in front of us...if that) we finally got to go inside to see Santa, where it was MUCH, MUCH warmer than outside, and the best part was getting to eat that candy cane thinking about how many presents Santa would bring me come Christmas.

Another Yummy Recipe... Gonna have to make this SOON!

I found this recipe From Cooking Light and it looks completely amazing! I tried something along
these lines a few years ago at a gourmet restaraunt back in Eureka Springs and absolutely loved it, and this is the closest I can find to the dish. The only difference I see is that there were also
golden raisins and cranberries with the dish from the restaraunt, and the apples were diced more "chutney" style with the raisins and cranberries, rather than being sliced.

I also think this would be amazing with a pork loin instead of the chops...Enjoy!

Pork Chops with Cinnamon Apples

Warm flavors like sage and cinnamon play up the contrast between the juicy chops and caramelized apples. Tart Granny Smiths and slightly sweeter Braeburn apples both work well for this dish.

Yield

4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop and 3/4 cup apple mixture)

Ingredients

1 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut loin pork chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon butter
4 cups (1/2-inch) slices peeled Granny Smith apples (about 4 medium)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash of salt

Preparation

Combine first 3 ingredients, and sprinkle over the pork. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add pork; cook 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove the pork from pan. Cover and keep warm.
Melt butter in pan over medium heat. Add apples and remaining ingredients, and cook 5 minutes or until tender, stirring frequently. Serve the apples with pork.
Nutritional Information
Calories:
251 (30% from fat)
Fat:
8.3g (sat 3.1g,mono 3.3g,poly 0.9g)
Protein:
24.1g
Carbohydrate:
20.2g
Fiber:
2.3g
Cholesterol:
67mg
Iron:
0.9mg
Sodium:
388mg
Calcium:
38mg

Uh! (But No) Oh!

Well, for one reason or another when little man figured out that when you drop something you need to say uh-oh... he didn't exactly get the whole phrase... he would simply say "Uh!"... there was no "Oh"... he said it that way for quite a few weeks...but now he finally found the "Oh"... and it is quite his favorite thing to say without a doubt.

Halloween Scrap!

Well, after about a couple of months of no time to scrap, and about a month without PSE, even though I was inspired to scrap, I FINALLY made a new page!!! WOO HOO!!!

Yeah, I lost my old PSE 5 when our computer almost crashed last month. And go figure, the CD happened to be one that Iain managed to destroy. GAH!

So, I got my Christmas present a little early, the new PSE 7! I am so excited to have my program back, and there are some pretty cool new features that I am going to have to figure out...Can't wait to really dig into this program.

For what it is worth... here is my L/O for Halloween. I should have made the pic a bit bigger, but oh well... I am finished with it either way!

Hello Socialism.

I went to the dentist this morning to have some cavities filled. Go figure that as soon as he sticks the drill in my mouth, he starts talking politics. I personally didn't mind especially considering we are very alike in our thinking regarding the direction our political system is taking. My only problem was that I so badly wanted to say something, but dared not move with a drill bit only millimeters from my tongue!

Either way, what he said, really struck a chord, and should really get people thinking about where we are headed. Dr. P. said that he had been reading about Argentina and the direction their government is taking regarding it's expanding role in the private sector. It seems that the Argentine government has decided to nationalize their country's pension system... they have now made the decision that they are going to seize all private retirement accounts, and redistribute them so as to make a government retirement fund that will provide a "fair" payout to ALL Argentinians as they retire!

Well, why should this worry me?

Read the following quote from the article regarding this whole debacle:

"That the state could seize retirement savings no doubt seems outrageous to Americans. But it is a predictable development in a country where government intervention in the financial system is the norm. With Washington now expanding its role as guarantor in American banking, that's something to think about."

What have we been doing of late... bailing out our banks in the private sector, subsidizing the likes of AIG, effectively making the company government owned... our government sticking their hand in the private pot. This my friend is the beginnings of a socialist government... and our friend, Pres-elect Obama only has greater plans in store for us with his "Share the Wealth" plans. I truly understand the ideas behind wanting to take care of our fellow man, but at some point in time we have to take responsibility for ourselves, finding ways to put back for our own future... why do we have this idea in our collective consciousness that our government should take care of us? Do we not have to be fiscally responsible anymore... The last time I checked, the Bible tells us that we should be good stewards of our money, and to do our best to take care of and create more out of what has been given to us. Why should we be excused, when we spend every last penny we have, and yet feel that we have the right to ask our government to take care of us when we haven't. The simple truth is, we do not have that right!

I have already been hearing students at school saying that their parents have stopped paying their bills because "President Obama is going to take care of us now"'. What on earth are they thinking?

If you think that this extreme example of what is happening in Argentina can't happen here, think again, because the seeds are already being sown, and unfortunately I think that the caretaker is on his way in to see this to some sort of fruition.

Dishwasher Lasagna?

Ok... so when I saw this I had to laugh (and cringe) a bit... but the whole thought of cooking food in my dishwasher piqued my curiosity for sure. I mean, isn't this where we deposit our stuck-on food covered plates that usually will end up sitting there at least overnight, if not for a couple of days waiting for a full load to save water. Yeah, food sitting on those plates getting all rancid, and eeewwwy, yucky, before they FINALLY get cleaned and sanitized... and what do you find in the bottom of the dishwasher? All of the larger bits that were just too big to go down through the filter.

So, to start this interesting process, (which I am sure would be handy for hosting that dinner party where you really want to impress and make everyone ooh- and ahh over your dishwasher cooking prowess!... I guess it could also come in handy when that darned oven goes out too, but it is much more fun for previously mentioned dinner party!) I would most definitely do everything I can to clean that filter / tray in the bottom of the dishwasher out REALLY good before going ahead with the unthinkable.

According to the recipe on the site, it really is no different than any other lasagna recipe other than replacing fresh onions with onion flakes to make sure and reduce any extra water that might accumulate in your pasta dish, so use your favorite lasagna recipe and follow the directions below for an amazing dinner via DISHWASHER!!

*** I just think I will bypass on the whole clean while you cook thing though! LOL!***

clipped from www.partselect.com Securely wrap lasagna in the aluminum foil by taking the two longest sides of the foil and bringing them to meet in the middle, above the lasagna. Begin carefully folding the two edges together creating a 'paper bag' effect until the two sides are folded down just above the lasagna. Flatten the foil down so it is flat above the lasagna and begin to fold the sides in like a present, first folding the corners inside and then folding the remainder in towards the lasagna. Once the lasagna is wrapped, place it flat in the dishwasher on the bottom rack. Tip: You can also add dirty dishes and detergent to the dishwasher but only if you are confident the lasagna is tightly wrapped, otherwise you'll end up with a very soapy lasagna. Set dishwasher on normal cycle and select 'heated dry' and 'sanitize' for extra heat. This cycle should take about two hours. Once the cycle is completed, let the lasagna stand for a few minutes before serving.

Can You Tell I am Hungry?

Hee Hee...yeah, I am so stinking hungry right now, and what do you find me doing, surfing recipes... Now my stomach is really growling... and unfortuntaly I left lunch at home...

When will I stop torturing myself?

Another recipe that sounds just amazing!

Pumpkin Pecan Chocolate Chunk Cookies

2 1/4 cup self-rising flour
3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Whisk together flour and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter.
Add both sugars and beat until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla.
Add eggs one at a time and beat until combined.
Add flour/spice mixture to sugar mixture in three additions. Alternate with pumpkin in two additions, ending with flour mixture.
Stir in chopped pecans and chocolate chunks.
Drop on cookie tray lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Makes about four dozen cookies.
Let cool.

Maple Brown Butter Frosting

3 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp maple flavoring
Sift sugar and set aside.
Melt butter over medium heat until golden brown. Watch closely so it does not burn.
Add butter to sugar, scraping all the butter into the bowl.
Add milk and maple flavoring. Stir until smooth.
Spread on top of cookies with an knife or offset spatula.

Yummy Twist To The Ordinary Roasted Pumpkin Seed.

I found this really yummy recipe for Spiced Pumpkin Seeds... So good, thought ya'll might want to try it! Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried
(you may choose to only partially rinse them, since they tend to have a bit more flavor with some of the pumpkin still on them)
6 tablespoons white sugar, divided (4 Tbs. is sufficient if you don't like your seeds overly sweet)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until dry and toasted. Larger seeds may take longer.
In a large bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons of white sugar, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and sprinkle the remaining sugar over them. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar melts, about 45 seconds. Pour seeds into the bowl with the spiced sugar and stir until coated. Allow to cool before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Homecoming at Creek.

So now that football is in full swing... 5 weeks and counting... and Homecoming week is here, I can honestly say that I am simply Exhausted. Most of the exhaustion stems not so much from football itself, but rather from Iain, and the fact that when I get home from practice he is ready to play. Would I trade the playtime for rest... absolutely not, but it still doesn't make it any easier to get up in the morning and get going.

Yeah, so homecoming week is here, and my oh my what an interesting week it has been... luckily the first three days of dressing up is over and there are only 2 more to go.... we have seen bananas, referees, Reno 911 officers, superheroes, Sara Palin lookalikes, Barbie Dolls (in their boxes!) Elvis, hippies, Richard Simmons, '80's jazzercizers and breakdancers, and those are the VERY tame ones. Tomorrow is spirit day and I am sure we will be seeing TONS of orange and black, but Friday... OH FRIDAY....the day of all homecoming spirit days. Yes... it is the dreaded, but HILARIOUS (and perfect for blackmail later on) Senior Cross-dress day. Oh to see the guys decked out in mini-skirts, pantyhose, tube-tops and caked on make-up. Sometimes I wonder if this is the image they have in their mind of how girls really are, (which is a very sad statement in and of itself) or if this is hopefully the OVERDONE spoof of todays in-your face fashion statements. Either way, it is fun to watch, and especially fun when some of the guys can actually pass for girls in the hall... I passed one young man last year who I REALLY thought was a girl. THAT my friend, is a very successful senior cross-dress attempt! However, I think my favorite is to see my senior football players... all 6'5" 250 lbs of them squeezed into hose and skirts, wigs and make-up. Very, very entertaining!

So here is a video I found on YouTube that some of my former weightlifters posted of this fully entertaining day at our school. (Imagine trying to teach with these kids in your class... HA!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2c94aT2rTk

Anyhoo...Here's to the game tomorrow night, and hopes of a winning streak continued!

How to Clean Prop Clothing From a Slasher Flick!

While we were doing the laundry this weekend, we managed to get one of those "Oh-No!" moments... you know the one... that moment when you open the dryer door to find that all of your nice dress clothes look like they have been the props in a bad slasher flick!

Well, that was our find this weekend. Evidently one of Iain's red crayons from the restaraunt this weekend ended up in the dryer... RED Crayon was absolutely EVERYWHERE... I was so upset, because all of my good clothes for work were completely ruined.

I looked everywhere online for a remedy that would work... WD-40 to break up the wax of the crayon so it would wash out... Well... it faded it a tiny bit, but all it really managed to do was make my laundry REALLY stinky... and now we have to buy another can of the stuff for when we really need it.

So after I looked around for a while I managed to find this little gem, I had to go out and buy a few things... ended up spending about $15 for everything, but $15 is a small price to pay when it would cost me at least$200 to replace the clothes.

Here you have the super-magic, amazing and wonderful dried in crayon removing miracle!

2 full caps of concentrated laundry detergent (Tide works great!)
1 cup of borax
1 cup of Oxi-Clean
1 cup of white vinegar

Pour all of the above in gredients into the washer tub already filled with the HOTTEST water you can fill it with and let the clothes soak for an hour before you start the wash cycle. Then wash heavy soil cycle.

I couldn't believe my eyes when nearly everything came out like brand new... I will tell you though that it doesn't seem to work very well on synthetic fibers like polyester... I am still working on that shirt...(it was a freebie from work anyway, so nothing lost!) but anything that was cotton or even cotton blend came out like brand-new!

Another Page... I know... it's been a while.