I finished this novel today and it was a great story about the twists and turns life can throw at you at any point of your life and ways to look at tragedy in a guilt free manner.Saturday, August 30, 2008
Finished another great book
I finished this novel today and it was a great story about the twists and turns life can throw at you at any point of your life and ways to look at tragedy in a guilt free manner.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Went Stampin' last night!
I went to my friend Lisa's last night to make cards! She is so creative, it is always fun to see what she has come up with!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Disappointed with this one
I am one of those people that, when I start a book, I finish it. Even if I don't like it....Not much I can say about this book...it came with rave reviews....however...I didn't like it.
Story moved slowly, ending didn't seem to go with the rest of the book.
Very disappointed.
Red Marbles
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some new potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.' 'They are good, Barry How's your Ma?' 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble', Mr. Miller told the boy 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.
Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them.
Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt' 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho '.
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stoplights on your way to work.
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing-along song on the radio.
Your keys found right where you left them.
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!
I was at the corner grocery store buying some new potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?' 'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.' 'They are good, Barry How's your Ma?' 'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.' 'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 'All I got's my prize marble here.' 'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.' 'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but almost.' 'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble', Mr. Miller told the boy 'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one.
Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them.
Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt' 'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho '.
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stoplights on your way to work.
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing-along song on the radio.
Your keys found right where you left them.
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Finished Desperate Passage!
I finished Desperate Passage on Friday! What a great account of the Donner Party's westward journey!
Friday, August 15, 2008
Great book for kids
Last night Sarah, Tyler and I read "Diary of a Worm" Doreen Cronin. It was hilarious and the kids loved it. The illustrations are by Harry Bliss and so entertaining.
We recommend it to anyone with preschool to elementary aged children!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
A Prayer for Children
A Prayer for Children
taken from a poem by Ina J. Hughes
We pray for children
who put chocolate fingers everywhere,
who like to be tickled,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,
who sneak popsicles before supper,
who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who can't bound in the street in a new pair of sneakers,
who never go to the circus
who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for the children
who bring us fistfuls of dandelions,
who sleep with the dog,
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
who cover themselves with Band-Aids and sing off-key,
who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink.
And we pray for those
who never get dessert,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who can't find any bread to steal,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for the children
who spend their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums at the grocery store and pick at their food,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed,
who get visits from the Tooth Fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
who squirm in church,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and
whose smiles can make us cry.
We pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep.
We pray for children who want to be carried
and for those who must,
for those we never give up on
andfor those who don't get a second chance.
for those we smother...
and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.
taken from a poem by Ina J. Hughes
We pray for children
who put chocolate fingers everywhere,
who like to be tickled,
who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants,
who sneak popsicles before supper,
who can never find their shoes.
And we pray for those
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,
who can't bound in the street in a new pair of sneakers,
who never go to the circus
who live in an X-rated world.
We pray for the children
who bring us fistfuls of dandelions,
who sleep with the dog,
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money,
who cover themselves with Band-Aids and sing off-key,
who squeeze toothpaste all over the sink.
And we pray for those
who never get dessert,
who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,
who watch their parents watch them die,
who can't find any bread to steal,
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser,
whose monsters are real.
We pray for the children
who spend their allowance before Tuesday,
who throw tantrums at the grocery store and pick at their food,
who shove dirty clothes under the bed,
who get visits from the Tooth Fairy,
who don't like to be kissed in front of the carpool,
who squirm in church,
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and
whose smiles can make us cry.
We pray for those
whose nightmares come in the daytime,
who will eat anything,
who aren't spoiled by anybody,
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep.
We pray for children who want to be carried
and for those who must,
for those we never give up on
andfor those who don't get a second chance.
for those we smother...
and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Even though.....
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord , that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud. Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced. Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest. Thank you, Lord, for life.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible. Thank you, Lord , that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud. Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced. Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest. Thank you, Lord, for life.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Fabulous and easy sandwich recipe
I was reading Bon Apetit's September 2008 issue and decided to try their "Fast Easy and Fresh" recipe for Smoked Turkey, blue cheese, and red onion sandwiches. They were a hit! Aside from Sarah who doesn't like "leaves" on her sandwiches, and Ryan that picked off the blue cheese everyone loved them. So, the recipe is going into my "family favorites" 3 ring binder and I'm posting it here to share with all my foodie friends and family!
Makes 4 sandwiches
1 1/2 TBSP olive oil
2 red onions, cut into 1/3 thick rounds
3 1/2 TBSP red wine vinegar
6 cups trimmed large arugula leaves (I actually used the baby arugula that I picked up at Fred Meyer)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
8 slices wheat bread or 4 ciabatta rolls, cut horizontally in half (we used the rolls)
12 ounces thinly sliced smoked turkey
3/4 cup coarsely crumbled blue cheese
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add onions and saute` until soft and lightly browned, breaking up onion rings, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Chop enough arugula to measure 1 cup; place in medium bowl. Mix in mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Spread a heaping TBSP of arugula mayonnaise over each cut side of bread. Divide turkey slices among bread. Top with crumbled blue cheese, red onions and more arugula.
Makes 4 sandwiches
1 1/2 TBSP olive oil
2 red onions, cut into 1/3 thick rounds
3 1/2 TBSP red wine vinegar
6 cups trimmed large arugula leaves (I actually used the baby arugula that I picked up at Fred Meyer)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
8 slices wheat bread or 4 ciabatta rolls, cut horizontally in half (we used the rolls)
12 ounces thinly sliced smoked turkey
3/4 cup coarsely crumbled blue cheese
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add onions and saute` until soft and lightly browned, breaking up onion rings, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Chop enough arugula to measure 1 cup; place in medium bowl. Mix in mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper. Spread a heaping TBSP of arugula mayonnaise over each cut side of bread. Divide turkey slices among bread. Top with crumbled blue cheese, red onions and more arugula.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshakes
This afternoon we made Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshakes that were extremely good. The recipe was simple --
Combine 1 quart of chocolate ice cream, 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter and 1 1/2 cups of whole milk in a blender!
Oh so good, and oh so peanut buttery!
Combine 1 quart of chocolate ice cream, 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter and 1 1/2 cups of whole milk in a blender!
Oh so good, and oh so peanut buttery!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Finished another good book!
I finished another really good book by Sandra Dallas "The Diary of Mattie Spenser". It is written in the form of a diary about the trials of moving west by covered wagon from Fort Madison Iowa to Colorado.
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