Q: What are three words to describe your social life?
A: Getting better slowly.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
(2) Question 117
Q: Who can you make happier? How?
A: Jim and the kids. Take away the electronics and go travel.
A: Jim and the kids. Take away the electronics and go travel.
Monday, April 28, 2014
(2) Question 116
Q: Who would you trade places with for just one day?
A: Rebekah. She needs a break and I think Henry would like my story telling voices.
A: Rebekah. She needs a break and I think Henry would like my story telling voices.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Friday, April 25, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
(2) Question 112
Q: Is life fair? Yes? No? Sometimes? Not today?
A: No, but no one said it would be.
A: No, but no one said it would be.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
(2) Question 111
Q: How would your parents describe you?
A: As a kid it would have been, "Annoying, busy-body, busy and bossy.".
A: As a kid it would have been, "Annoying, busy-body, busy and bossy.".
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Cupcake War
Not really a war but I really couldn't make up my mind which ones to make so I made two base flavors - Lemon & Red Velvet - and three icings with four toppings. Yes. Yes. Yes.
My favorite by far was the Red Velvet with Maple Bacon Icing. I am going to fill it next time with a Maplene filling.
Use most any Lemon & Red Velvet recipe or even a box mix would probably work.
Icings
Maple Bacon
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 Tbls Grade B Maple Syrup*
1 cup powdered sugar
4 pieces of maple glazed bacon, cooked and crumbled
Cream butter and maple syrup until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. Frost liberally and top with bacon bits.
*You can use regular Grade A syrup but your icing will be lighter and have less maple flavor.
Fresh Blackberry Buttercream
1 cup butter, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup blackberries
1 tsp vanilla
Blackberries
Puree blackberries and pour into fine mesh colander to sieve out seeds. Set puree aside. Cream butter until fluffy. Add blackberry puree and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. If icing is too thin add powdered sugar several tablespoons at a time. (Sometimes the berries are extra juicy and thus the need for more powdered sugar) Top with fresh blackberry garnish.
Chocolate Cream Cheese
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
4 Tbls butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar
Cream cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add cocoa and powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) and mix until fluffy.
My favorite by far was the Red Velvet with Maple Bacon Icing. I am going to fill it next time with a Maplene filling.
Use most any Lemon & Red Velvet recipe or even a box mix would probably work.
Icings
Maple Bacon
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 Tbls Grade B Maple Syrup*
1 cup powdered sugar
4 pieces of maple glazed bacon, cooked and crumbled
Cream butter and maple syrup until smooth. Add powdered sugar and beat until fluffy. Frost liberally and top with bacon bits.
*You can use regular Grade A syrup but your icing will be lighter and have less maple flavor.
Fresh Blackberry Buttercream
1 cup butter, room temperature
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup blackberries
1 tsp vanilla
Blackberries
Puree blackberries and pour into fine mesh colander to sieve out seeds. Set puree aside. Cream butter until fluffy. Add blackberry puree and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. If icing is too thin add powdered sugar several tablespoons at a time. (Sometimes the berries are extra juicy and thus the need for more powdered sugar) Top with fresh blackberry garnish.
Chocolate Cream Cheese
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
4 Tbls butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 cups powdered sugar
Cream cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla and mix thoroughly. Add cocoa and powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) and mix until fluffy.
(2) Question 109
Q: What do you want to say when someone asks, "What do you do"?
A: Live life fully.
A: Live life fully.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Oregon Trip
We took a road trip to Oregon last weekend. Lauren and Connor and I took off on Friday after school. We were just going to Red Bluff a quick 3 hour or less. It took us 5 1/2 hours. Ugh. The Best Western we stayed at was quirky. Seriously. The desk clerk gave us directions to our room, and I quote, "Go to the building to the right and down the right side sidewalk past the Koi pond to the doors next to the Aviary. Up the stairs and down the hall past the Chinese lantern vase." Yup.
Saturday we were up fairly early and drove up to Shasta Lakes to go to the caves. We barely made it and even had to run to the pontoon boat for the ride to the bus that took us up 800 feet to the cave entrance. The tour was nice and interesting if a bit muddy. We drove up to Roseburg and met Grandpa and Grandma Hanna at Elmer's. We spent about an hour catching up which was very nice. The Holiday Inn in Eugene was ever so great after a long drive. We were starving so we walked over to Track Town Pizza. Connor had a three cheese pepperoni (no sauce), Lauren had the sausage and pepperoni and I had the chicken garlic. All three were fabulous. Lauren and Connor took a dangerous swim. Yes. They went swimming 10 minutes after eating. Wild kids.
Sunday was great! We went to church in the ward that I grew up in. We ran into the Elkingtons - Brother Elkington was my band, marching band and jazz band teacher. It was great catching up with them. Sister Mitchell was there too. I met Jollys daughter who I used to babysit a million years ago. Keira joined us about half way through Sacrament meeting. After church we drove over to the house I grew up in. It was smaller than I remember and then the elementary school I attended, Elizabeth Page Elementary. The tree I planted in 5th grade was still there. Amazing.
We met Brian and Jody and all at Fred Meyer and had a great time. We drove up to Mom's grave and sat around for several hours just chatting and catching up. The kids walked around and were having fun too. We went to dinner and just continued making up for lost time. Lauren begged me to stay with Brian and all and we found a cheap flight leaving on the 21st. It came together so well I couldn't say no. Lauren was so excited. Before she left we drove to Hayward Field. She wanted to run on it but it was locked up so we took a few good pictures through the fence. She packed lightening fast and off she went.
Monday went by really fast. We walked over to the UofO tour at about 9:30. The walking tour took about 2 hours and was informative and made me want to start all over again. Connor liked it too. We then walked through campus to the edge of campus to have lunch. We had great food, pulled pork sliders for you and seared tuna and fresh pretzels for me, and a great chat. Then we walked over to Autzen Stadium and walked around a bit. Surprisingly I found an Oregon Duck soccer ball for Tylor. We decided to go to the movies, Draft Day (really good), and had a great cheese steak sandwich for dinner. I ate too much and then had popcorn too. We even started eating popcorn before the movie started. Shocking! (Family joke: Jim is a popcorn Nazi and won't let us start eating popcorn until the movie starts.)
Tuesday I got up and ran up to Hendricks Park. It was so beautiful, exactly as I remember it. The rhododendrons were gorgeous. We went to breakfast at this tiny place, Off the Waffle. The made leige waffles which are really sweet and a little fabulous. Really good. Mmmmmm. The drive home was boring and long. We made it home around 6:45 pm and were ever so happy to be there.
I haven't been home in about 20 years and it was really great to go back and visit. I had forgotten all those great things that made Springfield a great place to grow up. Thanks Oregon. I had a great time.
Saturday we were up fairly early and drove up to Shasta Lakes to go to the caves. We barely made it and even had to run to the pontoon boat for the ride to the bus that took us up 800 feet to the cave entrance. The tour was nice and interesting if a bit muddy. We drove up to Roseburg and met Grandpa and Grandma Hanna at Elmer's. We spent about an hour catching up which was very nice. The Holiday Inn in Eugene was ever so great after a long drive. We were starving so we walked over to Track Town Pizza. Connor had a three cheese pepperoni (no sauce), Lauren had the sausage and pepperoni and I had the chicken garlic. All three were fabulous. Lauren and Connor took a dangerous swim. Yes. They went swimming 10 minutes after eating. Wild kids.
Sunday was great! We went to church in the ward that I grew up in. We ran into the Elkingtons - Brother Elkington was my band, marching band and jazz band teacher. It was great catching up with them. Sister Mitchell was there too. I met Jollys daughter who I used to babysit a million years ago. Keira joined us about half way through Sacrament meeting. After church we drove over to the house I grew up in. It was smaller than I remember and then the elementary school I attended, Elizabeth Page Elementary. The tree I planted in 5th grade was still there. Amazing.
We met Brian and Jody and all at Fred Meyer and had a great time. We drove up to Mom's grave and sat around for several hours just chatting and catching up. The kids walked around and were having fun too. We went to dinner and just continued making up for lost time. Lauren begged me to stay with Brian and all and we found a cheap flight leaving on the 21st. It came together so well I couldn't say no. Lauren was so excited. Before she left we drove to Hayward Field. She wanted to run on it but it was locked up so we took a few good pictures through the fence. She packed lightening fast and off she went.
Monday went by really fast. We walked over to the UofO tour at about 9:30. The walking tour took about 2 hours and was informative and made me want to start all over again. Connor liked it too. We then walked through campus to the edge of campus to have lunch. We had great food, pulled pork sliders for you and seared tuna and fresh pretzels for me, and a great chat. Then we walked over to Autzen Stadium and walked around a bit. Surprisingly I found an Oregon Duck soccer ball for Tylor. We decided to go to the movies, Draft Day (really good), and had a great cheese steak sandwich for dinner. I ate too much and then had popcorn too. We even started eating popcorn before the movie started. Shocking! (Family joke: Jim is a popcorn Nazi and won't let us start eating popcorn until the movie starts.)
Tuesday I got up and ran up to Hendricks Park. It was so beautiful, exactly as I remember it. The rhododendrons were gorgeous. We went to breakfast at this tiny place, Off the Waffle. The made leige waffles which are really sweet and a little fabulous. Really good. Mmmmmm. The drive home was boring and long. We made it home around 6:45 pm and were ever so happy to be there.
I haven't been home in about 20 years and it was really great to go back and visit. I had forgotten all those great things that made Springfield a great place to grow up. Thanks Oregon. I had a great time.
(2) Question 108
Q: Write down a problem you solved today.
A: Pulled the weeds in the yard (not a big problem). Got Tylor a ride to and from the movies (not a big problem).
A: Pulled the weeds in the yard (not a big problem). Got Tylor a ride to and from the movies (not a big problem).
Thursday, April 17, 2014
(2) Question 107
Q: What do you think is your biggest shortcoming?
A: Relaxing about 'minor' things.
A: Relaxing about 'minor' things.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
(2) Question 105
Q: Which celebrity would you want to interview?
A: Can't think of one that I want to interview right now.
A: Can't think of one that I want to interview right now.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
(2) Question 102
Q: Write down a new fact you recently learned.
A: You need to whisk homemade buttermilk so you don't have lumps of curdled milk in buttermilk bread. (oops)
A: You need to whisk homemade buttermilk so you don't have lumps of curdled milk in buttermilk bread. (oops)
Friday, April 11, 2014
(2) Question 101
Q: What sound effect are you most like today?
A: Whoosh! (Cleaning and packing for trip to Oregon this afternoon.)
A: Whoosh! (Cleaning and packing for trip to Oregon this afternoon.)
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
(2) Question 97
Q: What colors are you wearing today?
A: Blue t-shirt, black thin jacket and black jeans.
A: Blue t-shirt, black thin jacket and black jeans.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
(2) Question 96
Q: What was the last take-out meal you ordered?
A: Chick-fil-A with Debbie and Anna in Longmont. Not bad at all.
A: Chick-fil-A with Debbie and Anna in Longmont. Not bad at all.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
(2) Question 95
Q: ______________ was inspiring.
A: Debbie and conference and Anna. Baking, listening and chatting.
A: Debbie and conference and Anna. Baking, listening and chatting.
Friday, April 4, 2014
(2) Question 94
Q: If you could with for one thing to happen today, what would it be?
A: Henry to be well.
A: Henry to be well.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
(2) Question 93
Q: Did you have fun today? Because?
A: Busy getting ready to go to Colorado so kinda fun.
A: Busy getting ready to go to Colorado so kinda fun.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
(2) Question 92
Q: Who do you feel closest to?
A: Same as last year. Different problems, different sisters!
A: Same as last year. Different problems, different sisters!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)