Recipe for the Week

I made a recipe from my WW Magazine. I could not find the dough that was called for, so I substituted a whole wheat pizza crust that I found. It was originally a Julia Child recipe that WW has made WW friendly. It was not my favorite recipe ever, but it was good. It had anchovies and that is something we had never tried, and will probably never eat again. Very salty! It is so much fun trying new foods and new recipes, I am really enjoying this challenge for myself to try something new each week. Of course this is just the third week of 2010, so I hope this continues to be fun!

Here is a picture of the dish:

Learning to Post Pictures on My Blog

I have the most patient son. He has spent much of his last day at home teaching his father how to use satellite radio and teaching his mother how to put pictures on the computer to send to Walmart and now how to put pictures on my blog.

I heard my precious niece, Brenda make a comment to her daddy while they were here visiting about "older folks trying to learn new technology"; to me this was hilarious - because she has NO idea what her cousins go through in teaching me!

The pictures I am about to post are pictures of some of the new recipes we have tried the past week.

Spinach Enchiladas

Roasted Green Beans

Maple-Flavored Acorn Squash

E.S.T.B.S.

I teased one of my sisters today by not telling her what E.S.T.B.S. stands for. I have been meaning to do a blog post on this for a while and since I have put up my goals for 2010 I have been asked several times what it means.


A while back I was asked to list 25 random things about myself and one of the things I told was that I would secretly like to have a tattoo. If I ever got a tattoo it would be E.S.T.B.S. in my wrist. I do not know if anyone has ever noticed, but a lot of the time I have this written in ink on my wrist. It is just a reminder to myself of how I want to be.


I have also posted one of my favorite hymns, "Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen In You," before and it is a line from that song.


In my eyes, my mother was the sweetest person I have ever known on this earth. I will never be able to achieve her sweetness, but I want to live my life trying.


When I read in the Bible and see God's love - and Christ life, He was sweet. No I will NEVER be able to accomplish His sweetness, but I want to live my life trying.


E.S.T.B.S. - "EVER STRIVE TO BE SWEET"

Real Goals for 2010

Okay, now I am serious. The last post I did I stated that I would post my real goals, so here they are.

1. Make WW Lifetime Member.
2. Monthly Craft Goal.
3. Bi-Weekly Blog Post (hope to do more)
4. Daily Bible Reading
5. Walk 3 times a week; Lift weights or do other exercises twice a week
6. Cook one new recipe a week
7. Do a Daily Christian Duty
8. Pay Off More Debts
9. E.S.T.B.S.


Wish me luck on all this, today is the third day in the new year and it is going well so far!

Goals for 2010

For the past several years I have set myself some goals for the New Year. I have typed them up and framed them and put them in my bedroom so that I can read them often and try to "better myself" throughout the year. I have not always achieved all of them, but it has kept me more focused on the things I would like to do.

Last year I was setting my framed goals on my desk and said to JC, "Look at my goals for 2009."
His response, "about the same as always." Well, he did not know that this little comment sorta hit a nerve with me. Not a bad nerve, just got me to thinking that maybe I was in a rut. I have thought about it off and on all year.

So, I made a big mistake the other day and talked to JC about the 2009 goals and I said, "You and your sister need to help me set some goals for 2010." Now, I was serious - they found this as a great opportunity to "really help" their mother.

Here is a list of the goals they typed up of me. I will comment on each of them after I list them.

2010 Goals set by JC and Kalyn for their mother:

1. Run marathon in December
2. Learn to play a lute
3.Have less gas
4. Read In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
5. Wear more clothes next year
6.Get a dog
7. Do not boss Dad around so much
8. Become Mayor of Menard
9. Move my children two or three times
10. Come out of the closet: You're a democrat. You should consider going before the church.
11. WW lifetime member
12.Monthly Craft Goal
13. Weekly blog post
14. Read in the Bible every day
15. Walk 3 times a week, Lift weights or do abs lounger two times a week
16. Cook one new recipe a week
17. ESTBS


My response:

1. I cannot walk three miles with out hurting, how can I possible run 26 miles!
2. I do not know what a lute is, so why would I want to learn to play one!
3. I am a lady I do not discuss the subject of #3.
4. I will, I will, I will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. The reasoning behind this is because I am so cold natured, not because I do not properly dress. I agree I need to wear thicker fabrics or layer - but I hate the "closed" in feeling.
6. Never! Abby is all I need in the animal department. Grand doggies are enough for me.
7. I do not boss Dad now, Don't know what you are talking about.
8. I hated being on City council, will not ever even think about Mayor.
9. Do not want to think about this, it makes my body sore.
10. I do not do politics, hate them. I am staying in the closet and would appreciate everyone respecting my decision and leave me alone on that subject.
11 - 17. YES, YES, YES I will try to accomplish.

Oh boy, some of their ideas - makes me wonder what I was thinking to ask for their help! The one thing I have to be thankful for is they did not get BJ's input! No telling what he would have added.

Really, though, I do like some of the ideas and later I will post my real 2010 list of goals.

Absolutely Nothing

Children are a blessing from God.

There is absolutely nothing I love more than spending time with my kids.

This week I got to spend time with JC, Kalyn and BJ. It was a wonderful week.

I have heard people say that the infant years were their favorite time; or the toddler years; or the teen years; or they liked it when the kids were grown and gone. But I will have to say I loved every stage of raising the kids. I think I just grew with them through every stage. Yes, there were hard times and there are times I can think of that I would like to take back and redo, but I can't. I was a far from perfect mother, but with lots of prayers and Gods help, these kids still turned out great. (Of course I did not get to raise BJ - we got him when he was already done, and are very thankful we have him)

Now, I will say these three are not perfect. They can all be a little ornery. And they sure get a lot of laughs at my expense. There may be one or two things I would change(ha ha), but over all I think they are good human beings. And they all three have big hearts.

And in this mother's eyes they sure are good looking!

I am so thankful for the past week. It was fast, but wonderful. Lots of good food, lots of laughs, lots of good memories.


Gratitude: I am so thankful for JC, Kalyn and BJ.

Prayer: I pray that we get many more years together.

Two Great Minds Think Alike or Caught In The Middle?

My family has gotten a good laugh over this little incident that happened last week.

I read The Pioneer Woman blog everyday. I absolutely love it. It makes me happy and always puts a smile on my face. Kalyn also reads her blog and has cooked several of her recipes. The Pioneer Woman has been writing a cookbook and I, like all her other followers, have been reading about her whole process and looking forward to the day it would be finished.

The other day I clicked on to have my daily reading and the title is "It is Finished". Yes, she has finished the cookbook. I called JC, " Would you please do me a favor?"

JC: Sure, lady, what?

Me: Go to Pioneer Woman blog and I'll show you.

(Now keep in mind - I have done this to him often. I show him things on Pioneer Woman AND I always call him and get him to do my internet ordering for me. He is such a good son to put up with my funny quirks.)

JC: OK, I'm there.

Me: Look she has finished her cookbook! I am so excited! Please click on and preorder me two of the books. One for me and one for Kalyn for Christmas.

JC: Ok, I will.

Now, the next day - I am still so excited about all this and I am talking to JC on the phone. "Did you get my cookbooks ordered, I do not want them to sell out?"

JC: laughingly says "No I did not."

Me: What? Why not?

JC: Mom, I was just about to finish the order and Kalyn called and said "Bro, the Pioneer Woman has finished her cookbook and she will be in Austin for a book signing. You HAVE got to go to Austin for me and get one of the books signed for Mom for Christmas."

So he click on cancel. Started laughing. Told Kalyn what he had been doing and said, "I am just going to tell both of you and I will go to Austin and get both of you a signed cookbook."


JC, sorry we put you in the middle.

Kalyn, thank you for thinking of this absolutely wonderful idea for my Christmas gift. I can't wait to get it, I know it is going to be wonderful. I will also enjoy giving you yours!


Gratitude: Blogs.


Prayer: That my children will continue to always love me - even with my funny quirks.