Two Things You Need To Know

I have been away from this blog for awhile, I guess.  For me, anyway.  Well, I am back with some information you must know.  It has the potential to really make an impact on your life!

Here's the story:

Yesterday afternoon I had the challenge joy of taking Alex shopping for a new round of dress pants.  And a shirt.  I swear, everytime this boy young man has a performance, he has outgrown his clothes!  The last time he wore his black pants, they were so tight to button that the zipper was all puckered.  Come on now, you know exactly what I'm describing.  We've all been there.  I can't believe how he's grown.  I feel like I went from the boy's department to the men's department overnight!  He's now a 15 1/2, 34/35 dress shirt.  Okay, really now.  Really?  And, it has to be a slim cut.  And it can't be too "busy", but it has to have color.  And apparently dark plum is just too close to pink.  And stripes are "busy" unless it's monochromatic.  And after agonizingly searching enjoyably browsing through just about every dress shirt, it turns out he has pretty good taste.  Who knows how he will perform his solo Saturday for the judge, but I do know he'll look great doing it.

So once our mission was complete and he was satisfied, and after making a quick trip into Trader Joes for some "necessaries", I ran into a normal grocery store for just one thing I needed for dinner.  In the checkout line I noticed the Women's World magazine.  It made me smile, because my grandma loved this magazine.  She bought it every week without fail.  And everytime I would go to her house, for as long back as I can remember, I'd read her Women's World magazine.  On the cover right now is Oprah, with a big headline about her diet soup.  And, no kidding, sitting ON her shoulder is a cupcake with enough frosting to frost an entire cake!  So I couldn't resist, and I bought it.

And I learned some very important things while reading it last night.  Grandma knew what she was doing in choosing her reading material, apparently.  Life changing information in there.  Here are two things I learned that I think you need to know:

1.  "Save $$$ by nibbling chocolate!"
"Before you go shopping, enjoy a handful of M&M's or a few Hershey's Kisses or a couple bites from your favorite chocolate bar.  There's strong evidence that nibbling chocolate helps prevent you from falling for snazzy marketing displays or sales that tempt you to purchase items you don't actually need!  University of Utah researchers say the credit goes to the amino acid tryptophan, which is abundant in the sweet treat.  Tryptophan helps your body produce serotonin, a brain chemical that helps curb impulsive spending."

Hmm.  I've always wondered how to avoid snazzy marketing displays.

2.  "Live six years longer by ditching your diet!"
"People who carry 10 to 20 extra pounds at middle age live about six years longer than their thinner counterparts, says a Tokyo University study.  Turns out, skinny folks have weaker immune systems, making it harder for them to fend off diseases."

So, essentially, the November/December baking, combined with not running, controlled my impulsive spending and gained me six years!

Pumpkin Pancakes

You know I'm really not a fan of a picture-less recipe, but that's what it's going to have to be today!  A pancake is not all that hard to imagine, is it?

I made a double batch of these last night and am freezing them individually (laid out on a parchment-lined baking sheet), then putting them into gallon zip-loc bags.  Then we can just grab out however many we need for a quick snack or breakfast and cook them in the toaster like an eggo waffle.

These would be a great breakfast for this weekend too!

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups Bisquick
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
2 TBSP sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Whisk together all ingredients in a large mixing bowl just until well-combined.  Let rest for 10 minutes.

Preheat griddle to 350 and pour or ladle onto griddle.  Cook on one side until edges start to bubble, flip and cook until done.  Enjoy!

You know the economy is bad when...

...even Edgar scans the ads looking for a deal:

Got a better caption??  I'd love to hear it!

Bird Poo on My Purse

I know what you are thinking with the title of this post.  You think it's some clever reference, something that will make sense only if you read through a long, thought-provoking story that will have some sort of subtle meaning.

Sorry to disappoint, but this is literally a post about bird poo on my purse.  It's a simple story.  I ran into Safeway for a few things, needing to hustle home and finish up my on-line, riveting training on discrimination and safety and stuff.  As I was walking quickly back to my car, something caught the corner of my vision, just enough to make me wonder what it was.  In the same instant, as I'm having the "I wonder what..." thought, I heard a "splat."  A seagull.  A big, well-fed seagull.  Dropped one right over the top of me.  I didn't get to ask him what his target was.  My head?  My white jacket?  My big, turquoise bag?  If it was the bag, he is an accurate bird.  Two big splats right on the side of that bag.  Yuck.

I'm just not a fan of bird poo on my purse.

Guest Blogger: Brenna!

***Here's the introduction to this post:  while I was gone on Saturday, the big fallen tree was being cut and removed.  There was an unavoidable incident that resulted in a broken fence post as the tree was coming down.  Brad said, "Go have your mom take pictures, this will be a great blog post!"  Well, I wasn't even there, so Brenna grabbed the camera and took pictures.  So, it's only fitting that she write this post and explain from her perspective what this day was like.  That being said, please welcome my guest blogger, Brenna!***

You have probably heard of the big section of the tree that fell during the really strong wind.  Well on Saturday afternoon, my dad went out to cut it up and take it away.  Mr. Arend, came over to help him do this hard project.  Along with Mr. Arend, Thomas also came to help out hauling limbs.  This was a cold, very bright and sunny day and they worked very hard.  Hopefully they were wearing ear plugs because the sound of the chainsaw was piercing.  I loved the smell of the tree limb branches that came greeting me in the gentle wind.  But that soon ended when the chainsaw's loud noises and smokey smell interfered with the wonderful smell of the tree sap.  Here are some of the pictures showing our day:

Thomas was working hard hauling limbs.

 Alex's first time using the chainsaw!

This is where the tree limb fell.

Mr. Arend was throwing the branches into a pile.

Go Thomas!

This is the pile in the woods of tree branches and sticks.

Lots of saw dust!

OOOF!

Archie had a great time snacking on the little twigs!

Archie wanted to play instead of work!

Thats a big pile!

Goodbye Fruit tree!

The big project is all done!

That would pretty much sum up that project!  There was only a problem with the fence, the tip of a post fell off they just set it on the top of the post but my dad will have to replace the post.  They tried to save it!  Other than that it was a very successful project!  Good job Mr. Arend, Thomas, Alex and Daddy!

Remembering Grandma

**This is a post I wrote back in August, sharing some thoughts of my sweet Grandma Bryan.  Early this morning, she passed away very peacefully.  I thought this was a fitting time to re-post this, as a tribute to her.  I'm happy that she is living large in Heaven and not confined to her bed, and I'm so sad that our time here together is over.  Lots of mixed emotions today...lots of sweet memories:

This weekend I was able to see my sweet Grandma. For quite some time, every time I see her I am acutely aware that I could be seeing her for the last time. Now I find myself hoping, and I say this with more love for her than my heart can hold, that this last time was my last visit. I am hoping...for her sake, primarily...that her time to go Home is soon. She has deteriorated so much since this picture was taken, on her 90th birthday, in March. She struggles to put together a full sentence. She struggles to find words to express what she feels. She struggles to move from one room to another. She struggles to be awake when it's day and asleep when it's night. Her life is now, in many ways, a struggle.


It hasn't always been this way for her. All of my life, she has been a strong woman. She has survived a lot. She has buried 2 of her 4 children, that alone an unimaginable pain. She raised her 4 children on a farm, growing most all of the food her family ate. They also raised their own beef and chickens. She grew beautiful roses. On the hot summer days, she would "spray down the patio" to keep the house cool. She once painted her barn by herself because she grew impatient waiting for my Grandpa to get to it. And she bragged for years about how great it looked. She made fabulous Christmas candies and cookies. I remember clearly the anticipation of getting to her house to see the spread of treats on her kitchen counter. She drank one "swig" of Pepsi every night before bed. Every night. She drank coffee out of a pretty cup and saucer every morning. The clinking of her cup setting down on her saucer was what woke up all the grandkids sprawled out in sleeping bags on her living room floor. She loved when one of us would crawl our sleepy-eyed selves into her lap. She loved her perfume heavy. One hug from Grandma and you smelled like her for the rest of the day. She loved a clean car. Always swore it truly drove better clean. She told me one summer that bright red toenails made your legs look more tan. She had very strong political views. She had a very, very strong disgust for one particular politician. One particular blessing of her dementia was not realizing that particular politician actually ran for president this year. None of us could have endured the ranting that would have produced. She believed all the headlines on tabloid magazines in the grocery store were pretty near factual, especially in these later years. She wouldn't buy that "trash" but loved to read them in line at the grocery store. She loved to sit out on the patio, drinking iced tea, and visit. Never, ever a lull in conversation. She has volumes of photo albums full of so many family memories. One of her favorite expressions of frustration was "horse feathers." It still makes me grin to hear her say that in my mind. I always knew I was loved by her. She has filled a huge void in my life since my mom died. Hearing her tell me that my mom would have been proud of me and would have loved my children brings unspeakable joy and peace to my heart. She has been such a joy to me, and I've been so blessed to have her be my Grandma.


It hurts my heart to see her like this now. I'm positive she doesn't remember we were even there. The goodbye was slow this time. I wanted to just keep sitting there and holding her very frail hand. And yet another part of me wanted to get out of there as quickly as I could. I didn't want to allow any pictures to cement themselves in my mind, because this is not how I want to remember her. But I chose to make the goodbye slow, savor her touch knowing it could be the last. She told me again, as she has for a long time now, that she doesn't have much time left. I asked her if she was afraid. She said an emphatic no, although I'm sure there is some. I asked her if she was certain where she was going when she died. She said an emphatic yes. I told her I was fully counting on being with her forever someday in Heaven. She said she's planning on it, too. And I believe it.

 
So the slow goodbye is really a "see ya later", not a final goodbye. But it's still tough to say, and I will miss having her in my life in so many ways.

Happy National Pie Day ~ Reese's Pie

Remember that crazy list of "holidays" I posted awhile back?  The one that led to the Fig Newton catastrophe??  Well, in case you haven't checking in with your calendar, let me remind you that today is National Pie Day!!  (According to whatever.)

So in honor of this special day, I played around last night with a new pie.  I combine a couple recipes to make this, and I have to pat myself on the back.  This is a most spectacular pie.  So.  Good.  Very, very rich, even for me.  But still...so good.  If you are a fan of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, you must try this pie.  A little piece goes a long way since it's so rich, so you can eat less and practically be healthy about it.  So it's almost like this is good for you.  So I'm almost giving you a health food for National Pie Day.  You're welcome.

Reese's Pie

Chocolate cookie crust (either store bought or homemade will work)

for peanut butter filling:
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup peanut butter (use something good like Jiff, not the organic "I need to be stirred" kind.)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 (8 oz.) carton Cool Whip

for chocolate ganache topping:
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup heavy cream

Prepare peanut butter filling:
Beat together softened cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth.  Beat in powdered sugar (no need to sift) until smooth.  Add Cool Whip and beat again until well-combined.

Scoop into prepared chocolate crust, smooth to an even layer with a spatula or knife.  Refrigerate pie for at least 1 hour.

here's what it looks like at this step

For chocolate ganache:
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and cream.  Microwave for 30 seconds and stir well.  Continue microwaving in 15 second intervals until the chocolate is well melted and warm.  Set aside to let cool, stirring occasionally.

When cool to the touch, pour over the top of peanut butter filling.  Sprinkle the top with chopped peanuts, if desired.  Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.

the final, delicious product.  notice how over-flowing it was?  all the more yum...

If you use a store-bought chocolate crust, this pie will be very full and you may not be able to use all the chocolate without it running over.  A homemade crust will make a slightly bigger pie and hold it better.

This is a super fast pie to make, and very, very rich.  Serve in small slices.  Mmmm....