Smash Your Glass and Tell Your Tale

Here are some spelling words...

2011-06-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

We know English is a screwy language. What gets me is the fact that there are some common words that are misspelled or misused very often. To help you with this, we present the following link to The Oatmeal and the article "Ten words you need to stop misspelling."

Enjoy.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/misspelling

Life Intrudes

2011-05-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since we have updated this blog. Life has a way of getting the way of your plans. The end of the school year is rapidly approaching. Mine ends Friday, Sheila's ends the Friday following. There are always a million things to do at the end, from getting final grades turned to making sure the classroom materials are properly stored.

It's a busy time, the month before school ends, but it's more than that. Blogging is only one of our creative outlets. We paint, scrapbook, draw, cook, journal, build models, and any number of related activities. That means that we don't always pay as much attention to this blog as others might to theirs. What free time we have may be devoted to other creative outlets than sitting here typing. If you have missed us, please forgive our reduced output and understand that there are other things that are taking our time.

If you continue to follow along, we will be posting some of our other creative endeavors here, so stay tuned!

Civil rights pioneer imparts lessons to Riverside students | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

2011-04-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

Walt appeared with this remarkable, inspirational man.

Civil rights pioneer imparts lessons to Riverside students | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Try These Recipes!!!

2011-02-24T15:12:00.001-08:00

Hi,
To the three or four people who actually read this blog, here are some EASY and DELICIOUS recipes for you and your family. Feel free to share them with others. The first two are ideas I got from going to Dream Dinners. I like DD, but can't afford the $200+ costs each month. I still love to cook, but I never seem to have/make the time any more, so I hope you like these as much as we do:

1. Meatballs Marinara from the freezer

Purchase several aluminum cooking pans from the grocery store - the kind that come with lids that you crimp onto the top of the pan. If you want a large serving, buy large pans. If you want to serve 2 or 3 people, buy small pans and you will get more from this recipe (which can always be doubled if needed). Buy the OMG large bag of frozen, pre-cooked meatballs from the grocery store. You will get a nice large bag from Costco or from Smart and Final. Buy a large jar (or two) of your favorite marinara sauce, and a large bag of shredded mozzarella cheese. Spray non-stick cooking spray into your aluminum pan and on the lid (it goes foil-side down and white side up). Divide the meatballs between the number of pans you got. Pour a generous amount of marinara sauce over them, and sprinkle with plenty of mozzarella. At this point, you can be done, or you can sprinkle onto the top any of the following: Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, garlic salt, sliced black olives, etc. Secure lid by crimping all the way around. Use a sharpie marker to label your entree and the date you made it. Put in the freezer. When you want to eat these, either thaw in fridge the night before, or pop them into the oven frozen. Leave the lid on. Cook at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes so they will heat through. Then, remove the lid and cook additional 10 minutes so the cheese gets bubbly. Serve alone with bread and salad, or make some pasta to go with them. They are also good in hoagie rolls for a meatball sandwich. Leftovers microwave well the next day for lunch. You can make plenty of these and enjoy any time!!

2. BBQ Chicken straight from freezer to oven

Following directions above, prepare as many aluminum pans as needed. Into the bottom of each, put frozen boneless, skinless chicken...use breast meat or the breast strips. Pour a generous amount of your favorite BBQ sauce over the top. Top with lid and crimp. These are best if you thaw overnight the day before you plan to cook them. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, removing the lid carefully for the last 10 minutes. Cut into a piece of chicken to be sure it is cooked and juices run clear. Be careful removing from oven, and the sauce can be quite sloshy. Serve with salad and mashed potatoes, or whatever you like.

3. Tortellini Minestrone Casserole (stolen from Betty Crocker)

1 package refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 12-oz package green beans or mixed veggies
1 15-oz can diced Italian-style tomatoes, undrained
1 8-oz can tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees, Spray a 2-quart baking dish with non-stick spray. Put in everything except cheese and stir. Cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover, stir well, sprinkle with cheese, and bake additional 10-15 minutes.

I would add sliced black olives, mozzarella cheese, and some Italian dried herbs on top for that last 10-15 minutes, if it were me. I also think you could add mushrooms, drained artichoke hearts, a can of rinsed and drained small white beans, or other veggie of choice to the mixture, if desired. Super easy!!!

Hope this motivates you to get in the kitchen. And, I hope it helps save time as you prepare meals for you, your partner, or a whole bunch of kids!

Email me if you have any questions. If you try something, please leave a comment. I will give a special prize to all comments I get (which will take a week or two to order...but I really want comments!).

Science rules!

2011-02-17T21:13:00.000-08:00

You must watch this Irish comedian. He understands how science works, and why pseudoscience doesn't.

Blepharitus

2011-01-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

Because life must remain interesting, here is the definition of my latest endeavor:

Blepharitis (pronounced /blɛfərˈaɪtɨs/ BLEF-ər-EYE-tis) is an ocular condition characterized by chronic inflammation of the eyelid, the severity and time course of which can vary. Onset can be acute, resolving without treatment within 2–4 weeks (this can be greatly reduced with lid hygiene), but more generally is a long standing inflammation varying in severity. It may be classified as seborrhoeic, staphylocccal, mixed, posterior or meiobomitis, or parasitic.

Wanna see?

Happy 2011!

2011-01-01T14:34:00.000-08:00

For the next 12 months, I will be exposed to the year's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. And so...

I choose LOVE
I choose JOY
I choose PEACE
I choose PATIENCE
I choose KINDNESS
I choose GOODNESS
I choose GENTLENESS
I choose SELF-CONTROL

To these I commit my year. And when each day of this year is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

(loosely paraphrased from an inspirational message by Max Lucado, by way of my local craft shop).

Rally To Restore Sanity on 10-30-10

2010-10-31T18:52:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Washington DC. We attended Jon Stewart's Rally To Restore Sanity, along with 200,000 other people from around America. We tried to squeeze a lot of sightseeting into one day, so the pictures above show some of what we did. We saw The White House, The Washington Monument, The Lincoln Memorial, The Capitol, Ben's Chili Bowl (where the president took the Russian President for lunch...and we ate the world's largest, heart-attack inducing breakfast), and everything in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (including the Apollo 11 Columbia Command Module and the Spirit of St. Louis).

The most surreal thing, however, was the "duet" on stage. Cat Stevens (now known as Yusef Islam) sang "Peace Train" while Ozzy Osbourne sang "Crazy Train". The duet/debate was settled by the O Jays singing "Love Train". Amazing!

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Aaron Paul for winning the Emmy tonight for his role in Breaking Bad. He deserves it alone for the "I've Got Nothing" speech he gave in one episode of season 3.

If you haven't watched Breaking Bad, seasons 1 and 2 are now on DVD...contact Netflix or fly to your nearest retailer. Be prepared for thought-provoking, original and gritty programming; the best show on TV. It is not for the faint-of-heart or for children.

Please Get Involved

2010-08-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Read the quote at the end of my rant. Unfortunately, it was taken from a fictional TV show. Then, see what you can do to help your local school. Have a kid in school? Then volunteer to help in the classroom or to take projects home (teachers have lots to cut, glue, and grade). And, get your kid to school on time, make him or her attend every day that he isn't sick, and don't pick him up early on Fridays just because it is more convenient. Teachers cannot teach kids who are absent or tardy. If you don't have kid at school, consider helping anyway. And, drop off your old National Geographic magazines or extra art supplies...there is always a teacher in need (we actually spend hundreds of dollars on our classrooms each year because there often is NOT a budget for copy paper or pencils or crayons). It seems so much easier to bitch about how bad the schools are and how teachers are terrible, rather than to proactively get involved. I really, really don't know a bad teacher. I don't know one teacher who doesn't genuinely care. I do, however, know a lot of teachers who have about eight years of college and grad school who are getting paid much, much less than doctors and lawyers with the same number of years in college for their specialties.

Do you realize that our country has made a commitment to educate EVERY child from five to eighteen...for free? Other countries, those who get featured on the evening news and always seem to have better test scores, they don't educate everyone. They track kids who might be successful and them give them an education. They don't offer much to kids who don't show promise early in life. So, when we compare test scores, we are comparing all our kids against a few of theirs who were given a very monitored education in a limited subject area. And, while we are at it, it seems a bit bizarre to me that we expect every kid to be good in every subject every year...and we are willing to blame and fire teachers or withhold raises if their entire class doesn't score highly (and the bar is raised higher every year). Did you know I suck at math? I am great at history, science, language arts, cooking (!), but I wouldn't be able to score higher and higher in math...is every kid going to be good at everything? Were you?

If you want the future to look bleak as hell, then ignore the public school system. If you are realistic, you will realize that the children of this country will be the citizens tomorrow (and will be working with and voting with private school kids and home school kids and anyone else that thinks they can escape public school).

Ok. That is my soapbox speech, and I do feel better now. But...remember to read the quote:

(This is a quote from the TV show "The West Wing'. It was said by one of the secretaries of something or other...played by Rob Lowe).

"Education is the silver bullet. Education is everything. We don't need little changes. We need gigantic revolutionary changes. Schools should be palaces. Competition for the best teachers should be fierce. They should be getting six-figure salaries. Schools should be incredibly expensive for government and absolutely free of charge for its citizens, just like national defense. That is my position. I just haven't figured out how to do it yet."

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation, Part 5...final entry

2010-07-21T15:19:00.001-07:00

The American Museum of Natural History in New York City is the site of the movie "Night At The Museum" with Ben Stiller. So, most people were seeking the talking head from Easter Island (see first picture below). However, we were getting a behind-the-scene tour of the primate fossils from a wonderful intern named Michelle. She and Walt connected through an internet group (they are both "goons") and she generously gave us three hours of her time to see and touch the fossils that take up 10 floors of the museum. Much of what is on display for the public is reproduced...we were actually touching the real stuff. Walt was a bit speechless, which is shocking for those of you who know him well.

We had an amazing opportunity when we met Dr. Andres Giallombardo, who just completed his dissertation on the link between placental mammals and the earlier marsupial and monotremes from the Jurassic period. He had a one-of-a-kind skull of the tiniest mammal you've ever imagined, found in the Gobi Desert. The skull was over 100 million years old. He showed the mandible and surviving tooth and let us view it through the microscope. Amazing. We are so thankful to him and to Michelle for their time...we saw stuff that visitors don't see, and you know how interesting that was for us. Walt will have some interesting power point presentations for his middle school students. By the way, Michelle turns out to be from Moreno Valley, and got interested in science in middle school, so who knows where Walt's presentation will lead...he is teaching the future scientists.

Finally, you will notice shelves and boxes. There are fossils that were recovered over 100 years ago that haven't even been open because there just are not enough researchers to work on them. Can you imagine? One of the people who brought those fossils to the museum is Edward Cope, famed paleontologist. You will see Walt standing at his actual desk. And, you will see Walt reading 1st and 2nd editions of Cope's and Darwin's books from the stacks of the research library. Speaking of books, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson who heads the Hayden Planetarium was unable to meet with us due to a teaching commitment, but sent his regrets in the form of a signed copy of his book The Pluto Files. Read it, when you get the chance. Dr. Tyson is the main reason Pluto is no longer considered a planet in our solar system, and his writings are an enjoyable reading experience.

This is the end of our photolog from the trip. We enjoyed putting our feet on foreign soil again as we toured two provinces of Eastern Canada. We enjoyed the daunting task of learning Manhattan - a place we cannot wait to return to. We enjoyed beautiful views of the Atlantic sea and the NYC skyline that will hopefully stay with us throughout the next school year when days are stressful, and we learned a lot about primate fossil research (did you know there was an animal that lived in North America that is really half cat and half dog with a long, prehensile tail that allowed it to swing between trees in the forests that used to cover our country?).

What a great getaway. Thanks for reading, looking, and sharing it with us.

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation, Part 4

2010-07-17T13:50:00.001-07:00

First, I have to say that we left our hearts in New York (yes, I know, that is a San Francisco song...but we really loved NYC). We had a WONDERFUL hotel...the Excelsior on W. 81st Street between Columbus and Central Park. We had a room on the top floor facing lower Manhattan, so you can see the pictures taken from our window (in the first picture below, our room is top, to the right, directly under the decorative part of the roof). The Excelsior was located across the street from the American Museum on Natural History, which was Walt's destination, so it was most convenient. The ball you see is the Hayden Planetarium. We spent a lot of time at the museum (that will be featured in the final set of pictures tomorrow), and took taxis downtown to see some sites and to find our favorite British restaurant - Pret A Manger. In the evenings, we walked Central Park to view the robins, the fireflies, and the Native New Yorkers. We also discovered a pizza place that was amazing - just picture a typical New Yorker saying "how ya doin'...watcha want ta eat" in that typical accent. We might never eat pizza in California again. The taste and texture of the Pizza Margherita spoiled us!

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation, Part 3

2010-07-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

Some of these photos might look redundant, but we got up at 4:30 a.m. so we wouldn't miss the trip back into the harbor before docking at 7:00 a.m., showing some of the same shots we took when leaving the harbor 5 days before. The sunrise over the Manhattan skyline was amazing, and we caught the Statue of Liberty in the morning sun...different than the evening pictures we got on the way out. The deck of the ship was virtually empty - why sleep when you can see a view like this? I'm glad we got up early. The fourth photo shows the area where the World Trade Center towers were located. From the ship I could see how vast an area it was, left empty except for the cranes that are still working to clear debris and rebuild. Towards the bottom of the photos you will see the top of the Empire State Building, originally intended to dock Zeppelins when they thought those would be the travel mode of choice in the 1930s. Strong winds put an end to that idea. Finally, you will see a pair of deck chairs. We started our voyage on those chairs, and then returned to the same chairs to view the docking procedures. Most people stayed away from that deck and we enjoyed the relaxing privacy.

These photos are probably more meaningful to us that you, so thanks for letting me share them anyway. The next blog posting will feature photos of NYC.

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation, Part 2

2010-07-12T20:45:00.001-07:00

On June 21st, the summer solstice, we spent the day in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Halifax is a beautiful town (perhaps the size of Redlands) where no resident is more than 20 miles from the sea. They are a fishing and lobster-trapping town. The people cook their lobster in sea water and then dip the meat in vinegar rather than butter. They grow a lot of blueberries, as well. Our tour guide gave us a blueberry dessert recipe that is wonderful - email me if you want a copy!

First, we headed to Peggy's Cove, which is a lot like Cape Cod and is now a national heritage site. The view was amazing. Walt and I laugh every time we see a lighthouse (an inside joke), but this one was amazing! About a year ago, a rogue wave covered the houses before washing back out to sea. The damage was minimal and no lives were lost. Also, Peggy's Cove was the home of an artist named DeGarthe, who carved a mural of fishermen into the ubiquitous rock.

Our afternoon was spent at the Fairview Cemetery which has 330 bodies of people who died on Titanic and were buried in Halifax, either because they were unidentified or because their families couldn't afford to ship their bodies home. The grave markers are laid out in the shape of a ship's bow. Walt made several grave rubbings, with the permission of our tour guide.

The next day, June 22, we went into St. John, New Brunswick in search of seafood. First, we enjoyed their huge town market and then went to Billy's Seafood Company for a long lunch of fish and chips and Atlantic salmon with maple glaze. Billy's food put any local SoCal restaurants to shame (including Market Broiler and Fisherman's Grill).

New Brunswick neighbors Quebec, so everything is bilingual. We found the people of Eastern Canada to be kind and helpful and the views to be astoundingly beautiful.

What We Did On Our Summer Vacation, Part 1

2010-07-11T18:54:00.001-07:00

We got the heck outta town to try and forget a crazy school year. We went to NYC to begin our cruise to Eastern Canada, returning to NYC for a few days on our own. Here are the first photos, showing our view of Manhattan from the deck of the ship. Walt and I used our time on board to RELAX!!! Pulling away from the harbor at 5 p.m., we enjoyed a beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty with the sun setting behind her. Then, we found deck chairs that were far away from the loud "Lido" crowd and sat to watch the ocean go by. Very cathartic (there were 3500 people on our ship, including 800 children...most people wanted to swim and party, so we stayed as far away from them as possible). We also returned to our cabin each evening to a new set of towel animals made by our steward. I managed to get sunburned on the first day at sea (putting an Irish person in the sun is like putting a fork in a microwave - just not a good idea). We also took the opportunity to SLEEP! By the way, the hideous smokestack is named "Fun Freddy."

Adorable!

2010-07-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Meet the latest addition to our family. Her name is Hermes. (Correction: she has been renamed...as of July 11th her name is "Totoro." Unfamiliar with that name? Watch the animated movie from Disney/Ghibli.)

Blueberries!

2010-06-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

For those of you who like your antioixidants fresh, we have to recommend the Temecula Berry Company. Acres and acres of blueberries. Fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. You have to pick them yourself, which is half the fun. The bushes are currently producing huge numbers of berries. Just put your bucket under a branch and give it a shake and load and loads of berries are your reward.

Check them out! It's a relaxing time, but you have to hurry! The blueberry season ends July 2!

Here is their website:

http://www.temeculaberryco.com/

2010-05-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

Baby Sloths!

For some reason, baby sloths are the cutest thing ever. Don't know why, but they are.

Here's proof:

Anderson cooper waxes eloquent about sloths:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2010/05/20/ac.the.shot.sloths.cnn?iref=allsearch

And last but not least, the same video footage, without Anderson Cooper.
http://www.vimeo.com/11712103

You Have GOT To Watch This

2010-05-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

You know that we don't tend to watch current TV shows. We have never seen Seinfeld, Sex and the City, Vampire Diaries, American Idol or any other popular shows. However, this is one recommendation that we stand by...rent and watch seasons 1 and 2 of BREAKING BAD. It is currently running its third season on the AMC channel now on Sunday nights. The premise is wild but the show is the best I've ever seen: Walt, the middle school science teacher, decides to make the best meth available and sell it to provide for his family. As you can imagine, his decisions hurt many people. The show is gritty, touching, real, and has us totally addicted (no pun intended). As Walt says , "RESPECT THE CHEMISTRY!"

Age is just a number, right???

2010-05-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Well...it finally happened. I have a girl in my kindergarten class whose mother was in my first class ever. She said "weren't you my teacher?" God did I suddenly feel old. Then, I realized that the kids in my first class (4th grade) would be 28 years old now. That is just too shocking to think about. When I get grandkids of students, I will quit!!

Mmmmm! Ring the dinner bell!

2010-04-18T22:57:00.000-07:00

We used a lot of our organic co-op food to make tonight's dinner. The photo doesn't do it justice...but the meal looked great and tasted even better. We had yams (ok, maybe sweet potatoes...they were the reddish ones), Indian spiced beets with the juice and zest of the lemon we got, sauteed swiss chard with green onions and parmesan, curried chicken salad using the red bell pepper and cilantro, and strawberry protein shakes. It was awesome, healthful, delicious!

Last night (not photographed), we had chicken asada tacos with the fresh cilantro, avocado, and green onions, and a romaine salad with orange slices.

YUM!

In the words of the Brits, "I can cook, me!"

2010-04-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

I made a cake using Fondant. It is my first try, and it is imperfect, as you can see at the base of the cake, but was fun (and I haven't even taken a class - can you believe it?). It is a chocolate devil's food cake with milk chocolate filling and raspberry/cherry glaze under the fondant, a la Bonne Maman. Here is proof. If you are good at using fondant, please don't point and laugh at my first effort.

Organic Co-Op

2010-04-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

We joined an Organic co-op, where you can get baskets of fresh, organic fruits and veggies each Saturday morning...most locally grown. Here is what we got this week: oranges, tangarines, bananas, romaine, cilantro, kale, green onions, leeks, tomatoes, swiss chard, yams, avocados, lemons, strawberries, red bell peppers, and even some white irises. All this for only $22. The previous week had cucumbers and other varieties - whatever is in season locally is what you get.

The more people who join, the more buying power. You probably don't save a ton of money over spending $22 at the grocery store, but you get much fresher produce that is helping a local farmer. There is a Beaumont pick up location and a Redlands one. For more info, check out http://www.meetup.com/organicproduce/

How much is the universe worth?

2010-04-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

If you care about your country, education and the future, you need to watch this video clip. We welcome your comments.

NewrRecipe perfect for springtime

2010-04-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

You cannot lose with this recipe for Pineapple Angel Food Cake!

1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained
1 pkg (4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
1 cup thawed Cool Whip topping
1 pre-made Angel Food Cake
Strawberries or Blueberries to garnish

1. Mix pineapple and juice with the dry pudding mix in medium bowl. Gently stir in Cool Whip.

2. Cut cake horizontally into three layers. Place bottom cake layer, cut-side up, on serving plate. Spread 1/3 of the pudding mixture over bottom layer. Cover with middle cake layer and spread with 1/3 of the pudding mix. Top with remaining cake layer and spread the rest of the pineapple mixture on top.

3. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Top with strawberries or blueberries just before serving.

Two cool things about this cake: 1) you can use the low-fat or low-sugar pudding and cool whip, if desired, and 2) if you don't want to build a whole cake, serve individual Angel Food cake slices on dessert plates with a dollop of the pineapple cream on top.

As you can see in my photo, I just threw it together (no Martha Stewart perfectionist cooking around here!). So far, it has kept in our fridge for 3 days and is still GREAT. It is sOOOOO easy and sOOOOO seasonal!! Enjoy!

Wisdom...Reader Beware

2010-04-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have to start with a warning, because some things I say might be offensive. If you truly know us, it probably will come as no surprise. Also, if you are friends with us, this shouldn't change our friendship.

Walt and I are not religious. We are what you would call "non-believers". The reason is that we subscribe to the laws of science, and they are different from the beliefs of religion. Science relies on observation...and the steps of the Scientific Method. Religion relies on faith. It is impossible to be both scientific and religious...that would be like playing golf but using basketball rules.

However, we strive to live our lives seeking wisdom wherever it can be found. My dad was a very wise man. He showed me that religious texts and Star Trek plots have a lot to teach, but he thought organized religion was losing the message. My philosophy teacher at CSUSB told me that he had problems with a religion that would accept a murderer who asks forgiveness on his deathbed, but won't allow Ghandi into heaven because he wasn't Christian. These people have influenced my life, caused me to think, and to reach the conclusions that I have reached.

Why am I telling you this? Because I've recently encountered wisdom and compassion and wanted that to be the message of this blog:

1. We were invited to a baptism of a beautiful girl I know from school. She was baptised at the LDS ward. Her parents did not think we would come, because we don't believe, but we wanted to go to show our support for the family. Just because we are atheists doesn't mean we don't value family, traditions, and other people's celebrations. So, it was an amazing hour filled with talks about the importance of family. That was wisdom! The family is the core unit that hopefully supports each of us unconditionally. I enjoyed being there for Amanda and sharing in what was important to her. Thanks, Amanda!

2. We went to LA to see the Dalai Lama for the second time. Each time I see him, or read his books, I am reminded that much about my lifestyle is damaging - the materialism, the hurried days, the lack of contact with others, etc. The Dalai Lama talks about compassion...not just feeling sorry for others, but truly believing that we are all interconnected and that love and compassion for our fellow human beings are the most peaceful, productive choice...not war, not hatred.

He was speaking on behalf of a charity that goes around the world finding orphanages that have no color, no hugging, no support for the children. Can you imagine being all alone in the world and laying in your grey bed for 23 hours per day, looking at grey walls and only being touched once in a while when you get your grey dinner and perhaps a quick, cold bath? The group is teaching orphanage caretakers to hug, cuddle, sing, and bringing colors into the orphanage so kids now eat from a pink cereal bowl, looking at colorful wall decorations, playing with bright toys and puzzles. They said these kids often arrive with no names...and if no one knows your name, who will you become?

With or without religion, we all have the same desire - we want a happy day, a happy life. We all want a good night's sleep and inner peace.

The Dalai Lama talked about the importance of motherhood - your dad doesn't have to be present, but your mom is at your birth. In those first few minutes, if your mother wraps you and holds you and feeds you, you immediately start to have feelings of attachment and affection for others. If your mom does not do that, you have instant feelings of abandonment. Without attachment, a person can easily speak harsh words, squash a bug, hurt a dog, or kill a human. Compassion, initially taught by moms around the world, means that we know our survival depends on the care we give ALL others, animals or humans.

So, I will stop the lecture for now, although I reserve the right to talk about wisdom when and where I find it...a church, my dad's memory, a religious or political figure. Being atheists does not mean we are bad, or backsliding, or anything else. It means we are looking for evidence. Walt and I are always looking. Just keep this thought in mind, offered by a simple Tibetan monk...Have You Been Kind Today?

Thanks for listening.

Welcome, Springtime!

2010-03-18T17:43:00.001-07:00

I feel like I have been experiencing my own, personal, mental winter...between work stress and home obligations, life has seemed a bit dark and dreary for awhile. But, spring arrives this weekend, and this flower bloomed two days ago on our front porch, so I am going to enjoy the feeling of warmer days, beautiful flowers, bird song, and the Spring Solstice. I will look forward to the last day of school (only 55 days away!!!) and to a fun trip in June. Hopefully, I will also post with more frequency. Thanks for sticking with us and our attempts to keep up this blogging scrapbook.

Drawing Space: Part 3

2010-03-06T20:33:00.000-08:00

The next set of my A to Z of Astronomy:

Galaxies are collections of billions of stars. There are billions of galaxies. That's a lot of stars, and a lot of planets, and a lot of chances for life out there... Somewhere.

The Horsehead Nebula is a cloud of interstellar dust and gas. It is part of the Orion Complex, about 1500 light years from Earth. The Horsehead is a cloud of dark dust in a much brighter cloud.

Impact craters are much more common and impressive on the moon than on earth for two reasons:
1. The earth has geological processes that slowly wear away craters over the eons. The moon does not.
2. The earth has an atmosphere that destroys many meteors before they impact, and slow down most of the rest so the force of impact is somewhat lessened. The moon does not.
What this means is that anything that heads toward the moon is gonna hit, and gonna hit hard, and the evidence isn't going to be covered up for a very, very, very long time.

A Pretty Song For You

2010-02-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

Does anybody remember the old song "Mother"? You know, the one that starts "M is for the many things she gave me"?

Get that tune in your head and read my new song.

S is for the stress that probably brought this on,
T is for the temperature of one-oh-two
R is for the really painful body aches
E is for the enormous amount of Penicillin,
injected in my butt!
and
P IS FOR PUS!

Put it all together with a How-do-you-do and Strep Throat we hate you!

A moment of Science (Walt's latest article)

2010-02-09T21:56:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, I was contacted by an Australian music magazine to write a science column for them. Since 2007 they have published several of my columns on various science topics. They recently added one to their website, which is nice, because the magazine is only available around the Sydney area, so it's sometimes difficult to get copies.

If you would like to see one of my articles, you can see it at the following URL: http://musicfeeds.com.au/music/a-moment-in-science-the-theramin/

Drawing Space: Part 2

2010-01-31T21:21:00.000-08:00

Here are D, E and F.

The Doppler shift doesn't just work on sound, it also works on light. Things going really fast towards you are blue-shifted in color, while things going really fast away from you are red-shifted.

Based on a picture taken by the Apollo 17 crew, December 8, 1972, 18,000 miles from home.

Solar Flare activity is fascinating to me. The fact that, had I chosen to depict it in scale, the entire earth could fit easily under the arc of the flare I have drawn boggles my mind.

Top teachers hindered by No Child Left Behind act, UCR study finds | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

2010-01-26T11:53:00.000-08:00

Top teachers hindered by No Child Left Behind act, UCR study finds | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

Styx Rocks!

2010-01-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

We went to the Styx concert on Friday at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage. For those of you who are...younger...Styx was/is the greatest band imaginable. However, I noticed some things at the concert that I have to share with you:

1. Nearly everyone there was over 40. I was really surprised when the 20 year old girl next to me knew all the words.

2. People who are 40 or over should not try and form mosh pits...it is just unattractive. Also, they probably shouldn't dance in public (one balding guy in khakis and a tucked-in polo shirt was doing jazzercise moves, I swear).

3. Styx was GREAT, but they looked like every rock band cliche from 1970...they had skinny satin ties, feathered hair, and bell bottom pants that had animal print from the knee down. They also did the classic moves...playing the keyboard backward, two guitarists facing each other, playing the guitar over your head...typical!

4. They did two songs that were not their own: Pants On The Ground (see American Idol), and a Beatles Song...while it was okay, I wish they had performed more of their own songs...especially "Castle Walls" (turn on your computer speaker NOW!).

Walt and I have wanted to see them for over 30 years (yes, we qualify for the "old" definition). We spent 90 minutes lost in glorious classic rock, singing along because we know every word. We put their CD on in the car and played it as loud as possible on the way home (keep in mind, 30 years ago, we had their records...LPs...33 1/3...does this make sense to anyone?). I wish we had NOT left our cameras at home like obedient citizens - everyone was filming and photographing.

Tommy Shaw is still adorable.

Styx - ROCK ON!

Drawing Space

2010-01-19T19:48:00.000-08:00

Well, the creativity bug has hit me again. I have decided to do flash cards for my classroom. I need to post all the vocabulary we do over the year, plus our "No Excuse" academic vocabulary. Sometimes I do it by subject, but this year I'm doing it alphabetically. Once I'm done, my flashcards will be replacing the plain letters I have up on the wall right now.

My theme is "Astronomy", so all the terms will be related to the study of space. Here are my first few. I'll be adding more over the next few days.

Two more quotes...then I'll stop

2010-01-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to be stuck on a theme, but I've been reading so many good quotes lately that I cannot help myself. The following come from my friend, Lauren Kinney, who is celebrating the entrance of 2010 with some great thoughts:

Quote #1
John Burroughs said, "One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above all the little things."

Quote #2
Joey Adams said, "May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions."

So, I will end my interest in quotes for now and I'll start blogging all the good things that happen in 2010...look for new recipes, photos, semi-meaningless commentary on our lives, and other things that will hopefully bring some cheer.

Peace, prosperity, and, most importantly, good health to you this year. Please check out some of the sites I follow on my blog, because they are made by creative, insightful friends and strangers with wonderful things to share. And. please keep in touch via comments, letters, emails, phonecalls, etc., because the time spent with friends and with family is the most valuable time we have.

PEACE.

Happy 43rd Birthday To Me...

2009-12-30T00:08:00.000-08:00

My birthday ended about 8 minutes ago. So, I am officially 43 years of age. I had many good wishes sent through Facebook from high school friends, fun gifts from current friends (like donuts from Heidi!), and a delightful afternoon spent with mom and Walt, who generously spoiled me with goodies this year. Then, I did something I should NOT have done. I read my senior year high school yearbook from cover to cover. I suddenly saw how far away those years, those faces, those hairlines, have gone. And then, I felt very, very old. It was nostalgic, bittersweet, funny, and something that was actually hard to do. Several teachers and friends have died, so they don't have a chance to sit on the floor near midnight of a birthday and reminisce like I did. Now I feel both older, and sadder, yet thrilled to have known so many wonderful people, many of whom contacted me today.

So, I leave you with some childhood photos taken long ago, although it seems like yesterday, and a quote that will explain it all, and will, I hope, help us to value time we have NOW rather than lamenting days or moments long gone by:

NOTHING IS FARTHER AWAY THAN ONE MINUTE AGO.

The Last Quotes: #5 and #6

2009-12-25T15:50:00.000-08:00

As you digest your Xmas ham and sugar cookies (or your mince pies and "turpigen" as pictured here), I'd like to share with you the last two quotes:

Quote #5:
"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." - Ellis

Quote #6:
If you ever have the opportunity to see Patrick Stewart perform A Christmas Carol, his one-man retelling of the classic story, TAKE IT! Drive anywhere and pay anything to see him perform that show. From the moment it starts, you totally forget you are watching one man on an almost empty stage. You are transported to Victorian England and can see every character and every detail through his portrayal. You can rent the film version that was released on TNT and is now on DVD, but it isn't the quite as perfect as watching him do it on stage. So, my final Xmas quote comes from that story...

"I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year." - Dickens

(By the way, if you don't know what "turpigen" is, look it up! You can also induldge in "turducken" if the mood strikes you...you've got to love the English.)

Quote #4

2009-12-24T18:33:00.001-08:00

Someone named Turner said something that is a bit more positive than quote #3:

"Oh let's never grow too old to smile anew when Christmas comes."

Quote #3

2009-12-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

This quote makes me feel a bit sad and nostalgic.

"There's nothing sadder in this world than to awaken Christmas morning and not be a child."
Erma Bombeck

Quote #2

2009-12-23T16:32:00.000-08:00

"Christmas is a necessity. There has to be one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves."
Eric Sevareid

Quote #1

2009-12-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone else." Charles Schulz

I have collected some meaningful quotes that express my feelings for this season. Those of you who know me well know that I am a secular person, but Christmastime seems to bring a certain feeling and nostalgia no matter what you believe or don't believe. So, I'd like to share a few quotes with you over the next couple of days, and add some pictures if I can.

You can interpret the quotes however you wish and find your own meaning, but I hope you will join me in trying to keep these positive and nostalgic feelings throughout the entire year, and not just for these few weeks. Regardless, I hope you have (in the words of the British) a "Happy Christmas."

(photo taken at Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, England)

I HATE USC!

2009-11-29T21:48:00.000-08:00

If you share my hatred for the USC football team, please read this article. It is FUNNY! You also need to have knowledge of the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey...because the author of this article creates the PERFECT analogy!!

rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/USC-and-UCLA-get-territorial-over-Trojans-gratu?urn=ncaaf,205393

Don't Give Up On Us!

2009-11-29T21:43:00.000-08:00

We have been TERRIBLE about blogging lately. Here are our excuses (please pick one or more): too much turkey and pie, sinus headaches thanks to the wind, pure laziness.

So, don't give up on us...check back soon. I can promise some good recipes in the near future, a look at Walt's latest drawings, and some other random news or photos guarantee to help you sleep.

Meanwhile, back to work tomorrow!

Sheila

Happy 47th Birthday

2009-11-15T16:50:00.000-08:00

For those of you who really know Walt, you will join me in wondering how he reached 47 so quickly. He sometimes seems 60, but usually seems 12. He was 24 when I met him, so 47 seems unthinkable - where did the time go? So everyone raise a glass of Guinness...Happy Birthday, Walt!

PS...Wonder how many tire sales started today? (that's an inside joke!)

What An Accomplishment

2009-10-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

I'd like you to meet my Sister-In-Law...Walt's Sister (obviously). Today she successfully defended her dissertation, so we will be calling her Dr. Minda from now on. She worked harder than hard on that Ph.D, and we are so proud of her. She did it while working full-time in education, raising two great kids, being married, taking care of family issues...she ROCKS!

Happy Halloween

2009-10-27T17:06:00.001-07:00

Take a moment to look up the history of Halloween. So many people these days say it is "evil" but it has very religious roots. It seems like we often pick and choose our religious/historical "truths" and completely ignore other, valuable beliefs. Here comes the soapbox: why put the pagan symbols of christmas in your home (a pine tree and a yule log), but shun the pagan and early christian beliefs concerning Halloween? I think you can make October 31st as fun or as taboo as you choose, but at least familiarize yourself with the history. Read up at http://en.wikipedia.org

Meanwhile, check out this year's Halloween card!

Listen To Your Mother!

2009-10-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

Remember when your mother told you to drink plenty of fluids, wash your hands, get sleep, and go straight to the doctor when you have a fever or cough? LISTEN! I have had pneumonia, which turned into a lovely case of acute bronchitis. At first, I thought I could handle it myself (tylenol, nap, cough drops). I didn't want to miss work, because that is hard on the kids and the rest of the teaching team. Then, I got very, very scared when I spent a night completely awake - every moment - coughing, vomiting, with a temp of over 100 degrees and with an ever-increasing blood pressure. The Urgent Care doctor (very nice) told me that my bp was going up because I could not get enough air into my lungs. Now, three days since Urgent Care, I continue to cough greenish-yellow stuff, I nearly pee in my pants every time, and I have just stopped running a fever...have had a breathing treatment in the clinic, have two antibiotics, and my own inhaler.

So, don't be like me...get your butt to Urgent Care if you have any sign of a fever, a productive cough, a sleepless night, etc.

MY THANKS go to the people who helped me: Angelica (who told me so, and who brought a bean burrito - the first food I'd eaten in two days), Mary Anne (who took control of my classroom and sub - a lot of work for her ...I owe her BIG TIME), my mom (for being a typical mom and for getting me there and back again), and Sharley (for arranging my subs, even when I called at the last moment).

Friends are the most valuable thing we have on this journey!

Excellent News!

2009-09-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

I have to share a bit of good news. In August, I filled out a huge application with donorschoose.org, a group that invites teachers to ask for whatever they need and donors to help fund those needs. I asked for about $600 worth of leveled readers so my kids can take books home each night (books that they can read at their own levels). Tonight, I got the email saying that my project was fully funded by three groups (one corporation, one private individual, and one group of Inland Empire moms). Sometime in October, I will get over 100 new leveled readers for my kids to use...paid for by generous donors.

What an amazing way to end a great day! Thanks for letting me share my news with you!

Special Surprise

2009-09-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

I barely had time to say "happy 20th anniversary" to Walt before we left for school at 7:00 this morning. Upon arrival at school, I found a gigantic yellow mum outside of my classroom door. Here is the funny part: I took a quick snapshot on my cell phone and sent it to Walt's phone, saying "look what someone put outside my door." Then, I went in, walked to my desk, and suddenly discovered yellow mums EVERYWHERE in my room. (For those of you who don't know - Notre Dame lines both sides of their football field with yellow mums on opening day...which means that yellow mums have become my favorite flower). On my desk was a beautiful note, that only Walt could write, and a gift card to Michaels (because we are both enjoying nurturing our creative side). I did what any smitten woman would do...cried my eyes out with complete and utter joy. Walt and I have had a standing "rule" that we wouldn't buy flowers - it is usually a waste of money that we'd rather spend on books or on ourselves. Also, since Walt always helps with housework, I decided the help was more valuable than any flowers. So, for 20 years there have been no anniversary flowers, making today's gift even more thoughtful and special.

So, enjoy the photos. We are ready to wake up tomorrow morning and begin our next 20 years! Love is a BEAUTIFUL thing!

Just 20 Short Years Later!

2009-09-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

Well, Walt and I were married 20 years ago - September 29, 1989. I remember thinking that people were OLD when they had been married that long. I was right. We are old. I thought I would bore you with some fun and weird facts about us:

1. We were married on a Friday night at 7:00 at Trinity Baptist Church in Redlands. About 225 people attended. We had our reception in the basement. Our music was provided by bagpiper Kevin Blanford, who has since died from cancer. Our get-away car was a pink Morris Minor, which has since been sold (and if anyone finds it, we want to buy it back!).

2.Everything that was associated with our wedding is now gone: the business where we met, the restaurant where we had our first date, the Officer's Club at Norton AFB where we had our rehearsal dinner, the cabin where Walt proposed the year before, the church itself has changed names, etc. However, WE ARE STILL HERE!!!

3.My dad was nervous about walking me down the aisle because he had severe knee problems and thought he would fall.

4.Our church did not have a central aisle...weird, huh!?

5.Two hours before the wedding, my dress was not finished and several bridesmaids were still working on theirs, too. Walt's Dad was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, and he made the bow on the back of my dress (which we called the "Butt Bow").

6.In the last 20 years, Walt has decorated our house with his favorite things, such as gorilla skulls and rocket engines. We call our house the Walt and Sheila Museum.

7.In the past 20 years, I have decorated our house with things from our travels to Europe, especially our 12 trips to London. My dishes are a combination of blue and white pottery from T.G. Green and pottery from Emma Bridgewater - almost all of my serving pieces had words on them...I love words!

8.We have always owned animals, including dogs, cats, rats, pythons, guinea pigs, lizards, chameleons, various bugs (some on purpose and some not), an Australian parrot who camped in our backyard, a bird that died one year to the day after we bought it (the warranty must have run out), etc. Right now we own 4 indoor cats and one newbie that lives outdoors.

9.We are HUGE fans of anime, and have a very angry bunny in our living room.

10.We have not made our bed in 20 years. That makes my mother crazy!

Creative Every Day

2009-09-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am writing this for my friend, Kathy. She has had some major stress lately...busy job, sick mom, her own physical pain. When I read this quote, I thought instantly of her. It comes from a unique website - www.creativeeveryday.com. You should visit. I found it in a unique magazine - Artful Blogging. You should read it even if you don't care about blogging, because the stories and photos are inspiring.

So, now the quote: "Explore the possibilities for creativity in [your] everyday life - whether that be through painting, cooking, putting an outfit together, singing, gardening, doodling, or playing with the kids...everyone is creative and we enjoy life more when we allow ourselves to play with creativity in everything we do."

Think about how much creativity you have. Do you sing in the shower? That's it! Do you play word games in the car with your child? Creative!! Do you use your imagination while driving or running or doing the laundry? See! I told you - creativity is in all of us and we need to recognize it so we never feel a day is wasted or that we are falling short.

Tell me what creative thing you did today. I wore shoes that matched my clothes!

Bowling. Yes, I said BOWLING

2009-09-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

So, Walt is collecting discarded bowling balls. It is really not as strange as it sounds - his 8th grade science team is creating a lab for their Force and Motion unit, and need to have one bowling bowl for each kid in class. Here's the part I really want you to think about:

The Cabazon bowling alley is super nice. It was built in the old casino building, so they have 24 state-of-the-art lanes. The price is $2.50 per game before 4:00 p.m., and $4 per game after...plus shoe and ball rental fees I'm sure. As Walt says, that is a pretty cheap date! My next though is "I'm a really good bowler - on the Wii Bowling Game, so I wonder how I would be in a real lane?" The answer - probably pathetic, but I sure would like to give it a try.

So, we are desperately seeking bowling buddies. Wanna go with us some time...just for fun? Even if we all roll gutter balls it would probably be a hoot and wouldn't cost a lot. Let us know if you are interested.

Meanwhile, I'll keep practicing on the Wii and hope I don't pull any more back muscles (Heidi, stop laughing!).

Summoning The Gods Of Autumn

2009-09-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

I never felt that my family had as many traditions as other families. However, this is a tradition that I have honored for about 25 years now. When Autumn arrives, and it is still terribly hot in California, I make these cookies hoping to appease the gods of autumn so they will bring cooler temps. Do I believe they are listening? No...but I definitely enjoy making and eating these cookies with dreams of foggy mornings, a bit of rain, and the yummy spicy flavors associated with Autumn.

These cookies are crispier on the first day, but get soft and cake-like overnight. If you want to leave out the nuts and/or chocolate chips, they will still taste fine (although I don't know why anyone would pass up a chance to eat chocolate).

Pumpkin Cookies

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin (just the puree, not the pie mix)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 and 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 cup milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, pumpkin, and vanilla. Don't worry if it looks a bit separated. Sift together dry ingredients and stir into creamed mixture, mixing well. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips. The dough will be sticky. Drop by spoonfuls onto baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart (I cover my baking sheets with baking parchment, or you can spray them with non-stick spray). Bake for 13 minutes - cookies will be set and golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for about 5 minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely (eat one while warm, though!!). Store leftovers in an airtight container...they may stick together a bit, but they still taste great.

If only this were the real world...

2009-09-10T21:38:00.000-07:00

Just listen to this phone message which is supposedly from an Australian school.

We Need To Pay Attention, For Their Sake

2009-09-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

In the last week, I have heard several horrible stories about people letting animals suffer. One person watched a chihuahua die because it was in a small, backyard area with no shade and no water. Another person has started feeding the 3 cats who were abandoned by people who moved due to foreclosure. Walt and I are doing the same...we now have "Scruffy" (pictured in this blog), who comes around nightly with a beautiful, lyrical meow and has trained us quickly to come running with dinner. Scruffy even has a shaded mat and water bowl, but won't let us pet him yet. One final story with a better ending, a teacher friend of mine saw an old dog whimpering in an animal shelter, and a day away from euthanasia. She adopted the dog on the spot, took it home for pets and walks and comfort, and the dog lived four more happy, loved months.

Here is my soapbox speech - we need to be on alert and watch out for the animals in our neighborhood or the ones we see each day on our drive to work. And, if we see something suspicious, or signs of neglect, we need to call. Hey, you wouldn't let children get treated that way, so why let animals. The tough economy means that people might not be able to care for their pets, but they shouldn't have to suffer. Join me in a "neighborhood watch" for animals. If you can help even more by spaying or neutering, that is even better.

Sounds a bit crazy, but I truly believe animals are people too!! Feel free to email photos of your beautiful animals. Thanks for taking care of them, and thanks for listening.

Dino Tour with Dr. Peter Doyle

2009-09-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

In February of 2002, we were treated to a personal tour of the Waterhouse Hawkins dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park in south London. While it was closed to the public, we donned hard hats and safety vests and met up with Dr. Peter Doyle who took us through the mud to see the reconstruction efforts (which opened to the public about a year after our visit, but could only be viewed from a distance even though we got up close and personal!). Waterhouse Hawkins designed and created life-sized models of dinosaurs, which were supposed to be accurate but have been proven incorrect since he created them in the 1850s. In case you don't know, Walt is a science teacher and dinosaur fanatic, and has used the tour yearly in his lesson plans to show how our understanding of concepts change as new information becomes available.

Why am I telling you this? On the weekend we tuned into the History Channel, and there was Dr. Doyle supervising and archaeological dig of the WWI trenches in France and Belgium. While dinosaurs are his specialty, which he teaches at Greenwich University (and he recently discovered a large, fossilized Mosasaur puke pile), the battlefields of World War I are his hobby. It was cool to see him on TV. If you have the chance to watch the show, I highly recommend it...I think the title is something like "Digging Up Trenches".

These are photos from our 2002 private tour of the dinosaurs. Our thanks continues to go out to Dr. Doyle for taking the time to meet with us - a meeting which has added to the science education of hundreds of middle school students!

All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go

2009-08-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

Walt has a bit of a non-conformist streak. Lately it has manifested itself in a weird way. At both of our schools, Friday is school spirit day, and most teachers wear t-shirts. It is a school version of "casual Friday." So, Walt decided that he would remain casual Monday through Thursday, wearing jeans and a button-up shirt as he always does, but dress up on Fridays. So, he came out of the bedroom on August 28th, the first Friday of the new school year, in navy Dockers, a long-sleeve shirt (with a weather forecast of 110 degrees), shined shoes (Dr. Martens from London), and a new tie. The tie, by the way, was a series of Bohr Atoms - very scientific! He is committed to dressing up each Friday, and thinks we should now dress up and go out to fancy dinners occasionally (I think we should eat at home and be comfortable). I have known him for 22 years, and I have seen him in Dockers and a tie perhaps 3 times. I think this new desire to dress up might be a part of his mid-life crisis, but he does look cute...don't you think?!?

By the way, if you talk to Walt, talk in a high voice or a low voice. He went to the audiologist on Thursday and has lost a significant amount of hearing in the mid-range...which also involves an increase in tinnitus...for every 5 percent of hearing loss, your tinnitus increases by 10 percent. Ah, the joys of approaching 50 (Walt will be 47 on November 15...if you send a birthday card, make the print large as our eyesight is going south as well!).

School Starts Tomorrow

2009-08-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

School (with kids showing up) begins tomorrow, Monday, August 24, for Walter and for me. All I can say is "wish us luck"! I have gone from teaching 20 Kindergartners to teaching 33, with some VERY challenging kids placed in my classroom this year (the kind who throw things, run, hide, hit, scream, etc.). Walt has classes of 40, and does not have the usual 40 minute prep period because he is teaching during that time, too! We are both going to attempt to do this without enough books or supplies due to significant budget cuts.

While I will be looking for some fun photos to create new blogs, I will probably not accomplish that goal until a week or two go by...so don't be surprised if you don't hear from us until that blessed event known as Labor Day weekend. Don't give up...as soon as we have the strength, we will be back to frequent blogging.

Hope all is well with you and yours!

Sassy Stamper: Pay It Forward Givewaway

2009-08-12T17:24:00.000-07:00

Sassy Stamper: Pay It Forward Givewaway

Pay It Forward

2009-08-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

Are you familiar with the concept of "Pay It Forward"? You do something wonderful, big or small, for someone and expect nothing in return...instead, ask the recipient to "pay it forward". This gives that person an opportunity to do something wonderful for someone else. In a world of depressing news and uncertainties, this "random act of kindness" brings joy to us all. I think there is a Nicholas Cage movie about this, which I haven't seen.

I was recently reminded about the Pay It Forward concept by visiting a new blog written by a talented stamper. Be sure to visit, too. It is http://sassystamper.blogspot.com/2009/08/pix-attchdpay-it-forward-givewaway.html

I hope you will join me and think of a way to Pay It Forward. Make someone's day!!

Art and Artists

2009-08-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

This summer I have experimented with different forms of art: collage, painting, drawing. For the first time in my life I feel like calling myself and artist (an amateur, but an artist nonetheless). Maybe I will even get the courage to post some of them on this blog soon. In the meanwhile, they will be on display in the back of my Kindergarten classroom (which, some might say, is right where they belong).

I came across this list, created by an artist named Lisa Engelbrecht, that describes how I'm feeling as a new artist. It also makes me think of my friend Brynn Hoffman, who is a true artist:

Top 10 Why Nots of Doing Art?

10. ACCEPT where you are now.
9. TURN OFF the inner critic and TURN ON your imagination.
8. BE INVOLVED in the process...not just the product.
7. Make art EVERY DAY.
6. Always BE A BEGINNER - act like you've never done anything like this before.
5. Allow yourself to FAIL now and again - to help you from always playing it safe.
4. LEAP and let the net appear (a la Julia Cameron).
3. PAINT as if no one will see it.
2. OWN that you are an artist.
1. USE your art to change the world.

They're Baaaaaaaack!

2009-08-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

I have loved Mother's Circus Animal Cookies since I was a kid. They were a major snack for me - an event, even, right up there with Strawberry Frosted Pop Tarts and Cap'n Crunch Cereal. Then, last year, the Mother's Cookie Company became a victim of the recession and went out of business. It was a dark day for me. It could not have been worse. No more frosted Circus Animal Cookies. Yes there were other brands, but they suck. Nothing could replace the real thing from Mother's Cookie Company.

And so for months I dragged myself through my existence, wondering if life would ever be the same again, when, suddenly, a couple of days ago, I found them! There, on the shelf of Stater Brothers, were Mother's brand frosted Circus Animal Cookies! Yes! Kellogg's has purchased the Mother's Cookie Company and has started up production again!

They are back on the shelves, and life is great! Suddenly, even the threat of the upcoming school year, looming over us as it always does at this time of year, seems to be a minor thing now that I have my Circus Animal Cookies.

Here I am, enjoying the treat I feared I would never see again for the rest of my life.

Now of course, many people would wonder if this is a healthy and nutritious alternative to, say, fresh fruit? Duh, not even close.

I think it's cute that somebody figured that six cookies are considered to be one serving. Nobody. Ever. Eats. Only. Six.

So, my life is better, and birds are again singing in the trees.

LIFE

IS

GOOD!

This One Is A Keeper!

2009-08-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

One more recipe and I will change my blog themes for awhile. This is one of those recipes that has been around forever - chances are, you already have it. However, it is so damn good that I plan to make it once or twice a month from now on. The leftovers are as good as the day you make it, and it is something that doesn't have to be measured precisely. Also, check out my thoughts below for ways to change it. If you haven't taken my advice and put your name on the mailing list to get the Penzey's catalog, you should: www.penzeys.com.

Cheesy Tomato Bake

3/4 sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
(I use a blend that you can get at the grocery store...if you have a Trader Joes nearby, get their "quattro formaggio" and use about 1 cup and a half, skipping the cheddar)
salt and pepper to taste
2/3 cup milk
2 cups biscuit baking mix
2-3 tomatoes, chopped
1 zucchini or yellow squash, shredded
3 tsps. or Penzey's Pasta Sprinkle, or some oregano, basil, and parsley

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl, mix milk and baking mix until roughly blended. Pat into the bottom of the baking dish (wet your hands to make it easier to pat dough across bottom of dish). In a large mixing bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, cheeses, salt and pepper. First, sprinkle tomatoes and squash evenly over baking mix layer. Then, spoon the sour cream/cheese mixture over the top and gently spread out to cover surface. Sprinkle Italian herbs over top. Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes before serving.

You could add sauteed onions, sliced turkey, chopped water chestnuts, small broccoli flowers, cubed pepperoni and a drizzle of pizza sauce, or whatever else you have on hand. Experiment with the ingredients your family likes. As long as you make the milk and biscuit mix base, I think you could put anything in the middle before topping with the sour cream mixture. Watching calories? Use light sour cream and mayo and reduce your cheese. Finally, I think this could be easily cut in half to make a 9x9-inch dish (although you really should make the bigger size and live on the left overs), or doubled to make enough for a potluck.

Let me know how this works for you. We love it!! The first 5 people who email me their thoughts before August 10, 2009 will receive a complimentary container of Penzey's Pasta Sprinkle (subject to availability and access to your mailing address...allow time for shipping, please).

If You Love Food, Do This!

2009-08-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

If you don't love food, then the last three blogs have been very boring for you. If you do love food, you need to do this: go to www.penzeys.com and ask to be put on their catalog mailing list. Not only will you have access to some of the best herbs and spices on the planet, you will get a catalog each month that is filled with recipes. Here is a recipe I found that my friend, Heidi, should like...she makes the most beautiful and delicious breads.

Whole Wheat Apple Bread

Makes 1 loaf - each slice is 90 calories

1 cup vegetable oil (not olive oil)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 cups whole wheat flour (or 1 and 1/2 cups each whole wheat and white flour)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups chopped, peeled baking apples (McIntosh or Granny Smith)
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts), optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour an 8x4-inch loaf pan (or spray well with non-stick cooking spray). In a large bowl, combine the oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Sift in the flour(s), salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Stir just until dry ingredients are incorporated into the wet ingredients. Fold in apples and nuts. Spoon dough into loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 and 1/2 hours, or until toothpick inserted into middle of loaf comes out clean (start checking at about 1 hour and 15 minutes). Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack and cool completely. Serve with butter, apple butter, or plain!

New Recipe - You Gotta Make This!

2009-07-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Two recipes in two days...trying to make up for the weeks when I forgot to post one. This is another pasta-type recipe, but totally different from my mom's macaroni salad. This one has an Asian flair. Run, don't walk, to your nearest high-end market and get the ingredients. I suppose you could use linguine noodles if you can't find the soba noodles, but I believe soba has more nutrition and they seem to have more body. You won't regret it...this is easy and delicious!

Cold Soba Salad

8 to 12 oz soba noodles (a buckwheat noodle packaged like spaghetti)
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. rice vinegar
2 T. sesame oil
2 T. sesame seeds
dash fresh ground pepper

You can cook a lot of noodles or fewer...just adjust the other ingredients. The package I bought (at Clarks, for those of you in my neighborhood) had three 3-oz packets inside and I used them all. Break noodles in half and cook in about 8 cups of rapidly boiling, salted water for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water. When drained, mix with remaining ingredients, tossing well. Store in airtight container in refrigerator, tossing again before serving. These are so cool and flavorful...I could eat them as the entree! Post a comment if you have a question or want to share your opinion. As always, enjoy!

Summer Survival

2009-07-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

It is hot. It is damn hot. If you are like me, you don't want to turn on the oven or slave in the kitchen. So, here is a remedy for the heat: my mother's recipe for Macaroni Salad. Sounds simple, and it is, but it is my absolute favorite. Give it a try, and let me know what you think!

Mom's Macaroni Salad

1 large bag pasta (we like shells)
1 jar sweet pickles
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 larger can sliced olives, drained
about 2/3 cup mayonnaise
about 1/3 cup ranch dressing
1 T. mustard
salt and pepper to taste
dried Italian herbs - I like the "pasta sprinkles" from www.penzeys.com

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cool water and allow to sit. Cut up as many sweet pickles as you want - we use a lot and cut them into chunks. In a large bowl, place drained pasta and diced pickles. Add shredded cheddar (my mom cuts a cheddar brick into small cubed pieces) and drained olives. Stir together. Add mayo, ranch dressing, mustard, salt and pepper, and herbs (a sprinkling of oregano, parsley and basil - if you don't have it, skip it). Stir together and decide if you think it needs more mayonnaise or mustard - it should be wet and held together, but not soupy. Put into airtight container and keep in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

I Made This!

2009-07-21T00:41:00.000-07:00

During the summer I spend much less time thinking about school, and much more time thinking about my hobbies and crafts. I end up trying to do something creative every day. Some days I succeed, some days I don't. Today I did. I decided I wanted to to a bit with cross-hatch shading and color shading, so I decided to draw some trees. Sheila liked it so much she insisted I post it. So, here is my shading exercise for the day...

For Better, For Worse...In Sickness and In Health

2009-07-17T16:27:00.000-07:00

Walt bought a plant...a fake plant. It is from Japan. You are supposed to talk to it and nurture it and it responds. The video you are about to see is my fifth attempt to film him talking to this damn plant (the first four video attempts ended in my laughing hysterically). I guess this is what happens when someone stays home every day, and possibly spends too much time outside in the heat. Just remember...those marital vows we took twenty years ago apply to mental health, too, I suppose, and I'm sure Walt could blog all the crazy things I do in my own home (even though nothing I do is as wacky as this video).

Gotcha!

2009-07-15T17:49:00.001-07:00

Thanks for commenting (now that we got the commenting glitch fixed). As for those of you who wonder about the polka dot pajamas...they belong to my mom. We brought our Doc Martin's back to the hotel and my parents (all ready for bed) tried them on for a photo opportunity we still giggle at. So those feet, and those pajamas, belong to my parents...the shoes belong to Walt and me!!

Favorites from England February 2000

2009-07-14T16:07:00.001-07:00

We took my parents to England in February 2000. While it was cold and rainy, it will always believe it was the best decision Walt and I ever made, because my dad really wanted to experience the UK, and he died two months after this trip. I wish we could have done more, perhaps visiting Ireland as well, but we accomplished a lot in a very physical trip. I am eternally glad we went.

Here are the four of us enjoying London and Windsor:

This is only a test...

2009-07-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

We have made some adjustments to the way comments are handled. This should hopefully take care of the problems that some people were having. Please feel free to post comments. And please let us know if you continue to have problems.

Just For The Fun Of It!

2009-07-11T20:45:00.001-07:00

Just for fun, take a moment and try this...leave your results in my "comments" section.

Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post that sentence in my comments section. Read other people's sentences, too.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST book....

Favorites From France

2009-07-10T23:07:00.000-07:00

Next, here are some of our scanned favorites from earlier trips to France, including World War II sites in Normandy, downtown Paris, Disneyland Paris, and some of our trips on the Eurostar. We travel first class on the Eurostar, which includes really uppity dinners, like foie gras and all-you-can-drink champagne (the last picture was taken on my birthday, and I have enjoyed a bit too much of the free champagne!).

Favorite Travel Photos

2009-07-09T20:27:00.001-07:00

While we are not traveling this summer, we are finding the time to scan older photos we took before the digital camera age. There are a lot of them from many countries, so we will post the shots of Ireland first (including a shot of my mom drinking a beer at the Guinness Gravity Bar!). Actually, I just noticed that most of these photos involve alcohol. Notice the sideways photo of me (sorry about that) when I was doing the required course-work to get my Official Irish Whiskey Taster certificate!

There's A New Kid In Town

2009-07-01T00:58:00.000-07:00

As you know, we had to put two of our beloved kitties to sleep: Renfield on April 30 and Hugh on June 24. We had no desire for a new cat. We were going to say "no" to anyone offering kittens. However, a friend asked if I would take a 13-year old female cat whose owner was diagnosed with COPD. I said "YES"! What made me do that? When I called Walt, he said "yes" too! Somehow it felt completely right. So, without any further ado, I'd like to introduce sweet-as-pie Evey (previously named "Violet" but now named "Evey" after the character in V for Vendetta):

And Here's The Mirror

2009-06-30T22:32:00.001-07:00

Did I mention in the last posting that Walt is making 1970-era mirrors? I wouldn't make that up...here it is:

A Dictionary Definition

2009-06-30T21:59:00.001-07:00

ESTIVATE:
Verb: Zoology. to spend a hot, dry season in an inactive, dormant state, as certain reptiles, snails, insects, and small mammals.

We are officially summertime hermits, and we love it! We sleep late (sometimes VERY late) and we wear sloppy, comfortable clothes. I put my hair into a funky pony tail each day and go without makeup or a bra (there, I said it!). We are loving this lifestyle, and don't even really want to venture out into the real world. While the myth of teachers having a whole summer off (we have a ton of prep work, some meetings, and only about 1 month away from school), we do manage to relax and do nothing a lot of the days. We don't even answer the phones (truth is - they are set to not ring so we don't even hear them) Did I mention how much we enjoy being hermits? We are nurturing our creative side daily. Here are my two latest cards, using the new paper colors from Stampin' Up! If you want a new catalog...email me! And, here is one of the projects Walt works on. The birds were actually finished before school ended, so he could put one into each teacher mailbox at his school. He made about 75 birds (does anal-retentive have a hyphen?) Check back later to see the 1970s era mirror he is making!! Oh, by the way, if you want to make your own birds (and lots of other paper models), here is the 3-eyed bear website where they came from: http://www.3eyedbear.com

Loss

2009-06-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how small things can mean so much to so many. Every day in the United States about 8,000 people die. For the most part, we don't even notice, unless we happen to know one of the people. A few days ago Michael Jackson died, and it seems that the world stood still. There was no other news. A few days earlier, on June 24, we had to take Hugh to the vet and ended up having her euthanized. This was the second cat in six weeks. Renfield had to be put down on April 30. Both cats had cancer. Both of these deaths had a greater impact on us. it's amazing how that works.

The fact that we lost two cats in six weeks affects us far more than the death of a famous singer, or even the deaths of dozens of people in other parts of the world. It is all relative. The closer you are to the one who died, the more it hurts. So why is the world so worked up by the death of Michael Jackson? It's hard to say, but I think that people feel close to celebrities, even if we have never met them. It's a common point we have with other people. It's a way of connecting with folks around the world. We also feel we know this person, even if we have never met them.

No, I'm not crying over the death of Michael Jackson, as some others have done. I did take a minute to say "Damn, that was unexpected!" and I followed the news like lots of other people did. He had problems, for sure, but his talent was undeniable. I'm not going to do a tribute to him, but I must say I did like some of his stuff. "Thriller" is probably my favorite music video of all time, but "Captain Eo" is something special. If you have not seen it, or it has been too long since you have, here it is:

(It's in two parts, be sure to watch them both.)

THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

2009-06-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

It's the last week of the school year, so we don't have enough time to blink, let alone post. Please check back after June 12...

What A Great Mom!

2009-05-31T19:04:00.000-07:00

My mom is wonderful for so many reasons...but, she is especially wonderful because she makes the best fried okra in the world. You might have to be from the south to truly appreciate it, but I could eat a whole plate full and get sick before I'd stop because it is so tasty. My mother and my grandmother taught me how to cook, which I appreciate more than they will ever know, but I'll never be able to make okra as good as my mom's.

Recipe of the Week - cool summer fun

2009-05-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

This is one of those recipes that is not very impressive, and that you probably already have. However, I thought it was worth posting because it is a quick, easy, delicious cool treat on a hot summer day. You can double it for a potluck or just make it as listed for yourself. It keeps for several days in the fridge. Give it a try, even if you don't like pistachios (because you really don't taste them).

Pistachio Jello Salad

1 small package instant pistachio pudding
1 large can crushed pineapple, undrained
3 cups mini marshmallows
1 large cool whip, thawed

Stir together pudding and undrained pineapple. Let sit for 5 minutes. Stir in mini marshmallows and cool whip. Store in refrigerator in an air-tight container. Enjoy as salad or dessert.

Let's Play A Guessing Game!

2009-05-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

The game goes like this:
Guess whose ear this is. I will give you three hints: 1) It is not mine, 2) It has gray hairs growing on the head above it, and, 3) It has gray hairs growing IN IT!!! YIKES!!! When did my husband start growing enormous, prehensile, thick, disgusting hairs out of his ears? It is no wonder he can't hear half of what I say!!! So, congratulations if you guessed. Even more congratulations if you can get this image out of your head while trying to sleep tonight! In some strange way, you can blame Ali Edwards...she wrote a book called Life Artist which led to the creation of this blog. Thanks Ali! Now, does anyone have one of those nose and ear hair trimmers. Eeew!

Memorial Day

2009-05-24T16:40:00.000-07:00

My dad served in the Navy, and was on a ship that treated the injured from the battles at Iwo Jima. Years later, as I was growing up, he told a lot of funny and interesting stories about being in the Navy, but he never talked about the tough, sad, or scary moments. Then, when my parents visited the Iwo Jima memorial during the 1990s, my dad (who never showed emotion in public) stood and looked at it and cried like a baby. We realized then that he must have seen a tremendous amount of suffering during that battle, and probably throughout his Navy career. He survived a tour in WWII and a re-enlistment in Korea. He was one of the lucky ones.

Veteran's Day was established on the anniversary of the WWI Armistice to honor all who had served, and Memorial Day was established at the end of the Civil War to honor the war dead. On this Memorial Day, say thank you to a vet no matter what you think of current wars and politics. I hate some of the decisions made by the governments of the world, but I hold our fighting men and women in the highest esteem. And, as this day is to remember those who have fallen, give any size of donation to the VFW or to one of the great organizations, such as the Yellow Ribbon Fund, set up to help our veterans as they return and deal with many issues.

You know that statement that says "we do more before 6:00 a.m than most people do all day"? That is true. And, because of their efforts, we have the freedom to do what we want for the rest of our day. The men and women who have fallen have traded all of their tomorrows so that you could have today. Enjoy.

Recipe of the Week - Thanksgiving Time!

2009-05-17T17:08:00.000-07:00

Oh...it isn't time for Thanksgiving Dinner. That is actually 6 months away - what a bummer! Right about now we start craving turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. So, to help curb those cravings just a little bit, we make this easy, summery version of a pumpkin pie.

Crustless Pumpkin Pie Cake

1 large can pumpkin pie filling (not the pre-mixed kind)
All the ingredients that the can says you will need to make a pumpkin pie
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped nuts, if desired

Follow directions on the can to create your pumpkin pie filling. Pour that into a 9x13-inch glass baking dish, sprayed with nonstick spray. In small bowl, melt the sticks of butter. Sprinkle the yellow cake mix over the top of the pie filling, and then drizzle evenly with the butter. Sprinkle nuts over top. Bake for 55-65 minutes at 350 degrees (knife inserted into middle should come out clean). Let cool 20 minutes before serving warm, or cool completely and store in refrigerator. Best if served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!

More Words

2009-05-13T18:57:00.001-07:00

My friend, Michelle, created her own blog! She will soon find that it is fun, addictive, and a great way to forget about the world for awhile as you post deep and meaningful thoughts (or jokes, or recipes, or whatever). If you are reading this and haven't started a blog - DO IT!!! It is free and worth the time and effort...it has a bit of sanity to it in a world that is getting more insane. By the way, if you want to check out her blog, go to www.othefam.blogspot.com

So, Michelle has this great quote as her header. I hope she doesn't mind that I am stealing it for this blog (she can steal anything I have, if there is anything worth stealing). Here it is...

When you laugh be sure to laugh out loud, 'cause it will carry all your cares away. And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself, and it'll help you feel okay. And when you pray, pray for strength to help you carry on when the troubles come your way. And when you dream, dream big...as big as the ocean blue. 'Cause when you dream it just might come true.

I Love Words

2009-05-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a quote that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE...this is why I have to make scrapbooks, make cards, paint weird things, and write in this blog. Visit www.stampington.com if you want to see creative expressions, unique crafts, and true artwork:

Sometimes the obligations of life along with pent-up frustrations or stress can crowd the spirit, leaving it weary and longing for an outlet.
The power of art, whether viewing or creating it, can offer peace to the spirit and refreshment to the soul.
– Amanda Belle Nolan
Managing Editor

Recipe of the Week - Anniversary Chicken

2009-05-12T18:16:00.001-07:00

This is called Anniversary Chicken because it was made by someone who needed to cook for a lot of people at an anniversary celebration. You can easily double or triple this recipe, which I have written to serve about 6, or two with yummy leftovers for lunch. I don't have a photo, and it sounds weird, but don't let that deter you!

Anniversary Chicken

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup imitation bacon bits (or real ones, if you want)
1/4 cup sliced green onions (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Place chicken strips into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, sprayed with non-stick spray. Evenly pour salad dressing and teriyaki sauce over chicken. Sprinkle cheese, bacon bits, and onions over top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, until chicken juices run clear when cut. Serve with salad and rolls. Delicious!!

Pet Peeves

2009-05-08T13:34:00.000-07:00

I am home for the second day with a fever, headache, and cough - probably not swine flu, but it feels just as bad. Having said that, I find myself pondering things that tick me off. I see these errors daily from a lot of people. Here is the first in my series of SHEILA'S PET PEEVES:

1. Quit writing "alot". That is not a word. It is two words and should always be written "a lot". Put the space in and do it right!

2. Quit putting an apostrophe and an s at the end of plural words. There is no such thing and "Cup's are five cents extra" or "I have two dog's". An apostrophe does not serve to warn someone that an "s" is approaching. It is to signify that a letter has been removed, such as "It's going to be fine". If you want to write a possessive pronoun like "I want to see its picture" then you don't need an apostrophe.

3. Despite my use of quotation marks above, they are to signify when someone is talking, and not to emphasize words. I am sick of seeing ads on sides of trucks that say, "We bring the "service" to you". Service in not a quote. If you want to emphasize a word, write it in a bolder or an italicized font.

4. Learn the difference between loose and lose. Those are always being misused. You lose your keys and lose weight, and if you lose enough weight, your pants will be loose.

5. Finally, please learn from the Dan Quayle days. Tomato does not have an e at the end until you write about more than one tomato - tomatoes. Also, potato does not have an e at the end either, unless pluralized - potatoes.

Thank you for listening as I complain about grammar errors. It drives me crazy on a daily basis. I promise the next post will be kinder, and keep watching for more recipes of the week!

Recipe of the Week

2009-05-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

If you are keeping track, you know I am a week behind. I hope this recipe makes up for my tardiness...it is DELICIOUS! Serve warm or cold.

Wild Rice Salad with Cranberries and Mint

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup orange juice
2 T. grated orange peel
2 T. maple pancake syrup
1 T. mustard
1 and 1/2 cups wild rice or wild rice/white rice blend
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped, or 2 tsps. dried mint
2 green onions, thinly sliced

To cook rice, put in a heavy 2-quart saucepan with 3 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. If you want to serve this salad warm, immediately follow directions below and add to hot rice. If you want a cold salad, your rice can cool on the stove before you add the following ingredients.

In small mixing bowl, whisk together oil, orange juice, orange peel, syrup, and mustard. Stir into rice. Add pine nuts (you can also use cashews, pecans or walnuts), cranberries, mint, and green onions. Toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Did you know that this recipe calls for ingrediente indigenous to North America? It makes a great vegetarian entree or a nice side dish for meat or chicken. It is delicious as leftovers, as well.

Mmmmm! Waffles!!

2009-04-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

My favorite restaurant when we cross the California State Line is Waffle House, which we just visited on a weekend turn-around to AZ. I get a pecan waffle, but frequently also get the Cheesy Eggs and Grits (which my Aunt Jane in East Texas likes too). Walt gets a regular waffle and the All-Star breakfast. We both get a large orange juice for the illusion of health that if offers in a sea of fried and buttered and sugary foods. It is a typical, long, skinny diner, in which waitresses yell out orders and the cook prepares everything before your eyes. The food is always EXCELLENT...try it when you visit the southern half of the US! I dare you!

Pronounce it correctly!

2009-04-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

I've written a lot of serious blogs, so here is a funny one:

A teacher told me about a friend who learned a phrase incorrectly. Instead of saying "in the spur of the moment" she would say "in the sperm of the moment" which totally cracks me up. Actually, I guess many children are in my Kindergarten class today due to the "sperm of the moment".

To those of you who really know me...it just makes me think of "fresh-squoze orange juice".

Do It NOW!!!

2009-04-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

I had a friend named Gina. She was my age, we graduated from different high schools the same year, we got married the same year...the only major difference was that she suffered from a bacterial infection that caused her to lose both hands and both legs to save her life. She also lost her hearing and had a raspy voice. Despite her ordeal, Gina was a single, divorced mom, a college student, a home maker, a school volunteer...nothing stopped her or slowed her down. Her wheelchair could go faster than my car. She wheeled to the bank, the restaurants, took an lengthy city bus ride just to get to Walmart or the grocery store. She was awesome. I say "was" because Gina died on Christmas night in 2007.

Here is what I want you to take away from this story. I bought a rose bush called "Gina's Rose" to give her for her birthday on May 1st 2007. I didn't make time to get it to her for her birthday. I kept procrastinating and thinking I would get it to her soon. She died 7 months after her birthday and I still had that rose bush sitting on my front porch. She never saw it.

I guess, maybe, I am glad I still have it. It is blooming now, and serves as a reminder for several things: 1) stop complaining because no matter how bad you have it, someone has it worse, 2) have some courage and quit thinking what people say about you behind your back, 3) enjoy every day and every moment, and 4) you really should go to the people who are important to you RIGHT NOW and tell them...don't put it off.

I think Gina's rose is beautiful...just like her.

Recipe of the Week - Banana Muffins

2009-04-19T15:53:00.000-07:00

It is my goal to post a recipe per week. I hope you enjoy them! Today I want to share the Banana Muffins that we make when the banana skins are starting to turn black. I've never been successful at making banana bread, but these muffins turn out great each time.

Banana-Chocolate Muffins

1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract (optional)
2 bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup flaxseed meal (optional)
1 tsp. soda
dash salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or other nut

In large mixing bowl, blend together butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each. Mix in mashed bananas and extracts. Blend well. In small bowl, stir together dry ingredients (flour, flax meal, soda, and salt). Stir into banana mixture just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 22-25 minutes, until tops are no longer gooey and muffins are browned.

I love the new silicone muffin tins...they are easier to clean and seem to cook evenly. At QVC they have a set of regular-sized muffin cups and one that is just muffin tops - and they come in fun colors. Consider buying those. No matter which tins you use, these will come out great every time. Also consider using the mini chocolate chips, or no chocolate at all - your choice.

Check back each week for a new recipe. Email me with any questions or comments.

Using The Scallop Punch

2009-04-17T17:37:00.000-07:00

Check out my video for using the very versitile scallop edge punch from Stampin' Up! Email me if you want to order one!! The video was created by another demonstrator named "Sheilah" and you will notice that she spelled my name like hers in the title (oh well, my name has been misspelled most of my life).

Thoughts on Growing Old

2009-04-16T20:04:00.001-07:00

Those of you who are in your 20s will probably not understand this, but you should read it anyway because time will pass much too quickly and then you, too, will be in your 40s facing mid-life and contemplating life and death in a whole new way. My dad was a reader and a thinker. He had a tough upbringing and made a hell of a good life for himself anyway.

It has been nine years since his death. Mom recently found a little memo book that he wrote in(he always carried one in his shirt pocket and wrote notes and numbers and quotes and partial thoughts). He only wrote on the first few pages and the rest of the memo booklet is blank.

Here is what he wrote on the first page - it seems depressing and negative, and I don't entirely believe in it (yet), but it is becoming more understandable as we age:

Becoming Old Means:

1. Losing interest in life.

2. Accepting the notion that it's too late to change.

3. Believing life doesn't matter anymore.

4. Failing to set goals and commitments.

5. Losing a sense of surprise and giving away to boredom.

He must have felt 20 (like I do now) and wondered how he got to be old so quickly. He must have hurt more and had a body that responded less (like I do now) but had an active mind that wished for youth again.

If none of this makes sense to you now...it will.

Pool Please!

2009-04-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here is my friend Jen, describing the latest verbal accomplishments of her nearly-two-year-old son, Joey.

Worth a Moment of Your Time

2009-04-13T16:57:00.000-07:00

Do you want to see something cool...something that will make you feel happy? Go to the following website, read the text and watch the video. It is one of those rare things that makes you feel a bit of joy and reaffirms your belief in the human race. I'm sorry I don't have a direct link - just cut and paste the following web address into your browser, and enjoy!!

http://www.tweenbots.com/

Mothering Sunday, complete with sundae!

2009-04-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

Each year we celebrate "Mothering Sunday" which is British Mother's Day, held each year in March. That way, mom gets two Mother's Day events. This time, we went out to eat at Islands in Palm Desert. She will probably kill me for putting this video on the blog, but it will be worth it because 1) it was nice to see her go out and have fun (she has been quite immobile lately with a major back problem), and 2) it was nice to see her indulge in some dessert - a brownie sundae! In the British version, people return to their hometown on Mothering Sunday to visit their home church and spend time with the family...a bit less commercial than the American day, and a bit more cherished and sincere (or so it feels to me).

Cat Scratch Fever

2009-04-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

Last night, our cat Jameson spooked and ran down my head. Apparently, her right, back claw caught my face and created a scratch from my nose to the inside of my bottom lip...it got deeper as it went along. The upper lip is quite deep, and the pit inside my bottom lip where her foot landed is like a canyon. Walt freaked (you know how those facial wounds really pour blood). We decided to try butterfly bandages rather than go to urgent care. It looks a lot better today...the scratch looks better than the upper-lip hair, uneven skin tone, and adult acne - it sucks to get older! And, by the way, that "dot" inside my nose is the end of my piercing...nothing else!

Our trip to the Living Desert

2009-04-02T18:35:00.000-07:00

Sheila said it's my turn to post, so I'm posting. Sheila's on Spring Break, so I took a mental Health Day and we went to the Living Desert. For those of you who have not heard of it, it is a zoo in Palm Desert, CA that specializes in desert species. It is a pretty cool place, but you have to be mindful of the heat. Right now it's still technically "moderate" meaning that it's 85 degrees in the shade.

Desert species amaze me. Deserts are one of the harshest environments, and these plants and animals are adapted to live there. Humans either leave or turn on the air conditioner. A Fennec Fox or a Desert Chemise plant can't do that, so they have adapted to this inhospitable biome. I really did not realize this until I took a Desert Ecology class at Cal State. Thanks for teaching me better, Dr. Fehn!

So, what did we see? All kinds of stuff. One of the animals that best represents the desert is the Roadrunner.

Deserts exist all over the planet, and the Living Desert has representatives from many deserts. The Striped Hyena is from Africa. A very impressive animal and the enclosure lets you get up close.

However, some of the best animals are not the big predators, but the smaller critters. There is a special enclosure that has butterflies and hummingbirds. We found a female Costa's Hummingbird sitting on her nest. She laid the egg about a week ago.

Feeding time came when we were looking at the small foxes. One took all of its "catches" and promptly buried them.

All in all, it was a great, if slightly warm, day!

At the bottom of this post, check out the bonus video that Sheila took in the butterfly enclosure!