Monday, December 31, 2007

Looking Ahead...With Anticipation



In light of the many times I am tagged with requests to let others know my feelings and assorted details of my life by answering a list of questions- I've devised one that I hope may be interesting.... not that you need to answer anything here but, what would your answers be to these questions?

I'm learning that, sometimes, there are no seemingly right or wrong answers in life- that each decision leads to the here and now, where there are always more questions and answers holding everything needed for the moment. I wish you a blessed New Year, a safe New Year...and a New Year filled with Love and Peace and most of all, filled with Jesus.


1. In one word describe your expectation for the year 2008.

Favor---the God kind. I believe and expect that God will bless the relationship I have with the man He sent my way and shower us with His favor.

2. If you won the lottery tomorrow, who would you give the first dollar to?

I would give God the first ten percent. He can do more with the remaining ninety percent than I can do with the whole.

3. If you had to choose fame or fortune, which would you choose and why?

Fortune. Fame comes with too many pitfalls. Fortune would allow me to bless others who come my way.

4. What three words would you want associated with your name in memorial?

Faithful, loyal, loving

5. What does the word “time” mean to you?

Time is an illusion we use for our benefit when it suits us least.

6. What three guests (anyone) would you invite to a dinner party?

Assuming my significant other is already present, of course....my mother, my friend Mike Hayes and author Mark Hanson, a phenomenal man whom I had the pleasure to meet in 1983 while in Napa Valley.

7. Name one work of art or literature you wish you would have created.

Proverbs. My absolute, all time favorite of the favorites.

8. What is your one weakest point of character? Your strongest?

My weakest is probably patience; my strongest is definitely loyalty, hands down, no doubt.

9. What one quality would you most like to give to your significant other?

His qualities are overwhelming and abundant so anything I could offer would be but an extra portion. But, perhaps a little extra patience wouldn't hurt. After all, he may need it with me along!

10. If a life affects all others, who would you say yours least affects? Most affects?

Least affects: I believe one cannot say, not knowing which of our actions has the most rippling effect. I believe a simple smile to someone can and does change the world.

Most affects: My beautiful grandaughter, Savannah and, of course, my patients.

11. BONUS: Are you where you thought you would be when, ten years ago, you thought of your future?

Yes and no. I have changed, the world has changed and like John Lennon said, "life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." I am happy even though I feel I have much to discover, create, and more to experience in love. I am healthy, gainfully employed and have a roof over my head... all is well; all is getting better. I'm favored of God and, yes, all is truly getting better--one sweet day at a time....

Saturday, December 29, 2007

A Happy Kind of Day....

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom.


Savannah Chelsie, my love, my life

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Candy Making Day



I was off work today, the humidity was low and the temperature was a little cool, therefore, it was a good day for making candy. Divinity, Rum Balls, Turtles, and Peanut Butter Fudge were on the agenda as well as Justins favorite, peanut brittle. This is a simple a quick version which is every bit as good as the recipe which requires stovetop cooking. The bad thing is....it doesn't last long.


Microwave Peanut Brittle

1/3 cup white corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1 teaspoon butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Spray a baking sheet with butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray (or use regular butter). In a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup, combine corn syrup and sugar. Microwave on HIGH 3 minutes. Add peanuts and microwave on HIGH 2 minutes. Add butter and vanilla, and microwave on HIGH 1 minute. Stir in baking soda, and quickly pour out on greased baking sheet. Spread it out if it looks thick. (It'll look like you ruined it at first, but it regains its rounded shape as it cools.) Once it's hard, after about 5 minutes, break into small pieces.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Cookies, Cookies And Yes, More Cookies


Pounds of butter--nothing but the REAL stuff, mountains of sugar, dozens of eggs, chocolate--lots and lots of chocolate--pecans, walnuts, cherries, sprinkles, vanilla--real pure vanilla and, for good measure, a little flour to hold it all together. Gee, I don't know what I would do without my wonderful fire engine red Kitchen Artisan Mixer these days! But everyone loves wonderful, homemade Christmas cookies. I live in an old neighborhood which has a history that runs pretty deep in this city and most of my neighbors are elderly. But my, what a wealth of knowledge they are. Most of the ladies are retired educators and many of the men are retired school principals. Sprinkled among the group are a few doctors from the era when medical offices were in houses right smack in the middle of a residential area. Back in the day when it didn't matter if you had no insurance or if funds were low. They treated you anyway and trusted God to provide when money ran short. Most of them are in or near their 80's now and they're mighty wonderful folk, all of them. And I just can't help but laugh when they call or come by to check on me when the weather is bad or something unusual is on the horizon. So at Christmas I honor them with a little token of something special from my kitchen and, after hours and hours of measuring, baking and festive wrapping, it's time to deliver. This years selection includes:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Stars
Pistachio Mexican Wedding Cookies New Orleans Praline Treats
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies