Thursday's Treasured Three

Other bloggers have their Friday's Fave Five, but since I like to be a little different, I decided to have a Thursday's Treasured Three. This way I only have to come up with three things; how smart am I?!

So here we go:

1) Betty Crocker's Hershey's Cookie Brownie Bar is the easiest/tastiest treat to whip up. When needing something to share with my volunteers on Sunday night at work, this has become my fallback dessert. Everyone loves it and I come home with an empty pan. Buy two boxes to make a 9 x 13 brownie.



2) I used up my Yankee Autumn Wreath candle this week and I am lamenting it's demise. I LOVE the smell of this candle; it is Autumn to me (and winter too.)

3) Speaking of using up this week...I used up the last drop of my Coconut Lime Verbena body wash from Bath & Body Works. I may have to find an excuse to hit the mall very soon!

Got any treasures you'd like to share?

Random Dozen - Enjoy!

Join us at Linda's 2nd Cup of Coffee for some Random Fun!

1. So I was thinking about how Jon Bon Jovi never seems to age much. His hair is smaller nowadays, but he still manages to look like a boy somehow. And then that made me think of the story of Dorian Gray. Question: If you physically lock in one age for yourself, which would you choose and why?

Physically - 22, right before I began having kids, but I'd never trade that if I had to go back to who I was at 22 yrs. old. Love the wisdom that comes with age!

2. What is the best dish that you cook or bake (your piece de resistance?)

My snickerdoodle is divine! When I first got married I couldn't cook AT ALL (not even a grilled cheese sandwich.) My husband taught me how to cook and now I have a large repertoire of great recipes. After first learning how to cook I wanted to make Mark his favorite cookie - the snickerdoodle. I borrowed a recipe, found a few in cookbooks and kept playing with it until I came up with my own combo. He thinks they're perfect and that's all that matters to me! Maybe I'll make a batch today...

3. When you feel blue, what is one strategy you use to help yourself back to normal?

Sleep or praise music - depends on what I need the most.

4. When was the last time you danced in public?

At a Lock-In with my girls last Friday night...chicken dance, Y-M-C-A, electric slide, the twist - all the classics!

5. Do you consider yourself a realist or dreamer?

98.5 % realist (dream a tiny bit!)

6. As a parent, what is one thing that you have done well?

We literally have one rule in our house, "Obey quickly and happily." We address whatever issue comes up quickly and realize the heart attitude is as important as the actual compliance. I have truly amazing children, but I believe it's by the grace of God. We are blessed!

7. Which is your favorite character on the Andy Griffith show?

Aunt Bee was my favorite character. She was just the cutest thing! I'd love to come home to her cooking any day. But my fave part of the show...the theme song. I'll probably be whistling it all day now.

8. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?

5 - just enough.

9. Have you never been mellow? Have you never tried … to find a comfort from in side you? (Sorry, Jorge was singing that song just now, and it just seemed to be perfect timing as I was creating this week’s questions.) REAL question: What is your #1 driving pet peeve?

Driving, like on the road driving? If you have ever experienced the Capital Beltway around Washington DC you would know it's impossible to narrow it down to ONE pet peeve. How about arrogance - however someone demonstrates it! Why can't we just give a little grace to each other out there, people! Don't get me going...

Um...Linda, are we still not wearing the "Thanks, Not Cranks" bracelet? I've got to switch arms now.

10. Which color best represents your mood today? Care to elaborate?

Gray with a touch of cloudy. (switching arms) I didn't sleep that well and awoke with a headache. The to-do list is LONG today. That's why I'm here with you instead of working. :)

11. If your spouse were an animal, which would he/she be?

Wow! I really don't know how to answer this question. Thinking...thinking...

Ok, he's a Chameleon. I mean that in the kindest way! He can adapt to any situation and blend right in. It really is a gift.

12. What activity takes up the bulk of your time on an average day?

Generally, homeschooling, but laundry is not far behind!

365 - Picture A Day: Week 2

Whew! What a busy week!
Here's a little of what we've been doing!

Day 8 - Friday night games with friends

Day 9 - Dig out the Desk

(Don't you love the Simplify My Space stacked on top!)

Day 10 - Brother helps learn Awana verses with hand motions


Day 12 - Mom teaches "How much is that Doggie in the Window?"
(barks and all!)

Day 13 - Hosted a brunch for dear friends

Day 14 - P.E. at CoOp

Day 15 - Doing the Chicken Dance at AHG Lock-In

Day 16 - Playing Lego Indiana Jones on XBox

Here's Lookin At You!

By the end of the year I might talk you into buying your own copy of The Maxwell Daily Reader. I recommend it for anyone in a leadership position (or anyone who just wants to work well with others).

A recent entry discussed how we view others. John says, "Who you are determines the way you see everything." He illustrates this point with a traveler who coming upon a new city asks an old man sitting alongside the road about the people in the city before him. The old man asks him about the people in the city from where he came. The traveler answers that they were mean, untrustworthy, etc. The old man tells him he will find the same in the city ahead.

Later a second traveler stops and asks the old man the same question. Again, the old man asks how he found the people to be in the city that he left. The second traveler answers that they were honest, industrious, etc. The old man tells him he will find the same in the city ahead.

Then John wraps up the daily entry with these words. "The way people see others is a reflection of themselves. If I am a trusting person, I will see others as trustworthy. If I am a critical person, I will see others as critical....If you change yourself and become the kind of person you desire to be, you will begin to view others in a whole new light. And that will change the way you interact in all of your relationships."

Wow! There are women in our scouting group that I find unfriendly and insensitive, but I had to stand back and look at myself and ask, "Would they think that of me?" I was afraid they would.

Tonight our scouting group met and I decided that I would treat others in a friendly manner and take interest in them. You guessed it; I wouldn't have described anyone tonight as unfriendly or insensitive.

Thanks, John, I needed that!

The Children's Hour

The Children's Hour

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Between the dark and the daylight,

When the night is beginning to lower,

Comes a pause in the day's occupations,

That is known as the Children's Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me

The patter of little feet,

The sound of a door that is opened,

And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,

Descending the broad hall stair,

Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,

And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence:

Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together

To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway,

A sudden raid from the hall!

By three doors left unguarded

They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret

O'er the arms and back of my chair;

If I try to escape, they surround me;

They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses,

Their arms about me entwine,

Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen

In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, o blue-eyed banditti,

Because you have scaled the wall,

Such an old mustache as I am

Is not a match for you all!

I have you fast in my fortress,

And will not let you depart,

But put you down into the dungeon

In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,

Yes, forever and a day,

Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,

And moulder in dust away!

Little Scouter's Prayer

I stopped by Catherine's blog and found this nugget. It was so apropos to what I had experienced that night and I shared it with her in a comment. I thought I'd share it with you also.

One of our darling girls was wrapping up the evening in American Heritage Girls and ended her prayer this way, "...and Lord, you don't want to hear all the blah, blah, and regular stuff. You just want to be our friend. Thanks. Amen."

Of course, that elicited a few chuckles and knowing nods, but like Anne Shirley's quote in Catherine's blog and the little scouter's prayer, He does want a relationship with us...not just prayers.

Thank goodness for that!

Friday 365

I've seen other bloggers doing 365 posts - where you take a picture every day and then post them to your blog. I am not linking up with any 365 group, but thought it would be a great way to chronicle my year. Every Friday I will post the week's worth of pictures. I hope you'll enjoy seeing little bits and pieces of my life and maybe give it a try too. If you do, let me know!

Day 1 - New leather journal for 2010

Day 2 - Skinny shirt - goal for new year

Day 3 - Watching the Chargers beat the Redskins - a lesson in football

Day 4 - Gift from Hubby - potential for organization

Day 5 - Katie's 8th Birthday; Grandma's too (but not 8th!)

Day 6 - Last Day for the Christmas Tree

Day 7 - Taking a stack home from the library

Hope your first week was a good one too!!

Which magazine to chose?

I was doing a little light reading behind the only closed door a mother can find peace, if you know what I mean.

Before entering I had randomly picked up two magazines that were stacked together.

This was the first magazine:

Good Article Titles...dreams of "Best Body Ever" looming in my mind...very nice,

but then

I moved the top magazine aside to see what else I had snatched up and this is what I saw:

Oh, Southern Living, how could you in January! Pancakes, Cheese Grits, Chicken & Dumplings, Warm Cobbler, and Much More...

Waaaah!! (with a touch of giggle!)

It's all about balance, right?!

Happy Healthy Eating, Everyone!

Random Dozen 2010!

Join us for lighthearted fun this week with Linda's Random Dozen.

Just click here to find out what to do!

1. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being a cranky-baby-hissy-fitter, how much of a complainer are you?

Hmmm. I am a pessimist so I'm sure everything will be much worse than it turns out to be, but I can't stand whining/complaining. I guess I'm a 4; that's what my gut says I am, but it might be a 2 since I'm a pessimist! I doubt it.

2. When someone else is talking, do you listen, or are you thinking about what you're going to say in response?

When I was younger (20's) I was thinking about what I was going to say because I wanted to impress people. Now it takes all my concentration to listen. I like being in my 40's!

3. I just deleted 1062 messages from my email account. Do you have any plans for a clean sweep this month--of anything?

I always have brilliant PLANS for a clean sweep; it's the execution that kills me. I did clean out MY DOCUMENTS folder as prep for my husband working on my computer. I still have to go through other stuff and I'm procrastinating. (I hope he doesn't read this!)

And now, here are some brilliant questions from a gal named Angie at Angie's Ad Lib who graciously offered to let me borrow her brain. Please go over and see Angie because it was so nice of her to help me out. Thank you so much, Angie!

That's me!! Wow, thanks, Linda, for including my questions this week. I feel like I won something. :)

4. Tell us about your perfume. Was it a gift? What does it remind you of? Do you have a signature scent?

It's pretty bad when you submit a question so you can use one of your favorite old posts. If you have the time, please read scents and scents-ability. Otherwise, the short version - I love wearing Blue Grass by Elizabeth Arden.

5. What is your best organizing tip for the new year?

I used to write several goals each year and come back to look at them off and on. Recently I started just having a slogan for the year...something that encompasses all that I already know I want to work on. Last year's slogan was "Joyful Obedience." This year's is "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body!" So much easier to keep my priorities in mind.

6. What is your favorite comic strip?

Baby Blues by Rick Kirkman/Jerry Scott

7. Do you sleep with a fluffy or flat pillow?

Just like Linda - fluffy - cold side only, please

8. What color is your kitchen? Why did you choose that color?

butter yellow with a red wainscoting back splash

9. What’s the most interesting bumper sticker you’ve seen?

10. Do you prefer an expensive writing tool or whatever is lying around? (Are you a Montblanc or a PaperMate?)

Yes! (Although Parker is not quite Montblanc.)

I write in pen with a Parker Gel and in pencil with a PaperMate PHD Ultra.

Love these!

11. What chore doesn’t feel like a chore – you just enjoy it (at least most of the time)?

I enjoy cleaning the bathrooms. Love the sparkling finish.

12. If your parents often repeated themselves, what is something one of them said more than once?

My brother and I had my Dad's speeches numbered. We used to tell him he could save time if he just said the number instead of the same old thing. (Smarties!) There was nothing profound: "stop horsing around", "put the phone cord back" (Dad had a fetish; sorry Dad!), "do you think money grows on trees", "be quiet I'm sleeping", "do you want to get up at 5am to do your chores"...the list is endless. I think we were in triple digits once we numbered them all. Great memories...really!

Memorial in Needlework

My grandmother passed away November 8th. She and I were very close and words can't describe how much I have missed her these past two months.

Grandma loved to embroider dish towels and she gave them away generously to friends and family alike. I have worn out several sets, knowing she would always make me a new one. She made a set for each of her grandchildren and had them put their sets away. When they grow up they will have a token of her love for them hanging in their kitchens.

Grandma had several old patterns. If you're at all familiar with this craft, you may remember cute kitties, bunnies and other animals, children in various forms, fruits, vegetables and florals. The patterns were quite nostalgic...like you were receiving a gift from the 1940's, 50's or 60's.

Last spring Grandma complained that her patterns were wearing out and that she needed new ones. I tracked several down at JoAnn's Fabric Store and sent them off to her. I sent patterns that I knew she had used before and a few new ones that were a little more up-to-date.

When Grandma passed away and I was asked what I would like to have of hers; the first thing that came to mind was the embroidery patterns. I wanted to carry on the tradition. I seem to have an affinity for this as you can see here. My mother bagged up two bundles of patterns that now sit in a pretty basket on my bookshelf and I'm looking forward to using many different designs.

Last spring I purchased a set a cotton towels, some of my own patterns, thread, needles, etc. with the thought of taking up this craft. I went to visit my grandmother in May and was hoping to have her teach me some of the different stitches. About 500 miles down the road, I realized that I had forgotten all of my supplies and thought to myself that I'd do it another time.

Then she passed away and that opportunity vanished. After returning home from the funeral I decided that I wasn't going to wait any longer. I went to the library and checked out three books. I just put my mind and hand to the task and this is what I created:




The first two towels were given as a Christmas present to someone very dear to me.

The second two towels will soon be wrapped in birthday paper and given with love.

It just seems like the thing to do. I can't keep them for myself yet; the spirit of grandma compels me to share the tradition. I miss her, but she's with me every stitch of the way!