Yummy Date Treat

Megan wants the recipe for the date treat I had at Lizzies that I mentioned in the post below. Here it is!

First it needs to be fresh dates. They sell them at costco in a container not a bag. Ask Rebecca or Lizzie where. I got some at a farmers market where Lizzie lives.

1 Recipe makes 8 yummy treats (small but tasty, I'm sure you could double it or triple it)

8 dates
1/4 ounce of walnut pieces
3 tsp cocoa
1/2 tsp maple syrup(real thing if you want it to be healthy snack)
1 tsp coconut oil (I think you might have to go to a health food store for this but I'm not sure)

Pit dates if they are not already pitted. Chop walnuts into small pieces and put into dates, just enough so they can still be closed so to speak. In a small measuring cup, if you have the heavy duty kind use that. Heat over low heat just until warm the last 3 ingredients. Take off heat, mix thourghly. Dip your dates in it.

I haven't tried it yet because I just got home and don't feel well. I didn't watch Lizzie, so I would think you would use a fork or a toothpick to dip them. If it doesnt' turn out right call Rebecca, Lizzie is crazy busy right now. For WW's it is 1 pp for 4 dates. You really can't eat too many because they are really rich. The first one I ate I said "oh I can taste the coconut oil." After that I didn't even notice it Rebecca or Lizzie invented this I think I'm just a world of knowledge tonight aren't I! Bon Appetit

Being Sick, Fingernails, Conference,Ward and Branch Boundry Change, New Calling, Dates

Being Sick: I have decided I hate being sick. The only good thing about it is having no responsibility which kind of isn't true, but mostly is true. My throat is killing me. I hate swallowing, my glands are so big that I swear the opening to my throat is smaller and the muscles that I use to swallow hurt and I swear my ears hurt also. I know I am almost never sick so I shouldn't complain. One of my favorite things is you're supposed to get as much rest as possible, and I have a great husband who definitely supports me in that, BUT you are also supposed to drink as much water as possible so I get all nice and cozy and then I have to take the covers off, get off the couch or bed and go to the bathroom. I was listening to conference and one of the seventies said there were things to be learned from illness. So I am trying to figure that out today! Enough complaining!

For about 3 months now I have been growing my fingernails out. It has been great! One day I thought" I think I will stop biting my nails". They got longer then started breaking and were different lengths. When I was in the airport coming home from Missouri, I was exhausted and wanted to be pampered so I had a manicure and a pedicure. She made my nails all even. At first I was upset about it and then I decided I was glad because it only took about a week or so for them all to be the right length again. I keep them just a tiny bit above my finger and I keep them polished-key!! very important. I learned the secret to keeping polish on. 1 coat of Nail Envy, then two coats of color(mine has been red, a shock I know!) then a coat of Nail Envy. Then a coat of nail envy every morning when I read my scriptures. The color lasts a week that way, and I don't use gloves at the sink, just in the garden. One broke at Rebecca's, but that will happen. I would have taken a pic, but I still don't have a camera!
Conference... oh how I love conference. I watched the Sunday sessions at Rebecca's on the internet. Boy is that ever great, it was just like watching it on TV. Today since I couldn't go to church I watched the Saturday morning session on DVR, it was wonderful also. I just feel loved, filled and at peace when I watch conference. It makes me have more faith, hope and feel happy.

I think I have told all of you, but I haven't put it in the blog yet, the boundaries for the Branch and Newport ward were changed about 2 months ago. I finally got a new calling a couple of weeks ago. They sustained me this week, I am the first counselor in Primary! I am totally excited. I haven't worked in Primary since Lizzie was a 3 years old! I need to order the Friend magazine and today I am going to study my calling online. The church has so much out there now.
Dates!! My new discovery. I was at Rebeccas and she has been talking about dates for some time now but it didn't click with me. Then at Lizzie's she started telling me why Rebecca and her are so into dates. They are healthy and sweet! On weight watchers if they are fresh they are free because they are a fruit. They make this date, walnut cocoa thing that is to die for! Danielle you need to do this, it would be sooooo healthy for you two and not cheating in the nth degree. You can only eat a few because they are so rich. Rebecca doesn't' consider it a treat because it is so healthy for you. I agree!

Well it is another windy winter day, but I still love looking out the window at it. Love you all!!!

A very busy month!!

It's been a crazy busy last month. Had to go to the Springfield and Portland in one week for Steve's eyes, and colonosc0py. A week later I flew out to Missouri to meet up with my sister for a week of painting classes-good but hard. Stayed a night and a day with Judy for Crystals baby shower. Tried all week to get Gracies b-day present done, finally got it done by staying up late. I would post a pic, but on my way to Missouri, I left my camera in the overhead bin and someone stole it. Left for California to help Amy and Mike move, like Amy said, we had a really great road trip it was great fun. Stayed at Amy's and Mikes helping them organize their whole apartment for 3 days, Her apartment is great! I was very happy for them. Then she drove me to Rebeccas for 2nights and days. We watched conference on Sunday and then Rebecca took a day off with Amy while the girls and I spent the day together. Sadly Gracie was sick and we didn't realize it until I picked her up to put her in the Walmart cart, she was burning up. We also went on an adverture, not by choice, the gps took us off in the tooleywigs we went an hour out of our way for Aliese to do a 15 minute PE test, crazy! It was pretty at least, but the fuel is low light was blinking and there weren't any gas stations so that was scary. We bought nail stuff at Walmart, came home and did nails. Then we made cupcakes and the girls frosted and decorated them. Rebecca then took me to Lizzies where I spent 3 days and nights at her house. It was great also. I was able to help as well as play. Lizzie has several errands that the kids couldn't go on so I was glad to be there to play games, make cupcakes twice and just enjoy being with them. Next month is probably going to be crazy too. Maybe June will be slower? Am I dreaming? I hope not. At times like that I am so grateful that I started taking better care of my body. I am grateful I can help my kids.

Well, I came home sick so I am going to close now. I hate being sick. I am feeling better, just tired and very tired of swollen glands in my neck.

love you all!

Update

Well, it's been busy at our house. A week ago today I took Steve to get his first colonoscopy-I know a really great subject. We have both avoided them, he took the first big step. The results weren't terrible but it motivated me to sign up for one. When I get back from my trip with my sister, I think I will set up an appt. He had 6 pollups (like that name) that if left in there were the kind that would have turned to cancer. I am so glad he had them taken out. Needless to say I believe in colonoscopies.

Then on Friday I took him to Portland to get his eyes lazered-it was take care of Steve week. It has made a difference for him. I thought it wasn't really necessary, but now that he did it I can see he really needed it. I am glad he did it. Now we are constantly putting eye drops in his eyes. We spent the night at Jake's and Lyndsey's house. Jake made us a wonderful dinner and breakfast. The next day we went to the zoo. It was great fun. I will post pics later but here's a sneak preview.
Don't you just love Miles hat!

Yesterday I bought and ordered seeds and plant starts!! Ahhhhhh such a wonderful thing! I will have a lot more seeds than that. I bought those at this really cool Feed and Seed Store. It is in Toledo a little town just outside of Newport. The really cool thing about them is they will order the seeds I want and not charge me for shipping. She said they will come in this week! Pretty cool! I also got fresh local eggs there. It is now getting ready to be a 3rd generation store. Gotta love that!

The other night I was sitting at the computer and called Steve to come and look.It's a rough life, but someone has to live it, so I will carry the burden! Love you all!!!

Snowy Day!

Snow at the ocean is a rarity. It happens only every few years. The other day it hailed like crazy then it started snowing. I couldn't believe it so had to grab my camera! It didn't last of course. The next day it was absolutely gorgeous, still freezing but the sun was shining the ocean was blue. I took an hour walk on the beach and didn't see a soul until the last 3 minutes I was on the beach. The sun made it look like there were diamonds floating on the ocean.

I went to our Stake Women's conference this weekend, it was amazing. I was deeply moved by the main speaker. I also attended a class on order in the home. It was a great reminder,refresher and I learned a few things. She had the "rule of three". If you have a big project just do three things each day and it will eventually be done. Also she said to get rid of the junk drawer. She said to take all the stuff out put dividers in it and then little boxes or containers and have a place for everything. I loved how she said that nothing in your home should be "homeless". I liked that!

Then I went to a boring staff meeting for weight watchers. After that I ran into Costco very fast, because I had to meet someone I took with me to Woman's conference at the little mall in Albany. So I literally walked as fast as I could through Costco, grabbed a little sample of dry cereal and the young man that was running that sample table said" excuse me mam". The way he said it was in a way that I felt like I had to stop and go back. Low and behold it was Matt that Danielle used to date in high school! I was so excited and happy to see him, I hadn't seen him in almost 5 years. He looked great was working at Costco, going to Oregon State studying History and two other subjects. He wants to be able to teach three different subjects. I was so happy to see that his life was moving forward. Then I was in such a hurry I left my purse in the cart at Costco. I realized it when I went to pick up Melissa. We roared back to Costco which thankfully was only 10 min away and I ran inside and it was turned in and everything was still in it! I was so grateful. It was comforting to know that there are still honest people in the world.

Today we went to church, still no calling yet.

I got a new computer and printer. My computer is is almost all put together. I had to buy a new Print Shop program. I had to order it. I don't think I could live without print shop. Other than that, most of my programs still worked. My web designing program didn't work, but Clay is designing a new one anyway. I finally bought an external hard drive-Lizzie's suggestion. So now I can backup my pics to that and not have to worry about making discs. I have a few things to learn and get used to, but that will come.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Missing some peoples blogs, even if they think there life is boring the rest of us don't think so! :-)

Love you All!!!

Two days in a row of blogging! Wow!

I woke up earlier than I planned today and couldn't go back to sleep-a blessing from Heavenly Father! I thought oh well, I will read my scriptures. My life has basically been a mess lately. I have been eating out of control, watching way too much TV and been very unhappy as a result of it. I have prayed a lot about it and just couldn't seem to pull out of it. This morning I felt prompted to read out of the Gospel Principles Manual. We are on Chapter 27 this coming week. If you aren't taking advantage of the GPS Manual (wow is that metaphorical or what!?) you are missing out! It is written in such a simple way, that it doesn't matter how long you have been a member of the church you can gain so much from it. I have decided simplicity allows for great depth and great learning.

Anyway Chapter 27 is on work and the value of it. Just what I needed. I think we are always wanting and hoping to have less work. Like Sis. Beck said we are always trying to find more leisure time. But that is not how the Plan is! The lesson talks about not only the value of work, but how that is the one of the ways to happiness. We are supposed to learn to LOVE work. What a concept! It also quotes Pres. McKay (prophet when I was a little girl) "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success." Just think how much happier we would be if we really practiced, believed and lived this!!! I am going to change my attitude!!!

We had a great time with Amy and Mike this weekend. We watched Movies, sewed, ate, and visited. The weather was gorgeous, I took advantage of it and took a couple of walks on the beach.

About a year ago I bought some stuff to put on my window in my sewing room so you couldn't see through the glass. I procrastinated because I thought it would be a big ordeal. One day I got tired of putting up a sheet across the doors and finally got out the package of the stuff to put on the door. Low and behold it was a plastic film that clung to the window by spraying water on the glass and then squeezing all the air bubbles out with a squeegee. It was so easy!! It is like those things you put on your window for holiday decor. You can peal it right off if you don't like it. Well, it is great! Well, I am, you guessed it-going to get to work! :-)
Love you all!!

Past time to blog!

I wonder how many times I have said ,"I can't believe how long it has been since I blogged". Too many!!!

Before Christmas I was sick of my closet under the stairs. It had become the place to pitch things when I didn't' know what to do with them. When we decided to move into this house I immediately thought how fun it would be to make it a playroom so to speak. In the end I chose for it to be more of a place to put the dress up clothes. Here it is !
Last but not least the actual clothes. I put up a tension rod.love you all!!