Breakfast and Misc Pics

I was exercising on my elliptical this morning and was watching Chef Brad do his Thanksgiving Special from last year, when it popped in my head that I didn't have any cooked grains in my pressure cooker or my fridge. I have had eggs the last two days.   Now years ago if you had asked me my favorite breakfast, I probably would have said eggs and toast or a scone.  Now I still love those, but when I think of breakfast now days I think of whole grains.  I have my favorites- spelt, Kumut, farro, oat groats.  But I make all kinds. I feel like I am treating my body to the healthiest thing I can eat.  So after exercising and being entertained and reminded of how to cook a Turkey the Chef Brad way, I went upstairs sad about breakfast.  Then I thought there has got to be a grain that cooks fast.  By now I am very hungry.  I look on my chart and the first one-Amaranth!  So I made some amaranth.  Now I don't know if it's up there on the top of my list, but it is definitely a good one.  I added mixed berries, my flax, which I have to say after several days without my ground flax I felt all warm and fuzzy when I got it out of the cupboard to grind it up, organic brown sugar, coconut oil and ah... as Chef Brad would say, "perfection!"   I am a happy girl!

This is a tea pot that Rebecca's family got me for my b-day.

 When Rebecca and the girls gave me this I thought it was so beautiful, but I was so tired from babysitting that it didn't occur to me the connection of Alice and the " tea party".  I had to laugh at myself that it took me so long to connect the two of it being a tea party scene and I would be using it for the tea parties!
This year I went to a party with some WW friends on Halloween .

 Last but not least, I had to blog these, my mom made them for me for my b-day!  Fun Fun!!

 
 Well, I need to get busy, so I will post the other presents another day.  Love you all!!!

Grains and Happiness Project

Well, I have lots to blog, but am probably only going to blog a little.  Chef Brad has started again...ahhh love that show.  It motivates me to eat well, and to try to incorporate more grains in my food.  Lizzie got me some GREAT grain cookbooks for my b-day.  They are written like a novel.  I love them.  They really motivate me.  I am hoping to start cooking more things like that.

I have been reading the Happiness Project.  It is really good.  I realized that I don't do things I really love.  One thing I realized is I do like to cook, but I don't do fun new things.  I just cook boring things.  I watch chef brad make these cool breads and I get all excited and want to do them.  It is weird how hard it is for me to do things I love.  I love to paint, but am afraid to do it on my own unless I am taking a class.  So why don't I take a class?  I love to sew for myself- why don't I?  I love to take pictures, now that it's easier to post them, I need to take pics and post them.

I have decided it is about habits and routines.  At WW's this coming year, one of the things they are going to focus on is routines.  I have thought a lot about that.  I got about 8 pounds above goal for the first time in almost a year.  That really threw me and puzzled me.  When I started reading the new focus on routines I really I realized that my routines were interrupted so many times since June that I couldn't seem to get back into my routine.  I stared to think about routines in general.  If doing fun things are not a part of your routine, you won't do them.  So I am going to try to figure out which thing I want to incorporate first and make it happen.

One of my counselors in Primary (Joy King)  told me that she never does her hobbies unless she wants too.  She say's if she makes herself do them it becomes work.  But it was clear, being in her two room craft area that she does do things she loves.  So normally I would go into the sewing room and sew Mach nine with my hair on fire to finish Brighton's quilt.  But when Joy said that I thought I am going to sew when I am in the mood.  It has been so much fun.  I stopped when I was tired.  I have wanted to sew more than I have, but again I seem to cheat myself of fun.  So that is what I am going to work on this year more than the 50 thousand things she does in her book (the happiness project lady)  I am going to start recognizing and doing things I love.  And I am going to remember I am doing it for me and that is a good thing.

I think when you have a big family and you spend so much time serving, it is hard to change gears and say it's okay to do something for me, or something for someone else but take time to enjoy it.  Plan far enough ahead to be able to enjoy the process.  Well, duty is calling.  love you all!

Mixed emotions

Well, I was doing the dishes after watching Fox News for most of the day feeling very depressed.  Thinking this ranks right up there with one of the most depressing things I have ever experienced, Mitt Romney losing the election.  Then my mind thought, no it's not that bad, but still very depressing.  Then for some reason my heart started to feel lighter.  I thought of some of the things that have happened in our family that have been really bad, Amy's cancer, Danielle, Clay, and Scarlet getting Lyme disease.  There are other things more personal.  I can think of nations that suffer tremendously.  Do I think our country is headed down the wrong road?  YES I DO!  But is the gospel still true? YES.  Do I have a family that loves me and each other? YES I DO!  I could go on and on.  

Pres. Monson Said: "We live in a unique time in the world’s history. We are blessed with so very much. And yet it is sometimes difficult to view the problems and permissiveness around us and not become discouraged. I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness.

My brothers and sisters, the Lord is in all of our lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us. May we be aware of His blessings in our lives

Let us be of good cheer as we go about our lives. Although we live in increasingly perilous times, the Lord loves us and is mindful of us. He is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in time of need. Difficulties come into our lives, problems we do not anticipate and which we would never choose. None of us is immune. The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be. Our lives can also be filled with joy as we follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Lord admonished, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”¹ What great happiness this knowledge should bring to us. He lived for us and He died for us. He paid the price for our sins. May we emulate His example. May we show our great gratitude to Him by accepting His sacrifice and living lives that will qualify us to return and one day live with Him."

The above quotes came from 3 different talks that Pres Monson gave in this last October conference.  It is my prayer that we may all drink deeply of his words.  Let them sink deeply into our hearts and believe our Prophet.  He speaks for the Savior.  I know this to be true.

I love you all!!

Flipped

 

I have learned over the years that if one of my children is very interested in something I have to investigate, read or watch it.  Now it has moved to a new generation- my grand-kids.  I noticed my mom is like this also :-)  Aliese, Anna and Gracie were so in love with the movie Flipped, I had to see what all the fuss was about.  Now I will probably have to read the book also.  I purposely watched the movie first, because they are never as good as the book.  I loved the movie!  It was so cute and if you were looking, insightful.  Mom, you and dad would LOVE it if you haven't seen it, I saw it on Amazon, so I bet it is on Netflix.
Today was a good day as all Sundays are, this week was more relaxing than last week. Last week  was our program

 It turned out really well, we got lots of meaningful comments.  I don't know if that is because it really was exceptional, or if it's because we have older people who are more thoughtful, but anyway it was a wonderful experience.  We had every child participate, one of the blessings of a branch.  All of our seniors gave talks and our juniors said a sentence.  Even our two autistic boys read a sentence.  It was great!
One day in Primary I found out at the last second our nursery leader wasn't' going to be there, I looked at Steve and said I need you, find another man to help you.  Is this not about the cutest thing you have ever seen!?

 I'm excited for tomorrow and the next day, I am hoping to read a lot.  I am going to buy some fun magazines, and read my library book, the "Happiness Project".  So far I am loving it.

 I am also going to take a novel I bought from Deseret Book.  Dean Hughes latest. I just got done reading a book about Cambodia. If you need to get a grip on reality and how blessed we are read it. It's called the Rent Collector.   It is not the easiest read (it is sad, not recommended for Amy or Rebecca) but is very thought provoking, eye opening and again, makes you put life in its true perspective.  I am trying to read more again.  I am excited for "Time Out for Women"!!  I am going with my Mom, Judy, my cousin and a friend of moms.  There is nothing like going to "Time Out"  with family and loved ones. I am very excited!!  Well, hope you are all well.  If you haven't been reading my blog, I have recommitted, there are 3 blogs below this one, they aren't very long.  Love you all!!

Summer

 

I basically skipped the summer, so occasionally I am going to go backwards.  The Greenhouse was kind of a disappointment this summer.  The sun didn't shine as much as it should, I was gone a lot and so I didn't work in it as much.  It was still a wonderful place, but most of the summer I ended up forgetting or not being able to find my music that I play in there.  So on those dreary days I would basically walk in do what was absolutely necessary and walk out.  My peppers were full of aphids and that is one of my great joys-big sweet wonderfully crunchy peppers.  They grow abundantly in the green house until about the end of November.  One by one I pulled them up and got maybe one pepper.  Sad!  I used a new compost this year, big mistake.  Going back to my expensive one.  My cucumbers which are usually unbelievably productive got some wire worms that attacked the main root and they died early. (I think from the compost!) The moral of the story?  Not be gone as much in the summer, go back to growing all my plants from seed with my awesome plant stand that Mike made me, and lastly go back to my wonderful compost that I usually buy.  Mike made me this wonderful plant stand for growing starts from seed.  He finished it just before we moved.  Not really knowing what I was going to do greenhouse wise, I left it in the greenhouse, which would be great if we lived there.  Sooooo this year I am going to bring it up here, put it in our garage and grow me some amazing tomato, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and I 'm sure something else, oh and herb plants.  The best year and best plants I have had so far since doing the greenhouse was the year I grew my own starts, they are stronger and healthier.  They don't get stressed in the mail or sitting in a nursery until someone buys them.  I am excited!

Well, have a busy and fun day planned.  Monday is my 56th b-day and  my favorite restaurant is closed on Mondays, so we are going there tonight- Aprils.....ahhhhhh.  I am going to sew on my youngest grandsons quilt  and a few other things that are more boring. :-) Oh and I have 2 blogs below also!

love you all!

Wind at my Back

I did my DVD's today for the first time in about a month.  That means Sunday I will be hardly able to walk.  The second day always fools you into thinking you are in good shape, the third day is when you know what kind of shape you are in.  I can feel my gluts though.  It was a lower body routine.  They say that, but you also use hand weights so my back will be sore too!  I'm thinking even my stomach.  About half way through I am looking at the minutes left  of the video and I think, you have got to be kidding me, I am only half way through.  Then when we are doing a killer exercise she will say "I love this one, I do it every day, that's why I include it."  I want to reach through the screen and strangle her.  But by the time I'm done, I feel so empowered, and buff.  I put on my sweatshirt and grab my phone (its my timer and camera) and out the door I go.  I love it, I feel like someone has just cleaned out my brain and I love my Heavenly Father and the Savoir  soooo much.  It is a great feeling.  Well today it was windy and I knew it could start raining, but I am "macho woman" so I can handle it!  I go down my street to the beach access, the one with the stairs and I  hit the beach.  The wind is blowing at my back.  "Wind at my back" takes on a whole new meaning.  I am literally being pushed down the beach.  Now having been raised in Oregon and have been on the beach as far back as I can remember, I know that when I turn around to go back home it is not going to be easy.  But I'm tough, I can do it.  Well my phone goes off and tells me it's time to turn around.  I turn around and MAN!!! I have now gone from a moderate walk to an intensive walk.  I have to pass our path to get down to where I started and it is all I can do to not go up the path.  But I finally make it to the steps, up the small hill and finally relief, hardly any wind and a nice gentle up and down street to my house.  1st pic the moving sand, second the wind behind me, the last one, facing the wind.  My hair is not wet, the wind is just making it look that way.  My face is very accurate as to how I am feeling.

It was a great day.

Challenge

I was reading Danielle's blog and she put a challenge to post a pic a day.  She is going to learn her camera better.  I would love to do that also, but I'm not ready to learn my camera, but I do want to learn everything my i pad can do, sooooo I will blog a pic a day, and spend 5 minutes doing the tutorial for my i pad.  I have a hard time not taking a pic and blogging it everyday. I feel like everyone would say, "how many sunsets can you blog, another ocean scene! But I am excited about blogging a pic a day.  That will get me blogging again!!! And that is something I really want to do!! I think of all kinds of things I want to blog, but don't because I think I have to catch up!! I have soooo many pics and videos to post. Maybe I should just blog one pic a day and that would be WAY better than none!

I loved conference this year.  I loved Pres Monson and Pres Uctdorf's talk.  I have started asking myself if I will "regret it" if I don't do "this"?  I wish I could tell you that I succeeded every time that I think that question, but at least I'm starting to think about it.

I took a pic of me in front of my laptop, I hate to say it but it sure makes me look old!! Oh well, I am almost 56!  I actually feel very young for that age.

 

A week ago my visiting teaching partner go married.  It was a sweet wedding out by the beach.  It was small and quaint like the church recommends if you aren't getting married in the temple.  I fixed the color on these pics in Picasso but it didn't show up when I transferred them over!? I blogged these because Danielle knows both of these people and it shows my hair.  I haven't blogged my hair yet.  I am liking it and have gotten lots of compliments on it.

 
We  had a realtors open house today.  Four realtors showed up, so that is 4 more that have seen our house.  Hopefully Romney will win and then people won't be afraid to buy house.  Our realtor said that her clients are waiting to buy until after the election.  So who knows maybe we might get someone to see our house  in a couple of weeks.

Been working on Brightons quilt.  I am so excited about it.  will blog it when I get done with it.

We had our Primary program this last week.  It went really well.  We got some really wonderful comments from people.  Because our primary is so small, everyone got to speak.  All of our seniors and one junior got to give a talk.  Even our autistic boys said a line.  It was great.

Well, Steve and I are going on a small trip for my b-day.  We are driving down to Yachats and staying down at our house on Idaho street!  I know that sounds dorky, but we are going to leave our work at home, watch movies, walk on the beach, get me a present at the little kitchen store and maybe go to Florence.  We are going to stay two nights.

Had a great time babysitting Lizzie's kids, spending time with with Rebecca and her girls when they came to Lizzie's, seeing Amy's new house and helping her to organize her kitchen (Amy, and my weird obsession that gives a high :-) ). great time at Megans after Brighton was born, my sister visiting, the reunion, Rebecca and Steves sealing. playing with Miles and Ruby when Jacob and Steve went fishing. A busy and wild summer.  I am sure I forgot something, but it was a very busy and fun filled summer.

  Well, love you all!!