Enchilada Sauce

I have always used enchilada sauce from a can. But I realized I didn't have a can in the pantry the other night when I was going to make enchiladas so found a recipe that looked pretty easy. It ended up being very easy and good. It is a keeper as the saying goes.

Easy Enchilada Sauce
Adapted from Emeril Lagasse
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons chili powder (original recipe calls for 1/4 cup)
2 cups chicken stock
10 ounces tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt --- left this out as tomato paste often has so much salt

In a medium saucepan over medium heat oil, add flour, smoothing and stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook for 1 minute. Add chili powder and cook for 30 seconds. Add stock, tomato paste, oregano, and cumin. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken and smooth out. Adjust the seasonings - such as adding more chili powder if you want it more spicy. Serve on top your favorite enchiladas recipe.

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Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. Phone calls with 2 girlfriends this week - I really need to have the time to catch up with them
2. Michael installing new memory into my computer so that isn't so slow
3. Grapes - they were on sale and so good
4. Waterproof mascara
5. My therapist

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for....

1. Seeing the beautiful moon behind the clouds - making the clouds light up

2. Time with Michael

3. Brightly colored post-it notes

4. Time to find some balance again

5. Jellybean Lip Balm

Go-To Summer Grilling Recipe

This was a recipe I found on Tasty Kitchen. I made this recipe several time this summer as it was just so easy but full of great flavors. And very juicy chicken. Since I am just cooking for 2 (but liked leftover for salads the next day), I cut this recipe down slightly. And so this is my altered directions slightly.

4 whole boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 whole Lemon
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried tarragon
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper

Rinse your chicken and place it in a gallon-sized ziplock bag. Zest the lemon into the bag. Then juice the lemon and add it to the bag. Next add in the red wine vinegar and the herbs. Seal the bag very well, then shake and roll around the bag until all of the ingredients are combined and the chicken is coated. Lay chicken flat in the bag and place it in your fridge for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours. Grill chicken for 5-8 minutes per side or until fully cooked and juice run clear.

NOTES:
* I used dried herbs, but if you use fresh herbs and garlic it would be even better I am sure.
* A teaspoon of black pepper is just a guideline. I use probably a little more then a teaspoon but we like pepper.
* I added the red wine vinegar because I felt it needed a little more liquid. But if you don't have it and need more liquid add more lemon juice.
* You want the herbs to really soak into that liquid so make sure you have enough liquid. So again up the lemon juice or red wine vinegar to get those dried herbs hydrated again. And to make sure the herbs really coat the chicken

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100 Things | Skirts and Barefoot

27. I like to wear skirts.

I have always been a girly girl. Even as a little girl I liked to dress up. When I lived in Cleveland, I dressed up quite a lot. I had girls nights out, dates and just time out with friends. So I got in the habit of wearing skirts and dresses. And I liked it. It just makes me feel good to wear them. I feel more feminine and pretty. And now to this point in my life, I don't even own very many pairs of pants. Just a couple of pairs and then few pairs of lounge pants.

28. I like to be barefoot.

I like socks as I said in another post. And I love shoes (have more then my closet can handle). But ultimately I come in the door and I kick off my shoes. I like to be at home barefoot. When fall arrives, I love the cool crispness that allows for sweaters and warm socks. But I also get sad because I can't just be barefoot as much.

Creating Art

An old Notes from the Universe: The shortest distance between you and your time for creating art, Darby, is thinking that you already have it and acting the part.

It is one that I should read daily!

Eat Pray Love

The night before I left Minnesota 2 of my Aunts, a cousin, my Mom and my sister had a girls night out. We went to see Eat Pray Love. There is this fancy movie theater there with a VIP lounge and exclusive seating. We arrived and had drinks before in the lounge and then ordered food and drinks that they deliver to us in the theater. It had seating with skinny tables between each seat for the food. All the food came with cloth napkins and nice plates. Not paper.

I am one of these people that can take the movie for a movie that stands alone without the book. And vice versa a book doesn't need to match the movie. So I went in with an open mind and new that they would never be able to capture the intensity of the book. I wanted to enjoy the movie just for itself and I did!

If you are wanting to see it and want it to be exactly like the book - don't see it. It will probably disappoint you. If you understand that they can't capture the intensity of the emotions book due to some of it is just not possible to me on screen but also because of length of the movie - then go see it. I think Julia Roberts was really good person to play Liz Gilbert. And I think they captures many wonderful moments of the book. Many of my favorites parts or quotes got in the movie.

Such as this one...this quote is from the section on Italy - Chapter 25 (Bead 25) page 75. Liz is talking about all the changes the Augusteum has went through. But I like what the message of the quote....

"It is merely this world that is chaotic, bringing changes to us all that nobody could have anticipated. The Augusteum warns me not get attached to any obsolete ideas about who I am, what I represent, whom I belong to, or what function I may once have intended to serve. Yesterday I might have been a glorious monument to somebody, true enough -- but tomorrow I could be a fireworks depository. Even in the Eternal City, says the silent Augusteum, one must always prepared for riotous and endless waves of transformation."

Entertainment Weekly had an article on Eat Pray Love the week it came out. And one thing I found out was Richard Jenkins who plays Richard at the Ashram talked to the real Richard before going to film and said it was the best 45 minute phone call he ever had. But he went on to say that he was sorry that Richard died before being able to see the movie. That made me sad to think that Richard is gone. He died of a heart attack.

And last but not least...OH MY Javiar Bardem....SO SEXY. He definitely made the movie better.

So I liked the movie. I would see it again. And I will want to have it when it comes out on DVD.

So we are home now and busy with work. I have been suffering with a migraine that I have had for a week. And I know it is just because I am crashing hard.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. time with my family during this important time
2. being here for myself - to get some things I needed for my grieving process
3. shrimp burgers - which probably don't sound appetizing but it is a childhood favorite that I can only associate with the last place on earth you would think to find them - North Dakota
4. summer rain storms
5. really getting some good things from the book Women Food and God

Of Bees and Mist

Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This review is long overdue. I was thrilled when I got the offer to read this book - as I love to read. And particularity like fantasy books. But I will admit I was a little hesitant on IF I would like this book based on reading the synopsis of it. I was wrong as it ended up being a page turner for me. I stayed up until 4am to read because I just couldn't put it down. It surprised and delighted me.

I would call it a mixture of fable and fantasy. Erick Setiawan has a wonderful imagination to create such a fantastical novel. The characters are throughly developed and the setting is magical and intriguing.

This story follows Meridia, who grows up in a cold, unfeeling home. Her mother acts as though she often isn't there. And her father despises her. Her parents aren't a loving husband and wife. Instead they barely interact with each other. So essentially Meridia is invisible in her home. One day meets Danial at the town fair. She falls in love with him and they marry. They move in with his family and at first his family seems nice and happy - totally opposite of her cold harsh childhood home. But things change and she finds out they aren't what they first appeared to be and she might have escaped one unhappy house and to end up in one that is more disturbing to her.

I was really engrossed in the story of Meridia. I rooted for her and felt like she was a friend. I was sorry to see the book come to end and knew I would miss her.

All those details might sound like an everyday domestic drama story but there is much more to this book. Again it is a magical and captivating place with deeply developed characters. It is a book that is hard to explain and hoped to be picked up to experience bees and the mist.


View all my reviews

Art

Just a few of the artist I liked from the art festival we attended yesterday....

Sarah Kaufman

Laurie Pollpeter Eskenazi

John Gutoskey

Dolan Geiman

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. the opportunity to read/review another book...IN THIS WAY I WAS SAVED by Brian DeLeeuw. I still need to do a review of OF BEES AND MIST by Erick Setiawan. I really enjoyed it to the point of wanting to just turn around and read it again.
2. the seafood boil we are going to have this weekend - I love seafood. It isn't something Michael enjoys so I don't make it that often.
3. Owl stickers
4. going to Minneapolis' Uptown Art Festival today - seeing some great art that inspires me
5. time spent with family

Alright

I get these emails called Notes from the Universe. They are notes with positive outlooks.messages of life. This is one I opened up recently that I needed to hear....

It is OK. You are alright. You needn't second guess anymore, Darby.

Everyone is safe. Nothing "bad" is going to happen. All of the promises have been kept.

And you could not possibly be more adored.


Sometimes I just like to hear things are going to be alright.

Good Things

Just doing a little list of good things that I am thankful for even though it isn't my usual Gratitude Friday....

* spending quality time with my sister
* seeing the movie Eclipse
* the rain
* great dinner - my sister made shrimp wonton soup and then stir fry veggies on rice with an Asian sauce that was spicy and SO SO good!
* starting a new book that my sister had - Women Food and God - which I think I am going to enjoy

Gratitude Friday (on Sunday)

I am thankful for...
1. my cousin picking me up at the airport
2. being able to be there for April and Joe's wedding reception
3. seeing my parents, sisters, brother-in-law, nephew, Aunts, Uncles, cousins and Grandma
4. having a slumber party with my Grandma. (more on this later)
5. the wonderful food and company at the reception

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I leave tomorrow for Minnesota. I won't be home until August 17th.

My parents and sisters will be so busy getting ready for April and Joe's wedding reception (that is on Saturday) so my cousin is going to pick me up at the airport. I am very grateful that she is able to do that for me/us. And I can't wait to chat books with her. She is an avid reader - even more avid then myself though.

I look forward to seeing all of my family. Almost everyone will be there for the reception. It is at my parents home. And I am sure my Mom is in uber hostess mode getting ready for it.

My Grandma and I are having a slumber party on Saturday night. I am staying with her in a hotel room as she has trouble with my parents steps to their guest room so on Saturday night she and I will stay in a hotel room. I look forward to just chatting with her.

I am staying until August 17th so that I can be there when they bury my Uncle's ashes. I wasn't able to go the funeral so I really want to be there for this. It is at the small country church cemetery. I know my Uncle had many good memories associated with the church so it will be a good place for his ashes.

When I get back from Minnesota, I will be home a day and then leave for Denver for several days. So lots of traveling coming up for me but for good reasons.

Love

Only sharing just a couple photos from my sister's wedding. Michael and I have been working hard on editing them. I won't be able to finish them before I leave for Minnesota tough.

This is during the ceremony. Michael and I were both wishing we would have had a video camera. Because during the ceremony Joe would squeeze April's hand and then April would squeeze Joe's hand. And back and forth through the ceremony. It was very touching to see it.


Next to the lake there were pretty flower gardens so this is one of them after the ceremony and dinner walking amongst the flowers.

Enhance

I like taking care of Michael. I mean he takes care of me too. So why wouldn't I want to take care of him too? We have things we do that enhances each others lives. I am about to go out of town so I would like to have some of the things I do for him be a little easier. I know he can take care of himself...cook, clean and do laundry. But I like that I can help him out when I know he will be so busy with work.

So I made breakfast burritos, French bread pizzas, garlic toast and several dishes that are all frozen in individual servings for easy defrosting and reheating. I made sure things are washed and ironed. Obviously with me being gone almost 3 weeks he will have to do some more washing and ironing but at least he will be good for a while. And the house is completely clean.

Hopefully I will have made his life a little easier while I am gone. As I said I know he is going to be busy with work and I want things to be easier.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. a new guilty pleasure - Work of Art
2. Sonic after dark 99 cent sundae's
3. girls night out that I will have with my sister, Mom, cousin and aunts. We are going to see Eat Pray Love
4. having very patient and loving friends that understand I have been isolating myself and trying to just get through each day due to grieving
5. mail love from 2 friends - wonderful cards to make me smile

Boyfriend

There is this scene in Sex in the City Movie (first one) where Mr. Big and Carrie are looking at apartments. And one of the people showing them an apartment calls Mr. Big Carrie's husband and she quickly corrects the person by saying he is my boyfriend. And Mr. Big said, "Aren't I a little old to be a boyfriend?" And Carrie say she will start calling him her Manfriend. Mr. Big didn't find that amusing either.

Anyway - I go through a similar thing as Mr. Big - it sounds so corny to me to call Michael my boyfriend. We are in our 40's - so not boy and girl but man and woman just not in the marriage sense. But yes in the dictionary definition of the word Michael is my boyfriend. Occasionally I will say significant other but you know that just doesn't flow very easily either. I really would like to come up with a different word then boyfriend.

I just called Michael my Manfriend and he looked at me like I was very strange. He should know that by now. So I think Manfriend is out. So any suggestions would be helpful.

Nice Note Photos

Here are just a Nice Notes we left around downtown Grand Junction....others we left in books, shopping carts, shelves at grocery stores and then several at my doctors office.

This was at a bus stop with lots of graffiti in it. As you will see if you look closely - I put it next to the word hate. Hoping it would be something there instead of hate.

On a parking meter....this one and the one above stated around the longest.

Library book return

Grand Junction downtown has what is called Art on the Corner. Really it is art all along main street. It is one of my favorite things about Grand Junction. Anyway, I put one Nice Note on a statue along main street.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful...
1. being able to do nice notes and hopefully making others smile and feel good when they came upon them.
2. for the rain - sound and smell of it
3. for the beautiful fields we saw on our road trip
4. for iced chai
5. for really good book I was sent to read and review...Of Bees and Mist (review coming soon)

Nice Notes

I read the website www.operationnice.com often as it just makes me smile and reminds me to be nice in unexpected ways. I hope I am nice most of the time - but going out of my way to be nice, especially when it isn't how I am feeling, is something I am not sure I always think of so Melissa of Operation Nice gives me those reminders.

Operation Nice was celebrating her TWO YEAR BLOGIVERSARY and Melissa asked her readers to participate by doing Nice Notes. And so Michael and I went around town sticking up nice notes. The photo above is one of them that we did in downtown Grand Junction. Some of them were still up today. We went out to run errands and decided to check to see how many lasted through the Farmer's Market and many did - and I hope they made others feel as good as it made me feel leaving them.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. Being able to see my sister get married to her love
2. Michael and our families making it possible for us to go to see her get married
3. Road trips - Michael and I love road trips.
4. Godfather's Pizza - it is something we can't get in Colorado but I grew up with when I lived in Omaha. So we stopped on our way through to get a pizza and then we arrived in Storm Lake and right next door to our hotel - was a Godfathers.
5. Family

To Iowa

Well we had an unexpected change of plans. My sister is getting married in Iowa on Thursday but we really didn't think we could go. But a few things came into place and we are now heading to Iowa. We are in Denver now. We attended Michael's brother and sister-in-law's 25th wedding anniversary surprise party on Saturday - which was so nice. Their kids did a great job with it.

Because this was a change of plans, means I wasn't at all prepared to be going to a wedding, but I am very excited that I get to see my sister get married.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. that our one cat that has allergies seems to be getting over this run of them a little faster
2. some good recipes tried recently and will start posting recipes soon
3. air conditioning
4. sliced pork on whole wheat with spicy mustard and tomato
5. meeting old and new friends this weekend

750 words

A friend of mine posted this website on Facebook - 750words.com. From the first look it looks like yet another blogging/journaling site. But with another look I realized it isn't.

"....The Artist's Way called it morning pages. Morning pages are three pages of writing done every day, typically encouraged to be in "long hand", typically done in the morning, that can be about anything and everything that comes into your head. It's about getting it all out of your head, and is not supposed to be edited or censored in any way. The idea is that if you can get in the habit of writing three pages a day, that it will help clear your mind and get the ideas flowing for the rest of the day."

If you are thinking of doing this, don't think you need to be an artist. Basically it is just writing to write. Writing to empty out what is going on inside.

A very cool feature of the site is that it tracks things for the entry....

This was how my Monday writing stats looked....
Words today: 796
Time to 750: 00:15
Total time: 00:16
Words per minute:51
# distractions: 0 Good job!

Rating:PG Sexual content (nothing to do with sex in my entry but I will get into how it tracks below)

Feeling mostly…Affectionate but also Upset, Sad, Self-Expressive, Anxious

Concerned mostly about…Family but also Religion (again it is wrong on this but I understand why it put this), Death, Eating/drinking, Success, Leisure, Home, Relationships, Work

Mindset while writing… Extrovert (it was almost 50/50 on extrovert/introvert), Negative, Certain, Thinking

Time orientation: The Future
Primary sense: Hearing
Us and them: Them

And then it also does a word cloud of frequently used words.

It tracks words so such if I say kiss in the entry they would put that as sexual content. Said I was concerned about religion but I wasn't but was mentioning Christianity in my entry just as description though not as an issue. So it tracks words and then puts them into stats. Even if not totally accurate - I really like the stats.

I just like the concept of emptying out my brain too. It has felt good.

Gamer Girl

Once in a land far far away (meaning the 90's), I played Tetris and another Tetris like game on Nintendo. I then moved to Sim City on the computer. But since then I haven't really played games like that.

Last summer while visiting my sisters they kept asking me join some games on Facebook so at least they had more friends/neighbors there. I did join a few but never played. And then around the end of September, I received yet another request to be neighbors with someone else. But knew my sisters were playing that game too. So I joined thinking I would only set it up and then be neighbors with those who needed neighbors. But...I started playing. And playing more. It didn't help that Michael was out of town when that request came in so playing a game is a great way to pass insomnia time since I don't sleep much while he is gone.

By the time he came home, I was really into Farmville. I didn't tell him at first about it. And I thought he would notice but he didn't until coming and seeing me play. He then joined because he said to me that just seeing me interested in a computer game made him happy. He loves games and plays many Facebook games and has just other computer games too.

I am really laid back about the game. I don't play it to compete with others. I play it because I like just the game overall. Until recently Farmville only went to level 70. And I reached it and wasn't sure what to be doing with it even though I still liked it. But they increased levels and added features again to make it more interesting for those of us in the higher levels.

At about the time I reached level 70, I saw an article about FrontierVille. It is a game put out by the same people that do Farmville. I really didn't think anything much about the game UNTIL I read that they were comparing it to Little House on the Prairie and I loved the books and TV series so I signed up immediately. I still don't like it as much as I like Farmville but playing these games has gave Michael and I yet another common interests. And he likes that I am now his Gamer Girl.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. ice water on such hot summer days
2. the opportunity to design my sister's wedding invitations as well as reception
3. some cute stickers to mail to a friend
4. a friend finding a very cool journaling site (750words.com)
5. an email about getting another book to review - always feels good

Elegance

Paulo Coelho had some quotes by Coco Chanel on his blog a couple days ago here is one that I liked....

Elegance does not consist in putting on a new dress. Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future. Elegance is refusal.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...a wonderful evening with Michael. We had some quality time together and it was good for us both. And connecting with another old friend that is very caring, thoughtful and wise. She offered me some very good advice for helping with my grieving process.

Summer of {Mail} Love

My friend Kathie over at Two Frog Home is hosting the Summer of {Mail} Love. I think it is a great idea especially for someone like me who just enjoys sending mail love!

SARK

Tonight night there is a free first class of Dream Boogie by SARK. And I didn't think I could commit to it. Anyway - SARK did offer a free recording that will be sent after the first class but in looking around on the Dream Boogie page of her website she had this recording. It wasn't anything new when starting your dreams really but still things I needed to hear. She has other videos and print outs on that site too. I think SARK is always inspiring so I look forward to the recording I get.

Living in this World

From Creativity Bootcamp which I just found the other day and am really thinking I want to take a better look at it and start working with the prompts:

When you live in this world; when you see life as this amazing collection of artistic creations, you cannot help but yearn to be a part of it. You almost cannot resist the urge to create yourself. The wanting becomes desire, the impossibilities become attainable, and the obstacles begin to melt away. Your world becomes different and the meaning of your life now includes the need to create. And once you have gotten to this place, the little things that you have thought were standing in the way of you being more creative just melt away one by one.

Operation Nice - What I Love to Do

Over at Operation Nice she did a doodle of all the things she loves to do so I decided to list them for now but would like to do this in my art journal as well...

Things I love to do....

Read
Create art
send out mail love
create graphics
dream
listen to music
go to concerts
talk with friends
write/blog
people watch
watch movies
sing
organize
listen to the rain
collect quotes
be of service and help others
bake
go to museums
travel
drink tea
take day trips with Michael
laugh
be NICE
take photos
learn new things
meditate
collect images that inspire me

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. talking with my sister
2. being able to check out old movies from the library
3. little sticky flags to mark important places in my books - Although Michael would argue that I didn't need them for Eat Pray Love as almost all the pages are marked. Of course he is mistaken on that - not ALL the pages but I will say the majority of them.
4. getting to see Oprah's show with Julia Roberts about Eat Pray Love movie that will be coming out in August
5. the actual letter in my hands that says I show no signs of cancer. They told me it right after the appointment, but having the letter saying it just made it even better.

NOVICA

I sometimes enter some giveaways around the web. I haven't won yet, but I will one day! Anyway, Leslie Love Veggies does awesome giveaways and the one I entered tonight is great. It is a $75 gift certificate for NOVICA --- You can enter the giveaway HERE.

Side note: A couple years ago just a month or so before I read EAT PRAY LOVE, I stumbled upon NOVICA. And really loved so many things there from the home goods to the jewelry - everything is just so pretty and unique. I then read EAT PRAY LOVE and if you have read it you will know it is mentioned in the 3rd section of the book on her Indonesia trip. I was reading the book in bed and squealed because I recognized it.

Transformation

I am rereading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and this quote is from the section on Italy - Chapter 25 (Bead 25) page 75. Liz is talking about all the changes the Augusteum has went through. But I like what the message of the quote....

"It is merely this world that is chaotic, bringing changes to us all that nobody could have anticipated. The Augusteum warns me not get attached to any obsolete ideas about who I am, what I represent, whom I belong to, or what function I may once have intended to serve. Yesterday I might have been a glorious monument to somebody, true enough -- but tomorrow I could be a fireworks depository. Even in the Eternal City, says the silent Augusteum, one must always prepared for riotous and endless waves of transformation."

American Idol?

When I was at my parents back in April, they watch a lot of reality tv and one of those shows is American Idol. I had maybe seen one episode the first season and none since.

Anyway...lately people are posting links that I follow that have American Idols from this season. And they are videos I like so posting them.

This first one is Lee DeWyze Hallelujah which is one of my favorite songs and he did a good job.




This next one is from the other top contender from this season Crystal Bowersox and this is from before she was on the show. It is to promote a website for street musicians. I guess the "video, produced, directed and edited by Mark Schimmel was shot in one day and features eight street musician groups singing in eight different Chicago locations. The project, which contained over 48 audio tracks and multiple visual elements, took over 9 months to complete."

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. a fabulous appointment today. The scan I had today gave me the all clear. Only have to go back once a year! So that was GREAT news!
2. a celebration late lunch at a newish place in GJ - McAlisters Deli. Michael had went to one on his trip to Austin. And raved about the ice tea (something I don't like) and I said we had one here. He had forgot. So today we went for a celebration lunch there and it was really good.
3. a kind and understanding doctor - I had a reg doctor appointment this week as well and we discussed how things are going emotionally with all the hard times I have gone through lately. And he really listened and helped.
4. reconnecting with a friend. With the death of my friend, I contacted another friend that I knew would want to know. We hadn't talked in a long time and had a really good heart to heart. And we both expressed thanks for meeting each other through our friend.
5. Chocolate

"Window" Shopping

Tweak Boutique - Love the Asymmetrical Necklace and the Duet. I really think the "hoot" owl earrings are so cute but I just can't wear earring anymore



Meme Craftworks - I am sure I don't sew well enough to make it but it is really cute


Tape Swell - I love some of their tapes. But what I don't get is why you save buying 2 individual tapes instead of buying the combo packs. You can get 2 individual tapes for $14.00 or a combo pack for $20

Forget and Find

"I wanted, in a messy, maddening way, to go on forgetting myself and yet, to find myself too." ~ from Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson

Bacon and Cheddar Deviled Eggs

Okay I know I am in the minority but I have never been fond of Deviled Eggs. I thought they were kind of blah even though I really like hard boiled eggs and egg salad. A friend on Facebook liked the Incredible Egg website a while back and I saw this recipe for Bacon & Cheddar Deviled Eggs and that made me decided to try them again.

I halved the recipe as it is only just the two of us. And we loved them. They are definitely a keeper. They would be great for a summer grill out or picnic!

Bacon & Cheddar Deviled Eggs
Adapted from Incredible Egg

I halved recipe full recipe on the website

7 Hard Cooked/Hard Boiled Eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream (used low-fat sour cream)
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice (didn't use it as I didn't have any around)
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1/8 cup finely shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (1 oz.)
1 tbsp. chopped fresh chives OR green onion tops

Directions:
* Cut eggs lengthwise in half. Remove yolks to medium bowl. Reserve 2 white halves. * Finely chop remaining 2 white halves.
* Mash yolks with fork. Add mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, lemon juice and pepper; mix well.
* Add chopped egg whites, bacon, cheese and chives/green onions; mix well.
* Spoon 1 heaping Tbsp. yolk mixture into each reserved egg white half.
* Refrigerate, covered, to blend flavors.

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Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. a fabulous Mom whose birthday was yesterday!
2. calls, emails, cards, notes and comments from friends and family during this hard time. I appreciate everyone kindness.
3. a holiday weekend - we are going to go up to the Mesa on Sunday
4. the kitty cats - who are just adorable and make me smile
5. Michael's toe finally starting to heal. He had a fight with the refrigerator door and he lost. His toenail didn't survive. But he is finally healing from it.

Happy Birthday!

Gratitude Friday

I need to really do this as I found out the beginning of the week a friend of mine from Ohio died. So I have 2 people I am close to die within 10 days of each other. I am having a hard time dealing with the overwhelming feelings of grief.

So I am forcing myself to do this...and see...

I am thankful for...
1. Lemonade
2. Old movies and popcorn
3. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
4. Mickey Mouse mug to have a nice cup of tea in
5. Love from family and friends

Weekend

Michael made sure I was distracted all weekend. We watched A LOT of movies (one being Avatar as we hadn't seen it) and then went shopping. I had some left over money left on a Kohl's gift card and then had another one from a promo they sent. I wish there was SMELLO-Vision as the candle we bought today are so amazing. One is Eucalyptus Mint and the other is Jasmine Basil.

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for....

1. a note I found. A year ago my friend sent me this tiny tiny tin that I just assumed was empty because it was so light. So I didn't open it. And I opened it last night and found a note from my friend to me. It was very sweet - and just great to find.

2. organizing as it helps quiet my mind

3. finding an old birthday card that my Uncle wrote in. It was just a little note about what was going on in my Aunt and Uncle's lives but I still enjoyed reading it again. Also it is a funny card - that was very much my Uncle's sense of humor. So I am happy to have found it.

4. a key that I will be writing about again.

5. an audio tape that Michael says he can convert to a cd for me

Greyson Chance

So I posted this link on Facebook this week...it is AMAZING.




And then producers of the Ellen show contacted him to be on Ellen...



(mouse over the image to see the play button)

Thinking of My Family

I am thinking of my family today - especially my Aunt and cousin. I wish I could be there but I will be sending love to them.

My Uncle John

It is said that the Eskimos have 32 different ways to say the word love....the feelings of love I have for my Uncle go well beyond those 32 different words. He was such a vibrant, loving man who meant the world to my family and I. I am very sad he is gone and miss him greatly.

Am I Here?

I left the 29th of March to go to Minnesota and then returned on the 5th of April. Michael says he had a trip to Denver then. And I honestly don't remember it but really with so much on my plate I am not surprised. Then after that I left for North Carolina. Five days after coming home from North Caroline, Michael left for Austin. He arrives home tomorrow.

I write all that out because that is where I have been...when I have been at home I have been working to get a clients website up. And start work on the next one.

And now I will probably be heading to Minnesota again soon.

Some good things in my life that I am very thankful for...Michael - he is my rock so supportive of me during this difficult time, I had a fabulous time in North Carolina with Jessica and my baby sister is getting married!

North Carolina (Part 1?)

I have been meaning to write about my trip to North Carolina but have been working hard to finish up a work project before starting other stuff.

Before I arrived at Jessica's house - she wrote me asking me many questions about my likes and dislikes so that I would utterly comfortable at her house.

Going to break this into some topics....

Nervousness - I was talking with Michael on the phone as I came down into the baggage area. I saw her right away and started squeeing on the phone. He thought it was cute. I wanted to run and do like a movie type hug in the airport but I also didn't want her to think I was a dork. But we did hug and squee. And we were a little nervous. So after we got to her house, I did show and tell right away - hoping that talking about a topic - would help us both calm down. I took out a photo album I have from my time in Cleveland, Ohio. And then some loose photos of J and I as teenagers, Michael and I, family and so on. I wanted her to be able to see the faces of people I talk about.

House - After show and tell, we both got comfy and then she showed me around her house. Her house - so amazing. Living room walls are 2 shades of green, her dining room walls are a burgundy color and then her kitchen is sunflower yellow. That is what I think of at least when I walked in - sunflowers. And you see those colors no matter which of those 3 rooms you are in so it is just very bright and cheery! Then she has art everywhere. Amazing art - but all of it says Jessica..

She told me to help myself to anything in the kitchen but not just that she showed me where things are at in the kitchen. People say that often "help yourself" but often don't show you or tell you where things are at so I really appreciated that she said "here are tomatoes, deli meat...." and so on just telling me where everything was so that I could really help myself.

The kitchen has what is called the "snack drawer" and it is amazing! It was filled with banana chips, different kinds of nuts, protein bars, chocolate and several others things. (I am not sure if she always has chocolate but that was something I put on my likes list.)

Talking, Talking and more Talking - After show and tell we sat in her living room in our pjs, eating peanuts - and talking. Until 3am. And that started the non-stop talking from the time I got there until I left. Thursday when we got up, started our next day of non-stop talking. We sat and talked in our pjs until 4pm - an hour before her husband got home from work. Everyday we talked all day and at night we laid on the guest room bed - talking until late.

I feel like the trip was for me to get a lot out. I have so much going on right now that I just felt/feel like everything is so tightly kept inside that I was/am going crazy. And Jessica, let me get it out. She is the type of person that honestly listens. She is thoughtful and kind. She is poses questions and doesn't judge. She doesn't always get why I do the things I do but she accepts me for -me-. Also her house is the kind of house that lets a person be comfortable and safe. And I am so grateful for her to let me really often "dump" things on her.

Food - Something Jessica likes is to expand peoples food experiences - so likes them to try new things.

I had posted a recipe link on Facebook for ceviche. Now I just looked initially at the picture, the ingredient list and saw all the beautiful seafood and flavors - and said yums! I didn't read the recipe. If I had, I probably would have never posted it. I am glad I did post it though as Jessica - from that moment - had it in her mind I should try ceviche and I am glad I did. Ceviche is basically raw fish that is marinated in citrus juice. That citrus juice "cooks" the fish. Jessica said that the ceviche we had, wasn't that good - not as good as it usually is at least. But I thought it tasted good. It was hard not to look at it and see raw fish and go - "no! no! no! I am not sticking that in my mouth." But I did want to try something I have never had before while there. And I know how much Jessica was looking forward to me having ceviche. And really I enjoyed the flavors. I think that if/when I try it again - it can only be a better experience.

Every place we went - had good food. I was in food heaven. Thai food - oh yes how I love thee! And the last night I was there we went to a place that had a salsa bar and I had a steak torta that I am still dreaming about. Yums!


More to come in later....some things I want to talk about...sketch books/art journals, documentarian, her husband, cats, trees, tattoos and I am sure other things I am not remembering just at this moment.

Dream

I found this really cool GREEN shop with very eclectic items and it is hard to find something I don't like. The photo is from website when I looked at it before I left for North Carolina but now of course this item is gone and it was on clearance.

The shop is Viva Terra.

King Arthur Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Oh this recipe looks so good....Chewy Oatmeal Sugar Cookies. It has whole grains and oatmeal in a cookie that actually looks delicious. When I make them, I am sure I will post how they turn out.

Deeds

"Fashion your life as a garland of beautiful deeds."
-- Buddha

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful...

1. that my sister April is getting married!
2. that next week this time I will be at Jessica's
3. for finding the art journal I wanted to bring with me to Jessica's for her to do something in.
4. for having people in my life that get it. That know how to express their feelings and thoughts to me without being cruel or mean.
5. for Michael - there will never be the right words to express what he means to me and what he has done for me during this difficult time. I know I would not get through it as I have been - without him. I love you Michael!

It is hard...

to live so far away from my family. I think the older I get the harder it gets too. I wonder what it is about living so far away at this time in my life that makes it harder?

We even have some family drama going on and I still miss being around them. Plus I just got back from Minnesota and seeing them so I shouldn't be missing them so much. But I do understand that -this- time is different too. I keep wishing I had got to see my Uncle more while there but I completely understand why there just wasn't time. He needs his strength to help fight.

So now I am working hard to a website done before I go to North Carolina. As much as I am missing Michael, I am really glad to get away to see Jessica as I think I just need some down time away from things that deal with my family.

Trouble

I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead and some come from behind.
But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see.
Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!
~Dr. Seuss

Persist in Love

I am home. I arrived in Colorado on Monday but there was a snow storm that didn't allow me to get back to Grand Junction until Wednesday.

I went with the main purpose to see my Uncle. And it went okay. It was really hard.

My Uncle is 53 years old and was diagnosed with a rare aggressive cancer. And so it is most likely he won't be around much longer so I -had- to go see him. I needed to see him and give him a hug and tell him I love - which I did both those things a couple time. I wasn't able to see him as much as I wanted but I am SO GRATEFUL for the time I had with him. And I hope to get to see him in May when I go back for my Mom's 60th birthday.

I was able to see him a couple of times and each have these moments I want to remember.

My Uncle holding my hand and squeezing it. It was hard for me not to cry. When we were getting ready to leave, he hugged me and he said he hates saying good bye. And I said that he would see me again before I went back to Colorado. I just kept my arm around him and told him I loved him.

The next time I was able to see him was Easter. He had his first chemo treatment on Friday. And then Saturday he wasn't suppose to have any visitors and just rest. Then Sunday all my family - extended family went to their house for Easter. We all brought stuff so my Aunt wouldn't have to do anything.

My Uncle was nauseous almost constantly. So there wasn't much visiting with him. Just being with him. And I was fine with that. Then came the time he said he had to lay down and needed to say good bye. So I gave him a hug and told him I loved him. And he told me I give good hugs.

Easter was Sunday of course and then Monday morning I flew out. He isn't doing good at all. So I am hoping that things improve. I know he won't be better. And won't be cancer free. He is most likely not someone that will go into remission. All of this is to help him not suffer so much and give him more time.

I want to go back in May. I am selfish and want to see him again.

Book Review: Wine, Food and Friends

Wine Food & Friends by Karen MacNeil


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I picked up this book, I didn't realize that this author was a host of a PBS show of the same name as the book. I did do a search for the show to see if they carried it on our PBS but it looks like it is a canceled show. I now wish I had read the book earlier as I really enjoyed the book and feel I would have enjoyed the show.

I would give Wine, Food and Friends 4 out of 5 stars. I was looking for a book that gave specific wine suggestions with recipes. And MacNeil did exactly like that.

The layout of the book is great. It is divided into seasons and then has 6 to 8 themed menus for each season. For Autumn it has these menus: Autumn Light, Homestyle Supper, Asian-style supper, Casual Harvest Dinner, Flavors of Fall, Moroccan Nights and Classic Thanksgiving. At the beginning of each menu she tells you which wine(s) to pair with all or some of the courses and why. The food for the recipes she picks are perfect for the season. And all the recipes are from Cooking Light.

MacNeil picks very specific wines and even includes images of the label. She has little side bars of tips and little tidbits about the wines. And at the beginning of the book there are general charts about pairing wine with certain foods plus a quick guide where you can look at the chart to see a wine goes with which recipe in the book. Such if you were wanting to pair something with a bottle of Pinot Noir then you could look at that wine in the chart and it would list the name of the recipe and page number.

My main problem with the book is that some of the wines are very pricy and she doesn't offer alternatives. I wish MacNeil would have done a wider price range. She does do menus with low-cost wines but one of her menus has wines that are $75 and up. And no alternative for other wines in other price ranges. I know I could probably pick a wine that is similar - such as if she recommends a chardonnay out of my price range I could pick another chardonnay but often she has specific reasons why she chose that chardonnay so that might not always work well with the meal just pairing it with another chardonnay. Plus I am not sure I could always find a substitute at all as they are just one of a kind type of wines. But overall the recipes and the pairings are great. And it is a book I would enjoy having on my bookshelf.

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