Мой блог

I wasn’t given a letter, and I am not sure which to choose. This particular MeMe is where you discuss ten things you love that start with a particular letter. K is the one she did, which by the by is my favorite letter.

Chroniclers, rocked. You should take a look.

I think, I’ll go with the letter B. Not sure why, but lets go with B.

I absolutely love BELL PEPPERS. Green, red, orange, yellow. Sliced, diced and added to just about anything. I prefer them fresh, and raw but I can eat them just about anyway. You can often find me toting a baggie in my purse of slices of this delicious veggie. I love them with with ranch dip, plain, sprinkled with salt and pepper, a little lemon juice on them. They are beautiful. I love them especially in a green salad with other kinds of crunchies. Oh so yum!

BRIGHAM CITY, UTAH Utah is full of pretty little towns, dotting the crevices and valleys of this amazing piece of geography. However, Brigham City is one of my favorites. It is picturesque in its magnificent beauty. Main street has quaint little shops and funky places to visit. A candy store, sporting amazingly delicious handmade chocolates. Idle Isle, while across the street it’s little restaurant is also quite tasty. Brigham City Floral and Gift, Let’s Bee Scrapin a great scrapbook store, with the most helpful people you will ever meet, that work in it. Lots of really neat things. I love the tree lined main street, where in the summer, the branches reach across the road and touch each other, creating an amazing leaf tunnel, that is breathtaking. It’s a wonderful little place, I love.

BUBBLES. There is rarely a day go by, that I don’t have a soak in the tub. I love me some bubbles! My favorite scent is Midnight Pomogranite, but really I’ll take just about anything. I love to soak in the scented water and play with the bubbles. I used to have a rubber ducky, but it was confiscated by someone. How rude!

I have to admit, I really love BLOGGING. I’ve been at it, for about five years, which is shocking to me. I’ve over a thousand posts under my belt and often I feel like I re-write the same things over and over again. I don’t go back and check, because really it doesn’t matter. This is my spot, and I can banter back and forth about the same old things, if I see fit. I love making the rounds. The blogs I visit daily, hoping for a new post, or a response in a comment. I adore the friends I have met here, and also the ones I have dragged here. Kicking and screaming, with me demanding they join the force. (You know who you are, quit laughing)

My Sister BARBARA. I love and miss her. I did not appreciate her, while she was here on earth with us, but with her passing I have found great admiration for her trials, and understanding of her limitations and challenges. I miss her, keenly and I am very grateful that we were friends when she died. I am so grateful for the beautiful gifts she and I shared. Her children, are mine and for a while, when she was well enough, we really did co-parent. I remember her, beautiful, teaching me how to weave dandelion bracelets, with the sun on her face and her smile that just beamed. I’ll bet that she has an amazing spot in Heaven, and that her experiences right now, are beyond anything I can imagine, and I am so happy for her to have them. She suffered horrifically on this earth. I sure do miss her.

BREAD. Need I say more? Carby, baked goodness in all colors and packages. Hard crusty ones, dark flavorful ones, salty, sour, sweet. I choose the places I want to eat out, based on their bread. OH SO YUM.

THE BOZARK. I’m not sure, what to say about him. Conservative, a thinker. Drawn to him from the get go. I love that he blogs and that you all get to have insight, into his keen mind. He is a constitutionals, has a passion and love for the history of this country. Honest. When he smiles, his eyes crinkle in the corner and his ears move a little. He is a practical joker, and everyone in the house, has to be on guard around him. He is a scientist, a reader, a writer, and a friend.

These are so boring. I’m sure you all know these things about me. I love BOOKS! Maybe not as much as Melissa C does, but I love them. I read all the time. Good, bad and ugly. I especially love to combine bubbles and books, and I read in the bath tub, all the time. I just finished, “Recovering Charles” by Jason Wright. I don’t have anything else on the docket, so if you have a suggestion for me, I’d love to read it!

I really love me some BLING. I don’t need expensive jewelry. I just like a little bling here and there. I trinket of some kind to make me feel special. I prefer silver, and love color. Big, small, doesn’t matter. Anything will do.

BALL. As long as it is bright yellow and in the water. I’ve really fallin in love with Water Polo. It is amazing to watch. The excitement is evident. I would suggest if you haven’t taken in a game, you should. Be watching for my new water polo blog. It’s going to be GREAT.

This is fun! Thanks Chronicler, and S’mee!

I got this MeMe in an email and thought, I would do it. It’s been a while, since I have done one.

I’ve been pretty sick, and sorry I have been away so long.  Congratulations to The First Daughter, on the latest addition to her family.

• Gone on a blind date-  Yes, I sure have.
• Skipped school– Um, yes, once or twice.
• Watched someone die– Yes.
• Been to Canada– Yes, I have- but not on the lifetime trip with the golden child (she’ll totally know who she is and what I am talking about) I do plan to go again. My most favorite cousin lives there, and it is so my turn
• Been to Mexico– Yes. But, can we please not talk about it? HA.
• Been to Florida– Yes, I most certainly have! I love Clear Water Beach.
• Been on a Plane– Yes, I have. Do not love flying, but I love getting places quickly!
• Been Lost– Oh yes, I have.  Once in Hanckensack, New Jersey. One of the times I have been the most scared in my life.
• Gone to Washington DC– Yes, I have. I love that town. You could spend a decade there and never see it all.
• Swam in the Ocean– Yes, I have. Both the Atlantic and Pacific, The Long Island Sound, and The English Channel.
• Recently Colored with Crayons– At Thanksgiving time, I did. Does that count as recently?
• Sang Karaoke– Oh yes, but many many people wish I never had.
• Paid for a meal with coins only– Yes, I have. Do you remember, “Mac Tonight”, where they had the 99 cent Big Macs?  Used to get one and a Big Gulp, with my spare change, as often as I could!
• Done something I swore I would never do– Yes, and usually regretted it.
• Made Prank Phone Calls– Oh yes… and this new day and age of caller ID and reverse look up and all of that is simply, annoying!
• Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose & elsewhere!– Absolutely. Many, Many a time!
• Caught a snowflake on your tongue–  Yes. This morning, even.
• Danced in the rain– Yes. I remember one time in particular. It’s a good memory.
• Written a letter to Santa Claus– Who hasn’t?
• Been kissed under the mistletoe–  Yes but not nearly as often as I would like!
• Watched the sunrise with someone– Yes. The last time on a mountain hike, with the dog and the Bozark, and that… is a good memory.
• Danced on a Bar– Does dancing IN a bar count? Or dancing at the Aladdin Theater in Las Vegas?  Hum, probably not.
• Blown Bubbles– Of course.
• Been Skinney Dipping Out Doors– Um, goodness… yipes.
• Gone to the movies– Hundreds of times.
• Won more than 100 dollars on a Lotto:  I won a 100$ on a slot machine. Never played the lotto. 
• Went Sky Diving– Oh that would be a big HECK NO. I am so not an adrenaline junkie.
• Went Scuba Diving– Yes, now that I have done.
• Rode a Harley– Yes
• Rode a Horse– Yes
• Do you have a nickname– I have hundreds.  My cousin calls me Pizza Face, (I call her Joany- bologna ) The Bozark has many names for me, lately it has been Plutacoil.  Lis, is one I get called a lot.
• Favorite Drink– Diet cola with a grape add in, and a slice of lime.
• Body Piercings– Ears
• On a Scale of 1-5 (5 being the best) how do you like your job– Now there is a toughy. Some days I love my job. Somedays I think I am really good at it. Somedays I think it is the best job in the world.  Most days, I think I want to quit.
• Ever eaten just cookies for dinner– I dunno, maybe, but I doubt it.
• Ever been on TV?– Yes, I have.
• Ever been in a car accident?– Yup I have.
• 2 door or 4 door car?–  Four doors!
• Can you drive a standard ?– Yes, I can. I prefer it!
• Favorite pie?– Lemon
• Favorite number–44
• Favorite movie– I could never just pick one.  Just Like Heaven is one I watch a lot these, days.
• Favorite dessert– Double Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry sauce.
• Favorite food– Baked Potato. Yum. Hands down.
• Favorite Day of the Week?– Wednesday
• Favorite Brand of Body Soap– The kind the Bozark Makes.
• Favorite Toothpaste– Close Up
• Favorite Smell– Pomogranite
• How do you relax?–  Good question.. I wish I knew how to relax.
• How do I see myself in 10 years– Being a mom of a teenage special needs kiddo. Living in a new home.

And that is all she wrote, folks!  I dare ya to copy it!

I can’t express how neat it is, to show you my delve into the baking

world, so that I can display pictures of my beautiful new fancy plates.

I was able to get my chubby little hands on some fresh blackberries. Yes, a whole flat full. Yay. Have I mentioned my incredible love affair that I have with berries?

So, after eating off of them for a couple of days, and deciding it was freeze, use or loose, I started to look for a recipe that could delight our tastebuds with these beautiful blackberries.

I settled on, a simple blackberry crumb cake. It’s so easy, and is absolutely delicious.

It goes like this!

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

dash salt

1/2 cup evaporated milk

2 cups fresh blackberries

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 325°. Melt butter in an 8-inch square baking dish in the preheated oven. Combin e flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and milk in a small bowl and beat until smooth. Pour batter over the melted butter, top with the blackberries, then sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the fruit. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until browned.

It worked out very well. Golden bubbly. I think when I make this again, with black or raspberries, I would suger dust the berries, prior to baking. Other than that, it was perfect.

I served it, on my pretty, pretty plates, warm, with vanilla bean ice cream.

I love my plates. Have I mentioned that? Thank you so much to everyone who participated in my Christmas Dream Come True.

Truly, it has meant the world to me.

I’ve noticed the cycle of effort that seems to come with having a child or family member with a disability.  Much like the stages of grief. I’ve talked about that before.  I’ll be doing just fine, and then something happens, and I find myself back in the angry stage or even disbelief.   Though these feelings come and go, and I have learned to manage them better, they still crop up.

I was reading in a book about Babe Ruth.  One of Baseball’s greats.  He is a household name, and even The Bozark, who is not a sports fan in any way, shape or form knows who Babe Ruth is.  One thing that I was surprised to read, is that Babe Ruth holds the records for the most strike outs.

So in the batting rotation, one trip to the plate, every ten players, he would get up to bat, and give it his most.  His attempts are met with enthusiasm and expectations. His mighty swing would flair away from his body and often engage perfectly with the ball. Yet, there were also those darn strikes out!

I find it a parallel with parenting a special needs kiddo.  We get these ideas in our head. We work hard. We buy the equipment and register for the game.  Finally it is our turn at bat, and swoosh, that ball skunks right past us.  There seems to be a lot of that. Those balls flying past us.  We are not able to get all our ducks in a row. Something is out alignment. We have funding issues, or we can’t find the coach that we need.  We have stumbling blocks, that prevent us from actually getting to the plate.  We swing with all our might, and we still miss the mark.  Our child doesn’t respond to our tactics.  Strike one, we adapt for the next go round. We change the parameters, the second ball swishes past and we don’t even swing.  Third time.  We almost have it. We nick the end of the bat with the ball, and though it doesn’t give us the desired effect, it gives us hope. We buck up, suck our stomach in, and prepare. Here comes the ball again, and it flies right past us again.

Defeat is everywhere around us.  The smell of it is in the air, we have that humiliating long walk back to the dug out.  We even feel like we have people cheering for our misfortune.  Like any other slugger, it is tough to put so much effort into getting up to bat, only to have our efforts not come to fruition.  Going back to the dug out, and waiting for yet another opportunity to try yet again.

It can be so disheartening.  Yet, out there lurks the greats. The people that are successful. The stories that make us smile and the lives that we cheer on from the sidelines.  Thank you so much for the example Babe Ruth, and  Mrs. Organic, or Wes’ Stories.  Folks like, Mel and Amy.  They give me, courage and the hope for more successes than failures.   Every time I get up to bat, I have my whole team with me. Chronicler and Melissa C, Yolanda, and S’mee.  I know, with every swing no matter which way it goes. My team is there behind me. Cheering.

Thank you so much for that.  It makes that lonely walk out to the plate, oh so easier.

All of us battle. Each and everyday we get up to the plate for our children, our families, our goals, and dreams.  We hang on tight to that bat with all of our might.

May we ALL have more successes than failures, and may we recognize that we are never alone.  Silently or with a screaming chorus, we have those, “Greats”… reminding us, to never stop getting up to bat.

I have been bestowed with an award, from my friend Loran’s blog, Many River’s To Cross!

If  you have not traveled to her place yet, I would strongly suggest that you take a minute. Her quotes, viewpoints and pictures are spectacular.

Thank you Loran, for thinking of me! I really appreciate it!

So with out further ado, I will nominate some grand bloggers of my choosing, to let them know that I think their places, are very cool.

1. The Bozark of course! I was quite taken aback when he started blogging.  His writing talent which is evident, as well as his insights keep me on my toes.  I appreciate his flair in sharing what is interesting to him and the bits and pieces of his life that he includes along the way! (He’s taken ladies, so no need to swoon)
2. The Quarter Deck ! I often find myself waiting for his entries.  He writes from his heart and his adoration for his family is evident. Through trials and triumphs I have been just in awe of his journey.
3. Life With The K’s ! I love this blog. Fresh and fun, always a bright light for me, when I visit. I especially appreciate the realness of what I find written, and I enjoy the ride, in watching the Life with the K’s.
4. Tyler’s Triumph’s ! This incredible young man is very cool, and so are his parents. Normal folks, living an extraordinary life, who are a constant example to me, and one of the most “real” people, you’ll ever meet. This blog is humbling, enlightening and entertaining all at the same time!
5. Melissa’s Mysteries! This wonderful girl is a great friend. Her entries are thought provoking and full of information, thoughts and feelings. I appreciate her honesty and her ability to let her real self shine through her blog. She tells us how it is, and she is great doing it. She is an award winning writer who has a great future ahead of her, and is someone who is actually LIVING and striving for her dreams.

So this ladies and gentlemen is who I will bestow this lovely award upon.  Thanks again Loran for awarding me!

For those who won, here are the steps you need to take, in order to award your coolest blogs!

1.  Place the logo on your blog

You are right, dreams really do come true!

Thank you all so much, for your generosity and efforts.

Truly.

I hope that everyone had a very very Merry Christmas, and that the New Year, is bright and happy.

My plate runneth over.

I think that Microsoft was really inventive when they came up with the name Windows, for their platform. Very clever, and I hate anything associated with Microsoft.  But, clever it was.

The windows that we stare out from, through out our lives are interesting things.

I remember seeing snow for the first time. Standing by the window, and watching it fall. I was mesmerized by the beautiful soft perfect flakes. I couldn’t hardly pull myself away from the frosty pane so that I could venture outside and enjoy the fluff.

I once had a bedroom that had three walls of windows. All around, grew lilac bushes and it was truly beautiful in the spring, with all blooms in their glorious splendor. The scent still takes me back to that room. I read many books in the window seat watching the seasons pass me by.  Even after the flowers were gone, it was so green and beautiful. I miss that room.

I spent a fair amount of time in my youth, watching cars and the people that drove them. I swear I grew up along the I15 corridor.  Traveling in style in my Dad’s Kenworth.  This is where I fell in love with the hot Nevada desert. Where I learned how mile markers and exit numbers work. This is where I saw the most amazing sunsets, sunrises and learned lessons of gratitude and faith.  My love for hamburgers and pepsi. I learned how to spot a flat tire at twenty paces and the familiar scent of diesel fuel that will forever remind me of my Father.

Another window that I remember with clarity my first house I lived in, after being married.  An enormous picture window facing east, that allowed you to stare for hours at the northern cusp of the Wasatch front. Mountains crawling out of the earth with rugged snow capped peaks that looked so close, it was if you could reach out and touch them through the glass.

One of my most favorite windows, was in the kitchen. This is where I watched my children play outside. Running around, playing back and forth. Victoria usually being a brutus, and Hans always in trouble.  One of the most precious memories that I have stored away in my mind, was the Christmas of 2001. September 11, had come and gone and I felt like we as a family were whole and healing. I felt such gratitude that we were together, and safe.  It was shortly after Thanksgiving and Paul and the kids were outside hanging Christmas lights. I was inside making minestrone soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I watched them through the window and the beautiful sunset behind them.  I finally gave up the ghost and went outside for a snowball fight.  It was one of those picture perfect days. I loved that window.

Overlooking the Salt Lake Valley from the top floor of Primary Children’s Hospital provided me with another view. Falling snow, covering every crack and crevice with bright Christmas lights aglow underneath the white blizzard.  Many nights, I sat rocking and rocking Ethan, watching the snow pile up first in inches, then in feet. Sometimes the wind blowing so hard, the crystals flying sideways making swirling patterns that are simply indescribable.

I spend a lot of time in this window.  Here at my computer. I chat with my sister and friends, read my favorite blogs, play scrabble (I am the scrabble queen ya know) and enjoy reading emails.  This is one of the most amazing pieces of technology that I could even conjure up. I love that I can instantly write a letter to my cousin who lives in Canada and know that pretty soon at the touch of a button she will be reading it. I love that I can share pictures, and delve into any subject, instantly being able to sort through articles and pages of any topic, I care to google.  This is a neat window.

As I sit here on this crisp Autumn night and reflect on the windows in my life, I find a wealth of gratitude creeping out the surface. I have been so fortunate and blessed.  I appreciate the vistas and views.  More so, than I can express.

One of my sweetest blogging friends, Maren is in need of some prayers.

She has been struggling with a very discouraging illness, and has not been well. She has been hospitalized for an indefinite amount of time.

She and her husband Jeff and their son have been on a roller coaster the last few years, trying to discover the root of the issues that have clasp themselves so tightly around her.

She is one of the most generous, wonderful people that I have ever met, and I wish her the very best on this frightening journey.

Please join me, in prayer. Specifically for the doctors and specialists working with her to  be guided in her care. For her recovery to be whole, and swift. For the family to feel comforted, and for the skills necessary for them to cope with all that has been handed to them.

Be well my friends.

I’d like to welcome a new blogger to the Realm.  She is a great friend. Always supportive and has the most adorable children on the planet. Well, okay, at least the ones under two.

So Welcome Miss Cami.  I hope you love this wonderful place as much as I do.

I’ve found that I have to articulate my thoughts, before I write them down. That I have to think about how I really feel, before I put them into words here in my little tiny space on the web. This has helped me change my view of the world.  I have found a greater understanding and compassion for people, and I have determined a great many things that I am grateful for, that at once I took for granted.

So I hope you like this delve. I am excited to see what you have to say. I’m excited to hear what is going on your world. Excited to see pictures of your kids, and hear about your husband.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!