Hippity Hoppity

Easter

I am in charge of the lesson for my 9-year old Sunday School class tomorrow. I wanted to do fun activity, because it's a special day, but know that these kids (2 boys in particular) can get way out of control in a hurry. A couple of years ago, my MIL did a hunt with Resurrection Eggs for the girls. It was very cute, and they learned a lot from the scriptures in each egg. I would love to do this tomorrow, and would really like to send the kids on a hunt through the building, but again, am afraid of the control factor. Any ideas? These kids also love treats, so I am going to do mini-cupcakes, since most of them will be hopped up on sugar already at our 1:00 church hour.

3 Hours

Patch has been asleep for 3 hours. That's a record nap for him. I have the monitor turned up, so I can hear him breath. Miss Susan's gymnastics class really wore him out today. That, and he woke up in at around 10:30 last night to watch a little March Madness. He loves basketball. He can't say it, but he loves it. We were watching the George Mason game, and each time Yellow would get the ball, he would yell "Gooooooooooo!" In case you're keeping track, that's word #11.

Mini-me is enjoying The Sound of Music. She loves to perform the "So Long, Farewell" song for us. She does the sweeping hand motions, and then kind of loses the words for a minute to pick up again with "Achoo, achoo, to you and you, goodniiiiiiiight!" I love that my kids love musicals. Their two favorite movies from last year were Enchanted and Hairspray.

Tonight we are going out on a double triple date with my quilting friends and their husbands. They have all met before, but we think our husbands could be BFFs. If not, they could at least play racquetball together once in awhile. Our babysitter for tonight just loves Patch, so it's a good thing he's resting up now. She'll be excited he has a later bedtime.

Setback

Curly and I got the quilt frame set up on Friday night, but noticed the table-top was warped. We weighted it down, and let it sit, hoping the heavy duty adheasive would take hold. It did not. I am very frustrated because I would like to get started, but with a warped table, it's a little difficult. I contacted Patches, and they are going to contact the company and get me boards.

In the meantime, did anyone watch Dancing with the Stars last night? Man, I love that show!

Dinner

Tonight, I took a break from our regular Sunday Dinner (mainly because our roasting pan bit the dust and then was used as a paint tray) and make spaghetti pizza. Mini-me came in the kitchen as I was dishing it up and asked what I had made. When I told her, she heaved a huge sigh and said, while rolling her eyes, "You've GOT to be kidding me." Then, at dinner, Curly and I were trying to have a conversation when she started to wave her hands and say, "Guys. Guys. Focus." She then made us watch her take a bite.

Yesterday as I looked around my disaster of a living room, I decided it was time to FLY. Wish me luck as I shine my sink and get dressed to shoes with laces.

Huh

What Jana Means

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Almost Done!

My studio is almost finished. We painted again last night, and Curly installed a computer desk for the kids. It is looking fabulous. I'll post pictures when we are all finished, which will hopefully be tomorrow. Curly's show was cancelled for tonight, so we'll be able to have a date! We are going to watch a DVD when the kids go to sleep. I know, so exciting. I did make cupcakes for the occasion, though.

Good News!

Today I found out that Molly has been accepted into the Frederick County Pre-K program. There are only 40 spots available in our school this year, so it's great that she made the cut. The program is 5 half-days a week, which will get her ready for all-day Kindergarten the next year. The school is still within walking distance, being just across the street from her preschool this year, and it's free! Yipee!!!

Deliveries

I missed the UPS guy yesterday. He was bringing an important document that needs a signature. He left a little note, saying he would be back today sometime between 10:30 and 5. I'm glad he didn't give himself a narrow window. I wouldn't want to disrupt his day.

Still Alive

That tornado night was a hairy one. I was awake until nearly 2 am, listening to every change in the wind, rumble of thunder, and burst of rain. Curly kept telling me to relax, but it was pretty difficult. There was a lot of rain, and some flooding as well. Our mudroom leaks a little, so Curly's flip-flops were full of water the next morning.

We have been busy working on the basement studio. We removed the workbench and cabinets from the corner, took the futon up to our room (where it looks very over sized), took the desk up to the attic and set it up again, and took the Foosball table out to the garage. Now it's time to build the wall. At first we thought a 4-foot wall would be great, but then realized that I wouldn't be able to see over it while standing at the Mega Quilter. So we have modified and are now going to put in a 3-foot wall. The really cool thing about this is with the workbench and cabinets removed, we now have space for a craft area for the kids. They will love it. We have some crafty kiddies in our house. They love to paint and color and glue things.

I know most of you who read this blog are friends/family and get our Christmas letter (which this year was mailed around Valentine's Day). For those who thought that they might like to order a tee-shirt quilt as a graduation gift for someone, now is the time to do it. I try to keep my turnaround time to 6-8 weeks, unless you would like me to take longer. Spring is just around the corner, so order soon!

Fear #1

My #1 fear is of tornadoes. I have been in one, so I shouldn't be scared because I faced that demon, right? Wrong. If anything, it has made me more freaked. They can come out of nowhere. At least during the day, you can see what color the sky is. You can see it coming and run for cover. But at night? While you sleep? Terrifying! We are under a tornado watch until 3 am tomorrow. That just means that "conditions are favorable," not, "one is on its way." That's a tornado warning. Does it make a difference in my terror level? Not much. Not to mention the fact that Curly is out for the evening at rehearsal. I am trying not to freak out too much, but you can bet I will be checking the weather often. I am trying to keep Mini-me quiet, so I can hear it if it comes. Maybe the kids and I will sleep in the basement tonight.

Rain on the Way

We are supposed to get pounded today and tonight with rain. If only it were 40 degrees cooler...I have turned off the heat in the house and opened some windows. I love to air out our house. I can't do it for long, because humidity tends to build up, but every so often, it's nice. Yesterday it reached 70 degrees here. The kids had a ball in the park, which seemed to have every kid in the neighborhood.

I just asked Patch where his nose was, and got sushed. Apparently I was interrupting him.

At ballet today, Mini-me had to try on her costume. Again. She's getting very tired of trying it on, and then not being aloud to dance in it. The costume looks very cute on the hanger, but not so cute on the girl. At one point, we had full frontal nudity. I mustered up all my powers of passive-aggression and suggested that we find a new costume. The person in charge has had many issues with this costume, so they just might.

Mega Quilter

I am a Mega Quilter. Well, I own one anyway. It's all part of my vision for The Molly Patch. Now that the machine is in my garage, I need to clean up the basement space and create a studio. That means that Curly's home office is done and all "workshop" projects must be completed in the garage. It also means that I am going to have to dig deep within myself and find some organization and structure. I know it's in there. After all, I was a scheduler as a career. Check my website (and here of course) for info on when I'll be ready to take your quilts and turn them into heirlooms.

New Blog

I started a second blog. Say what? It's called Recip-Ease, and will be for recipes. Add it to your bloglines, because it won't be a daily affair. I also hope to get a couple of contributers (hint hint, Emily) so I won't be all alone.

Last night, Curly and I watched the ladies battle it out on American Idol. This week, the question the contestants answered was "What is one thing America might be surprised to know about you." I had a laugh when Brooke White answered that she went to beauty school and liked to cut hair. So does the real life Brooke White that I know!

Flower did not come over last night because Curly has had the bug that's been going around. We do get her for the whole weekend, though, so it's all good. I'm not sure what we're going to do on Saturday. Curly has a meeting all day, so we may drop him off and then go meet baby Marianne. But, then again, since we have been sick, Marianne's parents may tell us to stay away. That would be fine, too.

Computer Hijacked

My computer was hijacked for the past few days. Luckily, the hijacker turned her tiny back for a few moments and I stole it back. Mini-me loves to play games on the computer. So, if I want several hours of an occupied 4 year-old, I open the Disney home page, select a preschool game, and let her go. She likes to start with some Bunny Town action. She creates her bunny persona (which is purple and wears a tutu, a crown, and funny glasses "just like mommy"), then plays a game. Each game helps her earn carrots, which can then be redeemed in the Carrot Shop for things to put in her bunny house. She has to match letters, count scoops of ice cream, listen to directions, and do other fun learning games. From there, she then goes and plays a game with Mickey Mouse and his friends. Her favorite is the Musical Maze, which takes Pluto through a maze to find different musical instruments. She likes to do this all by herself, and usually while wearing some sort of costume. Patch just clued in today that she was doing something awesome, and got a little jealous. But, he was able to play with the keyboard, compete with microphone, so even he was busy for awhile without hanging on me. My kids are smart. I probably am just saying that because I'm the mommy, but whatever.

We have stayed away from the YMCA for several days now. Patch's nose has been running like a champ and Mini-me has had some attitude problems. She got kicked out of Primary on Sunday because she wouldn't sit still and listen during the lesson and she kept turning the lights on and off. For those who think that might be a bit harsh for a class of 4 and 5 year-olds, the lesson is only about 5 minutes. Any kid that age can sit for 5 minutes. Then, on Monday, she was not quiet during circle time, even though Miss Kelly (whose first name is Kelly and just got married and now has the last name of Kelly) told her she needed to be quiet. She did not get her sticker. I picked up a very sad Mini-me from school. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. Hopefully Patch's nose will stop running. Hopefully I can log in some time on a treadmill. Heaven knows I need it.

Rock 'n Roll

Sawyer

Have you tried the nickname generator? My nickname is "Little Bo Peep." Very clever, Sawyer.

I've Been Tagged

Thanks, Lauren. Here are the rules of the tag:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3.Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next five sentences.
5. Tag five people.

My nearest book was the Martha Stewart Home Keeping Handbook. Here is what she has to say on page 123:

"THERMOMETER, MEAT: For testing the internal temperature of cooked meats. These have a thin, 4- to 5-inch long stem that is inserted into the roast, and a dial on the end that indicates the temperature. There are two models: one is inserted into the meat before it goes into the oven; the other, called an instant-read or rapid-response thermometer, is inserted near the end of the cooking timel it is never left in the meat as it cooks. Always insert deep into the thickest part of the meat, without thouching a bone, which can result in an incorrect reading. WOODEN SPOONS: The most essential tool for mixing everything in the kitchen -- from sauces to soups and salads."

Here are my tags: Rebeccah, Emily, Sarah, Michelle, and Angie.

Diet Coke

It's days like today where I wonder if it would be such a bad thing to give my 4 year-old some Diet Coke in the afternoon. Not a whole lot, just enough to perk her up a bit. We were off school today due to the threat of bad weather. It was bad for a bit, but not for long. Mainly, it was disappointing. We expected bad snow and ice and pandemonium, but what we got were some flurries, a mist, and then grey. Patch had his 18 month well-child visit today and was pronounced to be in the 25th percentile for weight. Considering Mini-me was close to the 10th at this point, we think he is quite the chunker. Mini-me wanted an examination as well, and started to produce various "boo-boo's" for the nurse to inspect. When Patch was all ready to go, Mini-me cried: "But wait! I am very sick!" Disappointment reigned again.

We are now home, Curly has a show tonight, and the kids will be in bed early. I plan to curl up with my stitching and watch a movie. And then go to bed early.

A.I. Elimination

If I had my way, I would keep all the guys and get rid of 4 girls tonight. For the most part, I was disappointed in most of the gals. I had very high hopes for Brooke White, but she was doing some weird thing with her hair that was distracting. I am chalking most of last night up to overconfidence, so hopefully next week they will just sing their little hearts out and do much better.

Last night, Flower and Curly had the Daddy-Daughter Dance at church. Somehow, people have gotten the idea that the O'Kigins are dancers. Nothing could be further from the truth, but that doesn't stop us from being asked to teach the Virginia Reel to teenagers at Youth Conference (why that dance? We grew up in Virginia. Duh). Curly was asked to teach some ballroom to the 8/9 year old girls and their dads. He settled finally on the Cha-cha-cha, which we learned together at a YMCA class a few years ago. In case you were wondering, no, we were not good. Anyway, I digress. He and Flower practiced for a few songs last night before they left, which made Mini-me a little jealous. Curly told her he would dance with her later as I took her and Patch up to get pjs on. Mini-me hurried as fast as she could, insisted on wearing her "Princess Dress" pjs, put them on all by herself, and ran downstairs calling out: "Guys, guys! I'm ready to dance!" It was the saddest moment ever when she realized they had left without her. She cried and cried, and as she brushed her teeth, Mini-me told me she was: "Sick and tired of it." When Curly and Flower returned from their amazingly fun evening, I told them the story and started to cry. I felt so sad for poor Mini-me, who had her heart set on a dance with her Daddy. She's had a better day today, but mainly because she spent several hours with her favorite girl from church, Miss Danielle.

Idol Watch

I am loving this season of American Idol. I would agree that the talent is the best it's ever been, but maybe that's because there are so many seasoned pros in the mix. Here are some of my favorites so far:

1. David Archuleta. Could he get any cuter? Plus, he can really sing and turn on the charm. Love him.

2. Jason Castro. Yeah, this one surprised me, too. I am not a fan of dreads, because they smell and have bugs, but he has such an easy, breazy style that I think is great. Plus, he played his own guitar last night (the only one to play his own instrument), even though he's a drummer.

3. Luke Menard. Simon said he was "forgettable," but I obviously remembered him. I didn't think he was pitchy (like Randy said), but I do think he looks like McDreamy. He sites James Taylor as a musical influence. I can see that.

I am looking forward to the ladies tonight. I think there are some interesting girls to watch this time around. Don't forget to set your DVRs :)

Chicken Piccata

I made a delicious dinner tonight of Chicken Piccata and some spinach. Other than being a tad too lemony, it was fabulous. My advice when making this is when it says to put the cooked chicken into the oven on a pan lined with parchment paper, follow the recipe and don't use waxed paper.

North and South

For years I have searched for a movie I could love as much as Pride and Prejudice. Our babysitter told me about North and South a few months ago. At first, I thought it was a Civil War movie, but she quickly corrected me and said it was about England and that my heart would be: "ripped out. Ripped. Out." I put it on my Netflix queue, and both disks arrived this week. Oh my. Could there be another man so misunderstood as Mr. Thornton? Could there be a heroine quite as headstrong as Margaret? They put Mr. Darcy and Lizzie to SHAME people! I stayed up until 12:30 watching all 4 installments. I tried to stitch, but I would find myself staring at the screen with my hands motionless. Wow. That's about all I can say. Wow. This is one that I definitely want to have in my DVD collection, and it's a book I can't wait to read. Rent it this weekend, you will not be disappointed.

The "S" Word

Last night, Flower wanted to watch Game Plan. She brought it from her mom's house, promising fun, laughter, and ballerina hijinx. Before we popped in the DVD, she warned us that the "S" word was used a lot. Being more than a little concerned, I called The Ex and asked her about the movie. She said she didn't remember the "S" word at all. I decided that we would just turn the movie off should anything unsavory pop up. About 30 minutes into the movie, the "S" word popped up -- but not THE "S" word, just MY "S" word -- "stupid." Flower cringed when they said it, but we assured her it was okay. I just don't want the kids to use it as a mean thing to say to each other. She's a good girl to worry about it.

Heart Day

When I was single (and bitter), I used to call February 14 "Singles Awareness Day." Clever, no? But, now that I am happily married, I can call it what it is: The Day for Lovers. Hope your Valentine's Day is wonderful and full of x's and o's.

Day Off

Today is a Snow Ice Day. The rain is still coming down and freezing to the inch of ice lining the ground. Mini-me is so disappointed because today was her Valentine part at school. We spent a painstaking 15 minutes writing her name on 12 cards last night. On one, she decided to write "something else," which looked like hieroglyphics. Now our little sweet Valentine girl is singing "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray, but using it more as a warning to those who would try. She has told GrandPatty, Papa Ken, Grandma, and Grandpa that they can't stop the beat and to shake it.

I hope wherever you happen to be that you are warm and snug and that you don't slip on the ice. I have several errands to do today, so hopefully I won't slip, either.

Likely Snow Showers

Last night as they were predicting a "slight chance" for snow on the 11:00 news, it was coming down hard. School was already cancelled today due to the Potomac Primary, but ballet was still a go. It's still coming down in large, puffy flakes. We could get 3 inches or so before it turns over to rain. By tomorrow night, all of the lovely snow will be gone and a muddy mess will be left in its place. But for now, we will enjoy the snow.

Little Ears

Sometimes Mini-me picks up on things I wish she didn't. For example, on Friday on the way to school, she asked me several times if she could "get a what-what." (For those unfamiliar with the concept of the "what-what," it's a hip-hop song. Apparently, I sing hip-hop at home.) But, sometimes Mini-me picks up on things that I wish she would remember forever. Today at church, they talked about holy places in all of our meetings. Tonight during Family Home Evening, Curly asked what the holy places were. We were expecting Flower to answer, but instead Mini-me piped up with "Temples, churches, and our homes." I was so proud of her. She can totally have a "what-what."

Super Fat Tuesday

I suggested to Curly that we have Chipotle tonight in honor of Fat Tuesday. I hope he takes it for what it was -- a demand request thinly and passive aggressively veiled in a suggestion.

Last night, we tackled the ants that have been plaguing our kitchen. We think we found the source -- a wet mess under the sink. Our spray wand has a little leak. We cleaned and sanitized and sprayed with pesticide. I saw one ant today and all I could think was the movie "I Am Legend."

This morning, Gracie came in from her morning business outside and started her laps around the dining room. I noticed in the kitchen some little spots of blood and wondered if I had cut my foot. 'Twas not my foot that was cut, but Gracie's. She had ripped her toenail off, exposing the sensative vein underneath. It took some time to get the bleeding under control, and now it is wrapped in attractive gauze. Mini-me danced near her shortly after the incident, and Gracie looked away as if to say: "You mock my pain."

On the way to ballet, Mini-me tripped and fell. She told everyone that she broke her hands and her leg. She danced her way into ballet, but halfway through the class, she just lost it and refused to tap tap tap her toes, opting instead to stand in front of the long mirror and cry. The teacher came out to get me, but unfortunately, I was in a class with Patch. When I came back, Mini-me ran out to me and announced: "I am having a tough time." Indeed. On the way home, she tripped again, even though she was trying to be careful. Now she is sitting in her underwear* watching TV.

The only one who can save us from ourselves on this Super Fat Tuesday is Mitt. If he takes a few states from the liberal in conservative's clothing, all the pain and anguish will be worthwhile.

*Because sitting in her underwear helps her feel better.

Jane Austen Heroine

Take the Quiz here!

I think I would agree with this. Marianne is impulsive, romantic, impatient, and perhaps a bit too brutally honest. She plays the pianoforte beautifully and has a captivating singing voice to boot. She feels deeply and loves pationately. ME TOO!!!

Thanks for the link and the shout-out, Leslie :)

Super Letdown

What a lame way to end the season, Patriots. I mean, really. All the hype to lose by a lousy 4 points. Not to mention the trash talk we had to endure from little Giants-lovin' Flower. To top off the evening, Gracie snuck a taste of the chocolate cake earlier today (huge chunk missing), so by the time we ate it, it was a little dry. Next time I need to make the cake day-of and also bake it for about 10 minutes less.

On a more positive note, I finished binding Grandpa's quilt and Patch said "Gracie." It even sounded like Gracie. He then proceeded to chase the poor chocolate-cake-stealing dog around calling "Gracie! Gracie! Gracie!" That wore him out a bit, so he asked to go "nigh-nigh." We let him.

My favorite ads were the Coke ads. The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade balloons fighting over the Coke balloon was classic. The second ad featured James Carville and Bill Frist, both of whom I met as an intern on The Hill, working for the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem (in case you're wondering, I solved the problem. You're welcome). In the commercial, the rode around DC on a double decker bus, enjoying the sights of our nation's capital, and also enjoying a Coke or two. In this election season, the lesson of partisan tolerance did not go unnoticed.

Oh, Jane

One of the best parts of entertainment in 2008 has been the Masterpiece Theater Jane Austen marathon. I have loved every installment. One of the most anticipated for me was Northanger Abby, a story about a girl with an overactive imagination from reading too many novels who gets involved with people who are only after money (which she has none). It was great. I love to stitch while watching these movies. I get a little thrill when the heroines are stitching in the movie.

At the end of Mansfield Park, PBS showed a little promo asking which of Jane's leading men do you prefer? Such a great question. Do you like a man like Captain Wentworth, who, even years after knowing you, still is in love? Or how about Edmund, who is kind and sincere and values integrity. Or how about the infamous Mr. Darcy? He may be a little off-putting at first, but is utterly devoted in the end. What I love about Jane Austen is that every gets what they deserve in the end. The sweet girl makes the best match, while those who scheme and lie get he same back at them. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

Super Cakes

I am putting my new stadium cake pan to good use today. I made a Blueberry-Lemon Bundt Cake from Martha earlier today. That cake is going to the FtP cast party tomorrow. I have a Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake ready to go in the oven. That one will stay here for our Super Festivities. Go Patriots!!


Blueberry-Lemon Bundt Cake (found on Martha Stewart)
Serves 12
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1 teaspoon for blueberries and zest
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
2 cups blueberries
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
Nonstick cooking spray, for pan
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, whisk 2 1/2 cups flour with baking powder and salt; set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars on high speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Beat in vanilla. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture in three additions, alternating with two additions of sour cream.
3. In a bowl, toss blueberries and zest with remaining teaspoon flour; gently fold into batter. Coat a 12-cup nonstick Bundt pan with cooking spray. Spread batter in prepared pan.
4. Bake cake on bottom rack of oven until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes. Invert onto a rack; cool completely, top side up. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving, if desired.


Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake (from Williams-Sonoma)
To melt the bittersweet chocolate for this Bundt® cake, chop it finely with a serrated knife. Then place the chocolate in the top pan of a double boiler and warm the chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth and creamy. Set aside to cool slightly.
Ingredients:
For the cake:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
16 Tbs. (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sour cream
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
For the glaze:

1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tbs. chocolate liqueur
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Whipped cream for serving
Directions:
Have all the ingredients at room temperature. Position a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 325°F. Grease and flour a decorative 10-cup Bundt® pan.

To make the cake, over a sheet of waxed paper, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt; repeat until well blended. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 30 to 45 seconds. Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the granulated sugar, beating until blended. Increase the speed to medium-high and continue beating, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, until the mixture is light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating each addition until incorporated before adding more, until the mixture is thick and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes; stop mixer occasionally and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the vanilla.

Reduce the speed to low and fold in the flour mixture in three additions, alternating with the sour cream and beginning and ending with the flour, until just blended and no lumps of flour remain. Then gently fold in the chocolate.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading the batter so the sides are about 1 inch higher than the center. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Transfer to a wire rack and cool the cake upright in the pan for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the glaze: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the granulated sugar and water and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate liqueur. Set the rack over a sheet of waxed paper, invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan. Generously brush the warm cake with the glaze. Let the cake cool to room temperature, then dust with confectioners’ sugar just before serving. Top slices with a dollop of whipped cream. Serves 16.

Morning Report

Last night we sang at another retirement home. The residents we sang to were not as independent as at the last place, which made Mini-me and Patch a little more apprehensive. Patch eventually warmed up, but oddly enough, Mini-me stayed shy.

After we sang, Curly took the kids home while I went out with a friend of mine, Colleen. She is a member of Towne Singers and part of my quilting group. She and I are so similar, it's scary. We met for the first time at Sisto's buying fabric, and had several of the same prints in our piles. We then found out our little girls are both petite, blond, drama queens. We drive the same car. We are both step-moms. We dye our hair blond. We love Glen Beck and are both conservative. We even have the same purse bought from a street vendor in NYC. Scary, no? So when I arrived home a couple of hours later than I intended, I apologized to Curly. He looked at me and said "You like to talk. Get you together with yourself, I can't even imagine."

Today we are off to NoVa to attend a baby shower for Jean. Following that, I get to have my Posh do tidied. Goodbye mousy roots.

My Man

Have I sung the praises of Curly lately? Tonight, he helped me yet again to baste a quilt. It is my least favorite part of the process. We taped the back down to the dining room rug, bolstered the sides with towels, and then used an adhesive spray to secure the back, batting, and top of the quilt. It's a messy and awkward process. I do wonder at those who are able to do it by themselves. The quilt is for my father-in-law, who is doing amazingly well after surgery. We went to visit tonight and took the top to show him. Hopefully I can get it done this week and get it to him. Originally, it was going to be a mission present for them, but we thought it would make the perfect recovery quilt.

After we basted, I logged on to check email and learned that President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away tonight. He was 97. I almost met him nearly 8 years ago, while I was serving my mission on Temple Square. My companion, Sister Shek from Honk Kong, and I were in the basement of the Tabernacle, performing our weekly service requirement of folding and storing Christmas lights. We were in a small room by ourselves. All of a sudden, Sister Shek yelled out "Itsthepophet itsthepophet itsthepophet!" Then, with a huge smile on her face, she stuck out her hand and yelled "HELLO!" He waved back at us as he rode by in a golf cart. For the rest of the day, she berated herself for not saying "Hello, President." I am sure he didn't mind. I never actually met him; I never shook his hand, yet I know that he was a prophet of God.

Wind Chill

Since I am headed to bed, I just checked out weather.com to see what the temperature was. Totally normal thing to do, in my opinion. It's 25 degrees, but feels like 14. Yikes. That's chilly.

We took Gracie to the vet today for her checkup. I let Mini-me push Patch in the stroller. As a result, she is a big girl and took a shower instead of a tubby. Gracie did fine. She is 19 pounds of pure muscle. She had lots of shots, which has made her a little loopy. She's so loopy, she let Mini-me lay on her without trying to lick her to death.

Valley Girl

Mini-me has become a Valley Girl, saying "like" every few sentences. I don't know where she picked it up, because like I rarely like say like. Like, you know? Actually, I think she picked it up from her preschool teacher.

When I came home Monday from my class, the kids were still in their pjs, but the house was very clean. They had a wonderful day with Daddy. They played basketball and wrestled. And picked up their junk from the living room. I had a very fun day not playing basketball, wrestling, or picking up junk. I swirled and twirled my lines and got very good at it by the end. Now I just need to practice more at home before I can quilt a quilt. I was very impressed by some of the gadgets these woman had. I definitely need to invest in a plexi-glass table, which slides around the machine base. It extends the sewing room on a machine. My machine was very basic next to the Berninas and other models of Vikings in the class. With the amount of quilting I do, I know I will have to upgrade in a few years.

Tonight we are going to try to head down to VA for the evening to visit Curly's dad. He is recovering from bypass surgery that he had yesterday. Everything went well, and he hopes to be home by the weekend. I offered to let him borrow Gracie, since dogs have a very calming effect on people and help the elderly get and stay healthy. For some reason, he declined my offer. Can't imagine why.

Ohio Star

I am taking a quilt class on Monday and I am so excited. It's a machine quilting class, which will teach me how to make swirly, twirly lines on my quilts. We have to come with 10 14" muslin squares and one 12" pieced block. I chose to make an Ohio Star block, because it seemed fairly simple. I used two fat quarters from my stash. Looking at this block, I really wish I had a couple of yards of this fabric. It looks so happy together. Wouldn't this make a great summer picnic quilt? Or a spring "it's 60 degrees out today so I'm turning off the heat and opening the windows even if it makes it so cold in the house" quilt. Sadly, I don't remember where I got the fabric. I'll have to see if I can hunt more down. Now that I have pieced the block and cut my squares, I have put the sewing machine away for the weekend. Curly will be happy :) I take over the dining room when it's out. Someday I will have my own studio. Someday. How many years until Mini-me goes to college? Maybe when Flower takes off, we can send Mini-me to this lovely little thing called "boarding school."

Photo Friday

We got quite a bit of snow yesterday -- over 4 inches! When the snow finally slowed, we got out and played for a bit. Patch wore Mini-me's old snow pants. He looks good in pink, don't you think? The kids got to have a snowball fight with Curly and even built a good sized snowman. Then, we came back inside for some pizza. Patch loves pizza.

Strong, Silent Type

Our house is full of noise. There is always someone who has broken into spontaneous song, much like a Broadway show. Frequently during the day, I close the lid on the piano, to try to lessen the temptation to bang, I mean play. I should be grateful, then, for my quiet little guy. Patch has very few words. He has something close to "daddy" and "kitty" and tells us to shush. He also likes to yell "Yeah!" But, that's as much as he does. Until tonight. He said "Nigh-nigh" when he wanted to go to bed, and then kept saying it all the way up the stairs. Yeah, he's pretty awesome. Especially since the request came at 6:00.

Yesterday at the retirement home, Patch was a complete charmer. During one of Bob's numbers, Patch walked up to the front and let out a loud "Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!" He was close to on pitch as well. That inspired a 90-year-old man (who was quite crotchety and told us his name was "unimportant") to join in on Lullaby of Broadway, singing "Let's call it a day!" as loud as he could at the end. Mini-me plopped herself down at a table with a cute couple. The woman grabbed my hand and told me over and over how cute my kids were. She said: "I mean it. I tell people when they have an ugly baby, but you are so lucky with your cute kids." After our little 45 minute show, which includes a sing-a-long, Patch waved good-bye and went to collect a little lovin' from the ladies. He gave everyone a hug and a kiss on the cheek. They melted. We love our gigs at retirement homes. We have another one coming up next week. Unfortunately, that one's at night. Since Patch likes to retire to his bed at 6, I'm not sure how he'll do at our 6:30 show. Maybe it's time to introduce him to Diet Coke...

Patch

Patch is feeling much better today. He woke up with no fever, only a slightly runny nose, and just a little cough. Hopefully the trend will continue and we can be done with sickness for a little while.

This afternoon the Towne Singers are scheduled to perform in Columbia at a retirement home. We have a good time at these performances. We can bring kids, which always makes things easier, and we sing for about 45 minutes. It's been awhile since we have had one of these gigs, so it will be interesting to see how Patch behaves. My guess is that he will not want to stay in his stroller and that he will charm all the ladies.

Wii

Last night, we went to dinner at this fabulous new restaurat, Quynn's Attic. It's only been open a few weeks, and there were some service issues (hello, how long does it take to fill a diet coke?), but the food was excellent. It was so fun to hang with our friends again. With Curly's shows, we don't get to see our friends together very often. I really look forward to weekends with no shows.

After dinner, we did one of my favorite things -- we went to the Peredni's house and played Wii. I am a guitar hero. I also rocked on the Mario 8 "shake the can" game. The rest of the games, I was not so good at. If I had a Wii of my own, I could practice and get better.

So Sad

This week I have been slowly putting away Christmas decorations. The other day, when I was taking some cross stitch signs down, Mini-me started crying. I asked her what was the matter, and she said "I just don't want Christmas to be over!" I know the feeling, but next year will be here before we know it. I need to get started on next year's projects now...

Update

Because of the pouring rain, I decided against taking Patch to the YMCA for much needed stimulation. That, and he had a wee cough this morning. Curly was doing some work from home this morning, so I left Patch with him, picked up Mini-me from preschool, and then went to the Wal-mart for Diet Coke and umbrellas. And toilet paper. And milk. And eggs. Can't have waffles without eggs. When we got home, it was evident that Patch didn't feel well. Sparing details, we have had to change his clothes and bedding several times. Poor kid just can't catch a break. He went to sleep at 5 pm, but I can hear him coughing on the monitor.

Curly has rehearsal tonight, but he is off tomorrow night. Yea!! We have plans to go out with our good friends, the Peredni. It should be a very fun time with them, if for no other reason than they won't puke on me!

When it Rains...

This morning, as I was gathering Patch's laundry, I heard Mini-me frantically crying "Mommy, Mommy! The toilet's getting bigger!!" I ran downstairs to see the toilet indeed getting bigger. Lots bigger. Into the living room bigger. What a mess. We quickly cleaned it up, and I tried not to think about what I was standing in.

It's raining today, and right now it looks like it's coming down really hard. Unfortunately, I cannot find our umbrellas. I have no idea where they are. Patch has his gymnastics class in about 20 minutes, but if I can't find the umbrellas, we can't go. He's very bored right now, so going would be better than not.

So now I am sitting here, listening to the hum of heaters and fans, which are being used to dry up any last mess. What a day to be out of Diet Coke.

Fight!

Mini-me got into a little tussle at preschool yesterday. Apparently, someone was in her space, and instead of asking them to move, she hit them. The hardest part for me was that she had a substitute yesterday, so instead of her teacher who knows her and knows that Mini-me doesn't usually hit other kids, Mini-me has now been branded "the hitter" by Miss Arlene. We had a chat about hitting and alternative responses. I told her that she should say "Excuse me, you are sitting too close. Could you please move?" and she laughed at me. So, I offered "Teacher, can you get my friend to move?" and she liked that much better. It's much easier to tattle than to take care of it on your own (peacefully of course). It's also much easier to whack someone than it is to talk to them.

The weather is bipolar, just like Britney Spears. It is supposed to be cold and rainy tomorrow. It's okay, though. I have many projects ready to go. I just hope Patch naps as well tomorrow as he did today. He slept for nearly 3 hours. It was wonderful. A couple of months ago, I counted myself lucky if he slept a full hour. He's such a good boy now.

Joy

Florida

Now I know why people live in Florida. Today, it was nearly 70 degrees. It's January, people! I have to admit, this weather does wonders for my mood. We spent some time outside at the park today, and even went on a walk to the Safeway for some Diet Coke. What a day! We didn't even have jackets on. Tomorrow is supposed to be much of the same. I could get used to this. I could demand a winter getaway every year to a warmer climate. Right now, I am enjoying having open windows during the second week of January. Like I said, I could get used to this.

I picked up a bit of stitching last night that I had abandoned a few months ago. I don't know why I stopped working on it, except that perhaps because it is impossibly tiny. It's called "Lily and Laurel" by The Heart's Content. I got it a few years ago at the cross stitch retreat with my mom. Maureen, the designer, was one of the teachers. I have to admit, I was quite taken with her and her technique. It is time consuming because it is so small, but the end result is lovely. I did one of her designs a couple of years ago for Curly's parents, and then asked for it back so I could enter it in the county fair. This piece will eventually go to Flower. My goal is to have one or two framed pieces for each of the kids when they move out and establish their own homes. The one I did for Mini-me won best of show for the county fair. Patch's is called "Snapperville" and is yet to be framed. It's a great excuse to keep stitching, even when my wall space has become limited.

Tomorrow, Mini-me starts up with ballet again. She is really looking forward to it. Then, we will head out to the park for a picnic. Hopefully some friends can join us. Tomorrow night, my quilting group is coming over. I have missed hanging out with them. Because we've been sick, I've missed hanging out with everyone! But, we are all better and ready to resume our lives. Anyone want to play?

Book Group

Tonight is my monthly book group. I am hosting, which works out well for me, since Curly is still doing the Christmas show. This month, we read Dawn Over Kitty Hawk, which is about the Wright brothers. Always one for a theme, I made a sand castle cake with the pan I got for Christmas, peanuts, and mocktails, which are cocktails without the alcohol. Unfortunately, I have not yet finished the book. Woops.

2008

Happy New Year! I hope it's a wonderful one for you. Heck, I hope it's a wonderful one for me! 2007 was full of a lot of challenges. I am grateful to my family and to my gaggle of friends who helped me through it. Also, I am grateful for my Curly. He's awesome. And, no, that's not the NyQuil talking.

Here's to a new year full of love and laughter, and lots of stitching.

Angels We Have Heard on High

Notice how her voice begins to crack, but like the consumate professional she is, she keeps on singing. Sparkly angels, indeed.

Finally Caught Up

The sickness I have been dodging finally caught up with me. I have had the aches, pains, chills, sweats, coughing, sneezing, fever, etc etc. The kids and Curly have been sick, too, but are feeling much better today. I don't hurt today, but I still have chills and the other stuff. All I can say is, I am glad I got this after Christmas. I cannot imagine getting Christmas ready feeling like I did yesterday.

This week I discovered bloglines. Well, Jean discovered it and told me about it. For people who check a lot of blogs (like myself), it is invaluable. It tells you when one of the blogs you read has a new post. Check it out. You won't be sorry!

Now I am going to find a blanket and wrap up in it. I am freezing!

Birthday Box

The gift we gave to my family was a birthday box. It's a fabulous idea that I hope works really well for us. I took unfinished cigar boxes that I got at Michael's, cut out some fabric for the top, and then used Mod Podge to put it all together. I had to sand down the tops when we were done, since the glue dried bumpy. Mini-me was my big helper on this and did all the painting of the glue. The box can be used to store a calendar in the lid, along with cards and stamps for mailing. Genius! Hopefully they will contribute to a well organized 2008.

Two Projects

This Christmas, I worked on two projects that took up most of my time the week before Christmas. I also did some smaller projects that were quick and easy. Here is what Gracie would do while I sewed the binding on the quilt:

It made is slightly difficult to work. The green/blue quilt was for my SIL, Melissa, and the green/brown/purple one was for my SIL, Becky. They opened them today, and I think they liked them. The fun thing for me was that I was able to put my new Molly Patch labels on the back. I took a picture of the labels on a set of burp cloths, but it came out blurry. I did not get a new camera for Christmas. Oh well. Maybe next year I will be a nice girl and get some electronics.

Happy Christmas to All!

Projects

I have been working my little fingers to the nubs, but I can't so anything yet. Christmas is coming! It's coming a little faster than I wish it would, but you work with what you've been given. I have a couple of little stitching ditties that are done, a couple of quilty items, and maybe some fun stuff made using my favorite thing, Mod Podge. Photos to come after gifts have been received. I have had a pretty bad head cold, which has slowed my progress and modified some plans, but other than that, I am on target. Happy Holidays and good luck getting your projects done. If you're like me, you'll be working like an elf until the big day.

Decorating

I have finally put out our Dickens houses. They look great. If I get anymore, I will need a new place to put them. I have been very slow getting the decorations going. It's so much work, and I haven't been feeling too great. Today I woke up with a stuffy nose and sore throat. But, if I wait until I feel great, the decorating will never get done.

Today in the mail was a letter from Auntie Ree. In the letter was a photo of 2 year old Curly. It took me a minute to figure out who it was, because it looks just like Patch, but with curly hair. Crazy. Thanks, Auntie Ree! I wish I had a scanner so that I could post it. Maybe if I take a picture of it. We'll have to try it.

Sunday Morning

I am listening to James Taylor Christmas while the girls play nativity with their Playmobile set. Patch is climbing on the furniture. Oh, if only we got snow instead of rain, this scene could continue all day.

Child Labor

The Perfect Tree: A Photo Essay

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Broken

I have a broken toe. It's my middle one on my left foot. It hurts. I did it yesterday afternoon while trying to avoid mowing Patch down. It was actually feeling better this morning, but someone trod upon it. Now it kills.

We have wet, cold rain coming down. Patch didn't sleep well last night, and Curly was up with him (on account of my broken toe), so I drove Flower to school so Curly could get a little more sleep. What was wrong with Patch, you ask? Well, he didn't want to go to bed. He cried from 9 until after 1, and then started up again at 5:30. He's a stinker, yes sirree.

Did I mention my toe was broken?

Teacher Gifts

My aunt used to cross stitch little gifts for my cousins teachers. I always thought that was so cool, and wanted to do that when I had kids and they had teachers. The Ex takes care of gifts from Flower, but this Christmas, I got to show off for Mini-me's two teachers: Miss Kelly and Miss Terri.

The pattern I used is called "Noel" by MeMe's Everlastings by Trail Creek Farm. I also did one up on its own, to be placed on a cool polka dot star pillow. I think these turned out really cute. They were fast and easy. Hopefully Miss Kelly and Miss Terri will love them and use them in their Christmas decorating.

He Speaks!

Patch said what I consider to be his first real word yesterday: Tree. He pointed right at the Christmas tree, and spoke. He did not speak clearly, but it was very clear what he was saying. It's a Christmas miracle.

Patch also discovered the joy of climbing over the weekend. I don't know what made him so bold, but it's driving me nuts. He climbs in our blue leather chair and stands there. Sometimes he jumps, but he always sits when I tell him to.

Flower learned the hard way why it's important to speak clearly. She was using her baby talk to say "Sit, Patch." It came out a little more offensive than she intended.

Mini-me learned the hard way that even when we're in a hurry and we're feeling tired, it's still important to take the time to take off your tights and use the toilet. Times were out and bottoms were spanked.

Sad News

The Primitive Sampler will be closing its doors on December 22. I am so sad. I will miss having a cross stitch shop within walking distance. I will miss having a shop within reasonable driving distance. Wendy, the owner, said a woman will hopefully be opening a new shop in downtown Frederick that will include antiques and stitching. Did I mention I am sad? When Curly and I got married 5 years ago, I was a little hesitant about moving here. It was far removed from where I grew up, where my friends were, were my family was, and even where I worked. When I found out Frederick had both a Talbots and a needlework shop, I knew I could make it work. Now, I rarely shop at Talbots and there will be no needlework shop. Should we move?

In a perfect world, I would open up my own place. I have so many ideas for a needlework shop. It would not include antiques. It would include classes and retreats and lots of store models. It would include fabric for finishing and lots of kits. It would be like the Shepherds Bush of the East. Maybe someday.

Cookies

Today, Mini-me and I made some sugar cookies while Patch napped. It was a fun bonding time, even though she didn't quite grasp the concept of cutting the cookies from the edges. Oh well. The cookies are pretty silly. They are gingerbread men that look like they have a bite taken out of them. I have never piped icing around the edge before, and I think it turned out pretty well.

Patch and Mini-me are spending the day and night with the Ex. I know, it surprised me too. I'm a bigger woman than I gave myself credit for. Mini-me wanted to take some cookies with them because, as she put it, "It's polite." Anyway, Curly and I will be performing and setting the mood for the National Tree Lighting ceremony with some other folks from Way off Broadway. Don't look for us on TV, though. Our part ends when that part begins. Our purpose is to create a festive holiday ambiance. And, as we all know, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear.

Must Be Beautiful in Frederick This Time of Year ...

All that snow.

It's coming down at a pretty good pace. They did not cancel school, which is a bummer. Driving out to get Flower this afternoon will also be a tad treacherous. So, not quite the "snow day" I was hoping for (where we are all socked in and I can sit and quilt or stitch and watch movies and make hot cocoa and grilled cheese sandwiches). Instead, it's a messy day of boots and heavy coats and trudging around.

Lauren had her baby boy last night at 8:30. Her contractions started about 1 pm. That is a short labor and I am appropriately jealous. She is part of my quilting group. We make a baby quilt for every new baby for the members of our group, and for the playgroup we're all a part of (I say we, but I'm not as active. My kids are a little older than theirs). Lauren had already made 3 quilts for baby Graham before we could even get started on one! We decided on an "I Spy" quilt that can be used for her older boy as well. I finished the binding on it last night, and now it's ready to take over to her. She'll be so surprised, since we work on these quilts in "super secret" meetings.

Drama

We have our fair share of drama here. Between Flower and Mini-me, hardly a sentence is spoken that does not need an exclamation point! This morning, I exacted a harsh sentence of time out on the stairs for Mini-me. In her distress, she yelled "I never want to see you again!" I sent her to her room. Poof! Her wish was granted.

Since it was quiet, I had a chance to head over to Camille's blog. I don't get on it as often as I would like, because it's really slow to load on my computer. If I understood computers better, I would know why. Anyway, she designs really cute quilt patterns. She's doing a give-away for some of them. Hope I win.

My friend Lauren is having her baby today. Hopefully everything will go well for her so I can visit her tomorrow :)

Snow please?

The weather forecast for today included snow and freezing rain. That did not happen. I am ready for a little snow. Not so much that we are stuck inside for too long, but just enough to delay the start of our day. The next chance for snow is Wednesday. We are planning to get our Christmas tree Wednesday after picking up Flower from school. Cutting down a tree while it gently snows on our little family would just be too picturesque.

I am off to watch White Christmas for the first time this holiday season. It's the perfect movie to stitch to, since I already know it by heart. I don't have to have my eyes on it to know that the best things happen while you're dancing, or that it's cozier to sit girl boy girl boy.

Dear Santa,

This year has gone by fast, hasn't it? I'm pretty sure I've been a good girl, but I honestly can't remember. Since you see me when I'm sleeping and know when I'm awake, you probably have a better idea than I do. In case I get a check mark in the "good" column, here are some things I want:

1. You know I love fabric. Moda and Robert Kaufman make my heart sing. The Fat Quarter Shop has gift certificates. How great is that?

2. You know I love to bake. I especially love cupcakes. So how about a giant cupcake pan? Let's be honest with ourselves here; wouldn't you rather have a giant cupcake than some boring old cookies?

3. You know I love Martha. What's not to love? One of her pretty bundt pans would make a nice addition to my bakeware.

4. You know my camera(s) are not working so good. Now I can't get the pictures to upload on my computer. It's frustrating. I would love a new camera. My only criteria is that it have more than 7 megapixels and take clear pictures close up.

Santa, I know I'm asking a lot. But it's not like I expect diamonds. Well, not big diamonds.

Signed,
Jana O'Kigin

Ho Ho Ho

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to click here!

A Thanksgiving Haiku

My sweet potatoes:

So delicious and creamy.

Tasty breakfast treat.

Recip-ease 5

I do not like any kind of food that comes from water, be it sea, lake, or stream. But, my Curly loves it all. And, since I love my Curly, I suck it up and make some stinky dish for him. His request for Turkey Day is crab dip to eat while watching pre-dinner football.

As a side note -- I am using canned crab for this. I was at Costco yesterday, and so was a can. Hopefully it will be to Curly's liking :)

Crab Dip
2 – 8 oz packages of softened cream cheese
2/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp mustard
2 T dried minced onion
1 tsp salt
Beat above ingredients. Fold in 2 T chopped parsley and a dash of garlic powder. Add 2 – 6 ounce packages of frozen crab.
Chill and serve with crackers.

Recip-ease 4

I found this one online the other day. I am a big fan of traditional stuffing, but this one might be worth a shot. The recipe even included nutritional information.

Cornbread Apricot Stuffing

Ingredients
Cooking spray
1/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
2 (15.75-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (16-ounce) package cornbread dressing mix
18 dried apricots, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation
Melt butter in a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Sauté onion and celery 8 minutes or until tender. Stir in broth and cook 2 minutes or until fully heated. Stir in dressing mix and remaining ingredients.

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 147(29% from fat); FAT 4.6g (sat 2.1g,mono 1g,poly 0.1g); PROTEIN 3.2g; CHOLESTEROL 9mg; CALCIUM 33mg; SODIUM 478mg; FIBER 1.7g; IRON 1.3mg; CARBOHYDRATE 22.9g

Recip-ease 3

This is one of my favorite things to serve as an appetizer. It's a different take on the normal creamy artichoke dip. Serve with fancy butterfly crackers or baguette slices.

Artichoke Dip
2 cups Parmesan cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
16 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped (I don’t chop them too finely)
Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Recip-ease 2

Who doesn't love a delicious pie? I know I can't resist a slice. I love to make pie, and I love to make pie crust from scratch. I would be lying if I said I was really great at it -- I'm not. But, it still tastes good. Here is one of my favorite holiday pies --Apricot Cranberry. Enjoy!

Festive Cranberry-Apricot Pie (fr0m Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook)

Pie crust
1/2 c sugar
3 Tbl cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
3 15 1/4-ounce cans apricot halves, drained and cut into quarters
1/2 c dried cranberries, snipped
1 egg white
1 Tbl milk
1 Tbl sugar
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1. Line a 9-inch pie place with 1/2 pie crust. Make edges pretty.

2. In large bowl combine the 1/2 c sugar, the cornstarch, the 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, and the salt. Stir in apricots and cranberries. Spoon fruit mixture into pastry-lined pie plate.

3. Roll remaining dough into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Using a 1- to 1 1/2-inch leaf-shaped cutter or other desired cutter, cut 36 to 40 shapes from the dough. In a small bowl stir together egg white and milk. Brush egg white mixture over pastry shapes; reserve remaining egg white mixture. Stir together the 1 Tbl sugar and 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Sprinkle half of the pastry shapes with the sugar mixture. Arrange 10 to 12 of the shapes, alternating brushed and sprinkled shapes, in a circle in center of the top of pie filling. Brush edge of crust with remaining egg white mixture. Evenly distribute the remaining pastry shapes around edge of crust.

4. To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of pie lightly with foil. Bake in a 375* oven for 35 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for 15 minutes more. Cool on wire rack.

Recip-ease

This recipe has been served at our Thanksgiving dinners for generations. Well, not really. But we sure like it. I'm a little fuzzy on where the recipe came from (I think from a cookbook called "When Mormons Meet they Eat"), but I say it's my mom's. If you don't like sweet potatoes with marshmallows, give this a try. It's especially delicious for breakfast. Just a little note -- we often leave the nuts out of the topping because several folks in the family have nut allergies. It tastes really good either way.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
Bake and then peel and mash: 5 medium sized sweet potatoes.
Add:
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. cinnamon
½ cup sugar
2 T cream
Place in a casserole and top with the following:
¼ cup soft butter
3 T flour
¾ cups brown sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
Mix topping until it is like coarse meal. Sprinkle over potatoes. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Chili

I make a mean chili. It's a real crowd-pleaser, even though it didn't win our ward chili cook-off last year. I have been asked to post the recipe, and so I will.

I love this time of year because of the food. It's no secret that I'm an eater, and I'm okay with that. Thanksgiving and Christmas are full of such wonderful dishes. Even though they are the same every year, I can't wait to eat them again. This next week, I will be posting some of my favorite recipes. Try them out and let me know how you like them!

Chili con Carne

2 lbs ground beef (can also use a combination of meats, like pork and veal)
1 large onion, chopped
2 red bell peppers, chopped
28-oz can crushed tomatoes
1-2 cans diced tomatoes (save liquid for later)
1/2 cup beef stock
2 packages McCormicks chili spice
2 cans kidney beans, drained

In a large pot, brown ground beef. Add salt and pepper to taste. When meat is no longer pink and broken up into small pieces, remove from pot using a slotted spoon, and place in a bowl. Without draining fat, add the onions and bell peppers to the pot. You may need to add a little olive oil if using a lean meat. Once veggies are tender, add beef to the pot with tomatoes and stock. Add spices. If the chili seems too thick, add some liquid from the diced tomatoes or more beef stock. Simmer on the stove uncovered for at least 30-45 minutes. The longer it simmers, the better it tastes. About 5 minutes before serving, add kidney beans.

Serve with fritos, cheese, sour cream, green onions, and corn bread.

Mini-me went to school today, Patch is smiling, Flower is coming this afternoon, and Curly is hard at work. Hallelujah!

I am a little worried that I will become sick at the most inopportune time -- such as the night before Thanksgiving. That would be nothing short of tragic. So, I've begun Thanksgiving dinner prep. On Monday, I put together the sweet potato casserole. Today, I made the stuffing and the cranberry sauce. All of that is now in my freezer. I don't want to make the pies just yet, but I will make the dough in the next two days and put that in the freezer as well. I will make the rolls the day of, but I can do those in my sleep. We are going to have peas and mashed potatoes, both of which need to be done day of as well. I'm trying to decide if I want to do green bean casserole or green bean with shallots. I think I'll do green beans with shallots. We have enough rich, cream filled dishes. Curly really wants me to have sauerkraut. He claims it's a "Frederick thing." I'm not quite convinced of that. I think sauerkraut is fine, but not so sure about at the Thanksgiving table. Maybe if my Grandma says it's okay....

Last Sickness

Patch has croup. He is now on the same antibiotic as Curly and Mini-me. He has been a sleepy boy today.

I hope tomorrow I will have something a little less medical to say.

Speaking Too Soon

Last night, Curly and I were working on a puzzle. We were enjoying being just the two of us after a long day of caring for sick ones and his rehearsal. Then, at about 9 pm, the phone rang. It was the doctor Curly and Patch had seen on Wednesday. She told Curly that his lab results had just come in (at 9 pm on a Sunday?) and that he had strep and haemophilus (which is a bacteria that just makes you sicker). He asked if he could pick up the prescription Monday morning, and the doctor answered that since the haemophilus was "insidious," he should get on antibiotics asap. So he did. He's on the same stuff Mini-me took for pneumonia.


I am pretty done with sick people. I have been dodging the bullet through hand washing and sheer dumb luck. But haemophilus? Man, I don't think I can dodge this one...The doctor said the kids won't get it because they have been inoculated for it. However, it can cause pneumonia and conjunctivitis, both things my kids have had. It's a little suspect, don't you think? I have put in a call to the doctor to ask her some questions, and hopefully those will be answered positively (as in: just a coincidence) instead of negatively (as in: come in for lab work).

In the meantime, I have kept Mini-me home for one more day. She still has a little cough and a runny nose. I want her to have one more day of rest before I stick her back in the germ colony that is preschool. The kids are watching Finding Nemo, so I think I'll get some sewing done. Come back tomorrow and see what new infectious disease the O'Kigins have caught!

Ezmeralda's House of Crap

I got Ezmeralda's house almost all finished and realized I didn't even like it. The parts I was to backstitch words on looks messy -- you can't even read what it says. I am putting it away for awhile, maybe a year. If I take it out again and like it, then I'll finish it. Otherwise, I'm moving on. I have too much to do to work on it.

Mini-me is feeling much better. She is grouchy and demanding and all other things almost-4-year-olds can be. Patch on the other hand, not so good. He was running a small fever last night, and coughed so much he couldn't catch his breath, and then through a mighty tantrum, thus restricting breathing further. Curly's cold is better, and I am still healthy. I credit my longevity to Diet Coke. Oh, and needlework, which keeps my blood pressure down.

Lame Excuses

I am full of lame excuses this week on why I'm not exercising. It's been a week since I hit the gym. Frankly, I am too tired. I've got nothin' left. And, if I did have something left, I should probably expend it on cleaning up the kitchen, right?

Patch has discovered my shoes. He likes to put one on and then walk around the living room. This, and other things, gets Mini-me all riled up. She doesn't think Patch should be able to touch things.

My final thought for the day is about Christmas gifts. Mini-me loves "magic wands." She'll take anything that is long and straight (a stick, a rod, a plastic tube), and wave it around. As I sit typing, she has a magic wand in her hand. I think for Christmas, I will make her a bunch of magic wands, and decorate them with ribbon and sparkles. She'll love it.

I Know You Want to Be Me

Don't be jealous of my fabulous life. Not even when you hear that Patch has pink eye. That's right, he's sick, too. Curly also has a virus that as yet is unidentified. We are pumping him with Theraflu and chloraseptic. With all of this, I sure hope I get to make another visit to the Target pharmacy tomorrow. They might miss me!

On the Mend

Mini-me is doing much better. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. Her fever is gone and she is a little more like herself. She's been fighting with Patch today and kicking the dog. Her color is still a little off, and her eyes have yet to regain their sparkle, but we're getting there.

On the other hand, Patch woke up from his nap with goopy eyes. My expert opinion is that he has pink eye. I tried to call tonight to get an appointment for tomorrow, but they schedule their "sick" appointments day of, and the only other appointment they had available to schedule was at 4, when we'll be on our way home from picking up Flower. Hopefully I'll be able to get something earlier with a doctor I like -- not Doctor Lee, or the doctor who, while examining Mini-me at about 15 months, let her fall off the table. I can't remember her name, but I'll know it if I hear it.

I feel pretty good, albeit worn out, but Curly feels sick. His voice is scratchy and he keeps pulling blankets under his chin, which means his throat hurts. I really hope I don't catch any of this stuff. It's only two weeks until Thanksgiving and less than 2 months until Christmas. There's no time for Mama to be sick!

Sick Mini-me, the Continuing Saga

Today has been a rough day. I took Mini-me to the doctor, because her fever has been high since Thursday, even with the Motrin/Tylenol dance. We saw a doctor I don't much care for, who was very dismissive and sent us home saying "She has a cold." Frankly, I didn't buy it, and said as much while on my way out. Three hours later, when her fever reached a frightening 105.4, I called back demanding to speak with our normal doctor. I made Curly talk with him, because I was a touch emotional by that point. He was very sympathetic, and said he had seen several cases of pneumonia in the past little while that could only be detected by x-ray, not by listening. We got her in to get a chest x-ray, and by 5:00 we had a new diagnosis of pneumonia. Not a cold. We have her on some heavy duty antibiotics, Curly and our friend gave her a priesthood blessing, and she is fast asleep.

I am emotionally spent. I have felt so neurotic over the past few days. I have not been able to shake the feeling that there was something wrong with Mini-me. That's not a good, nor restful, feeling to have. I even left in the middle of sacrament meeting yesterday to call home, because I was so sure she was in bad shape. I cannot tell you how relieved I am that I am not crazy, yet I wish Mini-me wasn't this sick.

My plan for tomorrow is to keep her in her feety pjs and let her watch movies. Or sleep. Luckily Patch is easily entertained.

Sick Mini-me

Mini-me has been running a fever since Thursday. Medicine helps a little, but it doesn't get rid of the fever. She also has a sore throat and a cough. As a strep expert, I don't think she has it. I could be wrong, though. I have been wrong before. Once. We are supposed to have a birthday party for Grandpa tonight, but I think Mini-me and may have to sit this one out. I don't want to get anyone else sick, and I don't want her to get sicker. (More sick? Sicker sounds wrong, like funner.) I'll send my Barefoot Contessa layer cake and some apple dip I made with Curly, Flower, and Patch.

Also on the docket for today is a gig with the Towne Singers. We will be singing on the Trolley that makes a loop around Frederick. We will be singing Christmas songs. Today is the kick-off for the holiday shopping season in Downtown Frederick. It makes me feel panicky inside. I am not anywhere near ready with my gifts this year. I don't even have supplies. I better get on that. I did get my turkey ordered from Hemp's Meats yesterday. At least I'm ahead of the game on that.

Thanks and Giving

It's the season for thanks and giving. It's time to put away the whimsy and wonder of Halloween, and put up the traditional. My mother has a couple of cross stitched trays. I love those trays. They are functional, yet display a talent and craft. A couple of years ago, I found the perfect pattern for my first tray.

Right now, it is on my table with a harvest tablecloth and candle holders shaped like turkeys. On Thanksgiving, I will use it to serve appetizers. I am hosting my first Thanksgiving this year. I plan on serving all the traditional things I grew up loving, and also the things my husband loves. I've asked his mother to bring the rice stuffing, and I will provide the bread stuffing. We'll have sweet potato casserole, homemade rolls, cranberry sauce (from a can, cut on the lines), peas, green beans, and jello salad served on a nice piece of iceberg lettuce that no one eats, but is always there. Since rice stuffing needs to be cooked in a turkey, Judy will do that turkey, and I will do one on the grill, recipe courtesy of my dad. Oh, what a feast. We'll watch the parade, eat lots of food, fall asleep watching football, and play bingo. It's the perfect day.

Photos

Happy Halloween

Halloween was a raging success. I served chili with cornbread mini-muffins (that had bacon, cheese, and green onions in them) and pumpkin dip. We started with 18 people, and then at 5:30 our surprise visitors of Jessica, Jane, and Abby arrived, bringing the party total to 21. There were 4 babies and 3 big kids to go trick-or-treating. PT really got into the Yoda feeling, and led the way. Patch thought it was very fun, but got a little upset if we took his spider hat off. Mini-me took things at her own pace, while Flower and Jane charged ahead. The sheer volume of candy was astounding. While we were out, Grandma did most of the dishes while GrandPatty and PapaKen handed out candy. The Ex and Rope even had a great time. He had 2 bowls of chili. I'm just saying.

Blogger is not allowing me to upload pictures right now, so I'll add them later. Hope your Halloween was just as spooktacular as ours!