A Moment of Discovery . . . . .

So perhaps I am not a true blogger. I haven't paid attention to my little project; as with most things in my life, I started something and didn't take the time to finish it. ADD is like that. I can start out doing the dishes and end up at the car wash wondering why my dishes didn't get done.
I've been doing a bit of research as of late though. I've been reading blog after blog after blog - so many that I cannot keep them straight at times. I have noticed one thing, though. It seems like the people that write the blogs have everything together all the time - like somehow they live in a world where June Cleaver and Donna Reed rule the land with organization, perfection, and impeccable time management skills. They post pictures of perfectly appointed kitchens with perfectly posed pot roasts. They have $1,500 cameras and pristine linens.
That's not me. I eat Ho-Ho's and those gas station cherry pies and wash them down with a French Vanilla Cappuccino on my way to work after dropping the kids off at school 5 minutes before the first bell rings. I have a Samsung digital camera that takes pretty darn good pictures for a little camera. I have stains on my shirts from coffee, ketchup, and baby puke. Incidentally, those same stains are on the floor of my well-used minivan. I continually run late, I burn the rolls now and again, and I tend to get crabby when I don't get enough sleep - like ever day of my life.
But I have realized one thing - all of that right up there in that paragraph? That's o.k. I'm not perfect, and I don't need to be. I'll take my pictures with my little camera, I'll eat my cherry pies and drink my KwikTrip Cappuccino and I will smile.
Now, on to other things. . .
I recently discovered a recipe for rolls. Not breaking news, I totally get it. However, you need to understand something - yeast and I do NOT get along. I remember watching my grandmother make bread when I was a child. I can still see her kneading the dough, watching her pull off the cover, punch it down, shape it, and let it rise again only to pop it in the oven and pull it out an hour later golden brown and beautiful. I can still smell the butter melting on the hot surface and see it dripping down the sides, my mouth watering for that first decadent piece of deliciousness. (Sigh. Smile. Tear up. Still love you Grams.)
Oh yeah, back to the recipe. So as I have stated, yeast and I have a love/hate relationship. I love it, it hates me. I've tried numerous recipes that have brought me nothing but misery and a trip to my bed shedding tears of failure. . . . until now.
I owe my new-found fascination for everything yeast to prostiedvizhenija on youtube. For in this video, I finally have the satisfaction of being able to create not only a dinner roll, but hamburger and hot dog buns, cinnamon rolls, and just plain ol' bits of yumminess my family has generously thanked me for. The recipe is simple, easy to follow, and it turns out. I even screwed it up the first time and it STILL turned out. I have to say, the way caramel rolls turn out with this recipe is stupendous. Let's take a look shall we?

A Snapshot

There are some times in life when, very unexpectedly, you catch yourself thinking of them. Every thought of joy and fear run raging through your mind in tandem in the smallest portion of a moment. They are so precious. They are exasperating. They are exhausting. They are beautiful. They are awe-inspiring. They are the stuff of which dreams are made.

In that moment when the thought first hits you, your heart jerks. You can actually feel the strings tighten because in one single, complex, breath-taking, fearful moment, you realize that your whole life is wrapped up in a tiny little package.

It doesn't matter how many times you have gone through it . . .

. . . the feeling is the same. You gasp, you shed a bit of a tear, and you smile because God has given you such gifts that there is no "thank you" big enough on the face of the earth or in the Heavens Above that could ever express your gratitude.

My cup runeth over . . . . .

Time Keeps on Slippin' . . . . .

O.k. So I'm not the most dedicated blogger right now. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this. Or maybe I just need to give it some time and hold on until the baby will let me sit down at the computer for more than five minutes. Maybe I need to start taking more photos of the things I love and posting them. Maybe I need to get some more sleep. . . .

Oh, excuse me! I drifted there for a minute after that last comment. :)

I will get around to this . . . some day!

Sleepless in Minnesota . . .

Oh to be sleeping . . . So my rant yesterday about not getting sympathy from my Dearest Man as a bit of a vent, but hey, I needed it. And I was determined to not let it fester, so I talked to him about it yesterday after work. He wasn't mad or angry, he was frustrated because he didn't know what to do. Go figure! (Laughs hysterically) But, at least he wasn't mad, which would have been insane, which would have made me insane, which would have made me put salt in his cookies instead of sugar. :D I'm evil that way.

So last night was no better. Little Man decided to battle it out again. But, after consulting with this beautiful group, I've come up with a plan. For those of you that have little ones and don't belong to this website, you must do it now! I mean it - leave me behind, click on the link, and behold the lifeline of greatness. DO IT NOW!

As for the rest of you, well, go make a peanut butter sandwich cuz I'm done for the day.

A day beyond description . . . . .

I know this isn't the greatest picture, but I couldn't
resist. Isn't that just the cutest face ever?!?!?!?!?!?!

My girls were intent tonight on watching a movie before bed, and all I could think about was watching the inside of my eyelids. What a day it has been!
I won't bore you with the ugly details, but let's just say it has been one thing after another and none of it really productive, satisfying, uplifting, liberating, or fun. But it's over, the day is over and the blessed night has begun . . . Ah yes, the night - filled with 40 minute naps interrupted by screaming babies. Oh how I love those naps!
I so wanted to upload some stuff tonight and share some scenery pics and recipes, but it's just not in me tonight. Motherhood will do that to you - wear your butt out and drain the brain right out of your head. Seriously.

"Create something outside yourself. . . ."

Words of wisdom, those are. I have no idea what I am doing, or why, or how, but I'm doing it. I have things I want to share: recipes, thoughts, ideas, hopes, dreams, attitude.
I'm a wanna-be-chef, baker, and sometimes pretty good Mom - sometimes. Like most of us I have a complex about that, but more on that later.
I just turned 40 - yes, 40, and as far as I'm concerned, life has just begun. I have four children, ages 17 yrs., 12yrs., 11yrs., and 6 months. Yes, I AM crazy, thank you very much. I am also divorced and planning to marry that man again. The first time I married him I did it for his really cool last name, now I'm doing it because I'm crazy in love - again, still, whatever you want to put in there - and can't picture myself on the porch when I'm 85 without him mouthing off next to me.
I can be opinionated, stubborn, loving, loyal, and everything in between.
I'll try my hand at just about anything once, unless it involves spiders or heights - I'm not budging on those and I don't care how many times you Double Dog Dare me - I'm perfectly comfortable with my fears, thank you very much.
So that's a little about me. More will be revealed along the way, along with recipes, pictures, stories and such.

Create something outside yourself. . . . . .