Chocolate Coconut Potato Candy

1/3 cup mashed potatoes
1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flaked coconut
Chocolate (German or Semi-Sweet works well)

Mix ingredients thoroughly. Shape into desired size balls. Place in refrigerator until very cold. Roll candy in melted chocolate.

Reflect on the Old Year...

2012 has come and gone. 2013 is here. What will the new year hold for you? What lessons did you learn in 2012 that will make 2013 better? To help you determine this, reflect back on the the year you had in 2012. Below are some questions to help you with your reflection.

Reflection Questions for 2012

  What was the single best thing that happened this past year?

  What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

  What was an unexpected joy this past year?

  What was an unexpected obstacle?

  Pick three words to describe your 2012.

  Pick three words your spouse/significant other would use to describe your 2012
(don't ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).

  Pick three words your spouse/significant other would use to describe their 2012 (again, without asking).

 

 Pick three words your children (if you have them) would use to describe your 2012 (again, without asking). 

 

 Pick three words  your children (if you have them) would use to describe their 2012 (again, without asking.)

 

 What were the best books you read this year?

 With whom were your most valuable relationships?

What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?

  In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?

  In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

  In what way(s) did you grow physically?

  In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

  What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?

  What was your most challenging area of home management?

  What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?

  What was the best way you used your time this past year?

  What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?

  Create a phrase or statement that describes 2012 for you.

Create a phrase or statement that will describe 2013 for you to follow the new year.

Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels

1 can (8oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

2 T ranch dressing

¼ cup cooked real bacon pieces or 4 slices bacon, crisply cooked, crumbled

½ cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

¼ cup chopped green onions (4 medium)

Heat oven to 350°F

Unroll dough; press each into 12x4” rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal.

Spread dressing over each rectangle to edges. Sprinkle with bacon, cheddar cheese, and onions.

Starting with one short side, roll up each rectangle; press edges to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 9 slices; place cut side down on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown.

Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve Warm.

Happy Birthday!!!!

Many moons ago, a mother went to the L & D ward of her local hospital. She had a baby who couldn't seem to decide if he wanted to come into the world or not so his birth was prearranged. She was nervous, worried and a bit scared of what to expect this time around as she knew deep down it would be a very different type of birth and not just because of it being scheduled and induced.

Everything seemed to go OK and was pretty uneventful with the exception of a small nagging trickle of fear that the one unfavorable midwife and another icky person would be there to attend the birth. Progress wasn't really made because everything was going so slowly even with the stuff that was suppose to speed things up. The belts of the monitor were pinchy tight. The position needed to be in for them and the tubes of the drips was uncomfortable.  The uncertainty if the father would make it in time and if he would or wouldn't being the icky one weighed heavily down.

 The promised pain relief and antibiotics didn't come. Which added an additional nagging thought to buzz around one's already worried mind. The you'll have your baby in a couple of hours didn't happen, time marched slowly by, and the lack of action was unnerving instead of soothing.

Then a friendly face popped around the door like the sun from behind a dark cloud. One of the nagging fears/concerns was quickly relieved when it was revealed that the most esteemed, lovely midwife could be the attendant but only if the baby came in time and beat the clock.This midwife promised she was going to make things happen and that she did while also cautioning that it would be unlikely she'd be around to deliver. She allowed a change of position and broke the bag of waters while talking to the babe to come out. She promised to correct the issue with the antibiotics, get some pain relief so rest could be had before the big event and also to alert the NICU people just in case.

The mother and baby must have taken the clock comment to heart it seems because the clock didn't matter in the end. In fact the baby came faster than anyone expected. It caught everyone by surprise as there wasn't time for the ordering of the required antibiotics let alone pain management, there wasn't time for many, many things that were planned to happen. There was barely time to get a whole bunch of nameless, faceless emergency/NICU people to the room.

The mother was embarrassed for her over all loss of control. It seemed to come out in a nasty display of cursing as she fought to get in control of the power surging through her body, to remain on her back when her very cells were screaming for her to change positions with  intense back breaking type pain, and the people that were gawking at her didn't help any either. If she had ever felt the need for modesty in her life this was the time she felt it greatly and that was the last thing she'd get. The mother marveled at how powerful her body was and how strong her instincts were to do certain things even though she wasn't able to do them as felt guided. She wanted to change position as she knew it would help and was right but wasn't in a place where she could do that and it confused her. It was a big relief when the baby finally came out and it was discovered to be a boy. The word of that moment in time for her was Redemption.

The baby was of good weight 7 lbs 2 oz although there was a need for a whiff or two of oxygen and warmth. He  didn't have to be rushed off to the NICU right away. A brief moment of a couple of minutes with his mother to hold him was allowed. His father shadowed him while the staff did the business of checking him out and monitoring him that the meconium required.

It was a good thing as the mother knew something wasn't quite right and didn't want to freak the baby's father out  as she was freaking her mother out stayed with her by insisting that something wasn't right. It wasn't but an hour later that it was discovered just how right her nagging feeling was that this birth would be different and something not so good was going to happen. If her mother hadn't been there to fetch the nurse...If the kind nurse hadn't been so concerned about getting her cleaned up properly from the loss of  what was assumed to be bladder control.... the hemorrhage might not have been discovered in time.  But it was and while the recovery was a bit harder than it could have been and the concern for the odd breathing sounds and weird nursing issue were dismissed, they both are here today.

It's hard to believe that 14 years have passed. That the little bundle that had to be held just so and struggled so much to eat is now bigger than I am. That the little wisp of a baby is growing into a fine sturdy young man with a bright future.

May his day be extra special and he know how much he loved, wanted and needed. May he have many more years to come.

Happy Birthday to my dear son.

No Bake Oatmeal Drop Cookies

• ½ cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 tsp Vanilla
• 3 cups Quick Oats
• ½ cup Butter or Margarine
• 2 cups Sugar
• ½ cups Evaporated Milk 
• 4 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
• Wax Paper
  
  
  1. Add Butter, Milk, Sugar and Cocoa into a pot.
  2. While stirring, bring to boil and hold the boil for 1 min.
  3. Remove pot from heat.
  4. Add Creamy Peanut Butter and Vanilla to hot mixture in pot. Stir until Peanut Butter is melted.
  5. Mix Quick Oats into melted mixture until completely covered.
  6. Drop spoonfuls of the mixed cookie mixture onto wax paper.
  7. Let sit for approximately 30 minutes to harden.
  
  

2013 What will I be doing?

I'm not sure about everything that I will be doing in 2013. There are a few things that are waiting to be sorted out still, a few that are waiting for confirmation to happen, and a few that are maybe wishful thinking and yet might just happen only time will tell. However, I do know a few things that I will be doing for certain.

I received a new camera for Christmas. It's my first ever fancy, high tech camera. I consider it fancy and high tech because it not only needs lenses in order to work and it has more variety of options to use when taking photos. It has the ability to do video as well. I'm honestly in way over my head with this camera. So I am looking forward to learning how to use it properly this year.

I want more art in my life this year. I want to find the joy I once had when it came to creating. So I signed up for the UnEarth your Creative Nature * e-course by Jani Franck. I believe that this will be the first of many creative or art workshops this year. At least I hope so.

I'm joining forces with one of my friends from my first round of college days for a challenge of finding joy. How are we going to find joy in our busy lives? We plan to do it by participating in the Joy Dare.** I've already printed out the joy dare prompts for the year. I've managed to get day 1 and 2 done for January. Only 994 more to go... 

One thing that I am hoping to do this year is learn how to knit. I know... I know me and sharp pointy objects are not exactly a good combination. lol Why the sudden desire to learn to knit? I'm not exactly sure other than I did receive a nice pair of wooden knitting needles a year ago and they've been calling my name ever since. I'm not exactly sure when or where this will take place yet. I'm still trying to find a class locally and figure out a budget for it. yes, I know there are videos that I can watch to get me started. I've tried that and it didn't work out very well. I have a real problem with watching someone do something on video and being able to follow along especially when it involves crossing the mid-line or using both hands like knitting does. So I really need live instruction to get me started. Something my former teachers, mentors, and instructors, can vouch for. lol

I'm sure there will be other things that will fill up my calendar before the year is out but for right now this is all there is.

*If your interested in learning more about the UnEarth your Creative Nature you can click on the title above or click here.

**If your interested in learning more about the Joy Dare you can click on the above title or click here. 

Happy New Year!!!!

May your year be filled with love.

May your year be filled with smiles.

May your year be filled with quite restful moments of peace.

May your year be filled with music to dance to and songs that make your heart and soul sing.

May your year be filled with moments that show the miracle of the Divine.

May your year be filled with passion to live your dreams.

May your year be filled with beauty.

May your have rainbows after every rain.

May your year be filled with educational opportunities and the seeking of wisdom.

May your year have shining beacons to light your way during low times.

May your 2013 be blessed.