Laura's Camel

 Laura told me about a camel she sees every once in awhile, then one day (riding with her)

 we see this camel!!!  Now she tells me there is also a camel with 2 humps ---

maybe I'll see him too.

Construction to begin - well maybe in April or May

A few weeks ago Laura and I went visiting different Tile, pre-fab, and do-it-yourself stores to look up ideas on a new bathroom.  Water isn't staying where it should and right now we are trying to decide what we need.
 Jeffrey doesn't want to spend a premium amount of money because he says we would never get back what is put in because it needs to fit the other homes in the neighborhood, and I don't want so basic it isn't fun.
I sure like tile and stone.  I'm not really excited about the pre-fab at Lowell's, it just has tiny specs in it no marbling or veins.  I'd love a granite or marble look that is easy to care for.
It was very interesting to note that in the showroom at Ordaz the models were mostly in light colors.  The lady on the floor said most women seem to choose the lighter colors and men chose dark.  Sure enough Jeffrey chose the darkest sample I brought home.  Do more women choose what's in the bathrooms?
It sure would be fun to have a "stone or pebble" shower floor with sandy tiles and make it a beach theme.  Add some puffy clouds on the ceiling.
Probably it will turn out to be a normal looking bathroom - on the other hand, maybe I'll just invite Bonnie over like I've been threatening to do and listen to her advise.
I really love friends.

Something I love to hear

Thanks Mom that was soooo Good!

I was a hero last night with one of Laura's recipes.  Everyone liked it.  I served it with lots of fruit - blueberries, tangerines and grapes with yogurt on the side.

Chicken Casadeas 

Cook up some chicken - Laura will use a whole, some breast, or a package - just depending on how many you want to serve.  I put the chicken on with a can of chicken broth and simmer it till the meat flakes off.

Drain - I reserve this for soup for another meal - and add a bottle of Salsa and simmer the chicken down till most of the liquid is gone.   I like to make preparations for a few meals at once, so at night its a quick fix in between lessons etc.  This can be done whenever you're making preparation for dinners.  Set aside.

When it comes time to make dinner:

Cream some lemon juice (I got them from Laura's tree), chopped jjalapeno (I use half or a quarter of a chili) and cream cheese - at room temperature (just set it out before Rachel's piano lesson).

Thinly spread this on one tortilla, scatter around a heaping tablespoon or more (depending on size of tortilla) of the chicken mixture, and top with some cheese (I used all the leftover cheese - cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, and gruyere).   Cheddar works.

Place another tortilla on top and grill on one side till the tortilla gets brown, then carefully flip till the other side is brown.  I cut it in quarters and serve.  I had to actually use the oven grill as they wouldn't fit in my frying pan and I couldn't find the cord for the electric fryer.  Worked great - you can do more at a time. 

Notice it is 1.11.11 This should be one cool day!

Are the stars lining up or anything?  At 11:00 we'll have to have a mooment - for what?  well something interesting!  I'm sure I can think of something.  You know some baby will be born or something of some significance somewhere.
Me I'm just waiting for the fog to lift and the sun to shine.  My world is changing again and while exciting and different,  I need to deal and re-focus.  On what? - so I feel I'm scrambling around without the comforts of routine.  Isn't it interesting that routine can feel monontous and boring - but safe.  Then in an effort to change my life for the better, I find my church callings are changing, my kids are almost all grown up and I'm not sure what the next duty - joy - fire to put out - event - is or will be.  But I really have seen the hand of the Lord watching out over my friends and while they are struggling and crying, from this dstance I can see how they are being watched over and blessed.  I wonder if they can feel it? What is my purpose right now?  I have full faith that God is watching, so maybe I'll just clean up my house and see what comes out of the sky - at 11?

Magic Moments

Christmas Eve this year was awesome - and also a recognizable milestone.  My kids are grown up.
You may think I'd realize it because most of them are taller than I, but it creeps up on you so gradually it takes a moment in time to recognize it.

We had a very nice dinner and then a scripture discussion before the pie was served.  The night took on a really spectacular view when Michael and Jeffrey began playing a piece that Michael made up.  The chords are really cool sounding.  Michael on the piano and Jeffrey on his old guitar.  Actually they kept making it up.  Nate walked in to the room, liked what he heard and joined in with his bass guitar and they convinced Rebekah to pull out her flute from six years ago and play along.  After Andrew and Rachel came home from shopping they urged Rachel to grab her clarinet and Andrew to jump on the keyboard - and oh by the way could he come up with some words to go with it?

The video I have of each additonal player is really cool, but of course not for public display until more practice and effort has gone in to it.   But as a mom - my heart is full to watch and listen to the talents of my family emerging and growing.  It was really an awesome experience.

The kids were laughing on the computer and doing some last minute Christmas wrapping when Jeffrey and I decided to go to bed.  After the family prayer there came a moment when I paused to say something and  couldn't figure out what to say, when Nathan said with a grin on his face, "You want us to turn back into little children and have an exciting Christmas night."

Ahh, that was it!  They were clearly getting ready to play some games and go on with their night as we went to bed and the roles had changed and they were in charge of their own happiness and I was going to bed to wait for the excitment of the new day.  My youngest is twelve and having fun with her siblings but quite over the "magic" of anticipation and the oldest are adults.

When did it all happen?

It's in who you know!

Choose your friends wisely.  If you walk with the right friend she will tell you where to get the stuff you want, where it is on sale and sometimes even go with you!

The REAL story of the runaway Gingerbread men

I'm pretty sure I've narrowed down the clues to this classic - young men were at their grandmother's home and came up with a really cool story for their mom when she came to pick them up. I'll bet she said, "And then what happened?" several times.

The plan this year was to make gingerbread men, with loaves of bread and homemade freezer jam for our friends.  When the bread came out of the oven, I was upstairs wrapping presents and when I came down the braided bread was half finished though I was able to save some for their dad's supper.   Now gingerbread has to set for about 2 hours before you can cut them out and bake them.  Luckily they only bake for 7 minutes so you basically have to wait around.  Well no one was around for the rolling and cutting but just as soon as those gingerbread men came out of the oven - they tried to run away.  I had to guard them with a spatula, a look, and a firm no.  I ignored criticism of flat heads, misshapen arms, juggled hands that tried to knock the gingerbread off (so it would break) till I  told the kids to scram.  If you happen to get a gingerbread man this year just know it came out of Fort Knox.