Perspective

My, have I been crabby about the weather, groused about it in fact. My own little pity party. It needs to be over. There are friends that have a hard enough time without the weather bringing them down. I have been to three funerals in eight days, which usually puts things into perspective.
I think this long winter is really hard on friends and family who are grieving. Fred's Grandma has always said that winter time is the hardest without Grandpa. It is better to be out in the garden, enjoying the yard and the sunny days. So, today I have a prayer request for those that are alone and need for 'winter' to be over. For Tim, who lost his beautiful wife and baby last April, for the widows and widowers that I know and love, for the families whose loved ones funerals I went to this week, for those who have lost children and parents. I am sorry. Jesus can carry you through and His promise for your loved one is real.

SAD or Seasonally Appropriate Dressing

New record cold tempuratures, record breaking snowfall...this brings up some questions. We are more than a month into Spring, yet the weather is everything and anything but Springlike. So, what are you wearing? Is it inappropriate to wear a black turtleneck sweater with a down vest, as we finish the month of April? Is it in poor taste to wear my winter parka to walk to work? With gloves? I just can't bear to be cold. Usually, I am wearing capri pants by now and a t-shirt, blouse and a light jacket. I feel gloomy, dark and drab wearing heavy winter clothes but I'm freezing. So, my question today is, "Is there a warm yet Springy fashionable look out there? I even wore my eddie bauer silk long underwear today. And I was not too warm!
Help! I feel I am a fashion disaster...
Today's photo is not related to post. One of the many random photos of R's at our house.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day at School

And I am a special friend! Caleb and Emilyn's grandparents live in other states so I got invited to school for the Open House. School is cool. Yesterday I went to Emilyn's Pre-4 class where they are studying Space travel. The kids shot off their rockets, painted and had story time. Fun stuff!



Today I went to Caleb's second grade classroom where they have chicks hatching, Indian villages and very cool artwork. Recently Caleb wrote an alliteration book and he actually was chosen to attend the Young Author's Conference. He read it to me today, not only can he write but is a great artist too.

Banana Bread Cranked Up

I baked banana bread today. This recipe has several things going for it.
A-I got it out of my church cookbook, it came from a good cook.
B-It makes two loaves, if you have the oven on, make it worthwhile.
C-It has buttermilk in it. I love recipes with buttermilk- how they taste that is. If I don't have it in the house oooh I am cranky but if I do I think buttermilk takes many recipes to a whole new level. I used fresh buttermilk today but it is a good idea to have buttermilk powder in the house for those times when you need to make banana bread, brownies, or cakes that call for buttermilk. It works in a pinch and it is better than having to run to the store. Ya-da, ya-da lady, give us the recipe. Okay...


I can never leave well enough alone so I took the banana bread to another level by adding two ingredients- chocolate chips and maraschino cherries. My Mom did this when I was a kid and I loved it. I mentioned this to my guys and they were irritated that I would mess with a good thing. So, I did one loaf with and one without. They will try it and like it, but perish the thought of a new banana bread recipe. Tried and true for my guys. Thank you very much!
There are not many recipes that I can leave well enough alone. I like to tweak things. Hope it works!
Guessed on the measurements- 1/2 cup + chocolate chips and 12-15 cherries chopped and drained well. Added to half the batter. Notice I toss my chips with a bit of flour so they don't stick.

Banana Bread
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. butter
2 eggs
Cream together, beat well.
Add: 3 1/2 C. flour
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 C. buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well and add 3 mashed bananas. Optional 1 C. chopped nuts(my guys don't like nuts in baked goods)
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes. Makes 2 loaves.

Well. Mmmm goood. This is not really something that someone on an 'eat less-move more' should have in their home.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Photo taken by MH Photography in a warmer climate and happier time-

I had an early start today. I am a scrambled egg maker at the school's pancake day every year. Normally, I do the early shift and then buy out their greenhouse plant sale, take home my plants and put them in the ground. Boy howdy, not this year. Those annuals would freeze to death fast. An Artic blast has hit the county and yesterday we had snow, hail and thunder and rain showers and lower than normal temperatures. It as been really cold and Spring seems a long way off.
I had hoped to wear short sleeves and capris when I returned tanned from vacation. It is hard to show off a good tan wearing a turtle neck and socks and shoes. I know that no one feels any sympathy for my plight. That's fine, I feel sorry enough for myself. It. is. cold. I am sick of it!
We have a funeral today for Peg Jansen, my brother-in-law Jeff's Mom. A sweet and kind Mom and Grandma. Fred and I are putting dinner together for the family tonight, we have tons of help. Last night we had foodie friends over. So, the weekend is busy but it is all good.

Dreaded Question

Caleb and Emilyn came over tonight and we sat in the hot tub. They always want to but forget their suits and I don't think of it. With reminder notes, phone calls and a group effort they remembered tonight. So, we have a good time in the hot tub and then go inside and while I am in the bathroom changing out of my suit, Emilyn comes to the door.
Emilyn-"Where is the fish?"
Me-"Just a second, I'm changing." (thinking oh no, I better have this conversation face to face.)
Emilyn-"Where is the fish?"
Me- "I'm coming."
Emilyn-"I am going to look in the key hole if you don't come out."
Me-"I'm coming-really."
Emilyn-"Where is the fish?"
Me-"Well, while we were in Hawaii, Levi took care of our house and animals and um, the fish died."
Emilyn- NOTHING -a really BIG silence.
More silence.
Emilyn-"Hmmm."
Me- "Sometimes that happens with pets."
Emilyn-"Hmmm."
I don't think that this went well, but maybe it did.
Then I mention Victoria and she says,"Who's Victoria?"- Is this familiar? Or what? Who's Victoria?=Vicky who? (See earlier post)
Me-"The fish, Victoria,"
Emilyn-" Oh, I never knew her name, just Fish."
Yikes! This whole fish thing has been painful.