Art or Something Like It

Since recently re-starting this blog, I have been searching through other blogs, checking out what cool gadgets, backgrounds and buttons there are. I've seen an amazing array of blogs. From ones that make you want to stay on the blog forever, it seems so welcoming and quaint. To ones that make you want to claw your eyeballs out and give you a headache in the nano second you lingered on the page!!

I have realized that you can get a LOT of inspiration from other blogs. Really, a whole ton of it. And even though you may think that, well, look how many people out there scrapbook...nobody really has anything that looks exactly alike!

I consider myself creative, an artist of sorts. But the problem is getting that creativity to flow.

Luckily, I have a friend, that is placing a deadline on me. To work, to create and to succeed.

Hope I can post some of my creative works here soon. Maybe I can inspire someone if they run across my blog!!

Cold Weather Pick Me Up

Today, it is snowing.

This year, it started snowing just before Christmas. Several large storms brought plenty of snow to us! The snow stayed on the ground for weeks. It was beautiful. Just the kind of perfect White Christmas everyone wishes for. Then we were done with it. It couldn't melt fast enough! By the time the snow completely melted off last week, we had been trudging through a gray and sloppy mess for weeks. Then, just as it starts to dry up, and all the snow is gone, we get more.

There are a couple inches on the ground, with another inch or so expected. And with a high today of, 22 and a low of 9, it will make for a stay inside and stay warm kind of weekend.

Wonder what kind of warm and tasty recipe I can find, to give us that cold weather pick me up?

Got Junk?

Thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, antique stores. What do all these have in common? Treasure! I am a firm believer in the saying "One mans junk is another mans treasure". I have found endless useful items for a fraction of what they would cost if purchased new. And a lot of times, they have even been in new condition.

Last night we drove to a town about 35 miles east of us, to pick up a dog house. It is perfect for our dog, Daisy, who is mostly indoors, but needs shelter for those times she needs to be outside. The best part of the doghouse? It was Free! Cost to buy new at store? $50.00! I consider that a big savings! Sure it cost us gas money to drive to pick it up. But it also provided family time taking a drive together.
I am a member of several local Freecycle groups. Freecycle is a group that strives to keep stuff out of landfills. If you can't use it, maybe the family down the street can! Use it up, wear it out. Recycle it! When you have something to get rid of that you no longer need or use, you post on Freecycle and you usually can have it gone within a day! If you're looking for something, ask for it. Quite often someone will have had what you're looking for, taking up space in their garage, and they'll gladly give it to whomever needs it! It's really a great group/resource to use. Check it out!

Triple Layer Cookie Bars

The newest recipe I tried today:

1 1/4 c all purpose flour
2/3 c sugar
1/3 c baking cocoa
1/4 c packed brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c cold butter
2 eggs
TOPPING:
1 package, 7oz. flaked coconut
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 c semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 c creamy peanut butter

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Add eggs; mix well. Press into a greased 13x9 pan.

2. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Sprinkle coconut over crust; then cover with the condensed milk. Bake 20 mins, or until browned. Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter and stir until smooth. Spread over top.

There's Always Tomorrow

I woke up this morning, and immediately wished I had stayed in bed. It wasn't anything in particular, it was just one of "those" kinds of days.

So I bawled my eyes out, drank my coffee and then laughed about my misery. I'm not really sure if it was a "wow, ha ha, my mood really stinks today" kind of laugh. Or more of one of those "wow, you've got some serious issues and are pretty much crazy" kind of laughs. Either way, it helped a little.

I was in such a funk, I decided that I couldn't handle anyone coming into my home for our Thursday afternoon get together/bible study. Just so you know, my home is as ever changing as the Kansas weather. One day, it will be spotless and the most amazing sanctuary. The next day, it looks, well, like my house threw up. Contents of drawers spilling out, cabinet doors open, dirty clothes...you get the picture. So I called, plead insanity, and got bible study moved to my neighbors house.

So I spent the morning wallowing in mental anguish, rushing around doing things I should have done last week instead of last minute.

I did however manage to make the treat for the meeting. It was a new recipe I hadn't tried before, and it turned out pretty good, in spite of my last minute realization that my one and only mixer broke two weeks ago and I have yet to replace it. And for those of you who like to pick up little kitchen tips here and there, I've got one for you. You know those fancy pastry blenders? The kind that you use to "cut" in the shortening or butter? Yea, you don't really need one of those. A potato masher is an amazing substitute. So I got the treat made, and even got a compliment or two on it. It was a chocolate gooey treat, and that might have helped my mood a little bit more!

But this is just a bit of today. There's much worse and much better that can still happen before it is time for me to get to bed. And then, after today, there's always tomorrow.