November

I often ask myself what makes me stop blogging for awhile...I know that sometimes it's because my mind is full of frustrations that are best not spewed out in haste on the Internet. Sometimes it's because my brain is tired and I want to amuse myself with mindless activities on Facebook or Pinterest. Sometimes it's because my life has had many changes this year and blogging has taken a back seat to new interests and priorities. But,when it comes right down to it,I love to blog,I always come back for more.
Since my last blog Maxine turned one!  It was the fun little pink birthday party I always wanted to have for my little girl! Both kids are doing great,Chipper was a good sport on Halloween and let me put his Santa outfit on..for about ten minutes.

Trevor is still living with us. It seems that life here isn't so bad after all....? ha ha For the most part he is a huge help but there are times I am reminded he is a 19 year old male and my Mother's words replay in my head "Men grow until they are 25,be patient."
So life goes on,in this little house of ours, 3 men,2 dogs and myself. Oh myself,it hasn't exactly been my best year....

First it was my gallbladder,I have spent 6 of the last 11 months either sick or recovering from the removal of that rotten organ.THEN,I crack a tooth so bad that it has to be removed! I have suffered for 2 weeks and I still  have 5 days to go before they pull  it out. Ugh. On top of all of that, there has also been adjustments to my anxiety medication,which makes me a little off my "game" for a week or two. This becomes the times I also hate my job. I struggle to keep up with the upbeat precision my clients expect while also continuing to get kicked in the proverbial ass by a corporation that only knows me as employee #bla bla bla! Growth..it's all personal growth right?!

This morning,on my way out of the shower (where I do all my deep thinking) I came to the conclusion that I am going through the "finding myself" stage in life. You know,when you start to take a good hard look in the mirror? When you stop pretending that everything isn't always someone elses fault and own up to the things about yourself that you don't like .....and want to change. Trying to see what others love about you.... and why. I wiped my wet face and hair with a giant pink fluffy towel,looked up to the Heavens and said "Fine. Break me. I need you to help me to be the best human being I can be. " I know and trust that on the flip side of all of this,it is all part of a much larger plan,propelled by love. Love, it's what wakes me up in the morning and keeps me warm at night. Beyond me or anything I could create in my wildest dreams,I have been given true love and a partner to share my life with. I say this because no matter how upside down life gets,I always have Vern by my side to keep my feet on solid ground and I couldn't be more thankful.

Now,onto a more light hearted subject before I wrap this up for the night. The holidays. We just survived 10-13 family members in and out of our tiny house,2-3 meals a day for 4 days. Vern and I prepared a Thanksgiving feast like no other before! We had 2 kinds of smoked turkey,all the traditional potato and stuffing fixings ,ham,candied bacon,truffles,pies,dips,chips,cheese,fudge and jello salad just to name a few..it was lots of fun! Everyone had a great time and the only complaints I heard was about the sudden shrinkage of every one's pants ha ha good times...I think it's going to take me a week to catch the Christmas spirit. Vern was a good sport and spent a few hours yesterday hanging Christmas lights...that helps! I will pack up the plastic pumpkins and mini hay bale in exchange for assembling the Christmas tree and hanging the stockings......next week :)

I'm Right Here

I've struggled at times with the many changes that have taken place in my life the last few years.

Adjusting to living in a house full of men as God has used this opportunity to teach me to be a loving servant of him and ALL of his children.

I have gradually become a full time girlfriend,sister in law and step mom over the last 3 1/2 years.

Our situation is far from ordinary...

And then last Saturday I had a small epiphany.

It was a cold,grey,rainy morning.

We had a rough start and I was left grumpy and alone to finish my coffee.

Rather that sit and stew I decided to get busy and start my day.

Del came stumbling downstairs in a sleepy haze to retrieve a cup of coffee.

I was busy in the kitchen washing dishes and making salted caramel butter bars.

We chatted for a bit,

I complained about my morning,

he sympathized,we laughed and then he headed back upstairs.

A few minutes later I heard him turning on the radio..

finding a good song...

and then turning the volume way up.

I don't know what came over me but..

I danced.

Like full out booty shaking white girl, with soapy hands, in the middle of the kitchen with a stupid grin, 

danced.

Suddenly I spun around to see 2 tiny faces staring at me in confusion.

Chipper and Maxine both looking up at me like they were ready to call the crazy farm!

I laughed as I wiped my hands and asked them both to dance.

Yah...no. They were too freaked out!

That's when it happen,

as if the last 3 years suddenly made sense all over again.

"I am right where I need to be."

In this house full of men,washing dishes,baking goodies,snuggling my fur babies and making memories.

Yes it's far from ordinary

but I know that it is all part of His plan.

I feel very blessed to be finding a more positive outlook and appreciating the work He has done with me to bring me to where I am today.

Right where I need to be.

:)



The Other Day....

I was in such a flustered hurry to get ready for work,

 that I accidentally grabbed my eyeshadow instead of my blush.

 One purple stroke of my blush brush later...

Yup,

I need to quit hitting the snooze button.

October

Pinterest. That's where I have been.
 Don't make me explain just Google it and go and get signed up immediately. You will love it,I promise and in advance..you're welcome :) There is so much good stuff it has consumed all of my free time for the last week. While you are there look me up and "follow" me!
But that's not ALL I have been doing..
I attended my first tea party at my friend Sonja's.

 IT WAS AMAZING! Pure girly fun down to every last detail! Every girl should have a tea house in her back yard like this-

I am also almost done with my 2nd batch of apple butter. I scored two huge buckets of apples from my neighbor's tree.

 I found that if I peel,core and then run them through the food processor into pulp first I can fit an entire 5 gallon bucket's worth in my crock pot. One batch,even with my new method, takes about 3 days to finish It's a labor of love that's for sure! I will be canning them and storing them away for Christmas gifts. The other bonus is that my house constantly smells like apples and cinnamon,perfect for fall!

The Briscoe "fuppies" are getting close to adoption day,it will be hard to say goodbye but I know Shannon is screening the new families very carefully. I went to visit for a little photo shoot and brought some hair bows for the girls,they were good sports about it!

>wink<

And last but not least I have been doing a lot more cooking and baking. I am especially proud of these-
Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate chip cookie dough filling and chocolate frosting. YUM!

Apple Butter Update...

A few days ago when I blogged about apple butter...

 I was under the assumption that 14 hours in the crock pot on low would be long enough.

 At that point, I portioned it into canning jars and put them in the fridge but I knew something just wasn't right.

 For 2 days I tried to convince myself that it wasn't applesauce.I don't even like applesauce!

 Finally, I went to the fridge to face my apple mystery..

1 stir of the spoon and there was no denying..

.it was applesauce.

 Refusing to accept defeat I hauled out my crock pot and poured the applesauce back in.

 I set that baby on low and let it cook for..

two.

 more.

days.

 My end result...?

Thick,gooey,delicious apple butter.

 I started with my crock pot packed full of apples and pears and ended up with approx 8 cups of apple butter.

 The amount of reduction was amazing!

 I am so satisfied with my end result and feeling victoriously domestic!

Last night Vern used it as a rub for a pork roast and created a mouth watering apple butter bark on the outside,yum yum yum!

Looks like a new season calls for a new hobby...

I just hope my crock pot survives. 



Day 21

Favorite Picture Of Yourself Of All Time And Why

A friend of mine recently wrote a fantastic blog about this very same issue. With respect to her privacy I will not share a link but I will  share her message :)

I searched my archives of photo files trying to find the best photo of myself.

You know,one where my hair is perfect and my make up just right.

Where I look thin,pretty and happy...

Do I share a photo of just me..or with my favorite people..or maybe at my favorite places?

"Am I making this blog assignment harder than intended...this blog challenge was supposed to be FUN?!"

And then I read my friend's blog and my answer became clear,

"It's not the BEST photo of myself,it's my FAVORITE photo of myself!"

The photo that makes me smile every time I see it and brings back a memory of a precious time,

not the perfect photo where I look my best..

where is the happy memories in that?

Sooooo...

Much to my Mother's dismay...

The photo that makes her shake her head to this day...

This is what happens...

 when you leave my teenage brother alone with me...

and a camera...

in the 70's....

Every.Time. I see this photo I smile and laugh..

My brother is in his 40's now and he is still a mischievous child at heart.

It was such a different time..

A funny memory I wouldn't have without this photo

and that

is why this is my favorite photo.

:)