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.

:)

Apple Butter

Today I comfortably snuggled into the acceptance that fall is among us.

Last night we turned on the furnace for the first time in months after Vern almost lost me in a pile of blankets,sweatshirts and thick socks.

 I watched it rain outside the window,even the dogs refused to go out..it was wet and cold.

 I headed out for a motivational latte and a trip through Grocery Outlet for some chocolate chips. That latte worked..it motivated to buy lots of things besides the one thing I needed! Oh Grocery Outlet,you got me again!

When I came home I realized I could no longer ignore the pile of fruit on the verge of mush on my counter. Whatta waste I thought...I don't make pies..or jam...or anything with apples,pears or bananas! I can't freeze them..but I just can't sit here and watch them spoil! The idea hit me and I was shocked at my stroke of brilliance...APPLE BUTTER...wait even better...APPLE BUTTER IN THE CROCK POT! I think I saw this online somewhere....Oh and those bananas,I remembered I CAN freeze them and did so immediately.

After a few hours of peeling,coring and chopping pounds of tiny apples,big apples and pears I had a large crock pot full! I combined a few recipes I liked and added a few twists of my own-to my surprise there is o actual butter in apple butter...good thing I read the recipe!

Cara's Apple Butter
3-5 pounds of apples,peeled,cored,sliced or grated (or in my case,throw in a few pears)
1 Tbs of vanilla
1 Tbs cinnamon
3/4 cup brown sugar (more or less on the sugar depending on what you like)
1/2 cup white sugar (some people said it was great with no sugar)
1 packet of dry apple cider drink mix(this was my idea he he)

*Most recipes I saw called for allspice and cloves. I did not add these because I do not like the taste of them  and had none in my cupboards.

Turn large crock pot on low and add apples and then vanilla. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl and add to apples. Stir until apple pieces look coated with sweet goodness. Put the lid on the crock pot and stir every 2-3 hours. After approximately 8 hours,mash the tender apples with a mash potato masher or hand mixer and let cook on low an additional 6-8 hours. Let cool and if needed puree in food processor to consistency you prefer. If you know how to can well...good for you. ha I have no idea how to can but if you do...can it. For those who are not quite that ambitious or domestic you can also freeze it for later use. My house has smelt AMAZING all day and I am hoping the apple butter is as delicious as it smells!

Wow,I feel so domestic! What a great way to kick of the new season of celebrating!