Should I widen my search...?

Someone e-mailed me this picture.
Pretty funny right?
Well, at this point I do believe I'd settle for it... or something similar.

QofP! Chocolate Chip Cookies

That's right.

The Queen of Panic gets all the credit for this yummy recipe.

That's because I got it from her... and...

That's what I'm calling it/them from here on out:

Panic's Chocolate Chip Cookies

or ...maybe you think that

QP's Chocolate Chip Cookies

has a better 'ring' to it?

Let's go with that then... here is the recipe, considering my stress level... I will definately be mixing up a batch of these over the weekend....

QP's Chocolate Chip Cookies

preheat oven to 350

2 1/4 C sifted flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

Combine and whisk together, those ingredients in a separate bowl - set aside.

1 C. (2 sticks) softened/room temperature butter

1/4 C. granulated sugar

3/4 C. brown sugar

1 t. vanilla

1 pkg. (4 serv.) instant vanilla pudding mix*

Combine the above ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat until they appear to be 'light & fluffy'.

Add: 2 eggs - thoroughly beat until mix looks smooth and creamy.

Add, slowly: The reserved flour combination, mixing well after each addition until well incorporated.

Stir in: 1 - 12 oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips & (optional) 1 C. Chopped walnuts.

Drop by tsp. onto an ungreased cookie sheet, baking 10-12 minutes, then removing from the oven to cool on wire rack(s).

*May substitute Chocolate pudding - which I did a couple weeks ago & they were good too... only I think I will cut the addition of salt down when using chocolate pudding in this mix to only 1/2 teaspoon.

Mmm-mm-good comfort food, people! Maybe they'll make it to the pot luck on Sunday??? Maybe I'll whoop up a couple 'Dream Coconut Cream Pies' instead... at any rate you all have a great weekend, ya hear?

Enjoy!

D ~

Easter Eggs

I Love Easter! Hope everyone had a blessed one this year. We did the Easter Story Eggs with the little children in Sunday school. I love teaching Sunday school! My little class yesterday was full of boys - all full of life - ! At this stage in development they seem to be just as chatty as what the girls are, maybe more! lol! I just saw a list of 'Things I'd like to do before I die' on NWJR's blog... that reminds me, I'd like to take a stab at decorating eggs like these in the photo - at least once, before I get too old, arthritic, or 'shaky' to git r done! Here's a link to a web page about Easter Eggs.

Happy Spring! ...(???)

Boy Howdy... We made it through to SPRING! yippie-skippy!!!

Temps into the 70s today - that oughta take care of the snow we got on Sunday and Monday!

I just sent out a "Happy Birthday" card to my sister, in hopes that it arrives for her special day - this will be a mile stone one for her I'm guessing...

I put some smarty pants comments inside and: ???, for the return address on the envelope.

Alekx and Burfica have both asked about how I am doing in 'relocating'

Answer: Not too good, not right now - although I am keeping at it. [beams a hopeful, optimistic smile]

It just seems like everything in my world is either on hold or backed way up right now.

Like, I called the IRS 2-3 weeks ago and asked them to send me a 970 - the instructions for taking higher education credits... the packet arrived yesterday - with an order list that had my request alright, and ...bankruptcy forms... (I was not amused)... someday, though, that's gonna be funny to me. I just know it.

I haven't worked/had a pay-check in what (?) 12 weeks now?

This was going to be ok when I first 'found myself unemployed' because I had crunched the numbers and looked at the time factor.

I could take some time to rededicate my focus to my school work (And I have. I've pulled everything up to the 'A' standard I so dearly love - this was slipping before...) ... and find a much more suitable job in every sense of the word - including pay scale, because -

I had some 'reserved resources' and I figured on some pocket cushion in the form of my student loans (they have YET to come in btw, that has been the real killer for me ... dang it!) but then,

Dun-dun-dunnn! (insert ominous music here)

I hadn't foreseen the 'eviction' - I had not even dreamt that my dear relatives would pick right now (with real estate sales slumping of all things and times!?) as the time to want to spruce up the place and put it back on the market. Hello!!!???

You know, I can't say a bad word about it either - so I won't - other than the timing sucks (for me). All things considered, they (the collective 'they') have all been really, really good to me down through the years. I hope they get an immediate buyer and one willing to go their full asking price! Truly, I do.

Chalk all this up to a big lesson in unfortunate and unforeseen events. . . coming 'round and laying smack down.

(I've an elderly, retired school teacher friend, "Well, you should know by now that bad things do happen to good people - sometimes." Yeah, her timing was perfect, we shared a laugh, actually... the situation is ripe with stress, irony, stress, lessons to be learned (and then some!), stress, er... did I mention stress?)

Talk about a rough ride this month, though - up, down, up, down... the pressure, is 'on', as the saying goes.

Another example: One of the jobs I've applied for thus far, one with an attractive start-wage and benefits package - it would be with the State public power (Stability! Just what I'm looking for, yes!) called me back, asked me to take a 'blind typing' test (they cover the keyboard with a box so you can't/don't look at the keys as you type the test). I must have passed their minimum at least, because they sent out an interview packet with paperwork for me to fill out and made an appointment with me to interview on the 17th. Whoo-hoo, right?

I was feeling grrreat about that - until the phone rang again (last Friday) and they cancelled the interview - pending further notice - because my interviewer was down, sick.

Whatever.

I have a 'job' to do today. =)

My brother and his family are in Hawaii, right now - he couldn't get his buddy to feed/water the 2cats and 1rottweiler for the last 2 days they'd be gone, so he called on me. This will be a very temporary position, (lol)but it will pay - (and pay better than the last 'job' that I did have.) lol (see, irony here?) Bah-ha-ha-ha!

Yes.

Spring and the good weather are helping my attitude a bunch. . .

Jobs are opening up, a little bit here.

I've got several good prospects to apply for yet today and have already submitted my resume to a couple ahead of these this morning.

I know I have way too, too much 'stuff' to do right now but, the fact is that I just 'shut down' (other than reading through my assignments) -everything over the past weekend.

I think I pretty much had to.

I prayed alot and I focused on 'What's next?'

I should have fasted, along with the praying, perhaps, but I went with the self medication through chocolate chip cookie idea instead.

(I'll post the recipe at a later date - these have puddin' in the mix)

I mean, I was down to either taking 'a break' from EVERYTHING last week, or suicide... Guess which one I choose? (Insert more edgy laughter here: hahaha! Waves her fist wildly in the air!)

I mean, suicidal thoughts do not stand a chance in the face of ooie good chocolate chip cookies - do they? I fail to see how anyone could off themselves with a cookie in the house. Seriously.

(disclaimer: no worries please - I am oh, so kidding about the "S" word here)

... So, here I am - smack dab in the midst of the refiners fire (see previous post)

Loving... life, liberty, SPRING!, the good Lord above, you (for reading all the way down to here. lol) my studies (even though we are into economics right now), and the big unknown too - as in how is this all gonna play out and where is this taking me next?

"And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose. " -- Romans 8:28

I have a testimony that this is true, at least, it always has been for me!

Cheerios! (and much love) to all who pass this way...

D ~

I Need Some Comic Relief...

A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Refiner...

From my e-mail files...

This has circulated on the internet for sometime.

I found several versions on other's blogs and web pages, while browsing for some coolio image to post along with it here... and yes... I am posting it here as a reminder...to 'me'.

The Refiner’s Fire

Malachi 3:3 says:

'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: ‘He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it'.

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

If you feel prompted to pass this on right now, please do so! At this very moment, someone needs to know, or receive this reminder, that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end. The scriptures are full of His encouragements for us.

'Time and Life are kind of like coins. You can spend them anyway you wish, but you can only spend them once'.

(p.s. - The picture I posted is from this website featuring some creatively stylized, outdoor fire pits: www.appliancist.com/outdoor_fireplaces_fire_pits/)

~

Looks like I better be looking...NOW!

Ah what a day!

Woke up sick (feeling better now, thanks!), the glorious, spring temps & weather are helping that, but..., just a little bit ago... (2 hours - maybe?) I was 'served' with an eviction notice.

Not because I've been a bad renter, mind you - not at all.

It's because the property owners want to sell - and I occupy the house.
'The house' is the best asset on the property, which would be most reasonably subjected to a quick renovation for said owner(s) to spruce up to get the property ready to sell out at the best, optimal price point -or- for one of them to take possession of.

I've got 2 options.
One realistic, and one fanciful.
Realistic option is: find a 'new place' pronto & quickly move out... so... (guess you all know what I will be doing these next 4 weeks! Packing up and apartment hunting!)

One thing is certain:
This shall be
A memorible 'leap day' for me, for sure!
.
.
.
OH! I almost forgot,
Fanciful option: Win the lottery, and buy the flippin' property for myself, and use it to make a few other dreams come true!!!
lol...
I'm off to check the local classified ads for 'rentals'...

Cheerios2 all of you - Have a great weekend!

Motivational Theory

I found this cartoon while searching the internet for info...

Class tonight.

I thought the teacher announced at the end of the last group project that there'd be no more group projects??? (yup. I typed that with a bit of whine running in m' fingers.)

Now... here I am working with others on yet another...group project.

(At least all the 'others' are guys. I'm the sole girl in the group, so maybe I should take back the whine and enjoy - A?)

Our topic: Motivational Theory.

(Hence the cartoon, I found - Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

So far we've decided to go with a brief opening in what it is, note some adaptations of theory not mentioned in our text books, then start tying everything back to practicle application in the workplace.

"Z" is taking it back to goal setting and employee recognition programs

"J" is looking into the positive and negative impacts MT may have on creativity and innovation

"D" [me!] is looking into the art of persuation, the diversity challenge and pulling out an assessment (to use as a handout for our presentation) along the lines of "What motivates YOU?"

(not alot can constructively happen until we know the answer to that question people!)

"B" was 'absent' tonight - so we're waiting with baited breath for his imput now...

So tell me... what DOES motivate you? =)

News:it's gonna be a boy (maybe)

I have not posted any meaningful updates for a while now.
I thought it was about time to do some catch-ups.
The big news at Christmas time in my family was that my brother and his wife are expecting another baby - due sometime in June.
The big news this month is that they've had an ultra sound and it is lookin' like a boy! yea!
That would mean that I am 5 out of 6 right in correct gender guessing my nieces and nephews - those that I could guess on anyways. The little hummingbird, came to us in a 2fer deal when her Momma married the Rock. ... and so the only one I have guessed wrong on so far, has been her baby sister (the one that just celebrated her 2nd birthday, end of January) - I was saying a boy for her as well. =)
I made a little neckless for her for Valentine's day and a Pin for her older sister. Those 2 really seemed to like them. Made me happy when they put them right on... even happier when, I tried to get the little one to give the neckless back, so I could look at one of the charms I'd put on it and she dodged me, with a shy smile and doubter's look - not wanting to relinquish the new trinket - at all.
Hehehee.
Love them kids.
Love those I teach in Sunday school too.
Yesterday, I had them set up an obsticle course then I made them say their prayers, just before and I blindfolded the lot of them!
Heheehee. I rather liked tying them up!
Then I sent them through the obsticle course they just made.
They were supposed to listen to me to be able to make it through - unscathed. (as you can well imagine some were better at this than others!)
I got 2 of them through everything then stopped and told them all the game was changing. That they were still going to have to listen only to me to make it through, but that the other 2 were gonna be telling them to do stuff to... only I wasn't gonna be talking as loud as they were.
Yep.
It got rather interesting at that point.
=)
and...
yes.
I eventually untied all of the children (de-blindfolded them) and we read some stories out of the scriptures.
We do a game with that too, every time I stop reading they have to say the next thing, and every time 'God' or 'Jesus' is speaking to someone - that's their part too.
I had to supress a laugh the first time I planned this out with them, and all the boys in the class responded by dropping their vioces down to as deep a pitch as what they possibly could to read those parts... lol! Kids!
;-)

Love Is ... Inscribed

There we have it.
I week's worth of 'Love Is...' posts to honor what love really is, and to mark Valentine's Day... which to me, and from what I know of it's origin, is an extention of what I posted of at Christmas time: The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of pure love.
'We', as in the collective, societal 'we' have 1st endeavored to celebrate Valentine's Day in tribute to a saint's reciprocal, altruistic, pure love - given without thought of personal gain, because he had 1st been transformed by a spirit of pure love in his life and was 'playing it forward'.
He was a condemed man and yet... his chairity (pure love) lives on - every February the 14th.
Whether you know the original story of Valentine's day, or not -
even those that would 'play' at love,
tip their hearts this way,
His way,
on Valentine's day.
ViVa Love!

Love Is ... Heartsong

Who doesn't have certain songs that remind them of special loves and those affairs that played out into that particular relationship or romance?
I remember trying to console an old roommate once upon a long time ago - (it was a 3's compnay situation, 1 Dorko co-habitating with a Bevus and a Butthead...) - anywho...
I said to the Butthead, "Here, let me put on some music! It'll help you to forget about that little old broken heart of yours... "
I'd go to pull out a CD...
"No!" He'd say,"That one reminds me of (insert random girl name here)."
I'd say, "er,... ok... we'll put on this one." (pulling out another CD)
"No!" He'd say, "That one reminds me of (insert randome girl name here)."
This little game went 6 or 7 rounds.
Who knew Butthead was such a romeo?
I finally settled on a brand new release, which, yes, reminded him of the current heartbreaker!
*sighs*
(yeah. I gave up trying to cheer up the Butthead)
When I'm not dating, I listen to the classical stations... something I never do with a "date".
I find it's great background music to whatever I'm doing at home and there's no lovelorn reminders sown into it, for me.
.
Still, like my 'Butthead' friend, I have quite the collection of songs - which remind me of special people.
.
What about you?

Love Is... A Moment...

... that lasts forever.

We 'forget' a multitude of things over the course of our life times, yet we will always remember, (and cherish!) those special times when we felt the 'love.'

Love Is... Kind

I found this on an image serch and happily saw it was part of a "slide show" set up.

You can see it here: Love

Love is...

Love is ... messy!

(butt... only if you're doin' it righ)

Origami Heart - Wiki How to

This was an interesting tutorial... on how to make an origami heart

Love is...

Love is... daring!
(maybe they're just holding on to each other for dear life!!!)
;-)

Cherry Nut Bars

My Father used to love this recipe...
I made it for yesterday's Pot Luck @ church.
The stake Patriarch told me that he really liked it!
So... while I'm fixin' on mailing him out a copy I thought I'd throw it up here too.
These things are 'OH MY GOLLY' good...

Cherry Nut Bars Preheat oven to 350°
Ingredients:
1- packaged white cake mix
2- egg whites
H2O
Salad oil
1- jar maraschino cherries
chopped walnuts

Assemble ingredients, in a large mixing bowl in the following amounts and order:

2 Egg whites – slightly beaten
2 T Maraschino Cherry juice
6 T H2O
4 T Oil
1 pkg White Cake Mix
Mixture will be thick; mix thoroughly and stir in:
½ C drained, chopped maraschino cherries
½ C sparsely chopped walnuts

Spray 9x13” pan with cooking spray and pour in batter – spread out to edges of pan. Bake in a regular oven at 350°, for 15-20 minutes, or until it passes the toothpick test.

Butter Cream Cheese Frosting
(you will have icing left over – this makes enough for a double recipe of Cherry Nut Bars)

1 stick (room temp) butter
1 8 oz (room temp) brick of cream cheese
Cream together with electric mixer until fluffy. Slowly add:
2 lb powder sugar
2 pinches of salt
2-4 T maraschino cherry juice to moisten while mixing

If frosting doesn’t seem fluffy enough add 2-3 generous spoons of Crisco for structure and volume – be sure to thoroughly mix this in and add:
1 generous tsp. of vanilla just before finishing mixing

Note: There is usually more than ½ C maraschino cherries in a jar – I disregard the ½ C measurement and use them all in the bars. You could follow suit, or, use the extras to top off the frosting along with a sprinkling of finely chopped walnuts.

Love is.... Lonely

Today would have been my Father's 30 wedding anniversary... had he lived to realize it.
Today my thoughts are with him, in spirit, and with the sweethearts that he left behind...

Wiki-"How To" of the Day: Romance Tutorial

How To Be Romantic
What "being romantic" means varies widely from person to person, but at its core, romance involves doing something to express affection in a meaningful yet unexpected way. A true act of romance requires creativity and sincerity, often inspired by love (either its presence or its possibility). While harboring affection for someone might be easy, translating it into romance usually is not. There are millions of romantic ideas in books, movies and on the Internet, but true romance comes from within. Here's how to get in touch with your inner romantic.
Read more... here

Real Love...

"Real love is always fated.

It has been arranged before time.

It is the most meticulously prepared of coincidences.

And fate, of course, is simply a secular term for the will of God, and coincidence for His grace."

Joshua Harris ~