Baking Mood

Got up real early this morning and decided to fix some cookies. I found the oatmeal recipe that my mom always used. I tweaked it some and added my own touches. I added a little almond flavoring because I could not find any nuts. I was sure I had some, but searching the cabinet did not produce any. So the almond flavoring will have to do.
Here is the mixture with some raisins.
It really doesn't look the yummiest does it? raw oatmeal cookie dough.

So instead of making them as drop cookies, I ended up putting them into a cake pan. I figured it would be easier and faster and still be good. Here they are ready to go into the oven.

I ended up making two batches, one with raisins and one without. Now are you ready? Here is the finished product. Yummy!!!

While the oven was nice and warm I decided to make pizza. Do you remember those little round pizzzas that the schools used to serve for lunch. take a hamburger bun as the crust and add the toppings then toast? Well, I kind of did that. I took a loaf of french bread, sliced it in half, added sauce, then hamburger, then shredded cheese and baked/toasted in the oven. I used hot dog sauce as the sauce for the pizza. It gives it a different type of flavor, but so good. Now I have lunches for the next couple days. Yummy lunches!! Love me some pizza.

And now there is chicken baking in the oven. I found a good deal on some boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I ended up buying extra so put them in the freezer. The rest is now baking in the oven. They should almost be done. Smells yummy.

I am not sure why I am such a baking/cooking mood this morning. However, I work the next few days so having this ready will be a good thing.

And before I close this post, I need to say Thank you Lord for the bounty you have provided.

Have a great day!

Seasons Change

Seasons are changing.
Fall is here.
The trees are decked out in gorgeous colors. This leaf blew into the front yard from a neighbor's tree. It was so unique that I just had to take a pic of it. See the dark green veins shining through the orange color? Exquisite isn't it?


this is a tree from the backyard. Pretty with all the orange, red, brown colors against some greenery that is still showing on some of the trees.

Sunset a couple nights ago. This is looking out across the road. The tree just seems to radiate light doesn't it?

It is so hard to believe that October is almost over and soon it will be November, then December, then 2011. Unbelievable, where has time went?

This section of classes are almost over. I am holding at a low A in each class, so if my test scores do not drop me then I should make it with an A. If not at least I will have a B. Both grades are passing so that is what matters. I have next week off from school and then a Nursing class starts. It seemed weird not having homework to do today.

So instead I watched tv and colored digi stamps. I have quite a few done and now will have to decide what I want to do with them. Right now they are in a container for later use.

I have been up since 0200 so will probably head to bed for awhile. I am off tonight so will more than likely be up most of the night as usual. I am thinking that I might make some cookies later. It is suppose to get cold again tonight and having the oven running will warm things up here. I can take the cookies to work with me so at least I won't have them all here at the house tempting me. I want to fix a pizza so I will have that for lunches for a few days. I do love pizza.

How do you spell Relief?

Right now I am spelling it as yeah the classes are almost done. This is the last week of my first two classes online for my BSN. They have been filled with many trials. It has been hard to learn the system, to find and prioritize my time in order to get everything done, and to learn to study all over again. I have been out of school since 1994 so this has been an experience.
My vacation is almost over. I return to work Tuesday night. As for finishing classes, the majority of the work is done. Just a few more little things to be done this week and viola they will be done. I figure I will end the classes with a high B, so I am happy. I would be happier if I was looking at an A but a B is good. right? It is passing and that is the main thing that matters.

I have learned more about politics than I ever wanted to know. I am taking the course through another state so had to take a class on their state's political system. One thing I will say is that it has made me more aware of the political situation in my own state. I tend to be passive where politics are concerned. Will this make me change? I do not know, but I do know it has made me more aware of why and how things happen in the political scene.

Another thing I have learned is how valuable friends are. I have a friend who is going through this with me and she has been a lifesaver in so many ways. I so appreciate her! If I am struggling and ready to give up, I can call her, she listens, then she helps me get back on track. Thanks Cathy, I know I could not have made it through these past few weeks without you.
My niece has been a great help too. I know many times she has been there to help me out - mainly by being there for me to bounce things off of or just listening to me sound off. She has been my other major source of support through all this. Here's hoping I can return the favor someday.

As for the future? I know there are many more classes to go. There are many more problems to face. Time will still be a problem for me. However, I know with God's help and the support of friends, it can be done and I will succeed!

In the Fire

My life has been so busy these past few weeks.
I started online classes for my BSN on Sept 27th. Let me tell you, I have been out of school for too long. These classes are kicking my butt!! Between working full-time, extra meetings for work, and schoolwork - there is just not enough hours in the day.

The attacks on my mind, spirit, and body were severe. I was so stressed and tired that my mind was foggy, my brain was not working, and I had trouble even doing the simplest things. I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. The stress built, and built, and built until by the end of the first two weeks of classes, I told someone I could not take much more, that I felt like I was in the fire and being consumed.

And just when I thought I could take it no longer, that my grip on the rope holding me up was slipping, just then...I received an email from a friend/co-worker. It included the following story (paraphrased) and scripture:

Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.

The story talks about a lady watching a silversmith refining silver. He has to keep it directly in the center, the hottest part of the fire. He has to watch it all the time and remove it at just the right moment. And He knows just when it is done because he sees his image in it.

I read that and just started laughing. It so hit home. I had mentioned being in the fire and being consumed. The fact was, I had been in the fire, but I was not consumed. I was being refined. I was being watched every minute and at just the right moment I was removed. Even though I did not think I could handle much more, God knew just when I needed to be removed from the midst of the fire.

That knowledge was a turning point for me. The severe oppression, depression, overwhelming feelings of worthlessness, and I Can't Take Much More so I should just quit - those feelings left!

As for school, I have a B in one class and an A in the other with 2 1/2 more weeks to go. I can only say I made it this far with God's help and I am depending on him to help me the rest of the way.

This past weekend started off good. I got off work at 0730 Saturday morning and was on vacation!! Monday morning, I started feeling weird and by Monday evening I was sick. I had lots of complaints: abdominal soreness, headache, nausea, heartburn, loss of appetite, and extreme tiredness. I could hardly hold my head up, so I slept and slept and slept. Right now it is almost 0400 on Wed morning, I am starting to feel somewhat better. I am hoping it continues and the rest of my vacation is illness free. I have so much I want to do, but I know the majority of my time will be focused on school.