tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27092439662472743552024-03-09T21:46:16.200-05:00The Spice of LifeA column, some food, and a few books mixed together with a healthy pinch of daily livingJodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.comBlogger433125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-67320024230246357312023-11-21T09:11:00.000-05:002023-11-21T09:11:56.008-05:00Heat Day 2023<p> I am popping in here to announce that today is the official Heat Day 2023! </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WS_FylEcHPmA-8AonD2SWNC3YUb7fBagSi70bjUPOAl7VNQTdywfP6xYqSWvVOXrzBGv_gom5Qwo8t23WP7U4B6qND_7bISVDKyDRakOUZzaz42jJZKzBFtjmzVtVvefz6e0aua_BC4XIZF5V56K1B3QODNfZmAlurdG7gxAmdem5rN2zIF23aTp/s3264/IMG_2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WS_FylEcHPmA-8AonD2SWNC3YUb7fBagSi70bjUPOAl7VNQTdywfP6xYqSWvVOXrzBGv_gom5Qwo8t23WP7U4B6qND_7bISVDKyDRakOUZzaz42jJZKzBFtjmzVtVvefz6e0aua_BC4XIZF5V56K1B3QODNfZmAlurdG7gxAmdem5rN2zIF23aTp/w300-h400/IMG_2029.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture is from yesterday morning when we actually decided to turn on the heat.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But Heat Day isn't simple anymore, so allow me to offer some clarifications.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since my father moved in, we have not allowed him to freeze. His room has its own heater, and so does my son's room. Both of these heaters are in the addition to our home on the north (and cold!) side of the house. Their heaters have been in operation, off and on, for a little while now. That heat doesn't seem to have too much of an effect in the main house. Or at least I don't think so.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, we did have to turn the heat on earlier one day when the furnace repair fellow came to service the furnace. We turned it back off as soon as he was done. So this doesn't count for the heat game either.</div><div><br /></div><div>AND yesterday morning was the day we turned the heat on, BUT the furnace didn't actually kick on until around 6 a. m. today because we had the temperature set low. I am not planning on turning the heat up yet because there will be much baking the next few days. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is still not <a href="https://spiceoflifemom.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-heat-is-on.html" target="_blank">the record</a>, but it was a more than respectable performance this year, don't you think?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-69214538536184163812023-10-23T20:24:00.000-04:002023-10-23T20:24:27.653-04:00Multigenerational Ken<p> Growing up, my favorite toys were Barbie dolls. My daughters play with my dolls (at least the ones that are still functional) plus their own. This evening we had an interesting discussion over supper about Barbies (because the girls were successful in getting their brothers to play with them).</p><p>This is what I learned:</p><p>These are the dolls I called (from left to right) Derek (of Barbie and the Rockers fame), Dad (from the Heart family), nothing (because this doll didn't belong to me-- it's new-vintage for my youngest), and Ken. You can see I was not at all creative with my naming. I stayed with the name on the package usually.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrdok6Gj3npIzji5iBLRtQvBFY2m9AVaVY0R_gO8oEyRHbEfcuplLltvvf3RfA2nMG6Ce9pZezuehXdjPCg5t-Ny8lFH8wUzi9WhXWPiYbrET5gciKQT8zpV2fTYWXv6j9_R9JKIAn4I966__LbhJ1UUIvGHKPDTJdq130RMTtMefFfK3OrwzZIm5/s3076/IMG_1969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="3076" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrdok6Gj3npIzji5iBLRtQvBFY2m9AVaVY0R_gO8oEyRHbEfcuplLltvvf3RfA2nMG6Ce9pZezuehXdjPCg5t-Ny8lFH8wUzi9WhXWPiYbrET5gciKQT8zpV2fTYWXv6j9_R9JKIAn4I966__LbhJ1UUIvGHKPDTJdq130RMTtMefFfK3OrwzZIm5/w400-h217/IMG_1969.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My daughters, however, have named the gentlemen (from left to right) John (the one whose head is detached and who gets shoved under the bed), Ken, Joseph, and Fred (the antagonist).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those of you who feel bad for Fred the Antagonist, I have been assured that he isn't always the antagonist. It's just that if there is an antagonist when they are playing, he is it. They tell me to think of him as an evil businessman.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And there you have it. Generational differences.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-53668876791910596652023-07-01T21:05:00.000-04:002023-07-01T21:05:06.573-04:00Missing Cakes, Part Two<p>Just a few more imperfect birthday desserts. . . with some commentary.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12lmyf3I6UWSY5YDctqKqLGA6m2VZqqbEeiE2Jz9uYog-3AcPaqRUV-HAzNhWY4WjMD_73BNvWyWG1K1x24raPgLDgqfc_r1iXf3IZGOsVDvOv8SjvubHdzEuSCU8QC8qoY6vajuQWaEUb6WgaUSjHvXsgtUUbVF3n6CfUKmR8cpbReF4Dyc76ITj/s3872/DSC02089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12lmyf3I6UWSY5YDctqKqLGA6m2VZqqbEeiE2Jz9uYog-3AcPaqRUV-HAzNhWY4WjMD_73BNvWyWG1K1x24raPgLDgqfc_r1iXf3IZGOsVDvOv8SjvubHdzEuSCU8QC8qoY6vajuQWaEUb6WgaUSjHvXsgtUUbVF3n6CfUKmR8cpbReF4Dyc76ITj/w400-h268/DSC02089.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My (poor) attempt at Lord Baltimore cake. Next year: Dark Lord Baltimore cake!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0hkdCi5M59YEPMY81P6aggbLSSUaTVs07KPGiK0D60clDFIVsDgyIxZ6eIRhmk4NcU97ztdlFPxP-t6YSWJAC_ONlVJLCoS_7bcjntYkjznjEKwW52bteQ3i9PU-tQPi_LSIvuSRW5UnAV8POvkLOYiA1TnMZ0h4vaZ5mjdZgKf63tmYIo8-cIiN/s3872/DSC02565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0hkdCi5M59YEPMY81P6aggbLSSUaTVs07KPGiK0D60clDFIVsDgyIxZ6eIRhmk4NcU97ztdlFPxP-t6YSWJAC_ONlVJLCoS_7bcjntYkjznjEKwW52bteQ3i9PU-tQPi_LSIvuSRW5UnAV8POvkLOYiA1TnMZ0h4vaZ5mjdZgKf63tmYIo8-cIiN/w400-h268/DSC02565.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banjo birthday</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DUFTO3MNHp79eIfwZerwihb1eOUA1lvWlJk0quohV6u-oYE_m-qAmUQIdtNOk9VNL5gsvD6aMSkV3NCgWJd4_l8hMfkSPgMbyYj_uRZ4U64nqQjN9sh9pwkY3aYzQ8vryMS-F2LVP22PIIdkCsdMs64y4BMS-8_GoD_mYhxDsyyPrv1tiTwG_UMe/s3264/IMG_1366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DUFTO3MNHp79eIfwZerwihb1eOUA1lvWlJk0quohV6u-oYE_m-qAmUQIdtNOk9VNL5gsvD6aMSkV3NCgWJd4_l8hMfkSPgMbyYj_uRZ4U64nqQjN9sh9pwkY3aYzQ8vryMS-F2LVP22PIIdkCsdMs64y4BMS-8_GoD_mYhxDsyyPrv1tiTwG_UMe/w300-h400/IMG_1366.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All lemon, all the time!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnC8nuPnID0SqLu1SvmU6MSPNGRDJOjNxoN7OPAHPPqONmvsoKJBDZcBTSKlP6gV0z41ZJx2JaSeniflS9JSd90ux_eVx2XvwyYdjkRiwpA52cn_ld3AoHl73MigadlqypKbRkycFg_qQgWmvAuE4gOGr48bKLuLMltVTpJ5UCQcSx3zezbcUByw1/s3264/IMG_4699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnC8nuPnID0SqLu1SvmU6MSPNGRDJOjNxoN7OPAHPPqONmvsoKJBDZcBTSKlP6gV0z41ZJx2JaSeniflS9JSd90ux_eVx2XvwyYdjkRiwpA52cn_ld3AoHl73MigadlqypKbRkycFg_qQgWmvAuE4gOGr48bKLuLMltVTpJ5UCQcSx3zezbcUByw1/w400-h300/IMG_4699.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this is the 3rd or 4th zebra ice cream cake for the child.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLrkw8j-QOGcMNz_rqLAaZU0lVOmD3j4OCulpFRBegpI5d-vR6BhmTR0JN2m0Qof8zsgHGEyZLR8FNj8ZPhCpodsEKsb-oeQQGKjzGFC6ACboQBwdZba824sicKnzaqXY8zpw7GwoaUGmjeIQOSbT7rhqcl0AHsPNwBfJ_xWI5xUkBX7MV9_-46JW/s3264/IMG_6658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLrkw8j-QOGcMNz_rqLAaZU0lVOmD3j4OCulpFRBegpI5d-vR6BhmTR0JN2m0Qof8zsgHGEyZLR8FNj8ZPhCpodsEKsb-oeQQGKjzGFC6ACboQBwdZba824sicKnzaqXY8zpw7GwoaUGmjeIQOSbT7rhqcl0AHsPNwBfJ_xWI5xUkBX7MV9_-46JW/w400-h300/IMG_6658.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We played around with royal icing to make hard decorations.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5EYhFM52suWPeQcN1FZsn-aaV9J6KlrKMsTW8eSd-dQUh7S-fcEIFaQZd8iReQFloUCvE3yA0qy7hZ7aRk1votyehrgYGzaVX5wFW1vGZro9cTDV9ui61CMy7VbdkJU8iCV3bYj-Ndz9ho6FWprytv97UPEYQi5rXMWYZUanvFwy80Kc8X0FD6IF/s4032/IMG_7131.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5EYhFM52suWPeQcN1FZsn-aaV9J6KlrKMsTW8eSd-dQUh7S-fcEIFaQZd8iReQFloUCvE3yA0qy7hZ7aRk1votyehrgYGzaVX5wFW1vGZro9cTDV9ui61CMy7VbdkJU8iCV3bYj-Ndz9ho6FWprytv97UPEYQi5rXMWYZUanvFwy80Kc8X0FD6IF/w300-h400/IMG_7131.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Store-bought (on vacation)</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NnGol5L1YBH1m6SBdljUBBt8TD6w22uDrWReCapMvXO6UsdQRvkjBEG_LVtPvY1KRgGJ6KUcxdQqRqN_ADnXOk6YpfvGAdy3ADDVBBSZ3-OzPty5ycS-xu9PW1K-5GbLX34cGF24pFKRm0iJ2rlt4TJDkQkl94XPZ9gO0JTqyekFHkOOntt0QKjg/s3264/IMG_7225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_NnGol5L1YBH1m6SBdljUBBt8TD6w22uDrWReCapMvXO6UsdQRvkjBEG_LVtPvY1KRgGJ6KUcxdQqRqN_ADnXOk6YpfvGAdy3ADDVBBSZ3-OzPty5ycS-xu9PW1K-5GbLX34cGF24pFKRm0iJ2rlt4TJDkQkl94XPZ9gO0JTqyekFHkOOntt0QKjg/w300-h400/IMG_7225.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brownies never disappoint, right?</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>And now I'm caught up with birthday "cakes."<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-57813419372804084762023-07-01T20:53:00.005-04:002023-07-01T20:53:41.501-04:00Missing Cakes, Part One<p> I don't give my blog much attention lately; I've decided it's more important to give the attention to my family. But I would like to continue posting occasionally. Some of my favorite types of posts are the ones that show the unprofessional and imperfect birthday cakes I make for my children. </p><p>(Remember: Kids can have happy birthdays without the perfection others show us online.)</p><p>It's been a couple of years that I've failed to post cake pictures, so I have many pictures. I'll break them up into a couple of posts. The funny thing I noted while looking through the forgotten pictures is that many of them aren't even cakes. And one birthday didn't even get a special dessert, so I didn't have a picture. And once I forgot entirely to photograph a birthday cake. Imperfect, indeed.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOwFg7GhJAu4SrI-lLQzwxLfRHuCiysvOQ17naYTrQMvHISy075amAECc17WiFUrWuEeHNdp1_I6W_rvTmn2eKZheULk5diROP1XHtDBaAneOsSo6lHVsX-GVvyg9jDPq9M1Kk9AB2OsBdSNTdIo9s5h1c3JLaWfyp_HnHf3WrwYfCsihPqN8NLZy/s3347/DSC00282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2362" data-original-width="3347" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOwFg7GhJAu4SrI-lLQzwxLfRHuCiysvOQ17naYTrQMvHISy075amAECc17WiFUrWuEeHNdp1_I6W_rvTmn2eKZheULk5diROP1XHtDBaAneOsSo6lHVsX-GVvyg9jDPq9M1Kk9AB2OsBdSNTdIo9s5h1c3JLaWfyp_HnHf3WrwYfCsihPqN8NLZy/w400-h283/DSC00282.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh strawberries are easy decorations.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hiyHW7ZuX1FpIFDNA7klsVI3tlZxr4GiyWz-AN66fRJnTPCCvcKoVjKAc1Lob6d2sw9zdAnJMAdxw7MT8XST4lNbr-mGM7hzvBMIIeGfnui_S3gZQ36J5HURFj_pNJQDlgRDS5aOkSIn2UsiiW7ssRW6-r0slg4i8njm8wOyIzL2V5iPGz1FR9zp/s3058/DSC00427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="3058" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hiyHW7ZuX1FpIFDNA7klsVI3tlZxr4GiyWz-AN66fRJnTPCCvcKoVjKAc1Lob6d2sw9zdAnJMAdxw7MT8XST4lNbr-mGM7hzvBMIIeGfnui_S3gZQ36J5HURFj_pNJQDlgRDS5aOkSIn2UsiiW7ssRW6-r0slg4i8njm8wOyIzL2V5iPGz1FR9zp/w400-h288/DSC00427.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German Chocolate</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx3yaEXOIbSgSfSX5ylxuRewfq7dDO7RQ3i_NXD-wwd_hejOwUJ5d8UmC5Fsz3IBebN3vVTC9IEP5rtDRlaFYWAoB3_kYN1l6nbemQlP8Wap-Yf8VjTCIkOquHIo9WpWSunMhmpKpMVTs3eMRAI-uXaGUU69MxSOrHmlCSecOw0uHaUbPS5byi9Po/s3872/DSC00713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTx3yaEXOIbSgSfSX5ylxuRewfq7dDO7RQ3i_NXD-wwd_hejOwUJ5d8UmC5Fsz3IBebN3vVTC9IEP5rtDRlaFYWAoB3_kYN1l6nbemQlP8Wap-Yf8VjTCIkOquHIo9WpWSunMhmpKpMVTs3eMRAI-uXaGUU69MxSOrHmlCSecOw0uHaUbPS5byi9Po/w400-h268/DSC00713.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Forest-- The Portal edition</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwNLoxjY-nBLFST-0Hzi6VVbhIYc2Z4Xv3raQ5SCwDzsvp_ruikNAzCtFPDKXJSN1sCE7BM-KJDp77g4_iwhNbx7I8cJQdgU24_dp8l2aVY1HATyRChkmqMB7dk-XCxxeVC9oNMtGBCB7DuIDSeGL2KnfWdmJP3M3TPuf7icThVAzO3Fn_p_uoukF/s3241/DSC00812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2533" data-original-width="3241" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwNLoxjY-nBLFST-0Hzi6VVbhIYc2Z4Xv3raQ5SCwDzsvp_ruikNAzCtFPDKXJSN1sCE7BM-KJDp77g4_iwhNbx7I8cJQdgU24_dp8l2aVY1HATyRChkmqMB7dk-XCxxeVC9oNMtGBCB7DuIDSeGL2KnfWdmJP3M3TPuf7icThVAzO3Fn_p_uoukF/w400-h313/DSC00812.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another construction cake</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCNalKJzmjFNFkwsMCOz7FfTw1zQCpXZD6StSwg8gw5Y6BcFcw-pvmTnAgZvwuOj5PkdmzAbisHoTWaUrGZEapoNJ0kJFQWutkSxtRWBd8tCPXttDCuFXLRN0QI7t5K7kthkFHdBreKbUqfzHBLzpGxvcOt81pi6vnGloZ7YGUdeWdfGUdCvto3GW/s3872/DSC00899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCNalKJzmjFNFkwsMCOz7FfTw1zQCpXZD6StSwg8gw5Y6BcFcw-pvmTnAgZvwuOj5PkdmzAbisHoTWaUrGZEapoNJ0kJFQWutkSxtRWBd8tCPXttDCuFXLRN0QI7t5K7kthkFHdBreKbUqfzHBLzpGxvcOt81pi6vnGloZ7YGUdeWdfGUdCvto3GW/w400-h268/DSC00899.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas-themed cake</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwllsaWXdBvePFzWl3pe-dxC_pnVa_6XK5bnbl23TNIWg1hbe52lgIB6vW8jx3QBzXYW1I7_aNB2XPqbySHzAUfZlEsEzqzWQyBWxVjAQUZlVbvAMIndMIr6OpVsZJ4GmdC632EJLXeGE6wI0obV-0QOijfzmlkbO1sz4JQbm6Qhr078mg1HfYb4Xx/s3140/DSC02051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="3140" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwllsaWXdBvePFzWl3pe-dxC_pnVa_6XK5bnbl23TNIWg1hbe52lgIB6vW8jx3QBzXYW1I7_aNB2XPqbySHzAUfZlEsEzqzWQyBWxVjAQUZlVbvAMIndMIr6OpVsZJ4GmdC632EJLXeGE6wI0obV-0QOijfzmlkbO1sz4JQbm6Qhr078mg1HfYb4Xx/w400-h272/DSC02051.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This child loves her zebra ice cream cakes!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-33960384290110523582023-02-21T13:27:00.000-05:002023-02-21T13:27:07.435-05:00Theme Party<p>My son is far away for his first year of college, but I'm thankful for the technology that keeps us connected. </p><p>I woke up today to this little gem, an insight into his college life.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvNob0GTAvHhgoAuW4TVJ8soR0HYvUOcxaO3W95hLGTv4m3gMSDIFRH187vFwXxueEE3HI40JL-5JYqu_FehExSC-emjmUsfg6Om-c8rT3zbL8BfwmNk_dzKTrhdmX823tu60av9vQOmvXtbmMmeZsPRov6cfk_iT69klp7eVP3cZMYlCKLgf9g/s4032/IMG_1843.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvNob0GTAvHhgoAuW4TVJ8soR0HYvUOcxaO3W95hLGTv4m3gMSDIFRH187vFwXxueEE3HI40JL-5JYqu_FehExSC-emjmUsfg6Om-c8rT3zbL8BfwmNk_dzKTrhdmX823tu60av9vQOmvXtbmMmeZsPRov6cfk_iT69klp7eVP3cZMYlCKLgf9g/w400-h300/IMG_1843.heic" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The boy remembers his mother's literary heart.</div><br /><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-8249789211678980092022-12-06T07:28:00.000-05:002022-12-06T07:28:31.396-05:00More Amigurumi!<p> In a June post, I shared with you that my 13-year-old daughter entered a crochet design contest. She didn't win, but that didn't stop her from designing more for another contest. Once again, she would appreciate all the votes she can garner because she would really love to win the prize yarn.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">You can vote <a href="https://www.amigurumi.com/designcontest/vote/#" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">You will be asked to select your 10 favorite designs and enter your email to ensure no double voting. You can see her fantasy creature designs in the pictures below. This time she created 6 (!) patterns. (Yes, November was a productive month for her; she also took part in NaNoWriMo.) </p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">Thank you in advance if you have time to help her out. Also, there are some other really cute designs entered you'll need to choose from; have fun!</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACWWepfx2juvhAuDhMOmHYCH8StpRcZfAfMsKgjxBa4rn2PvpNG-t8wo3Xj3eNImUcP8vzYw5skGBFmVrqZRDZ5fJ1izCGl4pCmHiTZ3eUvoCIhK3CVjGYa0u-eGTFh4sfvA284bcX0jhfz9pEZ7EDoz1GKJ4BxrPU-scwQHqrC1H4imdQlZOqw/s3232/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3232" data-original-width="2979" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACWWepfx2juvhAuDhMOmHYCH8StpRcZfAfMsKgjxBa4rn2PvpNG-t8wo3Xj3eNImUcP8vzYw5skGBFmVrqZRDZ5fJ1izCGl4pCmHiTZ3eUvoCIhK3CVjGYa0u-eGTFh4sfvA284bcX0jhfz9pEZ7EDoz1GKJ4BxrPU-scwQHqrC1H4imdQlZOqw/w369-h400/IMG_1042.JPG" width="369" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A goblin</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57LSxonKB71k6nWA0tOnl3xkpI7NI9wFSkOyUMc6UBUtsWDTzx3BhZxLoeeG2-wXEE7502tRz4bgfRg4-s_4wBvJfXPG6SYiOHKczHlsI59qK9jvNJTNiYpSncTV__oM3okjP-b1BZz6Ksx9gNRYBatkP2MWcw0F700Xf1QnC11WrL17KDLGMjQ/s4032/IMG_1049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57LSxonKB71k6nWA0tOnl3xkpI7NI9wFSkOyUMc6UBUtsWDTzx3BhZxLoeeG2-wXEE7502tRz4bgfRg4-s_4wBvJfXPG6SYiOHKczHlsI59qK9jvNJTNiYpSncTV__oM3okjP-b1BZz6Ksx9gNRYBatkP2MWcw0F700Xf1QnC11WrL17KDLGMjQ/w300-h400/IMG_1049.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medusa the Gorgon</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxnn-RkezLjefTojZ2S45OytJlN4eVUCJFxyDcHLJwbpJwK-27sFRFdR-VimpYliyL2w4BXk5AnyhYEHS_CyueGsC18oCLPR4Um1nRm5vEqUrt-9UHQoPSoSbDsD8wyMXwSx6J_bBs7k9jIExBIU9NFVWroal_OHYKcdPihAb4eEyFN-3hNmXtg/s4032/IMG_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxnn-RkezLjefTojZ2S45OytJlN4eVUCJFxyDcHLJwbpJwK-27sFRFdR-VimpYliyL2w4BXk5AnyhYEHS_CyueGsC18oCLPR4Um1nRm5vEqUrt-9UHQoPSoSbDsD8wyMXwSx6J_bBs7k9jIExBIU9NFVWroal_OHYKcdPihAb4eEyFN-3hNmXtg/w300-h400/IMG_1059.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A faun</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVot_bGwCYLyU-dQ1kDDlyp-3FLHPGU2vYjRT7hxf7JIe2Nzx6aam2k8MMk1v-xYMMw7PGfYnSobI0Ti64rDgkONl4aGxi6nJviWLh6R-4P150BKKAuZOeidV6CaCXZWuNRDz79opO9pi19hvwNBIrtWZSV-6cPrG78zBz7rX3f0PAohrZIII7zg/s3313/IMG_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3313" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVot_bGwCYLyU-dQ1kDDlyp-3FLHPGU2vYjRT7hxf7JIe2Nzx6aam2k8MMk1v-xYMMw7PGfYnSobI0Ti64rDgkONl4aGxi6nJviWLh6R-4P150BKKAuZOeidV6CaCXZWuNRDz79opO9pi19hvwNBIrtWZSV-6cPrG78zBz7rX3f0PAohrZIII7zg/w365-h400/IMG_1066.JPG" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A phoenix</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkG4HjSv045HLybLzqnRgHl2h5sQKaao-cfr0TgC60tVKAQl3R7eVl3DdrgQcN3FPRB52r45CBj2TcHkx9FmMXNT7JpxqtKQ6DSVq1fP1-b6WlUrIyI1a34dLWCpTtCDFVmY71qHZbyLUueWOSr-ByEB8k9u1gG2FlQuJ19-eCJyXeBRmQxDPfA/s3375/IMG_1068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3375" data-original-width="2958" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkG4HjSv045HLybLzqnRgHl2h5sQKaao-cfr0TgC60tVKAQl3R7eVl3DdrgQcN3FPRB52r45CBj2TcHkx9FmMXNT7JpxqtKQ6DSVq1fP1-b6WlUrIyI1a34dLWCpTtCDFVmY71qHZbyLUueWOSr-ByEB8k9u1gG2FlQuJ19-eCJyXeBRmQxDPfA/w350-h400/IMG_1068.JPG" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mothman</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZjzC82f-MAEP5nsBiTiGScSkNrfKRcnhtkKpaFYpb8ESujtx0euIixQm35I9xaKIpET8XK4YCLrSRFBIZqRY8rYjg8FlX2rckdIHZd12CEjCuYlinO3Kfi0hMbfstpwDSDTSVIhkZCzwrlGa2KjcZ8XOFO9i8aavwD3AF2BZAtKMn9aBkvFNhA/s4032/IMG_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZjzC82f-MAEP5nsBiTiGScSkNrfKRcnhtkKpaFYpb8ESujtx0euIixQm35I9xaKIpET8XK4YCLrSRFBIZqRY8rYjg8FlX2rckdIHZd12CEjCuYlinO3Kfi0hMbfstpwDSDTSVIhkZCzwrlGa2KjcZ8XOFO9i8aavwD3AF2BZAtKMn9aBkvFNhA/w400-h300/IMG_1079.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herman the Merman</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-6671851240409365862022-11-24T02:00:00.001-05:002022-11-24T02:00:00.145-05:00Thanksgiving Lyme Update<p>It's been 4 months since I last posted a Lyme update, and I have seen so much improvement. For starters, I still have no lingering Lyme symptoms, so that is a big, wonderful thing. I do, however, still have issues stemming from the facial paralysis that resulted from the Lyme infection. </p><p>What does that look like for me? Let's start with a few pictures.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mi89nLe0PK7VLoaKk6puJ8Qt4wFo85c5Fsf4I5co8gjSgwRR-mvwWMeKuOSSPtCZPhn4ZXoh2YVHLMl8k4ySgoz4smc0XMsyJQ_R2XfN7mYXwb5apdYIYQ2lASZsuVbQ3P-knd0O9XKwodPirwGqA7E0A11zlV5kc06mlYcGW4YBU8IWYe5epw/s2320/IMG_6539.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="2320" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mi89nLe0PK7VLoaKk6puJ8Qt4wFo85c5Fsf4I5co8gjSgwRR-mvwWMeKuOSSPtCZPhn4ZXoh2YVHLMl8k4ySgoz4smc0XMsyJQ_R2XfN7mYXwb5apdYIYQ2lASZsuVbQ3P-knd0O9XKwodPirwGqA7E0A11zlV5kc06mlYcGW4YBU8IWYe5epw/w400-h385/IMG_6539.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the last picture I have of my smile before paralysis.</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXyjmxPg2_zcUlkzmTO8KEWMGuffOHQmpxuvXbNE863nIge-g3y-v0fuYEdUU8ig7cLdSalUQ7fhbACGXX6e-2pRii_jHSfsvgvekcPXccxF1j47_NtLNSL5UAT8kKCI9fj0Yk76q0IC98ak4X10bnEjH2N4JUEIhtjpCVQb42HcaKY8HOHYM3Q/s1280/IMG_0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXyjmxPg2_zcUlkzmTO8KEWMGuffOHQmpxuvXbNE863nIge-g3y-v0fuYEdUU8ig7cLdSalUQ7fhbACGXX6e-2pRii_jHSfsvgvekcPXccxF1j47_NtLNSL5UAT8kKCI9fj0Yk76q0IC98ak4X10bnEjH2N4JUEIhtjpCVQb42HcaKY8HOHYM3Q/w300-h400/IMG_0354.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current smile</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>You can see that the right side of my smile doesn't quite work. BUT. This smile is more smile-ish than it was 4 months ago! (You can see that <a href="https://spiceoflifemom.blogspot.com/2022/07/not-loving-lyme.html">here</a>.) You can also see that the eye on the left side of my face is more droopy-- but this has nothing to do with paralysis; the paralysis on the right side of my eye decreased the right eye's normal droop. You can see that eyebrow is higher, too. The chin is also uneven.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrw6t09r6a7PoCwfZVxkl6EHNaUE-jYIf-MKKiXsESaHfnI2HEU57QP4imoYi_yp10mLw1RePUPJtEVlgGaQasa9salsiu7Xb-FW013zycjR-IxjVikR1-U6HKj7KhIkNQWeDVmriTyMNT1tQ4W-3KVaEnegodWKMpngkufSGLDJd8AieotUr6g/s1280/IMG_0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrw6t09r6a7PoCwfZVxkl6EHNaUE-jYIf-MKKiXsESaHfnI2HEU57QP4imoYi_yp10mLw1RePUPJtEVlgGaQasa9salsiu7Xb-FW013zycjR-IxjVikR1-U6HKj7KhIkNQWeDVmriTyMNT1tQ4W-3KVaEnegodWKMpngkufSGLDJd8AieotUr6g/w300-h400/IMG_0355.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current resting face--creepy.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>The real news over these last few months is that I have more function. Before I couldn't blink or close my eye without pushing it closed with my fingers. As time went on, I was able to close it while still lying in bed in the morning--but only once or twice a day. Now. . . <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPE85SKaHcllj110lSnybkZl5305Ysb1RB5wrGsTHrRiRR1dK8WY89m2N2wQnNjSW1p7tLtu_hKvBokEPbqMMDeh6HlY7yTQP33_08o0SZ1K5qRrn_6yNfupMEi_FfwmmjsV5wWOSWk_DZxB0RNERjPbc8FZQUvA-2HmCSVGHa-Yj4uiBMS-Bbw/s1280/IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPE85SKaHcllj110lSnybkZl5305Ysb1RB5wrGsTHrRiRR1dK8WY89m2N2wQnNjSW1p7tLtu_hKvBokEPbqMMDeh6HlY7yTQP33_08o0SZ1K5qRrn_6yNfupMEi_FfwmmjsV5wWOSWk_DZxB0RNERjPbc8FZQUvA-2HmCSVGHa-Yj4uiBMS-Bbw/w300-h400/IMG_0357.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can close my eye!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>It still doesn't function exactly normally when I close it, but it's a big improvement. I still cannot blink, but my husband says that when I try, the eye closes more than it used to. I can also wink now. 😉<div><br /></div><div>Another change is that I rarely need to use eye drops because now my eye produces an overabundance of tears. They call it crocodile tear syndrome, and, like not producing tears at all, it is an annoyance. BUT. At least my eye is now hydrated!</div><div><br /></div><div>When the weather turned colder, my acupuncture doctor told me to avoid the cold or cover my face up very well because the cold would be bad for my face. Boy, was she right! I'm finding that exposure to cold air increases muscle spasms on the right side of my face. </div><div><br /></div><div>It wasn't so many years ago in my house that right after lunch was nap time for the little ones. Guess what. Now it's nap time for me! After lunch, my children shoo me off to bed for a 40(ish) minute nap. Sleep and rest help nerves heal, and, boy, do my facial muscles get weak throughout the day. I must go to bed earlier at night most of the time, too; otherwise my facial muscles just sort of stop working very well. It becomes difficult to focus my eye, and there is general discomfort. BUT. It's not pain (as it was in the beginning)!</div><div><br /></div><div>So that's my update. From what I gather, facial paralysis caused by Lyme Disease doesn't get better quickly, and I don't really like that. </div><div><br /></div><div>BUT. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can be thankful that I am learning much-needed lessons in patience and self-care. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful that my life is such that I have the opportunity to do what I need to do for maximum recovery (nap and rest). </div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful for the progress-- slow, but steady. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful for my supportive family and friends.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful that I have a cozy home to enjoy even if I can't be outdoors much. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful I have wonderful doctors-- both our family doctor and the doctor who does my acupuncture. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful that I have enough function to do my daily tasks. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful that I am no longer in pain and that the antibiotics seemed to take care of the Lyme Disease. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am thankful for the prayers that have been offered on my behalf and for my God Whose steadfast love endures forever.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-1497039914525198672022-08-07T19:54:00.003-04:002022-08-07T19:54:50.296-04:00The Regency Ball<p> For the last two months, our family has been preparing for a Regency ball planned by my friend and fellow Jane Austen lover. </p><div>The whole Lyme Disease thing put a serious kink in costume sewing, but the children stepped up to the plate and learned some stitching skills since I couldn't. I should also add that I had two friends donate significant hours to help the kids with the sewing tasks. The last few days I was well enough to do some stitching myself. </div><div><br /></div><div>And the last few hours before we had to leave for the ball, I was hearing Mrs. Bennet's voice from my favorite <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> movie shrieking, "Make haste, make haste!" Even as we were driving, we were sewing buttons and hooks and eyes. The children went into the venue to help set up, and I sat in our van pinking seam allowances. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the end, the costumes weren't sewn perfectly, but I thought my crew looked quite handsome. And what's more, they had such a blast learning some challenging dances. Little has been talked about since the ball except for the ball. It seems our family wasn't the only one enthralled by the evening; plans are already being discussed for a winter ball. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07GC0GppWySp8-1Pf_CQCuEUFuD0mkMEDFxT87dMpsOAmqju3lKprWFcLrqlG8JNlCeh3meediacizDlYMgod52k_Vu7GdNN52NVeJXOdILQfBjBeXr1HEPxSZ30tpA9cuW5R-xu8wkjwLyXhMaaSgiRG3I4BQ41AvoAhqMPfwYvAV45FGT0zcw/s4032/IMG_6624.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07GC0GppWySp8-1Pf_CQCuEUFuD0mkMEDFxT87dMpsOAmqju3lKprWFcLrqlG8JNlCeh3meediacizDlYMgod52k_Vu7GdNN52NVeJXOdILQfBjBeXr1HEPxSZ30tpA9cuW5R-xu8wkjwLyXhMaaSgiRG3I4BQ41AvoAhqMPfwYvAV45FGT0zcw/w300-h400/IMG_6624.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crew</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4ZOvpnFUilybn3SgCaKIb-BC3VuTje_BoWdzy99CBv8IYEPFganrG91E6GZT_kSRRNlAOOl2Sy6wvG8nkSzmOmPpNwY5VhNBl7LOw4dGX83Ovmn3iubKu_CUihz4yz5xHE3u-HbKkv3EJ_Si7eztQ_5f7sTtcTy1R8dk-zFKKCp5En23KJOIvA/s4032/IMG_6635.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4ZOvpnFUilybn3SgCaKIb-BC3VuTje_BoWdzy99CBv8IYEPFganrG91E6GZT_kSRRNlAOOl2Sy6wvG8nkSzmOmPpNwY5VhNBl7LOw4dGX83Ovmn3iubKu_CUihz4yz5xHE3u-HbKkv3EJ_Si7eztQ_5f7sTtcTy1R8dk-zFKKCp5En23KJOIvA/w300-h400/IMG_6635.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea for all! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSH8tgCC8HcHnkHhefVBoja7CaPOCCsunDTr1G0PgJRxxFqo8bydT6Y0hibCdcK_AgM8u8s2dhVPlZIgXKtzKUN8FcjoM44cnXdszK1m68qZBwoTuqSFj2xWhI3cmNOEIQe9HWfrvf8uoZm1NhYCWBSCTAZH3b7sSoWzy1iLEgLw0p4ngJoyHjQ/s4032/IMG_6642.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSH8tgCC8HcHnkHhefVBoja7CaPOCCsunDTr1G0PgJRxxFqo8bydT6Y0hibCdcK_AgM8u8s2dhVPlZIgXKtzKUN8FcjoM44cnXdszK1m68qZBwoTuqSFj2xWhI3cmNOEIQe9HWfrvf8uoZm1NhYCWBSCTAZH3b7sSoWzy1iLEgLw0p4ngJoyHjQ/w300-h400/IMG_6642.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was an occasion to wear his great-great grandfather's pocket watch and chain. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only down side for me was my eye. I did dance the first few dances, but then the eye on the paralyzed side of my face became too tired? dry? uncomfortable! to stay open. And since the muscle that closes the eye doesn't work and the muscle that opens it does work (always if I open the other eye), I spent the rest of the ball sitting down with my eye patch on and with my eyes closed. I was still able to hear the dancers' feet get the hang of each new dance as it was taught. That was a neat experience!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWTEvkfgBKMoE7eJ4j8hL9xDzOI_Dvn1bpDaYrmVc3vsYqUcIK3dJgF0VFcFoOP3q710veY4dIaMnV6CMzrpgd2MzklZZkmMxvBuzaC5fD4DTLlAfIi27qPjGSmyriR02Ja0znL_dC6UH9D9QCyyN3nXkH_w6-3nFCRyVKi0_LANbRuHYWXSdZg/s4032/68143981721__C557646C-11C8-45F7-BC67-DE6F9868DE25.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWTEvkfgBKMoE7eJ4j8hL9xDzOI_Dvn1bpDaYrmVc3vsYqUcIK3dJgF0VFcFoOP3q710veY4dIaMnV6CMzrpgd2MzklZZkmMxvBuzaC5fD4DTLlAfIi27qPjGSmyriR02Ja0znL_dC6UH9D9QCyyN3nXkH_w6-3nFCRyVKi0_LANbRuHYWXSdZg/w300-h400/68143981721__C557646C-11C8-45F7-BC67-DE6F9868DE25.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I call this my faux-Regency/pirate look. I swear that is really a smile.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-63236761197579261852022-07-28T08:07:00.002-04:002022-07-28T08:07:13.862-04:00Lyme Update<p>Thank you to everybody who has been wishing me well and praying for me! </p><p>I wish I could say that I'm all better now, but I can't. I DO think that most of the symptoms from the Lyme Disease have resolved: no fever, chills, aches, etc.</p><p>However, the facial paralysis triggered by the Lyme is the most difficult part to deal with. I never imagined all the things that would be affected by half of my face not moving (though I should have since my nephew has a host of health issues because of his paralysis). Some of the things affected are:</p><p><b>My eyes:</b> My right eye doesn't blink. I can close it, but only partially. Enter a host of eye drops (the two boxes were samples from my eye doctor) to help keep my eye hydrated and protected. I have tried unsuccessfully to tape my eye shut at night. Also, my vision is often blurry in that eye. From what I read online, that's normal for this condition.</p><p><br /></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeDLP9LhH-JK9kCy-tSfsdkLBZ_BT6xIpLlq6LBAZlIacaWCdoUXb1bl8_Sleu6zIHfN7jEG9O6plUf_EpfL3UfdpzmgfSwQlMzog_IOs8mxaZuKwtIWKEFc58DS7h8kFJHXJ8XkY3FFggKnO-rreBUE22p037NyfM03R8kOCSgvUmHzQTzoDcg/s3264/IMG_6998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHeDLP9LhH-JK9kCy-tSfsdkLBZ_BT6xIpLlq6LBAZlIacaWCdoUXb1bl8_Sleu6zIHfN7jEG9O6plUf_EpfL3UfdpzmgfSwQlMzog_IOs8mxaZuKwtIWKEFc58DS7h8kFJHXJ8XkY3FFggKnO-rreBUE22p037NyfM03R8kOCSgvUmHzQTzoDcg/w400-h300/IMG_6998.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New additions to my bathroom counter</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p><br /></p><b>My mouth:</b> My tongue feels funny, and I can't taste on the front of my tongue. I can't use my muscles properly to move food around in my mouth, and I can't properly open my mouth to eat. This was interesting when I tried a sushi roll yesterday; I had to use a fork to cut each piece smaller. I prefer to use a small straw to drink; if I don't have a straw, I have to use my other hand to push my lip agains the edge of the cup so I don't dribble out everywhere. Cleaning food out of my right cheek is difficult, and spitting is impossible to do in a proper fashion. (Is there a proper way to spit?)<p></p><p>My speech is a little slurred, and I certainly can't whistle. </p><p><b>My ear:</b> My right ear is quite sensitive to sound. Sometimes sounds are a little distorted. </p><p><b>The big one is PAIN:</b> The right side of my face and neck and my right ear have a lot of nerve pain! Sometimes the pain is so bad that I can't sleep. The pain has sometimes caused me to despair. Yesterday I went to my doctor and she gave me some good recommendations for pain relief. </p><p>One was acupuncture, and I had my first appointment last evening. I was impressed by that doctor. She was very experienced and had an air about her that gave me much confidence. The treatment did relieve my pain for a time, but more importantly, when the needles were in, my mouth barely drooped. The doctor said that is a good sign. I suppose the muscles were responsive. Whether or not it foretells recovery, it at least gave me some hope. I have another appointment scheduled next week. (Also, for those who might be wondering, the acupuncture treatment was not uncomfortable.)</p><p>As I wait for further healing, I am trying to continue to rest, continue to take my medicine, and continue to try to eat well (a pot of nourishing and healing chicken broth will be made today). My friend cautioned me not to jump right into doing my work around the house again so that I can continue to heal. She is a wise friend, and I will follow her advice.</p><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-70990310594828803122022-07-27T20:43:00.005-04:002022-07-27T20:43:54.324-04:00I Don't Even. . . <p> Overheard:</p><p>"Mommy, I can lick my armpit!"</p><p>Words fail me.</p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-7973538929750549012022-07-18T21:04:00.000-04:002022-07-18T21:04:16.998-04:00Not Loving Lyme<p>Two weeks ago I was scrambling about trying to get costumes sewn for a Regency Ball. Now life is quite different. About a week ago it became very clear that the flu-like symptoms plus jaw pain I had been feeling for a couple days were not hormonal after all. After talking to my doctor, we decided what I was experiencing was likely Lyme Disease from an unseen tick bite. She called in a prescription, and I started the antibiotic right away.</p><p>The next day, we found the telltale sign-- the bull's-eye rash-- in a place I never would have seen that tiny, old tick! Later the headache pain was so bad that my husband took me to the emergency room where just about every test was performed-- from COVID to spinal tap to x-rays and beyond! The only test that showed bad stuff was the Lyme test. The nice staff gave me a bag of fluids and some pain medication which helped so I could sleep that night. I came home and slept. </p><p>Two days later, I started feeling some weird stuff going on in the right side of my face. Twitches. More pains. A little numbness. This was one Lyme symptom I really hoped would bypass me-- facial paralysis.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSchZCmKEuW4XKCrOY99nZ_7RoXvXD1cp17UAgOAWYlw7gCVqo-fynpXnTfp2TkDAIaAgUFewi55WX9CyTGsZpqI1ZNW-8xSBffFUDkS8_Ti_VXxj2fJvqRkWJ-YweiqzrRlkz0HsBXGOwZ_MOultVlMhjadJs_s8ZqhlzU7n0nGIWF4byWayWA/s1280/IMG_6969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSchZCmKEuW4XKCrOY99nZ_7RoXvXD1cp17UAgOAWYlw7gCVqo-fynpXnTfp2TkDAIaAgUFewi55WX9CyTGsZpqI1ZNW-8xSBffFUDkS8_Ti_VXxj2fJvqRkWJ-YweiqzrRlkz0HsBXGOwZ_MOultVlMhjadJs_s8ZqhlzU7n0nGIWF4byWayWA/w300-h400/IMG_6969.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 of facial paralysis</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>My eyes were not blinking normally, and I couldn't smile. Since then, the paralysis is worse. I can't make it look like a smile no matter how hard I try! (If you want to see me smile, cover up that droopy side of my face.)<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvjwjEzJVE3K9emYvL-0nCljtXZ22gDom6auXY9twu7sZ-qU1zZLl5--jlsM1An6tfR-rbme1dFB-o6qUwDkiXpFUHWShuVFu6UotdpiUDsqSPe-pjEmcyTu1q28lTXXCcb-tI9hYYvZSushKAr_T5DUplrlWc_JMxWQMecCao5znjk8_kpW1uQ/s1280/IMG_6987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvjwjEzJVE3K9emYvL-0nCljtXZ22gDom6auXY9twu7sZ-qU1zZLl5--jlsM1An6tfR-rbme1dFB-o6qUwDkiXpFUHWShuVFu6UotdpiUDsqSPe-pjEmcyTu1q28lTXXCcb-tI9hYYvZSushKAr_T5DUplrlWc_JMxWQMecCao5znjk8_kpW1uQ/w300-h400/IMG_6987.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today's "smile"--much droopier face!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The paralyzed right side of my face produces a good deal of nerve pain. Chewing is painful, talking is painful, lots of light and sound are painful. I'm learning new ways of eating and drinking. I'm trying not to frighten my children. I avoid laughing (because it hurts!). Brushing teeth is interesting. And talking is purely functional for necessities to my family, so if you call, please don't be offended if I can't talk. I'm sorry that the children don't always give out good information, so I'll try to post updates from time to time. BUT looking at screens for very long isn't easy, and did I mention it's nearly impossible for me to read, too?</div><div><br /></div><div>So what have I been up to? Well, I'm pretty tired most of the time, so I'm usually in my darkened bedroom sleeping or just resting away from sound and light. I also slowly eat my (often ground into mush) meals with a baby spoon so my antibiotics won't upset my stomach.</div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Marti reminded me (literally as my face was becoming paralyzed) that I didn't have all those other things I was testing for: I didn't have a brain tumor, I didn't have fatal meningitis, I didn't have a brain aneurysm. I have a treatable disease. For that I am thankful to God (and to Marti for the reminder).</div><div><br /></div><div>And as always, there's a silver lining to this cloud: I'm losing some weight :) And praying. And resting. And trusting God that all will be well. </div><div><br /></div><div>At supper this evening, I complained, "This is NOT how I wanted to spend my summer!" My son said, "There's a song about that!" Then he grabbed his phone and played for me the Minions' version of a Rolling Stones' tune: "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Thanks, son.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please, please, please read about Lyme Disease and its symptoms. Those tiny ticks are so small that even when they are in more visible places, they are hard to see! But if you can recognize the symptoms (and there are soooo many of them) without looking only for a bull's-eye rash (because it isn't always there!), you can get treatment early so that it doesn't become a chronic issue. Please do this for your own health and for the health of those you love.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>And I've written about our experiences with Lyme Disease before<a href="http://spiceoflifemom.blogspot.com/2014/05/tick-sick.html" target="_blank"> here</a> and <a href="http://spiceoflifemom.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-hancock-news-column-may-6-2015.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://spiceoflifemom.blogspot.com/2015/05/im-not-normally-into-this-sort-of-thing.html" target="_blank">here.</a> <br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-91465785116781420842022-06-20T08:15:00.002-04:002022-06-20T08:15:24.564-04:00Vote for Sea Turtles!<p> My dear daughter loves to crochet. She even designs crochet patterns. Today voting for a design contest opens, and she would be thankful for your vote. </p><p>You can vote <a href="https://www.amigurumi.com/designcontest/vote/#">here</a>.</p><p>You will be asked to select your 10 favorite designs and enter your email to ensure no double voting. Helen's design is a sea turtle and her baby, and you'll need to scroll down a bit to find it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOO8zGuNV6AuswWVgwt5Mw9PlrnYf1MuPAD9RGlNRLuhC3UveeDM2NzW02uuGIVaOVea1Hv7Z8KnqHa7pHdgI4cXX2FyIaUETrtQBcVMV5kmUO9Qs31BIk8t1Q8KjRVYOUn71PyDSUhbM0PJVJXZc7NVwp0l1XRtXQUUc4de0h2_QU8x0y-QBhg/s3872/DSC01836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="3872" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOO8zGuNV6AuswWVgwt5Mw9PlrnYf1MuPAD9RGlNRLuhC3UveeDM2NzW02uuGIVaOVea1Hv7Z8KnqHa7pHdgI4cXX2FyIaUETrtQBcVMV5kmUO9Qs31BIk8t1Q8KjRVYOUn71PyDSUhbM0PJVJXZc7NVwp0l1XRtXQUUc4de0h2_QU8x0y-QBhg/w400-h268/DSC01836.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such cute sea turtles!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>If she wins she would get quite the prize package; I think it includes being published in a book and lots of yarn (nothing like feeding the addiction). Thanks in advance if you take the time to help her out. <br /><br />Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-31489065365563876672022-02-02T18:46:00.000-05:002022-02-02T18:46:31.694-05:00<p> My son just informed me that I was going to burn in sandwich hell (for saying that a taco is a kind of sandwich). The boy takes his sandwiches seriously; Dagwood's got nothing on him.</p><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-44104504933992094702021-03-11T07:26:00.000-05:002021-03-11T07:26:49.928-05:00A Fine Day<p>Yesterday was a fine, fine day. The weather was sunny and just warm, not hot. We had wind, of course, but it was the kind of breeze that would have been good for flying kites, if we'd chosen to fly kites. Days like that make everything in life look sunny.</p><p>I decided it was a day to take a few pictures of outside goings-on before settling in to wash dishes and start supper.</p><p>What was going on? Well, it seems a warm day is a day for bees.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyinBxsQhnIo8wDMK8Pxi5xmbsYYolSWQKf8OIk1mI3Wf9uXUKzgmwN6UJca-uzvUWtQ-HmkvbpzSA68Aahyphenhyphen4LbFjgO6xjt2WNIwDvdBr_dD0tpNmCjvUoMwb_pYO_eogcwmaiPbpjfg/s2048/DSC09526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyinBxsQhnIo8wDMK8Pxi5xmbsYYolSWQKf8OIk1mI3Wf9uXUKzgmwN6UJca-uzvUWtQ-HmkvbpzSA68Aahyphenhyphen4LbFjgO6xjt2WNIwDvdBr_dD0tpNmCjvUoMwb_pYO_eogcwmaiPbpjfg/w400-h268/DSC09526.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That wind did make it difficult to keep the smoker lit.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcukqR8GC4vxlfG3xVKT-hk6cVTfYtjRpkPrLUH-3NzZcfCMicNB0ehS1MyNj9GukpEPZovkzgZjW1isJJz9cbWd2B5uAeuiR31XvwX2OTQY5n8D1mAp0jsvNTCc8CnPOwnkWpJSew9w/s2048/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcukqR8GC4vxlfG3xVKT-hk6cVTfYtjRpkPrLUH-3NzZcfCMicNB0ehS1MyNj9GukpEPZovkzgZjW1isJJz9cbWd2B5uAeuiR31XvwX2OTQY5n8D1mAp0jsvNTCc8CnPOwnkWpJSew9w/w400-h225/IMG_0141.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of honey coming out of winter</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know it seems like lots of honey would be a good thing, but we suspect something is wrong with that hive because there are few bees. The queen is still alive, but there is little brood. I'm guessing something happened earlier in winter to make fewer bees since there is so much honey remaining. The other hive seemed to be doing well, so that's good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After visiting the bees, I walked toward the backyard to see what the chickens were up to. To nobody's surprise, they were scratching about in the leaves, and Chester the Rooster kept his evil eye on me. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczn9Q02RyAUnWZXCxYtQxYUF7CNe4G4ynSIn765j5nIlB8_UFmS6-yykyckfrVrcLNi-aNMZEBkSqZbY4_5iofj_uVz-HrPas1z6miy5ds6YTKpWr9HjcKPBjTypanvzdkx016n59uQ/s2048/DSC09586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczn9Q02RyAUnWZXCxYtQxYUF7CNe4G4ynSIn765j5nIlB8_UFmS6-yykyckfrVrcLNi-aNMZEBkSqZbY4_5iofj_uVz-HrPas1z6miy5ds6YTKpWr9HjcKPBjTypanvzdkx016n59uQ/w400-h268/DSC09586.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common sight nowadays</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chickens weren't the only thing I found in the leaves on the edge of the trees.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c9oMN3MEL4vcOJym_ECg1IbpsSi_oMkHkauwbvd9cu5Qns5wlTQBmoj2fPtBh4Xkd7nokX2f88r6YIiA1xhTmiH0diov5S452yHN7w2y9cD-ekBWkt_oIcRZxPO0wCngKH3JD3zQNg/s2048/DSC09588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c9oMN3MEL4vcOJym_ECg1IbpsSi_oMkHkauwbvd9cu5Qns5wlTQBmoj2fPtBh4Xkd7nokX2f88r6YIiA1xhTmiH0diov5S452yHN7w2y9cD-ekBWkt_oIcRZxPO0wCngKH3JD3zQNg/w400-h268/DSC09588.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello, crocus! </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>And, yes, according to the dictionary, "crocus" is the plural of "crocus." The dictionary also says it would be correct for me to type "croci," but that would just make it more awkward, I think. I've always said "crocuses," but I learned today that I've been wrong all these years. I will probably continue saying the word incorrectly because I like it better. I guess a lovely spring day brings out the rebel in me.<div><br /><br /><p><br /></p></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-44789177370207696842021-02-22T08:30:00.000-05:002021-02-22T08:30:03.269-05:00It's Not All About Me<p>Sometimes I like to highlight people in my life (or people I don't actually know) who are doing things I think are cool, amazing, or interesting. Today is one of those times. (Note that I have highlighted some of these folks before, but if they continue to do things that impress me, why not?)</p><p>1. Creative juices are flowing for my daughter. She has been writing, creating games, crocheting, and sewing of late. This morning <a href="https://anaturegirlsworld.blogspot.com/2021/02/crochet-unicorn.html" target="_blank">she created a blog post</a> about a recent creation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganMU3oUSXOyCTauhwkjvsUT97dMxFPwT26Nj3_XMaO5jHDLlDHNVKL7Rtg3WuiyqUmTQMox_5Sf6LwikJmcbDf0LfwEKwRCHwzuafXaedy71xaI3LJVc6CkHh8_Se0phBsFBfeyqP1g/s2048/DSC09258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganMU3oUSXOyCTauhwkjvsUT97dMxFPwT26Nj3_XMaO5jHDLlDHNVKL7Rtg3WuiyqUmTQMox_5Sf6LwikJmcbDf0LfwEKwRCHwzuafXaedy71xaI3LJVc6CkHh8_Se0phBsFBfeyqP1g/w400-h268/DSC09258.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute unicorn gift</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. I've post before about our first-time beekeeping experiences. My beekeeping son has really put some effort into his endeavors. He's created a YouTube channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4DW97Wf2Ta4SP8atc4LaUQ" target="_blank">Baroque Beekeeping</a>, to post videos of his bees and to document what he doing and learning. (This is not a homeschool assignment.) I particularly enjoy how he's merged his love of classical (and baroque) music with his love of bees. If you want to try out his videos, choose one of the more recent ones; the quality is better. There's something to be said for experience.</div><br /><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL91PDqnjrEpDy22ZEJdSM7ouJm5koWTPe9NVYCgEY_GS_E5in2lfBB4R-LxvRW7VSUsQflEnvEig3gaT6icpP1Xi5MkCNao1nrqzPUyY2qnpQrPwuLIjoSi5Tf7c7e0_Mm_y9BZmRGw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="573" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL91PDqnjrEpDy22ZEJdSM7ouJm5koWTPe9NVYCgEY_GS_E5in2lfBB4R-LxvRW7VSUsQflEnvEig3gaT6icpP1Xi5MkCNao1nrqzPUyY2qnpQrPwuLIjoSi5Tf7c7e0_Mm_y9BZmRGw/w327-h400/Bach_Logo1.png" width="327" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the logo he created!</td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">3. My brother-in-law knits, crochets, and paints. Other people in the family do other crafty things. Last week they created an Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/BakerzdozenCreationz" target="_blank">Bakerz Dozen Creations</a>, to sell their goods. (This last year wasn't good for the craft fairs they normally frequent.) They don't have everything in the shop the way they want it yet, but if you have a request, they probably can meet it-- especially if you are into amigurumi (that's his expertise).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. I have two more friends' Etsy shops that I want to share. The first is from a virtual friend, Karen, who I "met" on <a href="https://www.thefrugalgirl.com" target="_blank">The Frugal Girl</a>. I love Karen's ability to repurpose and make beautiful, classy, and useful items. Her shop is called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FabricSpeaks" target="_blank">Fabric Speaks</a>. (I really love repurposing!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second shop also brings to life old things in a different way. I hadn't expected I would enjoy buying, learning about, and selling vintage items so much, but it is another way of repurposing, don't you think?Anyway, my friend in real life, Ann, finds the coolest vintage items and sells them at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnniesVintagenook" target="_blank">Annie's Vintage Nook</a>. She takes clean photographs of her items, and I've noticed she has excellent reviews, especially with regards to packing her items carefully. I'm so excited Ann is doing this because she has an eye for beautiful things. (She is artistic and crafty, too, but, to my knowledge, she only sells her creations at craft fairs.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's all for now, folks! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-46908759033122643512021-02-14T18:52:00.000-05:002021-02-14T18:52:22.319-05:00December Birthday Cake<p> It seems I am destined to be behind. That's okay. This birthday party was delayed by a couple of weeks anyway because of sickness. </p><p>The birthday girl requested a snowman cake, and a snowman cake I attempted. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUfzqXRDxGd-5HuX296TTJlWDlNjTSbOJJcoT58vfefIbtBYumS7A73dZx-Y3cJXye2Xmit5OVL6fwcg3opTpRZqwv9_bnRw2MyVM7SudQ6sdMN72tOoN7bFQZLefFxiQozycO6hZuQ/s2048/DSC09154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUfzqXRDxGd-5HuX296TTJlWDlNjTSbOJJcoT58vfefIbtBYumS7A73dZx-Y3cJXye2Xmit5OVL6fwcg3opTpRZqwv9_bnRw2MyVM7SudQ6sdMN72tOoN7bFQZLefFxiQozycO6hZuQ/w400-h268/DSC09154.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a fun and easy cake to make. I loved the colors, and it tasted good with some coconut extract in the chocolate cake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-57229153271616946502021-02-05T12:45:00.000-05:002021-02-05T12:45:48.549-05:00Overheard<p>Child: Mommy has a moustache!</p><p>Younger child: She does not! She just has. . . (pause for thinking). . . hair on top of her mouth.</p><p>Children are so brutally honest, aren't they?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-51581028835630587972020-11-01T23:02:00.001-05:002020-11-01T23:03:18.423-05:00Heat Day 2020<p>This morning the inside temperature was 65F, and it was absolutely no problem. After church we decided to visit my father and cook supper for him. My husband and I knew we would be coming home to a very cold house since the dryer wouldn't be running, the oven wouldn't be cooking, and the 9 living bodies wouldn't be maintaining a few spots of heat in the house for the entire day. So, we made the decision to name today, November 1, the official Heat Day of 2020. We turned the heat on as we scurried about to fill water bottles and as we reminded everybody to visit the little girls'/boys' room. </p><p>I don't feel shame, especially since we were driving through blowing snow on the way home. Snow outside equals heat inside, right?</p><p>BUT there could have been an interesting turn of events in the game; we discussed during the drive home that the wind was blowing so hard that perhaps our electricity had gone out. Now, as long-time readers know, I occasionally change the rules of this heat game on a whim. My husband and I reasoned that if the electricity had indeed gone out, then we technically wouldn't have benefitted at all from the heat being turned on. SO, if the electricity was out, today wouldn't actually be Heat Day since we would still be shivering in the cold until the power was back; Heat Day could have been delayed a whole day (or even two).</p><p>But we had lights and heat and very tired children when we got home. The game is over, and we made it to November! Yay! </p><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-30248503765471109212020-10-31T07:47:00.001-04:002020-10-31T07:47:32.075-04:00Heat Game Update<p> Temperature outside: 26 F</p><p>Temperature inside: 65 F</p><p>We woke to these chilly temps, but the heat is still not on! Will we make it to November with no heat? We will try! That means biscuits in a hot oven for breakfast, heating up leftover beans in the oven for lunch, and something piping hot for supper, too! One son has volunteered to make granola today, and that takes a long time in the oven. Warmer clothes are out of storage for everybody, so we can bundle up a bit, if necessary.</p><p>I think our chances are good of getting at least to midnight tonight before turning on the heat. Still not going to make a record (November 23rd is my record), but I count anything in November as decent.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-49715835201048305892020-10-26T22:03:00.002-04:002020-10-26T22:38:54.955-04:00Fall Update--Cakes (and more!)<p>Fall is here, and we've recently wrapped up our family's birthday season. As always, I like to post pictures of my homemade cakes (and sometimes not cakes) to encourage folks who don't have the time/talent/money to make each birthday "pinterest-perfect." </p><p>First up is a Zoey Zebra cake. The 5-year-old requested a zebra ice cream cake. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPYnK2N8DWCapcQuDkLQnKG-3YeeyZRHJWGNc44NtpIGQrBO6pudRfM78tZjLu8yZ1M7dQPoqz0tBq9ZEhsn13s-Cv0OMCe9q_dXcT5zgy-egJqwmKip8uru3qgdMkIskGkxqbX8wsg/s2048/IMG_0978.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPYnK2N8DWCapcQuDkLQnKG-3YeeyZRHJWGNc44NtpIGQrBO6pudRfM78tZjLu8yZ1M7dQPoqz0tBq9ZEhsn13s-Cv0OMCe9q_dXcT5zgy-egJqwmKip8uru3qgdMkIskGkxqbX8wsg/w419-h314/IMG_0978.jpeg" width="419" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Zebra toy + ice cream + fudge stripe = Zebra ice cream cake</div><br />All I had to do was melt ice cream a little bit and smoosh it into the lid of a cake carrier. Then I crumbled up off-brand chocolate sandwich cookies and threw them on the ice cream and drizzled some homemade fudge topping. Last I added another layer of very soft ice cream. I covered the whole thing and put it in the freezer. Just before cake time, I flopped the cake out onto a cutting board and put on zebra stripes (cold hot fudge sauce in a zip plastic bag with the corner cut off). The toy doubled as one of the birthday presents. <p></p><p>The next cake wasn't a cake at all. The new teenager requested skillet cookies. I decorated the top with the rest of the fudge sauce.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1iasxqhancXtoGLRYLsSjYBFdlb5bLKPZ9A5aAVLuDoQ_nOQJ4VokkNn5ZHq33LENBb8VUsBw7IvtOMP8jCM_-zMA5t0j1mvxZjVor95TfNkP0yMGLvB-7CxCIn-gbeaJ3iaFbbRIQ/s2048/DSC07934.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1iasxqhancXtoGLRYLsSjYBFdlb5bLKPZ9A5aAVLuDoQ_nOQJ4VokkNn5ZHq33LENBb8VUsBw7IvtOMP8jCM_-zMA5t0j1mvxZjVor95TfNkP0yMGLvB-7CxCIn-gbeaJ3iaFbbRIQ/w400-h268/DSC07934.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55QnCqAgUk1-Jv4Qy8ZGWQyH2PiXpiTWakbRiDoMcHIlwL7uPVmBdf3X5aaoe_tFazI55wPcDEMRFsbwTbP0hRPsTQTCMdxOIAh3dzCHBpXZUIckmqzZKIavpXECsYi1oWRrp2KcZIg/s2048/DSC07935.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55QnCqAgUk1-Jv4Qy8ZGWQyH2PiXpiTWakbRiDoMcHIlwL7uPVmBdf3X5aaoe_tFazI55wPcDEMRFsbwTbP0hRPsTQTCMdxOIAh3dzCHBpXZUIckmqzZKIavpXECsYi1oWRrp2KcZIg/w400-h268/DSC07935.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next birthday boy wasn't really sure what he wanted, but he didn't want a decorated cake. He was more interested in flavors. So I suggested a spice cake and a carrot cake.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgP-jwm49AdSHnijhPYERlpG9iqfzbYEkdxV-IpVoJs3NIrTBoqcQHLSzZsJKyojE1fLkGUKr4014tTr696C8KH40CueB2NbIdcqGA4VgKrMKTtFr0VdgZeBfqKTBzXhuYJg8-hpjrw/s2048/DSC08619.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="2048" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgP-jwm49AdSHnijhPYERlpG9iqfzbYEkdxV-IpVoJs3NIrTBoqcQHLSzZsJKyojE1fLkGUKr4014tTr696C8KH40CueB2NbIdcqGA4VgKrMKTtFr0VdgZeBfqKTBzXhuYJg8-hpjrw/w400-h258/DSC08619.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looks plain but tasted good!</div><br /><br />The cake on the left is a spice cake with a maple cream cheese frosting, and the cake on the right was Grandma's carrot cake recipe. Those are toasted pecans in that cream frosting, and, yes, they WERE tasty.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And last, and certainly the sweetest, was a repeat request. My youngest son wanted another construction cake with a toy on top and candy. I'm not sure this was actually a construction toy, but he liked it. And it was so easy; I frosted the cake with chocolate frosting, dumped a bunch of candy on top, and placed the toy. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVFVyFuU6cZCmsYD2DxXNaoEEQmIGuZxdsuN7NhMW_2E53GhCfd5QTIsM6-Y5Txrv-NeiF_4trNihCXeaW9kLFJz7qj0k-72u3sOlQvEnjAPQgh3iqJ5BUA0eoGszKXYbkL5yRGFQMQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1510" data-original-width="2048" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVFVyFuU6cZCmsYD2DxXNaoEEQmIGuZxdsuN7NhMW_2E53GhCfd5QTIsM6-Y5Txrv-NeiF_4trNihCXeaW9kLFJz7qj0k-72u3sOlQvEnjAPQgh3iqJ5BUA0eoGszKXYbkL5yRGFQMQ/w400-h295/DSC08794.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>But there was a problem. The birthday boy took a bite and declared it too sweet. The poor child didn't even eat his own cake. To tell the truth, he wasn't the only one who couldn't eat it because it was too sweet. I felt horrible, and I learned a lesson.</div><div><br /></div><div>And that wraps up the Fall Birthday Season of 2020.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">ANNOUNCEMENT!!!</span></h1><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">***If you are a regular reader, you might be curious about how my heat game is going this year. So far, no heat! However, I am not optimistic that we'll last the entire week. Today was chilly and damp, but I countered nature's move by baking a pumpkin, dressing the beds with flannel sheets, and digging out the warmer pajamas.</span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">In a strange turn of events, my 15-year-old is attempting to sabotage my game by purposefully leaving the front door open. I countered his move by threatening a grounding from all electronics for the rest of his life. We'll see what happens tomorrow.</span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">(Is anybody else playing along with my insane game?)</span></div><div><p><br /></p></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-40754502085304033262020-09-15T20:47:00.000-04:002020-09-15T20:47:41.046-04:00Sideling Hill Sunset<p> Tonight we saw a beautiful sunset. It is the time of year that the sun sets right in the cut in the mountain. The picture doesn't do the colors justice, but I'll post it anyway.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxDQ3Bmv5_5LWLsK0IFEKwk_8UBBPR4zzAeZd_rp1mGkWSqoVUhdRtd5XygXZRNXfEmCrORse8OtNws1u4n7f0Ne8DmxUZnE44s62REg1vzqu3084ffMNrm9LfC5HDO9N7eqHchJm2A/s2048/DSC07944.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxDQ3Bmv5_5LWLsK0IFEKwk_8UBBPR4zzAeZd_rp1mGkWSqoVUhdRtd5XygXZRNXfEmCrORse8OtNws1u4n7f0Ne8DmxUZnE44s62REg1vzqu3084ffMNrm9LfC5HDO9N7eqHchJm2A/w400-h268/DSC07944.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-35396014195863514022020-09-03T17:23:00.001-04:002020-09-03T17:23:43.338-04:00Ugly Truth and Quick Cookies<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Is it just me, or does it seem that the truth is hard to come by lately? With an election year in full swing and with all the COVID-19 and riot confusions, I just don’t know what to believe. Maybe you’re feeling as ill as I am from the honesty deficiency surrounding us. If so, I’ll try to help you out and give you a dose of the cold, the hard, and the ugly truth.</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I hate the hot days of summer. I hate the heat. I detest the humidity. I love air conditioning. That’s the cold truth.</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I can’t stand my garden looking wilted, but sometimes I am just too l lazy to water it. I complain about my tomatoes being too small, but it’s probably all my fault because I don’t fertilize enough. The poor crop of green beans, on the other hand, is entirely the fault of the bunnies. And the most prolific crop in my garden is the rocks; that’s the hard truth I was talking about. </p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGo2CyWenMUXdHnw88Ap-_7e1YsVQWU4S6aFdGQDXwLvwNH6GuJp3J57cuPa1Ti8AhbVTm9kqR0gOk3C6ZkMQyGjzyA0Zhrl35ei_F1eVhjzuFrXfQwFObSBQXs4CA25gd1ZwvpU8hA/s2048/IMG_0183.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGo2CyWenMUXdHnw88Ap-_7e1YsVQWU4S6aFdGQDXwLvwNH6GuJp3J57cuPa1Ti8AhbVTm9kqR0gOk3C6ZkMQyGjzyA0Zhrl35ei_F1eVhjzuFrXfQwFObSBQXs4CA25gd1ZwvpU8hA/w400-h300/IMG_0183.jpeg" title="Wilted" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilted<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I like bacon. I like bacon grease. And although my kids scold me for it all the time, I even lick the bacon grease off of the cookie sheet using my finger as a spoon. This is, most definitely, the ugly truth.</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That’s not my only bad habit. I also enjoy kicking my socks off in bed. My husband scolds me when he finds several pairs of my socks under the sheets at the bottom of the bed.</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmKXOuPv1vxGCQdkJTDu6p95Sq5zkLUbJr41kGAs0Wydsh39JX6JUxYt7a4t1-gH2E6DoLA2zNwl2lb0yF3DdrLNBQlMiLC9r1kRrcURvU_wOXjglKKqnYwoA1Diy3zkxKQ6ilN7h2g/w300-h400/IMG_0622.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small tomatoes<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">While I’m being honest, I might as well tell you that sometimes I neglect my family in order to read a book I just can’t put down. Don’t misunderstand; the kids are fed and clothed and loved. But sometimes I do hide in the bathroom to read when I should be grading school papers or folding clothes. Or washing the bacon grease from the cookie sheets (with soap and water).</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-iCsMri2R2isaRM5k4OVBjqq4Kqg5JQbZywNmK66lOKSNTPS60sooRm263SQXyeNXOwjgsxopnPG5IsY0Rj8c-p-lkxL4pD4h5Hw9Kl9FyFVayZxNzd64XEM1mSEXs7lo9hj-c4gMw/w300-h400/IMG_0218.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snack for caterpillars</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When I was a little kid, I stole a pistachio nut from an open basket in the<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">produce department at the A & P. I loved green pistachio pudding, but I’d never tried the nut. My mother was certain I wouldn’t like them and refused to buy any, so I slipped a single pistachio into the pocket of my jeans when she wasn’t looking. Later I closeted myself in my bedroom, took out the contraband, and felt so guilty that I didn’t even attempt to eat it. I don’t remember how I got rid of the evidence, but I do know that I didn’t try pistachios until I was an adult. To be completely honest, I still feel guilty about that.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrtbVuUR2fyCYzcDRXMNCAyRaCeP9dcTW81BNfUjL36ApzXZs-PS355nRgEdwkbjT93anhBoZm8w5qYTRHNG72nEhn8Wrhurr33lheXkzToeustNaDQWnLM2GSSr_qFSUzLXuitA0zw/w300-h400/IMG_9896.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many rocks<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And finally, because I have no desire to run for public office ever, I will come out and say it. I am a racist, but not in the way you might think. I am prejudiced in favor of the human race. Truthfully, I have been disappointed by people and their actions and words over the last several months, but I still love them. I can’t help it. I enjoy watching people, listening to people, and even complaining about people. I love big people, little people, ugly and pretty people, stupid and smart people. </p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalkxS_Me7TetY4ionyU4rYbUpgt2VTjxJ9E1yuZ5bR-QOtroCV20-Vd-JDnsDlujKQWROx_WIwkx0l-sq7ZVn8uuxyuEq-eQsGNRjd0Qef01l2GgSJMmRvqmoXUTWkbJIS6dJyxQDsw/w400-h300/IMG_8899.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An entire garden full of rocks!</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are all so different, with different concerns and ideas and hopes and fears. But folks, we are being pitted against each other in this day and age; the media calls us maskers and anti-maskers, vaxxers and and anti-vaxxers, racists and anti-racists. How easy it is for us to forget the big truth— that we are (most of us) just people doing the best we can in a world full of controversy and confusion. </p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And here’s my last truth: we need each other. I can’t think of anybody I know who hasn’t felt isolated in some way this year. Bridge that divide however you feel comfortable because we are, all of us, mired in this sometimes mucky life and need a connection to solid ground.</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">**************************************</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I’ll never be a politician because I am a little too open and honest. But it is the political season, and the mud-slinging has commenced. It just so happens that one of my favorite cookies looks just like mud. The church cookbook from North Dakota that I use calls them Five Minute Cookies, but most people I know call them No Bake Cookies. I see them in convenience stores all the time, but the only reason I know why somebody wouldn’t make this simple recipe at home is that she doesn’t want to gain a few extra pounds by eating them all. Enjoy.</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Five Minute Cookies</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">2 cups sugar</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">5 Tbsp. cocoa powder</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1/2 cup milk</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1/2 cup butter (1 stick)</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">3 cups quick oats</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1/2 cup peanut butter</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1/2 tsp. vanilla</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In a large pot, stir together the sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by tablespoon onto waxed paper and allow to cool until set.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.199999809265137px;">*This column was printed in the April 1, 2020, issue of the <u>Hancock News</u>.</i></p><p><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 13.199999809265137px;">**I hope you </i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue; font-size: x-small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>enjoy all of the garden pictures that show just how ugly my garden can be. If you are like me and have weeds over-powering the food stuff, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! At least we tried.</i></span></span></p><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4407848335878412471" style="font-size: 13.199999809265137px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 440px;"><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f7f7f7; border-bottom-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #5d5d5d; font-size: 10.800000190734863px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-87091898826238231072020-08-06T20:41:00.000-04:002020-08-06T20:41:38.105-04:00My NemesisThis is the face of my summer nemesis.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnDfNQL0iki9Jz2yB4nQJBWNA4q_e7nMXFojkmy0f8x_hcYh9DuzpDxkN-MYfzM4rWRlCD14VvJffOd79gG_IIkYiCBVExWNblJNFejfehEXUoYS_EdAOx0UVK9xJ49C_yfJK7ExEbg/s2048/DSC07341.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="The tomato hornworm" border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnDfNQL0iki9Jz2yB4nQJBWNA4q_e7nMXFojkmy0f8x_hcYh9DuzpDxkN-MYfzM4rWRlCD14VvJffOd79gG_IIkYiCBVExWNblJNFejfehEXUoYS_EdAOx0UVK9xJ49C_yfJK7ExEbg/w400-h268/DSC07341.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Tomato hornworms are evil.</div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-11549952631798554822020-08-03T08:28:00.000-04:002020-08-03T08:28:03.467-04:00Playing Catch UpIt's been so long since I've touched this blog. It's time to play catch-up. First up should definitely be birthday cakes because y'all know how I love showing the world that birthday cakes don't need to be professional (or even cakes) for a birthday to be special. Also, the pictures don't need to be wonderful.<div><br /></div><div>First up is an 11-year-old's watermelon cake. This was an easy one since there was no piping necessary. Is there runny food coloring at the bottom? Yes! Are some of the chocolate chip "seeds" smeared with frosting? Yes! Was the birthday girl happy? Yes!<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRCKgAl8B9jKEH5tLDJq7J5Eh9-VIKJeGWScXUZi-gdUMzMip8s5_HfVTv4zUYH4HUTQTSYPxZr_LFnT0WS0yyz-BTuIvyZXWyjWZuAqqbOrhFQp5_kNVTb9MNORCCktJYcH5xQufNA/w366-h400/IMG_8849.jpeg" style="text-align: left;" width="366" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Watermelon cake just in time for the summer weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second birthday was a big one-- sweet 16 for my eldest. He chose to have a variety of pies-- vinegar, pumpkin, and cherry (the only one captured on camera). It's possible there was another kind of pie, but I can't remember.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYpE1V5m1Pb03vbnWSE-XLgTFA_fKW-ohj9TQAzd3kX-aLA7UuRUvLzprRwEzR0fwnu0SerKtDpESH0luWllC73x6sQs-vxC7x5EvSgKLKOmX6QQsJMOlwLN34seRDg_yliM5-HC1_Q/s1208/DSC06752.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1199" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYpE1V5m1Pb03vbnWSE-XLgTFA_fKW-ohj9TQAzd3kX-aLA7UuRUvLzprRwEzR0fwnu0SerKtDpESH0luWllC73x6sQs-vxC7x5EvSgKLKOmX6QQsJMOlwLN34seRDg_yliM5-HC1_Q/w406-h410/DSC06752.jpeg" width="406" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can she make a cherry pie, Billy Boy, Billy Boy?</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br />No frosting. Filling bubbled up on top of crust. Still a happy birthday boy (or young man). </div><div><br /></div><div>And now I must gear up for September's three birthdays!<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2709243966247274355.post-15931013003772869582020-07-06T13:14:00.002-04:002020-07-06T13:14:56.590-04:00OverheardThis gem came out of our discussion at lunch today: "I'm a terrible liar when I'm telling the truth."Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08124853867811087834noreply@blogger.com0