Congratulations! It's a ....dryer???

After over a year without a dryer that worked, we find out that the new ranch had a matched washer/dryer set in storage. Ours to use if we wanted. Um? Yes, please! Get them all moved in and discover that either the plug in the wall has one too many prongs or the plug on the dryer has one too little. A variety of parts came in yesterday and I decreed today was the day to fix it.

I had already decided the dryer had one too few prongs and changing the cord was the thing to do. No messing with breakers this way. Problem? The dryer, having the need for only 3 wires, and the new cord, needing 4, were not matching up like the picture showed. Isn't this always the case?

Just what's a girl to do??

I called my Dad.

"Hello" he answers, as always "This is Larry"
"Hello Larry" I reply, as always "This is Barbara Ann"
What can I say? It's our thing ;)

So, on to my dryer. A discussion at length about hot wires, ground wires, and which one should be what color led me and my do it yourselfness in the right direction. I was just in the process of hooking things up when hubby came in.

He looks at the cord, he looks at the dryer, and looks at me.
"Do you know what your doing?" He asks.
"Yep, I used my phone-a-friend" I smile up at him.
"Oh yea?" He asks "How is your Dad?" smiling back at me.

My Dad is good. My Dad is rare. My Dad is.....my Dad :)

We almost lost him once. That was pretty serious let me tell you. Go big or go home right? He even had life flight involved. Can't just have yourself a little heart attack can you Dad? Got to go for the gold. Overachiever. BUT....Mom knew just what to do, the Nurses were on their toes, and Karma was on his side. Thank you Karma, the Nurses, and especially Mom.

I think about that day every time I use my phone-a-friend. Every time my husband talks about his Dad. Every time I hear of someone in their age group that has passed away, a friends Dad, one of his hunting buddies, trucking buddies, I think of that day. Probably more than he does I bet.

In this New Year I shall resolve to use my phone-a-friend as much as possible. I shall resolve to be a better house keeper. I shall resolve to call my Mother at least once a week. I shall resolve not to judge others to harshly or quickly. I shall resolve to make it one more year with this Fibromyalgia and without pills. I should also resolve to lose a few pounds but....well...I wouldn't want to over do it.  

And here you thought this was going to be a post about dryers.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my ramblings and maybe even understanding a little.

Happy New Year to you and yours,
Barb

Food for thought:
Things were meant to be used,
people are meant to be cherished.

Get out that silver, that china, those embroidered pillowcases and use them!!
Then invite your people over and cherish them.

Store bought, sodium crammed, instant products....

I have climbed upon my soapbox.
Today's gripe....modern recipes.
Am I the only one fed up with recipes full of things like cream of mushroom soup or french onion dip?
It seems anymore that if there is a store bought, sodium crammed, instant product that we can sneak into out menu, then we do. Don't get me wrong for I am a big fan of green bean casserole. And green bean casserole is basically one huge store bought, sodium crammed, instant product nicely disguised as home made. You did stir it in a bowl after all, then had to bake it. Anything that creates more than 2 dirty dishes should automatically be classified as homemade in my book.
The bad part is I don't know how to make home made cream of mushroom soup, and everywhere I have researched says 'DO NOT CAN DAIRY' Well the 'cream' part of 'Cream of mushroom soup' kind of leads one to believe in the presence of dairy. So....if one cannot can dairy....how do the huge mega companies can CREAM of anything soup??? Maybe it's not real cream? Fake cream? From fake milk? From fake cows??? I'm so confused........
SO, until the oracle of canning advice, that is the local extension office, gives me the go ahead to can dairy, I'll be buying the store bought sodium crammed, instant product. The cream of mushroom soups, the french onion dip, and *sigh* the evaporated milk.
Just once I'd like a recipe to say something I understood and can make in my home. My pantry is not set up for store bought or sodium crammed, and the most instant thing in there is the oatmeal..... and even that requires more than 2 dirty dishes.

Climbing off the soapbox,
Yours once again,
Barbara

Getting a little personal........

The following post is a true story. The 100%, complete, unadulterated, true facts...I did not make anything up and I did not include any names to protect their privacy. 

Judgement Day

I had often thought about killing him, daily perhaps, but never before had a more perfect opportunity presented itself.

Ladies and gentleman my name is Barbara Ann. I am 37 years old and happily married to a wonderful husband whom I love, cherish, and adore. I spend my days lovingly washing, baking, cleaning, and generally running the house because I love him completely. I love and cherish my two sons with every fiber that is my being. I live for the men in my life and would never change it.

I wasn't always this happy. Wasn't always as content as I am now for you see, I have lived two lives.

This story I am about to tell you I have only shared with a select few in my life. My husband is one and my best girlfriend is another. I am telling you now because I feel compelled to own my wrong doings. To take responsibility for the impure, unclean, and immoral things I have kept hidden for so long. It’s time to cleanse the soul. So stick around.

When I was the grand old age of 17 I got married to a wonderful man, a White Knight in the truest sense of the title. He loved and respected me for the entire month of our marriage, until he found me in bed with another man. Shame weighed down on me so heavy that I just knew I couldn't go back. I couldn't curl up in the arms of my loving husband; I couldn't seek shelter in the comforting folds of my childhood home. Home to my Mommy and Daddy so they could make it all better. I had no home to go to, and it was my own damn fault.

I slept on the couch of a high school friend of mine and her boyfriend until eventually I hooked up with their roommate. My first husband and I were soon divorced and I tried moved forward, taking all my shame with me. It was months before I could look my parents in the eyes again. The new boyfriend and I started looking for an apartment of our own to start our lives together. I was starting over and for awhile it seemed like it might work.

It became apparent however, that my new White Knight had a severe case of sticky fingers. After this condition had landed him in jail a few times I started looking for a new White Knight to save me. It never occurred to me that I was my own White Knight. I was too young and stupid to know that.

I didn't look far to find White Knight #3 as he was living in the apartment next door. He had two beautiful daughters he seemed to be raising alone. He had a good job as a carpenter and even owned his own vehicle! That was a big step up from #2 already and I was convinced.

I moved in with him after only knowing him for a few weeks totally trusting the father figure persona. Dads are by nature good people right? My Dad is anyway. 

Everything was picture perfect for awhile. He bought me flowers and candy for no reason. We went shopping for new clothes and he would then take me out to extravagant dinners to show off his beautiful wife. Yes folks I had already jumped in hook, line, and ring finger and it took only a few months to go horribly wrong.

It started first with angry words if I spoke wrong or out of turn. This soon escalated to an arm grab to really bring home the point of ‘be seen and not heard’. Next came the name calling. I was a bitch, I was ugly, no one else would ever love me so I might as well sit my fat ass down and shut the fuck up or he was going to shut me up. A few times he did. I got one my first tattoos because I needed to prove my love. Having his name permanently on my body should do the trick. Mark what’s his. Let the world know just who I belonged to.

He was diabetic and it was my responsibility to control his blood sugar.  If I gave him too little insulin and he ended up with high blood sugars. This came with fatigue and, by design, sorry moods. If I gave him too much and he went into a hyperglycemia, I was in for a real ‘lesson’.

One night I wasn't paying attention to where he was walking and he fell into a gopher hole. His fragile ankle broke and we spent the night in the emergency room. My punishment for this was I was expected to be his wet nurse 24/7. I was told to quit my job so I could stay home and take care of him. I was probably sleeping with half the kitchen staff anyway. I had made the mistake of telling him of my indiscretion with my White Knight #1 and now I was sleeping with everyone from the mailman to my own brother. I quit my job gracefully citing family medical issues so maybe I could come back when the ankle was healed. I never did.

We moved out of my home town under the dark of night running from a list of unpaid rent and past due bills. We holed up in a tiny 2 bedroom trailer where the drugs started to come in. We were back on his home stomping ground where old ‘friends’ started crawling out of the woodwork. I soon discovered the dieting benefits of crystal methamphetamine and mistakenly convinced myself that if I were skinny I would also be beautiful and he would not hit me. Sleep became a dream and food just a memory. I dropped 40 lbs in 30 days and still he hit me.

Running from law enforcement now, we moved to another state. We wrote bad checks for things we could return for cash so we could buy more meth. He convinced me it wasn't enough for extradition so we would be fine. We found jobs together in a packing house so he could keep an eye on me. Either I couldn't function unsupervised or I would fall into the arms of the nearest person with an appendage. For awhile things went OK, so I stayed.

After the brief attempt at normalcy, law enforcement caught up with us and we were indeed extradited back home to do our time. After almost a year of county jail time I was released into the general population of the world. Still holding all my shame and guilt I tried to make a new life. Prepare a place for him when he was released, and to prepare a place for his daughters whom have been living with his mom since we had gotten arrested. I got a job, got a house, and got his daughters back. The three of us girls were doing alright.

He was released from prison and came down like freight train upon our delicately balanced house of cards, the house I had worked so hard to build. I could almost see the pieces fall, could almost here them shatter on the ground, along with whatever self esteem I had built for myself.  I was back to square one, back under the thumb of my master. Cowed, I still stayed.

I had fantasized about his death often. I had it all planned it in my mind. I had convinced myself that it was for the best. He wouldn't be hurting me or these sweet, innocent, beautiful girls anymore. He wouldn't continue to break his Mothers heart, and he wouldn't continue to be a drain on society. Could I do it though? Yes, I think I could. Every beating cemented in my heart that YES! I could take the life of this human YES! I would play God and decide who lived and who died. I was the Judge, Jury and Executioner. It was up to me. I felt so empowered! So I waited until the time was perfect.

Then it happened. 

The opportunity was served to me as if from a silver platter.

One night I felt him lurching in bed. This, I knew, was one of his symptoms of very low blood sugar. Probably from all the exertion of unsuccessfully forcing himself on me the night before. I made my way to the kitchen to get the rescue injection we kept for just this purpose. I was standing over him getting ready to prime the device when it hit me. I held his life in my hands.....all I had to do was walk away....close the door behind me and let his own stupidity do the job. 

I turned around and took a step for the door. It was all so perfect! I could even hear me telling the Police Officer “I fell asleep on the couch during a movie. I didn't know he was in trouble. We had made love and I wasn't tired so I went to watch a movie.” Then I could go into a guilt ridden wailing on how by insisting he make love to me, somehow I killed him. I would have the house, the kids, the cars, the life insurance and no one would be the wiser.

I took another step toward the door.......I put the device back in its pouch........I took another step to the door. It would be so easy….......

Then I stopped….......

Could I look into those beautiful faces and lie to them every day? Could I look into the mirror and lie to myself every day? I had fantasized about killing another human being. I had planned to kill another human being. I was, even now, contemplating the killing of another human being.

What kind of person had I become?

I slowly turned around and looked at the now motionless figure on the bed. I felt cold all over. The hatred I felt so strongly for this man only a moment ago had slowly oozed from my pores and flowed onto the floor like sap. Where the hatred once consumed me, now I felt only pity. I pitied him with all his false bravado. Pitied his reliance on the government and pitied his stupidity. Most of all I pitied his ignorance. He would never change. Tears fell from my eyes as I wondered how I could have let myself be brought to this point. I had let my heart become so tainted with my hatred for him, that it had somehow turned my entire soul into a dead, black mass. I felt so ugly. I felt so dirty. I felt the shame I had felt all those years ago and as the tears poured down my cheeks, I knew exactly what I could and could't do.

 I injected him with that life saving fluid, put the spent device on his bedside table and went to pack.

His final judgment was not up to me.  

I left my shame in that pool of hatred and finally went home to my family. I had punished myself enough. 

Everyone needs to purge once in a while. 

Thank you for not judging.....

Barbara Ann

Why we prefer homemade.

Homemade

I stare out of the kitchen window peering through my binoculars watching the road. I am expecting a package today and the truck bringing it to me is late. It’s no wonder with the latest weather over Rabbit Ears Pass. These binoculars are usually reserved for watching cows calve, watching for the hubby to come home from a hard day at work, or for making sure the children aren't killing each other.  Today I am watching for UPS.  He is bringing me a special gift. He holds for me a Junxifu Pasta maker with chrome plating. Oh the possibilities he brings. I can make spaghetti, fettuccini, lasagna noodles, and ravioli noodles with my Junxifu. If I could make that sound old Jerry Clower makes when he gets worked up, I’d me making it right now. How about that sound Tim “The Tool-man” Taylor makes when talking about “Man Stuff”.  UPS not only holds the key to savings (it should pay for itself in about 43 years) but it also holds my family’s well being.

Who of knows what really goes into the food you buy? Just because it say’s “flour eggs milk salt” on the box doesn’t always mean that’s what’s inside. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for convenience foods, but where do you draw the line? When I moved out to the Ranch some years ago I started making my bread from scratch. Sometimes in a pinch I’ll buy a loaf of “Floppy Bread” as my family calls it, but not very often. They prefer the homemade stuff. From bread to biscuits and cake to pasta they want it real and unmessed around with. Maybe I spoiled them but I don’t really care. This is how I show my love.

I put Yorkshire Puddings on the table in front of my English husband and he knows I was thinking of him while cracking the eggs and beating in the milk. I show up at school with cupcakes decorated like clowns made from a recipe I pilfered from PBS years ago and my birthday boy knows I had just him in mind. When I ask “what would you like for supper?” and the answer is “spag ball” (spaghetti) My family knows I’ll spend hours peeling and chopping the garlic and onions, sauteing the meat, simmering the sauce forever and now making the pasta just because that’s how they like it.

I can recite from memory most of the recipes I make, and if I can’t then it’s not usually a favorite. I put my love into each onion I chop, into each loaf of bread I bake, and into each pie I conjure.   

My UPS guy did show up with my Junxifu and we indeed had homemade pasta for lunch the next day. Homemade does not always mean cheaper, faster, or easier. However, it always means more, and that’s why I do it.   

Lovin' it ranch style,

Barb

Karma, Taxes, and Aunty Thursday

The tale of the Fairy Princesses

Once upon a time there was a Fairy Princess who lived in a palace high in the Rocky Mountains. The Fairy Mountain Princess also had a very best friend. A beautiful Fairy Princess that lived in her own palace in the valley. The Mountain Princess missed her Valley Princess friend so very much that they had planned to meet. Plans were made for a long due reunion between the Princesses and their royal courts. 

Only after plans were made did the Mountain Princess learn her beloved Queen Hilda's bowling team would be bowling in a tournament that very same weekend. Oh how she loved the tournament last year and turned very sad because now she had to make a choice.  

The Mountain Princess thought very hard about what to do. Her Valley Princess friend would be very sad if they couldn't meet but would understand, likewise her bowling team would be very sad and miss her but would understand.  

Did she keep her plans with her Valley Princess friend or did she stay and help out her bowling team?

In the end she knew she couldn't let her Valley Princess friend down. 

The Mountain Princess went to Queen Hilda and explained to her the situation. Queen Hilda was sad but also reminded the Mountain Princess of one thing. While they really liked bowling with the Mountain Princess the truth of the matter was she could be replaced. They could always find another bowler. There was only one Valley Princess.

The Great Council then called a meeting. It had come to their attention that the tournament was wrongly scheduled. They are hereby declaring that they are moving the tournament!!   

So the Mountain Princess can see her very best friend the Valley Princess and bowl with Queen Hilda's team in the tournament!!

The Princess was very pleased and everyone lived happily ever after.

Moral of the story: Karma can come back around in good ways to those who respect her power.

You have three guesses on who the Mountain Princess is but the first two don't count. The choice was hard but I had already made it before I even knew it. There was no question really. 

Funny now that I think about it there are a few things that have been easy choices lately. 

Tax time is among us and plans are being made for the return. As always the first priority is the yearly maintenance for our 2 aging vehicles. The 91 Ford is going well and probably won't need much but the 92 Volvo needs a new battery, tires and an alignment. Of course we bought an Interstate battery for it. After the performance of the last Interstate battery I am officially one of the people who are "Brand Specific". You know those people? Only buy Dawn dish soap or Folgers coffee? Well we are Interstate battery. I suppose there had to be one brand we were married too.    

Another thing we like to do at tax time is take a few weekends away before calving starts. That's any time now you know! Wow when did that happen? I say that yet the other day I planted my tomato and pepper seeds. Go figure.

My young men have name this Thursday Aunty Thursday. The Amtrak is bring two Aunty's to visit and spoil them rotten for a whole week. Aunty Michelle, the "real" Aunty and Aunty Shilo the "by choice" Aunty. With all the Aunty's around Peter and I have decided to take advantage. This weekend will find us at a motel in Steamboat Springs. Sampling the nightlife and various local brews while our children will no doubt stay up way to late watching movies and eating way too much ice cream. Being an Aunty myself I understand the freedom of spoiling the Nieces and Nephews. All that stuff you can't do with your own children because your too busy being a good Mom. Ice cream, late movies, tye dye, tattoos.....wait.....what? 

18 days and counting till the Mountain Princess gets to see her Valley Princess friend.

I'm so happy about life right now I don't even mind having this doozey of a cold. Well, not too much anyway.

Barb

Punxsutawney Phil is FIRED!!! Bring on SPRING!!

The Groundhogs Day celebration so popular in Pennsylvania is rooted in Celtic lore. Tradition states if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on the Pagen holiday of Imbolc, a Gaelic festival held on February 2nd marking the start of spring, winter will last for 6 more weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend states that spring will come early. 

The ties to Pennsylvania may have actually started with the Germans. When skies were clear on Candlemans Day (also February 2nd) it is said that further cold weather is on the way. A hedgehog casting it's shadow would predict the snows well into May. When the Germans came to settle in Pennsylvania they brought the tradition with them. Just not the hedgehog. A groundhog proved to be an adequate substitute for the faulty weather predictions. 

We have been trusting our weather predictions to Punxsutawney Phil since 1887 and he has only been right 39% of the time. Considering the fact the poor thing is ...what ...126 years old, he is looking pretty good for his age. After all the average groundhog only lives 9 to 14 years. 

I say lets release Phil from his obligations and think positive. Let him retire and lets find a more spring friendly rodent to trust our weather predictions to. Like say, the weatherman? I think they went to school for that sort of thing didn't they?

So, in honor of thinking positive lets talk about spring!

It's not too early to start thinking spring and gardening. Plot and plan now while the snow flies. Do the preparations you can do inside. Make seed tape, peruse seed catalogs, and make your own self watering plant pots. 

Self watering plant pots? Yes! You can do it and I'm here to show you how!!

Newly re-potted Spider Plant baby

Things you will need:

a clean 2 liter or 20 oz bottle depending on what you intend to plant. I find 20 oz bottles work best for planting seeds. Since you will need to transplant them into a bigger pot later anyway. 

clear packing tape

scissors

a length of cotton fabric or rope.

  

The first thing to do is determine the middle of your bottle and cut it in half

Remove the lid and invert the top half of the bottle. Thread your length of cotton rope through the mouth of the bottle leaving enough rope so it can sit down in the water. Maybe 3 or 4 inches. If you choose you may secure the rope with a clothes pin as I have done here. This was only to free up my camera hand but I found it worked so well I might just do it this way all the time. 

Place your top onto your bottom making sure it's relatively level. 

Now secure the top to the bottom using the clear packing tape. You may use any other kind of tape, I just like the way the clear looks. 

Today we are transplanting one of the offshoots from my Spider Plant. My 9 year old son Gian gave me a little baby spider plant he rooted in school. Now the thing is taking over my window sill so I am rooting one of the "babies" for him. Let it take over his room. 

Use good quality potting soil to fill your planter.

Tuck your seed/plant/offshoot or whatever your planting into it's new home and tamp down. 

Water thoroughly and often for the first few weeks making sure to keep the soil moist.

Put your new friend in a warm sunny spot with other friends he can talk to and wait for him to root.

After his roots are established OR after your seedlings have a good start you should be able to water less often. Even being able to over water a bit and take a weekend away camping without worry. A friend of mine wraps her planters in contact paper to match her decor. Me however, I like to see the water level. 

The cotton rope will act as a wick to keep your plant happy and healthily watered. I have even used part of a old tee-shirt as a wick before so don't be afraid to use what you have. I used the orange rope because I found it at the thrift store and thought it would be useful in tying up my tomato plants.  Unfortunately for me, when looking out from the house, the rope ended up looking like tomatoes. Making me think I had more tomatoes on the vine than I really did. Silly rope. It does however make a wonderful plant pot wick! 

I don't believe Phil is going to go away anytime soon, after all 126 years is a long tenure. Therefor, I suggest leaning more towards reading the Farmers Almanac or listening to some ancient rancher before taking Phils advice. After all, what can a decrepit old ground hog know about gardening? Other than it's good place to sneak into at night and graze like a fat lady at a buffet.  

One more thing...how does one pronounce Punxsutawney anyway??

Happy planting!!

Barb  

Christmas Card Clean Up

With Thanksgiving 2015 safely tucked into the history books we can now move on to Christmas!! The cards will start arriving any day now and with Christmas, my Husbands birthday, and our Anniversary so close together, the stack of cards gets to towering proportions. 

Here's a little project the kiddo's and I like to do on those blustery winter days while we are drinking our hot chocolate and thawing out after doing chores.  

Things you will need:

The old greeting card

A sheet of card stock -I have black on hand so I'll use that today

Elmer's school glue

Scissors

Pens, markers, colored pencils, or crayons to create your own personal message
Hot chocolate (very important)

First off chose the area of the front of the old card you would like to see on the new card. Here I have a Christmas card that I am cutting around the dove, the star, and the pretty banner design for arranging on the new card later.

Inside this card is a really nice shadow image of the dove and star. I like this so Ill cut it out as well. Not sure where I'll put it but I'll find somewhere.

Cut your card stock to a size that when it's folded it will fit into a card sized envelope. I found a pack of 100 card envelopes for a quarter at the thrift store so I'm using one of those. My card stock measures just big enough so after it's folded in half it comes out to be just a bit smaller than my envelope.

Unfold your card stock and lay out flat. You can then arrange and rearrange your cutouts on the bottom half of your card stock. Remembering they need to be arranged with the fold as the top.

Now grab some Elmer's for gluing in place. You won't need much more than a very thin layer around the outside edge of your cutouts. Much more tends to cause them to warp. Let dry for about an hour.

Once the cutouts are securely glued to your card front, flip over your card and do the same on the inside. Making sure your design falls on lower portion with the fold at the top. Then let dry. Here I added a bit of the plain white I saved from the old card to write my special message on.

All that's left to do now is to include your own special message straight from the heart. Here I'm using a calligraphy pen but feel free to use gel pens, markers, or whatever medium you’re comfortable with.

When I got my message all personalized I thought some glitter would be a nice addition. I dug deep into the Halloween supplies and found my hair spray glitter. A quick spray and VOILA!! A card fit for the Queen, or my Mother, same status in my book anyway. I hope she likes it. Mom that is, not the Queen.

Oh, one more very important detail. Don't forget to mail it! I once made a beautiful card for a friend’s birthday; I put it up on the shelf so I could admire it before I sent it. I admired that card for a whole year before I got it mailed.

Come back and visit us again for yet another little way to make use of those old greeting cards!!

You won't want to miss it!!

Barb

Little Boxes, Pete Seeger, and the strive to be yourself

Blessing Box folded from an expired greeting card.

Historic folk songwriter and singer Pete Seeger passed away this morning at the ripe old age of 94. Known as the father of folk music. Mr. Seeger was historically against McCarthyism and also known to march with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His influence can be found in the music of several artists from Arlo Gutherie to John Mellencamp. Malvina Reynolds wrote the song "Little Boxes" in 1962 before allowing her friend, the late Pete Seeger, to make it a hit in 1963. 

It's a rather macabre song referring to the housing developments in Daly City, California. Houses made from shoddy materials in cookie cutter fashion. People living, acting, and reacting exactly the same. 

"Little boxes on the hillside,

Little boxes made of ticky tacky,

Little boxes on a hillside

Little boxes all the same,

There's a green one, and a pink one,

And a blue one, and a yellow one,

And they're all made out of ticky tacky,

And the all look just the same."

I heard this song for the first time on NPR today and it got me thinking.

I urge you NOT to live like those in the "Little Boxes" but to stand out. Don't be the same. Be different. Stand up for what you believe in. Like the great Pete Seeger, be yourself and the right people will love you for it.

However since we are talking about little boxes let me teach you a simple little project. Remember those expired greeting cards hogging up your shelf space? Instead of throwing them away here is a little something you can do with them.

Blessings Boxes.

 I fold each of my family member's a little box using our received Christmas cards. Each of us then writes down 10 things we are grateful for over the last year. Slip the list into your respective boxes then attach an ornament hook and hang it on the tree. When the ornaments get packed away so do the boxes. Next year take a peek into them see what everyone else was grateful for. Also look back at boxes of Christmas Past and see how your lives have changed.

I call them Blessings Boxes but they really are anything boxes. I gave my niece a necklace this year in a box I folded myself so don't get pigeonholed to Christmas. After all, Chinese New Year is Friday, then there's Valentines Day...

Here you go....let's get our Origami on!!!

Things you will need:

Expired greeting card with the main part of the front design pretty centered

Ruler

Pencil

Scissors (optional)

Elmer's glue (optional)

The first thing you will need to do is to cut your card to the required size and shape centering your best design front and center. Cut your back portion 1/4th of an inch smaller all around than you did the front. 

Next step is to draw an X corner to corner. This helps find the true center. Resulting in nice pretty folds.

Take one corner and fold to the true center of your card.

Unfold your first fold and make another fold to the crease. Centering the point on the line.

Now fold it over on itself

And over on itself again.

OK now undo all your folding. Seems silly I know but stay with me. 

Mimic the previous steps on the 3 remaining corners. You should end up as I have here.

Do the same to the rear of the card so they both look the same. 

Take your scissors and make four cuts in your box as I have done below. Be careful not to cut to the center but only as far as the last fold. True Origami Art decries the use of cutting tools or instruments but encourages "careful tearing". Since I'm not good at "careful tearing", and I like good clean lines, I'll go for the scissors everytime.  

Now fold the point up again

and over on itself again

fold your points in

fold the ends up and stand the edges. Following the same steps on both sides. Making the beginning shape of your box.

Carefully fold your skinny edges up and tuck in 

Do the same with the other side and voila! You have a top, almost.

Repeat these steps with the back of your card to create to box bottom. When your done the top should fit snuggly over the bottom.

Now measure and cut blank portions of card from your scraps to fit inside the top and bottom of your box.

Secure with Elmer's glue if needed and allow an hour or so to dry.

Congratulation Friends!! You have just folded your first Blessings Box! 

I hope you enjoy these little trinkets as much as we do. They're cute and fun as well as easy to make. They also come in handy to store jewelry in on road trips or for giving little gifts to friends and family.

These little treasure keepers can be made out of greeting cards or any card stock. Try folding them out of card stock with balloon designs then give them as party favors at a birthday. What about baby shower designs....

Possibilities are like Nebraska...Endless!!!

Happy folding,
Barb

That horrible "D" word and Creamy Ranch Mashed Potatoes

recipe to follow

With the time of year being what it is, it seems everyone is on that dreaded "D" word. I don't happen to use the word because in my experience the dreaded "D" word is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. 4 years ago I weighed in at 180 lbs. Just playing with my children in the yard exhausted me. I was nowhere near healthy enough to keep up with them. They were growing older and faster as I was growing older and fatter. I didn't need a temporary solution, I needed a lifestyle change. So, I made the decision to change.

Anyone who knows me also knows that when I make my mind up about something then stay out of my way. I hit the internet for hints and tips and talked with friends about what worked for them. Looking and hoping for an easy fix. I didn't find one but I did find some awesome advice.

 I now weight 140 lbs and at 5'4" may still have a little junk in the trunk but not enough to slow me down. With that being said, if you are truly serious about losing weight and serious about getting healthy, without the use of drugs or surgery, then I have a few suggestions for you.

Remember, these are only suggestions that worked for me. If you have found something that works for you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE feel free to comment. I love new ideas!!

1) Before going to the dinner table drink a full 16 oz glass of water. This helps you feel full faster and aids in digestion.

2) When setting the table set yourself a kid sized plate. It looks fuller with less food, fooling your brain.

3) When you are finished clear your plate away, even if no one else is done. The longer you sit there with an empty plate the longer your brain has time to convince you that you need to eat more.

4) Cook at home, from scratch, as much as possible. Only you can control how much fat/calories go into your food.

5) When you can't cook from scratch try to avoid those really nice convenient prepackaged casserole foods. A lot of times they add a lot more fat for flavor and sodium to aid in the preservation and extend shelf life. Let’s face it getting healthy is about more than calories and fat grams. Watch that sodium as well.

6)  Keep a bag of baby carrots on the counter when you cook. That way when you feel you need to "sample" the meal more than just flavor checking, snag a carrot. This satisfies that urge to chew without adding fat and calories.

7)  Add flavor not fat. Become best friends with your spice cupboard. Parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, dill, rosemary, celery seed, and mint are good choices. Use parsley and celery seed in your stews. Use oregano or basil in anything with a tomato base. Throw some thyme in your scrambled egg whites. Goof around with a sprig mint in your boiling potatoes (just remember to remove it before you eat). However, if you don't use much and worry about the spices losing their kick then you may want to keep these spices in your freezer. The cold and the dark will help to preserve their flavor. At the end of this blog I have included a recipe for Creamy Ranch Mashed Potatoes, made with no added salt or fat, just pure flavor. Try it out and let me know how it went!

8) Exercise!! Walk the dog, do some gardening, scoop snow, do squats while folding laundry, use your own steps as a stair master, visit your local goodwill for an exercise video. Even if it’s a cheesy 1980 sweating to the oldies it's better than nothing. Park at the far end of the parking lot and walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator. Have two or three stops in town? Walk! Even if it’s only a half a block every little bit helps. By all means avoid signing up for a gym, if you already have then GO GO GO. I can't tell you how many friends I have that have signed up for a gym then never went for feeling self conscience. Trust me; those people don't care what you look like. YOU care what you look like...that's why you’re at a gym!

9) Tell everyone who will listen that you are in the middle of a lifestyle change. It's amazing how peer pressure helps with motivation.

10) Pick "free" foods that you enjoy and keep them available! Mine were cereal, baby carrots, popcorn, oatmeal, fruit, and basically anything fresh and raw. So when you do have that irresistible urge to snack, you’re not crashing anything.

11) Don't be afraid to treat yourself. Just keep it small. A mini candy bar, fat free ice cream, 2 or 3 cookies, or split a piece of cake with your best friend/kid/husband (sometimes he could be all three). My weakness is Wendy's Frosty's. Chocolate of course, I don't know what they were thinking bringing in that new vanilla stuff. It's just not a Frosty unless it's chocolate. I order the mini kids sized and it's plenty to satisfy my sweet tooth.

12) Water, water, and more water. Don't like drinking water? Flavor it with something calories free if you have to but stay away from tea, coffee and other diuretics. Water helps your food "flow" through your digestive system. The result is better absorption of the good vitamins and less of that floating fat. A general rule of thumb is half your weight in ounces. I weight 140 therefore I try to drink 70 ounces a day. I put heavy emphasis on the TRY since I do fall victim to Mt Dew at bowling. What can I say..I'm human.

13) Weigh yourself on the same scale and weigh often so you know when you’re getting off track. Please note that a woman's weight will fluctuate a few pounds in the wrong direction depending on where they are in their cycle. It's all that nasty bloating. >:( Don't let it get you down or throw you off track.

14) EATING OUT CAN BE A DISASTER but no worries, look for light or healthy options on the menu. Choose baked potatoes over fries and chose EITHER butter OR sour cream, not both. Order fresh or steamed veggies over breaded and deep fried. Stay away from Au gratins or casseroles. Choose scrambled egg whites instead of fried eggs.  When you have the choice of soup or salad, choose the soup. The warm liquid in your belly helps to satisfy the hunger urge. Overall you end up consuming fewer calories for the meal.

15) Last but not least. Remember not everything needs to be a healthy choice. All work and no play made Jack a dull boy. Enjoy that nice rare steak just pair it with a baked potato and steamed veggies. Enjoy that tasty bacon paired with scrambled egg whites and wheat toast. Enjoy that Texas sized waffle with fresh fruit and yogurt.

Whether you want to lose 5 pounds or 50 I know you can do it. Find what works for you and stick to it!! Don't let the little setbacks ruin you. You will fall off your horse but get right back on. I'm rooting for you!

Barb

Creamy Ranch Mashed Potatoes

1/2 cup fat free sour cream

1 package (or 1 ounce) of dry ranch dressing mix

2 lbs quality russet potatoes peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch slices

1/4 to 1/2 c fat free milk (optional)

Rinse your peeled and sliced potatoes very well to rid them of as much starch as possible. 

Cook them over medium heat until they are translucent and tender. 15 to 20 minutes. 

Drain and without adding anything else return the potatoes to the pan and put it back over the medium heat. 

Stir the cooked potatoes over the heat until all the excess water has evaporated and you have nice dry crumbled potatoes.

Remove from heat and mash in the sour cream and ranch dressing mix until well blended.

If you like your potatoes even creamier feel free to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of fat free milk.