I May Already, Actually Be a Winner!

So excited!

I just won this!

I'll post pics when I receive it. (Of course.)

Go to Chigger Hill Cottage. Quick, quick--like a bunny!

Saturday Morning

Just a dreamy Saturday morning around here....

Applesauce Cake with Caramel Sauce

Applesauce Cake with Caramel Sauce

2 cups Whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 Tbs brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp allspice
3/4 cup maple syrup ( I use pancakes syrup)
1/4 cup safflower oil (I use Smart Balance)
2 lg eggs
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients. Add wet to dry. Pour into a greased 9x9 pan and bake 30 - 40 minutes.

Caramel Sauce (From the Joy of Cooking -- Caramel Icing

Stir until sugar is dissolved:
2cups brown sugar
1 cup cream or 1/2 cup butter plus 1/2 cup milk. (I chose milk and butter method.)
Cover and cook about 3 minutes or util the steam has washed down any crystals that may have formed on the sides of the pan.Uncover and cook without stirring to 238 or 240 degrees.
Add;
3 Tbs butter
Remove icing from the heat and cool to 110 degrees. (I couldn't wait that long and made it to about 150.)
Add:
1 tsp vanilla
Beat the icing until thick and creamy.(I gave it a good stir, but didn't beat.) If it becomes too heavy, thin with a little:
cream
until it is of spreading consistency.

Things That Make Me Say...Hmmm.

I don't think anything strikes terror in my heart quite like the words: "You are hereby summoned and commanded to lay all business aside and personally appear in the courtroom..."

Jury duty.

It's not that I don't want to perform my civic responsibility. I think I would find it a fascinating experience, especially given all the mystery novels I enjoy. I'd like to see the real deal.

Because I am the sole income provider right now and it would cause financial hardship,( I have to be physically doing hair to make any money) I trotted over to the clerk of the court to fill out an excuse form.

As the day loomed and I hadn't heard any response to my request, I began to wonder if it was my responsibility to search out that information.

Enter one of my clients.

It so happens that she is a retired judge. I'm not one to curry favor and try to play my connections to avoid responsibility, but I asked her if she knew the answer to my question.
"Would the clerk get in touch with me or did I need to call them?" Judge asked me a few questions and took it upon herself to call, then reported to me that because I had a child 5 or under, I automatically was excused.

Didn't mean for sister to bail me out of jury duty, but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?

Yesterday found me "up to here" with life. I felt seriously overwhelmed and was hatching a plan to hide for the weekend.

Then I checked my messages.

"YOU ARE TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY IN THE MORNING." She stated it twice in case I couldn't believe my ears. She was right. I couldn't.

I went into frantic panic mode. What if they select me? What if I'm out of work for a whole week? How am I going to pay the bills?

Fearless. Fear. Less.

Verses I've recently been meditating on came to mind and I took it upon myself to remind God about them.

YOU said..."Aren't two sparrows sold for only a penny? but your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 emphasis mine.) AND: "I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough." (Matthew 6:25)

I chose to trust.

I showed up for jury duty.

I stood in line.

I practiced not fretting.

I forgot and fretted.

I presented my papers.

The clerk was quizzical.

"You're not on the list."

Hmmm.

Now why did I get that phone call? Was it just an honest mistake? They meant to call someone else and dialed my number instead? Or did God orchestrate that to teach me a valuable lesson?

I don't know the answer to that. I do know that it is not up to me to provide for my needs. I forget that and try to take care of everything by working hard and fretting over stuff.

It's times like this that make me remember...

I have a Heavenly Father who has it well in hand.

Are You?

Are you fearless?

I'm not either.

But based on what I know, I should be.

This book is a reminder of those things.

Stay tuned for what's up next in the next Thomas Nelson review....

The Man in the Marriage

My husband and I are firstborns. If you know anything about birth order, I can stop right there. If you aren't familiar with this concept, just know that both of us are convinced of our rightness in any given situation and compromise is a foreign addition to our vocabulary.

It makes marriage challenging and often messy.

I marvel that we are still together after 23 years of marriage. I must admit to times of fantasizing of living life apart; thinking it would make my life so much simpler and peaceful.

But occasionally, I catch a glimpse of the reason I stay married this man.

We were putting our girl to bed. As is our usual custom, we/she read a story from her Children's Bible. The story was about Jesus walking on water. We were imagining how He did that. That sparked a scientific conversation about water striders and surface tension.

As he expounded, I realized in a flash--this man has so much knowledge. Knowledge that has long since leaked out of my brain.

Later, I was lying in bed and my reading was accompanied by the sounds of Hubby playing the piano and singing.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized that, while I may be a very capable woman, I am not the end all, be all.

And there is no reason why I should try.

My husband adds so much to my life. Sometimes, so much more than I ask.

But. He completes me.

The X and Y of Buy by Elizabeth Pace

The X and Y of Buy is chock full of information to guide you on how to customize your sales presentation based on the differences in how men and women think.

I have never been part of the corporate world, so I wondered if I would gain much benefit from The X and Y of Buy.

Most of my selling is aimed at trying to sell my husband on the fact that I need (another) new hairstyle.

Using scientific evidence, the X and Y of Buy shows that men and women think differently. But you knew that. But did you know that those differences also affect their approach to buying?

Although this book is technical in nature, it's format is easy to read and understand. I found myself underlining gems of information.

You'll find this book valuable as you discover the secrets of why men and women think so differently.

Especially if you want to sell your husband on your latest hairstyle idea.

Early Morning Picnik

"Somebody" woke up earlier than they wanted to this morning. "Somebody's" bladder decided that for them.

Ah, the joys of aging.

But I'm making wine out of my sour grapes.

Remember this photo?

I did some basic (read: very basic) editing with Photo Shop. Yeah. I have LOTS to learn about Photo Shop.

But then...

I (re)discovered picnik.

I did lots of cool things with the basic, online tools they have available.

Just think what I could do with the premium package!

BWWAHHAAHAHA!!!! *Rubbing hands with glee*

P.S. They did not pay me for this free solicitation. BUT THEY SHOULD!!! :)