Christmas Wish List..

Happy Thanksgiving! Today I am starting to defrost my turkey and plan my Thanksgiving menu! While I am excited about Thanksgiving this year, I am even more excited for Christmas! Mark and I are going back east to visit his family for two weeks over Christmas, and it is going to be so much fun! Not only am I looking forward to meeting his family, but there are so many exciting historical sites in Pennsylvania. I have been reading up on the state's history and making a wish list of places I would like to visit. Here is my wish list so far: - Independence Hall, I MUST see this place! After all the reading I've done on the revolutionary war, this will be a real treat! - Liberty Bell - Gettysburg, famous for the civil war battle fought there - Brandywine, site of a bloody revolutionary battle - Ft Mifflin - called "the fort that saved America" is one of the oldest forts in the country and was indispensible in holding the British off from taking the Delaware river. Originally built in 1771!!! Its also supposedly haunted....oooh! - The Betsy Ross house, I just finished a biography on this women, and can't wait to see the house!! - Christ Church - considered one of the nation's most beautiful surviving 18th-century structures, a monument to colonial craftsmanship. Its congregation has included 15 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. (George Washington, Robert Morris, Bejamin Franklin, Betsy Ross!) Just the thought gets me super excited! - Franklin Institute Museum - Philadelphia City Hall - Germantown, PA - Hershey's, PA....CHOCOLATE! - Lancaster county, famous for the Amish that live there - Fels Planetarium - Man Full of Trouble Tavern, is the only surviving tavern/inn building from pre-Revolutionary Philadelphia. Who knows if I will be able to see all of these exciting old places, but I have really enjoyed researching them and learning more about Pennsylvania history!!

What's That Smell?

This morning I was reading my Bible and came across a verse that really made an impression on me. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 says, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession to Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." After reading these verses, I was hit with the thought, what aroma does my life spread? What kind of a fragrance do I give off? Some days, I will confess, I give off the aroma of a rotten tuna fish sandwich with my bad attitudes and grumblings! That is not a pleasant smell to anyone and instead of attracting people to Christ, has them running in the opposite direction. My heart's desire, and what I am constantly working towards, is to give off a sweet smell of peace and contentment, of joy and love. Just like the smell of a fresh apple pie hot out of the oven. It omits a wonderful smell that comforts, draws people in and makes them hungry for a piece!

Pictures of Julian...

Mark took this awesome picture of the wild Turkeys we saw on our hike...

Me having a blast!

Mark was feeling very daring climbed to the top of a huge fallen down tree...

A beautiful view of Lake Cuyamaca

Along the trail...beautiful, isn't it?

Here I am just starting out on the trail...it was such a beautiful day!

We found this babbling brook along the way and got all excited, here is my handsome hubby...

I just had to have my picture taken next to a Pine tree!

I haven't seen a Maple tree in years, and this little darling was the only Maple tree around for miles and miles...

Here is Julian in the background, and Lake Cuyamaca....pretty, isn't it? (This was my first time putting pictures up on my blog)

Fall Bliss!!

Just two posts ago I was talking about the lack of fall here in El Centro, and so I feel that I should write now and tell you about the Fall fun I had this weekend!! Mark took me to Julian for the day yesterday and I had the most wonderful time! We drove to Lake Cuyamaca ( if you want to see what it looked like, I found this link http://www.pbase.com/gcropser/image/48952234 )I hope to actually post some pictures of our fun here soon! So we left the house at about 10:00 and headed up to Julian. While Mark drove, I read the book Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter, to him and we had a great time thinking about things to be "glad" about! When we got to the Lake, we went to buy a loaf of bread to feed to the ducks. The nice man at the cash register surprised is by giving us a bucket of old bread from the restaurant next door..and it was free!! (awesome, I know!) We had great fun feeding the ducks and shared the bread with a nice couple and their little boy. Mark had me laughing because he kept petting the ducks! We named one duck Marley, because he was our favorite, and we hope to go and visit him again soon. When all the bread was gone, we sat down on a large rock and snacked on dried pineapple slices and pistachios that we had bought from a roadside stand. That is when I spotted an enormous pine cone. So, while Mark ate all the pistachios, I was busy hunting for pine cones! Mark joined in, and was brave enough to take one off a tree...I never realized how prickery those things are...ouch! After I was satisfied with my pine cone harvest, we started off on our hike around the lake. I had to stop and hug a Maple tree I found (something rare around here). And picked a red leaf or two to press and keep forever! Off we went on our hike. The weather was crisp and cool and the wind blew through the tan prairie grass making a lovely rustling sound. It was a gorgeous day, and it was wonderful to enjoy the fall colors! We ended up taking a detour and going up the hill to see the old Stonewall Jackson mine. On the way, we ran into a couple of flocks of Turkey that Mark ran after and took pictures of... what a perfectly lovely time we had! We got to the mine around 4 and decided we had better head back before it got dark. We found our way back to the lake and walked and walked...and kept walking till the trail lead us back to our car. Along the way we saw a grey squirrel, a bright green Parakeet that was happily living with the rest of the birds...and a deer. We drove home, and ate BBQ chicken that tasted amazing after a day of fun! It was a wonderful day that I will remember for years to come! Ahhhh.....!

Just sign your John Hancock right here...

Hello everyone! I am feeling very happy at the moment as it is cool enough to put on my favorite pair of jeans and even wear a long sleeved shirt (gasp) as I went out to hang my clothes on the line this morning!!! YAY! Unless El Centro is just playing a cruel trick on me, I do believe that the cooler weather has come! It was so unusual to walk outside and not immediately suppress the want to say something awful about this place. I have been doing a lot of reading lately, I have been reading The Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, which is a reprint of a book originally published in 1848! How fascinating to see a brief snapshot of the life of every man who signed his name to that historic document. It was thrilling to think of John Hancock being the first to pick up the quill and sign his name large and bold before sending it out to be signed by the rest of the 55 brave men. I have enjoyed taking a step back in time to an age of chivalry, godly men, faithful women, a deep faith in God, and spirited patriotism. Sigh.... If only I could time travel!! Once I am done with the Lives of the Signers, I am excited to start on the next book on my list: Wives of the Signers. Little is really known about the brave women behind those great men, but I am excited to read about wives like Dorothy Hancock, Abigail Adams, and Mrs. Benjamin Franklin! Oh! Its all so exciting that I feel like reading ahead! AH! While I am reading those two books, I am also listening to the History of the United States Volume 1 & 2 by Charles and Mary Beard on http://www.librivox.org/ . After that, I have my eye on a couple of biographies on Betsy Ross and Dolly Madison! Anyone have any suggestions on who else I should read up on? Good books on American history + a large cup of coffee = BLISS!!!

Autumnal Despair....

Fall is in the air all over the world, trees are changing their colors, the air is getting cool and crisp, people are pulling out their sweaters and putting on their scarfs...or so I imagine. I live in a place of eternal summer. Sounds blissful, doesn't it? But its NOT. Fall is but a wishful thought, and the only time the leaves turn color is when the sun burns them to a crisp and the leaves give up the will to live and fall to the ground. Those are the only signs of "fall " around here. Thankfully, I have 2o years of wonderful Colorado autumns to remember. In my mind, nothing is more beautiful than a drive to Aspen to see all the aspen trees changing colors! That thought preserves me from autumnal despair. (Yes, in El Centro there is such a thing!) Happy Fall Everyone!!!

How Long?

After doing some reading and listening to some podcast, I found out something new. (I love learning new things!!) Did you know it takes 21 days to change a habit? That seems so long, but after giving it some thought, its just right! Here are some habits I'd like to change: - Eating healthier: Back in April I went officially gluten free. The change has been dramatic! I can't believe how much better I am feeling. Although it has been a big adjustment, I am so much happier because of the change. Now that I am not eating bread, any processed food, or eating out, I want to take my diet to the next level. Eating smaller meals more often, choosing healthier snacks, etc. - Exercise daily: Mark brought the treadmill into the house so that even though it is 112 degrees outside, I can now work out and exercise in the comfort of my home. Now I just have to get off my behind and work out! - Develop a schedule: I have never been good at keeping a schedule, but I feel that if I had a schedule to follow I could be more productive and efficient. So, now that I have set out my goals, I look forward to the next 21 days. Wish me luck!! Before I go though, check out this website http://www.happyhousewivesclub.com/ lots of fun ideas and encouragement to be a "Happy Housewife". While you're at it, buy Darla Shine's book, Happy Housewives. Its a fun book!

Double Take....

I take it all back! Since writing the blog about the nifty dryer sheet, I read a book called "Clean House, Clean Planet" which I highly recommend to all! Dryer sheets are full of chemicals, and many are toxic...Sorry! I am still learning! White vinegar is still an excellent cleaner. If you don't like the smell, add a dropper full of your favorite essential oil to a gallon of white vinegar and clean away! This stuff is non toxic, awesome and good for the environment AND you! Happy cleaning!

Get a load of this!!!

I have been learning so much lately about many different things. I feel that everyday I am learning and growing and improving. I have learned about Eco-friendly and wallet friendly cleaners (like white vinegar), how to frugally cook everyday gourmet food for a decent price, and most recently......how many ways you can re-use a dryer sheet! Here are some fun handy tips on how to use again those "retired" dryer sheets....

• First, a word of advice: dryer sheets can cause buildup on towels that can make them feel slippery and reduce their absorbency. To avoid this problem, try reducing the number of times you use dryer sheets in each load of towels..

• If you have a casserole or pan with burned-on food, fill it with hot water, toss in a softener sheet for several hours (overnight is fine too..), and the burned-on food will slide right off!

• Run a needle and thread through the sheet to prevent static from tangling the thread.

• Wipe the TV screen, blinds, or any other surface that attracts dust with a used sheet to reduce the static electricity that attracts dust.

• Place a used sheet in luggage, drawers, closets, trashcans, under car seats, and in your laundry bag or hamper to give a nice fresh scent!

• Tuck into shoes before placing them in your luggage. Shoes will smell fresh and you can use the dryer sheet to buff shoes and remove dust after wearing them.

• Polish chrome to a brilliant shine after cleaning

• Use it to wrap Christmas ornaments or other fragile things before boxing them up for storage. The dryer sheet will protect them and you can wipe Christmas ornaments prior to hanging on the tree to reduce static electricity and repel dust.

• Wipe car dashboards with a used sheet to shine and repel dust.

Bottom line: Retired dryer sheet have plenty of uses left, so don't waste them. AND don't use new softener sheets for any of these purposes. Pick up a used (or gently loved, retired...whatever you want to call it..) instead! I put my used dryer sheets in an empty tissue bow I keep on top of the dryer. This way they are always handy.

Apple Crisp

So I here is a yummy recipe to use up apples!I seem to always have some lurking around the fridge... I like to think this recipe is lower in fat because it doesn't use as much butter as other recipes... Apple Filling: 3 pounds apples 2 T. lemon juice 1/2 c. sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 T. flour Topping: 1/2 c. walnut bits 1/2 c. flour 3/4 c. brown sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 3 T. chilled butter 1 c. rolled oats 1 egg white Directions: Combine apple filling in 9x13 in. pan. In separate bowl, mix topping and evenly distribute over apple filling. Bake 375 for 30 minutes, or until apples are cooked through. Especially yummy when served with vanilla ice cream or cool whip!

No More Monkey Business!

Some African tribes have learned that greed can be used to trap and catch monkeys. The men carefully cut a hole into the side of a large gourd just big enough for a monkey to insert his open hand into. Then the men carefully hollow out the gourd and put in some favorite monkey food, such as bananas and nuts. Next the hunters tie the trap in a tree branch where the monkeys are known to gather. While the hunters watch from their hiding places, monkeys attracted by the scent of the enticing food soon gather. After much chatter, one monkey will usually reach into the gourd and greedily grasp the food. The problem, of course is that it cannot withdraw its hand without releasing its fistful of food. That is when the hunters move in. If only the animal was willing to let go of his coveted bait he could have his freedom. But, unwilling to do so, he pays the price of being captured. As I read the story above, I was struck with the question; what things in my life am I greedily hanging onto that are going to ultimately lead to my own demise? What innocent traps have Satan laid in my path that I am unwilling to give up? Something for all of us to think about........

Crickets...

I really hate crickets, and when I told this to Mark one time, he only replied sweetly with..."Well, didn't you like Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio?" to which my reply was, if I ever see a cricket wearing a top hat, carrying a cane, and singing - than maybe I would be OK with that! When I married Mark, I knew that I was in for quite the experience. Not only was I now married to someone serving in the military, but this wonderful man that I love so dearly, has a love for ALL God's creatures. When I say all...I mean ALL. Since we have been married, we have housed tarantulas, a king scorpion, at one point or another 10 snakes, (all of which were in cages. However, that didn't mean one or two haven't escaped at one point or another!) That is not even including the food we have housed for them. Rats, mice, gerbils, crickets...ugh! But, all this has been very educational and I have a new view of our awesome Creator. How perfectly every creature is made. I tend to lean more towards the normal pets, I have a very poofy white bunny named Jasper, who thank heavens prefers rabbit pellets and alfalfa to the menu our other carnivorous friends enjoy. Mollie, my fun loving miniature dachshund, snacks on kibbles and sweetly bats her eyes at dinner guests hoping for some handouts. Our latest addition? Fish. We have lots of fish. Beautiful koi, and a variety of goldfish. What a privilege to be able to observe all of these creatures God has created so closely! I have been learning so much about them, and how delicate they really are. They are beautiful, but if the water conditions are not just right, they can't survive. Another amazing creation! This summer, we adopted a leopard gecko. During the summer the geckos would try and drink from the pool and then fall in and drown. We felt so bad for them, that when Mark found a 2 1/2 inch long gecko and some gecko eggs, they were promptly put in their own cage. The gecko, we dubbed "Leo" and thought he was quite cute. I never thought the tiny white eggs would hatch, but they did, and we had three baby geckos! We eventually let them go because we had a hard time finding crickets small enough for them to eat. Here is what we would do to find crickets...try and imagine this... Its too hot during the summer days for the crickets to come out, so as soon as the sun would go down Mark would flood the ground next to the porch with the garden hose. Then with me holding a flashlight I would try and follow these tiny pin head crickets as they jumped onto the cement to avoid drowning. While Mark would try and run around and catch the crickets with his hands. Now, I HATE crickets. They freak me out and so I would be jumping around scared to death one would jump on me, with Mark shouting "There's one! The light! Shine the light on it! Don't move!". As you can imagine it wasn't working very well and Mark did some research and went to plan B, which I disliked just as much as plan A.....breeding crickets. Now, he assured me that they would be living outside and set up a breeding ground in a 10 gallon aquarium. After their "home" was ready, I only had to help him find a male and female crickets. Which involved Mark picking up every cricket he found and determining the sex. HA! Then the colder weather came...and into the house they moved. I wouldn't stand to have the cage in the kitchen, so they were permanently moved and settled in his office. The only challenge left has been making sure they have water. This has challenged my sanity! I dread opening the cage lid, and moving aside the water sponges to make sure none of Mark's "cricket friends" drown when I refill the water dish. So here is how the scenario usually goes....I open the lid, take a deep breath and hoping that there are no crickets near, stick a spoon carefully down into the water bowl and then scream and shriek when crickets come jumping out! Just thinking about it now gives me the creepy crawlies! At the end of summer Mark found another gecko that needed a winter home, and it went into the cage with the cricket friends. Call it population control. Only problem: it keeps escaping! Heaven only knows where Leo the III is at this moment! Never a dull moment!