My Mother didn't use Cupcake Papers

My morning Routine includes making something that my family can take with them for breakfast. This morning I am making muffins, blueberry muffins.
I pulled out the muffin tin and began. Muffin papers, where were the muffin papers? ah...I found them in the back of the baking shelf.
What would I do without them? They cut down a lot of work. They sure helped with the clean up. It was certainly a nice container to hold the wonderful blueberry muffins.
My mother did not use muffin papers. hum... her muffins were the " Best ". So sweet and wonderful on those cold snowy mornings, as we were getting ready for school.
Nothing to throw away. You didn't have to peel anything and have all of those scrumptious crumbs wasted.
Her loving hand worked the shortening around all of the muffing tin cups.
Each one perfectly covered and awaiting the wonderful mixture.
Golden Brown, golden Brown on the top and on the Sides, with the crispy texture embracing it.
My mom never complained about the time that she spent cleaning the muffin tin. She saved money, she even saved trees.
Her muffins were contained by all of the love and time that she so willing gave to us.
Mom I love you!

A Quiet Winter Evening

It is January, the clouds are hugging us... They fill the valley and hover over the valley as if they are a blanket covering a child. It sounds wonderful except for the lack of sunshine and fresh air.
Some would think of this as a welcome change from the cool brisk winter breeze that stings your checks and frosts your hair.
It is Utah, and the foot of the rocky mountains.
The horses are quiet, the dogs are quiet, and all is still. Not a star in sight.
There is no smell of fire wood burning, since the air control. It is now known as a red burn day. My grandfather would have been so confused.

Ideas are running through my head. New things to bake and cook. Plans of a new bookcase in a small room, and what to do when the kids go to school and the husband goes to work. (trying hard NOT to think of the looming housework).

I have long played all of my games on Facebook, glanced at the news sites, and looked at my email.
Chased a raccoon off the steps that was after a cat. and taken one last look at the horses eating their supper.

How blessed I am. How blessed my family is. I live in a state of the Last of the Cowboys. The real cowboys, and the mountain man. They are a dying breed and a part of history that our children will never know.

News headlines are sad.
The lack of human care, with their pretty words and lack of action and honesty. People tell others what they want to hear, not the truth.

Where did Honesty, integrity, morals and values go?
Times are not what they were. A mans word was his word. Something so precious and valiant. Now a lie is a common occurrence.

In the west people were shot for a lie. but here now in America you just get used to listening to it.

I pray for peace, for love, for freedom, and for relief from unrighteous power.
God bless us. Jesus help us. As sleep falls over and the dream of a new day is fast in coming and a few hours over the horizon.

The Duck Crossing

Traveling on a small country road with duck ponds on each side.
Interesting creatures with their fabulous colors. The soothing sounds of their tranquil communication.
I see it. The first duck crossing the road. You can just see the attention of the other ducks. The second, third and then forth, one with a limp, one that has an increased hesitation. I slow... and come to a stop as I am watching the duck crossing.... Then my attention swings to a service truck coming from the other direction.... it is not slowing... I am watching this in what seems to be slow motion as I see the truck heading toward "the Duck Crossing" My heart stops. my breathing stops, and I sit in silence as I cover my eyes with total fear and extreme anguish..
thinking about the limping duck. I watch the truck moving at full speed pass on the street missing every duck on "the duck crossing"
with total relief I take a sigh of new air. and I see the continuance of the crossing and I feel the blessings of watching this miracle and what I want to believe is gods protection.
How many times have we been in "the Duck Crossing"?
There are people who care and those who don't. Who do we trust and put our faith in?
How many touch our lives who are willing to take those last seconds? and How many just rush by? ..... Are we the ones who take the time for " The duck Crossing"?

The Refrigerator

What a wonderful invention! I couldn't live without it. Not only does it hold up the array of fancy magnets and advertising, with much needed phone numbers, but it contains last minute salvation.
Any person would tell you that. That is where you will keep things to help you get over headaches, and stomach aches, and holds just the thing that will help you find happiness in a bunch of stress.
Does that picture of the woman on the scales stop you! Noooo hahaha because you know what is in there.
The problem is that it also contains "the nightmare" Those tons of little dishes full of left overs.
What are left overs? Shouldn't you call them "Extra's"?
They are the things that no one touches because they don't know... how long ago that they were "Extra's.
Now there are those people who put a label on each dish and a date.... how together is that? A nice habit, but I can't seem to find that in my world.
hum.... Maybe it is because those minutes of the label, I am busy with a billion other things.
So there are the "Extra's"
Then I saw it... "the answer" right there in the middle of those colorful magnets.
A note pad.
It is a grocery list note pad. You know the one that everyone writes all of their silly remarks on, with all of the outrageous things that they just know you will buy them... ya right.
I took the note pad, and I wrote a list "the Extra's"
It told what it was, The date, and number of portions.

In the frantic moments between coming home from work and leaving for a gym class.
There was the list of "The Extra's"
So easy. I selected my choice and then began my search. While on it's quick trip to the microwave I simply, crossed it off the list.
It was no longer extra, it was my savings of money, time, and calories that I would have spent stopping at that magnetic fast food place on the way to the Gym...
No more getting caught by your fellow athletic companions who happen to see you in line at the fast food place...lol
Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?

A Time to Bake Banana Bread

You know that time. When you have this bunch of forgotten Bananas on the kitchen counter...
They are staring at you. and reminding you that it is time..... time to bake banana bread.
They are just like people in life.
Time progresses, and the out side ages, and the banana looses it's beautiful Yellow color and turns dark. The insides mature and grow sweeter and richer and more full of flavor. It is a new beginning for the banana.

You know when it is time to make Banana bread.

A new purpose for a fabulous fruit. As it is a new season for a person of age. Each one pleasant in it's own way.

So when you feel the winters getting harder, the winds a little colder, and you move a little slower, don't worry. It is just time to make Banana Bread.

Making "The List"

At the beginning of every year you make "The List"
You know the one?
Where you Write down everything...,
rip it up,
and write it down again.
Then you put it in your desk drawer.
Ahhhh the desk drawer. Where there is everything that you need except the thing you want.
Isn't it just the place for "The List"?
Then you continue to make the new and improved version of "The List"
All of the things that you are sure that you are going to do. What you want to change and what you want to become.
I want to write "The Dream List"
All of the places I would like to go. All of the things that I would like to do.
But in reality it is "The Dream List"
Some would say that this is self defeating behavior. Because after all your "Dream List" should be things that you do and cross off the list. You know, "The Bucket List".
Really,
I just want a dream list.
Something to read that is full of carefree thoughts and feelings with no stress and only for the mind and sole.
You know, not one of those check off lists.
Now, "The List" is a serious list.
How many times you are going to go to the gym, run around the block and a number, a number of the pounds that you for sure are going to loose... unless you don't loose them.
How many nice things that you are going to do throughout the year. How many books you are going to read. How much you are going to save during the year. You notice that it always comes down to a number.
unless it doesn't
Always one more thing to push yourself..... "The List"

Wouldn't it be great if "The List" became "Our Prayers"

Happy New Years!

A time for dreaming. A time for setting new goals. A time for designing just what you want your new year to be like.
A time to re-address all of your ideas of how you are going to share your time with all of your family, friends and loved ones.
A time to decide all of the issues that you are going to stand up for, to fight for, and to take on new courage to establish a platform of presence.
Hopefully it will be in Moral values, ethics, honesty, and integrity.

A time to make decisions about health and well being and influence of others.
It is an exciting time!

It is also a time of reflection and thankfulness and a time for showing appreciation and love of those who have had an effect on the past year.

A time of prayer, A time for a new conviction of faith....
My new year!