A few ramblings before I run off to grocery shop and run errands...
Quayd had a "Carrot Cook-off" for his Young Men's activity. I thought that this was silly when I heard about it, but it's been a really good thing for the boys to do on occasion, as it creates some interest in cooking. Quayd has no desire to be in the kitchen and the fact is, he's only a few years from being an LDS Missionary. He needs some experience in the kitchen so that he doesn't starve for two years!
Anyway, we came up with a recipe for Carrot Cookies that ended up tasting pretty yummy. I remembered my friend, Jamie's nummy pumpkin cookies and figured, why not? Here's a simple, healthy and very tasty cookie! Quayd took second place in the Cook-off. He got second place because he said, "WE" (He explained, "I had to have my mom's help!") in his explanation and Adam did his carrot dish all by himself. Quayd said, "Adam deserved to win!" I was glad that he was happy for Adam.
Quayd's Carrot Spice Cookies
1 Spice Cake Mix
3 cups of cooked, smashed carrots (We pressure cooked them and ran them through the pressure cooker)
2 cups chocolate chips
Mix the cake mix and carrots until smooth. Add the chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoons on a cookie sheet. Bake about 13 minutes at 350'. Then drizzle glaze (powdered sugar, a few shakes of pumpkin pie spice and a lfew drops of milk until smooth) over the cookies. Enjoy! They really were good! The kids had them for breakfast this morning.
Recently, Doug and I happened onto another home that we really loved. AGAIN... We are not looking actively for a different home. For some reason, we've had these two homes that really caught our eye, "present themselves" to us. My list for a home is long and detailed, so it would take a lot for us to move. We're fine right where we are until that perfect home. This home came pretty dang close...perfect for our family...perfect floorplan, lots of space, lots of storage, a great price, tons of decorating opportunities. We have made some serious inquiries about the home, speaking to the Bishop of the ward and neighbors, the bank, even speaking to our realtor about listing our own home...just checking our options.
After all this, Doug and I took a drive to the home last night, before sunset, sat and looked at it for a long time from the outside and talked some more. We love this home. BUT. We didn't love the location. It's too near some cattle feed yards, which means flies. Lots of them. I. Don't. Do. Flies. At. All. I'd rather mice or snakes than flies. Doug always says, "Location, Location, Location." On the way home, we both felt the same, "Not this home, Not now." And that was that. However, when we got home, I found this "persuasive letter" from ZJ on my desk. (Remember a few years ago, when Grace wrote the persuasive letters that convinced her dad that she needed a refrigerator of her own.) ZJ has all the answers.
Doug and I both laughed out loud when we saw the PS. ZJ, since getting her Kindle Fire for Christmas, can tell you everything that is for sale on our SLC Online Classified. We told the kids "no house" and they are all still fine...especially Quayd.
Grace was sick last week and missed her "learn to crochet" night at Young Womens. She took her stuff last night, in hopes of catching up. But, there were other plans for the girls. So, Grace is teaching herself, left-handed crocheting on YouTube. The Kindle Fires were good purchases for the girls... especially, says ZJ, if we buy her a hot tub! ZJ needs to marry a wealthy man! She's quite the little on-line shopper!
Grace brought home a medal for the first round of the spelling bee at her school. She's moving on one more and is very excited about it! It pays to read thousands of pages of books a year!
Liza and Buddy are moving this weekend into a new, larger apartment in the same complex. I wish that I could be there to help her. Kelly and her family moved to Logan last weekend. They are no longer our neighbors. Life just goes on, doesn't it.
I just looked outside my window and there are two deer lying in the sunshine. I love winter! Beautiful!
I took these pix through the screen, but, look at these beautiful creatures!
It's Wednesday, our present home is just fine, deer in the yard, sunshine, kids are doing well, the left knee continues to feel better and better, Doug makes me laugh every day...Life is good!
Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
Love these pics of the deers, they are so beautiful... I wish we had them in our backyard! One of these days, you will find the totally perfect house for you and probably when you expect it the least! I am happy to know that the shots in your knees are working, my mom had those and she said they are painful but worth it.
Posted by: Nicole | Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 03:51 PM
Oh, the day that perfect home presents itself to you will be a selfishly sad day for us.... I love her letter!! That is a keeper;)
Posted by: TrishA | Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 11:52 AM